Internal Tourist - Pulau Ubin & Changi

Travel Details:
Nearest Bus Interchange: Changi Terminal (Take 29)
Take a bumboat from Changi Jetty (Jetty is near the Changi Village Hawker Centre) to Ubin Jetty

Costs: SGD 2.50 / pax ( + SGD 2.00 if include bicycle)
Note: Bumboat usually leave when they have about 12 persons


I kept hoping for good weather on xmas day especially since xmas eve was rainy. And while there was a drizzle in the morning, I have to admit the weather is perfect (not too sunny, not rainy). Thank you.

The boats usually leave when they have about 12 persons else will have to wait awhile. I was wondering if there are people heading to Pulau Ubin on Xmas eve, and considering both trips, I did not need to wait long, I guess you know the answer haha.


Reached Ubin Jetty. This is the boat I took.


Pulau Ubin. More description here:

Shaped like a boomerang, Pulau Ubin (Granite Island) is situated just off the northeastern corner of mainland Singapore. The 1020-hectare island was once a cluster of five smaller ones separated by tidal rivers, but the building of bunds for prawn farming has since united these into a single island. Two other islets, Pulau Ketam (Crab Island) and Pulau Sekudu (Frog Island), lie to its south. Ubin is largely a series of undulating, granite hills. In the early days, granite mining supported a few thousand settlers. Much of the original vegetation was cleared for the cultivation of rubber and crops like coffee, pineapple, coconut and jasmine. Today, abandoned granite quarries remain as picturesque relics of Ubin's history, while forests and grasslands have regenerated to cover up the ravages of the past.

Source: Nparks

Oh and there were plenty of taxi drivers and bicycles centres to rent for one to roam around the island. Before I embarked on the tour, I stopped by the NParks Info Kiosk right infront of the jetty to pick up a free Ubin pamphlet and get some tips from the friendly NParks officers on how to spend your day. (If you want to recycle, you can return the map. It is better than leaving them lying at other places e.g. Chek Jawa *shakes head*)


The Wayang Stage, centre of Ubin Town. Share with you its colourful history:

At one time, before a school was set up in Ubin by the residents, it was a classroom for the kids of Ubin. Even today, the stage is sometimes used to house large dinners in Ubin Town and is the focus of other major events on the island.

The Wayang Stage, however, comes into its own during the Chinese Seventh Lunar Month or Hungry Ghost Festival. The Chinese traditionally believed that at this time, the gates of Hell are opened allowing spirits to roam among us. To appease spirits, especially those who are lonely and have no living relatives, various traditional activities are held. "Hell Money" is burnt and offerings of food and other items are left as gifts for the spirits. Wayang or Chinese opera performances are held, with empty seats left at the front for the spirits.

In Ubin, these traditions are very much still alive. Open air wayang performances are held at the stage as part of the Hungry Ghost Festival. This is NOT a special performance put up for the public, but a part of the way of life of the residents of Ubin.

Source: Wild Singapore

Then is time to head to Butterfly Hill.

First you must pass by the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub (so-called Meeting Point 1 haha)



Then you must pass the Pekan Quarry. On the right side of the road, there is a little viewing area facing the quarry's water where you can see white birds on the opposite shore. On the left side of the road, you should be able to see a little pagoda-like structure way up on the hill. That is a little rest-area in the Butterfly Park.

Thus take the left turning, then turn left again, up a little hill. (Oh and if cycling, it might be tough to get up thus one must start pushing/pulling the bike up the hill)



Cycad Blue or Pea Blue Butterfly? When I first saw this butterfly photo, I wondered why "Blue" because its underside was brown (and I saw it when it closed its wings.) Now with the wings open, I finally know where its blue comes from haha. (I can't be too sure if this really is cycad blue or pea blue.. I"m not a butterfly expert so if I make a mistake, do correct me.)


Caterpillars.. but I'm not sure what it will grow up to become.

Oh ya and I got my direction from the Butterfly Circle.


Oh and more information given by my butterfly expert. The butterflies I seen include:
Common Grass Yellow
Common bush brown
Plain tiger - at the Crown plant
Chestnut bob
Blue Glassy Tiger
Painted Jezebel
Common Birdwing (Female) - That was lovely. The female has many variations compared to the male... and it was really awesome to see it though unable to capture it through the shutter. (Probably need SLR + Wide lens + Stable hands for moving objects)

Life cycle of butterfly:
1. Egg (ovum): 2~3 days
2. Caterpillar (larva) - 4 stages (instar): 1 week ~ 3 weeks
3. Pupa (chrysalis): 1 week (birdwing ~ 4 weeks)
4. Adult (imago): 2~4 weeks

Best time to observe butterflies?
Butterflies are day flying insects and thus are active during the warmer part of the day. The best time to observe butterflies is when the sun is up and there is a light breeze, typically from 9:30am-12pm, 2:00pm-3:30pm.

