Visit Chek Jawa before 2012!

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For all of you who are sick of hanging out in the malls, go Chek Jawa - "one of Singapore's richest ecosystem", "a unique natural area where six major habitats meet and mix"
(nparks 2009)

It's at the southern tip of Pulau Ubin.

Apparently, our government might claim it for state use from 2012 onwards. SO, it's your LAST CHANCE to catch a glimpse of the natural scenery!


What You Can See There
There are two board walks available FOC - coastal and mangrove. As you walk along, you can see:

• sea view, which was extremely beautiful in the evening as the sun set
• coastal forest, which is nice combination of orange clay and green plants
• tiny crabs, crabs and more crabs (e.g. fiddler crab)
• salamandar
• wild boar (we had one dashing across our path and scaring the wits out of us)
• mangrove swamp
• loads of palm trees with gigantic fruits
• bird's eye view of the area (if you climb up the Jejawi Tower)

Click on the flickr badge to see my photos.
Alternatively, see a virtual tour here.


What You Can Do There
If you book nparks' guided tour package priced at S$60, you can wad down the coastal swamp at a very safe and good spot to see the tiny organisms in close distance. (Note that these tours are restricted in order to protect the environment but they're very popular. High demand meets low supply = they're fully booked a few months in advance. If you really want to go with them, you have to check out the nparks website on the 1st of mar/jun/sep/dec for updates on availability.)

If you're there by yourself (just like my friends and I) you can't go to the same spot where the guided tour group will be, 'cause there's a gate with someone guarding it. However, you can still wad into the coastal area somewhere else! There's an opening located at the mangrove board walk, where the mangrove swamp meets the coast. When I was there, the tide was low enough and it seemed safe. **Caution: Please assess the situation before going in on your own.


Tips to Enjoy Yourself Better
Bring:

• sun block
• shades
• covered up shoes (if you're going on your own. if you're going with npark, they seem to provide special boots for the coastal swamp tour)
  
• 10x optical zoom camera (esp if you did not pay $60). trust me, you'll need to the zoom. Also make sure you have good macro mode on your camera.
  
• binoculars (esp if you did not pay $60)
• water
• insect repellent
  
• cap (if you like..)
• CASH (all transportations, boat or van or bicycle, only accepts cash)

Do also check for the low tide timing. you won't be able to see much if it's not low tide. nparks has kindly provided this information on their website too.


Total Cost of Trip?
The cost really depends on how you want to get there and what you want to do.

Option 1: Go with nparks
If you go with nparks, I think you still have to pay for the boat trip to Pulau Ubin yourself. So...

$60 (Guided Tour Package) +
$2.50 x 2 (Return boat trip to Singapore main island) = $65 / pax


Option 2: Go on your own.
If you go on your own, here are some pricings for your reference.

$2.50 x 2 (Return boat trip to Singapore main island)
$4 (Van ride if <7 people in the trip) $2 (Van ride if >7 people in the trip)
$5 (Bicycle rental)
FOC (Walk there by foot)

= S$5 ~ S$$13 / pax


How to Get There?
Simply find your way to the Changi Ferry Terminal at Changi Village.

Buses to Changi Village:

• 2 - from New Bridge Road Int, passes Outram, Chinatown, Bugis, Lavendar, Kallang, Eunos, Bedok, Tanah Merah MRT
  
• 29 - from Tampines Int
• 59 - from Bishan Int, passes by Braddell MRT
  
• 109 - from Serangoon Int, passes by Hougang area
  

Cheers!

Keppel Island/atas island

(Marina@Keppel Bay)

If you are looking to get a feel of an exuberant marina lifestyle, a place to hang out with close friends, watch stars with your girlfriend or simply want a departure from the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan Singapore, this is the place to be. This is the place the "ATAS" people wish we never know, but now its public. Woo Hoo!

GR drove me here one weekend (for those with own vehicle, the underground car park charges a flat fee of $3 per entry) some time ago. It was my first time here and as we entered, I was pleasantly treated with an eye feast of splendour and exquisiteness from its architecture.

(Fine food at Prive and TCC)

(The iconic 245m Cable-stay bridge between mainland and island)

(View of Caribbean at Keppel Bay from the island)

(Relaxed people)

As we walked around the island, I indulge myself in the slow pace of activities which made me calm and relaxed. Most people were in small groups and chatting among themselves. The environment around the bay is rather cooling with occasional pleasing sea breezes to calm the soul.

(one of the many yatchs at the dock)

(Overview of yatch dock)

There were many yatchs docked in the bay. They come in a variety of sizes with the smallest one being the one in the pic above to bigger ones which are like 2-3 times the size of that. The place is in fact specially designed with yachting and yacht owners in mind. It aims to aid in the promotion of Singapore's yacthing community through advancing knowledge, enjoyment and participation in yachting and nautical arts. I suspect that some of the bigger yachts might even be available through rental for private functions like birthday parties.

(leading pathways)

(Park pavillion)

Further away from the main building's restaurants, there is a small left path which leads into a small park. Along the path there are park pavillions for people to rest or to seek shelter from the heat if its during the daytime.

(grass patch at the end of the park)

The area is scenic with lots of unobstructed sky view and fresh air. It's a good place to hang out. And you're into cycling, we saw some cyclists around too. You could also make the island part of your cycling route :)



How to get there?

(Keppel Island architectural model)

click here for map.

Whether by foot or by car, the only way to Keppel Island is through Keppel Bay Drive which is a narrow road after the habourfront traffic junction and right before Carribean at Keppel Bay condominium.

Car: It's easy to miss it so keep your eyes peeled for a small direction sign at the entrance of the road.

Bus services: (SBS Transit) 10, 30, 57, 93, 97, 100, 131, 143, 145, 166,
(SMRT) 188, 963

MRT: Habourfront station

Been there? Share with us your experience!