Posts Tagged ‘Getting there’

 

Lost in Ubin – 2. February, 2009

Its hard to get lost in Ubin. But many got disorientated and need help with directions. Perhaps Nparks should have useful signs pointing the direction back to the jetty. You can get free maps at Nparks’ information kiosk. There are basically 4 main directions. East, West, and two separate directions towards north.

West
The West ends at Kekek Quarry, where ‘Thai temple’ once stood. This important landmark is now lost forever except for the road named after it – Jalan Wat Siam. The distance is longest and is best visited on wheels. There are less shade so it can get very hot. Some would swim at Kekek Quarry to cool off. But it’s considered illegal trespass. The long downhill slope near Bubut hut probably see the most nasty bike falls so please be careful. Also, one should stop midway at ‘y u so like dat’ for drinks and a scenic view of Ubin Quarry.

Picture below. Thai monk sitting in front of his demolished temple.
Thai monk

East
The path East ends at Chek Jawa. You are under cool forest cover so walking is not as tiring. First timers should go there first. Especially when tides are at their lowest.

North (Marman beach)
From Chek Jawa you can make a side trip north towards Marman beach. You may feel tired due to the long but gradual incline but one can always take a short-cut through “Orchid Farm” and visit Jack if you have never seen a wild boar before.

One should stop at the Malay Kampung for refreshments and a relaxing view. There is a gaggle of hornbills that make their appearance around 5pm.

North (Noordin beach)

Noordin beach

The other trip north (2.8km from the jetty) ends at Noordin beach (Seen on Googlemaps). The view at the beach itself is marred by fences. Its popular among anglers and campers however. On Saturday nights you can hear dangdut music blaring away from the Malaysian side.

NPCC campsite is also located at Noordin Beach. Its also probably the most environmental unfriendly place in Ubin. Its floodlights are turned on the whole night, disrupting roosting birds. The camp is fogged regularly for mosquitoes, exterminating other insects and affecting its natural predators. There is a lightning detector that runs loud on an endless loops. It should seriously consider relocating back to the mainland.

Click on the map below to enlarge.
Map of Ubin

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Getting There – 31. December, 2008

Click here for panorama view of Ubin Jetty

Here is Ubin on Googlemaps.

Direction by boat

Going there by bus(bus guide). Bus numbers 2, 29, 59, 109 will take you there. Stop at the terminus.

Take a bumboat ferry, it costs $2.50 per person. The boat departs when there are 12 passengers or when the boat get chartered for $30 when there are not enough passengers.

There is no last ferry service. The boatmen stops ferrying when the crowds thin down. On weekends, the crowds thin out from 4pm onwards going to Ubin and from 8pm returning from Ubin so expect to pay more by sharing and chartering if you are impatient. You may be stranded in Ubin if the boatmen has gone home so don’t hang around too late.

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Weather – 30. December, 2008

Its either hot, humid or get drenched in tropical thunderstorms. So make sure you know where the next rain shelter at. Click picture to enlarge.

Click for bigger image

Our National Environment Agency (NEA) website provides some useful forecasts. There is even a brief one for Ubin.

Another source is this site showing satellite pictures of rain clouds 70 km away. You can determine if your Ubin trip needs postponing.

Wind, Weather, Windsurfing and more – 70km Weather Radar Animation

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