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Pulau Ubin | style="background:#ccf; border-bottom:1px solid" colspan=2|Names | | lign=right|English: | Pulau Ubin | | lign=right|Chinese: | 乌敏岛 | | lign=right|(Pinyin: | wū mǐn dǎo) | | lign=right|Malay: | Pulau Ubin | | lign=right|Tamil: | fill in | History Pulau Ubin is a small island (10 km²) situated north east of Singapore, beside Pulau Tekong. The name literally means "Granite Island" in Malay, which explains the many abandoned granite quarries there. Granite mining supported a few thousand settlers in the 1960s, but only a hundred villagers live there today. It is also one of the very few off-shore islands in Singapore that is still inhabitated. Current Situation Pulau Ubin is one of the last areas of Singapore that has been preserved from urban development, concrete buildings, tarmac roads, etc. Pulau Ubin's wooden house village and wooden jetty, relax inhabitants, rich and preserved wildlife, abandoned querries and plantations, and untouched nature in general make it the last witness of the old "kampong" Singapore that existed before modern industrial times and development plans. Singapore government development projects on the island in the last few years has been controversial and debate has been able to find its way through government controlled medias. Though recent government action has been limited to widening the paths for bicycles, building shelters for trekkers and so on for growing numbers of visitors, it is already discreetly changing the face and nature of Pulau Ubin from untouched to planned, and pathing the way to further developments. The future of the island is in the hands of Singaporean, but its status of witness of a former way of life will most probably disappear with the last "kampung" generation. Local Tourism Though the island attracted attention for development and planning only in recent years, Singaporeans visitors have been coming to Pulau Ubin for summer camps and outdoor activities for many years. With attention growing and interest in nature rising, new kinds of visitors are now increasing the flow of visits. One of the current popular tourist attraction on the island is Tanjung Chek Jawa. Previously a coral reef 5000 years ago, it can be said to be virtually unspoilt, with a variety of marine wildlife comparable to other islands, such as sea hares, sea squirts, octopi, starfishes, sand dollars, fishes, sponges, cuttlefishes, nudibranches and more. Visitors may travel to the island via a 10 min bumboat ride from the Changi Village jetty. Cost is 2 SDG per head. Links Outward Bound Singapore has camps at Pulau Ubin and uses it as a training ground for some of its programmes. "Ecology Asia" website with description and pictures of local wildlife http://www.ecologyasia.com/html-loc/pulau-ubin.htm
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