7 Sep (Wed): Rural Nature & Kampong Culture Walk on Pulau Ubin

Join this walk for kids by Cicada Tree Eco Place! The island of Pulau Ubin has the last of Singapore’s bygone village ‘kampong’ culture. Here you will experience a quaint kampong vibe and the laid-back lifestyle of the people living and working on their tropical island home, and see retro architecture. Much has remained unchanged and it still seems like a walk into the past, back to 1960s Singapore.

We start our walk into the rural countryside on Ubin’s Sensory Trail, passing by bountiful kitchen gardens and fruit orchards. We peek over fences to look at wooden kampong houses and their outdoor kitchens and toilets. Our route will go through a herb, spice and vegetable plot, and also coffee and jasmine plantations. Here also grow now-uncommon kampong plants such as Midnight Horror and Noni.

We then walk on bunds through mangrove forests to spot mudskippers, kingfishers and tree-climbing crabs. Ubin is most likely the best place in the world to hear the incredible song of the globally endangered Straw-headed Bulbul. Our walk continues through lalang grassland where we can pause for a lalang arrow contest, and into a coconut plantation.

If time permits, we will visit the 2-storey kampong house of the late Mr Lim Chye Joo who was the lovely, wise village headman for the Chinese community on Ubin to have a look at his photo gallery. We return to the village centre on the main road, walking under ancient durian trees.

Please note:

• Please bring poncho/raincoat/umbrella, fully filled refillable water bottle, cap, herbal mosquito repellent, snacks. Optional items: camera, sunglasses.
• Please wear full length long pants, tee-shirt, socks and fully covered shoes. Long-sleeved shirt is recommended.
• There are provision shops, restaurants, cafes and bike rentals on Ubin.

To register please email Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg with names of participants, kids' ages and your mobile no.

Time: 9am to 12noon
Cost: $13 per participant. Free for participants’ kids aged 6 yrs and below. Cost excludes the bumboat ride to Pulau Ubin at $3 per person one way.
Venue: Pulau Ubin
Meeting Point: We meet at 9am at street level main entrance of Changi Jetty (also known as Changi Point Ferry Terminal) at Lorong Bekukong, 5 mins walk away from Changi Village hawker centre. Walk ends around 12noon back at Ubin’s main village and jetty.
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/