Australian, Rhianna Buchanan will fly to Singapore next month for the Monster Jam as a Blue Thunder Driver – expect thunderous, roaring engines and stunts that defy logic. We caught up with this extraordinary driver – who counts being a body double to Scarlett Johansson on her Hollywood resume – to talk about her career, positive outlooks and keeping safe in a dangerous industry.

You grew up racing bikes and driving cars on the farm in Queensland; how did this passion start?
I really was born into the industry; cars and bikes were in my blood! Great weekends were always spent with friends and family riding on our properties and testing our skills.
You also did ballet and hip hop and enjoyed performing – is that something that continues to this day?
I still love dancing, although these days it’s reserved for nights out with friends. I do love a spontaneous boogie when a good song comes on though; it always puts you in a great mood!
How did the step to stuntwork in Hollywood come about? What’s the move from Queensland girl balancing tom boy and dance, to working in the movies?
A friend of ours recommended my fiancé, Jack Field, for some work that came up. I was there to liaise on the stunts they wanted and be a mechanic for him, but when they found out I could ride as well, they put me to work! Obviously, my riding and driving skills are utilised but things like timing and choreography are also handy skills which I learnt from dancing.
What do you particularly love about stuntwork? And the driving in particular?
It’s always incredible to be part of creating or working on bringing a movie storyboard to life. I’ve been very lucky in working with some talented and professional crews. It is not as glamorous as it may seem – it’s hard work – but very rewarding as well and definitely a thrill.
Have you found any limitations or sexism in your industry?
I have been fortunate enough to work with so many positive and supportive people but there will always be others with differing opinions. While you can’t necessarily change the views of others, you can focus on what’s important to you and surround yourself with like-minded people. I guess I have maybe changed my outlook on it; instead of thinking someone is sexist, I simply figure they don’t know what I’m capable of and let my actions speak for themselves.
How do you keep yourself fit and safe in this dangerous job?
I train a lot and eat lots of healthy meals! Fitstop Australia will see me at their facility every day of the working week while I’m at home, and when I travel, I take the workouts with me and replicate them in the hotel gym or in a park depending on the exercises. Healthy eating is extremely important in maintaining energy levels, concentration and focus, and eating a good portion of food keeps me happy too!
When did the offer come through to take part in Monster Jam?
In 2015, I got a last-minute call asking if I was available to be a Monster Jam host for the Australian Tour. I said yes in an instant and had a great time getting to know the Monster Jam family and touring around Australia. As soon as the 2015 tour finished, we locked in for hosting in 2016 as well. As Octoberapproached the next year, however, I got another call asking if I was interested in trying out to become a Monster Jam driver! Again, it didn’t take long for my answer to come through the line and next thing Iknew I was off to Paxton, Illinois to attend Monster Jam University. Throughout the 2015 tour, they thought I would be a perfect candidate with my background in motorsports and stunts and my attitude towards achieving anything I put my mind to!
What can people expect to see you doing as a Monster Jam truck driver?
People can expect to be kept on the edge of their seats! I’m looking forward to ripping in and doing it all – big air, wheelies and donuts! It’s all about getting the Monster Jam fans cheering!

Are you ever terrified of a stunt in a show or on the silver screen?
Whenever there is risk involved, safety is of course the main priority. Although we are pushing boundaries for both machines and bodies, it is calculated, and with the right training, it can be done safely while being exhilarating, fun and entertaining at the same time.

Away from the day job, are you equally into adrenaline-pumping sports and experiences?
For sure! It’s all about experiencing and testing skills as well as just getting out and being active. From sky-diving to wake surfing and everything in between, I am lucky to have a rad bunch of humans I call friends who are always ready for a new adventure.
How do you relax?
Spending time with family and friends is a great way to unwind. I also love being outdoors and appreciating the natural beauty we have in this world. I am definitely known for spending lots of time appreciating wildlife, especially our Australian wildlife!
Are you familiar with Singapore? What are you looking forward to seeing on any downtime you may have here?
I love Singapore and have been a few times as well as visiting plenty of neighboring countries. The first thing that I fell in love with in Singapore was the use of space and incorporation of green areas throughout the city. The second thing I fell in love was the food!! Singapore is also very clean, which says a lot about the people; they are respectful and proud of their country. Speaking of the people, Singapore definitely has some of the friendliest in the world! I’m looking forward to catching up with lots of friends we have made there, seeing as much of the city as we can and also meeting plenty more new faces who want to come and see what Monster Jam is all about!

