Please? Any one care to share some? Even ones of Sentosa are acceptable.

Eh....wonder why nobody replied to this earlier.....have to dig up some photos...same are rather dated thou, so no guarantee they still look the same today. :D

Pulau Ubin in 1992

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007374-8262-3202-1081/img0080.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007374-8262-3202-1081/img0079.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007374-8262-3202-1081/img0087.jpg
View to the mainland

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007385-8105-3181-0495/img0065.jpg
The Town Centre

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007385-8105-3181-0495/img0068.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007385-8105-3181-0495/img0084.jpg

More....

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007385-8105-3181-0495/img0100.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007385-8105-3181-0495/img0087.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007385-8105-3181-0495/img0094.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007385-8105-3181-0495/img0107.jpg

Pulau Sakeng in 1993

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007381-8105-3181-0499/img0118.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007382-8105-3181-0498/img0001.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007381-8105-3181-0499/img0119.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007382-8105-3181-0498/img0002.jpg

For the record, Pulau Sakeng is now part of Pulau Semakau....collectively forming an offshore rubbish dumb! :D

More...

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007383-8105-3181-0497/img0028.jpg
The police station

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007383-8105-3181-0497/img0015.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007383-8105-3181-0497/img0052.jpg
The bathroom

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007383-8105-3181-0497/img0053.jpg
Demolition...

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007383-8105-3181-0497/img0066.jpg
bye-bye...

This is PULAU UBIN!
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/85pulau_ubin.jpg
I took it from a plane:D

Wow....you actually managed to capture the entire island in one photo. ;)

hmmmm......the island looks flat in Cliff's picture

I recall that the island actually had some hills........maybe my memory is getting rusty as I visited the island back in 1994 :D

i had some sentosa pics from my trip to Singapore last 2001. i dunno if it's still in my hard drive though.. or in my imagestation

Sentosa anyone?:D


EDIT: i found one.. unfortunately it has me in it
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid49/p69842c1df39336a3cfa91e4232d05f42/fcb364f2.jpg

Cool everyone!! Thanks for sharing!!

Not finished. I'm also trying to dig up pics. Meanwhile here is some info...

Besides the theme-park delights and luxury hotels of Sentosa Island, Singapore has several outlying islands that are less developed and less crowded. They're great places to swim, sunbathe or even set up camp amid peaceful and natural surroundings.

KUSU ISLAND
According to legend, this island was once a giant turtle that transformed itself into a huge rock to help save shipwrecked sailors. Today, the island is still embedded in various beliefs and rituals. Taoists make their annual pilgrimage to the Toa Pekong Temple near the ferry jetty during the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Malays visit Kramat Kusu, which is located on the top of a hill. The kramat, or shrine, is dedicated to Syed Abdul Rahman, his mother Nenek Ghalib and his sister Puteri Fatimah. It is common for childless couples hoping to have children to visit this shrine, where they leave white cloths tied to the nearby trees as a token of the sincerity of their prayers.



If you're neither Taoist nor wishing to have kids, you can always kick back and relax on a beach. The beaches at Kusu Island have changing rooms, toilets, picnic spots and swimming areas.

Admission to the island, which includes the ferry charges, is SGD9 for adults and SGD6 for children. Ferries from the World Trade Centre depart twice daily from Mondays to Saturdays, and six times a day on Sundays and public holidays. The ferries stop at St John's Island as well. Call 826-8322 and 275-0388 for more information.

ST JOHN'S ISLAND
This island has several good beaches for swimming, and provides changing rooms, toilets, picnic spots and swimming areas. It is a popular as a weekend getaway and for camping trips, but you wish for something closer to civilisation there are always colonial bungalows that you can rent. Check with the ticket counter at the World Trade Centre.

Admission to the island, which includes the ferry charges, is SGD9 for adults and SGD6 for children. Ferries from the World Trade Centre depart twice daily from Mondays to Saturdays, and six times a day on Sundays and public holidays. The ferries stop at Kusu Island as well. Call 826-8322 and 275-0388 for more information.



PULAU UBIN
This mangrove island has become highly popular as a weekend retreat and offers an interesting variety of activities and sights. You can rent a bike and go mountain-biking on the rocky trails all over the island, go swimming, or camp the night. You can also see traditional fishing villages, prawn and fish farms, Chinese temples and limestone quarries. The seafood restaurants here are good, too.


Pulau Ubin, left more or less undeveloped for the last 30 years, is home to many interesting flora and fauna.You can also take a survival course from the adventure school Outward Bound here. See out Eco-Travel and Adventure section for more details.

To get to Pulau Ubin, take an exotic bum-boat ride for SGD1.50 from Changi jetty.

SISTERS ISLAND
Sisters Island is good for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. You can also enjoy a picnic on the grass or the sandy beach. There is no regular ferry service to the island, however, so you will have to rent a water taxi (at SGD50 per hour) at Jardine Steps or Clifford Pier.

Pictures of KUSU ISLAND
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~desney/photographs/KusuIsland2003/

http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~desney/photographs/KusuIsland2003/DSC00013.jpg
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~desney/photographs/KusuIsland2003/DSC00020.jpg
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~desney/photographs/KusuIsland2003/DSC00021.jpg
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~desney/photographs/KusuIsland2003/DSC00024.jpg
Board this boat to Kusu Island
http://www.cris.com/~brendamc/asia/singapore/photos/album3_1.jpg
http://www.s-pore.net/singapore-travel-guide/images/kusu_island.jpg

SENTOSA
http://www.jellesen.dk/webcrea/places/sing/53x.jpg
http://www.jellesen.dk/webcrea/places/sing/86x.jpg

Raff you da man! That is some really interesting info! It is interesting to notice how "primitive" the islands seem compared to SG island itself.

Originally posted by rj2uman

Raff you da man! That is some really interesting info! It is interesting to notice how "primitive" the islands seem compared to SG island itself. Hahaha....in a sense they are a world all of their own. However, things has changed rapidly in the last 5 years.....not sure if its always in the right direction. The biggest off-shore community was once on Pulau Tekong, the largest Island, but by the time I went there for military service in 1999, all I saw was human settlements puried under nature, or a ghost town even. There are no zero residents there.

Over at Ubin, all of them have been moved to the mainland about 1-2 years ago. We had a little photo essay of that event somewhere in this forums. Th little town centre is still there, albeit it is more like catering to the visitors rather then the resident population like never before.

