Ubin Experience: September 2006

Friday, September 29, 2006

This Used To Be My Playground

This site is dedicated to life in Pulau Ubin - the kind of life when my mother was brought up as an island girl and of course the time when this island was abuzz with activities kampong folks like my late grandparents used to go through.

I remember as a kid visiting Ubin during the school holidays I always look forward to the bumboat ride from Changi Jetty and upon reaching the jetty at Ubin, the actual walk to my late grandparents' house itself. Much has changed now. For starters there were no tarred-roads or even taxi-vans offer to visitors or islanders alike. But what remains unchanged is the rustic air that you breathe, its natural environment and the people that choose to continue living here.

Ubin now has become a much more accessible and friendlier place for visitors because of the availability of information from the web.

Almost every Singaporean knows Ubin and has probably been there for a weekend cycle, hike, or camping excursion. Do they know how life was back then?

This site hopes to bring you what I experience as a kid and put in place the memories of those that lived here. Welcome to our kampong house.

What's This About

Mention Ubin and the rustic village of the days gone by when life was simpler come to mind. They say a trip to Ubin is like a throwback to Singapore in the 1960s. Was it always that way or was Ubin more than just a quaint island where its inhabitants live life according to its unique charming beat?

As a kid I could only enjoy what I experienced. But writing this now has evoked memories, thoughts and appreciation for what I call my own heritage.

Situated in the northeastern coast of Singapore, this offshore island seems to be the last place in Singapore where it is hoped that modernity brings with it a sense of serenity and at the same time, thoughtful and rational preservation.

This site is dedicated to the people that once lived here and those who choose to make Ubin a place to stay, a home, still.

A Bit of Heritage

This house belongs to our late grandfather, and it is dear to us simply because we were raised here.

Over the years the house has weathered significantly and we have done much restoration to it, in the hope that it’d be soundly restored. Though the general façade has changed many times – the main beams however, are about the only original material which, still remain. The beams are about 250 years old. Most of them are timbers of Cempedak and Tampines; trees, which were once common in Ubin.

The restoration effort was quite a task for us. To begin, all building materials were brought over from the mainland. We did the transportation stuff bit by bit. We then had to find the right carpenter for the job. We also faced assortment of related issues such as cost, time, personal sacrifices; all dealt within our pursuit to preserve this humble heritage.

We believe our efforts are rather pale in comparison to the past where our forefathers used the handy axe or machete to hew. We on the other hand, have a lot of help from relatives and modern amenities to complete the job. As such we’re just thankful that this house is still standing for all to appreciate, if only for impermanence before the next wave of modernity levels Ubin.

We also seek your kind awareness in maintaining the place by not littering or vandalizing the property, its surroundings and its sense of quietude. It is with this understanding that we invite you to the house to have a short rest or perform your solat [prayers]. Needless to say we welcome any considerate and civil visitors to our house. On that note, it is our pleasure to greet you ~

“Selamat datang dan jemput masuk.”

What's Happening

The house has been host to many visitors wanting to experience a little bit more of life in Ubin – even if it’s just for a few hours. Some drop by just to rest and take in the kampong air; others come in groups to take cooking lessons!

We’re the first on the island to provide this unique opportunity for visitors to learn in an authentic environment. Most visitors come to Ubin to do that requisite cycling, hiking, camping at the Outward Bound School, or visiting Chek Jawa. These folks however come here to do some fun cooking.

Contact us at ubinexperience@hotmail.com

Here are some pics.