Syonan Jinja

June 26, 2011. The 2nd expedition for Discovering Old Singapore edition is the Syonan Jinja. By far, this is the most extreme expedition ever! The Syonan Jinja is a former Shinto shrine built by the Japanese Imperial Army during their occupation of Singapore in World War 2 (1942-45). It was built in the middle of MacRitchie Catchment Area, close to the banks of MacRitchie Reservoir. This shrine was built to commemorate the Japanese soldiers who died fighting in the invasion of Singapore. The Syonan Jinja was also the location of many Japanese religious and cultural ceremonies. However, when the Japanese Occupation ended in 1945, the shrine was destroyed by the Japanese themselves before surrendering to the British. Today, remnants of the shrine still remains but they are covered by jungle vegetation. The granite steps leading to the Shrine and the stone fountain are still visible.

This expedition is participated by 9 people: Jeffrey, Sufiyan, Hidayat, Arman, Zaid, Razi, Raihan, Farhan and myself. However, in the middle of the bashing, we met a Japanese guy, Ohara, who is also searching for the shrine. He later joined us in the expedition for the lost shrine - Syonan Jinja. Here are the pictures:

Heavy rain just stopped and we met up at Venus Drive carpark at around
3pm. Sufiyan is on the left and that's me on the right.

Another three explorers in the expedition: Hidayat on the left, Arman in
the middle and Jeffrey on the right.

One of the 5 original explorers is back - Razi on the left!

And also another one of the five original explorers - Raihan!

Zaid, a lost tourist who decided to join us. Hahahahaha!

Hmmm. What is Farhan trying to do?

Walking the trail from Venus Drive carpark to Sime Track.

Still walking...

A very well-prepared soldier. Some of the explorers later learnt that boots
are the best pair of footwear!

Somewhere along Sime Track I think.

Hidayat doing business the natural way. Something terrible happened to
him later and he learnt that this was the cause! What is that something?
Carry on browsing and reading...

A group photo without Farhan at the start of the unmarked trail that will
lead us to the shrine.

Another one without me in the picture.

Zaid's Camelbak thingy and him trying to act cute...

The native MacRitchiean who was also our navigator.

Nope. Bashing haven't started yet.

I'm holding a pair of gloves, just in case we stumble upon durians!

No bashing yet...

One of the many obstacles we have to overcome! Thick vegetation
fallen trees, vines,thorny plants/leaves, soft grounds, muddy grounds,
steep uphills and downhills, spiders, mosquitoes and many more among
others.

Not much photos after this as the trail became bearly visible and later it
can't be seen anymore! We have to use knives to cut some plants
obstructing our paths or that have thorns. Markings had to be placed on
trees so that in any case we got lost, we can backtrack by following the
markings. Suddenly, while we decided to backtrack to try a different route,
I saw a lone man walking in the jungle! Trying to be friendly, I asked him if
he is also finding for Syonan Jinja. He actually is! And he is really alone!
He later joined us in the expedition! After so much bashing, we finally we
reached the reservoir bank. We decided to stop for a while for a short
water break. The shrine is not far from us now!

We continued walking eastward along the reservoir bank and...

We finally found the shrine! Wooohooo! This is taken at the foot of the
granite stairs.

We were somewhere at the foot of the granite steps. I dont't know what we
were up to. And that's the unlocked character's head, Ohara from
Japan!

Going up the stairs.

Going up again...

And up again...

A dead Japanese soldier's spirit must have flown in front of me! Hahahaha!

The stone fountain at the top of the stairs. Later the unlocked character
from nowhere, who turned out to be 'Prof Ohara' explains the Japanese
ritual of cleansing oneself before entering the shrine by getting water
from the fountain by using a ladle, I think.

We do not know what these 3 things surrounding at one corner of the
fountain. Most likely it used to be pillars to the roof above the fountain?

'Professor Ohara' explaining the Japanese ritual of cleansing oneself before
entering the shrine to us.

The stone fountain again.

Taken after the we bashed out of the jungle. As a result, sumone lost his
shoe. Clue: He doesn't have his right shoe. Hehehehe.

If you still can't find him, here he is! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

After the expedition, 7 of us went to Casuarina Curry to have dinner before heading back home while the other 2 went back straight. This expedition is a great success thanks to all who participated! This is the mark where the team decided to scale greater heights in the fortcoming expeditions! Till then, sayonara!

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