ANZA teamed up with Monster Jam to offer a fantastic Facebook giveaway to our members. The question was put to you to comment on your favourite road trip journey – and we had some excellent answers which had us reaching for our car keys – and our passports. And the winners are…

Leanne Mills for her recommendation for the California State Route 1 for the amazing towns and coastline.

Sam Atkinson for her “drive” throughthe Moselle Valley, Germany.

Congratulations , you have each won a family bundle of four tickets for Monster Jam, 19 August at SIngapore’s National Stadium. Please contact the ANZA office to get your prize on +65 6223 7992

Wintertime changes the sun-kissed winegrowing region of Margaret River into a romantic getaway, Gerard Ward says.

Under a clear, blue sky, the chardonnay looked almost colourless – the faintest of gold glistening through the wine glass as I swirl it around. It may have been the third vineyard in as many hours, but I could’ve sworn that after copious tastes of both red and white wines, I could only now begin to detect citrus elements. This could also be because the winemaker just said ‘look out for the citrus notes in this chardonnay’.

My girlfriend and I are down in Margaret River for a few days for a getaway. (Flights from Singapore to Perth take approx. five hours, plus a further three hours’ drive). Being winter, we bought warm jackets in preparation for anything other than Singapore’s 30 degrees that we’ve grown accustomed to – at this point, seasons now scare us. The weather, while still an incredible change of 10 degrees at night, behaves like springtime instead.

Margaret River is renowned for its optimal soil for grape-growing, but we were also lucky to be given some samples of what to expect for the Cabin Fever event happening 14-23 July. We’ve come down just before all this is to begin, and are able to get a few peeks of what is planned for the festival.

Bushtucker Tours has been around the area for over 20 years, offering day tours for wineries and breweries nearby – one of which we begin our trip with – but it’s the adventure tour we embark on early in the morning that has me more intrigued. Helen, our tour guide, takes my girlfriend and I down to the beach near Prevelly, a coastal town. We’re to embark on a canoe trip around the river that sits by the sea – separated by sand that disappears only when the tide rises high enough.

Helen’s wealth of knowledge on the area and its history comes out in full force, with our walk to the nearby canoes being filled with botanical facts of edible plants. Helen hands over a thick green leaf she plucks from the fauna and asks us to rub it between our fingers, then explaining the smell of spinach. Another plant when digested tastes like a strong mustard. Sliding the four-person canoe into the water, we all hop inside and begin to paddle. Helen begins the story of the Bussell family, who emigrated from England in 1829 to try to make a new life in Western Australia. As the story deepens, we hear of an epic that would match a Netflix mini-series; survival, large families, living in caves, gambling addiction, and women’s resilience. Names of nearby towns like Busselton and Gracetown – and even Margaret River – become obvious when the story continues, with many of the Bussell siblings’ names being ‘town-ed’. Helen shares some fruit leather she made as a sample of bush tucker, and we are back on dry land to continue our day.

This year holds an important milestone for the Margaret River region. It was 50 years ago that Vasse Felix became the first commercial winery here.

We meet up with senior winemaker Mick right by where the original roots of the first vintage were planted. Mick explains the process which pioneer, Tom Cullity went through to find this particular spot that worked best for wind flow and temperature. We’re told of the challenges a vineyard faces when the grapes begin to grow, and how the biodiversity – neighbouring trees and their blooming flowers for example – play a big part in distracting the birds from the grapes.

Inside we sit for lunch, with myself opting for emu and kangaroo as a decision to experience something new. Mick runs through some of the wines as we chat about the rise of Margaret River’s reputation.

Another winery throwing an event of interest is Howard Park. Fondue by the Fire – held inside the vineyard’s bar and lounge with the original merchandise tables replaced by comfy couches and blankets – is an intimate event that takes locally-made Cambray sheep cheese and melts it down to a fondue. The roasting fire inside completes the scene as a getaway from the chilly outdoors.

Arriving on the estate later than we planned, the sun is just about to hit that golden hour for perfect photos. The estate has a mix of reds and whites, though when trying the Cabernet Sauvignon, I feel this suits the Swiss cheese best.

