Singapore’s Park Connector Network (PCN)

Singapore’s Park Connector Network (PCN) is one of the best developments that has taken place over the years, and they are still enhancing as Singapore strives towards a City in Nature by 2035. The PCN is Singapore’s island-wide network of linear green corridors linking and connecting major parks and natures across Singapore. They provide a wide variety of recreational, outdoors, nature, therapeutic and exercising opportunities for fitness, outdoors enthusiasts, as well as for our international visitors to visit the PCN and explore local heartlands, parks and nature areas of Singapore.

Do visit NParks Park Connector Network website – https://pcn.nparks.gov.sg/ for more information and updates!

Completion of the 18km Eastern Corridor 

On 17th February 2024, NParks announced the completion of the 18km Eastern Corridor, offering additional recreational connectivity between Pasir Ris Park and East Coast Park via Bedok Reservoir Park. The Eastern Corridor has been progressively opened since 2021 after it was first announced, allowing members of the public to enjoy walking and cycling along sections of the Eastern Corridor as soon as they were ready. 

For the public who would like an alternative route to travel between Pasir Ris Park and East Coast Park, the completion of the Eastern Corridor offers this alternative travel, linking parks in the east that presents a variety of nature-based recreational experiences for visitors to the parks. Some of them include bird watching/bird photography at Tampines Eco Green, therapeutic experiences at Sun Plaza Park, and sports activities at East Coast Park.

Half of the Eastern Corridor route is located among waterways, including those enhanced under national water agency PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme, such as the Sungei Tampines and Sungei Bedok. They offer visitors to the parks a scenic cycling and walking experience along beautiful water landscapes in the east. 

The Eastern Corridor also features the new 600m Bedok Park Connector (Eastern Bank), and the recently completed park connectors along Tampines Ave 9 and Tampines Ave 10, totalling over a distance of 3.2km. Through the use of multi-tiered landscaping along those park connectors, NParks enhances greenery and attracts biodiversity along the Eastern Corridor route and in the area. 

I do visit Pasr Ris Park a number of times for wildlife/bird photography (especially during low tide days), sunset photography and nature therapy. I have yet to revisit Tampines Eco Green since my last visit a few years back, as it was going through upgrades and enhancements as part of the Eastern Corridor route. I would revisit again to check out the wildlife/bird photography in the area, and explore part of the Eastern Corridor route. 

Upcoming enhancements to the eastern half of Round Island Route (RIR) 

The eastern half of the RIR was opened in January 2022, stretching over 75km, making it Singapore’s longest recreational connection, encircling Singapore in the east, from Rower’s Bay Park in the north-east to, Changi Beach Park, East Coast Park and past the Singapore River towards Berlayer Creek (Labrador Nature Park) in the south.

NParks will be enhancing the recreational experience along the eastern half of the RIR, they will be introducing way finding such as map boards and directional signage to allow for better navigation and improved user experience, and multi-tiered landscaping to provide shade and greenery. 

NParks will also be introducing marine habitats through the installation of marine tiles to attract biodiversity along the route. They will be progressively introduced at key points along the eastern half of the RIR. NParks is also planning three new cycling bridges at Changi Beach Park and East Coast Park to improve the experience for visitors to the parks.

Explore Singapore via island-wide recreational connectivity PCN

Visitors (both local and international) to the parks are able to explore Singapore via island-wide recreational connectivity PCN, this will not only bring the community closer to greenery, enabling them to benefit from the positive effects of nature on their health and well-being, they will also connect communities and bring about a sense of space many times beyond Singapore’s small island city-state. 

These are part of NParks’ overall plans to curate a 360km island-wide network of recreational routes by 2035, as Singapore transforms into a City in Nature. 

I have been exploring, documenting and photographing Singapore’s nature areas and parks, together with Singapore’s wildlife and bird photography, using the PCN, I am going to spend more time sharing my travelling experiences on the PCN between parks or nature areas in Singapore, with the local community, as well as with my friends from around the world when they plan to visit Singapore. 

* Information courtesy of NParks *

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What is Let’s Take A Walk all about?

Let’s Take A Walk is an iconic overnight 100km charity walk, they are returning this year, with Ray of Hope as the chosen beneficiary. Ray of Hope is Singapore’s crowdfunding charity, dedicated to mobilising community resources and support for individuals and families in need.

