Writing blogs about Sillypore are always not easy. There is somehow a sense of confusion associated because I am a true-breed Sillyporean and writing blogs (which should generally be based on my overseas travelling experiences) about my home country may not sound exactly right. But I is often due to this line of thought that people pay less attention to their country that they should have. And this is precisely why I am trying to give Sillypore its deserved attention.
This was definitely not the first time where I had visited Pulau Ubin (or granite island in Malay). Located in the northeasterly direction offshore from the main island, it is the second largest island (largest is Pulau Tekong; a military base) not counting the mainland Sillypore. Most of its population (especially the young) had since shifted to the mainland for better career/study opportunities (the one and only primary school was closed in 1985). The island now consists of residents (about 100) who probably prefer the kampong/village life and are joined by hordes of weekend hoppers from the mainland hoping to relive some of those kampong experiences that were taken away when mass urbanisation changed Sillypore in the 1970s and 1980s.
After having breakfast (yes, it was the infamous Nasi Lemak or coconut rice which we did not find it delicious) with Sally, we boarded the bumboat (S$2.50 per person, 15mins) to Pulau Ubin at the Changi Village Ferry Terminal (note that there are also ferries to Pengarang, Malaysia). Upon reaching the island, we were greeted (or swamped) by a row of bicycle rental shops. We settled for a double-bicycle (those bicycles where 2 people can cycle on one) for S$13 per day and we just cycled around the island.
As it was the durian season, there were alot of people that were picking the thorny fruits (we know that because they always appear out of nowhere from the forest and holding on to a couple of bulky plastic bags). It was a pretty hot (and humid) day and after cycling for more than 5 hours, we decided to have lunch (clams and fried rice noodles, S$14) at one of the many seafood restaurants near the jetty. We headed back to the mainland at 5pm after returning our bicycle.
It had been a nice day off away from the crowded (and fast-faced) mainland of Sillypore though the visit only left me high and dry for more (as usual).
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We got further and further away from the mainland ferry terminal as the bumboat makes its way to Pulau Ubin. |
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Thought that this was a rather nice photograph taken on the bumboat; we were on our way to Pulau Ubin. |
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wyattwang.com doing it at the jetty of Pulau Ubin, Sillypore. |
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Here was Sally with the double-bicycle. She wanted to rent 2 bicycles initially but Sally realised she had almost forgotten how to cycle and was not confident to be on 1 bicycle. |
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We had a couple of breaks and some of these become photograph sessions for Sally! |
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I think this is the best photograph I had taken for Sally so far!! |
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Ok, we all have to have a cold beer on a hot day - one of the breaks was done near the jetty and Sally granted permission for me to have a cold Tiger while she had lemon tea. |
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Sally and me taking a photograph together with the mainland (behind the sea) as the background. |
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Another photograph of Sally; this one was taken at the jetty just before we were going back to to mainland Sillypore. |
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A mother with her smiley baby posing for a photograph.
- impressions of Pulau Ubin's jetty, Singapore |
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