[MAJU FOREST HIKE] Went on a ‘recovery’ walk with the wifey today, for my half-marathon exertions on Friday. 😅 We decided to explore the Maju Forest where part of the old Jurong Railway Line runs through it. You can enter the trail from Sunset Way (Block 104 Clementi St 14). Cross the road and head towards to green slope opposite. Follow the well-trodden path all the way to the Maju Tunnel. From there, you can choose to head up the slope back to the main road or continue straight which will bring you through Clementi Forest and to the Green Corridor. The Maju Forest portion is more straightforward than Clementi Forest, with less muddy parts. It’s also relatively short, about 1km long from Sunset Way to the Maju Tunnel. Simple enough for kids too, in my opinion. 😊 Swipe to the last 2 photos on the exact entry point of the trail.

#沒有走的路 這個月很忙祿，跟兩個德國精品家電品牌推出全省廚藝活動，每週我都在不同的城市（台北，新竹，台中，高雄）奔走，全省7-8場活動場場爆滿。 今天學員在課堂上問我：莉雅老師妳的資歷好豐富，唸文學碩士又去唸藍帶，在廚房裏工作這麼多年，到處出國比賽，拿了兩個世界金牌又出書，妳怎麼能做這麼多事？ 這位學員真的是太誇奬我，我笑著回：當年紀有了，自然就有資歷了😂😂😂 全班哄堂大笑🤣🤣（誠實的老實話😅） 回程的高鐵上，我看著窗外飛逝的風景，想起過往的自己。18歲後做的一切決定，全部都是很感情用事。 為了體驗完全不同於台灣的生活（也可能是因為小時候讀了三毛），大學飛到中東國家當交換學生，幾乎每天吃一樣的食物（沙威馬+酸奶），忍受每天可能超過15-20度的溫差，還要全身包緊緊去上學。為了長見識跟著當地長輩去體驗抽了一口中東水煙， 假日跑去看沙漠/千年古蹟/死海/玫瑰城... 大3時要準備考研究所時，因為喜歡看小說，就報考八竿子打不著的英美文學😂 輔大英美文學研究所畢業後，當了很多年的英文老師後，為了想做好吃的食物給家人，很不理性地唸在台灣沒什麼人知道的廚藝學校（2010年時的台灣，沒什麼人聽過藍帶，誰也預測不到後來這個學校會在台灣聲名大譟）。回台後10年在廚房裏埋頭苦幹地工作 想著想著，心裡突然浮出以前唸過美國偉大詩人Robert Frost 的一首詩 ‘’ The Road Not Taken ‘’ 沒有走的路（我自翻） 內容是在說，有一個人站在森林裡的一個交叉路口，猶豫不決地看個眼前左右兩邊的小徑，一條平坦舒適，一條雜草重生無人跡也看不出會連到哪去？ 兩條路各接著不同的路，一旦決定後很有可能就再也回不去了，而他最後選了後者。 一路上，我不斷聽Robert Frost 讀著這首詩，不經感慨我想我也是詩裡的這個人吧！ #莉雅老師 #廚房裡的法式優雅 #氣質網美主廚 #巴黎藍帶主廚 #世界冠軍 #暢銷作家 #電視台知名廚藝老師 #英美文學碩士 #美學食光 #翻轉烘焙教室 #一鍋烘焙玩到底 #文學 #詩詞 #RobertFrost #TheRoadNotTaken #poetry #poem #leahhuh #pastrychef #chefleah #美女主廚 #甜心主廚 #taiwancelebritychef #生活藝術家 #生活美學 #散文 #莉雅散文集 最後附上 這首詩 The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. # I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

In this week's episode of S.A.D.* we went jungle bashing again...with the monkies because school holidays isn't an excuse to sleep in! 🤣 Known as the Kay Siang Bunkers, they were used for goods and ammunition storage by the British Military, and built alongside the now-demolished Buller Camp that housed Australian and Indian POWs during the Japanese Occupation. Before heading there, I did a search online and while there isn't an exact map marking out the bunkers, it does come out on Google Maps. The first bunker can be accessed via Kay Siang Road and it's only a one-min walk. Short walk, but terrain can be slippery and muddy so do wear shoes with good grip. I think the first one is the most impressive of the lot because although only the facade is left standing, a huge chunk of it has been taken over by vines and roots - a mighty show of force by Nature! (Plus, it's a good spot for the gram 😁) The second bunker is just a few steps away from the first one and it's a fully intact but empty one. And if you search online, there is almost no mention of a third bunker. But if you follow the well-trodden trail on the right of the second bunker, you will find the third one. It is actually situated nearer to Margaret Drive, opposite MINDS. The total hike didn't take too long, about 30min tops but some parts of the terrain can be quite challenging due to slopes and muddy paths. The monkies certainly enjoyed it, more than if we had gone to the usual park. Or so they tell me. 😆 *S.A.D. = Sunday Adventure Date #hikewithcheekiemonkies