My Reflections On Pulau Ubin

I enjoyed my time at Pulau Ubin. The guides and instructors there taught us how to use a compass and how to read a map. The information is very useful and I will be sure to use them when needed. After we learned how to use and read both the compass and map, we had a short break. Immediately after the break, the guides and instructors brought different groups around some parts of Palau Ubin partly to tour around it and also challenge other groups to see which group is able to reach most of the checkpoints on the piece of paper every group gets and we also must reach back at the starting point by 12.15pm. Every group had eight members and one guide. I was grouped with Malcolm, Syahir, Joseph, Amirul, Afrina, Asmita and Faatin. To my surprise, the instructors name is also Joseph. So, we headed towards the first stop, Belatok Hut. The guide picked Malcolm and Syahir to be the first two leaders. He passed them a compass each and a map. As my whole group did not want to follow the other groups, we walked a different route from the other groups which was longer. After for about 30 minutes, we reached the hut. The whole group did not expect ourselves to take so long just to reach the first hut. We decided to sped up as we feared that we would not complete and reach all the huts in time. The leaders had to be changed and next was Amirul and my turn to be the leaders. We planned our next route and started walking again after one minute of rest in the hut. Our next destination was Murai Hut. Malcolm, Syahir, Amirul, Joseph and I walked in front of the others. Mr Affendy and the guide walked at the back ensuring that all of us are safe. Asmita and Faatin had asthma and so I had to constantly keep a look-out for them. We reached the next hut for the next 10 to 15 minutes. We took a break again and leaders were changed again. Next were Joseph and Afrina to be the leaders. We ensured that we were walking in the right direction before continuing. I had a packet of gobstoppers in my pocket and I ate them at the same time as I walked. The boys saw that I had the gobstoppers and asked me to give them some. So, I shared with them the gobstoppers willingly. We had to reach the next hut, Pekakak Hut. Along the way, we walked past an earth trail. At that moment, we spotted a chicken. The guide immediately told us that the chicken was the ancestor of chickens and it had a white patch at the bottom of its chin. We took a few more looks at it before continuing on our journey. After about 10 minutes, we reached the hut. Everyone was dead beat and we drank lots of water. The next two leaders were Faatin and Asmita. We had a little difficulty figuring which was the next direction to lead. It was at a junction. One route going to the right and the other the left. We thought and thought and explained and explained and finally we knew which was the correct route under the supervision of the guide. As time was running out, we sped up even more. We headed towards Kelichap Hut. The journey to Kelichap Hut had many ups and downs. There were many steeps and slopes. We could see many warning signs of falling branches and steeps. My legs was already starting to get tired. Finally, we reached the hut. Malcolm and Syahir became the leaders again. The guide told us that we were short of time to complete all the stops. We were disheartened upon hearing this. But with determination, we wanted to complete all the stops and immediately started to walk to the next hut, Punai Hut. Upon looking at the map, the journey to the next hut was going to be a long one. We used the compass and checked to see that we were on the right way. Along the way, we met the other group, we greeted each other and wished each other luck towards the other huts. The next journey was really very long. Again there were many steeps and slopes. We passed by a lake which had a mangrove. The water in it was very blue and I had never seen water so blue like this before. There was fences around the lake which did not allow people to go near it. We admired the scenery and when Mr Affendy and the guide caught up with us. He scolded the boys and I for not walking as a group and for walking too fast. I had never seen him so angry before. So, we walked as a group. When we reached the next hut, Faatin needed to go to the washroom. The guide told us that there was no toilets in that area. He advised us to start heading back to the starting point as we also had no time already to complete all the stops already. Immediately, the boys and I argued because there was still half an hour and that we wanted to finish the last hut, Beberak Hut. After talking and discussing for a few minutes, everyone agreed to head for Beberak Hut then head back to the starting point. The next leaders were again me and Amirul. While we walked, we finally spotted the wild boer among the trees and bushes. The guide told us that the wild boer is tamed and her name was Susie. We were also instructed not to go near it. After half an hour we reached the hut and realised that we were already late to reached the starting point by 12.15pm. Faatin really needed the toilet and Mr Affendy instructed me, Afrina and Asmita to follow Faatin further into the forest to do her small business while the rest stayed in the hut. That wasted about 5 to 10 minutes. Afterwards, we quickly headed to the starting point and I got a feeling that Mr Affendy won't stop us anymore. When we were about to reach the starting point, we met the other groups and they were walking ahead of us. After another half an hour, we reached the starting point. Everyone was delayed by half an hour. We regretted for not walking the sme route as the other groups at the beginning because it was a lot more faster. We did not reached Mammam Beach as we had no time. After a short break, we headed towards the quarry and were seperated into different ferries. When returning to the place where we first entered and boarded the ferries, we had to under-go a custom check. After that, we boarded the same bus back to school. I soon fell asleep in the bus. That day was one of the most tiring day of my life. I hope that I have another chance to visit Pulau Ubin again.