Singapore is Just One Island?

We tend to forget that Singapore isn't a single island, this country have 70's islands surround it. Beside Ubin Island, the identity of Singapore back water life had only been history, the way of life which already lost. The Strait People, was a sea people, living culturally side by side with sea creature.

The National Museum of Singapore

 

When I went to National Museum of Singapore, there is small but exciting story about these forgotten island. What life was left behind, as the future of Singapore depend on its own economical power. They seems have investing so much on preserving the culture and had designated the region of multi-ethnic culture, but they left the root behind. Singapore is strait people, living in the strait, and this was only a story.

Beautiful dome inside the building

The Story of Island

Seking Island

This island was resided back in 1848, and have 30 people at that time. The name of island had a legend called Yang Melengking, she had the power to cure people who was sick. Her tomb became sacred and that was the story of the name of the island. The people of Seking Island was lived by seafaring and catching fish.

Wow they have that much of Island

Semakau Island

The island was filled by mangrove, seaweed and corals. This island had lived by people from 1844, by twelve Chinese gardener who grow vegetable, chicken and make charcoal. This island was attacked by the pirate of Simakow which the name of the island was taken.

What was the fate of these island? The people already moved to the main island, their culture vanished. The land of the island is used for the landfill.

Video which tell the story of islands

Kusu Island <Pilgrimage Site>

Located on the southern part of Singapore, this island was attached by folklore. The mount of this village is sacred, on the ninth month of lunar calendar, the people will come to ask wealth to Tua Pek Kong god in Chinese temple. Kusu means the island of tortoise. Once upon a time, there is a sailor was safe by the tortoise. The fate of this island is still survived in the modern time, this pilgrimage will come on the ninth month of Chinese calendar to sing Nanyin Song.

Kusu Island (http://iwandered.net)

St.John Island <Tourist Destination>

This historical island has many practical purpose, as lighthouse, quarantine area, research and camping area. This island also the centre of aquaculture, science and also for recreation. Sir Stamford Raffles landed here to open trading in Singapore. This island right now is the place for aquamarine research and visitor can make a camp here. This beautiful beach and lagoon has transform from the place for outcast and right now for the adventurous one.

St.John Island view (http://iwandered.net)

Hantu Island <Tourist Destination>

This "ghost island" has two part which is Small Pulau Hantu and Big pulau Hantu. During the high tide. the mid part of the island is disappearing.During the low tide, Pulau Hantu can be seen as one island with two large bays on the northern and southern side of the island. This island was rich with coral to support life beneath sea. No wonder this island became favourite place for diving, snorkeling, and fishing.

Tekong Island <Army Island>

Tekong Island is second largest outlying of Singapore, and this island is getting bigger and bigger by land reclamation.  This land was lived by the Malay people, this land had rubber plantation. This island also reside fauna like boar, and people from mainland was going here to do hunting. However since early 1970's people was evacuated from this area, and became army headquarters.  Ghost stories always came along with this island, maybe the horror was magnify by the national service for young Singaporean.

Jurong Island <Industry island>

The outlying islands of Pulau Ayer Chawan, Pulau Ayer Merbau, Pulau Merlimau and Pulau Seraya were used to fishing communities comprising small villages.  The villagers lived in Malay-style wooden stilt houses on the islands. These island later used for petrochemical industry, the people were moved to the main island. These islands were became one big island by reclamation, and the biggest outlying island is limited only for staff on the island. 

Jurong Island ( edg.gov.sg)

How to visit the outlying island

Nice Artwork to visit outlying island

Pulau Ubin:

Using Boa from Changi Ferry Terminal for 2.5 SGD per trip

Pulau Kusu:

From Marina Southern Pier

Visit the page : www.islandcruise.com.sg/ferry-schedule.html

Pulau St.John

From Marina Southern Pier

Visit the page  : www.islandcruise.com.sg/ferry-schedule.html

Pulau Hantu:

Visit: www.pulauhantu.sg you need to rent your own fast boat