Back to Nature - Trip to Pulau Ubin

Its been a long time since I've been back to Pulau Ubin... Probably 19 years...

But nothing much has changed. Its a nicer Ferry Terminal now... But the Bump Boats are just as old, its still cost $2 per person per trip.
Each boat takes a max of 12 person, if you want more privacy, you can pay a wooping $24 for the ride, and the boatman will happily ferry you only.

The weather was good, slight drizzle but by the time we landed there, it stopped completely.

The island has always been like a last "Garden of Eden" to lots of nature lovers. Over the years government tried to do much improvement to it by disturbing the least to its natural environment.

It got better roads and ... better roads.

I don't see that many children living there anymore, probably the younger couples have moved to mainland for better living conditions for the kids and convenience for work and school.

But the general feel of the natural environment is still there. Many shops have been converted to bicycle kiosks. Rental is only $3 per bicycle per day! Imagine that... its only a small fraction of the hefty price in the mainland popular cycling locations ($8 per hour)

Isabel loved the place, she loved the boat ride and the bicycle ride. Of course she loved the bicycle ride... I'm the one doing all the pedaling while she sits in the back and entertained me with songs and her own brand of silly jokes. I hope she will not become a "Stand-up Comedian" when she grows up. She also gave me encouragement when I have to cycle up steep slopes. That's why not once did I come down to push the bicycle.

We cycled all the way to the other side of the island and gazed at the kelong. The sea was calm and the breeze was cool, a true sense of serenity washed over us as we soak in the nature's gift.

As the day drew near to dusk, we back tracked to our meeting point for coconut drinks.

Dinner was at the Seafood restaurant.

But this, I have to say, is rather pricey, for a run down kumpong, they charge as much as the mainland.

We ate pepper crab, cereal prawn, sambal kangkong, deer meat fried with ginger and onion, fried oyster and eggs with 7 soft drinks... $108.

But the food taste good though...

We left the island after dark, there were no street lamps to light the way, but good thing we were already near the harbor. We left the island feeling satisfied... satisfied in our stomach, satisfied in the spirit for conquering half the island in bicycles.

We'll definitely be back...