My group members walking through Spice Garden Fort Canning Hill is also known as 'Forbidden Hill', where the common man could not tread, a very long time ago. It was the abode and sacred burial ground of Malay rulers in Singapore.
Our group of commoners walked on forbidden ground to rediscover plants in Malay cuisine and culture. We took a cool, shady nature walk into a world of spices.
Cinnamon tree in the backgroundFort Canning Park has a living collection of herbs and spices. We were able to see, smell and touch.... even taste them.
We found some of the most sought-after commodities in the past - nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.
We even found cacao trees!!
Cacao tree and its fruitsLater while speaking with a few elderly Singaporeans, they told me the hill is haunted. Fort Canning Park originally was a graveyard for 600 Christians.
*gulp*
Happy Labour Day!
PhotoHunt
photohunt
Fort canning is near to the Registry of Marriage. With Fort canning having some tombstones, some people say it is highly symbolic as they say "Mariage is the tombstone of Love."
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics and a very interesting walk! I loved learning about Forbidden Hill. :)
ReplyDeleteSpooky...(goosebumps and teeth clattering)
ReplyDeleteFascinating ECL but maybe you all should have thrown numbers on the ground for the chap jee kee(?) thing.Hope you weren't too close and kaypoh with the banana trees ECL!!!
Wishing you and everyone a nice Mabour Day long weekend!
Looks interesting! I'd love to see the real cocoa fruits myself.
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Birthday (or is it a belated?), ecl! :)
sgshortstories,
ReplyDeleteThat's why you're not married!? :P
Annie,
ReplyDeleteThere are more urban legends about Forbidden Hill but it's not appropriate to put the stories in this post.
jean,
ReplyDeleteI got the goosebumps after hearing the stories from the elders. :P
chap jee kee!? I didn't thought of that because I didn't know the history. Should I go back? *knees weak*
I hope I didn't offend them that day. :P
kyh,
ReplyDeleteI heard a Malaysian blogger told me about a farm growing cacao trees in Malaysia. I have to recall from whom and which state. :P
Luckily you did not meet with any of those 600 non walking "ahem". LOL!
ReplyDeletehttp://crizcats.blogspot.com/
Haunted?! I would love to visit :) Great pics ECL :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful walk and I'm glad forbidden hill is open now for everyone to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteCriz,
ReplyDeleteYes! I'm so lucky! lol
I'm still wondering if I stepped all over them.....
*shudders*
Sue,
ReplyDeleteThe elders are saying it's haunted and history shows that it was a burial ground, so I believe it is haunted. :P
Carver,
ReplyDeleteIt's such a lovely place to go for a walk .... and I see joggers too.
Singapore is a tiny island and there isn't much nature for the citizens to enjoy. This park is right in the middle of our bustling city.
I'm glad we can stroll along the nature trails and among this historical site.
Oh, I enjoyed this post...the pictures were wonderful, but the history was so interesting... Loved it!!
ReplyDeleteholy crap, it is Friday, I have not completed my photo hunt, thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteancient one,
ReplyDeleteI didn't know much about the history of Forbidden Hill, I just know that it has a lovely park. :)
I'm reading more about it now.
Sarge,
ReplyDeleteI'll visit you later . ;)
A really interesting take on this week’s theme.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place to walk. So many delightful spice plants to smell. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI would love to take a walk there too.
ReplyDeleteReally good post and pics for this week. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://lesliesmyers.blogspot.com/2009/05/photohunt-walking-in-venice.html
I visited Fort Canning Hill yesterday.
ReplyDeleteIt was also known as "Goverment Hill" after the completion of the Government House in 1822. Anyway, the Government House was demolised in 1859. (Source)
Looks like a wonderful place for a tranquil walk in nature.
ReplyDeletepeace,
mike
livelife365
I've been trying to comment since this am but each time I come here, your blog wont open fully. I couldn't see the comments portion.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, great take. With the heat and humidity in S'pore, I'm sure all the walking are done in early am and late afternoon.
