Island stories on "Tales from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum"

Stories of Singapore's many islands!

Listen to the podcast - Tales from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, exploring Singapore’s famous myths and legends: https://tinyurl.com/lkcnhmtales1

Shore to Shore: Explore the Southern Islands

Shore to Shore is a student-led programme dedicated to revitalising interest in these islands.

By focusing on the intersections of folklore, biodiversity, and family, we celebrate the unique cultural and ecological heritage of places like St John’s Island, once a quarantine station; Kusu Island, known for its annual pilgrimage; and Sisters’ Islands, steeped in legend and home to Singapore’s first marine park.

The programme aims to inspire long-term stewardship and preservation of both the tangible and intangible heritage found across these southern shores.

More details on their website: https://shoretoshore.wixstudio.com/tf-nus

27 Sep (Mon): Kayak to Kusu-Lazarus with Kayakasia

This is a paddle of transcendental significance! First we land on the impermanent beach of Lazarus Island, which only appears during certain tides.

After getting your life back reconnecting with the outdoors, we head to Kusu Island to bask ourselves in the longevity of the resident turtles. If that is not enough, climb the 152 steps leading to the kramats (Malay holy shrines) and pray at the Tua Pek Kong (Chinese) temple. If nothing works, laze on the tranquil beach of Kusu and see life anew!

20 Nov (Fri): Kayak the Kusu-Lazarus Trail with Kayakasia

Suitable for beginners, this is a paddle of transcendental significance! First we land on the impermanent beach of Lazarus Island, which only appears during certain tides.

After getting your life back reconnecting with the outdoors, we head to Kusu Island to bask ourselves in the longevity of the resident turtles. If that is not enough, climb the 152 steps leading to the kramats (Malay holy shrines) and pray at the Tua Pek Kong (Chinese) temple. If nothing works, laze on the tranquil beach of Kusu and see life anew!

Kusu Island pilgrimage 17 Oct to 19 Nov 2020

During the annual pilgrimage, thousands of visitors are expected to visit Kusu Island from 17 Oct to 19 Nov 2020.  Expect delays due to crowd control measures at Marine South Pier. Parking at the Pier is likely to be limited.

Check out Jerome Lim's awesome blog post for a glimpse into the history behind Kusu Island and the pilgrimage.

25 Aug (Tue): Kayak the Kusu-Lazarus Trail with Kayakasia

Suitable for beginners, this is a paddle of transcendental significance! First we land on the impermanent beach of Lazarus Island, which only appears during certain tides.

After getting your life back reconnecting with the outdoors, we head to Kusu Island to bask ourselves in the longevity of the resident turtles. If that is not enough, climb the 152 steps leading to the kramats (Malay holy shrines) and pray at the Tua Pek Kong (Chinese) temple. If nothing works, laze on the tranquil beach of Kusu and see life anew!

From the Kayakasia facebook event post...

We will be using inflatable doubles kayak suitable for beginners!

Distance: 10 km
Duration: 7.30am to 12.30pm
Price: $95 per persons; $50 for kids under 12 (min. 2 pax)
Price includes guides, double kayaks, pfds, paddles, first aid kit

Email ling@kayakasia.org for more details and to register!

Singapore's national marine lab has launched its newsletter - Sakijang Times!

The St John's Island National Marine Laboratory has just recently launched its newsletter series, called Sakijang Times! The name is derived from the Malay name of the island, Pulau Sakijang Bendera. 

In this first issue, you can find interesting stories of people, wildlife, research findings, and the facility upgrades! Check it out here: https://sjinml.nus.edu.sg/sakijang-times/

1 Mar (Sun): Kayak the Kusu-Lazarus Trail with Kayakasia

Suitable for beginners, this is a paddle of transcendental significance! First we land on the impermanent beach of Lazarus Island, which only appears during certain tides.

After getting your life back reconnecting with the outdoors, we head to Kusu Island to bask ourselves in the longevity of the resident turtles. If that is not enough, climb the 152 steps leading to the kramats (Malay holy shrines) and pray at the Tua Pek Kong (Chinese) temple. If nothing works, laze on the tranquil beach of Kusu and see life anew!

