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Ghost Hunt - 09/08/092 posts in a day?!? Haha...
This ghost hunt on National Day includes the addition of 2 new members, Lawrence and Chong... Including Brandon and Kailing, the 5 of us ventured forth to our first destination, old Fuchun Primary School...
Is that a camera or a laser gun?
This school has not been in used for many years and was left standing there... It looks pretty well maintained without any broken windows nor peeled paint... In fact, the paint looks like it was done last month... Actually, I couldn't really tell since it was late at night... :P
We circled all the way to the front and couldn't find any point of entry except the fence in the middle... There were too many people watching there and the slope was pretty steep which would post some difficulty for me let alone the 2 girls... We circled back to the rear gate where Brandon was talking about how we can climb over the fence since there is a small space where there's no barb wire... They were also discussing about something which I don't really remember as I was busy untangling a part of the fence which was cut before... After 10 minutes, I finally made a big enough opening for us to go through...
Its dawn already?!?
Don't be misled by the above picture, that night was a lot darker than that... I don't remember what setting I used to take that picture, probably was frustrated and just used auto... The place was pretty well sealed, with all openings locked... There wasn't anything interesting about this place since we couldn't get into the building, definitely nothing eerie except for the slow exposure photo of Brandon's "ghost"...
This is in fact pretty spooky...
Crap... Shutters behind the door...
We left the place without any rewards and decided to go Old Changi Hospital since the new members haven't been there before... On the way there, Brandon was hungry so we had a pit stop at Changi Village to refuel... Reached around 1.30am and only saw one transvestite... So late and still haven't start work?
After refuelling, we explored OCH... I scared a group of Malay and a group of Indians by throwing to the roof of the porch a stone and a piece of glass respectively... They were immediately silent then started talking even louder... Haha... As if we couldn't tell that they were scared... Forgive me for being childish, but that's what I do there when I wasn't scared - I scare others...
When we reached the 5th floor, I was freaked out by the sight of the coloured flags hung across the entire room... I first thought it was hung by some cult when they did their ritual there and didn't dare to enter the room... After exploring some more, we found more flags hung all over... On closer inspection, I realised its written in Thai, or at least it looks so at that moment... Not sure who would want to do that though, probably some shooting or sorts...
Happy National Day!!! Erm... Those flags look somewhat different...
Well, another uneventful ghost hunt... These events are getting boring, maybe I should stop organising them already...
Ghost Hunt...Last Saturday was another Ghost Hunting trip organized by me... It was an impromptu thing as I only started contacting everyone at 5 and the outing was confirmed at 9.30... There would be 3 planned destinations for this trip, Old Tanglin Camp, Old Brunei Hostel and Robert Barracks... Everyone arrived at 12 with the exception of Brandan who came slightly late... I almost forgotten Joanne until Winnie asked if there was supposed to be 2 other girls...
1st stop was Old Tanglin Camp... The place was fully fenced up and the fence isn’t like other places where it’s old and will disintegrate with a kick or 2... In fact, the fence was pretty sturdy and new, no signs of rust at all except this inconsistency near to the gate... We reckon someone has cut it before and it was mended, not much of a problem to un-mend is again...
I found a pair of pliers in my car and used it to initiate the dismantling of the fence while the rest was done by Winnie’s boyfriend (was his name Brian?)... He opened up the fence pretty quickly though we may need to squeeze a little... After considering Vincent’s size, he got to work again and made such a big hole that everyone could easily walk through it without as much as a hair touching the wires...
We walked in and proceed to the main building... There was a parade square, not very big when parade squares are concerned... We were about to enter the building when I noticed a ring of red lights to our left... Crap... Infrared Camera... We turned around and quickly headed out... Now that I think about it, that camera could probably see my license plate number... Sianzz... From the time we started tearing down the fence to the time I saw the camera was a good half an hour or so, more than enough time for the Police to arrive but no one appeared... The guards were probably asleep ba...
2nd stop was the Brunei Hostel... There wasn’t any barrier to enter the Hostel and we went in without much hesitation... As an abandoned hostel, I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be any security cameras at this place... This place is in the middle of a high income residential area and directly opposite was a house with a security hut... The security guard most probably saw us so Vincent and Joanne stayed outside in case the Police came... The buildings were broken down with some dangers of it collapsing... They were pretty big with low ceilings but not much paranormal activities though...
3rd stop was Bukit Brown Cemetery... It was suggested by Vincent as he had previously mentioned he’ll bring us there on the forums... We stopped at the entrance which was pretty intimidating... The roads were very narrow and there wasn’t any place where we could have parked our cars and take a stroll around... After a few junctions, I immediately noticed we’ve been on the same road before... I could recognize the trees and potholes while my passengers didn’t believe me until they saw the same shed and statues along the way... I was actually quite happy that something is going to happen... To my disappointment, it was just a wrong turn and we got out of the cemetery without any problems...
