Pulau Ubin Stories

"Kampung Gourmet,: by Tabitha Wang. Today, 02 Feb 2007.

2007-02-03T07:59:00.000+08:00

KAMPUNG GOURMET
---------------
Why chase western food fads when we have snob appeal at our doorstep?

I WAS so amazed to find unripe jackfruit at Tekka Market the other day
that I called a friend to tell her. A fellow foodie, I thought she would
be ecstatic. Instead, she offered a bored response: "So what? They're not
artichoke hearts."

Artichoke hearts? This was better than artichoke hearts - and possibly
rarer. Granted, in the bad old days, unripe jackfruit was the poor man's
vegetable but now that orchards are scarce in HDBland, it is a delicacy
you have to root out in obscure market stalls. Artichoke hearts you can
find in almost any supermarket now.

When I was a kid, my baby- sitter was a Malay makcik. She also cooked for
us so my palate was trained from young to appreciate simple kampung food.

Unripe jackfruit curry was one; the others included stir-fried sweet
potato leaves and winged beans, petai (stink bean) sambal and young fern
shoots in coconut milk. All simple produce she could get for free from her
kampung compound but tasting so fresh and delicious.

She wasn't the only one influencing my tastebuds. Both my grandmothers
were nonyas and no one's more finicky about her food than Peranakan
matriach - even more so, I dare-say, than Anthony Bourdain.

Only the best would do. No factory-made palm sugar for them, only those
made in bamboo.

Belachan (shrimp paste) had to come from Penang because only the
Penangites used fine enough shrimp. You couldn't fool my grandmas - one
sniff and they could tell the difference.

Even food preparation was down to a fine art. Spices had to be pounded to
different consistencies depending on whether they were for stir fries or
for curries. Buah keluak, that brown nut so beloved in nonya cooking, had
to be soaked for three days before it could be used.

Having grown up under such strong influences, I've always been as exacting
in my kitchen and when I go out for meals. I never thought of myself as
being a gourmet, just a little nonya girl with kampung tastes.

My friends would often laugh at me when I went into ecstasy on finding the
perfect tamarind paste or a rare dish of jungle herb salad. Once, I found
a stall that served delicious unripe jackfruit curry and went back every
day for a week to get my fix. The last few days, I went on my own as no
one wanted to have curry that many times.

So, it's funny to see the same friends putting on airs these days about
getting expensive gourmet food. "Oh, I've been using only free-range eggs
since Jamie Oliver recommended them on TV," one told me. Another said:
"You must try organic food. It has the most amazing flavour."

These are not new discoveries. What are free-range eggs but kampung eggs?
And kampung folk have been eating organic food (fertilised by free-range
chickens) since before Jamie Oliver appeared on TV. Since before TV was
even invented.

And the same people who poked fun at my "nonya tastes" are now snobbishly
telling me I have to "educate my palate" to enjoy truffles and foie gras.
I don't need to - truffles have the same earthy flavour that you find in
mushrooms harvested from the jungles behind kampungs while foie gras has
the same texture of well-made otak otak.

My palate knows them well.

It's sad that these "gourmets" hooked on Western food fads can't see the
rich heritage they already have.

Last weekend, I went for a cookery course held in a 200-year-old kampung
house on Pulau Ubin. We harvested herbs from the garden to make nasi
kerabu, a traditional dish that is harder to find now than coq au vin
because of the rarity of the ingredients. None of the herbs used could be
farmed - we were lucky because the house was so old that they still grew
in the garden like weeds.

My class had 18 people, of which only six were Singaporeans. The rest were
foreigners who obviously appreciated Singapore's fare more than the locals
do. Where were the rest of the Singaporean self-styled gourmets?

My bet would be at a $300 cooking class conducted by a foreign chef on how
to use imported free-range chicken and herbs harvested from Umbria
instead of Ubin.

Tabitha Wang is no food snob but still takes a plane to Penang for her
belachan.

Ubin Boy Season 2

2006-12-09T16:39:00.000+08:00

Remember the Kids Central production, Ubin Boy?

Well the series is back for its new season. See more of Ubin on TV through the series that is starting tomorrow, 10 December 2006, Sunday, 9.30am on Kids Central.

"It’s the holidays again, and Steven is looking forward to his visit to Pulau Ubin.

But there is a slight hiccup. Ah Ma has to care for a sickly old friend in the city, and she doesn’t trust her mischievous grandsons, Steven and Ah Boy, on their own on Ubin. Perhaps the two boys can stay with Mr and Mrs Teo on the mainland.

But Steven and Ah Boy convince Ah Ma, Mr and Mrs Teo that they can be trusted to be on their own. Mr and Mrs Teo are initially hesitant, but they finally relent when Ah Ma says that she will be back on the island in a couple of days.

Back on Pulau Ubin, Steven and Ah Boy, having gained total freedom from adult supervision, forget their earlier promises to behave themselves. On their first night, they gorge on mangoes and rambutans for dinner, and resolve to stay awake the whole night by telling each other ghost stories. In no time, they are too spooked to sleep and need company to visit the toilet."

Read more of the synopsis on Kids Central's website.

Related Reads:

UBIN BOY returns 10 Dec Sun 9.30am, Kids Central Website

"Ubin Boy" on Kids Central, Pulau Ubin Stories, 21 January 2006

Launch of the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub

2006-10-31T19:12:00.000+08:00

On the morning of 28 October 2006, Saturday, a large crowd was sighted on Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Many of whom were the who's who in the nature scene in Singapore, along with a myriad of participants coming for NSS' Fun with Nature program that was held concurrent with the launch.

On the boat ride across the Straits of Johor, I had the honor of being in the same boat as Dr Chua Ee Kiam, author of the book, Pulau Ubin - Ours to Treasure.

Other than celebrating the launch of a long awaited infrastructure dedicated to the volunteers who had worked hard on the island for almost a decade, it was also a excellent opportunity for volunteers from different organizations to get to know each other and catch up with the latest news. There were members from Nature Society Singapore, Green Volunteer Network, NPark's Ubin Volunteers, RMBR Toddycats, NIE Green Club and Wildfilm crew to mention a few. For the young'uns like myself, it's excellent opportunity to meet the seasoned old guards.

