Pulau Ubin

 

We have just finished quarter 1 and had our first break - How time flies! During our Fall Break, we tried to do some exploring further afield and found Pulau Ubin, a small island off the NE coast of Singapore.  It is home to the Chak Jawa Wetlands, and Singapore's last "kampong" or village.  The north end is fenced off to deter illegal immigrants arriving from Malaysia and there is camping, some restaurants and also mountain biking trails. To get to Pulau Ubin, you pay $4 a person to board a bumboat from the Changi Beach Park area.  It's a short 10 minute ride. 

We rented bicycles to venture around the island, it is about 4 km to the Wetlands from the main jetty and there are numerous small roads and trails to explore. Being on the island was like taking a step back in time; you can imagine what Singapore was like just 50 years ago. It reminded us of travels to rural parts of Thailand and Indonesia.  Singapore has some pretty incredible natural spaces, but this was the first time we truly felt distant from the cityscape. 

We spotted Wild Boar as well as some Macaque monkeys in the forest, then made our way via boardwalks through the wetlands.  The observation tower afforded some views of the canopy and the mainland Changi airport. 

Singapore is less than 2 degrees North of the Equator. The breeze and clouds that accompany the frequent rainstorms can provide a break from the heat and humidity, but our outdoor trips are often pretty sweaty affairs.