Bin and I made it to Pulau Ubin one early morning after it being on my to-do list for such a long time. Pulau Ubin aka Granite island is situated just off the northerneastern corner of mainland Singapore.
Pulau Ubin is just a 10-15 mins bumboat ride from Changi Point ferry Terminal (take note, it is not Changi Ferry Terminal which is some distance away). The boat ride costs $2.50 per trip and 12 people is needed before the boat will leave the terminal. If you are not willing to wait, you can always top up the amount so that the boatman gets 12 people's share overall.
The place we rented our bicycle - $6 for the whole day
Being in Pulau Ubin transported us to a different world. We seemed to be in Singapore during the 50s-60s. So simple, so kampung, it's quite an eye-opener. We moved around in bicycle, and we were attacked by ferocious mosquitoes! Gosh, nightmare!
After much effort and multiple mosquito bites, we reached Chek Jawa. The first place we went was the information centre where we were welcomed by a very friendly guard. He guided us to the visitor centre.
House No 1 - Chek Jawa Visitor Centre. According to them, this charming cottage was built in the 1930s by the then chief surveyor Langdon Williams, as a holiday retreat. The architecture is Tudor-style, with adaptations to the tropical climate, and is similar to the cottages built in tea plantations during the British colonial era.
One of the most interesting feature of this building is the fireplace, which is probably the only working fireplace left in Singapore.
There were exhibits of the residents of Chek Jawa. So sad I didn't manage to see a starfish but at least the dead version is still quite comforting.
The back of the house lies the jetty view
We saw many jelly fishes
The jetty faces Pulau Seduku (Frog Island), one of 2 other islets south of Pulau Ubin. There is a very strange story behind this island. According to folklore, a pig, an elephant and a frog once challanged one another to swim across the straits. All the animals agreed that those who failed to reach Johor would be turned into a rock. In the end, all 3 overestimated their capabilities. The elephant and pig turned into Pulau Ubin, which comprises 2 smaller islands connected by man-made bunds. The smaller frog truned into an island known as Pulau Sekudu, which means frog island in Malay.
Jejawi Tower - The viewing tower is named after the Jejawi or malayan Banyan growing behind the tower. When in fruit, this gigantic strangling fig is a magnet for birds like bulbuls and fruit loving pigeons. It is 7-storey high.
View from the top
Then we went to the Chek Jawa boardwalk which consists of different parts.
1) Mangrove section
Mangrove trees with aerial roots
Fiddler crab, with one giant pincer only on one side
A lonely tree
2) Rocky shore - Chek jawa is among the few places left with a natural rocky shore, gravel beach and other interesting rock formations. At low tide, strange animals that live here include barnacles, crabs and fierce shell-drilling snails. Under the rocks are even more amazing animals like living cowries, sea stars and fast flat crabs.
3) Seagrass lagoon - A calm. shallow lagoon lush with seagrasses and seaweeds form behind the sand bar. Seagrass dwellers include colourful sea cucumbers, secretive crabs and snails, sea hares, squids and mantis shrimp.
4) Sandy shore and sand bar - The sandbar is the backbone of Chek Jawa and houses the Common sea star (which i can't find even though we walked the boardwalk twice!), sand dollar and also resting shorebirds.
We passed by a quarry on the way back
The wayang house
made you smile at5:15 PM
your sunshine.
A girl who's trying to live life to the fullest
Currently doing what she loves best, being a doctor and being among kids