Gone too, are practically every other offshore island settlements, Those I showed further up....well......they simply do not exist anymore. They have either been turned into off shore industrial lands, or a rubbish dumb, especially for the south-western Islands. Er....anyone have a map?? ;)

That's the long and short of it. There are quite a few more interesting ones. Will post about them soon. :colgate:

Untouched, unspoilt, undeveloped. A few of the Southern Islands are ideal for those wanting to get away from city life for a day - and you don't even need a passport

By Ginnie Teo
CONSUMER CORRESPONDENT

FORGET about visiting the beaches at Bintan or Phuket, or taking a ferry to Desaru for a suntan.
http://www.ecologyasia.com/NewsArchives/Jun_2002/H10A_0621.jpg
Civilisation remains in the distance at Sisters' Island, on which only sounds to be heard are those of birds chirping and the occasional passing oil tanker. There are no regular ferries to the two near-identical islands and you have to charter your own bumboat.

http://www.ecologyasia.com/NewsArchives/Jun_2002/H10B_0621.jpg
The islands' only inhabitants are always on hand to greet you and, hopefully, some of your snacks
http://www.ecologyasia.com/NewsArchives/Jun_2002/H10C_0621.jpg

Leave your passport behind, avoid the hassle of clearing immigration and just hop onto a bumboat to one of Singapore's Southern Islands.

Just 40 minutes away by sea, this sprinkling of pristine islands have been left untouched by the authorities and forgotten by Singaporeans.

There are more than 30 islands of varying shapes and sizes located south of the main island of Singapore. Some, such as St John's, Seringat and Lazarus, are being developed into island resorts or nature parks.

The others, such as Sisters' Island and Pulau Hantu, are being left as they are.

Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) manages and maintains nine of them, but of these, only four - Kusu, St John's, Sisters' and Pulau Hantu - are open to visitors.

There are ferry services to Kusu and St John's, but if you want privacy, then it is Pulau Hantu and Sisters' Island you should head for, like The Straits Times did.

Both are about 40 minutes' away by bumboat.

Jetties and basic amenities have been set up on both to encourage more to drop in. But you will have to bring your own food and drinks, as there are no shops at either.

SDC has installed two toilets, lots of park benches, dustbins, barbecue pits and shelters on each. It also cleans them up regularly and maintains the islands' green spots and water supply for the toilets. There may even be a regular ferry service to Sisters' soon.

One person who has visited Sisters' is Ms Janice Wong, 31, a marketing manager. She went there with a group of friends about two months ago.

She said: 'The place is so peaceful and tranquil, it's hard to imagine it's part of Singapore. It seems like a deserted island.'

The only way out to the pair, apparently named because of the legend about two sisters drowning at sea years ago, is to rent a bumboat - which seats 12 - for a day from the boatmen at Clifford Pier. Most are old men and can be found near the Customs checkpoint at the pier.

Agree on a price for the two-way trip before jumping onto a vessel.

It should be about $160 for a full day.

The journey takes you past Pulau Brani, Sentosa, Kusu and St John's islands.

Your destination is clear, even from a distance, as the islands sit side by side, bearing a striking resemblance to each other. The larger is called Pulau Subar Laut, and the smaller Pulau Subar Darat. Each has its own jetty.

Their only permanent inhabitants: A large group of monkeys, which invariably greet all visitors, and loiter around the dustbins, near the toilets and on the beach. But they generally leave people alone.

Do not feed them, as the many signs request, as it will make the animals dependent on humans for food.

They subsist on berries and small fruit growing in the secondary forest that covers most of the bigger of the two islands.

The dense collection of plants, made up mostly of casuarina trees and sea hibiscus that sough softly when a breeze blows, has a forbidding look, but the SDC assures visitors that there are no snakes there.

So if you have the inclination, you could explore the area.

The islands cover an area of 7.9 ha altogether, and half an hour is about all the time a visitor needs to circle the whole of the bigger one, which has a paved walkway.

For some respite from the sun, you could take shelter in one of the 19 roofed huts made of wood dotting both islands.

The picnic sets comprise two long seats and an attached table top, so eating a meal can be done comfortably here, just like at the Pasir Ris and East Coast beaches.

They are also perfect for those wanting to stretch out for a snooze, but trying to avoid lying on the ground.

Take your pick of one of four lagoons to swim in and lounge around at.

The beaches have clean, light brown sand, and lots of place for basking, while the water is mostly clear, save for the odd coconut husk.

Barbecue pits are installed near the lagoons, and there are taps near them too, making cleaning up after a meal convenient.

There is fish aplenty in the water, and you may spot some shrimp and crabs too. The only sounds to interrupt a visit there are the birds chirping and the occasional growl from a passing oil tanker.

The two toilets on the islands have showers attached and are amazingly clean, perhaps because they are seldom used. You will even find toilet paper in each cubicle.

Administration assistant Wilson Lee has spent time at the beach there with his family. He said: 'It's convenient because of the basic amenities. The kids like it because they can swim and barbecue.'

You have two islands again at Pulau Hantu - Pulau Hantu Besar and Pulau Hantu Kechil, which sit across from each other. These are slightly bigger than Sisters' Island.

There are no plans, however, to have a ferry plying to the islands. A two-way bumboat ride there from the West Coast ferry terminal, near the West Coast Park, will cost $100 to $140.

Pulau Hantu has the same amenities as Sisters' Island. But instead of a forest, it has a large mangrove swamp.

At low tide, you can watch hermit crabs digging, shrimp dancing and mudskippers jumping from one mudflat to another.

Visitors can spend a whole afternoon exploring the swamp. But they will have to do it face-down, to catch all the action going on. If you are lucky, you may even spot a starfish buried in the ground.

Pulau Hantu is popular with divers too, as the seabed around the island is shallow and flat, and safe as a training and recreational spot for newcomers to the activity.

Some visitors have also reported seeing dolphins frolicking in the distance.

As with Sisters' Island, coconut palms and trees have been planted everywhere, making the place shady.

Cranes, herons and magpies are some of the migratory birds which inhabit the island during certain times of the year.

You can also camp on the two sets of islands if you have permission from the SDC.

:cool:

The coral reefs in Singapore are found skirting many of the islands south of mainland Singapore. These comprise fringing and patch reefs.
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/singmap.jpg
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/gen001.jpg
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/gen002.jpg
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/gen003.jpg
There were once over 60 offshore islands and patch reefs around Singapore, most of which were situated south of mainland Singapore. However, since the mid 1970s, major land reclamation was carried out on the mainland as well as the offshore southern islands. Most of the southern islands were reclaimed, adding 1695 ha to Singapore's total land area. Some islands were merged as a result. The reef flats of many islands e.g. Pulau Sudong, Pulau Hantu and Kusu Island were reclaimed right up to the reef slope. Many of the coral reef organisms were smothered by the reclamation, while others were severely affected by the resulting increase in water turbidity. Since 1986, most coral reefs in Singapore have lost up to 65% of their live coral cover
The high turbidity of our waters restrict light penetration and reef life ends at a depth of only 12m, marking the lower growth limit for hermatypic corals. Sedimentation rates ranged from 3-6mg/cm2/day in 1979. In 1994, these increased to 5-45mg/cm2/day (the higher value obtained from localised areas close to reclamation projects). This reduced visibility from 10m in the 1960s to 2m or less today. As a consequence, the reef is very compact, as opposed to reefs in clear waters, which can be found at depths of 20m and more.

Life on our reefs
Contrary to the belief that our reefs have been permanently devastated, they still support rich marine life. The reefs in Singapore harbour close to 200 species of hard corals from 55 genera, which given the size of the reefs and conditions present here, compare favourably with coral species richness in the more extensive reefs of the region. Singapore reefs sustain good diversity of other marine organisms too, such as gorgonians (Goh et al 1997) and nudibranchs. So far, 111 reef fish species from 30 families were also recorded.
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/gen004.jpg
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/gen006.jpg

The reef can be subdivided into several zones: the reef flat, the reef crest and the reef slope.

The shoreline gives way to the shallow reef flat that may vary in width and depth - at very low tides, some parts of the reef flat are exposed to air and direct sunlight. Here, scattered about are small colonies of boulder-shaped knob corals (Favia), maze coral (Platygyra sp.) and sponges of different colours. Pockets of sandy areas may be surrounded by lawns of large brown algae Sargassum sp. Bands of black sea urchins gather in large numbers. This level also marks the outer edge of the reef flat, which gives way to the reef crest.

Marine life on the reef crest is usually the richest - almost every type of coral is represented: the brain corals (Family Mussidae), bubble-corals (Family Caryophyllidae), pore corals (Family Poritidae), mushroom corals (Family Fungidae), cauliflower coral (Pocillopora sp), cave corals and disc coral (Family Dendrophyllidae), the table and staghorn corals (Acropora sp.), anemone corals (Goniopora sp)and many others. Living among these corals are many other marine animals. Deep purple-coloured sea anemones, with their symbiotic clownfish are a common sight. Crinoids (feather stars) are cryptic by day, and hide in coral crevices. Attached on the reef substrata are the sponges, sea squirts (tunicates), feather-duster worms and stinging hydroids. The other more mobile reef residents are the cowries, cone shells, nudibranchs, shrimps and crabs may be found in the crevices of the reef.
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/gen007.jpg
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/gen008.jpg

No other marine habitat supports such numbers or diversity of fishes as coral reefs. Most reef fishes adopt bright colouration, curious body shapes and habits. They not only add much vibrancy to the reef, but also are important contributors in almost all levels of the coral reef ecosystem. The most diverse and abundant fishes in Singapore reefs are the damselfishes (Family Pomacentridae) and wrasses (Family Labridae). Other common reef fishes are the copperband butterflyfish (Chelomon rostratus) and vermiculated angelfish (Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus).

Some of the reef fishes are economically important as food fish. These include the groupers (Family Serranidae), snappers (Family Lutjanidae), scads and trevallies (Family Carangidae).

As the upper reef slope gives way to the lower reef slope at about 7 to 8m depth, the density of marine organisms decreases. Coral boulders are scattered, separated by coral rubble, sand and silt. Occasionally, one comes across some sea urchins, crinoids, gobies, goatfishes and mushroom corals, the Neptune-cup sponges and brilliantly coloured sea-fans.
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/fish008.jpg

The sea floor of many reefs in Singapore is usually silty. Long sea whips and smaller sea fans are common. A few isolated colonies of corals still grow at these depths, but most of these are ahermatypic which do not possess the symbiotic zooxanthellae, and hence able to colonise the darker parts of the reef.
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/fish004.jpg
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/images/gallery/gen009.jpg

Threats to Singapore reefs
The most significant cause of reef degradation in Singapore is sedimentation. Land reclamation, dredging of shipping channels and dumping of earth spoils, have increased the sediment load. Loss of coral reefs to land reclamation occurred along the southwest coast of the mainland and on some of the offshore southern islands. Increased sedimentation affected the remaining reefs in two ways 1) by causing a slow but steady reduction in live coral cover 2) by reducing the lower depth limit of coral growth on reef slopes. Surveys since 1986 indicated that live coral cover decreased by up to 20% on some reefs, although other reefs registered no impact. The reduction in sunlight penetration reduced the lower depth limit of coral growth. In the 1970s, coral growth extended to 10m down the reef slope. Today, growth is restricted to 6m although some coral species still occur at the 8m depth.

Accidental oil spills remain as an ever-present threat. However the 1997 Evoikos oil spill (27,000 tonnes) did not seriously affect coral reefs, although oil contaminated the upper parts of some reef flats.

Other activities that also have an impact on the reefs include recreational and tourist-related use. Negligent or inexperienced divers without proper buoyancy control, leave a trail of broken corals. Anchor damage is caused by fishing boats and pleasure craft. At Pulau Hantu, a popular dive spot, courtesy mooring buoys have been installed to prevent further anchor damage.

The 1998 coral bleaching event
As with coral reefs around the world, Singapore reefs suffered a mass bleaching event in June 1998. Sea temperatures around Pulau Hantu and St John's were elevated by 1-2 deg C from March to June 1998. 50-90% of all reef organisms in Singapore were affected, particularly the hard corals,
soft corals and anemones. The bleaching effect extended till 6m, the lower
growth depth limit for coral growth locally. Sea temperatures returned to normal in August 1998. A study of the stressed colonies was undertaken during this period. 10 out of 35 coral colonies died from the stress, and the genera Sinularia and Euphyllia were most affected. Other colonies showed various signs of stress, such as growth of turf algae and silt accumulation, leading to partial mortality.

Loads more pictures can be found here
http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/gallery/main.htm

Think I'll help you guys a little.Go here http://www.a2o.com.sg/public/search/index.html
and type the name of the island you want a photo of.

Old photos of Pulau Tekong:
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980001356-8151-3231-2014/img0005.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980000709-8056-3231-2708/img0004a.jpg http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980000480-6317-3042-0188/img0105.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005605-8073-3222-4384/img0070.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002911-8262-3202-1091/img0026.jpg
Now it has been turned into a military training area.

that first photo of Sentosa raffles posted was from the cable car, i think

Even more information!! WOW! Very interesting!

http://www.singaporecanlah.com/storyimages/Pulau%20Sajahat%20war%20relics.jpg

A World War II gun battery off Changi Point has long been the playground for beachcombers and a prime fishing spot for anglers, but the uninhabited spot will be landlocked once the sea around it is reclaimed.
Pulau Sajahat, which sits in the channel between Changi and Pulau Tekong, is the last islet here where British-built fortifications can be found. These reinforced concrete structures were declared a historical site in 2001 by the National Heritage Board.

The squarish 1.2ha islet about 100m wide is due to be merged with Pulau Tekong around the end of this decade, after reclamation is finished. It houses two gun sites, two anti-aircraft gun posts, bunkers for troops and a pair of towers built to control gunfire from Pulau Sajahat.

