Heartwave Wall at Punggol Waterway

At the Punggol Waterway Fiesta on 23 October 2011, the Heartwave Wall was the center stage for the grand performances of the night. Let’s take a closer look at the features.

Boats carrying VIPS during Punggol Waterway Fiesta

Waterfall at the Heartwave Wall

These two photos were taken during the Punggol Waterway Fiesta. Punggol Waterway really looked romantic at night. The boats ferried the VIPS to the platform at the front of the Heartwave Wall. Then they walked through the waterfall underneath the staircases. That curtains of waterfall underneath the staircases are not always in operations. Maybe only during special events.

Day Scenery at Heartwave Wall, Punggol Waterway

Waterfalls along Heartwave Walll

A view of the Heartwave Wall during day time.Two rows of waterfalls cascade to the water. Climb up to the second level and have a closer look at the vertical garden landscaping. Do you notice the wavy structures? Maybe that is where the “heartwave” name come about.

Waterfalls at Heartwave Wall - left angle

Waterfalls at Heartwave Wall - right angle

A closer look at the waterfalls along the Heartwave Wall. They are really very cooling if you stand next to them. This is a great place to practice slow shutter speed in taking waterfall pictures. Always best to take a tripod along for such pictures. If not, practice handhold techniques constantly.

Technical specs for the waterfall pictures. Aperture : F22, Shutter Speed : 1/10 secs, ISO : 100, EV : +0.3 (because the wall was in shadows). Will experiment more later in the late afternoon when the sun is facing the Heartwave Wall instead of behind it in the morning.

Murals at Heartwave Wall, Punggol Waterway

Murals at Heartwave Wall, Punggol Waterway

These are two of the murals along the Heartwave Wall, in between the waterfalls. Each mural tells the story of Punggol, from its past history to the inception of Punggol 21. So take the time to read each mural while you are here.

Have a great time exploring Punggol Waterway with friends and family!

 

Day Landscape at Punggol Waterway Fiesta

I arrived here around 5pm. Just in time to see the people running during the McDonald’s Run. Already so crowded at the entrance from Punggol Road. Get to see the kayaks paddling towards the suspension bridge and Ceremony site.

Row, row your kayak up to the ceremony site.....merrily....merrily......

Crossed over the Kelong Bridge because it was less crowded on the other side. Get to see up close the boats that ferry the Ministers and everybody to the platform in front of the Heartwave Wall. Not meant for the public then.

Boats all ready to fetch VIPs to the Heartwave Wall water platform

Kites flying while people continuously crossed the suspension bridge to the other side. The other side, kids played at the water fountains at the hilltop. Very nice and cooling.

Crossing the suspension bridge at Punggol Waterway

A low angle shot of the water fountains while the sky looked bright and blue.

A bright sunny day at Punggol Waterway

It actually rained for a short while before the night events. But it stopped and the show went on in grand style.

I hope we have more “entertainment events” here because this is a great venue where friends and family can enjoy nature and have a great time.

 

Site Orientation for Punggol Waterway Fiesta

Punggol Waterway Fiesta on 23 October 2011

This was the map from  HDB InfoWEB. Looking at it, I hope I get the map orientation right. So anyways, here are the photos of the area to get a bit of the site orientation.

Ceremony Site

The row of black buoys lie in the front section for the water fountains to shoot up. I wonder if the water fountains will be syncronised with all that lights entertainment.

Heartwave Wall

Water Fountains along Heartwave Wall at Punggol Waterway

Watch out for the fireworks and pyrotechnic works at 7.30pm at the Heartwave Wall.

Spectacular Viewing Area

That circular viewing area is a great place to view the fireworks as it faces the ceremony site directly. There are seats there and if you want a closer look, go down to the lower rung and lean against the railing for support if there is no tripod for taking pictures.

The whole left section where the green grass patches are should be the rest of the Spectacular Viewing Area.

Another location that gives a great birds eye view is at that arch bridge on the main road.

The arch facing Punggol Waterway at Punggol Central

The suspension bridge is just slightly in front of the LRT tracks.

