Whether on holiday or on business, if you are in Singapore, make sure you spend some time fishing. You need no rod, no net, no car. You don't even need a lot of money. So the fishing story, albeit a true one, goes like this... As I was coming back from Pulau Ubin, the little island north of Singapore, I spotted these guys casting their nets just off Changi beach.
And I was overwhelmed by childhood memories. Normally I fish the fly, but I just had to try this. And I was most embarrased that I had nothing but my money (20 sing dollars - about 10 pounds) to offer for their friendliness. They gave me a net, taught me how to throw it - hard work it is, and guided me to places you would not go to alone. I had a fantastic time, one of the best ever, so I decided to put up this site for them. Wanna go fishing in Singapore?
Fendy would teach you for free, but I know that he needs to make a living, he is just too shy to ask. Please give him or his pal, Mohamad, 20 sing dollars a session. You will be using his gear, and he will show you and take you to places where the fish, the shrimps, the stingray and the squids are.
They are a very friendly lot, all fishermen, most in their late 20's, Fendy's bro might even be 30, but the know the tricks and the places. The shoreline along Changi beach is one of their popular fishing spots, but there are others that only they know. Probably, most tourist would never ever think where those big juicy shrimps or amazing sting-rays can be caught.
The second time you turn up for your net-casting lesson, they will greet you and treat you like an old friend. No distance, no hesitation, no fear of being scammed. Friends. This is what makes fishing with these guys so magical in Singapore. So I decided to set up this site for them. To try to repay them for something no money can buy.
Call or email Fendy: +6582425842 andy.didi@rocketmail.com
They are a very friendly lot, all fishermen, most in their late 20's, Fendy's bro might even be 30, but the know the tricks and the places. The shoreline along Changi beach is one of their popular fishing spots, but there are others that only they know. Probably, most tourist would never ever think where those big juicy shrimps or amazing sting-rays can be caught.
The second time you turn up for your net-casting lesson, they will greet you and treat you like an old friend. No distance, no hesitation, no fear of being scammed. Friends. This is what makes fishing with these guys so magical in Singapore. So I decided to set up this site for them. To try to repay them for something no money can buy.
Call or email Fendy: +6582425842 andy.didi@rocketmail.com
So the pics on the left were taken on a daytrip to Palau Ubin, or Ubin Island. COntrary to popular belief, the bumboats to Ubin leave from the Changi village ferry port. So do not let yourself be sent to any other place, like I did. Had to take a taxi to Changi village.
So the cruise is hardly 15 minutes, only sing$2.50. You can rent a bike for about $10. The island is small, and do not expect pristine sandy beaches. No no. Most beaches are fenced off from the sea, and on most of those beaches you would not want to go near the sea. Debri, both organic and manmade are washed ashore.
Ubin still is a nice place, despite the fact that it is not all about splashing on the beach and running up and down on the white sand. Local food is excellent, and if you take my word for it, you will stay away from the big places where most tourist eat, and go for thew smaller restaurants where the locals eat.
The restaurants that are popular with the local folk may look less fancy, but the food... If I says the grilled squid strips I had were divine, it would be a serious understatement. They did look surprised when I asked for chop-sticks, and wanted soya sauce instead of the sweet gravy, but had no problem with it. I can still taste those crispy squids in my mouth...
More holiday info if you are going to Asia - Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand or the Philippines.