31 Mar (Sun): Dive clean up at Lazarus Island with Our Singapore Reefs

Calling divers who want to make a difference for Singapore's marine life! Places are limited, sign up now!

Register with Our Singapore Reefs at http://bit.ly/2TNt96l or email oursingaporereefs@gmail.com for more information!

Shore fun for kids during the March school holidays

Exciting shore activities specially for kids are lined up for the coming school holidays! Free fun ways to discover and enjoy Singapore's marine biodiversity!

The highlight would be Celebrating Singapore Shores at Berlayar Creek, specially for kids and the family with games and prizes, nature walks and films. There's also a Marine Open House at Singapore's natural history museum with free tickets. Go for a kayak trip to Kusu Island and Lazarus. Join intertidal walks at Chek Jawa and other shores. Join a nature camp at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, or learn about our crocodiles there. And MORE!

14 Jul (Sat): Our Singapore Reef's Singles Mingle: Marine Clean Up!

In celebration of 2018 International Year of the Reef, we are back for our marine dive clean up and this time, we are calling for singles who are ready to mingle!

Game for it? Come join us and have fun in saving Lazarus Island from marine trash with your new friends!

23 Jun (Sat): Southern Islands Sea Kayaking with Kayakasia

Join Kayakasia for exciting kayak adventures in our Southern shores!

Photo by Kayakasia

They plan to paddle to Sentosa Island, Tekukor Island, Seringat Island, Kusu Island, Pink Lagoon, Lazarus Island, St John's Island, Sisters' Islands.

Kusu shores closed until October

According to media articles, traces of asbestos, a hazardous material, have been discovered on Kusu Island, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said on Friday (May 4) after a similar discovery on St John's Island over a week ago.

Dotted yellow line indicates areas still open to the public.
Photo from Channel NewsAsia

Meanwhile, survey work on Pulau Hantu is expected to be completed by next week. SLA declared Lazarus Island, Pulau Seringat and Kias Island to be free of the hazardous material thus far.

12 May (Sat): Lazarus Island dive cleanup with Our Singapore Reefs

Grab your friends and join volunteers of Our Singapore Reefs to discover marine animals that live on the seawall and help save Lazarus Island from marine trash and plastic waste! In celebration of 2018 International Year of the Reef!

19 May (Sat): Kayak the Kusu-Lazarus Trail with Kayakasia

Suitable for beginners, first we land on the impermanent beach of Lazarus Island, which only appears during certain tides.

After getting your life back reconnecting with the outdoors, we head to Kusu Island to bask ourselves in the longevity of the resident turtles. If that is not enough, climb the 152 steps leading to the kramats (Malay holy shrines) and pray at the Tua Pek Kong (Chinese) temple. If nothing works, laze on the tranquil beach of Kusu and see life anew!

We will be using inflatable doubles kayak suitable for beginners!

21 Apr (Sat): Youth for Our Ocean: Marine Clean Up with FRANK by OCBC

Specially for  youths! In celebration of 2018 International Year of the Reef and Earth Day, FRANK by OCBC x Our Singapore Reefs wants you to join their upcoming marine clean up dive!

This time, they are calling for passionate youths! Grab your friends and join us to discover what marine animals live among the seawall and help save Lazarus Island from marine trash and plastic waste!

Celebrate Earth Day on Singapore shores!

Next week is Earth Day with the theme "End Plastic Pollution". The Earth Day website has more info on how you can end plastic pollution as an individual, organisation and educator.

This Earth Day weekend, there's lots happening on Singapore shores! Clean up plastics from a shore at Lim Chu Kang, watch a free movie about marine plastics at the Botanic Gardens, rescue horseshoe crabs at Kranji, get muddy at Sungei Buloh, join shore walks at Chek Jawa and the Sisters Islands Marine Park, explore the heritage of Pulau Ubin or kayak to St John's Island.

10 Feb (Sat): The Ocean, My Family and Me - family dive cleanup

Priority given to those who sign up with their family! Grab your family members (who dive) and join this upcoming trip to Lazarus Island, "The Ocean, My Family and Me" by Our Singapore Reefs.

In the spirit of spring-cleaning before the Lunar New Year, help our marine life spruce up their living spaces by removing debris underwater.