It has been a busy day here in Singapore, following a couple of more relaxing days. We are both adjusting to the time change. This morning, we both set off across the island to get to the Changi Ferry Terminal, where we could catch a "bumboat" to Pulau Ubin, an island just off the coast of the main Singapore island. Pulau Ubin is designated as a National Park, and has been kept undeveloped while the rest of the island has been transformed by the economic revolution that took place here in the 1980s and 90s.

It is not a National Park in the way that Americans typically understand those...meaning that it is not a pristine wilderness preserved from (most) human disruption. No, Pulau Ubin is an island that appears to have been frozen in time, from the old Singapore of mid-century. We saw kampongs, or old houses with zinc roofs, gardens watered with well water, and power to the homes came from diesel generators. We also saw kelongs, which are traditional fishing huts built on stilts above the water, from which fishermen can lay out nets to catch fish. At one time, the island was a major source of granite as well, and the granite quarries provide for picturesque scenery now that they collect rainwater and look like inland lakes. The whole island is very sparsely populated; the main town consists of a few restaurants to greet hungry visitors, bike rental shops to provide them with transportation around the island, a visitor and information center, and a few homes. Also scattered about the island are a number of Buddhist temples, probably because it is relatively peaceful and isolated and provides a good place for contemplation and meditation.

We both enjoyed the trip, because it made us think about what Singapore must have been like not so long ago. We also got very dirty and sweaty, as it has rained quite a bit here recently and some of the bike trails were submerged in water. And of course it is muggy and bugs love the island, so we got bit some. Another highlight of the visit to the island, however, was the vibrant colors of the wildflowers and the fruit trees that populate the island.

After our trip around on bicycles, we returned to Changi and walked along the water there, stopping to look at where Shuwen did some sailing as a teenager, and also enjoying the boardwalk that has been built there. We then returned home to clean up before going out to dinner with Wee Kiat's (Shuwen's brother) fiancee's parents. That was enjoyable as everyone in the group was pretty down to earth, but on the way to the restaurant we got to enjoy Singapore's traffic, which was not so great. It took us about one hour and 45 minutes to travel the roughly 7 miles to the restaurant! It was rush hour and there had been a heavy rain just before we set out, which may have contributed to the problems, but we all were really ready to get out of the car.

Tomorrow will be spent on preparation errands for the dinner we have on Saturday, and then we will probably do a bit of work in the afternoon, since we have some things to do before we head back to the US and there may not be many more opportunities to get them done!