4th stop was Robert Barracks... We reached there and realized the place was demolished and some construction was underway... Since we were at Changi, we decided to go OCH after much lazing around...
At OCH, only a group of 9 went in while the rest stayed outside... Jack as usual went off on his own... We found candles on the 2nd floor of the SAF wing and that is when JJ and Winnie saw a darting shadow... They kept saying there was someone at the direction the shadow darted to but saw no one... It was 4.30 in the morning and there couldn’t be anyone else in the building besides us... Furthermore, they had previously spotted Jack taking pictures downstairs so it couldn’t be him... After much thinking, JJ and Winnie both realized that something was not right... The irritatingly noisy JJ went silent for the rest of the trip after this incident...
When I saw an offering altar set up in one of the rooms, my hair stood on its ends and I felt very uncomfortable staring at it... I wanted to get out of that place badly but stepped to the side and waited for the others to take pictures of the altar... I was fine as long as I wasn’t looking at the altar... We carried walking around with nothing else interesting happening until we decided to go up to the roof top... That is when we spotted the 2nd altar set up at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the rooftop... We didn’t want to disturb the setup and left the compound at 5.30am...
After so many trips to OCH, the place no longer scares us but Brandan said that he felt quite uneasy during this particular trip... Seems like the candles and altars had some particular effect to this long over explored place...
The ghost within...As the outing was planned last minute on 17th April, only 3 guys turned up - Jack, Brandon and me... Met up at 11.45pm, 19th April and set off for our first destination: MacRitchie Reservoir Water Tomb...
Quoted from SPI Website:
Tomb Mystery and Shui Gui
(Source: an informant who is said to be related to the family descendents of the deceased of the tomb)
Many years ago, there wasn't any reservoir at where it is now called McRitchie reservoir. It was a very scenic hill. And who can guess the eerie tomb where most people shun away nowadays was once a romantic alcove? It was a protruding lookout point in the middle of a hiking track along the slope of a hill. From there the view was spectacular as it over looked a lush hilly landscape like a flowery meadow over the valley. Birds and wild monkeys over the hills sang in orchestra and the nature sounds filled the air.
The above mentioned romantic alcove was a meeting place for Fann and Lok (both are not real names). The alcove witnessed the most drastic emotions of mankind, put up by this couple, through life and death, joy, romance, betrayal, grief and tragedy.
The story happened near the end of 18th century. Fann was a sole daughter of a rich and famous family who run an import trading business with the British. Fann grew up in Britain and always loved nature. Her grew-up environment shaped her to be a bold and open-minded person. That was somewhat opposite to her father that was very traditional and rigorous - a typical Chinese business man who calculates gain and loss more than anything else. Since Fann was young, her family had arranged a marriage for her, that was common in the old days, with a son of a tycoon called Tai. Obviously building a marriage with a tycoon's son would benefit lifting Fann's family business to a new height.
However, Fann never wanted to submit to her fate. Being a girl of 20 years ago, she was autonomous enough to manage her own life. She left home from time to time and she would like to hang out at the scenic walks in McRitchie reservoir (that wasn't a reservoir in those days). That was a perfect place for some quiet moments, away from troubles. It became Fann's favourite sanctuary whenever she felt depressed.
Fann met her Mr. right at the reservoir one day. That was Lok. We didn't know much about Lok, not even our informant. We were told that Lok was a charismatic communist, a leader of some political group before the war who regularly organized gatherings near McRitchie reservoir area. It is their destiny that they bumped, they clicked and fell in love though they came from quite a different background.
Their dating at McRitchie reservoir lasted for some period of time. This couple always met there, fell in love and they vow to get married there with the witness of heaven and earth (the sky and the valley in McRitchie reservoir). They courted each other more and more often, until one day Fann's family got wind about this. As expected, Fann's father was very angry about this affair because her daughter was disobeying him, let alone the fact that Lok was a communist clan leader that was a natural enemy to a Pro-British business man. Fann's father and Tai's father plotted to do something patching up the situation. The arranged marriage had to proceed in only few months time anyway. They wouldn't allow Lok to interrupt about it.
On one fateful evening, as usual, Fann was expecting to meet Lok at their favorite spot in McRitchie reservoir. Instead of Lok, his fellow came and delivered her a letter. Nobody knows what was the content of the letter and who had actually written it. However, on the next morning, Fann's body was found dead at the bottom of the valley, just right under the lookout point where Fann always hanged out. Again, nobody knows whether she jumped down, pushed down or fell down by accident.
After Fann's death, the wedding arranged between the two families of course had to be cancelled. Hence, Fann's family business, without the help of tycoon Tai, plunged down very soon and eventually got bankrupt.