Margaret River’s focus on wines has surely become a winner for the region, but there are a lot of produce being grown in the area as well. Burnside Organic Farm is a fully organic and biodynamic estate, complete with rental bungalows that have wood pot belly fires and a view where kangaroos hop around at dusk. Around 20 years ago, stock broker-turned-farmer Lara McCall and her husband Jamie decided to change careers to start a farm. Job diversity is always a big decision, and having three sons doesn’t make it any easier, but eventually they were able to live self-sufficiently.  Lara and Jamie expanded the farm to have rentable chalets for visitors, and have earned a reputation for growing some of the best avocadoes and capers in WA. They even make their own wine too, with an old-fashioned lever-and-pulley system to squash the grapes.

Lara explains how the various parts of the farm rely on each other. The geese live among the avocado tree enclosure, fertilising the trees. The bees pass by the avocado trees on the way back to the hive, pollenating the aromatic flowers. The pigs can clear out a harvested vegetable garden by eating what’s left – which in turn lifts and moves the soil. This kind of understanding of the land is fascinating to hear. People who stay at the farm can get involved with the garden too, like plucking vegetables they’d like to eat – Lara mentions that people can only harvest if they’re going to eat it. Being on a farm is a great reminder of the kind of work that goes into growing produce, and that seasons still exist.

We drive back to our accommodation for the weekend. Riverglen Chalets is a 10-minute walk from town, but still feels like a secluded space, with our home being a two-storey chalet. Surrounded by forest and the sounds of kookaburras and rainbow lorikeets, the atmosphere is incredibly calm.

The Margaret River Distilling Company is located a mere five minutes away from Riverglen. Having distilled everything from single-barrel whiskey and vodka, the label now has taken on gin as their focus. We’re shown the tanks used to distil, and the smaller ones used for the Giniversity class – where over a few hours visitors are taught how to make gin. Running through the different types of botanicals you can infuse in gin, people can then choose which they’d like, and head off to the tanks and create their very own gin – you’ll take away around 500ml of your own brew. Not a bad souvenir.

What makes this trip complete is seeing the autumn-hued leaves that still remain on trees as we walk back to our chalet. Past memories of Margaret River during the summer months are all that I knew until now, but with winter having arrived, there seems to be a good reason to come down for a handful of new ones.

What is good for you is so much more than healthy eating.

Living in the epicentre of South East Asian cuisine, we’re more than aware of our foodie credentials here in Singapore. However, there is something far more nutritious than your five a day, more delicious than a Michelen star and far trendier than your acai berry bowl. Feeding our souls will never go out of style, will keep us going in darker times and helps us savour the really great occasions. Charley Larcombe talks to three very different members of the Singapore community on what fulfils them, how their lives feel nourished and what others can draw from their outlook on life.

Aleksander Duric by Russell Wong

ALEKSANDER DURIC

Alex’s story is one to inspire. From war-torn Yugoslavia, to the Olympics; from refugee camps, to the pitches of Premiership football, Alex is an incredible example of how hard work, determination and discipline can take the most unlikely and hopeless of situations and turn them into the extraordinary.

In 2008, he became the first foreign-born player to captain the Singapore soccer team, and since his retirement from the professional game – at the incredible age of 44 – he has worked with the government in promoting the sport and mentoring children to give back to the country he now calls home.

What do you need in your life to feel fulfilled?

“Family is my priority, my three children. Also keeping a positive mind-set; it has always held me in good stead. Life can be difficult, but I encourage myself and the people around me to be positive. Trying for positivity in every moment, every day helps you to keep going and moving forward.”

Have you received a piece of advice which made a profound difference to you?

“My mum used to say ‘stay humble. Respect and be kind to everyone you meet’. I didn’t really understand it as a kid, but growing up and then travelling the world, you see it isn’t always something to simply expect. I’ve always tried to keep her advice in mind.”

Which milestone has had the greatest effect on you?

“Going to war. Although I appreciated my time in the Army, being sent to fight in the Yugoslav Wars for something I didn’t believe in and which was just so horrendous, was a really bad period in my life. Getting my men and myself out of harm’s way and then subsequently having to leave the country was frightening. Ultimately, it was a turning point that changed my perspective on my future.”

How do you stay healthy in body and mind?

“Sport really teaches you how to live. You need to be mentally strong and focussed to succeed in anything. There does need to be a balance to enjoy a healthy life, and now I have slowed down a little. I still enjoy a long run, going to the gym and playing casual soccer; I also have a Harley Davidson, which I ride in just my shorts and a t-shirt.”

How do you formulate your goals?

