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We went looking for rural Singapore… this is what we found

Sara & Ryan

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Singapore is infamous for it's clean streets, towering skyscrapers and futuristic architecture, but what did Singapore look like for the 1960's industrialisation?

We're taking a boat to Pulau Ubin to find out! Largely known as Singapore's last kampong village, this small settlement of 38 residents feels like it's been frozen in time.

With rental bike we can't fully trust, we explore the island from it's granite quarry viewpoints, to the beautiful coastal boardwalk and everything in between.

Filmed: 12th September 2026

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🗺️ Locations:
📍 Chiangi Point Coastal Walk - https://maps.app.goo.gl/C6ajGPGJnq54E...
📍 Changi Point Ferry Port - https://maps.app.goo.gl/v8ZRwUfPK1gsj...
📍 Pulau Ubin - https://maps.app.goo.gl/JXdfh7UU1pe2e...
📍 Puaka Hill - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ruwHaY5VVVKAe...
📍 Chek Jawa Coastal Boardwalk - https://maps.app.goo.gl/iDKZS69qNGJMQ...

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🇸🇬 All Singapore Vlogs - Singapore 🇸🇬
🎒 20-months backpacking Asia - 🎒 20-Months Backpacking Asia
🏁 Start from the beginning - From the beginning!

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Does rural Singapore still exist?
00:42 Public transport to Pulau Ubin
01:44 Changi Point Coastal Walk
02:47 Ferry to Pulau Ubin
04:00 Pulau Ubin Village
07:13 Cycling around Pulau Ubin
09:31 Puaka Hill
11:36 Lunch time (questionable toilet)
13:22 Riding to Chek Jawa
15:25 Check Jawa Boardwalks
21:15 Returning the bike

20 Comments

@AcrossEveryBorder Creator 4 days ago Pinned

We had no idea Singapore had a natural oasis quite like this! Honestly Pulau Ubin was such a fun day out, maybe next time we'll camp there and stay longer... but we might melt inside a tent!

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@tatchy9192 1 day ago

How refreshing to see tourists visit Pulau Ubin! Good pick :)

@megatonhammer4723 14 hours ago

This is certainly not the same Ubin that I visited frequently in my teenage years back in late 80s and early 90s. I believe the last time I was there was in 2005/6.

It was really raw and natural. The shops and restaurants at the jetty were all there but there were no drink stops like today! The only area with tarmac was also at the jetty area and that was it.
Once you left the jetty on your bikes, that was it. No form of civilization around save for the odd fisherman and perhaps some manual laborers working on some project.
If you didn’t pack enough water and food, you were in for long fast till you returned to the jetty.

There were no fences anywhere and all dirt tracks and gravel. Falling from your bicycle was a bloody experience. Basically you’d have to be Tarzan or a Boy Scout to survive Ubin.

Today it’s so visitor friendly that it looks like Disneyland.

@quakespr 4 days ago

Pulau Ubin is like a time capsule of Singapore before its independence in 1965.

@adventurousblondie 4 days ago

Frikkin LOVE Singapore! We also explored a lot of the rural parts and it was amazing to see how jungly it was! Sara your attempt at Mangrove Board Walk was super funny haha

@GrantandMarisa 4 days ago

Great video! We're headed to Singapore next week. This and your last vlog we're very useful. Thank you!

@lackadaisicalllama 3 days ago (edited)

Grumpily sweaty Singaporean here. Honestly, fashion takes a backseat here because of the heat and humidity. Outfits that expose skin and/or are breathable / wick sweat are definitely helpful- gym clothing, shorts, sandals, tank top (if you can rock it). Uniqlo has a thin material called Airsim that they use to make shirts (& even underwear), you can check them out. But ACCESSORIES are important too: Portable fan (hung around the neck or handheld), thermal flask filled with cold water, cooling wet wipes (Biore Zero Powder Cool Wipes have a powder finish so helps with the stickiness). Things like that really help!

@joyoushapes 4 days ago

The best (and one of the only) vlog of Pulau Ubin!! I had so much fun watching it 😂

@Michael-w1k5i 18 hours ago

Pulau Ubin, it had been quite a while, since I visited there. When cycled around the island, I saw a mother wild boar, with a group of baby wild boar. The baby wild boar, have white stripes on their body, making them look like water melon walking around, very cute.😁

@chalayan 4 days ago (edited)

Changi Village used to be my hood for over 10 years and I always recommend tourists to explore Pulau Ubin. Fried Carrot Cakes at Changi Village Hawker Center is my family favourite. Hope you guys enjoy the island and see if u can spot wild boars :) Spoken language wise in Singapore, mainly English but you may speak Mandarin, local dialects or Malay depends on the ethnic of the person you are speaking to. For tropical weather, yea wear the Uniqlo Airism or the dry-ex clothes or t-shorts with Quick-drying and moisture-wicking properties .

@smit5590 3 days ago (edited)

Fun fact; Singapore used to be a small fishing village and part of the Merlion is fish as it connects Singapore's early beginnings before the British colonised. Another fact is that Singapore used to be part of Malaysia for only two years

@Bangal-ow 3 days ago (edited)

In Singapore, speak English first. It's the first language

A tip for Singapore's weather, get the ultra ice cool wet wipes from Japan that's sold in shops such as Watsons or guardian. It will be a life saver. Basically dries your sweat and it's air con

@darrylim6224 3 days ago

Awesome experience.

@chewkiatyong 3 days ago

changi beach has quite a few good eateries/restaurants and parks.. i live near the area and usually bring my toddler there for more 'space' (you know, where SG is always so crowded everywhere else)..

anyway hope you enjoyed your visit!