Pulau Ubin SG

Publish Date : 14 August 2007

Dear all,

Got a chance to explore a nice place last weekend. Wished to share.. and here it is..

About the place :

For environmentalists and conservationists, Chek Jawa is a gem of marine wildlife. Located at the eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, Chek Jawa is a collection of six distinct habitats – coastal forest, mangroves, sand bars, seagrass lagoon, rocky shore & coral rubble. Some of these habitats can be found at Pulau Sekudu, which is considered part of Chek Jawa. (Excerpt from visitingsingapore.com)

It takes a 15 minutes bumboat ride from Singapore to Pulao Ubin (Pulao means Island, Ubin means Granite). Singapore had plans earlier on reclamation (The engineering of derelict terrain so that it can be used for some purpose) (Current size of Singapore is 26 x 14 Miles), then gave up of that task to preserve this place. Its a total of 10 sq.km, size of this island. Abandoned Granite quarys, and more of mud roads makes this place idle for Mountain biking.

After landing in Pulao Ubin, we took 2 bicycles and started ‘the exploration’ with a map. In the initial it was so interesting.. In no time, I felt like am in a deep forest. Got to see the shore once in a while. All of a sudden I heard ‘creech’ of breaks infront of me and then mine.. Just 3 feets infront of us a 3 feet lizard (I bet an ant eater), added good chill in the spine. Than ran away from that place before we did that.. Then got a Tar road.. Pedeled again for 30 mins.. again small mud roads.. Then we got this Chek Jawa wetland. Some coral reefs and special one handed crabs, sea horses etc.etc.. We saw the first two when we walked on a intersting but clumsy floating boardwalk.

Well, almost for 3 Kms. Walked. Then a watch tower that has some good views of singapore and the Malaysia.

We were totally exhausted. Took a short but road ride to avoid that 3 feet beast on my way to reach back to Boat jetty.

That ended the ‘Island exploration’..

Just wished the bangalore gang was there all the way.. Days are not so for..

Here are the pics.. To read more about, visit http://www.nparks.gov.sg/park38_3.asp else do a google on ‘chek jawa’.

Thats all the singapore map.. Red circle is the Pulau Ubin. Other side is covered by Malaysia.

Thats another bumboat from singapore to Pualo Ubin

Thats how the road started

Just in between backwater and a bride to cross

Similar to one that scared me but just born. Long head and long tail. Poor mobile pic. 🙁

The road. (didnt get a better comment.. hehehee)

rustic village.. All were like this.

Staright to the sea.

Mangrove forest

Check Lawa Observers deck

Visitors center chek lawa

Floating boarwalk

Blame my mobile. See those orange red species. They are those Fiddler crabs.

Fiddler crabs in pic. (pic in pic)

At Mangrove boardwalk

Mangrove boardwalk.

Watch Tower

View from the watch tower.

On my way back! Power of propeller.

I can swim faster than that.. 😉

The other End, east (start) of Singapore.