Let’s Take A Walk is a community-driven initiative led by Raleigh Singapore, an organisation dedicated to making a positive impact through action. Through this annual charity walk event that is fully organised by volunteers, Let’s Take A Walk raises funds for various causes and promotes inclusivity and community spirit.

A Step Towards Inclusivity 

For Let’s Take A Walk 2023, they are taking a step towards inclusivity by introducing the 5km FamilyWalk. This is a specially designed route that is ramp-accessible, creating an opportunity for families and differently-abled individuals to join hands in the spirit of giving back. 

Adrian Chew, the co-chairman of Let’s Take A Walk 2023, said “I started my journey as a volunteer with Let’s Take A Walk 2013 and have continued to participate as both a volunteer and a walker ever since. The spirit of giving back to those in need deeply resonates with me, as some of the closest people to me have faced challenging times.”

Let’s Take A Walk 2023 Targets 

The primary goal for this year is to unite 2,000 walkers, doubling last year’s target of 1,000 participants, in a unified effort to raise $100,000, less operating costs, for Ray of Hope.

Ray of Hope

Ray of Hope goes beyond fundraising; they also offer crucial social support through dedicated case managers, ensuring that every donated dollar directly reaches those in need. With a proven history of assisting over 1,000 beneficiaries and mobilizing over $10 million since 2012, they aid a diverse range of individuals, including children, the disabled, the elderly, migrant workers, single parents, and more. Their commitment to genuine assistance and community engagement is verified through audits by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).

Let’s Take A Walk 2023 Details and Registration Information

After reading about Let’s Take a Walk 2023, here are more details and registration information for you to plan your charity walk for a great cause!

Let’s Take A Walk 2023

Date: 4th November 2023 | Distances: 20km, 50km, and 100km walks

Date: 5th November 2023 | Distances: 5km and 10km walks

Registration is now open, please visit https://www.letstakeawalk.sg/ and register. Please take note that registration closes on 14th October 2023.

All participants will receive a Let’s Take A Walk 2023 T-shirt, and those who complete the challenging 100km physical walk within the stipulated time limit will earn an exclusive 100km Finisher T-shirt.

Physical Categories

Take note! For the physical categories, the time limit for the 100km category is 33 hours, the 50km category is 16 hours, and the 20km category is 6 hours. 

Virtual Category

For those participants who choose to cover the distance (outdoors) in one walk or in multiple walks during the two-week period, you can opt for the virtual category, and submit your distances measured by GPS app such as Strava. 

Let’s Take A Walk 2023 Registration Fees

Let’s Take A Walk (2023) for a Great Cause with 100km Overnight Charity Walk!

From my scouting days, walking, hiking, trekking, exploring, followed by my travel photography and visual storytelling documentation explorations through my walks locally and around the world. 

It’s been some time since I last supported a charity walk, I hope to play my part to rally my networks, from my various alma mater organisations, to my friends, businesses/organisations that I have worked or engagements with, share with them and hope to encourage them that they can all play a part, just by walking.

Let us all Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On, help to share Let’s Take A Walk (2023) for a Great Cause with 100km Overnight Charity Walk, with your family, loved ones, relatives and friends.

Now, which distance should I go for? Let’s Take A Walk together!

* Information and pictures courtesy of Raleigh Singapore and Gloo *

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Celebrating Founder’s Day is a reminder to myself on how joining the Scouting movement back in my secondary school days changed, impacted and taught me lifelong skills, lessons and friendships for life, from the day I joined Gan Eng Seng Dragon Scout Group. 

My love for nature and outdoors, appreciating and learning more about the areas of heritage, history, culture, conservation and preservation through Dragon Scout Group rich and long history, life skills. This is like one big extended family (Dragon Scout Group and Dragon Chapter), the friendships and bonds that will last our lifetime, they are priceless and invaluable. 

A visual storytelling collection of photographing and documenting Gan Eng Seng Dragon Scout Group can be viewed here on Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/tangenghui/collections/72157605375906037/  

Doing my small humble part role to continue the movements of Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On, whenever I am able to contribute and help with Dragon Scout Group and Dragon Chapter. 

