Welcome to My Island Home brings you to Singapore’s historic southern islands. Explore Pulau Ubin, St John’s Island, Kusu Island, and the newly reopened Sisters’ Island. Visit, see, feel, and experience for yourselves how these islands played their part in Singapore’s history, heritage and culture, captured through the imagination of Singaporeans for generations through folktales, rich natural heritage, and gorgeous scenic views.

Hear from Richard Kuah, 54, he’s a My Community guide, he’s also an avid nature enthusiast turned licensed tour guide. Richard has spent years researching and surveying over 20 of Singapore’s islands. He shares that exploring the offshore islands has renewed his interest in nature, “As a nature enthusiast, I still find something new to be surprised by every time I visit any of the islands. I hope more Singaporeans can be aware of the unique marine wonders that we can call our own!”

Participants of My Community’s Welcome to My Island Home can expect to see different sides of Singapore. They would be able to enrich their understanding of Singapore’s history, heritage, nature and cultural heritage. Immerse in tales of pilgrimage from the temple caretakers of Kusu Island, who are the only ones allowed to remain overnight on the island, and behold the natural heritage on Sisters’ Island.

A Visit to Sisters’ Island

Thanks to My Community for hosing a group of us for a media trip to one of the Welcome to My Island Home tours, I went on the Welcome to Sisters’ Island tour. It might be a small island in size, however Sisters Island was beautiful, tranquil and peaceful, we got to view scenes of busy Singapore Straits and mainland Singapore from the seas.

Newly reopened in October 2024, this is Singapore’s first Marine Park. If you are a nature, outdoors and wildlife photography lover, you have to visit and check it out! I spotted some raptors flying above the sky during our visit, it was a great sight and I wished I brought my longer telephoto lens out that day!

Richard was leading the tour, he shared a lot of interesting stuff, from nature, to wildlife, history and heritage of Sisters’ Island. We can feel his love and passion for the islands, the seas, nature and wildlife through his guided walk sharing. 

Welcome to My Island Home Tours Information

Here are more information on Welcome to My Island Home Tours, they will be launched in March 2025. Just like My Community’s established roster of regular volunteer-run tours, Welcome to My Island Home is free for participants to join. 

Do take note of the following:

• Maximum number of participants allowed per tour: 25 
• Sign up for My Island Home Tours here at My Community’s Eventbrite page (https://www.eventbrite.sg/o/my-community-8432912044)
• Follow My Community Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/myqueenstown/) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mycommunitysg/) for more updates.

Welcome to My St John’s Island

Journey through time on St John’s Island, once a crucial quarantine station and later a bustling detention centre. Walk in the footsteps of early immigrants, discover the island’s role in Singapore’s growth as a trading hub, and soak in its present-day serenity with pristine beaches, lush trekking trails, and tranquil picnic spots. A perfect escape from the city’s hustle and bustle!

My St John’s Island Tour Details

• Tour Dates: 2nd Saturday of the month
• Time: 0830 – 1130
• Meeting point: Meet at the entrance of Marina South Pier, near Exit B – Street Level of Marina South Pier MRT Station (31 Marina Coastal Dr Singapore 018988)
• Price: Free

Welcome to My Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin remains one of Singapore’s last rustic islands, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of fishing villages, granite quarries, and coconut plantations. Tour-goers will discover the island’s historical significance, from its role in Singapore’s early economic development to its vibrant ecosystem today. Through immersive storytelling, participants will hear about how islanders once traded with the mainland and how Pulau Ubin has remained a vital part of Singapore’s natural and cultural heritage.

My Pulau Ubin Tour Details

• Tour Dates: 2nd Sunday of the month
• Time: 0830 – 1130 
• Meeting point: Changi Point Ferry Terminal (51 Lor Bekukong Singapore 499172)
• Price: Free

Welcome to My Sisters’ Island

Newly reopened in October 2024, don’t miss your chance to step into the world of myth and mystery as you explore the Sisters’ Islands, home to Singapore’s first Marine Park. Hear the legendary tale behind their name, discover the unique biodiversity the island has to offer, and witness firsthand the conservation efforts that protect these pristine waters. This is a must-visit for nature lovers and history buffs alike!

