After many days of being cooped up at home due to COVID-19, AA Singapore Members took some time out to visit Pulau Ubin for some fresh air and sunshine.
After having organised a couple of indoor activities, such as Art Jamming and Mooncake Making, AA Singapore finally took its Members to experience the Great Outdoors. On 19 September 2020 (Saturday), it led 25 participants — including two teenagers, two young adults and 21 adults — on a biking tour of Pulau Ubin.
Participants met at Changi Village Hawker Centre to have breakfast together, with sandwiches provided by AA Singapore. At 8.30am, they reported to Changi Point Ferry Terminal, where they filled up health declaration and indemnity forms, and were briefed on safety measures to deal with COVID-19. They then piled into a bumboat, lugging satchels and backpacks filled with items AA Singapore had recommended they bring along, such as umbrella, insect repellent, water bottle, cycling safety gear, camera and cash — there is no ATM on the island, and all outlets only accepted cash. A couple of enthusiastic participants even came with their own bicycles.
After a 15-minute ride over relatively calm water, they landed on Pulau Ubin at about 9am. Following a short briefing at the Pulau Ubin Ferry Terminal entrance, the participants rented their bikes from the nearby Mountain Bicycle Rental. They started their morning adventure by exploring Route 1 of the Bicycle Trail. This route extends west of the ferry terminal, and takes visitors past places of interest, such as Pekan Quarry, Ubin Quarry, Ketam Quarry, Butterfly Hill and Ah Ma Drink Stall. The participants took a well-deserved break at around 12pm for lunch, which was also provided by AA Singapore.
They resumed their bike tour of Pulau Ubin at around 1.30pm, this time towards the east of the island on Route 2. This sector also has numerous sites of interest, such as Teck Seng’s Place, Warung Pak Ahmad, Sensory Trail Pond, and Ubin Fruit Orchard. Right at the eastern tip of the island is the Chek Jawa Boardwalk, Wetlands and Visitor Centre. The wetlands, which covers approximately 100 hectares, hosts six ecosystems: sandy beach, rocky beach, seagrass lagoon, coral rubble, mangroves, and coastal forest.
Participants re-assembled at the Pulau Ubin Ferry Terminal by 4.30pm and departed on the 4.45pm ferry back to Changi Point Ferry Terminal. By the time they reached the Singapore mainland at around 5pm, all 25 people were tired and sweaty, but happy to have spent the day communing with Mother Nature, getting a bit of exercise, and learning about one of the last unspoilt spots in Singapore.
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