(L-R) Dr Chua with Pak Ali; Dr Chua and the Wildfilm Gang (Chay Hoon, Ron and Ria)

In addition to the volunteer hub opening, the event also coincide with the launch of the HSBC Care-For-Nature stamp series whose latest theme was inspired by NSS' Fun with Nature series with Vilma at the helm of the program. The RMBR Toddycats! were all excited of course as one of the animals featured on the stamp series is a civet cat, or more affectionately known to us as a Toddycat.

A glimpse of the stamp series with a civet cat on one of the stamps!

To officiate the launch of the volunteer hub, 3 final tiles were added to the mosaic collage on the outer wall of the building. There I was thinking previously why it was left empty but now we know the reason! The collage was made up with photos contributed by staff and volunteers on the island with the mascot of the island, the Pied Hornbill featuring prominently over the outline of the island. The photos highlights the spectrum of activities that volunteers conduct on the island, from the early days of chek jawa to even the International Coastal Cleanup (ICCS) that happens every year on the island. We even spotted many youthful photos of familiar faces taken years ago! See if you can spot them when you visit the volunteer hub.

The completed mural featuring ICCS!

The new volunteer hub comes complete with a lounge for the volunteers (below left) and even a computer with broadband access for the use by ubin volunteers! The world has met Ubin through the internet for a long time but this is probably the first time Ubin met broadband Internet! Other than previous dial-up modems accessible to the NParks staff on the island, this is quite an interesting addition to the island. Unfortunately it's only available to staff and volunteers. If only IDA will next consider introducing free wifi to Ubin!

(L-R) Enjoying the volunteer lounge; broadband on ubin!

There is also a library with books and resources on Ubin and its ecosystems. This is part of the resource room. Not to forget, the NParks staff will also have their offices housed at this volunteer hub. At the end of the day, volunteers and staff gathered together to celebrate the joyous occasion with a few bubblies.

(L-R)Kenneth checking out the books; Hitting the bubblies!

But the day was not over yet! Concurrent to the launch of the hub and stamp series, Vilma and her team from NSS Education Division was working hard under the sun, having fun with nature with a big group of kids! The morning saw a big group of them gathered in front of the site of the future "Project Green House Ubin", a new eco-center by the Green Volunteer Network. Otherwise affectionately nicknamed "Grant's House" by this Monkey.

Registration and the crowd for NSS' Fun with Nature

There were activities for the kids within the hub with storytelling and videos. But of course Fun with Nature can never be kept indoors! There were lots of activities for them in different stations over at the Jelutong Campsite, otherwise known as the Butterfly Hill.

(L-R) Gathering in what the monkey thinks is the multimedia room at the hub; Fun under the sun in little canopied stations at Butterfly Hill overlooking the sea

Related Reads:

More photos on my flickr set

Ubin Volunteer Hub, Pulau Ubin Stories, 24 Oct 2006

"Pulau Ubin Has Oldest CC With Oldest Chairman" By Jimmy Yap, Straits Times, 15 February 1995

" Volunteer Hub Sneak Preview", Pulau Ubin Stories, 27 Oct 2006

" Opening of Pulau Ubin Volunteer Hub will boost nature conservation", By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia, 28 October 2006

Opening of Pulau Ubin Volunteer Hub will boost nature conservation

2006-10-28T22:47:00.000+08:00

By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia
Posted: 28 October 2006 1922 hrs
[Website]

Nature conservation and outreach efforts on Pulau Ubin got a boost on Saturday with the opening of the $250,000 Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub.

The one-stop centre for Pulau Ubin was set up in recognition of the dedication and efforts of the volunteers.

It is jointly set up by the National Parks Board and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

HSBC contributed S$800,000 to the Pulau Ubin Conservation Fund last year and S$250,000 of the sum went to setting up the Volunteer Hub.

The rest of the donation will be used for nature conservation, outreach and research initiatives on Pulau Ubin.

Pulau Ubin welcomes some 300,000 visitors a year and many got to enjoy guided walks and events - thanks to a dedicated group of 200 volunteers and others like the Nature Society, the Green Volunteers Network, and Pedal Ubin.

In the last six years, the number of volunteers on Pulau Ubin has grown nine fold.

With the Hub, volunteers can now tap into the resource centre, which is stocked with reference and multimedia materials on conservation research.

It also has a lounge and seminar rooms for volunteers to gather for training and networking.

The HSBC Care-For-Nature Stamp Series was also launched on Saturday by Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu.

The series features the native wildlife of Singapore like the Common Palm Civet, the Common Flying Dragon, the Black-spotted Sticky Frog, and the Common Tiger Butterfly. - CNA/ch

Related Reads:

Volunteer Hub Sneak Preview, Pulau Ubin Stories, 27 Oct 2006

Ubin Volunteer Hub, Pulau Ubin Stories, 24 Oct 2006

"Pulau Ubin Has Oldest CC With Oldest Chairman" By Jimmy Yap, Straits Times, 15 February 1995

Volunteer Hub Sneak Preview

2006-10-27T22:50:00.000+08:00

Went to deliever the panels for the permanent exhibition in the Ubin volunteer hub today and got a sneak peek at the new hub.

The wall of the old community center is now down and the building has a new coat of cheery paint with a new roof. Manicured gardens with bougainvilleas decorate the lawn while back of the hub overlooks the sea. We can now spot the building from the jetty. I even saw butterflies frolicking at the lawn.

One of the exciting features of the hub is a mosaic tile map of Ubin made up of photographs contributed by volunteers and featuring people and places on Ubin. Toddycats are definitely represented with a picture of the civet cat right in the middle of the map!

The launch of the volunteer hub also coincides with the launch of a stamp series entitled Fun with Nature, inspired by the namesake program conducted by NSS for kids, with NSS' Vilma at the helm of course. We had a gathering of familiar faces today on the island with Angie (NSS) bumping to me on the bumboat (pun intended) and then encountering Choon Beng (Nparks), Andrew and Vilma (NSS) on the jetty with promise of Grant (GVN) waiting for us at the hub. It's all fun and bustle as we set up our exhibition.

Can't wait to see the guests learning more about volunteers and work on the island. In fact the guest of honor's presence on the island tomorrow must have resulted in the presence of army rovers on the island! We were surprised but speculations were that they were barged over from the nearby Pulau Tekong.

Military vehicles spotted on the island!

There will also be a children's program concurrently happening with the launch while Toddycats' Pedal Ubin will be having a leisure ride for members and guides with an interview on wheels happening for new members.

