Henderson Waves carries the Southern Ridges 36 metres above Henderson Road on a wooden deck wrapped in curling steel ribs, and in February the time to cross it is soon after the sun comes up. That is the rule for walking Singapore this month: early and late, with the middle of the day spent under a roof. February is the driest month on the Meteorological Service's long-term record, which makes it a good month for a walking trip, though the heat still builds fast. In most years the city is also celebrating Lunar New Year, whose date moves between late January and the third week of February.
Start at HarbourFront and climb the Marang Trail, about 800 metres of shaded steps, to Mount Faber. From there the route runs west across Henderson Waves to Telok Blangah Hill, along the elevated Forest Walk and on past Alexandra Arch and HortPark to Kent Ridge Park, about ten kilometres in all. Walk it in that direction and the longest flight of steps is behind you before the heat arrives. Set off at first light and you can be finished well before midday.
For deeper forest, head to MacRitchie Reservoir. The TreeTop Walk is a one-way suspension bridge slung 25 metres up between Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang, some four and a half kilometres in from the reservoir park. The bridge opens later than the trails, so spend the cool first hour on the boardwalks by the water and reach the bridge as it opens. It shuts on Mondays, except public holidays. Keep snacks zipped away. The long-tailed macaques along the trail have learned that walkers carry food.
The first two days of the new year are public holidays. Malls and the big attractions stay open, but many Chinese-run hawker stalls and shops close, some for longer. Spend those days at the bay. River Hongbao has in recent years filled Gardens by the Bay with giant lanterns around the holiday, and the ticketed Chingay parade of floats and performers usually follows a week or two later at the F1 Pit Building.
After dark, walk to Chinatown. For weeks around the festival, lanterns hang over New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, South Bridge Road and Upper Cross Street, and until New Year's Eve the Festive Street Bazaar fills Sago, Temple and Trengganu Streets with stalls of bak kwa, sweets and red paper decorations. Once the bazaar has packed up the lights stay on, and the pavements under them are far easier to walk.