A sleepy child may just nod and topple off.

Your maid may have excellent skills cycling while holding an umbrella, but not on Ubin’s difficult terrain. Why not change your plans and walk instead.

Safer way is to hire van-taxis or take enjoyable walks. Places to explore include Npark secret garden which is free of vehicles.

Scarecrow at Nparks secret garden

Ubin village itself is worth exploring too with its wooden houses and a wayang stage. Further inland, the Malay kampong is another interesting place to visit and relax in, especially during durian season . Also Marman beach is a nice place for picnicking especially in December and January when it is cool and breezy. The “Orchid farm” is also nearby where kids can peer at some cute rabbits.

Fishing may be a good way to bond with kids but their fingers are often clumsy with hooks. Using nets and pails would be better especially along the shore near Ubin jetty. Older kids may explore the rock pools where small fishes and creatures are trapped during low tides. They should be supervised as the rocks can be slippery.

Another great way for family enjoyment and bonding is do a perception walk. Parents can help their kids pick out seashells, round pebbles, rubber seeds, looking for flowering grass or count the number of coconuts on a tree, experiences shopping malls cannot offer.

Discovering water wells

Here is a short reminder to bring along for your next trip.

This is Jack. This wild boar was a piglet when it was injured and rescued about 14 years ago. Today, Jack’s growing tusk is about poke into its cheeks, causing lots of discomfort. Its about time for it to be cut.

Update: 9 February 2009. Jack should be happier now. It was sedated before several volunteers were able to hold it still before cutting its tusks.

Some visitors felt that Jack should be returned back to the wild. Its too domesticated for that now. Ubin lovers remember Priscilla, the female boar at Chek Jawa.

Photo courtesy of Wild Shores of Singapore

You can see Jack at “Orchid Farm”, 180 meters south of Maman beach. Make sure you collect lots of rubber seeds from the rubber trees nearby that area. Jack loves them.

Here is a link of another picture of Jack by Thomas Hoven. We all shared his feelings of Ubin.