My Ubin Friday ended with me sharing about Pedal Ubin and Pulau Ubin Stories at an event with the NUS community. In addition, a chinese newspaper article about Ubin by a journalist from Malaysia was sent to me and will be posted on here soon!

The place to meet - Meeting Point 1!

Definitely looking for another Ubin day tomorrow.

Related Reads:

More photos on my flickr set

Ubin Volunteer Hub, Pulau Ubin Stories, 24 Oct 2006

"Pulau Ubin Has Oldest CC With Oldest Chairman" By Jimmy Yap, Straits Times, 15 February 1995

Ubin Volunteer Hub

2006-10-24T12:41:00.000+08:00

One of the key landmarks of Ubin has always been the community center along the coast, in front of the basketball court, otherwise known as "meeting point 1".

The old Ubin community center. Taken from wildsingapore.com.

The community center served the thriving population on the island and on 15 February 1995, it was even featured on the Straits Times as the "oldest CC with [the] oldest headman" in Singapore.

"PULAU UBIN COMMUNITY CENTRE can boast of many things. It is the oldest community centre in Singapore and is the only island community centre left. Mr Lim Chye Joo, 89, the chairman of the Community Centre Management Committee (CCMC), is Singapore's oldest serving chairman, having been in the position for the past 28 years. The CC was renovated two years ago at a cost of more than S$20,000. The old plank walls were replaced with brick, a new roof was put on, and the flooring was done up. It now looks brand new."

A decade later, the community center will yet again be renovated. However, this time, it will be taking on a new persona, as the new Ubin Volunteer Hub.

Notice of construction outside the old CC in August 2006

Signs of construction in August 2006

I was informed that some construction had to be done to convert the old CC to the new hub as the roof was leaking. But rest assured, the CC will again be revitalized and be the place where people will come together just as it served the Ubin residents for decades before it closed on 1 September 2003.

Almost at completion in October 2006.

Seeing how the volunteer hub is scheduled for completion on 25 October 2006, and the launch for the newly dubbed "Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub" scheduled on 28 October 2006, everybody must be scurrying around, getting ready.

Many of the volunteer groups with activities on the island have been invited to contribute to the volunteer hub and RMBR Toddycats and Pedal Ubin will be contributing several panels to the hub. They should be seen decorating the walls of the hub by Saturday. Pulau Ubin Stories will be featured as well of course. I will be popping by on Friday to deliever the panels and check out the progress of works myself.

More reports later.

Related links:

"Pulau Ubin Has Oldest CC With Oldest Chairman" By Jimmy Yap, Straits Times, 15 February 1995

Ubin Volunteer Hub Photo Set on Flickr by November Tan.

Pulau Ubin has Oldest CC with Oldest Chairman

1995-02-15T14:14:00.000+08:00

By Jimmy Yap of Political Desk.
15 February 1995, Straits Times

PULAU UBIN COMMUNITY CENTRE can boast of many things.

It is the oldest community centre in Singapore and is the only island community centre left.

Mr Lim Chye Joo, 89, the chairman of the Community Centre Management Committee (CCMC), is Singapore's oldest serving chairman, having been in the position for the past 28 years.

The CC was renovated two years ago at a cost of more than S$20,000.

The old plank walls were replaced with brick, a new roof was put on, and the flooring was done up. It now looks brand new.

But the one thing that the CC cannot boast of is that it is a hive of activities.

No courses are conducted at this CC, and the kindergarten serves just five pupils.

The facilities here are limited.

A basketball court, a room to play ping pong, a room for the kindergarten and a karaoke room that is used more by overnight campers than by the island's inhabitants.

The CC opens at 2 pm. In the afternoon, it is home mainly to sweaty day-trippers seeking shelter from the burning Ubin sun.

But it was not always like this.

Said Mr Lim in Teochew: "The CC used to teach music lessons and wushu. There used to be regular get-togethers on special occasions.

"Sporting competitions such as football and dragon-boat racing were also popular.

"Now there is no one to take part in these activities."

The story of the decline of Pulau Ubin CC is interwoven closely with the history of the island itself.

The island was once home to about 3,000 people. Today, the resident population is estimated to be about 400 people, mostly people in their 60s. Their children have grown up and now live on the mainland.

The island's economy was based on granite, and according to Mr Lim, there were eight quarries in the mid-'70s. Today there are only two.

The CC was first built in 1961 with contributions from residents, and it was originally a community hall.

In 1966, it was converted into a CC, and the first management committee was formed, with Mr Lim in the chair.

Other residents on the island remember how the CC used to be a focal point of activity, and how there would be no problems getting people to join in the activities.

"Even if you didn't organise something, the residents would prod you to do so," recalled the vice-chairman of the CCMC, Mr Ali Montain, in Malay.

"And when we organised activities, we did not have to worry about getting people because there were so many people around. If some couldn't make it, others could.

"Today, it is different. No people."

Like other CCs in Singapore, the Pulau Ubin CC organises trips for residents. Previous destinations include Haadyai and Genting. The last trip that the CC organised was to Bali two year ago for about 30 people. This year, they hope to go to Indonesia again, but that has not been confirmed.

It depends on whether enough people sign up.

Mr Lim Chye Joo, BBM

2006-10-07T22:30:00.000+08:00

Orbituary from the Lianhe Zaobao on 7 October 2006, Saturday

Rest in peace

2006-10-05T13:00:00.000+08:00

The 101 years old headman of Pulau Ubin, Mr Lim Chye Joo, passed away at his home on Pulau Ubin today, 5 October 2006 at 11.11am. His wake is held at Blk 230 Pasir Ris St 21 until Wednesday, October 11.

Straits Times reported that:

"When [Mr Lim Chye Joo] was 80, he survived a bout of prostate cancer and came through relatively unscathed, having only to take the occasional painkiller. However, the disease struck him again three months ago. After a brief hospital stay, his condition worsened. A week ago, he was only able to eat oatmeal and drink milk. On Thursday afternoon, Mr Lim died after an hour-long coughing fit."

With his passing, it is almost like the end of an era for Ubin. For me, he was the pillar of the island, a reminder of the prime of the island. He was the headman even when my mom was a little girl. He represented in my eyes the pioneers that toiled on the island.

The news of his death shocked me, and many others, as I almost take it for granted that he will always be there, a permanent fixture of the island.

He will be missed by many.

Rest in peace Headman.

