Chek Jawa Trip

On 2 separate days, Care and Share Club sent representatives over to Pulau Ubin to learn about its rich history and culture, and also to enjoy the scenery by cycling around the island. The first group is led by Mr Jackson and Mr Jafar while the second group was led by Mr Ota and Mr Chea. We reached Changi Village Ferry Terminal at 8.30am and boarded the bum boat by 9am. While enjoying the sea breeze, we were also able to view the beautiful scenery of the sea and the nearby islands.

Reaching the island, they were greeted by the friendly residents there. The students first went on a sensory trail on the island, learning about some of the plants and herbs planted.

There were many plants there that were foreign to them as they were not commonly found in Singapore. Then, we rented bicycles and there began our trip around Pulau Ubin.

However, not everything went to plan.

Halfway through the trip, it started to rain heavily and the terrain started to become slippery, with vision becoming obscured with increasing volume of rain. Nevertheless, we persevered through and headed back to the town square for lunch. The food there was awesome! After the break, we continued on our cycling trip around Pulau Ubin. HEAVIER RAIN!!!

Soon after, we cycled over to Chek Jawa, embarking on another mini cycling trip. Leaving our bicycles, we were welcomed by an extremely adorable boar there. Being a ‘long-term’ resident there, it wasn’t frightened by the appearance of the visitors there and dared to come up close to us as well!

While waiting for the tour guide, we proceeded on our own into the wetlands. A boardwalk follows the coastline around the headland of Chek Jawa and through the mangroves and a twenty meter high viewing tower provides a panoramic view of the wetlands. Now, let the pictures tell you the tale of the vast ecosystems in Chek Jawa. Next came the guided tour around Chek Jawa. Going down onto the sandbar was an eye opening experience, as we were able to see the various animals living there, including several new organisms never seen before in the wild.

However, all good things must come to an end. The guided tour came to an end and we had to leave. Before leaving back to the jetty, we came across a very beautiful house there. For those with an interest in architecture, House No.1 at Chek Jawa is definitely an eye-catcher. Built in Tudor style, the cottage is probably the only house in Singapore with a working fireplace. Like the rubber trees lining the access road to Chek Jawa, it is a nostalgic reminder of days long gone, when rubber plantations used to cover vast stretches of the island. Today it houses a small visitor center. Taking the bum boat, we headed back to the mainland, and after a short debrief, we parted ways. Overall, this trip was a success. We learnt many things, from the culture to the science behind the ecosystems and the organisms living there. By doing so, we are then able to better appreciate the necessity of preserving these wetlands.