Its main weapons were a pair of twin QF six-pounder guns that could fire one 2.7 kg shell a second. Quick firing for their time, they could be used against fast-moving boats or even low-flying aircraft.

These fortifications will be preserved, the Defence Ministry told The Straits Times.

This means that future developments, such as roads or housing, on land reclaimed off Pulau Tekong cannot encroach on these war relics.

Pulau Tekong is now used exclusively for military training, but in the long term, it may be turned over to public housing.

Mindef provides specialist advice on the military significance of the island to HDB Corp, which is carrying out the reclamation, and to the National Heritage Board. These agencies are working together on how the fortifications will be treated.

Mindef said they would be left “largely intact”. This means structurally sound fortifications will be left in place. Its spokesman said there were no immediate plans to develop the site for visitors.

Before World War II, the British fortified the islet as part of the coastal defence network of what was called Fortress Singapore. Its battery complemented larger guns in forts at Changi, Pulau Tekong and Johor to protect shipping routes leading to the Royal Navy's base in Sembawang.

After the war, the islet's battery was abandoned. Today, except for some regular anglers and picnickers, few know about its war relics.

Source: The Straits Times, January 22, 2004

There are also war reics on Pulau Ubin, and right withn the NPCC campsite too. They are preserving them and converting them for reuse. ;)

Here is a pic of one of the outer islands in the south I took from a plane. I'm unable to identify it..it might even be part of Indonesia.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/502/103island.jpg

Dosent look like any of our Southern islands at all...the bigger ones of which have all become offshore industrial estates?

Guess you might be right, although that looks a bit 'industrial'. btw there are loads of tiny islets around there, and Singapore Island really stands out with the skyline;)

Heres a pic of the flight path.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/502/103flightpath.jpg

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Guess you might be right, although that looks a bit 'industrial'. btw there are loads of tiny islets around there, and Singapore Island really stands out with the skyline;)Industries as in the heavy kind....full of chimineys, massive machinery and humongous tanks!! :D

i did not think that SG had all the wildlife

How many islands do we have in the past? how many now??

hmm..not sure but we have about 63 outer islands.

Quite a few of them will be merged into one big Jurong Island though.

Originally posted by wolkenkrabber

i did not think that SG had all the wildlife

you will be surpised, but SG has a virgin forest in the middle of the city! Check out the GARDEN CITY thread for pictures :)

ok i will do so :) i bet it will look wonderfull but wouldent it get quite pollutenated?i mean with all traffic and stuff

Wellm air pollution isn't really very serious in Singapore. Even the moderately bad cases aren't caused by local events. Take the haze for example. We can blame our neighbour to south for that. ;)

ic well SG looks clean but i tougth with its desity it would get pollutentated

Originally posted by wolkenkrabber

ic well SG looks clean but i tougth with its desity it would get pollutentated I tot you are sayng "pollenated"....haha!! :D

Well.....Singapore's wildlife is amazingly varied for its size..let me try to find the data later if i have the time...;)

I have a friend who once spotted a family of hornbills roosting on the roof of the block opposite to his...

hornbills??? Maybe they flew in from Brazil?? :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

hornbills??? Maybe they flew in from Brazil?? :D

Geee.... what are the chances of that? :baaa:

He lives near Macrithcie, like i do, so maybe it came from there?

Dont be surprissed, but I actually wasent joking abut the Brazil ting! :D

Well..migratory birds travelling from Siberia to Antarctica do make a transit at Singapore Kranji Airport.

The bird spotters frequent the viewing gallery there I think:cheers:

Yeap! Anyway...anyone got more photos of the outer islands? If not, I might have to end up scanning tonnes from the library!

Ok.....I found a lovely book about Chek Jawa in the library...it is huge enough for its own giant thread! :D

Singapore's sea horses on display at Sentosa

THE Tropical Marine Science Institute on St John's Island is currently holding an exhibition of sea horses at Sentosa's Underwater World.

On display are two sea horse species commonly found in local waters - the tiger tail and the hedgehog - sea horse babies, and live feeds with algae and brine shrimp.

The exhibition is open from 9am to 9pm daily.

The marine creatures, which are actually a type of fish, can be found in Singapore's waters near Changi Beach, Tanjong Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin, Raffles Marina and near Tuas between Tanjong Murai and Pulau Pergam.

Research on sea horses took off when the National University of Singapore set up the institute on St John's Island in 1996 - the Republic's first marine research hub.

One of the institute's main research projects was a study on improved feeding techniques for the creatures.

Since then, the team of 30 researchers have managed to breed baby ones with a more than 70 per cent survival rate of up to two months.

The size of the sea horses ranges from 1cm to 3cm for a young one, and 12cm to 15cm for an adult.

Sea horses are mostly immobile and thus vulnerable to deteriorating marine conditions.

The institute believes the health of this endangered species serves as a barometer of the quality of the marine environment here.

Woah!Great photos...i ecpescially enjoyed the ones with e corals

Singapore's sea horses on display at Sentosa

THE Tropical Marine Science Institute on St John's Island is currently holding an exhibition of sea horses at Sentosa's Underwater World.

On display are two sea horse species commonly found in local waters - the tiger tail and the hedgehog - sea horse babies, and live feeds with algae and brine shrimp.

The exhibition is open from 9am to 9pm daily.

The marine creatures, which are actually a type of fish, can be found in Singapore's waters near Changi Beach, Tanjong Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin, Raffles Marina and near Tuas between Tanjong Murai and Pulau Pergam.

Research on sea horses took off when the National University of Singapore set up the institute on St John's Island in 1996 - the Republic's first marine research hub.

One of the institute's main research projects was a study on improved feeding techniques for the creatures.

Since then, the team of 30 researchers have managed to breed baby ones with a more than 70 per cent survival rate of up to two months.

The size of the sea horses ranges from 1cm to 3cm for a young one, and 12cm to 15cm for an adult.

Sea horses are mostly immobile and thus vulnerable to deteriorating marine conditions.

The institute believes the health of this endangered species serves as a barometer of the quality of the marine environment here.

Seahorses?? Hmm...thats nice.....:)

Undersea power lines for Tekong

By David Boey

THE hum of the diesel generators which power Singapore Armed Forces camps on Pulau Tekong will be just a memory once the island plugs into Singapore's electricity grid via undersea power cables.

Work to link Singapore's largest offshore island and the mainland with submarine cables 4.5km long began on Aug 10, Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday. It will be done by early 2006.

Tekong's electricity needs are now provided by generators on the island. Mr Seah Lye Kang, a project manager at the Defence Science and Technology Agency, which is carrying out the project, said the cables will 'improve the reliability of power supply to the island'.

Tekong's generators need to be shut down periodically for routine maintenance.

The link-up will save about $800,000 a year, said Mindef, which will no longer have to spend on diesel fuel, as well as spare parts and maintenance for the generators, which provide power to the more than 5,000 SAF personnel on the island for military training. This includes new enlistees who do their Basic Military Training there.

