#KusuIsland

[tripcabinet]

 Exploring Tranquility: Discovering the Hidden Gem of Kusu Island, Singapore

Located in the heart of the busy city, close to the dynamic life of Singapore, there is a quiet aquatic place to be encountered - Kusu Island. Being a railway from the bustle of the city, this picturesque island grants a view of the world’s most beautiful nature and a historic culture that can be enjoyed by using a different approach. Join us as we stroll along with you in a virtual wander to give you the wow of the Kusu Island tour with the Trip Cabinet Singapore Tour Package coming from Bangalore and its area.

The Island Oasis:

Being an island not far from the mainland of Singapore but just short by a ferry, Kusu Island has its captivating beauty amid the busy Singapore Strait. 8.5 hectares is not a big area by any means. However, the Crane family successfully transformed it into a gem as evidenced by its picturesque beaches, verdant greenery, and clean waters. Purportedly, the name "Kusu Island" means "Tortoise Island" in the Chinese dialect, which bears testimony to the legend that this island is where a magical tortoise turned into the island to save two shipwrecked sailors.

A Spiritual Retreat:

Besides being a natural heritage, Kusu Island is famous among the Malay and Chinese Singaporean communities. It holds strong spiritual beliefs and is also a historical site of the inhospitable sea, a very natural disaster. The island is wholly known for its main shrines which are; the Malay keramat (shrine) of Da Bo Gong and the Chinese temple in honor of the Taoist deities of Tua Pek Kong and Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy). Every year from the ninth lunar month, this newly opened ferry service will be implemented and all the devotees will head to the island to celebrate the annual Kusu Pilgrimage, to honor these revered figures.

Nature's Playground:

Eco-friendly people and outdoor lovers are lucky because they can find a lot of activities for their enjoyment on Kusu Island. Before them lays an expanse of sand, where they can have their \(tan \) on the quiet beaches, or scour the rocks for marine animals, and walk in the mist along the paths with sea views.

Unwinding in Paradise:

One of the highlights of a visit to Kusu Island is the chance to unwind and reconnect with nature in a tranquil setting. Whether you choose to lounge on the sandy shores, take a stroll through the lush gardens, or simply sit back and admire the stunning sunsets, the island's serene ambiance offers the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Visitors can also enjoy a picnic amidst the island's natural beauty, making it ideal for a day trip with family and friends.

Getting There:

Accessing Kusu Island is relatively easy, with regular ferry services departing from Marina South Pier in Singapore. The ferry ride takes approximately 20-30 minutes, offering passengers scenic views of the Singapore skyline and surrounding islands. Visitors should note that ferry services to Kusu Island are seasonal and typically operate during the pilgrimage season from September to November.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

When is the best time to visit Kusu Island?

The favorable time to come to Kusu Island is in the months with cold and scant rainfall season - namely from December to February. Sometimes, the ferry service beats the regular seasons and operates from the pilgrimage between September to November.

 Are there any amenities available on Kusu Island?

Although Kusu Island is comparatively less developed, it has some facilities like toilets and picnic areas. In addition, there are boating, and kayaking services for water-based activities. You may want to carry food, water, and other relevant items like sunscreen along as you won't have any chance to replenish yourself as the island is bare of restaurants and other food joints.

Closing Thoughts:

In a city known for its modernity and urban hustle, Kusu Island stands as a serene sanctuary where nature, culture, and spirituality converge. With the convenience of the Trip Cabinet Singapore Tour Package from Bangalore, exploring this hidden oasis becomes even more accessible. So, the next time you find yourself in Singapore, why not escape to Kusu Island and discover its enchanting allure with the convenience of Trip Cabinet's expertly curated tour package?

[artofdamz]

Last Friday #southernislands #excursion #kusuisland with @yufff and @stephsongs https://www.instagram.com/p/CFw1kwRg8Fx/?igshid=a7w99y5cymgj

[sitesstoriessubsequence-blog]

Economy and Livelihoods

[prep-room text by the Asia Research Institute team]

Overall, islanders were not economically well-off, with former residents such as Lela remembering that, as a child, her parents were not always able to provide her with food or money to take the sampan to school. The majority of Lazarus residents of working age were fishermen, their incomes dependent on their catch.