But still, the tycoon's son, Tai loves Fann very much. That was what the public could have seen about. He spent a lot of money and took Fann to be buried at the lookout point with a splendid tomb. The grand tomb had a very superb facing, overseeing the hills across the valley. Many years later, however, McRitchie reservoir was developed into a water catchments area, and the valley turned into a water reservoir as it is of today. Water filled up the valley, to the level of the tomb, flooding even the lower part of it. This is how the name water tomb came about.
How our informant knows so much about? She claimed that she was a relative to Tai but refused to elaborate more. The concealment led us to speculate that there was something dirty that the Tai family had done but we just cannot verify without any evidence.
Under much persistence, our informant finally admitted that Tai's family had done something to intervene into Fann's relationship with Lok, but not with any intent to have her killed. The informant told us another secret too, relating to the choice of location where Fann was buried.
Most people would think that Tai so loved Fann (although it was one way) that he had been so nice to build her a posh tomb. The truth was otherwise.
We were told that Lok was actually murdered in the same year after Fann died, and Fann's body was found to be pregnant by the doctors in hospital. People know that Lok was killed too in a riot but it was actually a plot arranged in purpose. Here is the most intriguing thing. Lok's body was buried in Bukit Brown cemetery (aka Kopi Hill cemetery). That was the idea by his dialect clan leader who in turn was controlled by Tai's family. And Fann's body was offered to be buried at the lookout point that happened to be on the opposite site of the hill.
In other words, Fann and Lok were buried between and separate by a hill, back-to-back. So they never face each other. All these were arranged by Tai! You can see how jealousy turned into hatred, and into revenge.
Since then, Fann's grave was nicked as water tomb. Even more frightening, people believe that is very haunted. Sightings of a female apparition emerging from water are common at night. Some call it Shui Gui (water ghost).
Our informant continued telling. Nowadays the decedents of Tai's family realized what their grandfather had done is tremendously wrong. They feel guilty about it, especially after they heard that the Shui Gui which is believed to be Fann's spirit was haunting the reservoir. They used to invite monks to perform rituals trying to appease the soul but that doesn't help. Till now, Tai's family has been funding a contractor to come and sweep the tomb regularly. Every year they will bring offerings by themselves to the tomb during festivals like Ching Ming and July Hungry Ghost Month.
This is a fair world, when planting a good deed, you will receive a good reward. Likewise a crime will invite mishap. God knows what they have done. Tai's family seems to be cursed. The grandfather and the father were both drown to death, though not in McRitchie reservoir. It wasn't long ago. The father at his late age had developed some mental problem. He was kept at home all the time. But for some unknown reason, one day he sneaked away alone, and found drown in a sewage drain mysteriously. It was classified as an unnatural death by the police, and was reported on news last year.
One last thing that the informant told us. If we want to know whether Fann's spirit is around, throw a coconut into the water. If it floats, that means no spirit. If it sinks, that shows Fann's spirit is around!
That is all our informant shared with us. She looked quite sad at the end of the interview. She kept murmuring to herself "Wrath, such is wrath, how I wish Fann's spirit will be in peace".
Now where’s the guy’s head?!? Hmm... (6cough9?)
After this heart thumping ordeal, we went on foot for our real objective of the night... The path is unlit, uneven, and wet... Clever me told everyone not to bring torches just so that it’ll be more exciting... I was fine, but Jack and Brandon had night blindness... The moonlight helps, but only when the tree cover allows it to... Brandon took out his lighter which has an LED light behind it... It’s pathetic, but it’s the best thing we had...
The path wasn’t eerie, it was quite wide and the only thing disturbing us were the webs that tried its best to hold us back... The thought of making it all the way in then having to find our way back when the light dies isn’t exactly a walk in the park (pun intended)... 20 minutes of trekking took its toll on our little torch... As its light starts to dim, fear starts to arise... It would be scarier finding our way out of this endless path in the dark than seeing some ghost, worse still if both happens together... We had no choice but turn around and made a quick march for the exit...
While on our way out, we checked the map (which we couldn’t when we’re going in because some couple was having a good time in front of it) and realized that we missed the trail that will bring us to the tomb even though we passed it twice while going in and coming out!!!
Oh well, we’ll have to do it again when we’re more prepared...
Next stop was Old Changi Hospital... It was 1am and there were groups of people waiting outside the entrance... “For what?” I thought, “too afraid to go in?”
Yes... I’m too afraid to go in as well...
There were 2 police patrol cars and a minibus parked at the hospital’s carpark, ghost hunting session for them as well? Several blaring motorcyclists thinking that they are so much braver than us cowards stopped right in front of the entrance of the hospital and quietly made a U-turn... We were waiting to see some entertainment in case someone did not see the police and go straight in... To our disappointment, none were as stupid as we thought...
