If there is one place in Singapore that will bring back the feel of the 1960s, It’s Pulau Ubin. A boomerang shaped Island that is 1,020 hectares, is home to one of Singapore’s last remaining “Kampong”, as well as the Chek Jawa Wetlands, One of Singapore’s richest ecosystems.
Meeting point will be at Changi point ferry terminal at 0730hrs. From there we will board on of the oldest form of transportation, the Bumboat, small boats that used to ferry supplies to ships moored away from the shore. The ride will take us ten mins. Pulau Ubin retains much of it’s 1960s kampong setting such as wooden Kampong houses and scenic winding forest paths. Today, 38 villages continue to live on the island. They depend on traditional farming and fishing for subsistence, restaurants and bicycle kiosks. At the bicyle kiosks,
participants are able to take the option of renting the bicycle on the Island or continue on the walking trail to Chek Jawa, which is located at the eastern end of Pulau Ubin, at an approx. 3 km away from the public jetty, it will take a 40 mins walk to Chek Jawa from the Jetty. One of the unique natural area where six major habitats meet and mix. We will be covering a 1km broadwalk, consisting of the Mangrove and Costal Loops, and a 20m viewing tower called the Jejawi Tower. Upon the return, we will come across the beauty of Balai Quarry on the way back to the Public Jetty.
After lunch (at your own expense), We shall continue the journey to western Pulau Ubin, walking from Public Jetty towards Wei Tuo Fa Gong, This temple is located on a small hillock on the western part of the island. It was said to be around 80 years old. Originated from a private residential house No. 224J, that belonged to Mdm Ong. This place used to house quarry workers as it’s tenants. Like many other Pulau Ubin residents. Her Husband, Mr Ong was the resident temple religious advisor given his background in Taoism studies, the house became a public temple during the 1950s. The temple houses shrines dedicated to different deities like Datuk Gong hillside spirits, Hindu gods, and chinese buddhas. It is also a place of worship for Tibetan
Buddhist Devotees. Next stop would be Bukit Puaka AKA Puaka Hill, is the tallest point on Pulau Ubin at 74m tall. It overlooks the Ubin Granite Quarry with one of the most magnificient views of Singapore and Malaysia. We will take a hike up the narrow and steep trail winds through the secondary rainforest and thick growths of scratchy resam (a wild fern). There are 4 stations along the trail, each with a different view of the quarry and surrounding areas. On a clear day, you will be able to see all the way past Changi to even the towering buildings of our own CBD on the mainland, right there at the very top, a sight not to be missed as you will never get one like that on the mainland. Our last stop will be the well known German Girl Shrine. The identity of the German girl remains unknown til today. But the story evolves around an 18 year old german girl that escaped into the woods to evade capture from the British military. And it was believed that she lost
her way and fell from the cliff. Her corpse was only discovered by Boyanese plantation labourers, who threw sand over her body, offered prayers, flowers and incense as a gesture of goodwill each time they passed her. Eventually, a group of chinese workers on the island carted her remains to the crest of the quarry’s hill and gave her a proper burial. We shall return to the Public Jetty to conclude our tour. We will take the bumboat back to the mainland.