Like mainland Singapore, November is unusually rainy, although not as severe as experienced in other countries. At least the haze from Indonesia is cleared, with plenty of photo opportunities in bright daylight with beautiful clouds.
But just as sudden, storms appeared and anyone caught out soon got soaked.
The rains soon stopped with soft back-lit scenes and romance in the air.
Photography notes: Pictures 1,2,4,5,6 is taken with Nikon’s new V1 camera. Pictures 3,7 with Sigma DP1.
The south west monsoon arrived, just in time when the grass were dying and trees began to shed leaves from lack of rain. Visitors levels fell, making it longer for the bumboats to fill up and leave. Avoid visiting Ubin late in the afternoon or leaving late at night unless you are prepared to wait or share the expense of chartering the whole boat.
Here is a typical wet day in pictures.
Weather turn ominous on way to Ubin.
Waiting for ferry in the rain
Wet Girl guides
Very wet little girl
The air can be so pure and refreshing after the rain. Its time too for some candid pictures.
Nestled at the rubber plantation, this shelter referred to as Murai hut is our favorite.
It would be our base camp when we set out exploring at night.
A family of small bats sometimes hide on the roof, making sounds that even spook paranormal investigators.
Tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap….
For thing for sure, it doesn’t sound like dirt raining down. Doesn’t sound like a rat or squirrel or some other rodents, cause they don’t “tapped.” Sticks falling? Leaves dropping? Stones? Its impossible. The sounds made were going slow, then randomly. Like beats playing on the drum. And going fast at the same time.
This is where, fear had gripped us cold….
Not like what others have imagined but this is a peaceful place. In the quiet of the night you may even see or hear wild pigs foraging for rubber seeds. Although getting rare, you can also see fireflies. Try turning off all lights for better night vision.
The shelters are all lightning protected. Probably the safest place to be at during thunderstorms. They also serve as useful checkpoints with given names like “Murai”, “Punai”, “Pekakak”, “Beberek”. All four are good observation points to watch for wildlife.
The names of the huts are Malay names for native birds.
Murai – Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)
Punai/Punai Tanah – Green-winged Pigeon, Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
Pekakak – Kingfisher
Beberek/Beberek Leher Biru – Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)
Kelichap – Hummingbird
Belatok – Woodpecker
Lang – Falcon?
Chamar/Camar Batu – Tern
Kedidi – Sandpiper
Merbah – Bulbul
Bubut – Coucal
Update: 6th April 2009. Mousedeers were sighted in the rubber plantation nearby. They are shy and nocturnal animals so you can only spot them at night.
Both mum and kid was riding tandem when his head got stuck.
Do be careful and make sure your rain coat do not get caught in the bicycle gears instead. It can yank a rider off the bike. There is a fatal story behind this.
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