Glorious Blue Sky at Punggol Waterway

If you cross this bridge, there is another area here on the hilltop that shows an elevated view of Punggol Waterway. Don’t forget to take a picture of the Punggol Waterway Park signboard. Pretty cute. Have to see it for yourself. 😉

Tents have already been erected for the Exhibition Area and Carnival Area.

Hope all the pictures are the correct site areas. Enjoy yourself on that day!

 

Punggol Waterway Official Opening – 23 October 2011

Well folks, here’s the breaking news for today. Punggol Waterway otherwise known as My Waterway @Punggol will be opening on 23 October 2011. Here’s the online Straits Times weblink :

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_718009.html

Needs subscription though. Can’t read the whole story since I don’t have a subscription. I expect it will be in the news in tomorrow’s papers.

Another link via Channel News Asia : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1156272/1/.html

 

2nd Update – News from Eco-Business : http://www.eco-business.com/news/punggol-waterway-ready-next-month/

Read all about it!

 

Park Connector Network (PCN) from Sengkang Riverside Park to Punggol Beach

Update : The original article was written way back in 2011. Since then, the PCN tracks have been opened to the public, though some sections still need some improvements.

To get this view, you need to pass by some routes.

Park Connector Network along Punggol Beach

How to Go to Punggol Beach

From Sengkang Riverside Park Connector to Punggol Park Connector

From Sengkang, go to Sungei Punggol or Punggol River or Punggol Reservoir as it is now known. Pass by underneath the TPE/SLE expressway and you are on the Punggol Park Connector.

At the end of the route, cross over either the right or left side. Right side – clay path. Left side – walk along the the river’s bank edges stone path. Both paths are uneven tracks, wear track shoes not slippers.

Clay Path at Punggol Park Connector Network

Note : This is an old picture. The dam has been removed so this path is longer there. Walk along the river’s edge and the track will lead to the Jewel Bridge at Punggol Waterway.

An old picture of the path on the temporary dam

After that, you will see this.

Old picture of uncompleted track at Punggol PCN. It is now completed.

This is what I called the third shelter along the Punggol PCN here. When this picture was taken, the track was not completed yet. Use the Jewel Bridge to cross over the other river side.

Shelter at the Punggol PCN

Cross this bridge.

Dismount before the bridge

Punggol Dam

That greenish building in the far distance is the Punggol Marina Country Club. It is across the road.

Punggol Marina Country Club

Punggol Marina

After reaching the Punggol Dam, turn right, cross the road where the Punggol Marina Country Club is. You can see this track from across the road. Watch out for vehicles. Some bumps before and after reaching the road across.

PCN behind Punggol Marina Country Club

Watch out for vehicles before crossing this route.

Beware of vehicles at the Punggol Marina Country Club

A right turn and you are finally at the Punggol Beach.

Photographs along Punggol Beach

Punggol Beach with Johor in the distance

 

Sea View along the Punggol Beach PCN

Fishing at Punggol Beach

Across the bridge, more views.

Crossing the Bridge

Punggol Beach viewed from the bridge

Heading to Punggol Point and the Jetty

Cycling along Punggol Beach towards Punggol Point

Resting area – park seats.

Seats across Punggol Beach

At Punggol Beach.

Rocks at Punggol Beach

Punggol Beach - Left side view

Boat reaching the Punggol Jetty

Punggol Jetty

Viewing Platform at Punggol Jetty

The right side of Punggol Beach is still boarded up. There is a signboard that shows “Punggol Promenade”. This will connect with the PCN along the Lorong Halus Wetland, Sungei Serangoon. A lady chased us out before we could explore further. Just pictures for now.

Punggol Promenade at Punggol Point

PCN at Punggol Promenade, Punggol Point

Note : This was written before the official opening of Punggol Promenade at Punggol Beach. It is now opened to the public. No food stalls just yet. There is a drink venture machine next to the Police Post at the Jetty entrance. During weekends, the ice cream vendor is here at Punggol Beach.

If you don’t want to walk, jog or cycle, take Bus 84 from Punggol Bus Terminal and stop here. When the food and beverage outlets are fully opened, there will be such a big crowd.

