Wan's Ubin Journal

Hi All! This post is a follow up to the previous chronologically-accurate posts in the "My Ubin Journey" series, " Printing, Paperwork, Pulau Ubin Outing ", which was published nearly a month ago! My apologies for the lack in catching up on the real timeline as I have been engaged in what seemed to be a pretty eventful August and I couldn't really bear not to write those highlights down in Wan's Ubin Journal for all of you to read it as fresh as it was! In this post, I talk about my subsequent trip down to the island the following week; this time with my mom and how I came across a mind-blowing discovery and also the email that kick started my heritage hunt. Immediately as I got home from an entire half day on Pulau Ubin with my colleagues, I shared with my mom my experience back on the island. She was excited to hear how her birthplace was like and was happy to know that things have pretty much remained as rustic as she could remember. And then it ...

Hi All, This post is dedicated to the wonderful people who have poured out their well wishes, thoughts, prayers and blessings for me following my accident during the Woodlands MAEC Pulau Ubin Heritage Trail held two weeks ago on August 18th, 2018. Find out more about my adventures (and misadventures) that day here ! I have been awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Woodlands MAEC team following my contributions to their Pulau Ubin Heritage Trail Today marks the 18th day since my accident on Pulau Ubin and the scars of my wounds have been etched and might as well be permanently embedded onto my skin - but I honestly look pretty cool with it. As the pain begins to fade and the wounds begin to heal, one thing still remains - which is my gratitude and appreciation to everyone who had poured their well wishes, thoughts and prayers for me in the days that followed. On Monday, August 20th, my mom accompanied me down to Tampines Polyclinic to get my wounds redressed ...

Hi All, This post will cover on my awesome experience on August 31st, 2018 where I attended the first Friends of Ubin Network (FUN) meeting and the Ubin Day Appreciation Dinner! This would also be a momentous day in my Ubin journey as I have also been officially "inaugurated" as a member of FUN that evening as well. Officially a member of the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN) on August 31st, 2018! Photo courtesy of Alina Soh It's not every time that you'd be given a day off especially from National Service, but since I was given one, I've been saving it up for this day since months before. I was previously invited to be a part of FUN back on Ubin Day (which I have yet to post!) but I was still clueless as to what it was. Oh, and in the invitation came around from Second Minister for National Development and Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Desmond Lee after I thanked him for attending Singapore Heritage Society's (SHS) booth that day. In th...

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...