----
Related articles:

"Pulau Ubin Headman celebrates turning 100" The Straits Times, 3 Apr 2005

""Mr Lim Chye Joo, Pulau Ubin's Village headman, R.I.P" Habitatnews, 5 Oct 2006

"Ubin Headman Passed Away." Focus Ubin Forum: Ubin Happenings. 05 Oct 2006.

Mr Lim Chye Joo, photo, 12 May 2006. Photo by s25251 on Flickr.

Village Headman. Ubin's Vanishing Kampung. RGS students project for Cyberfair 2001.

"The Headman Speaks", NParks Ubin Tides Volume 4, No. 2, July 2004

"Pulau Ubin headman, 101, dies", Straits Times, 7 Oct 2006

Pulau Ubin headman, 101, dies

2006-10-07T20:43:00.000+08:00

Straits Times Interactive
Oct 7, 2006

PULAU Ubin has lost its headman and oldest resident.

Mr Lim Chye Joo, 101, died on Thursday at his home on the island, where he had lived for more than 70 years.

The centenarian, who had nine children, had been the Pulau Ubin headman for more than 30 years, frequently intervening to resolve conflicts between families and neighbours.

He was often involved in fund-raising activities and even helped set up a school on the island.

Mr Lim was also known to wake up at 5am daily to walk around the island, until a bladder problem confined him to a wheelchair 10 years ago.

When he was 80, he survived a bout of prostate cancer and came through relatively unscathed, having only to take the occasional painkiller.

However, the disease struck him again three months ago.

After a brief hospital stay, his condition worsened. A week ago, he was only able to eat oatmeal and drink milk.

On Thursday afternoon, Mr Lim died after an hour-long coughing fit.

His wake will be held at the void deck of Block 230, Pasir Ris Street 21 until next Wednesday.

----
Share your memories of Mr Lim Chye Joo on the Focus Ubin Forum. Read more on the dedication page of focus ubin website.

Images of Bin Kiang

2006-09-01T18:04:00.000+08:00

2 weeks ago I was on Ubin for the monthly Pedal Ubin rides and while waiting around the bike shops for a friend, I chanced upon a wall of old Ubin photos. One of the photos was the schoolboy in front of the old Bin Kiang school.

It made me extremely nostalgic as I remembered my mom's Bin Kiang graduating class photo which I first posted here 2 years ago.

Today, all that is left of Bin Kiang school is a road sign naming the little back street after the school.

Bin Kiang Road in 2005. Photo by November.

Yet change is constantly surrounding us on Ubin. Last year this time, when I brought my mom back to Ubin to see where her old school used to be, it looked as above.

One year later, after the area was cleared, angsana trees were felled, this is how it looks like now.

Bin Kiang Road in 2006. Photo by November.

While my mom was reminiscing, she also mentioned that the principal's residence during her time used to be right beside the school. Although she pointed it out to me, we both did not attempt to climb up the steps to explore further since as we know it, changes happen and most likely, the family has moved as well.

Where the principal of Bin Kiang was. Photo by November, 2005.

When I first posted about Bin Kiang school, a reader wrote to me telling me that his dad used to be a teacher in the school. Unfortunately I have lost his email. If you are reading this now, please get in touch! I very much would like to find out more. My mom previously told me that one of her teachers on Ubin ended up moving out to the mainland and teaching her again in secondary school. Today, some of her classmates are still in touch with him. I hope that I would be able to interview him sometime.

Islander Bikeshop. Photo by November.

Sometimes a conversation can reveals a treasure trove of stories. After seeing the photos hanging on the wall outside this bike shop, I spoke with the lady and found out these are photos from and of their neighbors on the island. Today they still maintain their house on Ubin but return to their other home on the mainland at night. Many families on the island now do the same. It's almost like a dual citizenship!

The next time you are on the island, check out the photos and talk to the owners and find out about their childhood and lives on the island. I am sure they would be very happy to share. In fact, many of the old newspaper cuttings I have on the blog are also collected and generously shared by them. I will post more of the old photos I spied on the wall next time.

If you have any stories or old photos to share of Bin Kiang or Ubin, please email me.

---
Related Articles:

Bin Kiang School Alumni, Pulau Ubin Stories, 26 May 2004

Headman's Wake

2006-10-06T15:43:00.000+08:00

Ubin Headman Mr Lim Chye Joo's wake will be held at the void deck of Blk 230 Pasir Ris St 21 until 11 October 2006. The cremation will then take place at Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium.

Mr Lim's wife was buried on the island but it remains to be seen if Mr Lim can or will be lay to rest beside her.

In memory of the headman

2006-10-05T14:46:00.000+08:00

In July 2004, NParks' newsletter Ubin Tides conducted an interview with the Pulau Ubin headman, Mr Lim Chye Joo. In memory of Mr Lim, I am republishing and archiving the interview article here on Pulau Ubin Stories.

The Headman Speaks
Ubin Tides Volume 4, No. 2 (Jul 2004)

Mr Lim Chye Joo is well known to those who visit Ubin regularly. As the village headman for the island over the last few decades, he has represented the villagers on many public issues. Although wheelchair bound now, Mr Lim can still be seen regularly being pushed on his rounds at the village centre. His position and honor of being Ubin’s oldest man (currently 102 years old) meant that he is a gemstone of information on Ubin’s earlier days. We paid a visit to him at his house for an interview and were warmly invited in for a cup of tea.

Mr. Lim, how did you first arrive in Singapore and why did you decide to settle in Ubin?

I arrived in Singapore in late 1936 from Swatow, China. I sailed in a junk and the journey took us over one month. On a friend’s recommendation, we moved to Ubin and set up a small provision shop business. We grew some vegetables and reared poultry at the same time.

How did you become the village headman and was it a challenging job?

Actually there was no official appointing of village headman. After staying here for a fairly long time, many residences started addressing me as their village headman. At that time, no one really cared for the position as we were leading a very simple life and everyone was enjoying this pace of life. However, we all agreed that we needed someone to represent our villagers in times of need. The headman’s role is not as challenging as the title sounds. The village was very peaceful and the villagers enjoyed their way of living. No one attempted to make trouble, as everyone was just concerned about bringing bread home.

What was Ubin like then?

