When it comes to Singapore, the first impression for me was always of a small, beautiful garden city with busy modern skylines. As a nature lover, it might not have been my first travel destination, until I got the chance to learn that there are actually many hidden nature places to explore. On my recent trip to Singapore, it gave me a kick when I went to a place that people haven’t heard of, and that’s where Pulau Ubin comes into the picture.
About Pulau Ubin
Considered to be Singapore’s last real kampong (‘village’ in Malay), Pulau Ubin is a tiny island located off the north-east corner of Singapore, with an area of 10.2 square kilometers. It is also a home to abundant wildlife, verdant nature, and a window to the old days back in the 1960s and a simpler life.
How to Get There
I took a bumboat at Changi Point Ferry Terminal, which is near the Changi Village Hawker Centre. It was about 15 minutes ride. There is no need to buy tickets in advance, but you’ll need to prepare SGD 3 per person to pay onboard. If you bring your own bike, you will need to pay SGD 2 extra. The boat departs whenever there are 12 passengers onboard.
What to Do There
It’s a great place for walking and cycling! There are a lot of bike rental shops on the island, which charge from SGD 6 to SGD 10 per person for a bike for a whole day, including children’s bikes, child seats, and tandems.
Once I had my bicycle, I followed the basic route as it leads to three quarters of the island. If you are willing to challenge yourself, you can take another route, which covers a quarter of the island, and is actually meant for seasoned cyclists. And yes, keep an eye out for wild animals along the way! I surprisingly bumped into a wild boar, a boar family, and some monkeys on my way.
After a couple hours into exploring the island at my own pace, I finally made to the star attraction, Chek Jawa wetlands. Climbing on the Jejawi Tower, I got a bird’s eye view of the area’s amazing natural sights. Not far from this, I found a spot to sit and rest along the boardwalk, gazing at the view of the rocky shore and ocean in front of me, all of which made me feel at peace.
My trip to Pulau Ubin has changed my thoughts about Singapore; there are definitely many hidden gems of nature waiting for you.
Photo: Wendy Xu
