Revisiting Pulau Ubin during Covid-19 Phase 2

Going to Ubin during Public Holidays or weekends are tough as there are huge crowds going there to experience nature or just to do something different since overseas holidays are out of the question. During Phase 2 of reopening, like many places, there are safe distancing measures in place. Other than wearing of mask, the boat ride now cost $4 one-way and a maximum of 9 pax can only board per bumboat. As mentioned, if you want to go during weekends and public holidays, be prepared to wait. If you can't wait, why not try the Changi Point Coastal Walk.  I visited Ubin Island on a weekday and fortunately it was not crowded. My trip was to take a long break post National Day and use this opportunity again to check out the birds in Ubin and also explore certain paths that i went through in the past, to check whether this off beaten tracks have overgrown and become inaccessible. A trip to Ubin Island to me, a time-machine back to Singapore's past. I really hope that some of this places of heritage value are kept intact.  

View from the Jetty at Pulau Ubin

A "resident" of Pulau Ubin welcoming me

Disused Prawn Farms and Fishing Ponds

The were many prawn farms and fishing ponds scattered throughout Ubin Island in the past, but many of them have already closed probably after the government acquired back all the land and ponds. As far back as 1982, there was reports of prawns coming from a $1 million Pulau Ubin farm trading under the name of Aquaculture Singapore Pte Ltd. Then in 1987, The Straits Times reports of the possibility of Pulau Ubin swamps numbering 200 hectares of swampy land being converted to sea-water prawn ponds (using modern intensive breeding techniques). Did it succeed ? I don't think so.  

Tracking to a disused sluice gate

Disused Sluice gates 

2008 photo of Sluice gates in Sungei Mamam that were still working 

2008 photo of Sluice gates along Sungei Mamam
that were still in operation in Ubin

Prawn Farm (source: National Archives)

Orchid Garden 

Following the dirt road of the former rubber plantation along Sungei Mamam brings you to the formerd Orchid Farm which was at one time, a popular stop for drinks on weekends. Here you can  view the mangroves swamp at the mouth of Mamam River and see vegetables being grown and poultry. I was told and also read that the farm also has peacocks and other exotic birds. What i could remember and see though was it had a wild boar held behind the brick wall of the house. I read online that the house used to belong by the former village headman Lim Chye Joo's son, Lim Chu Zi. The dirt road loops back to the junction passing through a prawn farm with its sluice gate, and more mangroves. The prawn farm is now guarded by dogs and there is a gate preventing entry. 

Orchid Garden house now abandoned

Mangrove swamps 

A wild boar used to be inside the brick fence

2008 Direction to Orchid Garden

Orchid Farm (source: National Archives)

Washed up 

References

Prawns from $1m Pulau Ubin farm. (1982, February 27). Business Times, page 1
Pulau Ubin Swamps may be turned into prawn ponds. (1987, October 15). The Straits Times, page 16