There were no proper roads on the island itself and there were many forested areas. Everyone living here was working from dawn till sunset to earn a living. In those days, life was hard but simple. Most of the villagers were working in the quarries for the British while there are others working in the rubber plantations. Most of us planted fruit trees, vegetables and reared poultry at home for sale at the main village square. Besides that, we have Malay villagers who fished for a living. Starting from the sixties, many people from Singapore mainland came here to farm and mine, with the population reaching almost four thousand in the eighties.

How has the nature in Ubin changed since you first stepped onto the island?

Flying foxes are not as commonly found as before. We regarded them as pests then, feeding on our fruits. The villagers had to keep them away by laying poison on flowering buds or shooting them down with a catapult. Large parts of the original forest were cleared and replaced by coconut palms, durians and other tropical fruits planted by the villagers.

What are some of the incidents in Ubin that have left the deepest impressions on you?

I remember during the Japanese Occupation, how the island was not as chaotic as in Singapore mainland. As long as you bow to the Japanese soldiers when you pass them, they would not make trouble. When any villager sighted Japanese soldiers making rounds, he would cycle around on the bicycle to inform the families with young Chinese woman to hide in the Malay villagers’ houses since the Japanese seldom disturb the Malays. Such was the kampong spirit of helping each other.

The simple way of living in those days is something I cherished most of all.

Upcoming Pedal Ubin Ride @ 8 Oct Sunday

2006-09-30T21:14:00.000+08:00

It's the time of the month again for Pedal Ubin. After a break in September for the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore which many of our guides are involved in, we're back and excited about the next upcoming ride in October.

Date: 8 October Sunday
Time: 8am - 12noon (approximately)

Meet at the Changi Point Ferry Terminal by 8am. You will go to Ubin together with your guide(s). Do note that we do leave on time, so please do not be late!

If you're interested to sign up, do send an email with the following details to

1. Name
2. Email address
3. Mobile phone number
4. Cycling ability (wobbly, steady or wow!)
5. Emergency contact [name, relationship (e.g. mother/father/wife) and phone number]

You will receive a reply to confirm your participation and instructions about payment. Registered partcipants will receive an FAQ closer to the event date.

Confirmation and Payment (from May 2006)
The charge is S$10.50 (inclusive GST) per participant. If you bring your own bicycle, the charge is S$7.35. Payment covers the bumboat ride from Changi to Pulau Ubin (one-way) and whole day bicycle rental.

Payment if strictly non-refundable. In the unlikely event that the trip is cancelled by Pedal Ubin! due to lightning threat or similar reasons (has not happened yet), a replacement ride will be arranged.

For more information on how to make payment, please refer to the Pedal Ubin website.

Want to know more of what we did? Read an account of the last ride in August 2006 by the Pedal Ubin Project Manager, Ivan Khong.

"August marks 1 year since the latest batch of guides graduated and thus, we celebrated the anniversary with a ride to the east of Ubin!

The ride started of to the east...at the sensory trail. [After which] we zipped to the coconut plantation trail via the mangrove. From there, it was a stopover at the Suria House before our exciting ride to the East.

Hitting Jalan Durian, the participants were thrilled with the donwhill leg, which coupled with the cold morning air was both pleasant and exciting. Rallying point was Kelichap hut, where a short briefing on off-road biking was delivered before we hit the dirt roads.

We hit the German Girl shrine [next], and made it back to the Y U So like that Stall when it started to drizzle.

We saw lots of mudskippers, and a sluice gate in action at the mangroves. [We also] heard a Jungle fowl crowing in the distance.

All in all, it was a fun ride!"

Sounds like an exciting way to spend a Sunday morning exploring our last wild frontier? Sign up for the ride now!

Tree Down!

2006-08-18T09:42:00.000+08:00

Photo by November

2 weeks ago, I posted a letter to the forum written by an islander's daughter, complaining about a dead branch hanging over the roof of her father's house, causing much fear and worry.

At that time, my mom wondered if the children can just trim it for the father but then I managed to verify that the tree is truly very big, up to about 20m tall and definitely requires a crane to do the deed.

1 week ago, I updated on the sighting of SLA trimming branches of a grand old Angsana Tree behind the row of shops in Ubin Town, where the old Bin Kiang school is. This was observed during the Hungry Ghost Festival Wayang celebrations. Then, there was a crane observed trimming some branches.

Of course, immediate thoughts was that SLA seems rather responsive to the letter to the newspaper forum page. Either way, the villager can now sleep well at night.

Trimming in process. Photo by November

Still, SLA must have been alerted a while back about this since it takes a substantial amount of time to arrange for a crane and then a barge to send the crane over. It would have taken more than a few days and is probably planned for prior to the release of the newspaper article.

What's missing? Photo by November

However, on Friday, 11 August 2006, when I revisited the island for a plant survey, I found something terribly missing as I stand in the town center, in front of the wayang stage. The place looked very bright and very empty.

It was then I realized that something was missing.

The whole Angsana tree has been cut down. Not just one, but 4 of them.

How big the girth of the tree was! The worker at the side for scale. Picture by November.

According to NParks, it turned out that one of the Angsana tree got a disease called Angsana Wilt where ambrosia beetles colonises the tree, causing it to wilt and eventually collapse. It also spreads very quickly to other trees and thus explaining why the other trees around it had to be cut down as well. This is a problem that is quite widespread in Singapore and Malaysia and the usual recommended way to control the disease is to remove the diseased trees. [Source: Botanic Garden Trust of Australia]

Photo by November

Although a terrible lost to the landscape of the island, it is rather dangerous to have a 15-20m tree crashing down on your house in the middle of the night, or even in the day. However, we all wonder if the villager will now have very hot days and warm nights to complain of from now on. I know we will.

Took a few days to remove the trees - truck load of dismembered leaves and branches remains. Photo by November

---
Related Articles

Pulau Ubin Old Tree's Dead Branch, By Cai Li Zhu, Lianhe Zaobao Forum Page, 2 August 2006, Wednesday

Branch Trimming, Pulau Ubin Stories, 10 August 2006

Angsana Wilt Disease Complex

Recent visits

2006-08-16T19:09:00.000+08:00

Visited Ubin 3 times in the last week and am filled with updates and stories to share on Ubin Stories. But before I rain words and tales on you, I thought I will share the photos from my visits first.

