Little Bodhi Outing 2024 to Jurong Lake Garden

Little Bodhi Outing (LBO) to Jurong Lake Gardens

On 9 December 2024, it was time for the annual Little Bodhi Outing (LBO). Everyone was very excited to explore one of Singapore’s most beautiful and well-designed green spaces, Jurong Lake Garden. Our trip was organised by a group of volunteers who are members from the NTU Buddhist Society (NTUBS) and the Little Bodhi Student Care Centre (LBSCC).

When we reached Jurong Lake Gardens, it was drizzling and everyone had to bring out their raincoats or umbrellas. The journey began with a walk through the lush landscapes, where we were immediately greeted by the calming sight of the expansive lake, surrounded by scenic pathways and abundant greenery.

After a few minutes’ walk, we crossed the White Rainbow Bridge and arrived at the Grand Arch. Some of the students and volunteers took some pictures of the Grand Arch. The Grand Arch is ornamented with many elaborate carvings and ornate motifs showing Chinese mythology.

Figure 1: The iconic pagoda

Figure 2: Intricate motifs at the Grand Arch

Figure 3: The White Rainbow Bridge

Then, we ventured to the ‘Outdoor Kitchen’, which is located within The Edible Garden, where we learnt about urban gardening. It was fascinating to walk through the various gardens planted with herbs, spices, edible vines and fruit trees.

Figure 4: Bean pods at the Edible Garden

The light drizzle did not dampen our spirits as we marched to our next destination: the Stone Boat and the Tea Pavilion. These serve as vantage points to admire the greenery of the Lotus Pond. We set to have a rest to view and admire the greenery of the Lotus Pond.

Figure 5: Enjoying the view of the Lotus Lake and the Stone Boat

Figure 6: Students took a break at the Stone Boat

Figure 7: The Tea Pavilion

Figure 8: The iconic Twin Pagoda

Then, we proceeded with the tour of the verdant Jurong Lake Gardens. We walked pass the Twin Pagoda before ambling through a corridor of towering bamboo trees.

Next, the group headed to a Suzhou-style house that houses a collection of bonsai plants.

Figure 9: Suzhou-style house at the Bonsai Garden

Figure 10: The Bonsai Garden

Figure 11: Beautiful bonsai plant

Figure 12: A lion guards the Bonsai Garden

We continued to walk and passed by the Plumeria Garden with its beautiful, blooming flowers.

Figure 13: Blooming pink frangipani at the Plumeria Garden

Figure 14: Lunch at the Rest House

Finally, we reached the Rest house where we had our lunch. After our lunch, the volunteers started to prepare the activities for the day.

Figure 15: Activity One – New City Governor

The first activity was New City Governor whereby each group was given a certain amount of capital for them to build their new city and the group which spent the least by making the correct decision on what they intend to do, won the game. From this activity, the students were expected to understand how decisions would affect the outcome especially related to sustainability.

Figure 16: Activity Two – Garden Guesser

The second activity was Garden-Guesser; the volunteers showed pictures of the various spots based on the routes that we had travelled and the students had to guess and mark the exact locations of these places on the map. The group with most correct guesses was the winner.

The third activity was the ‘passing-the-ball game’; the students had to pass the ball from the starting point to the other end of the hall and to drop the ball into a bucket. But it was not as easy as it sounded as the students needed to pass the balls which were in a cup that was attached onto their shoes. Once the ball fell, they had to restart from the point it fell off. The eventual winner was the group with the most balls in the bucket.

Figure 17: Activity Three – Passing the Ball Game

Lastly, the final activity was a Mass activity whereby each student was given a piece of blank paper to write how they had felt on the trip, activities and what they saw during this outing. They drew pictures and wordings to express their feeling for the whole trip. These were later compiled into a book.

Figure 18: Mass Activity

After the final Mass activity, the volunteers brought us to the Sunken Garden where we immersed ourselves in the beauty of the moss, flowering orchids and other epiphytes that covered the surrounding vertical green walls. The students were also amazed looking at a water feature centrepiece that is inspired by a collapsed limestone cave.

Soon after, we passed the Bamboo Grove and Waterfall area, enjoying the serenity in the bamboo grove that also housed a cascading waterfall at the end of the tunnel. Before we knew it, it was time to say our goodbyes to the NTUBS volunteers.

Figure 19: At the Bamboo Grove

Figure 20: Group photo at the end of the day

Overall, the day was a relaxing and enriching experience, providing an ideal mix of nature, culture, and recreation. Jurong Lake Gardens truly offers a serene and accessible escape from the urban hustle and bustle of Singapore.