Friday, November 15, 2019

Appreciating Urban Green Spaces

With a dog, I've been getting an incredible amount of exercise in. I feel better, sleep deeper and I move faster. Housework is a breeze because the effort and sweat are nowhere near the amount expended on a 40-minute walk. Well, there isn't much of a choice there. Choya toilets outdoors and needs the exercise too. I walk her minimally 40 minutes each time, twice a day. That gets cut down to 20 minutes if we run. Hahaha. Thank goodness she doesn't require as much exercise as working breeds. I think I'll keel over first.

On the average day when the humans are busy, the dog only gets a walk around the estate. She gets to pee and roll around on sad grass patches. There is a park nearby though, except it's under some sort of renovation and refurbishment right now and the space is halved. I've been looking at the ground loads and noticing just how dirty our pavements and grass patches. Cigarette butts, litter, sharp bits of glass, metal and plastic. UGH. Humans are very inconsiderate. Poor Choya's paws. This is why I insist on a foot bath of diluted povidone iodine for her after every walk. (I also bring along a bottle of water with me to dilute her pee.)

I've only just begun to appreciate our city's urban parks. They're actually clean. When we walk through parks that permit dogs, it's almost fun. Before having a dog, there has no reason to hang out there. As much as I love greens and blues, there isn't an impetus to visit our beaches and parks. It isn't chilling out when the moment I sit down, beads of perspiration roll down and swarms of mozzies attack. Sure, I go walking at MacRitchie and at the Bukit Timah trails. But I don't bother walking around Bishan Park, Punggol Park or even Botanics. TOO DAMN HOT. Now, I've to creatively find green spaces for Choya, and grow more accustomed to our searing humidity and heat.

Choya loves the parks. She loves trotting through and checking out the smells and the wider green space. If we go early enough, it isn't that hot. We tend to get out before it heats up at 9.30am. Say on a hot Saturday morning at Botanics, it feels a lot cooler running along the tree-lined paths. No tree in Singapore is allowed to grow wild. I always think that every tree is accounted for in this city. I'm not even sure we've got any real patches of forests left. Still, these intentional green spaces are way better than not having any. I take time to stop and breathe the air, and look up at huge banyan trees. It's a gorgeous view.

5 comments:

nua-ster said...

There's a small (but sad) dog run in punggol park. Just a rectangular plot that's fenced up and dogs can run unleashed.

imp said...

OH. i've never noticed it! i keep going to five & 2 and strolling around the area. thanks for the tip! i shall look for it the next time i visit.

nua-ster said...

It is quite 'well-hidden'..

you know the PCN that is at in entrance of five & 2?
from the entrance of five&2, facing the pond, turn right and follow PCN (but don't go towards the carpark). just a short distance away, there is a small footpath on the right side.. go onto that footpath and u will see it.. :)

imp said...

ahhh! i know that! i've walked halfway there but not the full way. i think i might have completely missed it. LOL I shall go find it again soon.

nua-ster said...

hahah.. yup.. just follow the small footpath. the dog run will be on ur right. it's still a short distance in so I don't think you have missed it.. heh..

enjoy!!