Whilst most of the residents on St. John’s were employed by the government under the Maritime Port Authority or Ministry of Health (as maintenance workers, cleaners, or groundskeepers), their salary only ranged from $1.50 to $4.00 per day. And because they would be paid at the end of the month, many families would often be out of funds before then. As a result, islanders from St. John’s and Lazarus would often borrow money, documenting the debt in ‘buku555’ (derived from a brand of notebooks). They also established a credit system with the provisions shops on both islands, where the shopkeepers allowed islanders to take goods that they need, trusting them to pay the shop back once they were able.

St. John’s and Lazarus islanders sought other ways to supplement their incomes. As young children, Lela and Ajumin would be sent to Kusu island by their parents to beg for money. Akim would help his mother sell nasi lemakto the medical staff working on St. John’s.

Jamelah remembers a pair of enterprising sisters on St. John’s using the island’s power generator to produce air batu(ice-lollies) and ais kacangflavoured with red bean and Milo, to sell on Lazarus for five cents each. During the Kusu pilgrimage season, St. John’s and Lazarus islanders would travel to Kusu to sell food such as nasi lemak,entertainment, souvenirs, and sampan rides to Lazarus and Sister’s Island for sightseeing purposes for a fee ranging from ten to fifty cents.

Children from both islands would also make money by offering tourists (Australian, American, and British) visiting Lazarus island guided tours around the kampongs, selling them souvenirs such as necklaces and bracelets made of shells, or providing entertainment by diving into the water to collect coins thrown into the water by tourists. Ajumin recalls that boys like himself would encourage tourists to “throw money”, and they will then retrieve these coins by putting them in their mouths “like a sea lion”. Akim similarly says that “these tourists […] they want to test our skills! The waters were quite deep […] They throw coins for us to dive in you know! And we find it very challenging. […] We just dive in! Boom! Go take the coin”. Former islanders remember that tourists would throw in 10 or 20 cent coins, a significant amount for them, and also foreign coins.  

[siddharthdhakan]

#High on nature.. High on #view #kusuisland #nature #sunrays #lensflare #lightroom #peace #travel #landscape #landscaper #beautiful #light #magical #canon #700d (at Kusu Island)

[white-label-charters]

⭐️ Do You know that the island got it's name when stories passed by the Malays and Chinese in Singapore, citing that a giant tortoise turned itself into an island in order to save two shipwrecked sailors, a Malay and a Chinese near the Singapore waters. The sailors were so grateful to the tortoise that they returned to the island to give thanks.... Explore KUSU ISLAND with your family members and friends on a private yacht charter. Visit us today at whitelabelcharters.com for yacht selections. ⭐️ . . . . . . #whitelabelcharters #yachtrentalsingapore #instago #kusuisland #yoursingapore #tripadvisor #yachts #instatraveling #igtravel #yachtclub #travelblogger #lifestyle #luxury #jetsetfam #travel #instatravel #travelgram #tourist #tourism #getaway #island #yacht #singapore #thisissingapore #jetsetter #visitsingapore #traveling #yachtrental #wanderlust #yachtchartersingapore (at Asia/Singapore)

[tehmasala]

Survivor St John's/Lazarus/Kusu Island... 😂😂😂 #throwback #domestictourist #singaporeisland #kusuisland #lazarusisland #stjohnsisland (at Lazarus Island)

[milkfrost]

再看多一眼大伯公庙 . . #létarayacht #létara⛵️ #létara #yachtcruisingsg #yachtcruising #yacht #sgyacht #southernislandtour #briefing #marinakeppelbay #igsg #sgig #shotbyiphonexsmax #iphonexsmaxpic #iphonexsmax #iphonexsmaxuser #facebookgiveway #milkfrostwins🎉#alaska45 #singapore #landtour #kusuisland #nature #大伯公庙 #temple #chinesetemple (at Kusu Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByhEx_HHSOH/?igshid=10rl7ya6i1e9o

