Happen to see this island tour organized by Residents' Network and quickly booked my tickets because not only were they going to Kusu Island, but also St John and Lazarus Island. Never been to the latter 2 islands so it would once again opened up my horizon with the surrounding islands. $8 per adult for 2 way transportation on coach and ferry and a Mcdonald's breakfast set that consists of a Chicken McMuffin, hashbrown and a small pack of Ribena. Worth it!
Tips 1: Please treat such island tour as a family picnic. Bring your own picnic mat, food and drinks. No stalls on the island. Don't imagine it like it is Pulau Ubin.
Tips 2: Because mostly outdoor activities so many people not wearing masks since not compulsory. I still wear because I still haven't kena the virus.
Tips 3: Lastly, spray mozzie repeller from top to toe. You don't feel it when you are there but the after-effect will. You will see the bites appearing after a day.
Previously participated in their Kusu Island tour few years back and that was before Covid hit hard around the worls. ICYMI, click on my post to Kusu Island here. Went with my hub and then with folks on 2 separate occasions. Recently the shrines was burnt so kind of sad to know. Read the news here. So that section is blocked from public. I'm glad I have been there, twice.
Let's start from St John's Island and Lazarus Island because Kusu Island isn't new in my blog anymore, if you read my previous post.
ST JOHN'S ISLAND
This island used to have a quarantine station in the 19th century for cholera cases and thereafter in the 1930s, a recognized quarantine centre for asian immigrants and so on. I found this link for your basic knowledge here.
Oh hi... I'm finally doing a island-hopping in my own country. Not bad right? I don't just do that in other countries like Thailand but Singapore too! Just that the wet weather dampen the mood a little.
This house (or bungalow) on top of the slope looked cute. Like kampong houses with raised floor but newer looking. Like we watch those kampong movies where the people live and kids running around below the houses. This one more sturdy.
There you go, the basketball court. No one is playing anyway even on non wet days. Or maybe yes?
We were guessing whether is it bathroom? ⬇️ It did somehow looked like it. Never went in to check it though the gate was opened. But from outside, it looked like it is.
Mister and I just walked around the island, exploring the places. Spotted a water storage tower among the trees. At first sight, it looks creepy but knowing what it was thereafter, better. I thought some abandoned haunted tower. And it's UFO-looking to me.
I thought I was inside Kent Ridge campus because the houses here look like those along the road to PGPR. Nope, is at St John's Island. Just that they have laboratories here. Made me miss the ayam penyet at KR campus. Oh and Singapore Food Agency has a centre here too for Marine Aquaculture. I saw on television once, talking about what they do over at the centre.
These are toilets, people. Well... quite a few old houses turned into something useful and some are tearing down. This island will become more foresty? I hope not because I still see visitors going there for picnic and swimming in the sea (or playing water).
Mister said it was some watch tower and we spotted a total of 5. Looking sturdy after so long and same goes to the island's lamppost.
LAZARUS ISLAND
As we walked towards the path to Lazarus Island, spotted these 2 monkeys with 1 scratching the other's back. Seems like only 2 of them. There could be more that we didn't encounter. Don't you go provoke them unless you are tired of living.
This side of the beach kind of dirty as you can see on the sand with bottles and many others. If anyone or organizations wanna do an event on litter-picking, please do come here and do the island a favour. Oh and saw humans from NUS kayak/canoe club here for lesson or practices. 热血青年.
The cleaner side of Lazarus Island. The water has two tones and clear too as compared to another side of the same island. Told Mister it looks like Koh Samui beaches and immediately said where got? Koh Samui is even better. Okay, next trip back to Koh Samui. Hopefully. I do love beach life. Shall work on that summer bod.
Spotted this bridge or connector but I doubt any ships or ferries can pass through (common sense). This island together with St John's connect to form quite a big island.
A floating platform where people fish and also a jetty where people alight and board the ferries. Interesting and when you stand there, those yachts were just visible right in front plus their blasting of music. Cool.
You know what I suggest? Go for a island run from St John's to Lazarus using the running app and see what you can trace out of it like those cyclists did on our main island (Singapore I mean). No one wi judge you so long as you don't go to the restricted areas. If not, all you can do is picnic, swim and tan. Be a beach bum.
KUSU ISLAND
Nothing much about Kusu Island that's why I put it last even though we headed there first in the tour. And it was raining heavily even before we reached the island. At the ferry terminal to be exact. Plus it wasn't the pilgrimage month so no food centre. Just went there to pray and watched those tortoises.
New islands explored in Singapore and never have I ever got so envied over those dudes and babes on the many yachts we saw. They really know how to play. Rich man games (in my opinion). Why don't I have such life? Was suggesting renting one for Mister's birthday and get all his friends on board to party. He rolled. And I kept my imagination going. Or maybe I can make it come true one day. Crazy Rich Asians wanna-be.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the post and hopefully I can explore more places in my country before I eye beyond it. CHEEERRRRSSS!
By the way, I clocked more than 10k steps with this island tour. Hahaha...
Disclaimer: Not sponsored post.