“It has always been day-by-day, week-by-week. Striving for the Olympics in ’92 [Alex represented the new Bosnia in canoeing], or moving between soccer teams in Australia, China and then here in Singapore, it was all about the immediate goal – working on the present rather than ‘the bigger picture’. I have always put great pressure on myself – to the point where I’ve totally forgotten myself in the past.”

How do you measure success?

“Fulfilling my dream to compete at the Olympics, playing professional soccer… these have been personal highs, but real success is something bigger. My children are my greatest success and my hard work has always been with the aim to support them. Nothing compares to that.”

CAT STEPHENS

If any of you have battled through a Functional 45-minute gym class, you’ll recall that paradigm of endorphin-bliss and I-can’t-feel-my-bloody-legs pain. Cat, hailing from Canada, married to an Australian,

set-up her own F45 gym in February last year in Tanjong Katong, with a second location opening later this year. She balances her entrepreneurial streak with looking after her son, Sam and family life with her husband, Tom. Her ethos on fitness is less about how you look, and more about how you feel.

What do you feel nourishes you?

“Lots of things: exercise, meditation, family, friends, music, traveling. I really believe in energies and sometimes we “empty our internal batteries” and we need to recharge whether that’s by being surrounded by the people that you love, going for a fitness class or walk, or just listening to music. Little things can change your mood.”

What do you recommend to people struggling?

“Find a good network of people that you trust and who accept you for your true authentic self. Be honest with yourself. Try to focus on the positive in your life and get rid of the negative to help you find your inner strength.”

Your advice?

“If I’m giving advice on fitness I tell people it’s more than just a ‘look’. It’s about how strong you feel, how energised.”

How do you stay healthy?

“For my body, I do F45 at least 4-5 times a week, and sometimes I will go to a spin class, do yoga, or anything that catches my eye because I like to try new things and mix it up. As for mind, it’s about meditation and gratitude.”

How do you measure success?

“If you are passionate about what you do and if you wake up happy, then I believe that is a successful life.”

How do you formulate your goals?

“When I put my mind to something I never quit until I reach that goal. Failure is just a lesson. I try to drown out fear and look at the positive in every situation.”

How do you relax and recharge?

“I’m actually not good at “relaxing”. I do love going on beach holidays but I’m usually the one wanting to go walk the beach or paddle board. I come from a family that is very active and that’s just what we do. I started meditating again about two years ago and that has definitely helped me recharge.”

Which charities or causes are close to your heart?

“My Dad has beaten cancer twice so we like to donate to charities fighting this disease. We also donate to Willing Hearts which is a great foundation here in Singapore that helps people in need.”

RAELENE TAN
Known by many an ANZA member, Raelene is the writer, etiquette expert, traveller, volunteer and ball of energy that shows no signs of slowing down. Originally hailing from Australia, she has lived much of her life in South East Asia, and nearly 50 years ago, she met and married her Singaporean husband at a time when cross-cultural family existence was far from the norm. She is a published author of a series of five books, Etiquette – A Matter of Course. Covering Chinese, Malay, Indian, Western and Japanese table ‘dos and don’ts’, her book is a celebration of enjoyable eating and gracious living.

What do you feel nourishes you?

“Love from my family nourishes me and my love for them. Dark chocolate helps, too.”

What do you draw on in darker times?

“My Christian faith gives me strength through any challenges along life’s way.”

What do you recommend to people struggling?

“To stop, keep calm, be still and focus. Even though it is difficult, look for the worst that might happen, think about it, and then look at the best that might happen. Focus on being positive. If one is a religious person, pray for guidance.”

What has made a difference to you?

“Being true to myself in any situation. You must listen to others, but ultimately, one is responsible for one’s decisions. Also, I remember a story when I was in Perth. I found myself standing next to an elderly gentleman at a hotel driveway, waiting for a taxi, after some taxing medical treatment. He smiled and I said, “It’s a nice day today.” His reply was, “My dear, every day is a good day, and some days are better than others.” I mused on this for only a second or two, turned to thank him, and he was not there. There was nowhere he could have gone, as it was a blocked area…!”

Which milestone has had the greatest effect on you?

“Marrying my husband. Against negative advice, we married and are still happily going strong, with our 50th wedding anniversary coming up next year.”

How do you measure success?

“Success, to me, is being happy with my lot in life. It is not about money, fame, possessions or similar, but of feeling content with what I have achieved in life, especially related to family, to friends and to the community in general.”

How do you formulate your goals?