[rheg-0429-blog]

feelingerang froglet ✌🏼☀️🌊💧👣. . . . . . . a day well spent in Kusu and st. john island situated 30min away from bustling Singapore city via ferry ride . . . . . #stjohnisland #kusuisland #singaporeferryterminal #Sunday #weekendvibes #islandhopping

[thebig-fu]

Generic scenery photo because I am always too shy to post photos with myself in them #kusuisland #pano (at Kusu)

[dheynmariano]

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A post shared by D E I N E (@_dheyn)

@iampacoh @khimeeperez @pascualrunron @jhenderpo @jerickpsa #SouthernIsland #KusuIsland #StJohnIsland #LazaruIsland #CasaDeMembina 🏡🌴 (at Southern Islands)

[hardcopypictures]

Kusu island, may 2015 Shot with polypan f. #singapore #polypanf50 #kusuisland #southernisland

[sitesstoriessubsequence-blog]

Food and Drinks

[prep-room text by the Asia Research Institute team]

Island diets were simple, consisting primarily of fish, vegetables, and rice. Food such as rice and oil were acquired through the provisions shops on St. John’s and Lazarus, and traders from Riau in Indonesia would occasionally sail to the islands selling fruit. But island residents were not financially well-off (see Economy and Livelihoods), and rarely had what Lela terms as a “proper meal”, and could only afford to eat what Jalil describes as “beras hancur[broken, low grade rice]” where “one sack costed 10 cents and they weren’t even packaged”.

Because of their limited means, islanders relied on producing or searching for food through:

1) Using bubu traps and spears to fish (see Sports and Recreation) for flower crabs, sea urchins, cuttlefish, grouper, red snapper, and stingray. Octopus would also be caught, but only used as bait to catch larger fish. Fishing can occur at all times of the day and night, and during high and low tide, depending on what one wished to catch. Islanders were knowledgeable about which bodies of water surrounding the islands are best for fishing, and can even identify which types of fish can be found where. However, his fishing expertise is no longer applicable in current times, with reclamation works on St. John’s and Lazarus changing the currents and tidal patterns.

2) Growing their own vegetables and cultivating chickens in their gardens. Plants that were cultivated include what islanders described as being ‘easy’ to grow, including bananas, sugarcane, tapioca, wild potato, breadfruit, and in the case of St. John’s, mangoes. Aside from fish, chicken was the main source of protein, though was only consumed during special festivals such as Hari Raya. Chickens and ducks were brought over from mainland Singapore and raised in the gardens of islanders, with each family normally having ten fowl or more. There were also accounts of goats on Lazarus, which were brought over from Riau in Indonesia.

3) Foraging for fruit: Ajumin and Lela recall venturing into the bush on Lazarus to find fruit, with Akim claiming that jambu air(watery rose apples) would grow abundantly on both islands.

Some Lazarus islanders would also take apples and oranges thrown into the water by Kusu pilgrims.

[siddharthdhakan]

#kusuisland #canon #700d y (at Kusu Island)

[beeauteous]

Want something out from the busy city of SG? Here’s a place for a tranquil & and private picnic with friends and family!

https://beeautitudes.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/the-turtle-island-kusu-island/

[milkfrost]

Forgot to make a wish! . . #létarayacht #létara⛵️ #létara #yachtcruisingsg #yachtcruising #yacht #sgyacht #southernislandtour #briefing #marinakeppelbay #igsg #sgig #shotbyiphonexsmax #iphonexsmaxpic #iphonexsmax #iphonexsmaxuser #facebookgiveway #milkfrostwins🎉#alaska45 #singapore #landtour #kusuisland #nature #wishingwell (at Kusu Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/Byfl6kHH3wn/?igshid=bbicphfm8hw7

[chendelmundo-blog]

#Repost @shanepowxp with @repostapp.
・・・
All these too, shall pass. Right? #pumasg #alexandermcqueen #kusuisland pic cr @huiqinggg (at www.flyinstyledaily.blogspot.com)