This is part of a series of posts on Singapore. Did you miss the previous walkthroughs? Click here to access them all.

Thanks to the random conversation I had with my Uber driver the day before, I ended up going to Pulau Ubin my last full day in Singapore. Being short on time, I grabbed another Uber to go to the ferry terminal. Pro tip: The ferry leaves from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. There is also a Changi Ferry Terminal! Make sure you go to the right one. See map below. A is the correct ferry terminal, leading to B the Pulau Ubin Jetty. C is the wrong station.

The ferry only takes cash, no credit cards. It costs $4. There’s an ATM about 3 minutes walk from the terminal. Once at the terminal, I walked downstairs and found that no photos are allowed, though nothing looked terribly secretive.  Rather than buying tickets at a counter, I followed what I perceived was the right step to simply get into the line that led out to the dock. There was no schedule – as soon as they fill a boat, the boat goes. It took less than five minutes until I was boarded, paid, and on my way.

The day was cloudy and humid, so the ride across the water was especially pleasant. In about 15 minutes, we arrived at the Pulau Ubin Jetty, and the adventure began. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I walked the dock and turned right and found a small center that spoke about the history of Pulau Ubin. Apparently, it’s known for it’s granite quarries, some of which are over 200 years old. Today, it’s one of Singapore’s last remaining villages, though it is definitely more modern than it used to be, with the main commerce being bike and food sales.

From the “museum” area, I walked into the center of town. Eager merchants wanted to rent their bikes. They looked well used. I began walking the island, but it was so hot, I considered a bike. I’ve mentioned before that I fell off a bike in Vietnam and have never been comfortable since. So, when  I saw how old the bikes looked, I decided to give them a pass.

An Important Warning

Every day in Singapore is hot, but today, the sky was pregnant with humidity and in place of rain, I was pouring sweat. Thankfully I had some electrolytes with me, which helped a great deal. However, the island is definitely large enough that walking in that heat, it wasn’t possible to see it all. I headed in the direction of the lookout, the highest point on the island.

The Uber driver who told me about the island said to watch out for wild boars. I half thought he was kidding. The sign I saw proved otherwise. 😮 I guess the rumor is true. I set out on foot and enjoyed being in nature for the day. The scenery changed from expansive openings, even a lake, to more of a walk in the forest. I happened upon a temple, and had a quick visit, and a bit of meditation.

I didn’t think I’d make it all the way, in the heat, but finally arrived at the sign for the lookout point. Unfortunately, the walk there includes a very steep staircase, so I had to stop and drink water several times on the way up. As always happens, passerby heading down were kind enough to tell me I was almost to the top!

Once at the summit, I found a small fence, blocking off access to the ledge from which was a beautiful view. There was also a sign warning not to climb the fence, which is why I was so perplexed by the crowd behind the fence, and on the ledge. Then I noticed people were taking advantage of a gap in the fencing to simply slide to the other side! Well, for once, I did the stupid thing, and went out on the ledge.

It was a beautiful view, and, from what I understand, I was looking into Malaysia. I love how you can stand on a mountain in some places and have a view into an entirely different country. No passport needed. Sadly, COVID made it impossible for me to go to Malaysia this trip, but I was glad to at least see it from afar!

After snapping a bunch of photos of the view, I also noticed a strange bug. I’m not sure if it was a fly, a bee, or something else, but he or she seemed quite happy perched on a stem. The sky turned suddenly dark, so I went back down the hill. I was just in time to get under the small hut and gain shelter from the downpour. After about 10 minutes, the rain lightened, and I made the trek back to the town center. That’s when I realized the long hike in the heat made me starving.

I wanted seafood, and the menu at the first restaurant I saw seemed decent and not too expensive. I almost gave up because the wait seemed long, but I ended up seated within 10 minutes, at a perfect table, right near the water, but with good protection, which was a blessing, since another downpour started while I awaited my food. An entire other side of the island awaits my future discovery. After lunch, with the pouring rain, I made my way back to the mainland and had a relaxing evening.