Enjoy peace and quiet here during your leisure time.

Update : Bus 82 no longer stops at Punggol Beach (Punggol Road end). Now Bus 82 stops at Punggol Interchange. From there, take Bus 84 to reach Punggol Beach.

2nd Update : Many things have changed since this was posted. The PCN tracks at both ends of the Jewel Bridge at Punggol Waterway have been completed.

3rd Update : For a continuous circuit, walk, jog or cycle further on the right side of Punggol Beach to reach the rustic path at the Nature Walk section of Punggol Promenade. See glimpses of Coney Island on the opposite shore line. At the other end, the track connects to Punggol Waterway at Serangoon Reservoir and Lorong Halus Wetland.

 

Sengkang Riverside Park & Punggol Park Connector

Today, despite the gloomy weather I headed to the nature parks nearby the Punggol Reservoir. The Sengkang Riverside Park is apposite the Anchorvale Community Centre and is parallel to the Punggol Reservoir. Here are the pictures.

Sengkang Riverside Park

Signboard at entrance

Giant Sculpture

Sengkang Riverside Park

Map of Sengkang Riverside Park

Punggol Park Connector

The Sengkang Riverside Park connects with the Punggol Park Connector, as shown in this photo.

Entrance to Punggol Park Connector

That is the TPE Highway track. Here is the map of the Punggol Park Connector.

Map of Punggol Park Connector

As can be seen from the entrance to the Punggol Park Connector, there is not much light underneath the TPE highway tracks. But there is always a surprise.

Taken underneath the TPE Highway

This photo was taken from underneath the TPE Highway. Yes, it was a bit dark underneath the highway. There was this small ray of light coming from one direction. I took the opportunity to use the ambience light to capture this picture. I don’t like taking pictures with flash. Sometimes the natural and available light is all it needs to capture the scenery.

Opposite this view is this picture of the TPE Highway tracks. I have always thought the two tracks are joined. Now I see that they are not.

Underneath the TPE Highway

After crossing the walking path underneath the TPE Highway, I took this picture of the signboard.

Signboard

As I was walking, a cyclist passed by.

Cycling at Punggol Park Connector

Views of the Punggol Reservoir amidst the rainy landscape.

Before the rain

Greenery along the Punggol Reservoir

During the rain

Short respite from the rain

Short Break from the rain

As the above pictures show, the amount of light can changed dramatically. To avoid a greyish picture, it is best not to point at the grey clouds. Instead, focus on the foliage. The end result, as shown in the last photo, is a much brighter picture as the clouds above act like a diffuser and there is really no need to use the camera flash. Same scene, minutes apart, just different composition.

It started raining before I reached the end of the track. I came prepared with an umbrella but as it was the shelter was within sight when the rain really became a downpour. Currently there are two shelters, one somewhere in the middle and the other is near the end of the track.

I thought the rain had stopped and started walking forward and took this picture.

Catchment area at Punggol Reservoir

This orange muddy water came from the drain. This catchment area, just next to the second shelter, filter rubbish and the dirty water before clean water is filtered and released to the reservoir.

Almost at the end

About 30 meters from the second shelter, the track ends. The Punggol Park Connector, when completed, will connects with the Park Connector at the Serangoon River. So all the parks will be a continuous track from one estate to the other. I look forward to see that.

It started raining heavily again and I turned back to the shelter and took this picture while waiting for the rain to slow down a bit.

Railing at the Punggol Reservoir

As I walked back in the rain, not a single person was there at the track. I guess everybody turned back when it started raining. Despite the weather, I had a good time. Solitude with nature can really ease a heavy heart and brings peace to the soul. Along the way, I saw birds chirping, two big eagles soaring high and I felt as one with nature.

In combination, it was about 2 kilometers walking distance from my place. Nature is so nearby if one just reach for it.

Have a great weekend!

Update : The PCN to Punggol Beach, Punggol Point is not officially opened but you can walk, jog and cycle there. See more photos here : Park Connector Network (PCN) from Sengkang Riverside Park to Punggol Beach