Gan Eng Seng Dragon Scout Group

• Website: https://www.dragonscouts.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dragon_scouts/ 
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dragonscouts 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DragonScouts 

Once again, wishing all a Happy Founder’s Day 2023 and Happy World Thinking Day 2023!  

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This is my first time marking #WorldWaterDay on my TGH Photography and Travel portal/blog. While I have been photographing, covering and writing on environmental protection, conservation, sustainability, I feel that I have not done enough. In recent years, I have increased concern for our world climate situation. I decided to be more active in this movement, I hope that my visual story telling can play a bigger role in helping to bring world environmental issues and awareness across to different groups of people not just in Singapore, around the world as well. 

World Water Day 2022 theme is Groundwater. It’s invisible yet its impact is visible everywhere around the world. We are over using groundwater in many areas around the world, our natural resource is being depleted and its time the world act on this. You can play a part in World Water Day 2022, please visit UN Water and find out more!

Back home in Singapore, we are having our own Singapore World Water Day too! Time to GoBlue4SG and let’s Make Every Drop Count. Canon Singapore has partnered with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency on a photography contest – Canon x Singapore Water Day Photo Contest, Theme is “Water is Life” from 17th to 27th March 2022. Go check it out! 

When I am not doing commercial photography work, I love to explore Singapore’s nature and outdoors. From exploring parks, reservoirs, nature reserves, photographing wildlife, nature areas and how we Singaporeans interact and live with nature and outdoors close to our doorstep.

My recent exploration brought me to photographing nature, wildlife and our waterways/reservoirs up close as well as from a bird’s eye view in our heartlands. 

On World Water Day, let’s #GoBlue4SG and #MakeEveryDropCount, spread the awareness on water, not just in Singapore, around the world too

* A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R3 Explorer Series Production *

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I love the great outdoors, nature and wildlife, not just back home in Singapore, traveling around the world, trekking, climbing mountains, national parks, enjoying the beauty and tranquility of Mother Nature. Getting inside into nature, rainforest, surrounded by tall lush trees and its canopy, I enjoyed forest bathing therapy with my photography setup, capturing the lush greenery and wildlife. 

From the mountains, to the rainforests and oceans, Earth has many beautiful and amazing natural environments that we need to protect and preserve. While I am unable to visit all of them, I am blessed and mesmerised by some of the destinations that I left my footprints behind.   

As I started to get more conscious of my travel and carbon footprints over time, I have also witnessed more natural disasters taking place in other parts of the world and they are not getting smaller in magnitude and size. All these gradually push me as an individual to think again on my types and levels of consumption in this current world that we are living in. I am also looking at businesses, from famers, manufacturers to service providers (e.g. travel agencies, accommodation) on their green eco-friendly models and practices. 

We need to prevent, stop and reverse the damages that we have already inflicted on our planet Earth, now this is the time for ecosystem restoration. We need to stop exploiting nature to restoring and healing it. Only with a healthy ecosystem, can we improve peoples’ livelihood, counteract climate change and prevent the collapse of Earth’s biodiversity.

Every individual on planet Earth has a role to play, no matter how big or small, you can be a part of #GenerationRestoration and make a difference, for your family and loved ones, and to Mother Earth, for the sake of our future generations. 

When we are able to safely travel again once the global pandemic is under control, I would continue to seek my travel photography adventures to the great outdoors, nature and wildlife destinations around the world with green eco-friendly models and practices. 

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Having a passion for the outdoors, nature, wildlife and travel, I would like to help spread the theme for Earth Day 2021. Everyone of us can play a part, to make a difference in the world we are living in today and for our future generations. 

As we mark Earth Day 2021, I am sharing my wildlife and nature photographs that I shot in Singapore over the years with more recent photographs that I shot in the first quarter of 2021 and last year 2020. Although Singapore is a small country by land size, we do have an abundance of nature and wildlife among us here in Singapore, co-existing and living together. 

More photographs of the wildlife and nature areas that I photographed and documented in Singapore can be viewed inside my Flickr photography collections, shot with various Canon cameras that I owned, the Canon EOS RP, or reviewed, the Canon EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS M6 Mark II, part of my Canon Explorer Series Production.  

It’s a delicate balance between preserving and protecting our nature and wildlife versus a country’s economic development and growth. Not just preserving and protecting, let’s reduce wastage of resources and up our game on recycling and upcycling. 