My Sisters’ Island Tour Details

• Tour Dates: 3rd Saturday of the month, 
• Time: 0830 – 1130 (Please meet 15 minutes before the start of the tour for registration)
• Meeting point: Meet at the entrance of Marina South Pier, near Exit B – Street Level of Marina South Pier MRT Station (31 Marina Coastal Dr Singapore 018988)
• Price: Free

Welcome to my Kusu Island

Uncover the intriguing stories behind Kusu Island, also known as “Tortoise Island”. Visit the renowned Tua Pek Kong Temple and the revered Malay keramat shrines, where thousands of pilgrims gather each year for blessings of prosperity and good health. Get the exclusive opportunity to converse with the temple caretakers who will share insightful stories about this curious island. Beyond its spiritual importance, Kusu Island also boasts scenic lagoons, beaches, and rich cultural stories that will be shared during the tour!

Kusu Island Tour Details

• Tour Dates: 3rd Sunday of the month, 
• Time: 0830 – 1130
• Meeting point: Meet at the entrance of Marina South Pier, near Exit B – Street Level of Marina South Pier MRT Station (31 Marina Coastal Dr Singapore 018988)
• Price: Free

Do Share My Community’s Welcome to My Island Home – Celebrating Stories of Singapore Islands and Natural Heritage with your family, relatives and friends. No doubt Singapore is small in land size, we do have great places of interest in our own backyard, such as the Singapore Islands and Natural Heritage! Let’s explore more local places in Singapore, learn and know more about our history, heritage, culture, trade, economy, as well as nature and biodiversity in Singapore. 

* Information courtesy of My Community *

The post Welcome to My Island Home – Celebrating Stories of Singapore Islands and Natural Heritage appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

I have been visiting and exploring Pulau Ubin since my scouting days. Pulau Ubin is a pretty accessible destination from mainland Singapore, it’s great and ideal for a lot of our outdoors recreation activities. We can do hiking, cycling, watching the beautiful sunset, exploring Chek Jawa Wetlands, wildlife and nature photography. 

It’s been some years since I last visited Pulau Ubin, I think this would be a great time for me to go for Pesta Ubin 2024, soaking in the Pesta Ubin festivities, activities and programmes, enjoying the great outdoors on Pulau Ubin, wildlife and nature photography, and hope to capture another gorgeous sunset from Pulau Ubin again. Here are some photos that I took at Pulau Ubin during my visit in 2016 when the Singapore Heritage Festival 2016 was held at Pulau Ubin!

What is Pesta Ubin all about?

Pesta Ubin is a kampung-style open house held on Pulau Ubin. This is an annual highlight of celebrating Ubin, they are organised by the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN), with the support of the National Parks Board (NParks).

Pesta Ubin 2024 – Live. Love. Learn at Pulau Ubin from 8-23 June

Pesta Ubin 2024 is the 9th edition, it’s about Live, Love, Learn at Pulau Ubin from 8th to 23rd June, with an exciting, immersive and diverse lineup of activities and programmes that showcase the essence of a sustainable and conservation-driven “Live Kampung” in harmony with nature. 

The focus of Pesta Ubin extends beyond celebrations, they also foster deeper affection and appreciation for Pulau Ubin’s heritage and ecosystem, while offering enriching educational experiences for all ages, ideal for family bonding and learning activities. 

Pesta Ubin 2024 exciting lineup of activities include wildlife photography, cycling trails and guided walks around Pulau Ubin. Most of these programmes are free to attend, they provide a valuable and wonderful opportunity for both locals and international visitors of all ages to explore Pulau Ubin’s lush biodiversity, uncover and learn about Pulau Ubin’s rich heritage while guided by experts in the field. Visitors to Pesta Ubin 2024 can also enjoy the beautiful and rustic landscapes that the island has to offer!

Pesta Ubin 2024 Activity Highlights

Here are some of Pesta Ubin 2024 Activity Highlights that might be of interest to you and your family! 

For the full list of activities, please visit  https://pestaubin2024.wordpress.com/#Activities 

Information and details on Pesta Ubin

For more details on Pesta Ubin, please visit 

• Pesta Ubin website: https://pestaubin2024.wordpress.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pulauubinday
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pesta.ubin
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pesta.ubin
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pestaubin

For more information on Pulau Ubin, please visit https://www.nparks.gov.sg/pulau-ubin.