Pulau Ubin @ Hungry Ghost Festival
Includes visits to Butterfly Hill, otherwise known as Jelutong Hill or Jelutong Campsite. Looking more and more like ECP or Pasir Ris Park if you ask me. The hill is artificial. The area was a dumpground for Ho Man Chu quarry which it overlooks. After years of creating holes on Ubin, now we're building hills instead!

Pulau Ubin @ Plant Survey
Includes pictures of baby wild boar, OBS land, Nparks officers, wayang stage, and angsana trees being cut down.

Pedal Ubin @ 13 Aug
The most recent trip to Ubin was rewarding as spring tide exposed some glorious sights of Ubin. I also met this lucky offspring that is the newest addition to the Jelutong Coconut Stall Auntie's household! Lucky had an offspring! heh It was also my first time riding to Kampong Melayu proper. Only time I went that far in was with the Cookery Magic class.

Branch Trimming

2006-08-10T15:31:00.000+08:00

On 8 Aug 2006 tuesday, when I was there for the Hungry Ghost Festival Wayang, I saw the path behind the Tua Pek Gong temple being blocked off.

Upon exploring, it seems that a crane was trimming the branches of a very tall Angsana(?) tree near where the Old Bin Kiang school was, behind the row of shops in Ubin Town.

Could this be the branch that was mentioned in the letter to the forum in the chinese newspaper that we mentioned last week? [See: Pulau Ubin Old Tree's Dead Branch, Lianhe Zaobao Forum page, 2 Aug 2026]

The tree being trimmed seems to loom over the houses in the area as the article described but this could just be a routine trimming. However, after asking around, it seems that this particular tree trimming is being conducted by SLA instead of Nparks. Could it be just a coincidence?

Still, I am unsure if this is the tree that was mentioned in the letter to the forum. If it is, then surely the letter to the forum was quite effective afterall!

I must clarify something from my previous post though. After an interview with Adelle, our friend at the Nparks office on Ubin, it does appear that only certain areas on Pulau Ubin is under the care of SLA and others have been taken over for maintenance by Nparks.

However, what remains unclear to me is whether SLA is the overall landlord of the entire island but only certain area it is responsible for upkeep while most have been given over to Nparks for caretaking. Or does it mean that SLA has no jurisdiction over 'Nparks land' at all?

I did hear that even if OBS wants to clear any trees or forested area within its boundaries, it has to run through its plans with NParks first.

(?) unconfirmed

Hungry Ghost Festival Celebrations

2006-08-09T01:39:00.000+08:00

Teochew opera is staged on Ubin every year for the 7th month of the lunar calender, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival or Zhong Yuan Jie in Mandarin Chinese. Pulau Ubin has one of the few rare freestanding wayang stage left in Singapore. In fact, there is probably only 1 left on mainland Singapore (at Balestier) which would make this 1 of 2 in the whole of Singapore.

These days, the stage is only used twice a year, once during the 7th month of the lunar calendar, and once in the 4th lunar month. One of the groccery shopkeepers divulged to me that the latter is also for the Tua Pek Gong temple that is facing the wayang stage.

This year's 7th month celebration is held on the 15th and 16th day of the lunar month which is effectively 8th and 9th August 2006 (Tuesday and Wednesday). Despite it being a public holiday eve, when I arrived on the island at 1pm, the island was relatively quiet. As Adelle who was there last year confided that last year there were many more people. Perhaps people are away on holiday already! Hopefully tomorrow there would be more people.

The stage was set up by the troupe on Monday, the day before the actual performance. Even as I arrived, much activities were bustling backstage and on stage. Mic tests and what nots. Yes, it comes with a full sound system. The troupe was the same as last year according to Adelle. Many photographers were also sighted on the island. 2 ladies were busy backstage taking photos. Meanwhile there was a gentleman that came equipped with camera, tripod and all. I heard through the grapevine that he is like me, the descendant of an ex-islander. Sadly, I was unable to cajole my parents to join me today.

Part of the ceremony involves 'praying' for 4D numbers, drawing numbers randomly out of a canister [photo on the left]. In case you are interested, the number drawn was 9102. See the gleeful smiles of the actors as they draw the numbers. In the photo on the right, demoted guards from last year's generals.

Around 2.30pm, activities started first with a cast line up and paying respect to the gods. I am not sure who the main characters were dressed up as but Victor has a brief account from last year's ceremony which is almost exactly similar. The only difference was the obviously diminished offerings. There was definitely no freshly slaughtered pig as Victor reports. Also the generals have been demoted to mere guards. Instead of televisions for the auction, there were 2 new bicycles up for grabs! Of course the usual gold 'trophies' seen in hungry ghost festival auctions. The auction will be held tomorrow night so if you miss the action today, feel free to go join in the bustle tomorrow.

Highly diminished numbers in the ubin population reflected in the small number of 'goodie bags' distributed to the contributing members of the celebration - usually the majority of the members of the community. Adelle confides that there are less than 50 residents on the island now.

View from the stage

With the opera troupe momentarily installed at the stage, the entire Ubin Town seems to come alive, even for a tuesday public holiday eve. I have never seen the stage opened up or even visited backstage before but I got a treat today and fully covered the 4 corners of the structure like an excited fan who suddenly got backstage pass at the sydney opera house. In fact, I also spotted a few celebrities during my backstage tour. One of the visitors to the island observing the celerbations looked very much like Dr Julian Davison, the host of Site and Sound. Perhaps it was really him!

Backdoor leads out to the sea [photo on left] while adverts hangs at the side of the stage. Phone number for the troupe at the bottom. [photo on right]

Unfortunately, I did not stay on till the end of the day. Perhaps those who went at night or stayed on could leave a comment as to whether the crowd got bigger after the sun set.

It's definitely not quiet anymore! Not for now anyways...

I was planning to stay and thus while waiting, I visited the 'new' butterfly hill, had a tour of the NParks facilities courtesy of Adelle and had the most fascinating conversations with Adelle and Angie from NSS. When the ladies decided to go home before sun sets, this monkey was persuaded to leave as well.

Musicians warming up

It was lucky I decided to leave then since I managed to capture some wonderful photos of the setting sun.

What a way to end the day

For more photos, please refer to my flickr account.

If you would like to share your experience of this year's hungry ghost festival celebrations on Pulau Ubin, leave your blog link in the comments section or email me your account.

