Pulau Ubin

Today saw us venture off the MRT and onto the bus system. While it was a little less Fisher-Price 'My first public transport', we made it to Changi Point Ferry Terminal regardless. Our destination was Pulau Ubin (which was lucky, as the other island required a passport - leaving Singapore entirely).

The captain of the Bumboat (you heard correctly) collected the required monies (cash-only around here) while we sat idling, bathed in diesel fumes. Then we were away, the trip across to the island a short one.

The narrow 'main street' was lined with bike hire places, with frequently appearing vans hurtling by as you re-established your concept of balancing on a stationary bicycle. I had the added bonus of a tandem bike, which weighed as much as a small vehicle - with none of the manoeuvrability. 

My additional horsepower on the hills

(I hope).

While the day wasn't overly hot (I'm guessing a measly early 30s) it was pretty steamy. This combined with actual physical exercise had us positively beading within minutes of setting out. We managed to avoid collecting a very thin and very green snake that was lolling about in the middle of the road.

Josh is pretty impressed having
overtaken the bigger kids - while
I'm impressed I remained upright.

To complete the picture - imagine 95% humidity with the
faintest hint of mangrove. Oh, and some kind of
giant lizard lurking in the shadows.

There were a bunch of signs posted all over the island advising to avoid the wild boars wandering about. This became a little difficult when one became enamoured with our bikes.

I'm pretty sure the Boar was eyeing off a ride
in my handlebar basket.

Hamish and ...ham.

On the way back to the jetty, we came across some old granite quarries that have really scrubbed up well over time.

Our old friend, skinny green snake was there to send us off as we approached the village.

A troupe of monkeys were doing their best to pluck some unidentifiable fruit off of a tree on the outskirts of the small village. 

I got the vague impression he was
contemplating flinging something,
but was really enjoying his mystery fruit.

Because it makes sense to take
a photo of the welcome sign - as you
are leaving.

A collection of bumboats.

A brooding, incoming storm that never actually eventuated.

We returned our bikes, hopped aboard the bumboat back to the 'mainland' and contemplated catching the Number 2 bus back to Tanah Merah Station. Lily had spotted an ice cream and waffle house called A Spoonful of Sugar on our way to the ferry terminal and cajoled us into visiting the establishment. Having had to get up out of my seat to ride up jungle hills on a bike weighing the equivalent of a fridge resulted in me not putting up too much of a fight when it came to ice cream. They had mainstays like vanilla and strawberry, as well as the ever-fashionable milo, but also had a flavour called 'malted cheese' - which remained unsampled by Team Martin.

Strawberry and Milo - with not a hint of cheese.

We collapsed into the apartment shared pool once we finally made it back across the island, and were soon joined by a host of kids/teens of varying levels of obnoxiousness. Still - it was blessedly cool, and there was a distinct lack of overly familiar boars or monkeys. 

Bowing to pressure, we made our way back to Lau Pa Sat and I set out to locate the mystical Lau Pa Sat satay. I eventually realised my error, and checked the closed off street outside the enormous food court, where there was nothing but satay skewer stalls. The small mound below was one of the smallest options available (30). It did in fact go very well with a couple of mugs of Tiger beer.