.

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 (4km by road/track from Ubin jetty), 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.

East
The path East ends at Chek Jawa (4 km by road from Ubin jetty). 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 (2.1km by road). 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)

The other trip north (3.2km by road from Ubin 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. Mosquitoes can be a nuisance due to nearby mangroves. A spooky place. Was referred as Noordin kampong on old maps. Used to have a Muslim cemetery nearby.

Old map of Noordin beach(1000 metre scale)

NPCC campsite is also located at Noordin Beach. Its also probably the most environmental unfriendly place in Ubin. On Google Earth you can see its all built up with its own concrete parade square. 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 warnings on an endless loops. It should seriously consider relocating back to the mainland.

Click on the map below to enlarge.

Campers at Noordin Beach claimed to have seen a screaming banshee dressed in white. Sounds very much like white herons flapping about at night. But then again one spirit medium says it was an unavenged ghost.

I haven’t met any ghosts or spirits yet. Perhaps they have accepted me in their midst and decided not to frighten me. On the other hand the vibes are so strong that I don’t think I would dare ever camp or explore alone in the dark. Carrying several flashlights is reassuring. You know its time to run when all flashlights fail at the same time.

The closest encounter I experienced when my friend did not respond to us when we are just metres away in broad daylight. A minute later we were puzzled when he asked us how we ‘came here’. The lost sensation he felt was so eerie that he swore he met a ghost and will never go back there again. The puzzling event is even more mysterious when it was collaborated by another Ubin villager who related the same experience.

Once during a durian hunt, a friend of mine found himself covered with fetid odors that he is convinced that the entrails holding Pontianak might be following him. He made prayers for protection, rang temple bell in the middle of the night and slept clutching a large knife.

The stories should not stop one from exploring Ubin. Like wildlife, the spirits hide themselves when there visitors around. Its at the magic hour from 8pm to 10pm when ley lines opens up when one felt or see spirits in certain mysterious parts of Ubin.

This is a hut used by the dreaded kempeitai police during the Japanese occupation. SPI mediums claimed they saw spirits cowering in fear. The islanders were sad to see it demolished by land office.