Related articles

Sons of Ubin keep tradition alive

Account of wayang performances on other occasions on Ubin

Pulau Ubin Zhong Yuan Hui by Victor Yue

Hungry Ghost Festival Wayang

2006-08-06T11:31:00.000+08:00

If you have always wondered about the old days where Ubin was a bustling community, the Hungry Ghost Fetival wayang performance may just be the chance to send you back in time. The nowadays usually neglected wayang stage in the center of Ubin town comes alive with lights and performances. Islanders and their descendants who have left for the mainland come back for this annual event.

Date: 8 and 9 August 2006 (Tuesday and Wednesday)
Time: Various (around noon and after sunset)

Adelle from NPark writes that:

"... Normally in a day there's a few performances and there should be one at past noon. On the first day, there would be prayers by the performers at past noon. If one is interested in the rituals and the villagers, they can come in at noon, catch a performance and leave the island at a decent time. Second evening, there would be the 'auctioning' of the symbolic items."

Dog sleeping at the backdoor of the wayang stage on a quiet lazy afternoon on Ubin.
Photo by November Tan.

It would not be quiet anymore!

Questions? Post them on the Focus Ubin Forum.

Related articles

Sons of Ubin keep tradition alive

Account of wayang performances on other occasions on Ubin

Pulau Ubin Zhong Yuan Hui by Victor Yue

Pulau Ubin Old Tree's dead branch

2006-08-03T01:27:00.000+08:00

By Cai Li Zhu
Lianhe Zaobao Forum Page
2 August 2006, Wednesday

My father is 70 years old this year and currently lives on Pulau Ubin. Life was peaceful and without worries but recently something made him extremely worried and uncomfortable. An old tree besides my father's house has 2 dead branches hanging over the house and when the wind blows, the branches swings about perilously, threatening to fall on the house, causing much fear and worry.

Therefore, my father made a trip to the Nparks office on the island to complain but guess what, they asked him to lodge his complaint with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) instead.

Not long after, my father againt went to look for another Npark officer to seek their help. This time, the lady officer finally helped him to write a report and promised to submit it on his behalf. However, it has been 2 months and yet there has been no action to remedy the situation.

Do we have to wait till the branch falls and for a tragedy or accident to happen before there will be remedy?

Briefly translated by November Tan.

-----------------
Thanks to my mom for the alert! She has been very conscientiously supplying me with chinese news and articles with regards to Ubin as she knows I have been trying to keep Ubin Stories updated.

On another note, she also commented that perhaps the author of this letter should have helped her dad to cut the branch or to report to SLA as suggested instead of writing to the newspaper. Is that what people would have done in the good ole kampong days? A reliance on self and family.

Still, it's interesting to read about SLA's role on the island since it's the 'landlord' and owner of the island. Would NParks then be considered Ubin's custodian? I am always piqued by the interplay of agencies on the island.

Upcoming Pedal Ubin Ride @ 13 Aug Sunday

2006-07-24T19:12:00.000+08:00

Pedal Ubin Guide and Project Manager, Ivan Khong aka Wingman, in action! Photo by November.

This 3.5-4 hour ride is suitable especially for those who are
clueless about Ubin. Don't worry if you're a novice cyclist. As long
as you can balance yourself on a bike, you can certainly join us!

More details on the Pedal Ubin website.
http://pedalubin.rafflesmuseum.net/

Time: 8am meet at Changi Point Ferry Terminal.

Cost: $10.50 (inclusive GST) per participant per ride. It goes
towards paying for the bumboat ride to Pulau Ubin and whole day
bicycle rental. It also includes a token sum to indicate your
commitment to the ride. If you are bringing your own bicycles, the
charge is $7.35 (inclusive GST) per participant per ride.

Contact: To register, email pedalubin @ yahoo . com

Pre-registration is essential. You will receive a confirmation email.

Places are limited.

The hunt for Ubin Granite

2006-07-15T12:14:00.000+08:00

On 13 July 2006, I led a group of American students, staff and faculty from the Semester at Sea program to Pulau Ubin.

Despite it being a thursday, the island was crowded. Mainly with NPCC cadets and possibly participants at the outward bound school. It was the first time I saw people canoeing off the Jetty at Ubin.

Photo by November

Some of the students were there as a field trip for their class on Environmental Geology by the Professor onboard, Prof Robert Carmichael from the University of Iowa. Being a geologist, you can only imagine how excited he was to be on the "granite island". He was on a quest for the Ubin Granite.

Photo by November

It had never occured to me before that it would be so difficult to find granite on Ubin. Afterall, it is the island where we have been harvesting granite from for more than a century up till the last quarry closed in the late 1990s. However, the quest proved rather challenging.

First of all, in order to see how exactly Ubin granite looks like, you have to look for freshly exposed rocks. That is almost impossible because most of the rocks around the island are deeply weathered. You can tell which rocks are weathered by seeing the dark color on the surface, the smooth surface, or sometimes even a layer of moss on the top. Freshly exposed granite should be bright and rough. However, the only such patch of rock was on the steep cliff face at Ubin Quarry!

Secondly, although we find a lot of granite pebbles and bits of rocks strewn across many of the roads and trails, most of these are not from the island itself. A lot of it are actually transported from the mainland and dumped there as a site of disposal. Talk about foreign talent! Even our native ubin granite are possibly being replaced by 'foreign' granite materials from the mainland.

Where has our granite gone? Photo by November

Although the Ubin granite are often considered similar as the Bukit Timah Granite on mainland Singapore, studies have shown that:

"The Pulau Ubin Granite has some differences from the Bukit Timah Granite. It is richer in minerals, e.g. green hornblende and brown biotite occuring in clusters. Inclusions occur commonly on Pulau Ubin and Changi, representing mainly the bodies of basic rock and these can vary from 1 cm to tens of metres." (Wong et al, 2005)

Alas, the day ended rather disappointly for the professor despite several encounters with the granite kind but I do not think he has actually managed to find any real Ubin Granite.

Photo by November

Still, everybody enjoyed themselves after a long day on the granite island, discovering mudskippers in the flesh for the first time and "getting away from the city on the mainland" as some of them confided in me.

Photo by November

It was a satisfying day for one and all, especially knowing that a group of people walked away enriched with a little known and fast disappearing side of Singapore.

For more photos, visit my flickr set of the trip.

