Went to Pulau Ubin this morning with some friends who wanted to go there to take some photographs. Three out of four of them came with the whole works – their SLRs, tripods, filters, lenses, camera bags etcetc. Very pro. Another friend of mine (whom I’ll call DT) and I, on the other hand, were like the black sheep. We brought only our compact digital cameras. I was the worst – armed only with the small Canon IXUS 400. At least my friend’s digital cam was a bit more pro than mine.
But what the heck. My aim was to go to Pulau Ubin only to get away from the city. DT was also there for the same purpose. We both have our own SLRs and other equipment as well, but we weren’t as into the photography thing as the other three were this time. So on arriving at the Pulau Ubin, DT and I rented bikes to ride around the island while we left the other three to shoot all they wanted.
Both of us had our own fun as we rode around the island and chatted as we rode. The rustic settings and slow pace of life in Pulau Ubin was a refreshing change from the main island of Singapore. Pulau Ubin is an off-shore island to the north-east of the main island. ‘Pulau’ means ‘island’ in Malay.

Changi Jetty – We rode in one of these bumboats to Pulau Ubin. Each bumboat seats 12 passengers. It’s a 10min ride and costs $2.

Wee! Off we go! – Leaving the jetty

Taken from one of the small beaches north of Pulau Ubin. The fence that now runs along the northern part was not there before. I think it’s been built because the Singapore government is afraid of illegal immigrants entering from Malaysia.

Lone Lily

Ubin Quarry – One of five granite quarries in Pulau Ubin.
Some of the flora found in Pulau Ubin


The back of the birds nest fern’s leaves. The black lines are the spores.

Dillenia suffruticosa – a plant native to Singapore. Go here to read more.

The sweet pea flower. The blue colouring from the petals are used as food dyes especially in the making of nonya kuehs (Peranakan sweet cakes).

I should find out the name of this flower. But I thought they were cute ‘cos they resemble chillis.

Heaven sent! – A cold, fresh coconut at the end of the trip.