The new power supply will help SAF camps on Tekong meet increased demand for electricity when training there is stepped up.

The submarine cables will also serve as a communications link to Singapore. Mr Seah said: 'As each of the cables will be embedded with fibre optics, the communications bandwidth will also be greatly increased and hence provide a more resilient transmission infrastructure on the island.'

The cables will be bundled together in a sheath - to protect them against damage, water seepage and corrosion - and buried 'four to 10m below the seabed', so they will not disrupt shipping.

^
Hmm.....will there be a bridge between tekong and the main island??

^
Hmm.....will there be a bridge between tekong and the main island??
When civilisation finally comes to Tekong, then perhaps we can discuss the prospects of that! :D

But yeah...I think I notice it in the concept plans......:eek:

hmm..I'm not sure but I think Malaysia was opposed to us building a bridge to connect Tekong to the main Singapore island.

But more impressive is if they built an underground tunnel!

Check out the plan...

http://www.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2001/images/bigmap.gif

What I find interesting, is that in this map, the connection was shown in bold. In the earlier plan, the part between the Main island and Ubin and Tekong was actually dotted....!

haiz..but the concept plan can stretch for as long as 20 years right?

haiz..but the concept plan can stretch for as long as 20 years right?
Yeah...but they do get reviewed every 10 years. :D

oh well..I think they will build a bridge to Tekong when they build more residences over there or more industry?

Doubt theyll build a bridge just so the recruits can use it :lol: -_-

oh well..I think they will build a bridge to Tekong when they build more residences over there or more industry?

Doubt theyll build a bridge just so the recruits can use it :lol: -_-

Emm...maybe they can use the bridge to "tekan" recruits by asking them to march to the main island???:lol: :jk:

Anyway, I wonder if ubin would be developed one day??

Some pics of Pulau Ubin from pbase
http://www.pbase.com/deseml/singapore

Pulau Ubin bumboats at Changi
http://www.pbase.com/image/29533499.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/29533506.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/29537513.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/29533502.jpg

Well...that jetty is a historical item by now....to think that I last used it only last year?

I missed Ubin, had memorable events there... :cry:
(I sound like an old uncle evicted from a kampong there... :eek::lol: )

I last went to Ubin in 2000, very nice and quaint. Hope it stays that way :cool:

Maybe Ubin should be designated a 'special conservation area' to preserve those quarries, kamongs, farms, kelongs and wildlife....

Not to mention cemeteries... ( :runaway: )

whats going to happen to Ubin in the future?

I think the government is holding back from developing it until it is REALLY necessary.

Fancy a nature trek on Pulau Landfill?

9 Mar 05

You can visit 'waste' island from June to see its surprising bounty

By Alexis Hooi

THE place is a dump. But beauty thrives there, as nature lovers are set to discover on Pulau Semakau, Singapore's sole working landfill.

From June, they can meander through the island's mangrove mudflats that span the size of more than 20 football fields, or explore the teeming western and northern shorelines of the island.

Fishing enthusiasts can also get hooked: there's sport fishing to be had at man-made salt-water lagoons created for rubbish but which have not been filled up.

The activities will be led by selected recreational and nature groups. Those keen must register with these groups to get there.

This is because there are no regular ferry rides and they need to be guided to nicer parts of the island.

After all, the main activity on the six-year-old landfill is the dumping of around 2,000 tonnes of rubbish a day.

It is using less than half its available space now and is expected to fill up only by 2040.

Waste, such as treated sludge, non-burnable trash, and silt and bottom ash from incineration plants, is dumped there.

But the island has been developed with enough care that it is scenic and not smelly.

At least that was the picture Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim painted yesterday when he told Parliament of the plan, which is part of moves to open up more areas for people to enjoy the environment.

The ministry's statutory board, the National Environment Agency (NEA), did a feasibility study last October after observing the island's 'pristine' conditions.

Said Dr Yaacob: 'Many people picture a landfill as a dirty and smelly place.

'This is not the case with Semakau... Preliminary biodiversity surveys conducted on the island revealed a significant variety of flora and fauna.'

Already, several groups approached have told the NEA they want a piece of the action.

They are: nature group Wild Singapore, which wants to conduct bio-diversity surveys; the Nature Society, which is keen on birdwatching; and the Sport Fishing Association of Singapore.

Others who have already been there on organised group visits include students and grassroots members.

The idea of a landfill as a nature retreat has fresh appeal, say the groups.

Said Mr Chin Chi Khiong, of the Sport Fishing Association of Singapore, who has visited the place: 'I can't think of anywhere else in the world where they've done something like this.'

Added chairman of the Nature Society's conservation committee Ho Hua Chew: 'It's a very good initiative. The whole area contains a lot of interesting bird species, such as the great-billed heron and Pacific reef egret.

'The forest there is quite impenetrable and we expect to see more rare species, regularly, in the future.'

Interested in visiting Pulau Landfill? More details will be out soon.

Foreigners would get a heart attack if they step onto Ubin with a stereotypical image of Singapore...

Fancy a nature trek on Pulau Landfill?

9 Mar 05

You can visit 'waste' island from June to see its surprising bounty

By Alexis Hooi

THE place is a dump. But beauty thrives there, as nature lovers are set to discover on Pulau Semakau, Singapore's sole working landfill.

From June, they can meander through the island's mangrove mudflats that span the size of more than 20 football fields, or explore the teeming western and northern shorelines of the island.

Fishing enthusiasts can also get hooked: there's sport fishing to be had at man-made salt-water lagoons created for rubbish but which have not been filled up.

The activities will be led by selected recreational and nature groups. Those keen must register with these groups to get there.

This is because there are no regular ferry rides and they need to be guided to nicer parts of the island.

After all, the main activity on the six-year-old landfill is the dumping of around 2,000 tonnes of rubbish a day.

It is using less than half its available space now and is expected to fill up only by 2040.

Waste, such as treated sludge, non-burnable trash, and silt and bottom ash from incineration plants, is dumped there.

But the island has been developed with enough care that it is scenic and not smelly.

At least that was the picture Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim painted yesterday when he told Parliament of the plan, which is part of moves to open up more areas for people to enjoy the environment.

The ministry's statutory board, the National Environment Agency (NEA), did a feasibility study last October after observing the island's 'pristine' conditions.

Said Dr Yaacob: 'Many people picture a landfill as a dirty and smelly place.

'This is not the case with Semakau... Preliminary biodiversity surveys conducted on the island revealed a significant variety of flora and fauna.'

Already, several groups approached have told the NEA they want a piece of the action.

They are: nature group Wild Singapore, which wants to conduct bio-diversity surveys; the Nature Society, which is keen on birdwatching; and the Sport Fishing Association of Singapore.

Others who have already been there on organised group visits include students and grassroots members.

The idea of a landfill as a nature retreat has fresh appeal, say the groups.

