Sunday, November 04, 2007

Battle of Sarimbun

P: This morning Sandy and I drove to Sarimbun, the first landing site of the Japanese invasion in 1942. Bizarrely, the Japanese flag was still flying ... did nobody remember to take it down sixty years ago? We later realised this particular flag only signified a group of Japanese cub scouts was "in residence" at the scout camp next door.

Apart from a plaque at a road junction 200 yards from the sea, there's nothing to remind you of the Battle of Sarimbun, which saw Japanese troops successfully breach British and Australian defences and penetrate the (not quite) "impregnable fortress of Singapore". There were hundreds of cigarette butts next to the plaque but far from being historical relics they probably belonged to the Japanese scout masters, who we could see slipping off at regular intervals for a crafty smoke.


(image borrowed without permission from http://sg.pagenation.com)

A mile up the coast we stopped at Lim Chu Kang jetty, from which small motorboats service the many kelong (offshore fishing platforms and fish farms built on wooden stilts) which dot the Johore Strait. We ventured out onto the swaying wooden jetty and looked out fondly towards Malaysia, Sandy's birthplace. Thirty seconds later the stench of rotting fish in the air drove us back to the comfort of an airconditioned car in Singapore.


(image borrowed without permission from http://sg.pagenation.com)

We explored all the tracks off the main road, most of which lead to barriers preventing you from entering the "restricted access" live-firing area, which occupies the westernmost side of Singapore. We saw resident Brahminy Kites and Black-Shouldered Kites and one much larger raptor which we couldn't ID. The winter migration is about to start ... my favourite time of the year in Singapore!

Since we were in the neighbourhood, we dropped by Bollywood Veggies for lunch. Sandy took nasi lemak; I had a delicious banana-stem chicken curry, and sweet-potato leaves with belacan. A quick stroll round the farm then we went in search of the owners Great Danes, which Sandy likes to disturb. When they start barking, the whole restaurant can hear them!

No comments: