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Pulau Ubin


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(edited)

There's an interesting German girl shrine on the island. With dolls, makeup. Not easy to find, but worth a visit.

 

http://remembersingapore.org/2012/10/13/german-deity-at-ubin/

 

 

A Forgotten Past – A German Deity at Ubin

There are as many as eleven shrines and nine temples on the island of Pulau Ubin, but none catches the imagination as much as the German Girl Shrine, which is located near Ketam Quarry at the western side of island.

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The Mystery

How did the shrine come about? And how did a German girl become a deity on the island? The story began in the 1910s, just before the First World War (1914-1918) broke out.

There was a German family living on Pulau Ubin at the turn of the 20th century, owning a coffee plantation on the northeastern island of Singapore. According to research, the plot of land used to belong to two German families, Daniel Brandt and Hermann Muhlingan, but the identity of the German girl remains unknown.

ubin-german-girl-shrine2.jpg?w=640&h=478

On 4th August 1914, the United Kingdom declared war on the German Empire, and the colonial government in Singapore started seizing German ships, businesses and properties.

On Pulau Ubin, the British military rounded up the German plantation owner and his family. His frightened daughter, around 18 years of age (said to be born in 1896), escaped into the woods. The rest of her family was sent to a detention barrack on mainland Singapore.

A few days later, the girl’s body was found covered with ants by the Malay plantation workers. It was assumed she had lost her way and fell to her death from a cliff.

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The Legend

After the war, the Germany family returned to Pulau Ubin, looking for the remains of their precious daughter, but could not locate her tombstone. Bitterly, they left Singapore and never returned. The exhumed remains of the dead German girl, however, were said to have kept in a Chinese Taoist temple on a hill together with an iron cross and some coins.

In 1974, a granite quarry company took over the hill for development. A new temple was erected to house the porcelain urn that contained the remains. Soon, the temple became popular with worshippers who prayed for good luck in gambling. The hardcore gamblers attributed their winning streaks to the spirit of the German girl, now regarded as a deity. Offerings of fruits, flowers, cosmetics and perfumes filled up the altar.

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The Temple

The German deity was also known as Lady Datuk by the local Chinese. A few years back, a former Ubin resident who had migrated to Australia dreamed of the deity for three consecutive days. To pay his respect, he bought a Barbie doll and sent it to Pulau Ubin. The doll had since become the symbolic idol of the shrine.

There are rumours that the porcelain urn is now empty, and the remains of the German girl were lost decades ago. Her identity and family remain untraceable today. But on an optimistic point of view, it might be a blessing for the spirit of the German girl, who has become part of Pulau Ubin’s history and is still remembered by the islanders after almost a century.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw_dQmej8ts

 

Edited by Mustank
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Twincharged

Hi,

 

Just to share. There is an event "Pulau Ubin Day 2015" on 13 and 14 June 2015. There will be many activities on kampong days such as wearing kampong clothes to take photo, kampong food for tasting, tour to ubin and etc.

 

Please see below for more details:

http://wildsingaporehappenings.blogspot.sg/2015/05/13-14-jun-sat-sun-ubin-day-2015.html

 

 

 

 

BTW, understand that there is no more free parking in Changi Village. Does anyone know where to park the car at cheapest rate?

 

 

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Supercharged

Hi,

 

Just to share. There is an event "Pulau Ubin Day 2015" on 13 and 14 June 2015. There will be many activities on kampong days such as wearing kampong clothes to take photo, kampong food for tasting, tour to ubin and etc.

 

Please see below for more details:

http://wildsingaporehappenings.blogspot.sg/2015/05/13-14-jun-sat-sun-ubin-day-2015.html

 

 

 

 

BTW, understand that there is no more free parking in Changi Village. Does anyone know where to park the car at cheapest rate?

 

 

 

went fishing last year, did recce but can't find any. if u r gg there with kids, best option park there. if teenagers, park n take bus there.

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Twincharged

 

went fishing last year, did recce but can't find any. if u r gg there with kids, best option park there. if teenagers, park n take bus there.

 

OIC. Thanks alot! :)

 

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Supercharged

 

BTW, understand that there is no more free parking in Changi Village. Does anyone know where to park the car at cheapest rate?

 

 

 

No more already.

 

But those at Nicoll Drive (beside the beach, behind the airport) should still be free parking. You could park there then take a bus back to Changi Village, if time permits.

 

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Twincharged

 

No more already.

 

But those at Nicoll Drive (beside the beach, behind the airport) should still be free parking. You could park there then take a bus back to Changi Village, if time permits.

 

 

OIC thanks. I'll google on the NIcoll Drive location. :)

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(edited)

Changi Ferry Terminal (to Desaru) should still be free, but it's birds don't lay eggs area, no bus also.

Edited by Kangadrool
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Twincharged

Changi Ferry Terminal (to Desaru) should still be free, but it's birds don't lay eggs area, no bus also.

 

Wahahahhhah. No bus then I'll swim to change village after parking there. [laugh][laugh] [laugh]

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Hypersonic

 

BTW, understand that there is no more free parking in Changi Village. Does anyone know where to park the car at cheapest rate?

 

 

 

park by the beach for free and enjoy a nice stroll to Changi Village

 

:D

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Twincharged

 

park by the beach for free and enjoy a nice stroll to Changi Village

 

:D

 

Oh Changi beach is free? Ok i'll go google. thanks. [laugh][laugh]

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Supercharged

Changi Ferry Terminal (to Desaru) should still be free, but it's birds don't lay eggs area, no bus also.

 

I tot there's a bus going there....no ? I took it before a few years ago, but can't recall the service#. Its from Bedok interchange and pass by Tanah Merah MRT station....

 

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Supercharged

 

Oh Changi beach is free? Ok i'll go google. thanks. [laugh][laugh]

 

Changi beach car parking should be the one I've mentioned before, on Nicoll Drive.

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Hi anyone been to Pulau Ubin recently, a friend is doing a project on the island for tourism. Any ideas for development as a tourism product? Thanks for the help :D

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Hi anyone been to Pulau Ubin recently, a friend is doing a project on the island for tourism. Any ideas for development as a tourism product? Thanks for the help :D

 

Please tell ur fren to drop the project. We do not wish Pulau Ubin to be another Sentosa. Leave the island as it is. No more such island in SG liao. :a-noway:<_<

 

 

Can preserve???

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