Singapore, Pulau Ubin - View from the Top

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Views from the top has always provide a fascinating insight into the immediate surroundings of an area, be it stretches of sea that extends far into the horizon, man-made architecture of an urban cityscape or the expanses of greens of a tropical rainforest from a vantage point.

In Singapore where the amount of lush forest is shrinking as a result of urban development, forested areas are becoming more rare and precious as the clock ticks.

Apart from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and other small pockets of forested areas still remaining on the main island of Singapore, the only other place with a sizeable amount of suburban and forested areas and is opened to public access is the island of Pulau Ubin.

Here in Pulau Ubin near the mangrove areas of Chek Jawa stands a lookout tower. The view from the top of this tower provides a sweeping view of the forested areas of this small island. This awesome view never fails to provide me with a deep appreciation of the abundance of nature that exists within a tropical rainforest, even whatever little that is left of it. 

View of the canopy of the forest of Pulau Ubin from the Lookout Tower at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin, Singapore (2016)

Fancy something different from the urban jungles of mainland Singapore and need a fresh perspective of the natural landscape of the city before urban development took hold? Take a short boat trip to Pulau Ubin and enjoy the tropical landscape that still stands there today.




And if you are lucky, you may even get to enjoy an encounter or two with the "local residents" of the jungles of Pulau Ubin. But remember to only view or photograph them from a distance and to avoid direct contact. Local flora and fauna are best left on their own to enjoy their secret lives on the wild side. :-)

The Oriental Pied-Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is one of the "local residents", Pulau Ubin, Singapore (2016)

Wild Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fasciacularis) is a fairly common sight, Pulau Ubin, Singapore (2016)


Recommended article on Pulau Ubin in this blog: Time travel to 1960s Era Singapore

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