“By looking for contentment of my soul, knowing that my goals are for the betterment of not only myself, but also those closest to me. Sounds corny, but it’s true.”

How do you relax and recharge?

“Not sure that I know how to relax or recharge, but just being around positive people gives a certain oomph to one’s spirit. I also find solace through prayer. Going on a cruise, too, of course! Or enjoying a nice glass of cold bubbly!”

SOSD, the volunteer-run organisation dedicated to rescuing hundreds of Singapore’s street dogs is hosting a charity dinner where you cuddle puppies and drink cocktails.

The SOSD is leaving their rehabilitation centre for kennels new in Sungei Tengah, but before they leave the volunteers are throwing their annual charity dinner on Saturday 19 August. Held in the Ballroom at the Conrad Hotel, the “Farewell to Our Home” pays tribute to the place where more than a 1,000 lives passed through to gain a second chance. The added benefit of the location is that it has enabled an adoption drive too so the charity invites you to meet some of their furry friends during the evening. What could be better than cocktails, wagging tails and raising money and awareness of a great cause?

Emcees for the Retro Glam-themed evening are Petrina Kow and Denise Keller with guest of honour, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam. As mentioned, there will be a mini adoption drive, plus a fashion show – for pooches or people?! – and over $4,000 worth of lucky draw prizes to be won. Kick-off is with cocktails at 6.30 so grab a group and book a table (1 x seat, $200, 1 x table, $1,800). Register to attend the event at:http://sosd.org.sg/?post_type=dd_events&p=6145

For sponsorship, donations and enquiries for the Gala Dinner, please email charity.dinner@sosd.org.sg

What? The SOSD Annual Gala Dinner

When? Saturday 19 August

Where? The Ballroom, Conrad Hotel

What else? Tickets are $200 pp or $1,800 for a table

More about SOSD

Are you able to adopt a dog, be a dog shelter volunteer, donate to our pet shelter, become a sponsor or even foster parent while our dogs await their forever homes? There are plenty of ways to help support SOSD. Our mission is simply “to eliminate cruelty and abandonment of animals, enhancing their welfare, and improve the lives of animals and humans, through rescue, education and advocacy.” We strive to save our street dogs through 3 key areas of focus:

Advocate & Educate

SOSD actively advocates against the culling of our street dogs as well as for changes to stray management policies and the welfare of strays. Our work is grounded in compassion for our street dogs who often lead very harsh and miserable lives, often as a result of the land on which they live on being taken over for the purposes of construction and due to the callousness of man. Whilst SOSD recognises that not everyone may be an animal lover, this is no excuse for the abuse that our street dogs often suffer, often leaving them dead or severely maimed. We continually advocate against abuse and also educate the public on how not to provoke stray dogs that they may encounter. It is also SOSD’s mission to reach out to the public to correct the common misconception that mongrels are all ferocious, dirty and somehow, second-class dogs compared to pedigree breeds. Mongrels are extremely intelligent and generally tend to be healthier than pure breads given their varied genetic makeup. Street dogs make exceedingly loyal pets, grateful for a home and for the love shown to them.

Rescue & Rehome

SOSD rescues and rehomes as many stray dogs and puppies as our limited resources allow us to. For the ones that are wounded, we do what we can to give them good veterinary care and help nurse them back to health before finding them homes.  Rescue efforts entail an astronomical cost that includes trapping and redemption operations, boarding fees and vet care. We do not own a shelter and are currently renting a few kennels from a commercial entity as a temporary holding area for some of our rescues. But kennel space fills up very quickly and we will have to depend on available fosterers in order to save more dogs as we are unable to undertake a rescue if we have nowhere for the dog to go to. We are constantly finding that there are more dogs and pups to be rescued than there are fosterers. In order to save more lives, it is imperative that we have our very own SOSD shelter. We are working towards building it. But we can’t do it alone. Rehoming street dogs in Singapore is another uphill task but we do our best. SOSD adopts a mandatory screening process for every potential adoption. This is to ensure that our rescued dogs do not fall into the wrong hands, and that all goes well for the dog and family.

Sterilization for Humane Population Control

SOSD believes in sterilisation as a humane method for the control of the stray population. We sterilise our adult dogs before we put them up for adoption and follow-up on our adopted puppies to ensure that they are sterilised when they are old enough. SOSD also advocates that our authorities implement a nationwide sterilisation program for our street dogs.