Said Mr Chin Chi Khiong, of the Sport Fishing Association of Singapore, who has visited the place: 'I can't think of anywhere else in the world where they've done something like this.'

Added chairman of the Nature Society's conservation committee Ho Hua Chew: 'It's a very good initiative. The whole area contains a lot of interesting bird species, such as the great-billed heron and Pacific reef egret.

'The forest there is quite impenetrable and we expect to see more rare species, regularly, in the future.'

Interested in visiting Pulau Landfill? More details will be out soon.
Haha its about time they do that! I was quite keen to visit!

WOW I can't believe that this thread is still around! And with more information at that!

WOW I can't believe that this thread is still around! And with more information at that!
Oh so long that those islands are around, this thread will be around. :D

Very good! Hello BTW. Long time no chat!

I came across this thread by accident. Got a couple of photos to share here. Here's one for the time being...

Sisters' Island (April 2005)
http://img74.echo.cx/img74/9293/2005sistersisland010zc.jpg

Boardwalk to get you close to nature in Ubin

30 Apr 05

Walkway among features planned on island to let public enjoy nature

By Alexis Hooi

RISING 3m above the ground, the 2.5km wooden boardwalk will traverse the shoreline and nature areas of Chek Jawa, home to one of Singapore's richest collections of plant and marine life.

When completed by next year, the walkway will bring visitors up close to the inhabitants of the mudflats, mangrove forest and other habitats of the area in Pulau Ubin, without threatening them.

The feature is part of plans, unveiled yesterday, to build new facilities to help the public enjoy Singapore's last few nature enclaves on the northern island.

Strolling on the boardwalk, visitors will also be able to stop and appreciate more fully Chek Jawa's biodiversity, with lookout platforms, shelters and a seven-storey-high viewing tower.

A Tudor-style English cottage there, built in the 1930s, will be restored and used as a visitor centre, with a seminar room and research facilities.

West of Chek Jawa, 7.5ha of land - larger than 10 football fields - has been set aside as a third campsite on the island. The existing two are at Noordin and Mamam beaches in the north.

And further west, the 14.4ha Ketam Quarry area will be used for mountain-biking activities.

Contributing to these projects, which cost close to $10 million, is HSBC. It donated $800,000 to a fund set up to support nature conservation, outreach and research activities on the island.

The fund will also be used for a resource centre that will coordinate and promote volunteerism in these areas.

Touring the site of some of the projects yesterday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said these efforts were an example of how Singapore needed to balance its development imperatives with safeguarding its rich natural heritage.

He said: 'Our approach has always been... pragmatism. Conserve as much as possible, but bearing in mind that we have to cater to our economic development.'

Mr Mah cited Chek Jawa as a prime example of how Singapore could strike that balance - reclamation plans were put on hold four years ago to conserve the area.

At the same time, he said, more was needed to develop new parks and enhance existing ones for Singapore to realise the vision of becoming a 'City in a Garden'.

Such moves include linking up major parks and nature sites to form a 'green necklace', and enhancing greenery along streets.

Mr Mah also stressed the importance of a public, private and people partnership in such a vision.

Addressing concerns on how the new features could increase visitors but threaten Chek Jawa's ecosystem, Mr Mah said it was a way to accommodate as many visitors as possible while also protecting the area.

'I hope the visitors who come will enjoy Chek Jawa without destroying it, loving it to death as it were.'

Uh-oh...another broadwalk. I am hoping it is not damaging the environment!

at least no muddy shoes after a walk at chek Jawa...every step I took, was so afraid stepping on something alive... :P

board walks are good what..make nature more accessible :yes:

No expats' proposal to turn Pulau Tekukor into Monkey Island rejected

24 Jun 05

By Chang Ai-Lien
SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT

SINGAPORE'S first wildlife rescue centre could be set up on Pulau Ubin, to provide a home for illegal animals brought into Singapore and confiscated by the authorities.

The non-profit animal-rights group Acres has received in-principle approval from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to set up the shelter, which will house primates, small carnivores and non-venomous snakes.

'We can't go on giving these animals to the zoo, which simply doesn't have the room,' Acres president Louis Ng said on Wednesday. 'So the centre would be like a halfway house for the animals before they are repatriated to other countries, though we may have to keep some of them for life.'

But before it raises the estimated $500,000 needed to set up the facility, Acres is waiting for the Singapore Land Authority - which suggested several sites on Ubin - to get approval from the Law Ministry for use of the land, he added.

Acres, or the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, said together with the AVA, it has rescued 60 wild animals since last November following tip-offs from the public. They include monkeys, exotic spiders and tortoises.

The rustic island of Ubin would be an ideal location for the sanctuary, as it would make it difficult for people who bought wild animals as pets on a whim to dump them there, said Mr Ng.

All animals there would be micro-chipped, and the centre would have open-air enclosures for primates, and vets to make sure the animals are healthy.

Members of the public will also be allowed to visit the facility on guided tours, he added, speaking on the sidelines of an international animal-welfare conference here.

Nature Society Singapore president and Nominated MP Geh Min, who officially opened the Asia for Animals conference on Wednesday, also highlighted Singapore's lack of a wildlife rescue centre.

'It's important to look at what happens when such animals are confiscated. We can't always introduce them into the wild,' she said.

The AVA, in confirming its approval of the centre, said confiscated animals are donated to institutions such as the Singapore Zoo, Jurong BirdPark and Underwater World in Sentosa. Major seizures are returned to the country of origin, while sick animals are put down humanely.

People with information on anyone keeping and selling exotic pets may call the AVA on 6227-0670 or Acres' 24-hour hotline on 9783-7782.

Bio-treasure Isle

18 Jul 05

Semakau Landfill, an island where trash is dumped, now open to public to enjoy its rich biodiversity


By Sarah Ng

BY 2045, Singapore will have a brand new island as big as Sentosa - created out of incinerated trash.

But the public won't have to wait that long to enjoy the island. They can now fish, birdwatch and look at the marine life on mangrove mudflats there.

Semakau Landfill is the name of this new island, located 7km from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal.

The National Environment Agency is creating it by joining two islands - Pulau Semakau and Pulau Sakeng - with a man-made, saltwater lagoon where the rubbish will be dumped.

It is enclosed by a 7km-long rock bund, which is lined with an impermeable membrane and marine clay to prevent the trash from seeping out. The lagoon is also divided into several ponds, into which the rubbish is dumped.

Water is pumped out of the ponds and trash is compacted into them. As the ponds get filled up with rubbish, they are turfed over with grass and the island takes shape bit by bit.

The landfill took four years to build, and the first phase of construction cost $610 million. The second phase, which will involve building more ponds, will start after the present 11 ponds are filled. With more waste being recycled, the landfill can now last until 2045.

Despite the trash being dumped there, the island is not smelly. That's because only ash and non-organic waste such as construction materials are put in.

