HPB Voices Reloaded
September - October 2007
It was one of the biggest and eagerly anticipated treks that the HPB Walking Enthusiasts had ever organised. It was so popular that the organisers had to close the registration just days after it was publicised. So, it was not unexpected that the 50–big group of staff and family members turned up on time for an early breakfast at Changi Village, sacrificing much needed sleep on a Saturday morning on 1st September 2007.
Fueled by the famous Changi Nasi Lemak and Teh-Tarik, the group soon embarked on their hike with a ten minute bumboat ride to Pulau Ubin. Once on the island, the group started the trek by making their way through the Sensory Trail. This is a specially designed 1.5-km walk where you can touch and smell fruit trees, spices, herbs and other herbal plants planted within the trail.
For some, it was a trek down memory lane as the sights and scents brought back great memories of the old kampong days. Many became impromptu guides as they shared stories with the “young ones” of the many uses of the herbal plants to ail a myriad of aches and illnesses. The chit chat stretched for the next 2 hours as the group trudged through the largely undeveloped forests and abandoned granite quarries. It was an eventful beginning as the group encountered giant durian trees, the occasional snakes, giant spiders and a few lucky ones even managed to catch a glimpse of the slow, laboured glide of the Southern pied hornbills.
For years, Chek Jawa was a secret, because its bounty surfaced only for a few hours during the lowest of tides. The beauty of Chek Jawa lies with the fact that several different ecosystems converge in this 1 sq km space, including rocky shore, coastal hill forest, rich sand and mudflats. It was only in late 2000 that nature lovers stumbled on it during an outing. This then created an unexpected problem as the flora was devastated by the uncontrolled walking and collecting by the many visitors thronging to the site. But now, with a walkway meandering along the coasts and into the mangroves, visitors can come up close to its inhabitants, without harming them.
Finally, after completing hundreds of steps across the undulating terrain, the group finally reached Chek Jawa. Alas, it was high tide and hence not all the marine life was visible. But nothing was going to dampen the mood of the group as everyone enjoyed the breeze and scenery as they took a slow stroll along the boardwalk and ends it off with the customary group photo.
At the end of the trip, many agreed that they would remember the outing fondly. Ubin contains much the same life that Singapore would have had if there was little or no development. It provides a glimpse into Singapore's natural flora and fauna which can no longer be seen on the mainland. Hence, it provides educational lesson and importantly a quick and refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