For general information about SOSD (adopting/sponsoring a dog, donations, partnerships, becoming a volunteer) or any other query, please visit our website at www.sosd.org.sg

There are three more reasons to go outside and explore the great outdoors, Gerard Ward finds.

Singapore Botanic Garden and Learning Forest

753 Tyersall Avenue, 257700

The UNESCO World Heritage Site just seems to keep growing, with the Singapore Botanic Garden’s latest section Learning Forest opening a couple of months ago. Visiting this gorgeous scenery of green makes you wonder how long this 10-hectare project was under wraps for.

A huge undertaking for the NParks group, the newly opened section is an attempt to improve the natural conditions of the rainforest and wetlands. This addition has all sorts of local plants, trees – some over 100 years old – and fruit-bearing lychee and mangosteen trees. The more than 500 plants include some 14 endangered and 29 vulnerable plant species, and the local fauna has 100 different species, from birds and reptiles – you might recognise a familiar sight of the water monitor in the swamp – to butterflies.

The 8-metre high SPH Walk of Giants comes with a canopy web made from ropes that visitors can sit on, getting a bit of comfort surrounding the tembusu tree. Your little monkeys should have no problem hanging out here.

The elevated walkway gives an amazing view of the new space – especially at night-time. Wait until the sun begins to set for the bridge to light up, and the area to be given a golden warm hue. Most of the section will close come 7pm, so be sure to see the Walk of Giants and elevated walkway before then.

This is not all for the park; in 2018 the 8-hectare Gallop extension will be opened to the public, complete with a ‘Dipterocarp Arboretum’, a Forest Conservation Interpretive Centre and Natural History Art Gallery.

Chestnut Nature Park North

Chestnut Avenue, 679514

To hike, or to bike, that is the question. The northern part of the Chestnut Nature Park is finally open, giving us an extra 64 hectares of nature to explore –the total park is 81 hectares, making it a mere hectare short of being Singapore’s largest nature park.

While not the most easily accessible space to get to via public transportation – the closest train station is the Bangkit LRT – there is a car park. There are mountain bike and hiking paths along the northern and southern sections of Chestnut Nature Park. By the entrance is mountain bike hire shop Aire MTB, with rental rates that start from $15 an hour on weekdays ($18 on weekends) that get cheaper the more hours you rent. Riders, make sure you check with the Muddy Trails Meter before you ride to give you an indication of what to expect when you start riding. By the entrance of the bike path is a concrete bike park for kids to ride around in – think a skate park for two-wheelers. The bike path has some pump tracks for those wanting to give some stunts a go.

The hiking path is more rustic, more rugged and muddy. Be cautious if you’re wearing running shoes or sneakers, as they’ll possibly have less grip when given a muddy coat. You’ll come across trees with amazing bare roots that look like hands with dozens of fingers. Beautiful purple flowers upon closer inspection have ants working together to not fall off by climbing around each other. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to spot the red-coloured Banded Woodpecker chipping away some bark to grab some ants to munch on. It’s a wonder to witness a bit of nature almost completely hidden from the noises of highways and cars.

Hikers can take the southern part – which opened back in April of last year – to continue their hike down towards the Dairy Farm Nature Park.

Windsor Nature Park

30 Venus Drive, 573858

In late April we were treated to another opening of a new 75-hectare park, essentially connected to MacRitchie Reservoir. Windsor Nature Park has three new trails to try out. Along the shorter Hanguana Trail – named after the ‘Critically Endangered’ ruby-red Hanguana rubinea and white Hanguana triangulata along the path – are signs dangling from the local flora. The Singapore Kopsia, another species of flower categorised as ‘Critically Endangered’ in Singapore, is only a foot high, but will eventually bloom into beautiful white flowers with red dots in the centre. At the end of the trail is a small office that looks like it may eventually be a café – if the two signs inside are of any indication.

Take the Squirrel Trail, along newly laid concrete paths and wooden planks, and you’ll come across some of the park’s wildlife. Monkeys laze about, rifling through the hair of nearby friends and people-watching the monkey-watchers. Squirrels scurry, lizards scatter beneath the fallen leaves and birds chirp as you walk down the green corridor of nature.

The Drongo Trail – named after the species of bird and not after that person who cuts in front of you in the shopping lane – is its own elevated walk, with some incredible twisted vines that hang within an arm’s reach. What’s great about the Drongo Trail is its connection to MacRitchie, meaning once you’re done, you can continue on towards the TreeTop Walk and to the reservoir.