Sunset at Pandan Reservoir

By and large, Singapore is beautiful and impeccably maintained. However, the same impeccable maintenance that makes the island so photogenic can leave many locations stale after a few visits. The human mind craves variety, and as a photographer, staling locations can feel like a limitation. However, I tried to not let this thought deter me too much. Some of my best work that I’ve produced in the past was a result of working under constraints and limitations.

Rather than reading listicles for choosing where to go, I decided to browse Google Maps. A large body of water close to the sea caught my attention near Singapore’s west coast. The body of water turned out to be one of Singapore’s many reservoirs, built to collect rain water before it is treated for potability and delivered to homes.

I set out for the location well before sunset on a Tuesday evening. The main entrance to the reservoir branches off from West Coast Road just as the Teban Gardens1 estate comes into view to the north. The reservoir is quite far from the MRT network but plenty of buses ply this route.

A street lamp, a sign post and a mysterious structure silhouetted against the sky atop the earthen dyke. No buildings in view on the horizon.

The earthen dykes that encircled the reservoir rose high above the surface of the road. People, lamps and signposts were silhouetted against the bright evening sky. The horizon was strikingly empty of tall buildings - a welcome change to eyes bored of urban structures.

The panorama that greets you as you climb to the top of the dyke’s walls.The buildings are far away and the sky is open and free.

Atop the dyke’s walls, a breathtaking view awaited. The reservoir’s calm, vast waters and the open blue sky stretched out in front of me. Only a thin strip on the horizon remained of Singapore’s buildings. A narrow gravelly walkway encircled the reservoir, flanked by short, stubby grass. If I listened carefully at the water’s edge, I could hear the splashes of the gentle waves - barely as loud as a whisper - against the rough, uneven rocks.

Grass gives way to uneven rock, which slopes sharply down into the calm waters of the reservoir.

I walked eastwards to see the sun set behind the reservoir. The risk of the deep waters were considered self evident; I saw no barricades along the edge of the water as I walked. However, signposts warning of the water’s depth appeared frequently. In fact, many sign posts were installed along the walkway, carrying warnings and information about the reservoir. Some showed their age, faded from exposure to the elements.

To the left a large sign shares some information about the reservoir. Its colors are faded with age. To the right a signpost informs visitors about the schedule for fogging the area to get rid of midges.

A long list of things not to do at the reservoir.

A more recently installed sign with information about the reservoir.

Just in case people don’t see the warnings - or if someone accidentally falls in - there are lifebuoys installed along the water’s edge.

Lifebuoys like these are installed along the edge of the water.

The track also had stones with distances marked to help me keep track of the distance that I covered

In Singapore, nearly 6 million people are squeezed into a 730 square kilometer area. So even the most obscure parks draw crowds, especially in the evenings after work. Perhaps its because it’s relatively difficult to get to; or perhaps it’s the relative scarcity of Instagrammable views - Pandan Reservoir offered much more personal space than the average Singaporean park.

Population density in the park is lower than usual. The people I saw strolled at a leisurely pace or were just seated near the water, enjoying the peace.

As I neared the eastern bank of the reservoir, I noticed neatly trimmed plants growing on rectangular, likely man-made islands floating in the water. This corner of the reservoir was also home to other wildlife. Clouds of midges and other insects buzzed around the plants. I even managed to spot a monitor lizard swimming between the plants.

A mysterious island floats on the water. — A mysterious manmade island floats on the water.

A monitor lizard swims lazily among the plant life.

The north-eastern bank of the reservoir buzzed with activity compared to the long lonely stretches on either side as it was the only part of the reservoir where fishing is allowed. A network of piers were built over large floating boxes in the water. The piers were stable but if I paid attention, I could feel the wooden floors under me bobbing gently in synchrony with the water below. Rows of long thin fishing rods were propped up against the handrails by fishermen. The sun was now low on the western horizon, casting long shadows and warm light on everything.

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A man sits on the floating pier, admiring the sunset.

In most parts of Singapore you’re always in view of at least one security camera.

Near the piers, I noticed an unrecognizable structure made of what appeared to be plastic cuboids and PVC pipes. Perhaps an experiment by the PUB? Weeds grew from cracks in the plastic and the whole structure swayed gently as small waves broke against the nearby rocks.

A mysterious structure floats on the water. In the distance, a photographer adjusts his tripod to capture the setting sun.

Small, motorized boats were moored at another wooden pier nearby. Almost everything looks good during golden hour, but I feel that organic surfaces like skin and wood are especially beautiful at this time. I liked the contrast between the warmth of the parts lit by the sun and the cool darkness of the parts in the shadow.

Boats moored at the pier. Access to the pier was restricted.

The eastern bank of the reservoir. Weeds are seen growing all around the rocks on the reservoir banks.

The eastern bank walkway stretches into the horizon. Joggers and cyclists are seen in the distance.

People stop to admire the setting sun and take photos.

The sun sets, leaving behind a beautiful orange glow on the horizon.

As the skies darkened, large clouds of insects started moving into the walkway, likely attracted by the street lamps. The signpost that I saw earlier on the trail with schedules for fogging started to make sense. Unwilling to let midges fly into my nose, I headed off for dinner. Mexican food this time.

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