If you are looking for outdoors programmes and activities for your family during the June holidays, or if you are an international visitor in Singapore during this month of June 2024, check out Pesta Ubin 2024, come on down and visit Pulau Ubin, for a fun and exciting time outdoors and a trip back in time to 1960s Singapore! 

* Information courtesy of NParks *

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Changi Heritage Trail

The Changi Heritage Trail by NHB features 23 heritage sites and six heritage trail markers, they will tell you the stories of Changi through the memories of its community, tracing its evolution across different eras, and shed light on Changi’s cultural, social, economic and military heritage over the centuries. Visitors on the Changi Heritage Trail will get to explore iconic landmarks and discover the diverse narratives of Changi, from the hardships endured by prisoners of war during the Japanese Occupation to the vibrant mix of cultures of the kampongs and communities in the Changi area. 

Mr Alvin Tan, Deputy Chief Executive (Policy & Community), NHB, said: “Through our heritage trails, NHB hopes not only to showcase the unique history of neighbourhoods, but to also leverage our trails to bring heritage closer to the community; facilitate community participation through the contribution of stories and photographs; enhance place identity; and in this case, encourage Singaporeans to explore Changi and rediscover its unique charms.”

Coastal lifestyle

Changi’s coastal area, fishing and other maritime activities shaped the economy, society and cultures of the kampongs in Changi. For the communities of Kampongs Ayer Germuroh, Mata Ikan and Beting Kusah, fishing was their livelihood, as were kerkarang (coastal foraging) and the making of kaput (lime-based whitewash). All these activities required deep knowledge of the seascape, weather patterns and monsoon winds, that were passed down through generations and they formed the foundations of many aspects of community life. The fishermen of Changi coast generally head out to sea after dusk, returning in the mornings, bringing the villages to life. 

Sun, sand and sea of Changi – Singapore’s Lido

During Singapore’s colonial era, the sun, sand and sea of Changi transformed into Singapore’s Lido. The Lido di Venezia in Italy is known for its fresh air and forested environment. Changi was a popular leisure destination for its quiet and clam beaches, cool sea breeze, and this was also the point for those who wished to sail to nearby islands or favoured fishing locations. 

Changi developed into a resort feel for the colonial society, this was highlighted by European visitors, as recorded in a diary entry from 1860 that detailed a visit to Changi: “Changhee is a sort of Singapore Brighton – a place where everyone goes for a picnic. It only consists of a few small fishermen’s huts, a government traveller’s bungalow, and another bungalow a little higher up belong to a Joint Hock Company.” 

A wooden bungalow known as Change Hut was constructed, this made Changi a popular location for the colonial society for their holidays due to its picturesque surroundings. With this popularity, more bungalows were constructed in the area, with private investors renting them out as resorts, further cementing Changi’s reputation as a leisure spot as Singapore’s Lido.

Changi’s military history and heritage 

After the 1920s, Changi went through significant transformation to become a strategic military and penal hub. Sembawang, located in the northern part of Singapore was confirmed as the location for United Kingdom’s (UK) new naval base back then, they needed another site for a cantonment (military quarters) and artillery emplacements to house troops and guns that would protect the naval base. 

Given the strategic location of Changi overlooking and commanding the eastern approach to the Johor Strait, as well as its distance from the city and major residential areas. Changi was chosen and a natural choice to play her role in the defence of Singapore. 

The Gillman Commission was established in 1927 to plan and develop the Changi Cantonment. Thereafter, the UK War Office began acquiring land in Changi and transforming the landscape to make way for concrete gun emplacements, airfields, hangars, barracks blocks and other facilities. 

Changi Prison came after the development of Changi Cantonment. They were built in response to overcrowded conditions at Pearl’s Hill Prison and Outram Prison in the early 1930s. Changi Prison would eventually house Western civilians and prisoners of war during the Japanese Occupation.

Hearing heartfelt stories of Changi’s history, heritage, culture and living

During the media tour of Changi Heritage Trail, we met people that were associated with Changi’s history, heritage, culture and living, hearing the heartfelt and wonderful stories of Changi.

At Sree Ramar Temple, Mr Thalapathi K.V, a temple volunteer, he shared quite a lot of interesting stories about his memories of Changi. The points that he shared with us that enlightened me were Sree Ramar Temple was facing East, there were two water elements in front of the temple down the road, Sungai Changi, followed by the sea/coastal area (Changi Beach Park) after the river. He also spoke about the connections and significance of the statues of Buddha and Guan Yin in the temple, about the communities in Changi, his childhood days playing around the neighbourhood, the multi-cultural communities and the kampong spirit. 

