The Simplicities in Life: Coastal Cleanup @ Pulau Ubin

It was International Coastal Cleanup week, and on 19 Sep, I was at Pulau Ubin with PFS, this time round not as guide nor participant, but as a photographer. =)

We started the day with a guided tour by our GVs at the Sensory trail. At the start of the trail, we were treated with the fragrance of Pandan (Pandanus amatyllifolius) in the Pandan Valley! This is a familiar fragrance to many, as it is commonly used to add flavour and colour to many of our dishes. My mum grows a few pots of it at home, which she adds into her yummy green bean soup and chicken rice. While I appreciate the Pandan's use in food, I love it more for its supposed ability to keep Xiao Qiangs (cockroaches.. YIKES) away.

Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) is a valuable plant with its seeds pounded into powder and made into edible cereal or nutritious drink. Famous for its use as beads (since 2000BC!), the seeds are tinted and sold as rosaries.

Another plant that I'm really familiar with, because its usually my drink during lunch - Aloe Vera (with lemon and honey!). The Aloe Vera gel is also my saviour whenever I get sunburnt as it has a cooling effect and aids in healing. Although most ladies love it more for its use in cosmetics. Years back when my dad had high blood pressure, we have so many pots of this plant as my mum learnt that Aloe Vera Juice (with the skin!) is good for the condition, and dad had to drink it everyday!

True to the name of Sensory trail - participants can use their 5 senses to understand the plants more! Heres participants touching and smelling curry leaves!

There used to be a coffee plantation on the west side of Ubin and was called Kopi Sua i.e. Coffee Mountain. While coffee is no longer planted there, this plant was brought in for visitors like us know about this plantation. The coffee is a really popular drink in office, as it perks us up in the morning due to its caffeine content.

Many other interesting plants can be found at the sensory trail, although I only took photos of a few as my main task was to take photos of the participants. The trail is open to public, so head there anytime!

As we walked towards the mangrove area, a snake was spotted in the trees. Initially it was too far away for phototaking. Refusing to give up, I stood there for a long time (and lost everyone else!) and managed a shot. Looks like the Paradise Tree Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi) to me... but am not absolutely sure though.

After a short break and briefing by NEA, we embarked on the purpose of our visit - Coastal cleanup!

Gosh, it was a sea of litter!

Fret not, all of us were 全服武装, all prepared and equipped to battle the rubbish. After setting out in teams, we split up the roles and responsbilities - some held the garbage bag, some used gloves to pick the bigger items while others pick up the smaller ones with tongs. We also have someone to record all the types of rubbish collected on the data sheet.

I have the luxury to move about to capture the moments of hardwork, and couldnt help take pictures of False Limpit (Siphonaria sp.). Limpit is a mollusc that attach themselves to the substrate using is very mascular foot and has a flattened, cone shaped shell. They clamp down their shells really tightly against the substrate to resist the strong waves and also to prevent being being eaten by predators.

There were countless of Onch Slug (Onchidium sp) foraging on 1 particular algae-encrusted rock. They camouflaged so well into the rock that I almost stepped onto one, had it not moved. These animals have no shell and have simple lungs (instead of gills) to helps it breathe. Their thick and water proof skins help protects them from excessive loss of water.

I was so excited seeing the Oriental Pied Hornhill (Anthracoceros albirostris) at close distance! These hornbills are truly wild and were feeding on fruits as I was watching them. This pair below were inseparable though, one follows the other from branch to branch! These pretty birds are no meek, quiet fellas - their harsh and penetrating loud cackling can get a little too much when they yak continuously.

Ok, better get back to fulfil my role. After an hour+ of coastal cleanup, it was time to weigh our loot. In total we collected 43 bags, weighing 413.5 kg in total - just in 1 hour! Amongst the items were 1191 plastic bags, 241 glass bottles, 40 plastic bottles, 716 sterofoam pieces and 231 food containers/ wrappers!