Trees

I was saddened to hear about an accident that happened at the exit of the treetop walk trail yesterday afternoon, the same spot we were at hours earlier. A man in his 20s was killed when he was struck by a fallen branch. It was raining heavily and the wind was strong at the time of the incident.

Just over two weeks ago a woman was killed and two of her friends injured, when a raintree in the Bukit Batok Nature Reserve collapsed on them. On the same day, a Singaporean man died in Mount Ophir in Johor, when a tree fell on him. And five days later, another man died in the same way, also on Mount Ophir.

I am big admirer of trees. Trees are a thing of beauty. I love the way the branches spread out majestically from the trunk. I even love the unique shape of each different species, and the way the leaves open up to receive sunlight and close at nightfall. I like reading under the shade provided by trees. What joy to see the silhouette of trees against the rising sun as I drive along the highway every morning. I love cruising along the shady stretch of Old Thomson Road which is flanked by old trees which arch gracefully across the road.

How can something so beautiful be a killer? It's hard for me to accept. Still that doesn't change the way I look at trees.