Former burial grounds turned into a recreational park? Not for the superstitious... and those afraid of ghosts! ;D
ReplyDeleteHi ECL,
ReplyDeletehappy labor day to you too :) This tour looks fab, I especially like the cacao tree a lot. makes me a bit hungry hehehe :) keep cool always :) xoxo
I would definitely be scared though hehehe :) goosebumps maybe the least of my worries hehehe :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteis it scary walking at forbidden hill ;)
ReplyDeleteMy entry this week: in HERE. I hope that you can stop by as well. Thanks
looks like a fun walk! And a great place for spice-hunters...like the older times when they were looking for the Spice Island of Mollucas :) Happy Photohunting!
ReplyDeleteGreat place to walk, it doesn't matter to me if it's haunted. :p
ReplyDeletei'm a pretty big scaredy cat. i don't have the guts to experience the horrifying trail walk.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that Fort Canning has such interesting story. Just don't go at night! Hehe..
ReplyDeleteInteresting park with not only plants and herbs for visitors to explore but interesting history too.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't stay around and check out whether it's haunted? LOL
Ooh! I love real ghost stories! I would love to visit it. Where is this Fort Canning Park, exactly?
ReplyDeleteLina, you'll be going Singapore soon right? Why don't you check to see if it's haunted? No big deal to you right, since your home already have "visitors". LOL!
ReplyDeleteWhat are cacao trees? Do you mean cocoa trees?
ReplyDeleteWow, that must have been a fun experience :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe can make cinnamon flavour chocolate? ;p
ReplyDeletehappy belated burfday! hope u received my txt msg? or oledi change number? XOXO
ReplyDeletewe've plenty of cacao trees in Tawau ;-)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend ECL!
ReplyDeleteI like to hike anywhere even in the mountains and hills. Nice entry my friend. happy weekend. Mine is ready too. We have lots of cacao in our country(Philippines)
ReplyDeletenice and good articles im glad to be here my friends to read ur post, i hope we can make a friends in blogsphere, and ur blog to be my favo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots and a very interesting history lesson. Thanks for sharing! I can almost smell the spices.
ReplyDeleteECL! I am enjoying my long weekend here, what are u up to? ;)
ReplyDeleteDropping ec here today dear! So full la just got back from dinner! ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat information. I enjoy learning from various posts on blogs. I was not aware of this place. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteVery nice post! But don't worry about the Christians, they won't hurt anyone, heh heh. There they will stay until Christ returns!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your Photo Hunts.
Mine is up. I hope you have time to check it out.
http://newyorktraveler.net/
Happy weekend!
That's an interesting place. My hubby would love to see all kinds of spices.
ReplyDeleteA fine pictoral walk. A graveyard? Very creepy.
ReplyDeleteI love forbidden things, that's where I always want to go or to do, lol !
ReplyDeleteA very interesting "walk in the woods" for your group. After all you live in the " Spice Islands" , so to speak.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend to you ECL.
Wow, what an interesting walk that would be. Hope you enjoyed every minute of it. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteNothing is like walking out in the nature - you know I love it!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend :-)
Fascinating take and beautiful photos for this week's theme! Thanks for sharing. Hope you don't mind that I signed Mr. Linky twice since I played on TWO blogs today.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
This looks like a great place to go ECL. Maybe one day if i can get to singapore i will do it. Have a great weekend my friend.
ReplyDeleteNice pictures, ECL. I like the plugin you added that allows you to reply to comments. Where did you get it?
ReplyDeletefoong,
ReplyDeleteI think I have better chances in seeing a visitor if I go with you! LOL
Very healthy walk, close to nature.
ReplyDeleteWow that would have been a great experience. I wish I could see an actual tree of cinnamon and nutmeg too, two of my fave spices for baking. Thanks for sharing the history too, I learned something today ;-)
ReplyDeleteOohhh scary...better not go there at night eh.
ReplyDeleteAhh I'll that will be our weekend destination this weekend as hubby and I are very interested on nutmeg and cinnamon. Would be great to see it in person.
any place haunted is a playground for me. :)
ReplyDelete