The 10 odd policemen left the premise at around 2am, quite a big group for ghost hunting eh?
After several minutes of pep talk, I managed to coax Jack into going in himself... Haha... What a simple-minded person... I didn’t expect him to stay there for long and true enough, he came back out after 5 minutes...
He said it was too dark and he couldn’t see anything... He then asked for the torch and wanted to go in again... The place is quite dilapidated and letting him explore the entire building alone was too dangerous (previously he had no light so I knew he couldn’t go far), thus I decided to go in together...
I’ve walked through those corridors for so many times it doesn’t scare me anymore... I believe fear is contagious, and my confidence seems to make them braver as well... Somehow I must learn to instill fear in them...
Sixth sense...Have you ever been able to sense a person that is behind you? I'm sure you do, especially when that person is closely behind... How about 2 or maybe 3 people? If your senses are keen enough, it shouldn't be a problem as well... I always have a knack for extrasensory perception, especially clairvoyance or some know it as second sight... My intuition seldom fails me, when I can sense it that is... There was a period I tried to harness this power, but I gave up as it takes up too much time... I'm glad I did though, cause what fun would it be if you already know what's gonna happen next? On to the main topic, this is about one of my trips to the supposedly haunted places...
A few weeks back, Ben, Weida and I decided to explore the Old Changi Hospital again... I wasn't particularly excited since the few times I went there it wasn't scary or anything... What I'm really interested in is witnessing the reactions of Ben who had always objected in going to these kind of places... Since he said he wanted to have a memorable day and we couldn't think of anything else other than sponsoring him for the services of a shim, he agreed without much hesitation... When we finally reach Changi after wandering around abit, it was already 5am, not a time anyone would want to go exploring that place... We set our final destination as the hospital's mortuary...
Walking along the long corridor to the staircase, the atmosphere started to tensed up... I was leading at quite fast a pace since I'm already quite familiar with that part of the building... We went several levels down until I decided to turn left into an unexplored region... I was still calm when I turned around to announce the beginning of the journey...
Stepping through the doorway, I was instantaneously overcome by fear; my pace had reduced to a crawl... We reached a room where all doorways were sealed except for the one we came in by... Illustrating the situation to those behind, I shone my torch over the doorways sealed with planks... On one particular doorway, there was a knock from behind when my light shone on it... Damn... Weida sounded off that we should head back and I totally agree... When I turned around, they had already left me behind... What speed man...
Since the situation was quite tensed, I decided to go to the floor which I suspect to be the reception area... You can reach the main road from there, so I thought it would reduce everyone's nervousness by seeing some civilisation... I lead everyone down the stairs, not knowing how many we need to descend by, but since it's supposedly the ground floor, we should be able to reach it by expending the depths of the staircase...
After several levels down, my legs started aching and my breathing got heavier... I suddenly halted halfway down the stairs... It was totally dark at the lower level as opposed to the others where there were windows...
I didn't realize there was a basement to this building, but it's most probably where the mortuary would be at... Staring at the darkness, something was definately not right... Ben then suggested we head back since he felt something was not right (before I even said it), and would tell us what exactly when we get back in the car... I was most happy to comply with his request... I turned around to lead the way back up, and that was when it happened... I felt the presence of another person behind, running up from the stairs... I stopped to make sure and I heard the footsteps... It was a very swift movement, from halfway up the stairs it ran and stopped behind Weida who was the last man... I was shocked and really wanted to get out of that place...
While climbing the stairs, I tried to reason out what I felt... The only thing I could think of is another human who tried to sneak behind us to scare us or something... However, I'm quite sure I was the only one who felt that presence since none of them mentioned anything... Despite that, I was totally sure I would see 3 people behind me if I turn around, or at least 2 people and 1 other thing... How sure I was? 100%, just like what I described at the start of this entry... That presence followed us for more than a level up from the basement, eventually leaving us around the same time my legs stopped aching... I really wanted to run out of that place (my pace was already on the brink of running), but tried to hold back cause I knew all hell would break loose if we did... Accidents happen easily when everyone panics...
When we reached the car, Weida was puzzled why I agreed to come out after going in for only 5 mins since I enjoyed going these kind of places... Ben then told us that his knees started hurting more the further down we went (before I said my legs ached as well), that's why he suggested we get out... When I explained what I felt, Weida kept insisting that I was just affected by the atmosphere cause sounds get amplified at this kind of places... Until now, he still don't believe that I totally freaked out that night; he expects me to be the bravest amongst them...
What's the morale of the story? Next time, I should just turn around and have a visual confirmation of what I felt... Yar, right... Like hell I would!!! I'm totally puzzled now, the reason I go exploring is to prove that such things don't exist but I'm too scared to confirm their existance... What should I do?
since 1st March 2005