At Changi Sailing Club/Changi Boardwalk, overlooking the coast and sea, Mdm Isiah Majid, a former resident of Kampong Ayer Gemuroh also shared a lot about her childhood memories of Changi, “[The atmosphere at the beach was] just like a fish market, with people [gathering around each] boat to buy their fish. It’s a joyful moment, with children swimming and [playing] in the sea… while the adults are bargaining for their fish.”

If you are travelling to Changi Airport by car or bus on the road or your plane is landing at or departing from Changi Airport, you can’t miss the iconic Changi Airport Control Tower. At Changi Airport Terminal 1, we heard Mr Joshua Woo sharing priceless photos and memories of his late father, a former contractor that was involved in the building of the Changi Airport Control Tower.

Beyond the history, heritage, culture and tangible aspects of cultural heritage, these are great examples of our intangible cultural heritage, the life experiences, oral history and memories of Singapore.

My personal nostalgia memories of Changi 

When NHB launched its newest heritage trail, the Changi Heritage Trail, I was excited to retrace back my nostalgia memories, starting from my teenage days of visiting Changi Village, starting off with a long bus ride on bus service no.2 from Chinatown to Changi Village, followed by taking a bumboat across to Pulau Ubin for camping and hiking when I was a Boy Scout. I remembered going for hikes with our map and compass (no smartphones and maps app in our era) and one of the hikes led us to Changi. 

Thereafter, serving my full-time National Service, starting off at as a recruit at Pulau Tekong and we recruits during my time had to board a slow boat (if you know, you know) from a jetty in Changi to Pulau Tekong (not like today when they can take a ferry), I can’t forget watching the night sky from the slow boat and thinking when can I get back to mainland Singapore again. 

Continuing on into my adult years, even though going to Changi can be a quite a bit of travel for me staying at the western part of Singapore, I do enjoy heading to Changi once a while, on a road trip along the former Changi Coast Road, watching the planes landing at Changi Beach (and doing aviation photography), taking sunset photographs (a great spot for taking beautiful sunsets in Singapore) at Changi Boardwalk or Changi Beach Park. Not to forget wildlife and travel photography around the Changi Village area. 

You don’t have to worry about food and drinks at Changi Village, from the hawker centre, cafes and restaurants, there are different food and beverage options for you to choose from, to relax and enjoy and have a good time there. Before the days of cafes and restaurants coming to Changi Village, it’s the hawker centre for us, the nasi lemak is one of my favourite!

That part of Changi has a rustic and slower pace of life packed with rich history, heritage, culture and food, that you might not envision in a hectic and fast paced modern cosmopolitan Singapore. The growth, development and transformation of Changi, from coastal living and fishing, into a leisure destination, later into a strategic military district, and today a world famous international airport sits in the Changi district. 

Why not experience Changi for yourself, learning and experiencing its early days, coastal life transforming into the modern Changi international air hub of today. See and experience how Changi still retains its rustic charm, history, heritage, culture and natural surroundings. Come explore Changi on National Heritage Board’s newest heritage trail – Changi Heritage Trail.

How can I embark on the Changi Heritage Trail and explore Changi?

Changi Heritage Trail features three thematic routes:

Bungalows and Beaches in Changi (1 hour with public transport) – 4km

This route will bring you to explore the bungalows, sailing and beach clubs, and chalets in Changi. 

War and Peace in Changi (1.5 hours with public transport) – 7.6km

For those into history and heritage, this route brings you to explore the history of different military buildings in Changi with this route, including Changi Prison, Changi Chapel and Museum, and the former Changi Cantonment.

Gateways and Communities in Changi (2 hours with public transport) – 12km

On this route, you can find more about the communities of Changi and the places in which they lived, worked and played.

For more information on Changi Heritage Trail

For more information on Changi Heritage Trail, please visit https://go.gov.sg/roots-changi-heritage-trail, you can download the Changi Heritage Trail’s companion guide and map, time to start exploring! This map will also be made available in all four languages from June 2024. Limited copies of the companion guide will also be available at Siglap Community Club, Changi Chapel and Museum, and Asian Civilisations Museum. 

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