It is also home to rich marine life such as barracuda, trevally, sea bass and milk fish. It also has 54 species of birds such as the endangered great-billed heron, the Pacific reef egret and the Malaysian plover. Its mangrove mudflats are bigger than 20 football fields and are rich with seagrass, giant sea anemones and sea urchins.

People can visit the island, but they will have to book their visits through three recreational and nature groups - the Sport Fishing Association Singapore (SFAS), Nature Society Singapore and the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

The SFAS will conduct monthly fishing trips that cost $40 per person. The other two groups are still working out schedules for guided tours.

The landfill is an example of how a rubbish dump and environment conservation can co-exist, said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. He opened it for recreation on Saturday morning.

Speaking to reporters after a tour of the landfill, Dr Yaacob said: 'One possibility is opening this up to schools for excursions. We can build basic facilities for them to spend the night here so that they can do a bit of stargazing and birdwatching.'

About 350 guests visited the scenic and breezy landfill on Saturday, including 150 people from 40 families who used to live on Pulau Sakeng. They moved to the mainland in 1994 to make way for the project.

Mr Teo Yen Eng, 81, who lived on Pulau Sakeng for more than 30 years with his brother Yen Tek, 74, was among them. The two men used to run a provision shop on the island.

'The best thing about this place is the fresh air and lack of pollution. I'm glad it's still the same now, even though it has become a rubbish dump,' said the elder Mr Teo.

Said another former resident, Mr Haji Chani Dualip, 60: 'It's good that it is now open to the public, so more people can come and enjoy its beauty.'

Those keen on visiting the landfill should contact Sport Fishing Association Singapore at www.sfas.net , the Nature Society at membership@nss.org.sg, or the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at rmbr.nus.edu.sg

How many islands do we have in the past? how many now??

Main Islands:
1. Jurong Island
2. Pulau Anak Bukom
3. Pulau Berkas
4. Pulau Biola
5. Pulau Brani
6. Pulau Bukom Besar
7. Pulau Bukom Kechil
8. Pulau Buloh
9. Pulau Busing
10. Pulau Damar Luat
11. Pulau Damien
12. Pulau Hantu Besar
13. Pulau Hantu Kechil
14. Pulau Jong
15. Pulau Keppel
16. Pulau Ketam
17. Pulau Palawan
18. Pulau Pawai
19. Pulau Pergam
20. Pulau Punggol Barat
21. Pulau Punggol Timor
22. Pulau Sajahat Besar
23. Pulau Sajahat Kechil
24. Pulau Sakijang Bendera (St. John's Island)
25. Pulau Sakijang Pelepah (Lazarus Island)
26. Pulau Salu
27. Pulau Samulun
28. Pulau Sarimbun
29. Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse)
30. Pulau Sebarok (Middle Island)
31. Pulau Seletar
32. Pulau Semakau
33. Pulau Semechek
34. Pulau Senang
35. Pulau Serangoon (Coney Island)
36. Pulau Seringat (formerly Pulau Renggit)
37. Pulau Subar Darat (Sisters' Islands)
38. Pulau Subar Laut (Sisters' Islands)
39. Pulau Sudong
40. Pulau Tekong Besar
41. Pulau Tekong Kechil
42. Pulau Tekukor (Penyabong)
43. Pulau Tembakul (Kusu Island, Peak Island)
44. Pulau Ubin
45. Pulau Ular
46. Pulau Unum
47. Sentosa Island


Other Islands:
Ajax Shoal (Off Jurong Island)
Alert Shoal (Off Tuas View)
Batu Belalai (Off Pulau Tekong Besar)
Batu Berdaun
Batu Berhanti (Off Southern Islands)
Beting Bemban Besar
Carter Shoal (Off Pedra Branca)
Cyrene Reefs
Henderson Shoal (Off Pulau Ubin)
Johor Shoal (Off Changi Naval Base)
Long Shoal (Off Tuas South)
Lower Shoal (SouthEast of Outer Shoal)
Middle Rocks (Off Pedra Branca)
Outer Shoal (Off Marina Channel)
Pedra Branca (Horsburgh Lighthouse)
Raffles Shoal (Off South-Western Islands)
South Ledge (also known as Karang Selatan. Off Pedra Branca)
Sultan Shoal (Sultan Shoal Lighthouse)
Terumbu Berkas Besar
Terumbu Berkas Kechil
Terumbu Buran
Terumbu Palai
Terumbu Pandan
Terumbu Pempang Laut
Terumbu Raya
Terumbu Semakau
Triton Shoal (Off Jurong Island)
Ular Reef


Islands which no longer exist:
Anak Pulau (now Jurong Island)
Buran Darat (now Sentosa Island)
Pulau Ayer Chawan (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Ayer Merbau (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Bajau
Pulau Bakau (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Buaya (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Chichir
Pulau Kuching
Pulau Merlimau (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Mesemut Darat (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Mesemut Laut (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Meskol (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Pesek Besar (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Pesek Kechil (formerly Terumbu Pesek, now Jurong Island)
Pulau Ranget
Pulau Renggis
Pulau Saigon (Pulo Saigon)
Pulau Sakeng (now Pulau Semakau extension)
Pulau Sakra (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Sanyongkong (now Pulau Tekong Besar)
Pulau Selegu (now Sentosa Island)
Pulau Seraya (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Serburus Dalam (now Jurong Island)
Pulau Serburus Luar (now Jurong Island)
Terumbu Pidara (now Jurong Island)
Terumbu Retan Laut


Islands which existence need to be confirmed:
Pulau Sekudu
Pulau Wak
Pulau Malang Siajar (halfway between Johor and Pulau Tekong Besar)


Straits/Harbours etc:
Ayer Merbau Basin
Banyan Basin
Benoi Basin
Buran Channel
Calder Harbour (Off Pulau Tekong Besar)
Gul Basin
East Jurong Channel
Kallang Basin
Keppel Harbour
Ketam Channel (Between Pulau Ketam and Pulau Ubin)
Kuala Johor (Between Changi and Pulau Tekong Besar)
Main Strait
Marina Channel
Nenas Channel (Between Pulau Ubin and Johor)
Northern Tuas Basin
Pesek Basin
Putri Narrows (Off Sungei Gedong)
Rajah Pinang (?) Channel (Between Pulau Tekong Besar and Pulau Tekong Kechil)
Sakra Basin
Selat Biola
Selat Pandan (Between Jurong Island and South-Western Islands)
Selat Pauh (Between Pulau Sudong and Pulau Hantu, Pulau Semakau)
Selat Johor
Selat Jurong (Between mainland and Jurong Island)
Selat Pawai
Selat Pulau Damar
Selat Salu
Selat Samulun
Selat Sengkir (between Pulau Brani and Sentosa Island)
Selat Sinki (South-West of Selat Pandan)
Selat Sudong
Selat Tanjong Hakim (Between St. John's Island and Sisters' Islands)
Serangoon Harbour
Southern Tuas Basin
Strait of Singapore
Tuas Channel
West Jurong Channel

More info. on all outer islands:

http://www.can.com.sg/content/neocan/en/streetwise/unwind/welcome_to_singapore/outlying_islands_of.html

Coming up soon: Integrated "Trash" Resort with Golf Course at Semakau Island? :hahaha: :hahaha:

http://www.rsyc.org.sg/photos/semakau/

Innovative Singapore turns Semakau island into eco-tourism attraction

SINGAPORE : A great-billed heron flaps its majestic wings as it settles on top of a concrete embankment, oblivious to the constant drone of bulldozers shoving muddy ash into a dump site.

