Pulau Ubin with the Totots.

Posted: December 12th, 2007 | Author: faddy | Filed under: Dear Diary, Photography | 13 Comments »

This is SUCH an overdue entry but ah wells, like I always say, better late then never. Heh. It’s just that there’s an abundance of pictures to edit and I found it hard to find the time to sit down and work the magic of Photoshop. I don’t know why, but even without moving around much in the office I find myself zapped off any ounce of energy by 11pm nightly :/

Ah wells. Enough of complaining because in fact, I’m very thankful I’ve found a job which so far has not even made me think of grabbing a fake MC and that my colleagues are really the best colleagues I’ve had ever.

So ANYWAY, we started the morning at Changi Village, fulfilling our intense desire to have a taste of the Nasi Lemak there. At $2, I really thought it was a steal what with the huge portion and finger lickin’ good chicken. Sensing the rain looming ahead, we gobbled up the rest of our dishes and hopped aboard the bum boat towards Pulau Ubin.

AT $2 per ride, I have to say I think it’s really cheap and worth it. Instead of joining the rest of the visitors in the boat, the three of us ventured out to the back and sat there, enjoying the sea breeze whipping through our hair feeling all adventurous. Thank God the grumpy AhPek didn’t kill us, heh.

Reaching Pulau Ubin, the first thoughts I had was that the place really feels like Malaysia! I got reminded of my journey to Kukup with the other 3 bloggers (Part 1 : Here. Part 2 : Here.), actually, seeing the houses on stilts and the rather swamp-ish surroundings. It was already drizzling when we first stepped onto the island.

Snapping pictures along the way whilst taking note that dogs are strewn everywhere, the three of us girls finally stopped at row of shops renting out bicycles. From rates as low as $2 per day, we settled on a better bike for $10/day; one with strong brakes and reasonable suspension as we heard the trails were rather tough.

And thus, off we went!

Cycling on loose gravel and sand, with dust flying everywhere, sounds of nature and our giggles let loose was truly a feast for the senses (and not to mention a feast for the Mosquitoes which spared no mercy). The atmosphere one can feel whilst cycling at Ubin is definitely different as compared to doing the same activity over at East Coast Park etc.

Really, you’ve got to try it to feel it :)

Many a times we chose to go the unconventional way to complete our sense of adventure. Venturing into the forest with tracks that basically come to a dead end, ramming into trees, cycling through mud and next to humongous stray dogs; it was really one of the more gung-ho things I’ve ever did, I tell you haha!

Around mid afternoon we finally found the PERFECT spot to have our packed picnic lunch – right smack in the middle of the mountain bike trek hahaha! At first I really didn’t realize our location, but it was only after seeing the group of mountain bikers head towards the dirt trek that it finally struck me. Heh :P

The pictures really don’t do ANY justice to the place, trust me. Just sitting in the middle of a ‘meadow’, the strong breeze whipping through our hair, the sun shining, birds flying around and the company of my great girl friends; it was truly a postcard moment :)

I guess the highlight of the day would be the thrill of riding at the mountain bike dirt trek, what with the giddy steep down slopes which makes you go “OOOWEEEEE!”. Sure, all three of us bit the dust at moments, but seriously, the euphoria when going downhill is really syiok!

We ended our day by cycling next to the open sea, up a hill and resting at a shelter overlooking the quarry and finally ’sprinted’ back to the main area as all of us were just so shagged and just wanted to get home straight :)

It was a wonderful day with my ladies and I thank God for that day as that’s when we really decided we wanted to get a Netball team together, and also, it was a super memorable day for me; the first time I got my ass to Pulau Ubin.

I would totally recommend anyone to get to Ubin. With less then $20, you can have fun whilst doing some cardio through cycling, and it really is a short ‘getaway’ :) Just don’t forget your packed lunches as well as insect repellents as those buggers are RELENTLESS.

Any other suggestions for nice cycling areas (which have bicycle rentals)? I am kind of running dry. East Coast Park, Pasir Ris Park, Sentosa, Pulau Ubin… Er… Haha…

Related posts:

1. Pulau Ubin.
2. Family Day!
3. My Totots.
4. C for Cycling.
5. East Coast Park for Cycling.

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