Singapore is at the same time an island, a city and a country. Escaping from the city generally means a trip to neighboring countries. But fortunately there are still some getaways natures, either in the middle of Singapore with the different parks (especially the botanical gardens and nature reserve) or on a tiny island near Singapore, which remained in a state of ‘kampung’ ( village in Malay): Pulau Ubin.
Ferry terminal
Pulau Ubin was used as a granite quarry in the beginning of the English occupation until 1970. Careers are now gone out and the nature reasserted itself. Now only a handful of people still live on the island. The island has been preserved for now of the massive urbanization of Singapore and has become a tourist destination.
Pulau Ubin
To get to the island, the only access is to take the ferry from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, boats leave when they are full (12 people, $ 2.5 per person). The main activity on the island is to rent a bike and exploring the various trails offered, you can see the map on the website of National Parks.
Beginning of the walking trail
A little field of pandamus
The place to rent a bike
When I was there, I wanted to cut through the forest following the dotted path on the map located on the panels on the island. I found myself in the middle of the forest with my bike trying to fight my way through the trees and bamboo, on what was left of a path barely marked and the sky was turning to storm … I was not very serene! Fortunately I got out of the mangrove/forest and found a normal trail before the rain started to fall. A tip, avoid the dotted paths if the weather is threatening!
The forest/mangrove
One of the trail