When we think of peace in Singapore, we might imagine quiet cafés, spa days, or a rare moment of silence during the daily rush. But what if peace was just a trail away, among the undergrowth, the hum of insects, and the gentle rustle of a hidden animal slipping through the trees?
We joined Noelle from Untamed Paths, a group of nature facilitators who make Singapore’s wild side more accessible and relatable. Beyond leading guided walks, Untamed Paths also champions conservation and helps the public rediscover what it means to coexist with the natural world.
That morning, under the canopy of a local nature reserve, we followed Noelle as she opened our eyes and ears to a quieter, wilder version of Singapore.
“There’s more biodiversity in Singapore than most people think,” she said. “We’re a tropical forest, after all. That means species exist here that you won’t find in colder places like the UK or the US.”
It’s a powerful reminder. Even though most of us experience Singapore as a dense city with malls, highways, and air-conditioned spaces, tucked away between these urban pockets are rich ecosystems filled with life. The catch? You have to be willing to slow down, step in, and pay attention.
That’s not always easy.
Success, Slowed
“When we think about success, we think about it as performance-wise. We are thinking about hitting the KPIs you need to get just for the business,” Noelle reflected. “Nature becomes an inconvenience. It’s hot, it’s humid, it takes time, and wildlife isn’t guaranteed. But when your definition of success or the kind of goals that you’re reaching for ends up clearing a whole forest, does that really mean success?”
What Noelle said hit home. Many of us are caught in cycles of achievement, always looking ahead at the next milestone yet rarely looking around. But nature plays by a different clock.
And that’s where its true worth lies.
“When you’re out here,” Noelle said, “you’re not being graded. There’s no pressure in nature. You have every freedom to observe what’s around you, make your own observations and understand the creatures that you interact with. Even if you don’t spot an animal, just listening to the ambient sounds is more than enough to take your mind off”
Noelle has witnessed how people, even those initially uninterested, often return from these walks changed. “They begin to notice what’s missing — fewer birds, fewer species. They start asking why. That awareness often leads to action. Some begin recycling more. Others take part in clean-ups. A few even go on rescue wildlife missions.”
Lessons from the Wild
[Everything’s] a big connection. A huge spider web that’s happening around.
The connection runs deeper than just doing good. It’s also about rethinking our place in the world.
“There’s so much we’ve learned from nature. Take Velcro. It was inspired by plants. Or spider webs, which reflect UV light, so birds can avoid flying into them. Some buildings are now adopting similar UV patterns in their glass. It’s a way we can design with nature, not against it.”
Nature even offers lessons in compassion and community. Noelle pointed to primates as examples. Her words reminding us that in both forests and cities, survival is often communal and thriving comes from connection.
“They’re constantly helping and grooming each other,” she said, “and they always stick together as a team. I think for us as humans, there’s so much freedom to do what you want that we forget you can often do more in a team.”
But before we can design for nature, we have to experience it.
And that takes courage. The courage to be uncomfortable. The willingness to sweat. To risk not seeing anything at all and still being okay with it.
“There are many fears too,” Noelle admitted. “People are afraid of snakes or wild boars. But they are a lot shier than you think; they would much rather stay away from [humans]. They’re not out there to attack you. If we give them space, they’ll keep their distance. They’re more afraid of us than we are of them.”
Like many things we avoid or misunderstand, fear often fades with familiarity. What’s wild isn’t always dangerous, sometimes it’s just different. And differences, when embraced leads to wonder.
When asked what moment she would gift every stressed-out Singaporean, Noelle smiled. “A quiet moment alone in the forest. There’s something that you can always learn from them even if it’s as simple as what they eat. [Everything’s] a big connection. A huge spider web that’s happening around. Everything is interconnected.”
In a country that’s constantly evolving and building, perhaps the most radical thing we can do is pause. Not in a café or mall, but in the wild. Amid the branches and fallen leaves, the calls of hidden creatures, and the stillness that asks nothing of us.
This is Singapore too.
And in its wild corners, peace is patiently waiting.
When was the last time you let nature teach you something?