Labrador Park didn’t turn out to be the wild nature park I was looking for, however it managed to show me a lot of unexpected things. In particular, it brought out the significance of this place during World War II. There were a lot of signs telling the stories of particular structures that would have probably gone unnoticed somewhere else. Walking up the hill and seeing a gun emplacement makes you feel how real it was. The massive guns that guarded Singapore in futility still stand proud bearing witness to all that was passed.
As for the nature reserve part, as far as I can tell, there is only a forest on top of the hill. Probably because of my lack of interest in plants, I didn’t notice anything particularly special about the plants here. Of course, having a forest in Singapore is already a surprise in itself, the forest itself isn’t really anything special. The waters around Labrador Park are quite clean considering its proximity to the port of Singapore and major tourist destinations like Sentosa. The water here show a nice blue color that can normally be see in tropical paradises like Thailand’s Phuket or the Philippines’ El Nido. You need to good sunlight to see the color though. It doesn’t have limestone islands thats for sure.
Still Labrador Nature Reserve is worth a visit to get to know more about the country’s history. For a bit more greenery the hike to the top of the hill in Labrador Park was also worth it, especially with the sweeping views of the sea below. Located near major destinations, it is also easy enough to go to.
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