Upper Peirce Reservoir

Having visited Lower Peirce Reservoir last week, it's time to "explore" Upper Peirce Reservoir next.

As usual, we left home earlier in the morning, and reached the parking lot at Upper Peirce Reservoir before 7.30am. Ample parking lots around.

The main road leading to the park is now converted to one-way traffic - with pedestrian path on the left, and road for cyclist/motorist on the right.  One can walk all the way from Lower Peirce Reservoir, all the way to Upper Peirce Reservoir. One may also detour to Thomson Nature Park along the way (before reaching Upper Peirce Reservoir) if interested.

The reservoir and its surrounding area...

The dam on the left

One corner of the park encircling the reservoir

Getting ready for morning walk

The wide expanse of green field right below a fairly steep slope from the dam

For some unknown reason, Singaporeans seem to be more health-conscious the past year. All nature parks are now teeming with health conscious individuals (both young and old), either walking or jogging or cycling along the various trails.

Upper Peirce Reservoir used to be rather quiet, with group of monkeys playing by the road side. We did not see any monkeys this time round.

Upper Peirce Reservoir has mostly paved track for cycling/walking/jogging. 

Spacious road...

This is the main road leading all the way to the entrance of the park.  No sight of monkeys strolling / resting along the roadside.

A trail branching off from the paved track...

It was kind of deserted when we were there. No other visitors were there.

On a nostalgic note, my wife and I went to explore a drain that led to a barrier with cascading water. CJ was so fascinated with the block formation of the barrier many years back (when he was still in Kindergarten), that he created the same block formation with Lego set at home.

We also caught a giant toad for CY's primary school project near the spot.

The drain leading all the way further up, to a cascading end

The block formation blocking the rushing water

There used to be a signboard "Beware of crocodile" here many years ago.

about complementary treatment for "incurable" disease

Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has just given a directive prohibiting a certain medical physician from prescribing non-standard antibiotic/antifungal medicines as a treatment of Autism. The same doctor was apparently censured in 2010 for using another type of non-standard treatment ("bioessence therapy") for children with Autism.

Use of complementary treatment @ alternative therapy for various ailments (particularly those "incurable" illnesses) is a known secret. I am not against such trial, as long as it does not cause any harm to the patient/family - either physically or financially. At least, this will give some comfort to the parents that they have exhausted all options in treating their children's medical condition.

However, inevitably, the parents may be misguided into believing that such treatment will cure a child's medical condition; and this usually come with a hefty cost.

I myself has recommended "off label" use of some medicines, in the hope that they may improve /optimize the patients' overall functional status. But I will never tout them as a cure. And I will hesitate to even discuss those "off label" medicines, if the medicines or treatment come with hefty cost.

In my years of practice, I have learnt that it is much better to tell the parents the truth - that some medical illnesses are truly incurable. But at the same time, it is equally important to guide them on the way forward, and support them emotionally.

Inevitably, all parents will be devastated on knowing the hard true. Some may slam us as being incompetent. But most care givers/parents will appreciate such candor.