Oh and if wondering where do butterflies go at night or rains?
Butterflies seek the shelter of leaves at night. Most park themselves on the undersides of leaves where they are sheltered from the rain and winds. Now you know why I needed good weather, is definitely not for my sake... come on butterflies should be active on xmas day too :p .

Source: Butterfly Interest Group Nature Society (Singapore)

Oh there is a 大伯公 temple to visit/pray if interested.


The bicycles for rent. Rented one to visit Chek Jawa. I couldn't cycle (totally couldn't balance that day.. I guess is the crowd that scares me) thus had to rent a two-seater and let my friend be in-charge of balancing haha.



If you cycle to Chek Jawa, you have to leave your bikes at Punai Hut.  You can see lots of bicycles parked there! Walk a short distance to reach the information kiosk. If you intend to walk, it is an estimated 40 minutes walk.

Chek Jawa is an intertidal area, with its various eco-systems unveiled at low tides of 0.5 metres and below.

Opening Hours: 8.30 am - 6.00 pm
Check here to refer to the tides.



The boardwalk at Chek Jawa was launched in 2007. Facilities include a visitor centre at House No. 1 with a viewing jetty, a 1.1km boardwalk (Mangrove and Coastal Loops), and the 21m Jejawi Tower with a panoramic view of the surroundings.


As I'm no expert in such area (maybe will try to volunteer here to gain knowledge one day??) thus I am only able to identify the mudskippers


and fiddler crabs

As mentioned, the Jejawi Tower. It is named after the Malayan Banyan (Ficus microcarpa) growing nearby that was as tall as the tower. The Malayan Banyan is a fig tree. As fig trees produce figs very regularly, they are able to provide regular food supplies for all kinds of animals such as birds and monkeys, unlike other forest trees that fruit perhaps once a year or even once every few years. In fact, such large fig trees play a critical role in providing food and shelter, and studies suggest the number of such fig trees limit the number of animals found in a forest.

Source here

The scenic top view.


Oh and this is Nipah. Its most recognisable use locally is its edible young seeds - attap chee. Craving for ice kachang?


The viewing jetty... Quite lovely


and the Chek Jawa Visitor Centre. It is a former Tudor-style cottage built in the 1930s by the Chief Surveyor, Langdon Williams. It was his holiday retreat. The building was designated for conservation in 2003 and restoration works were completed in 2006.

That was our last stop before we headed back. Spent a whole day in P. Ubin, pretty fruitful actually.

Travel Details:
Take Bus 29
Operation hours: 9:30am - 5:00pm daily;
last admission at 4.30pm (Including Sundays and Public Holidays)
Admission is free.

And the next day, I went back to Changi again, this time to visit Changi Museum, Changi Beach and the Changi Boardwalk



Changi Museum does not allow any photography so I did not take much photos here.

Travel Details:
Nearest Bus Interchange: Changi Terminal (Take 29)

Then we continued to Changi Village Hawker Center for dinner. Yupz I chose to see the sunset because Changi Boardwalk has a sunset walk haha.. so I figured it should be interesting to catch the sunset. Made my friend walk after dinner.. oops... well but she doesn't mind.


Explored the beach first since we were nearby.

Nice sandy beach...

So close to the Changi Airport you can see the planes flying ...



The Boardwalk is a 1.2 km boardwalk along the scenic coast connects the Changi Beach Club to the Changi Sailing Club. One passes amidst several heritage trees when on the way to the walk. The boardwalk comprises four segments:

1. Sailing Point Walk: One can enjoy open sea walking on this stretch.

2. Cliff Walk: Passing through verdant landscape, the walk is located just below the hilltop chalets. Viewing decks on this stretch give lovely views.


3. Kelong Walk: This stretch has kelong stilts built over water, giving one an idea of the old Kelong days.


Sunset Walk: It provides glorious views of the sunset over Changi point, with massive boulders working as a backdrop. It is also our last stop.


Can see the ocean current? The sea, the sun... the view...

Source: Singapore Tourism 

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