Not just today on 22nd April 2021 for Earth Day 2021, let’s all begin to mark the start of a new era whereby we restore our Earth, making a difference to the world that we live in, transforming it to become an even better home for the world to live in. 

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“HERO9 Black reflects our commitment to delivering what our customers have been asking for, including more value for their money,” said Nicholas Woodman, GoPro’s founder and CEO. “HERO9 Black is a beast of a product, and GoPro subscribers can get an exclusive offer at GoPro.com while also enjoying unlimited cloud storage of their GoPro footage, up to 50% on everything at GoPro.com and no-questions-asked camera replacement. And we’re not done, with more value adds coming to GoPro subscribers later this year.”

GoPro is now more environmentally friendly, eliminating plastic from the HERO9 Black’s packaging, adding value by packaging the camera in a high-quality travel case that fits additional accessories and mounts.

“Reducing as much plastic as possible from our business is a priority for us,” said Woodman. “We’re excited to package HERO9 Black in a high-value travel case instead of traditional wasteful packaging, and we’re committed to doing the same with the rest of our cameras by the end of 2021.” 

HERO9 Black Features: 

• New Image Sensor 
• Video: 5K30, 4K60, 2.7K120, 1440p120, 1080p240 and more 
• Photo: 20MP 
• New 1.4” front color display with live preview and status modes 
• Larger 2.27” rear touch display with touch zoom 
• 30% more battery life than HERO8 Black with improved cold weather performance 
• Removable, rechargeable battery 
• HyperSmooth 3.0 with in-camera horizon leveling 
• TimeWarp 3.0 featuring Real Speed and Half Speed 
• 1080p Live Streaming 
• 1080p Webcam mode 
• Power Tools: HindSight, LiveBurst, Scheduled Capture and Duration Capture 
• SuperPhoto + HDR Night lapse video 
• RAW photos 
• Digital lenses 
• Voice control with 14 commands in 11 languages + 6 accents 
• 3 microphones with advanced wind-noise reduction 
• Stereo + RAW audio 
• Larger speaker for improved audio playback 
• Removable lens cover 
• Built-in folding mounting fingers 
• Rugged + waterproof to 33ft (10m) 
• Compatible with Max Lens Mod, Light Mod, Display Mod and Media Mod for HERO9 Black 

All-New Max Lens Mod for HERO9 Black

GoPro has introduced the all-new Max Lens Mod for HERO9 Black, this brings unbreakable Max HyperSmooth video stabilisation and low-distortion ultra-wide Max SuperView to HERO9 Black at up to 2.7K 60 resolution. They also allow for horizon lock even when the camera is rotated at a fun 360 degrees, providing mind blowing creative versatility for creatives, social media producers, film and television professionals and weekend warriors alike.

HERO9 Black-compatible Mods also include the Media Mod for HERO9 Black (S$120), now with a removable foam windscreen; Display Mod (S$120); and Light Mod (S$75). 

Max Lens Mod will be available starting October 2020. The Media Mod for HERO9 Black and Display Mod will be available starting 17th September 2020. The Light Mod is currently available on GoPro.com as well as at select retailers. 

GoPro Subscription Service

The GoPro subscription service provides the best value and end user experience to GoPro users. They stand to benefit from no-questions asked camera replacement, unlimited cloud storage of their GoPro photographs and videos at original quality, enhanced live streaming to GoPro with fewer restrictions than other live streaming services, up to 50% on mounts and accessories on GoPro website, including the brand new line-up of GoPro Lifestyle Gear, and up to S$140 savings on new camera purchases.

The GoPro subscription is available for S$68.98 annually or S$6.98/month.

HERO9 Black Million Dollar Challenge

GoPro is challenging its users to create the launch highlight reel for its new flagship camera. This is the third year in a row that they are doing it. This challenge is open exclusively to owners of HERO9 Black, the Million Dollar Challenge will award an equal share of USD$1,000,000 to entrants whose video clips are chosen for the HERO9 Black Million Dollar Challenge video that will be released in December 2020.

HERO9 Black users are invited to capture and submit their video clips for consideration to the HERO9 Black Million Dollar Challenge on GoPro Awards | Capture and Share Your World. Do take note that submissions close on Friday, 4th December 2020.

