Wan's Ubin Journal

Hi All, Today I was disturbed by news coming in from our northern neighbour, in fact it had left me feeling uncomfortable, upset and unpleasant for the past few hours and I need to write it out. Photo courtesy of AFP/Roslan Rahman via Channelnews Asia You may read up on the article from Channelnews Asia  here .  According to the article, Malaysian authorities were in the midst of discussions of building a third causeway to Singapore and out of all places that they could try, they had to moot their bridge over Pulau Ubin. You can only fathom on how much this disturbs me not just as a person tracing down and documenting my family's heritage on the island, but also as a Singaporean who believes so much and care for the preservation of our last and only kampong in our developed nation. However, more than our kampongs are at risk should they proceed with this illogical plan. As evident enough, Pulau Ubin is home to some of Singapore's richest natural biodiversi...

Hi All! This post is a follow up on the previous one where I will be sharing about the "Jejak Warisan Pulau Ubin" or "Pulau Ubin Heritage Trail" organised by the Woodlands Malay Activities Executive Committee (MAEC) on Saturday, August 18th, 2018. You may read the previous post here in case you've missed it! August 18th, 2018 would be among one of the most momentous days in my young adult life. Two historical things took place on this day, one was my first full feature on BERITAmediacorp and the other, well... being in an accident. I joined roughly 80 Woodlands residents on a heritage trail organised by the Woodlands MAEC and met up with the participants at Changi Point Ferry Terminal at approximately 9 a.m. The participants spent a good 45 minutes in the buses as they travelled from the north down to the east. Shortly after, MP Sembawang GRC, Mr Amrin reached and took a photo together with everyone. They were a spontaneous bunch, mostly be...

Hi All! My sincerest apologies for one week of hiatus on Wan's Ubin Journal as I was involved in a cycling accident on Pulau Ubin on Saturday, August 18th, 2018. Ironically enough, it happened while I was involved in the "Jejak Warisan Pulau Ubin" or "Pulau Ubin Heritage Tour" which was organised by the Woodlands Malay Activities Executive Committee (MAEC) and attended by nearly 80 residents from Woodlands. More about this tour (and accident) in a later post! "I feel that there's a lot more that can be done for our youths because our kampong heritage is a very important part of our Malay heritage." BERITAmediacorp, Singapore's Malay news broadcasting network, was also present at the event to document and provide coverage (not a surprise anyway since the event was also attended by Sembawang GRC MP Amrin Amin). The one thing that I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams, was to have an entire segment on the news dedicated t...

Hi All! Here are this week's features. I hope you'll enjoy them! SALLY @sallysoupsnowly "My 1st trip to Pulau Ubin 🙊!!!" MANDESH @deshacross "#Throwback #KampongUbin . I still remember how quiet and chilling it was on Pulau Ubin when i visited then.🏝️ . One more month and I'll be flying off on my journey to somewhere, Just wait & see.🛫🌍" JACOB RUI @jacobrui "On 15 Aug, we organised a Biology Chapter Outdoor Learning Journey for Biology teachers at Pulau Ubin. Participants were immersed into the Ubin way (with its culture, history, heritage, and nature) and led in a guided tour at Chek Jawa which features rich biodiversity and adaptation of organisms to various habitats.  I’m sure we have allowed our participants to get a taste of the joy of learning which we believe would translate to the JOY OF TEACHING. In the morning, Dr Adrian Loo (Group Director (Conservation), National Parks Boar...

Hi All! It seems like there has been a wave of news coming in from Pulau Ubin and that just seems pretty awesome, because it goes to show that there are plenty of people who still show that they have never forgotten about our beautiful island! Picture taken together back on Ubin Day 2018 with the wonderful people of SHS and the amazing people who have taken their time to join me as I brought them down to 818K and shared with them the stories of my family's Ubin heritage. Picture courtesy of Singapore Heritage Society. For today's post, I would like to share my thoughts on the article dated 14th August, 2018 shared by Dr Chua Ai Lin, the Executive Director of Singapore Heritage Society (SHS), whom I have also had the pleasure in meeting and befriending in the recent months, in her response to an article posted by Miss Ye Kexin on The Straits Time for her expressions on Ubin's future.  The following excerpts are taken from Ai Lin's full article on The Str...

