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For most people, Singapore evokes images of gleaming skyscrapers,
streets so clean you can eat off of them, and a display of modern
technology at its best especially within the city confines. Images of
bustling Orchard Road with people going about on their way to work or a
day browsing the many shops lining the streets in a perfect summation of
today’s fast-paced, cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Unknown to most people however, there is a place in Singapore where they
can still see the Singapore of yesteryear before the age of modern
progress and high technology turned the place into the slick, orderly,
and exceedingly urban environment that the country is known for.
Pulau Ubin, which when translated literally means “Island of
Granite,” has so much more to offer that rocks which would make any rock
collector or naturalist jump in delight.
 
The journey to the past starts at Ubin Village where the pump
boat that acts as a ferry drops tourists off from Changi Village.
From here, tourists may rent a bike at the rate of US$3-6 per day from
the village and take in the scenery that is as far removed as imaginable
from the towering skyscrapers of the city.
 Quiet
beaches, rough, granite quarries, coconut and rubber plantations,
mangrove swamps and breeding farms for fish and prawn welcome visitors
and envelope tourists in the delightfully quaint rural kampong
atmosphere.
The community’s main inhabitants are the fisher-folk and subsistence
farmers. The only things to be seen that can be considered close to the
city are two-storey shop houses and run down de-registered taxis and
rusty pick-ups that ply the island routes.
Bird watching of munias, zebra doves, bats, woodpeckers and kingfishers
is plentiful, and hiking and mountain biking are just a few of the
popular activities tourists to the area delight in.
The island is small enough to cycle around and this is still the best
way to explore its fish farms, holy temples, coconut palms and deserted
beaches.
Tourists who explore the island on bicycles will often find themselves
passing through rustic villages returning the smiles of the friendly,
unassuming villagers going about their daily routine be it from feeding
ducks to checking the fish pen enclosures set beside well-kept kampong
houses.
 Food and provisions pose no problem at all for besides the stores lining
the jetty, the island’s location on the coast ensures fresh seafood that
may be cooked over coals or grilled by the beach.
Vast virgin forests yield a rich bounty of fruits from coconuts, sweet
jack fruit, and that “smells like hell but tastes like heaven” fruit,
the durian for those who are determined to enjoy the plentiful tropical
offerings of the island.
The village’s electricity is dependent on generators so those who may
not be used to “roughing” it may find this experience to be truly
unique. Some visitors even spend the night camped out on the beach to
complete that “back to the basics” nature experience.
At present, projects are put in motion to preserve and package the
island as a nature resort and get-away for the city weary be they local
or foreign visitors. When all these are done, the island will have more
clearly defined trails, shelters, marked camping sites, chalets, and
other basic amenities to accommodate visitors who may find the “simple
life,” too basic for their tastes.
There is nothing to fear though as the preservation of Pulau Ubin’s
natural environment is very much a part of the proposed development
program.
Helpful hints that will ensure a memorable trip:
Bring a hat or cap
Pack some light refreshments
Wear comfortable shoes and lightweight clothes
Be prepared to use those muscles and sweat it out a little
Have dinner at Charlie’s Corner at Changi Village.
Visit Asia Today! Your adventure awaits... |
