Chek Jawa (Pulau Ubin) - 4th Aug 07

3rd August
11am – “Hello? Sorry… I can’t go tomorrow. Got to help xxx to plan for Japan.”
2pm – “Aye… I think I’m not going tomorrow. Too early liao. Can go later?”
3pm – Confirmation from 4 people that they had decided to pull out from the trip.
3.01pm – Decided not to plan any more outings for the gang.
9pm – Headed for late dinner at Blue Jazz.
10pm – Boss made me drank diluted stinky beer…
11.30pm – Left Blue Jazz and tried to flag for cab
12 midnight – Reached home. Had a quick bath. Raincoat? Checked. First Aid? Checked. Torch light? Checked. Camera? Checked.
1am – Flagged a cab down to Tuk’s place.
2am – Knocked out flat…

4th August
6.30am – Shit! Overslept. There goes my Hotcakes @ McDonald’s.
6.45am – Left Tuk’s place and headed for McDonald’s to grab a hashbrown before flagging a cab down to Changi Point Ferry Terminal
7.42am – Just missed the sunrise (which was at 7.06am). But just in time to catch up with the other 2 “survivors”. Everyone had breakfast on one hand and the other with camera.
7.50am – Boarded the bumboat and set off for Pulau Ubin


Glimpse of the sea from the boat...



Sunrise en route to Ubin...



Waves from the boat's propeller...



Boat owner... The crowd's good on wkends, but how about wkdays? :(



Glimpse of sunrise from the jetty (before stepping onto ubin)



Glimpse of Sunrise on Ubin jetty...



My rented bike that endured me throughout this trip :)



Wuuuu~~~ someone halted us when he saw this long trail of really big and strange ants moving home... Looks like chocolate rice to me... Didn't dare to go too close for a tighter shot. Each is about a quarter of my thumb (in terms of length)!!! Though I have my first aid barang barang with me... it's not something that I wana take a chance on.



Ahhh!!!! Lost our way and ended up missing the lowest tide (at 8.46am). We reached Chek Jawa only around 9.30am. Took this photo to remind myself on which route I should take the next time :(



Finally... Chek Jawa....

I'm soooooooooo disappointed!!! Was really excited when I saw everyone getting onto the muddy grounds to take a closer look at the creatures. BUT we couldn't join them! Apparently, Chek Jawa is still under much protection and you will need to register with National Parks in advanced - a measure to minimize stampede in the area and potential destruction to the nature clove. So... we could only watch from the boardwalks... I was soooo looking forward to getting my track shoes soaked in mud...



Can you spot the 2 mud skippers in this pix?



Me trying to take some candid yet 'artistic' shots :P



Just some flowers and a lizard...



Can you spot the leech in this pix? Those black stuff around it are really huge tadpoles!!! The leech had tried to ambush one of the tadpoles... and it almost suceeded...



This tower could only take up to max. 40pple on board at one time. Got tired and the tower was swaying with the wind.. so I'd decided to take a picture from down-up rather than up-down :P



This is how the One of the "tourists" guide house looks... don't you just wish that you have a house like that overlooking the sea, PLUS a personal jetty?



An abandoned (giant) clam shell... it's bigger than my palm!!!!!

















3pm - Goodbye Ubin... Hope to see ya soon...