A Little Something

2 Saturdays ago I did a little something for the environment. Something insignificant when compared to how much I have done to it.

I participated in the International Coastal Cleanup organised by the Nature Society. I was part of the BV contingent made up of teachers and students. Together, with participants from various other schools as well as organisations, we made our way to Pulau Ubin to help clear the Chek Jawa area of rubbish.

Alighting from the boat.

Seaside houses

View of the jetty

View of the coastline

It's been almost a decade since I last set foot on this beautiful island up in the north. I must say, it's still as beautiful. It looks exactly like it was 10 years ago, as if time stood still on the island.

Resting place in the town centre

Restaurant by the sea

Bicycle rental

Roadside shelter

The island has not yet lost any of its rustic charm as wooden houses and pavillions lined the muddy road, with bicycles lining up the side instead of cars after cars.

Hungry man caught on tape, notice the Sheng Song plastic bag

Because the programme started early in the morning, I did not have a chance to grab breakfast before going. Instead I bought some baos from a shop right on the island. Home-made wholesome baos that were still steaming hot as I bit into them. Interestingly, the plastic bag used by the auntie were Sheng Song bags. Everyone was surprised to see it and had thought that the supermarket chain had made headways into the island.

Briefing by NSS

Let's get started

Disposing off the body bag

Teamwork, recording finds while standing on lush green seaweed

Collection point. Look at all the bags filled. Always remember to hydrate.

More work to be done.

At the Chek Jawa area we quickly sprung into action after some briefing by representatives from the Nature Society. The amount of rubbish that we saw was shocking. Man-made items of all shapes and sizes were strewn along the coastline as regular tidal movements washed them ashore. More peculiar finds included tyres, car air filter, toilet flushing system, sleeping bag/ mattress/ jacket look-a-like thing filled with sand.

View of Singapore from Chew Jawa

Chek Jawa

Apart from the rubbish, Chek Jawa was a beautiful marshland. The view, the flora, and the fauna make it a treasure we should all learn to cherish. I'm glad that I came on this trip. Seeing Ubin again after so long is so surreal. It's amazing how the rampant development going on on the mainland has not spread its claws here.

On the way back we saw monkeys picking food out of a rubbish bag, a family of wild boars running across the road. Such scenes are lost in the concrete jungle of ours. We must preserve this last bit of kampung life.

A quote to remember: