Forest adventure.
2009
On every birthday, I do something out of the ordinary. One year, I hopped on to the hippo duck tour. That boat-truck like thing that can go into water and road. That was fun. It took me around the Padang area, before heading to the road next to Suntec City. It then curved into a dirt track in between the trees.
The dirt track ended in the water where the vehicle became a boat. It chugged along the water front towards the Fullerton area before turning back to the Suntec City where it started.
This year, I decided on the forest adventure located in Bedok Reservoir. It is an obstacle course up in the trees – not really very high, about a storey or two – with 4 stretches of flying fox thrown in. Unfortunately, on my birthday it was overcast with rain and lightning forecasted. The organisers said I could start but if the lightning siren went off, then I’d to stop and continue on another day.
I wanted an uninterrupted experience so I postponed it. Last Saturday, I went with 3 friends and boy, did we have a ball of a time.
It’s about $35 per head. I found the 30-minute safety course simple but thorough. We’re in a group with 5 “aunties” – very game of them to do this – and a couple. The course teaches you how to wear the harness and the safety process, how one has to be hooked on to a safety belt at all times.
Then off we went on the four-stage course. Each obstacle course has a difficulty level. Most were in-between easy and difficult. What did I have to do? I climbed up rope ladders and tree trunks, work like a trapeze artist on a high wire – only a story high and we’re secured to a safety line – scramble through a tunnel made of wooden slabs – this wasn’t comfy for my knees, so I’d to drag myself across it on my bump.
There were no tree top walks but there were small bridges across the trees at mid-level. There were of various types. One was made of rope netting in a V-shape. You walk on the sharp point of the V. Another was a bridge made up of wooden slabs. Some had wire or rope railings to guide you, others had overhead rope to do so.
The best was the flying fox. I thought I would be afraid especially those that went across a stretch of water. But the harness let you “sit” comfortably and you enjoy the rush of speed. Thing is I landed on my bump all the time. Thank goodness, I landed on a sand pit so it wasn’t painful. But one friend did well enough to land running on her feet 3 out of 4 times.
The organisers were good, I believe it’s a French firm behind this. The equipment is secure, the guides professional and encouraging. It’s very rustic, nothing very urban about it. For women the course is exciting but I’m sure for the men, they wouldn’t pay to do what they had gone through during NS.
The entire experience took about 2.5 hours and we really enjoyed it. There’s even a kids’ course. So if you’re looking to do something different, this would be a good physical challenge.
Related Posts