Shrines of Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin is an island located on the north of Singapore, and after just a short bumboat ride there you will feel like you are in a completely different world. Old kampongs, deserted quarries, wetlands, mangrove forests, herb gardens and old plantations - there is much to explore here.

This tour will explore Ubin in a very special way: by looking at the diverse shrines that were erected here. The Pulau Ubin shrines are evidence of the multicultural heritage of the island, and many combine elements from more formal religions with local folklore, ancient beliefs and quite extraordinary modern narratives.

Many of the island's shrines are dedicated to Tua Pek Gong, a deity specific to the Chinese of this region. Other shrines are dedicated to Datuk Gong, another regional deity that merges Malay and Chinese beliefs - though most worshippers are Chinese, Datuk Gong has clear Malay/ islamic roots and is never offered pork. Not only Chinese but people from all creeds and backgrounds leave offerings at these shrines, that can be found all over the region, but in more developed areas often have been torn down or replaced by more formal places of worship.

We will learn about keramat, ancient Malay holy places, and how they developed. And of course we will visit the "German Girl Shrine" - a fascinating example of a holy place that was influenced by many different stories and cultures, and its narrative took a life of its own, becoming more and more fantastical over the years.

As the distances to some of the shrines are long, this tour is best done as a cycling tour - bicycles can be rented on the island. But if you don't mind a long hike, many of them can be reached on foot. Either way, this tour is suitable for those who have a higher level of fitness only.