Kusu Island

Kusu Island is what you make of it. If you want to be entertained and you can't unplug, this isn't the island for you. However, if you want to get away to a (relatively*) peaceful and quiet island, enjoy the simpler things, and want to fit in some culture as well, then give Kusu a try! To get to the island, you need to catch a ferry from Marina South Pier. A round trip ticket costs $18 per adult, and also includes St. John's Island. From Marina South Pier, it takes an hour to get to Kusu, only because you stop and wait a bit at St. John's first. But when you leave Kusu, you go directly to South Pier, which takes about 15 minutes. A little background: Kusu Island means Tortoise Island. There are a few legends about it... the shortest one I can tell you is that a tortoise turned itself into an island to save some shipwrecked sailors. There is one Chinese temple near the entrance, and three Malay shrines on top of a hill. Between September and November, many people make a pilgrimage to the island for peace and good luck. (This year, the pilgrimage season is from October 5 to November 2, so I decided to take a trip now before the crowds come through!) In addition to the temple and shrines, there is a tortoise sanctuary, where you can see a bunch of tortoises chillin'! But, unlike the Live Tortoise Museum, you can't feed them. :( If you're lucky, you'll also see a wild monkey wandering around! There are many picnic areas and even a few grills, so if you're up to bringing a feast to the island, go for it! You can also swim in the lagoons. When I visited, there were barely any people, so if you're lucky you'll have the lagoon to yourself. (Apparently, there are showers available on the island, but I'm not sure where they are.) There is a food center there, but it was empty when I visited. I'm not sure if it's functional during certain times of the year. It's best to bring food and drink with you just in case. Overall, this is a good spot to relax. To make it more lively, I recommend going with a few friends and having a picnic! *There was some construction going on while I was there, but I think it's because they're preparing for the 2013 pilgrimage. The noise wasn't bad; it's just that sometimes I feel I can't EVER get away from construction in Singers!

When I was young, I used to come to Kusu Island every year with my Grandma and grand-uncles/ aunties for the annual pilgrimage during the 9th month (or was it 10th?!?! :X) of the lunar calendar. It is a religious ceremony when the island comes alive with many local buddhist/ taoist followers coming here to pay their offerings at the temple. I remember we used to go to Collyer quay and hop on a ferry which will bring us straight to Kusu island in about 45min. Then again, I haven't been there for ages (must have been at least 10 years?), so I'm guessing things will probably have changed. I dont even know if the ferry terminal at Collyer quay still exists today! :/ Anyhow, at Kusu Island, you can see many live turtles, whom many believe to be "sacred" to the island. Some even throw coins at them and make their wishes, which I feel is cruel to the poor tortoises :( There is a food centre there that comes alive only during the pilgrimage season, selling some local food like char kueh teow, orh luat and carrot cake. Getting a table is difficult due to the crowds, so its great to have a bigger group who can "chope" a table. After lunch, there will be a short hike up the hill to another temple/ shrine. It isnt too difficult a climb, but for older folks (like my grandma), they might need to take a break midway :) Once that is done, you can choose to hang around the beach, watch more tortoises, or head back to the Singapore island. Dont leave too late though, since the line for the ferry gets very long towards the evening! And remember to check the time for the last ferry, as you probably dont want to be stuck on the island overnight!

A lovely getaway from the urbanization! Kusu Island is a small island just south of Sentosa Island. To get here, you will have to take a ferry from Marina South Pier, which will drop by St. John's Island first. It is a very well maintained island with lots of areas to set up your picnic. There are covered picnic tables, open ones but if you bring your own mat or towel, why not lay it out on the grass? Salute to the gardeners on this island, all the plants look very healthy and well-balanced landscaping. Besides picnic, the main attraction is the temples. I won't go into much detail since this is the highlight of most reviews already. The Tua Pek Gong temple is taken care by a small family who also sells bottled/canned drinks and simply dishes ie. fried rice or noodle. This was a blessing for those who are not prepared for the isolation of the island - there is nothing here except nature and the temple. So bring lots of water and snacks if you are not planning a picnic. On the southern edge of the island, there is a little lagoon area where you can swim. The water looks much cleaner than the northern lagoon of St. John's Island. While the annual pilgrimage to Kusu Island is meaningful, I also suggest visiting while it is off-peak to really enjoy the island. It is very serene with only the occasional honk from the boats. It is also a great place for kids to learn about the unique flora of Singapore.

This is a very nice place to walk or bike around and get away from the city for a while. Be careful of bringing snacks and food and even carrying your cell phone in your hand, as the monkeys may try to snatch it! Walk along the shore and look at the mangroves and take pictures, get some exercise outside of walking around the Singapore malls!