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across the island: west, north and east. Starting along the west road I was surprised that I didn't actually get too hot pedalling along, protected from the harsh sun by the engulfing foliage. The dense and crowded forest of overgrown rubber plantations danced in the sun that somehow got through. Full of butterflies, bright flowers and sparkling leaves, though there were shady parts: cold and murky, filled with thick gnarled roots. I rode on through, my bike so surprisingly sturdy and capable over the bumpy terrain, despite its essence of patheticness, that I almost flew on past the first quarry.

The granite quarries are now filled in with water, creating deep and still lakes scattered throughout the island. Unfortunately swimming is not allowed, but they create breathtaking scenes, and the sea is never too far away. Cycling on I found somewhere to buy a much needed drink. Unmissable, the slogan was painted on a huge piece of bright yellow and green corrugated iron, standing by the side of the path: Oh.. Yeh Oh.. Yeh Oh.. Yeh, Yu So like that, Buy a Drink Lah'. Lah is a common Malay word (the residents of Singapore before the British settled in the 1800s) that means nothing really, but is filled with friendly connotations and is added to the end of sentences implying don't you agree?', or the like.

Carrying on the path and over a bridge the forest began to thin, but here the path ended, for the land to become owned by Outward Bound Singapore: a worldwide educational organisation whose methods utilise the outdoors and challenging activities to help young people develop. I spied a little stony path though, with no fencing around, disappearing off down a hill. Following it, I tried to stay on the pedals whilst my legs shook and I bounced in my seat rattling over stones and pebbles, sliding down the hill. I came jiggling to a squeaky-brake stop outside a Thai temple.

I couldn't see anyone around, and got off the bike for a quick rest and a picture. As I was holding out my camera to click, a monk appeared through a large open doorway and came towards me. Fearing I had upset him by attempting to take his photo, I lowered my camera. But he came over smiling and invited me in. We sat on a veranda outside their simple temple and house, made of concrete orange walls and a yellow corrugated iron roof, decorated with red, white and green awnings and flags. Set into the forest edge it was idyllic. Until they produced the food. Durian.

Beggars can't be choosers as the saying

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