Hi All! This post talks about the discussion that I had with Yook Sau, Deputy Director (Pulau Ubin) Conservation Division during a meeting on Pulau Ubin that took place on Saturday, August 11th, 2018 together with my plans and commitments in working alongside NParks to conduct an environmental study and survey around 818K Kampong Surau. The NParks Volunteer Hub on Pulau Ubin Here's some backstory leading to this event! On July 25th, 2018, I had received an email from NParks regarding my post where I have brought my mom back to her home home. At first to be very honest, I was terrified that I might have done something wrong, but I was delighted to know that that was not the case in hand. I received the email from Yook Sau who had queries regarding my post titled, "My Mom Has Returned Home " about my intentions to clear debris within my late grandparents' house and to restore the path that my late grandfather had created leading to 818K. Coincidentally I w...

Hi All! Pulau Ubin has once again been in the news recently and this time they talked about our wonderful residents! This article that appeared on Channel News Asia talks about how our Pulau Ubin residents keep up with the time and survive on their own through the many businesses and services that they provide for the tourists so that they can earn a decent living.   Pekan Ubin is filled with all sorts of businesses such as drink stalls, seafood restaurants, bicycle rental stalls, taxi services and much more! However, the rest of the island also have stalls set up to help provide income for the residents there including Pak Ahmad and Ivy. Let us play our part in helping and taking care of our residents by patronizing on their stalls and businesses - from the bumboat services provided by our veteran boat operators to and from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to Pulau Ubin, bicycle rental stalls down in Pekan Ubin, taxi services provided by Azman and his friends right next to t...

Hi All! On my return trip to my late grandparents' kampong house on Saturday, August 11th, 2018, I have come across an upsetting sight. It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that the sign in which I have poured my heart and soul into, has gone missing from my late grandparents' kampong house. The sign seemed to have been forcefully removed as there are traces of the holes remaining bare and uncovered.   The sign that I have given my everything into has gone missing, but my hopes of 818K being remembered and celebrated remain undeterred. I can only express sadness and disappointment at this point in time, yet let this message remain clear. I will not give up in pursuing my dreams of having my late grandparents' kampong house rebuilt, and after finding out more stories from the residents about my grandparents' contribution to the Ubin community through the vast land that he cultivated and called home, the land surrounding 818K Kampong Surau is muc...

Hi All! Here are this week's features. I hope you'll enjoy them! DES @whatdiddesdo  "home is where the heart is" FRASER LAMB  @flamb96   "A day cycling around Pulau Ubin island to the Chek Jawa Wetlands 🚲 🌴☀️" TRAVELING EEVEE  @travelingeevee "Oh, the beautiful rustic island of Pulau Ubin... 🇸🇬🏞😲🏞🇸🇬" Want to get your photos featured in this blog? I'd love to show them! Simply #wansubinjournal onto your photos and you might stand a chance to have it featured in this blog. It's my way of saying thank you for remembering and visiting Pulau Ubin and of course, leaving behind memories and stories for others to appreciate and love the beauty of the boomerang-shaped island off the eastern coast of Singapore.  Find out last week's features! Ubin Also Instagrammable: 3 Aug - 9 Aug

Hi All! This post is my message for the Singaporean people as we unite as one to celebrate our nation's 53 years of independence on August 9th, 2018. Majulah Singapura! Photo courtesy of Mothership SG Every National Day, we would come together to celebrate with our nation on the many accomplishments that we have achieved. In fact, rightfully so we should take pride in how far Singapore have come since gaining independence in 1965. Our little red dot, hardly visible from outer space, had been in the eyes of the world recently with many new breakthroughs coming from our island, opening new doors of opportunities and possibilities, much to the awe and inspiration of the world. Comfortably to say, Singaporeans are always celebrating our nation's future. However, let us not forget to also celebrate our past and heritage. There are countless things that we can celebrate about it, but for me, I would like to take this opportunity in celebrating our kampong heritage....