Kusu Island - and It Rained on Our Parade

As I said a couple of days ago, we left from Marina South Pier to go to St John and Kusu Island the same day.  St John's was hot, quiet and relaxing. We enjoyed the strolls and watched the kitties come out and beg for food.  We listened to the birds, the waves on the shore, saw the tide coming in and Singapore from a distant island.  St John's is a great place to get away from it all and unwind.

When you pay for the ferry to take you there, they give you a schedule of boats between islands.  We knew St John's was bigger, so we allowed more time to stroll around it.  Kusu is a very small island.  We left St John's just as a storm rolled in and man did it rain!  I think the heavens opened and dropped all the rivers of tears cried for a year.  Most showers here in Singapore are local and heavy.  This one seemed to engulf as far as we could see and beyond.  The boat came and left in the rain and we started for Kusu, hoping beyond hope the rain would slack up and let us enjoy the rest of our trip.  Looking out into the distance, we tried with all our might to see what we could see, but even being on the boat we got wet:

When we arrived, we were sad to see that it was indeed raining on Kusu:

We waited and waited for the rain to slack up, but finally just gave up and got out in it.  We all had umbrella's, and the only ones going to melt were the sweet girls, so as long as we protected ourselves, we wouldn't end up in a puddle on the ground - you know how sugar melts...

Steve didn't hesitate to get out there and read all about Kusu:

Kusu Island, which means "Tortoise Island" in Chinese, is also known as Peak Island or Pulau Tembakul in Malay.  2 tiny outcrops on a reef, the island was enlarged,  and land was reclaimed (Singaporeans love to make land out of sea) into an 8.5-hectare island holiday resort.  The island has cabins to rent - though very basic as near as we could tell.  I never saw the 'resort' part.

Legend has it that a magical tortoise turned itself into an island to save 2 shipwrecked sailors - a Malay & a Chinese.  Each year during the ninth lunar month (falls around Sep to Nov according to the Lunar Calendar), thousands of devotees flock here for their annual Kusu Pilgrimage to pay homage for good health, peace, happiness, good luck and prosperity.

On the island is the popular Chinese temple - Da Bo Gong (The Merchant God or God of Prosperity). Built in 1923 by a wealthy businessman, the temple houses 2 main deities - the Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin. The former is highly regarded as having the power to confer prosperity, cure diseases, calm the sea and avert danger, while Guan Yin is known as the 'giver of sons'.

Shrines can get quite elaborate here:
 

We walked around with Debby and Ken and enjoyed the rain and the view:

Up high on the hill stand three Kramats (holy shrines of Malay Saints) to commemorate a pious man (Syed Abdul Rahman), his mother (Nenek Ghalib) & sister (Puteri Fatimah) who lived in the 19th century. Many devotees will climb the 152 steps leading to the Kramats to pray for wealth, good marriage, good health and harmony. The shrines are also popular with childless couples who would pray for children.  We did not climb them as it was still raining and it just didn't think it was worth the effort to get that wet.

This would have been a great place to have another picnic, if only it wasn't so wet:

Even in the rain the water was a gorgeous color of turquoise:

There were tortoises on Kusu (turtle) Island *gasp*:

And there were statues of tortoises:
 

It was a great way to spend the day with friends.  Walking, talking and laughter along the way, even in the rain, makes ones day.  St John's Island and Kusu Island is definitely worth going to - especially if you need a  break from the madhouse of the Singapore shuffle:

Now for a few hints: 

*Pack your umbrella's and if it rains, enjoy it anyway.

*Sunscreen of course.

*Don't worry about your shoes, some sites say wear ones you are not worried about muddying, but we didn't have any problem. Of course, we didn't walk on the muddy beach when the tide was out.

*Take plenty of water, a snack or two and a picnic lunch (there is no place to buy any type of refreshments)

*Take some nibbles to St John's for the meowing kitties.

*Don't cross the warning signs - you will worry if the army is on its way.

*The only entertainment on St John's is each other, nature and beauty, kitties, a rooster and a few buildings.

I hope you pack up and go soon.  It is a great get away and relaxing day.  I think I need to go back, heck, look at my dripping wet pictures!  I need a retake  :-)