Source:

Lu Xi Xi, Wong Poh Poh & Chou Loke Ming (2005) Singapore's Biophysical Environment, Mcgraw Hill

More cookery magic on Ubin

2006-07-06T13:59:00.000+08:00

Cooking Class in a Kampong House on Pulau Ubin (29 July 2006, Saturday, 8.30am - 2pm)

Menu: Nasi Kerabu. We wil go harvest the jungle herbs for the cooking. This is a hands on cooking class. You will also be served Lontong upon arrival.
1. Nasi Kerabu
2. Sambal Blachan

3. Butter Pepper Fresh Prawns
4. Ice Kachang.

Cost: S$85 per person (Cost includes ferry and taxi ride on the island)

Contact Ruqxana at Cookery Magic

Water - all the way from Singapore?

2005-12-18T13:27:00.000+08:00

This is the first in a series of newspaper articles courtesy of a Ubin resident who has collected and archived them over the last 15 years. Thanks to Ria Tan for providing the contact.

The caption reads: "Thank you, thank you: Madam Lim watching SCDF recruit C C Low pouring water into a countainer outside her kitchen." Photo by David Tan, The New Paper

Water - all the way from S'pore?
Friday, October 10, 1997
Yvonne Lim
The New Paper
Image of the actual article [1MB]

She had lived most of her 87 years without electricity. For years, without company. And for the past two months, without her own water supply. Madam Lim Chin Ching's well dried up two months ago in a drought that has hit most of Pulau Ubin's 200 wells. Alone in her remote, crumbling wood-and-zinc hut, the tough widow has been relying on a friendly visitor in blue for her water.

Yesterday afternoon, a Police Coast Guard land-rover pulled up outside her hut. Out jumped Sergeant Tan Tiam Hock, shouting cheerfully in Hokkien: "Wa nang gia zui lai leow! (We've brought the water)." As two Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) recruits lugged out four jerry cans of water, Madam Lim clasped her hands and gushed: "Gam sia, gam sia (thank you)." Every week, for two months, Sgt Tan has been bringing Madam Lim water from other wells on the island - enough for a week's drinking and cooking. But yesterday, there was a new tang to the water. All 80 litres of it was from mainland Singapore - part of the 50,000 litres shipped over to relieve the island's water shortage.

When Sgt Tan told Madam Lim this, her eyes grew big.
"All the way from Singapore?" she exclaimed.

Since Madam Lim came from China 40 years ago to settle on Pulau Ubin with her husband, she has tasted only the island's well water and rain water. To catch the rain that fell yesterday, Madam Lim laid out rows of pots, pails, bowls, even jam jars.

She could not make it to the collection point yesterday, as her home is a 20-minutes drive through mud tracks and hilly roads. She has been using a neighbour's well water to wash her clothes. But she doesn't dare take too much, and she cannot walk far to find other sources of water, she said in Teochew. "I try to save water, like when I wash rice, because I am an old woman - I cannot carry too much water."

She has lived on welfare aid since her husband died years ago. Her only daughter is in China. Why didn't she move to an easier life on the mainland? Said Madam Lim: "Oh, if I had the chance I would go. Life is difficult here." However, residents later said she had been offered a place in a welfare home last year - but she came back home in the end.

RELIEF FOR ISLANDERS
They came with used oil drums, jerry cans, pails, bins and bottles - on trolleys, lorries and motorbikes. Pulau Ubin residents yesterday carted away some 8,000 litres of water. The water was shipped over by the SAF and SCDF on Wednesday. Coupons were issued to 40 of the island's 170 households, allowing each person 40 litres per day - about 3.5 pails.

The water distribution began at 3pm, presided over by Community Development Minister Abdullah Tarmugi. For three elderly residents, who lived far away, water was delivered to the doorstep. The water operation and yesterday's drizzle broke the dry spell - but not the islanders' thriftiness. Retiree Low Hai Chua, 82, said: "I will drink this water - and bathe in the sea."

Source: The Straits Times
-------------------------------------------

EL NINO
On the right is an image of a tanker transporting water to Pulau Ubin in 1997 from the Straits Times courtesy of a student website on the 1997 El Nino event that impacted the world.

The trade winds, which normally blew from Asia to South America across the Pacific, reversed due to the El Nino, causing a large body of warm ocean water to flow from the coasts of Asia across the Pacific to the coasts of South America. Therefore, rain clouds formed above South America instead of above Southeast Asia and Australia, causing a drought over Southeast Asia and the Oceania, bringing higher than usual temperatures.

The website explains the phenomenon and its impact on Singapore:

"The droughts caused a village on the island of Pulau Ubin off the northeastern coast of Singapore to run out of water after a dry spell of 5 months. The Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Civil Defence Force to transport more than 50 tonnes of water to the island to ease the water shortage.

The main island of Singapore itself also suffered from water shortage. The water stock of Singapore fell to just 73% after months of El Nino induced droughts."

RELATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Below is a list of cited bibliography from the El Nino Website relevant to Ubin.

Teo, G. (1997) "Fresh water bound for Pulau Ubin today" The Straits Times, October 8, 1997

Gascon, G. (1997) "Launching to Ubin's aid" The Straits Times, October 9, 1997

Yeo, G. (1997) "Water tankers spell relief for Pulau Ubin" The Straits Times, October 9, 1997

SOURCES

Lim, Y. (1997) "Water - all the way from Singapore?" The New Paper, 10 October 1997

Tan, J. and Tangen, H. (1998) "El Nino Around the World" Website available at: http://library.thinkquest.org/17865/

More Cookery Magic

2006-05-27T23:26:00.000+08:00

This is coming a little late but perhaps there may still be vacancies... although knowing the popularity of ruq's classes, perhaps you can sign up for her mailing list instead!

Ruqxana wrote:

My next two Pulau Ubin classes are as follows. Email me if you are interested to attend any of them.

Cooking Class in a Kampong House on Pulau Ubin

28 May 2006, Sunday, 8.30am - 2pm; or
3 June 2006, Saturday, 8.30am - 2pm (only 2 places left)

Menu: Nasi Kerabu. We will go harvest the jungle herbs for the cooking. This is a hands on cooking class. You will also be served Lontong upon arrival.
1. Nasi Kerabu
2. Sambal Blachan

3. Butter Pepper Prawns
4. Ice Kachang.

Cost: S$82 per person (Cost includes ferry and taxi ride on the island)

Also, kindly forward this email to your friends who may be interested in attending my cooking classes.

Regards

Ruqxana
Cookery Magic
ruqxana at cookerymagic dot com
www.cookerymagic.com