Pulau ubin’s sensory trail

The afternoon reached thirty degrees. The humidity was 80%. I walked the three plus kilometres back to the Main Village for an oyster omelette and a much needed coconut water. With shaded paths and a slight breeze, the island may have been a degree cooler than mainland Singapore, but it was still steamy.

Pulau ubin island’s chek jawa wetlands’ mangrove boardwalk

From the lushness of the sea grass around the mangrove roots, the walk changed into a quagmire of mud and what appeared to be anthills. I soon discovered that these muddy mounds which could sometimes be as high as three metres, were the work of mud lobsters that burrowed through the slush to extract rich organic matter. They acted like earthworms by mixing up and aerating the soil. Additionally, the mounds provided habitats for other animals such as crabs, spiders and snakes. 

pulau ubin’s chek jawa wetlands

The few tourists on the island rented bikes. But when I biked around Taiwan’s Taitung, I had to watch the road, and missed some of the sights. So I hiked to Chex Jawa Wetlands’ boardwalk, and was rewarded with spotting butterflies, but not so lucky to discover a wild boar glaring at me through the forest.

pulau ubin island’s highest point

It was time to hit Pulau Ubin Island’s trails, so I headed towards Puaka Hill first. The paved road was lined with thick forests that had regenerated and hidden old rubber and coffee plantations. Amidst the lush vegetation, the surroundings had a murmuring melody of their own, but what was that far off sound?

pulau ubin island’s kampongs

North of Singapore Island was Pulau Ubin Island on the eastern end of Johore Strait. In 1824 Crawford claimed it as British territory. Rubber tapping ceased in the 1980s and granite was quarried until 1999. By the 1990s fewer than 200 people lived on the island, and only one house held a resemblance of the earlier presence of the British.

Kampong near Kampong Durian, Pulau Ubin Island

Gardens by the bay

Within Singapore’s elaborate gardens, I saw more gardeners and cleaners combing the park than tourists. This explained why the site was without one piece of garbage and the gardens immaculate.

Gardens by the Bay’s Super tree grove

I arrived at the most photographed place in Singapore and lucked out on two counts — it was nine in the morning before tourist buses arrived and a weekday.

Submerged in the tastes of Singapore

I may have gorged myself on South Indian food every morning and night during my last visit to Singapore, but the city had more to offer, so I set aside part of the day to try Chinese or Malay dishes.

All that glitters is usually gold

Singapore is one of the few cities where I comfortably walk alone at night. I feel like it’s the safest city in the world to be a woman. So on my last visit, I took advantage of this nightly freedom to stroll through crowded footpaths of Little India where all that glitters is usually gold.

WW11 Kranji Beach Battle Site

This was the second location I stumbled upon depicting a battle against the Japanese during World War II.