Colourful starfish and gritty crabs adorn the beach while coral reefs thrive close to the shore, from where tankers and other ships can be seen plying one of the world's busiest waterways.

Welcome to Semakau, which the Singapore government believes to be the world's first island made almost entirely from trash.

But instead of the stench of rubbish, it is the salty tang of the sea that greets visitors to this unique eco-tourism attraction in the Strait of Singapore.

A nature haven has blossomed in this unlikely location barely a 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland of the land-scarce city-state, whose economic success and rapid modernisation generates a massive amount of waste daily.

The 350-hectare offshore landfill, comprising two natural islets connected by a rock embankment, can hold 63 million cubic metres of rubbish, enough to accommodate Singapore's landfill needs until 2045.

Towed by giant barges, more than 2,000 tonnes of waste, including construction debris and ash from incineration plants, are dumped onto the island every day.

But thanks to the work of scientists, planners, engineers and environmentalists, a rich variety of flora and fauna is surviving on the island, including 55 species of birds like the endangered great-billed heron.

Recent private surveys on Semakau's relatively unexplored marine life have also yielded exciting discoveries including a vast meadow of rare tape seagrass, giant barramundi cod and even reported sightings of black-tipped sharks.

"Semakau's marine life is amazingly rich... some parts of it are so rare that it can no longer be found elsewhere in Singapore," Ria Tan, who owns a popular nature website, Wild Singapore, said.

Worries of animals feeding on the refuse are unfounded, as more than 80 percent of the waste consists of inorganic matter, and is unlikely to attract any preying animals, according to the landfill's general manager, Ong Chong Peng.

"We had this concept to build a pretty unique landfill, yet at the same time ensure that the eco-system remains preserved and protected," Ong told AFP during a visit to the island.

To ensure that the surrounding areas stay pollution-free, Ong and his team of 100 staff employ compactors and bulldozers to level the waste after it is dumped into landfill cells lined with a thick plastic membrane. The cells are then topped off with fertile soil.

Two mangrove plantations were also replanted next to the landfills, serving as biological indicators should there be any leaks of harmful waste into the sea, Ong said.

"The basic premise of our operations was creating an island from the sea, by dumping waste," said the landfill's operations manager, Loo Eng Por, who has been working on the island since it began operations in 1999.

The idea of having a tourist attraction made from garbage was mooted last year by Minister of Environment and Water Resources Yaccob Ibrahim, who sees Semakau as an example of how refuse and conservation can co-exist.

"This is a way for Singapore to show the world that as a nation this is a very responsible way to manage our waste and manage our environment and it may not be a lose-lose situation," Dr Yaccob said when he opened the island for recreational activities in July.

Safety and security concerns mean that Semakau, which cost S$610 million (US$370 million) to build, is currently accessible only by members of three nature groups. Authorities are exploring the possibility of further opening up the island.

Website owner Tan, who is also an associate member of one such group engaging in biodiversity research, organises hour-long nature tours of the island's extensive seagrass clusters and wildlife-teeming mangroves.

"We try to keep (the walks) short, sweet and pleasant... You'll never know whether urbanites like Singaporeans will enjoy them or not, but I'm pretty sure nature lovers will," she said confidently.

But Ho Hua Chew, an avid bird-watcher with another interest group permitted to travel to the island, sounded a word of caution.

"The bigger the landfill, the lesser the indigenous animals and inter-tidal marine life... we mustn't extend the idea that landfills are good for biodiversity," Ho said between hopeful peeks through his binoculars.

For Ong, the landfill manager, the prospect of creating entirely from refuse an island about the size of Sentosa, the nearby resort island where a major casino complex is to be built, is too enticing to ignore.

"Who knows? We might even have golf courses here in the future. It's possible," he chuckled. - AFP/de

LOL, as long as the visitors respect the environment, this could be an added attraction for Singapore.

Getting more and more exciting:

First Reverse Bungee @ Clarke Quay

Then Sky Diving @ Marina Bay

Now Cliff Diving @Palau Ubin


Pulau Ubin hosts cliff-diving demonstration to promote sport
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia


SINGAPORE : Singapore hosted its first-ever cliff-dive at Pulau Ubin on Monday.

It's a leap of faith definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Athletes can be travelling at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour when they hit the water.

Cliff-diving champion Joey Zuber was at hand to explain what the sport is all about, and to share his experience with thrill lovers.

The event is part of a demonstration drive to create awareness of the sport of cliff-diving in Singapore. - CNA/de

read too fast. thought you meant our forumer Cliff went diving at Pulau Ubin.

Sounds exciting... but, I wouldn't dare try. :runaway:

^
:lol:

http://www.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2001/images/bigmap.gif
What's the link going through the middle of palau ubin going to be? Please don't say they're going to something stupid like build an expressway across the middle of the island, that would be terrible. The map indicates road access but I think even a normal size road through the middle of the island would ruin it's character. If they want a direct link an underground mrt line would be good with one stop in the old village. That way they could have a really small structure at ground level which could be designed not to stand out but still have the benefit of a direct connection to the mainland.
If we have to have a road link they should link it to the existing road network on the island and impose something like a 25kph speed limit. The roads currently there are quite small but the main ones are quite good.

Here's a pretty good map of palau ubin:
http://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks_cms/cms/cmsmgr/data/6/Ubin_Map.jpg

It's a subway link.

But I hope Pulau Ubin would never be urbanised. There are 2 rural villages there, one of the last here. :cry:

I dont think they are going to develop Pulau Ubin anytime soon and I'm sure they are more aware about the importance of preserving the natural environment there.

I hope so. I don't mind the idea of an mrt link so long as it's undergound as it would mean that residents of the island could have the best of both worlds and wouldn't be stuck there in bad weather. It would also mean that people could visit the island more easily. I don't want to see it urbanised though, ok they could introduce a few more residents without harming it too much if they insist on it but not many. I personally think that a road link would ruin it. At least visitors to the island at the moment can only travel around by foot or bike.

If Singapore needs more land then reclaim it, it may be the more expensive option but I'm certain that they would soon regret it if they urbanised the island.