Pricing and Availability

GoPro HERO9 Black is now available in Singapore, on GoPro.com and at select retail partners (Courts, Best Denki, Challenger, Harvey Norman, TK Foto and Sprint-Cass). The camera retails for RRP S$680. 

HERO9 Black joins GoPro MAX at RRP S$740, HERO8 Black at RRP S$530, and HERO7 Black at RRP S$375.00 to round out the full 2020 GoPro Lineup. 

Visit GoPro.com to shop the 2020 GoPro Lineup. Learn more about HERO9 Black GoPro’s blog The Inside Line. 

* Information and pictures courtesy of GoPro and Omnicom Public Relations Group *

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Acadia National Park

Acadia is a fantastic park, rich in history and very diverse in natural surroundings from lush forest to granite seawalls. There are two RV campgrounds within the park. Blackwoods campground is located 5 miles south of Bar Harbor and Seawall is located 4 miles south of Southwest Harbor. Blackwoods is closer to the heart of the park with quicker access to the main park visitor center and the town of Bar Harbor. Both take reservations which are highly recommended, especially during the peak summer season. If either is full or if your rig is over the 35-foot limit, try the KOAs. Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA is a great big rig friendly park located just after the causeway when you enter Mount Desert Island. Just down the road is the Woodlands KOA, it is great for smaller rigs and has a pool that is shared with the Oceanside facility.

Mammoth Cave National Park

If cave exploring is your thing, Mammoth Cave offers the largest cave network in the world and the park has some great tours. For camping, Mammoth Cave campground is located adjacent to the main visitor’s center and can accommodate RVs up to 38 feet and trailers up to 26 feet. There are no water or electric hookups except for two sites so you will have to plan on being self-sufficient. For bigger rigs or full hookup sites try Singing Hills RV Park which is located on RT 70 just east of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Everglades National Park

For paddlers, there’s no better place then Everglades National Park. There are hundreds of miles of paddling trails throughout the park. During the winter months it is also considered a birder’s paradise with several species of interesting birds wintering within the park boundaries. For RV camping there is the Flamingo Campground with spaces to accommodate RVs up to 45 feet. The busy season, and best time to visit, is from late November through mid-April. Reservations are recommended during this time.

Glacier National Park

No park in the US national park system rivals the sheer beauty of Glacier National Park. This gem in Northern Montana is a fantastic RV destination and should be high any RVers list of must-see destinations. The west side of the park, around the Apgar visitors center, is the busiest section of the park. The Fish Creek Campground is on Lake McDonald just a short drive from Apgar village and provides an excellent base camp from which to explore the park. On the east side, there are two campgrounds that take reservations and have RV spots. St. Mary Campground is on the Going to the Sun Road about a half mile from the St. Mary Visitors Center. Many Glacier Campground is about 22 miles north of St. Mary in the Many Glacier District of the park. This is one of the least visited areas and can offer a little more solitude then Fish Creek or St. Mary. The sites here are small, limited to 30 feet or less with most under 21 feet. There is generally no space for slide outs either. Larger rigs, or those with slide outs should look for space at St. Mary or Fish Creek. If space is full at the park campground, consider staying at North American RV Park. It is located about 5 miles south of the Apgar entrance and is a great place to stay in that area.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is a great place to visit, it has nearly every environment you can find in North America, aside from deserts and salt water, wrapped up into one giant park. It is also right next door to Grand Teton National Park, which is beautiful in and of itself. Yellowstone has five reservable campgrounds, and seven which are first come first serve. Fishing Bridge is the nicest and is the only one to offer full hookups. Unfortunately, it is closed for the 2019 season. Grant Village is also an excellent location. For big rigs, try Mammoth. It is first come first serve, but it has sites up to 65 feet in length. If all the campgrounds are full within the park, there are several private parks in West Yellowstone. If those are full, try Red Rock RV Park in Island Park, ID. There are also several boondocking opportunities in the national forest areas of Island Park if you are set up to camp that way.

These are a few of the top national park campgrounds. There are many more great campgrounds throughout the national park system. To find your national park camping adventure try visiting https://www.nps.gov/findapark/advanced-search.htm?a=23&p=1&v=0 for a list of parks offering camping as an activity.

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