Announcing our Sentosa Walks 2008

If you have been following our blog, you will know that the Naked Hermit Crabs is one year-old this June. In fact our inaugural walk took place at Sentosa on 5 June 2007!

Time flies. It is also a wonderful feeling to be one year-old and the satisfaction of having done something good for the wild and threatened shores of Singapore!


Hey, we’re celebrating and what better way than to go back to where it all began for us. Sentosa! Mark these dates.

6-June (Friday) - we had a great trip out!
9-June (Monday) - sorry, we are full!
6-July (Sunday) - sorry, we are full!

Let’s make it a double celebration. 5 June is World Environment Day! Join us in our mission to showcase the diverse marine life and natural beauty on our shores. We will bring you on a mini adventure to a beautiful natural shore tucked away in a corner of Sentosa. There will be lots to see. Just read our old blogs on Sentosa.


However we do need you to register for these walks. Write to us at our email address (nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com) and let us have the following information:

- Name of contact person
- Telephone number
- Preferred date(s) of walk
- Number of people in the group and their age

Meeting place and time = we will inform you when we confirm your attendance through e-mail. The walks are in the morning.

Do take note that we DO NOT accept walk-in’s at our Sentosa walks. Sorry about that.

Triple Celebration!

Now for more good news. You will be happy to hear this. We used to charge $5 per person for our Sentosa walks. But this year, the Sentosa walks organized by the Naked Hermits Crabs are sponsored by Transitions Optical. So the Sentosa walks are FREE this time round!

Transitions Optical, world leader in the manufacturing of plastic photochromic lenses, have spent the last few years educating the public about the dangers of UV rays and the need for protection of our eyes. Thus, it is fitting that Transitions Optical support our passion of protecting the wild shores of Singapore. We are delighted with this financial and moral support provided to us.

Please read on for Some Really Useful Information:

Why is the group size small?

Because we want you to have an enjoyable trip! When the group is small, you can hear the guide’s explanation and see the specimens better. We are also concerned about excessive trampling on the precious animals that we are showing you. We want minimal impact on the fragile shore as far as possible!

Is this walk suitable for the very old and the very young?

The answer is No. But it is suitable for kids in K1 and K2, and of course for our seniors who are fit and active.

Why can’t I sign up for 50 people from my company?

The Naked Hermit Crabs are small and …. well… naked. We are sorry, but we can only handle small family and friends groups of up to 6 people right now.

How to get to Sentosa:

Nearest MRT station is Harbourfront
You will be able to board buses and the Sentosa Express.
Cars and taxis are allowed to enter Sentosa, but not motorcycles.
More details on the Sentosa website.

Entrance fees to Sentosa:

While our walks are free, you will have to pay your own entrance fees to the island.
$3 per person for entry by bus/monorail, inclusive of free use of Sentosa bus and rail within Sentosa all day.
$2 per person for entry by car/taxi. In addition, there is a $2 charge per car.
More details on the Sentosa website.

What to prepare for the walk?

Wear covered sports shoes. Diving booties are ideal. Don’t wear your very old shoes. We’ve had lots of visitors whose shoes gave up on them halfway and they had much difficulty with the trip after that (not to mention, the danger of getting cuts). Make sure your footwear still have good traction as we may need to step over some slippery rocks at some point.

Please know that open sandals and slippers are NOT suitable. For your own safety, we will not allow you to take part in the nature walk if you do not wear covered shoes.

Wear lightweight clothes, preferably sportswear or outdoor wear. Long pants are good for protection against scrapes and sand fly bites.

Wear a hat. Wear sunblock. Wear your protective eyewear. Hey, do you know … Transitions Optical lenses block 100% of UV! That’s cool!

Bring drinking water and a light snack.

Bring a change of footwear to go home. Your shoes will get wet.

Keep your backpack light as you will need to carry it with you during the walk.


We look forward to meeting you real soon!

Free CJ Boardwalk Tour every last Sunday of the month!

Hi Friends of Naked Hermit Crabs,
Sorry for the long silence. We took some time to get the shell in order and now we’re back in ‘naked’ business!

We have decided to make our Chek Jawa Boardwalk Tours a monthly feature, i.e. the last Sunday of the month. You don’t even have to sign up. On each public walk day, a few of the volunteer guides will be stationed at the Chek Jawa Info Kiosk in front of House No. 1 at Chek Jawa. We will trial this format for 4 months and then review it after that.

When is the next walk?
Dates:
24-Feb Sunday
30-Mar Sunday
27-Apr Sunday
25-May Sunday

(the following dates are published on 27-May-2008)

29-Jun Sunday

27-Jul Sunday

31-Aug Sunday

28-Sep Sunday

26-Oct Sunday

30-Nov Sunday

28-Dec Sunday

Time: 3 pm
Duration of walk: Two hours
Cost: no charge for now. We do accept contributions to our cause if you feel led to make a contribution.
Meeting place: Chek Jawa Info Kiosk
No sign-ups needed. We accept walk-in visitors.

What can you see from the boardwalk?
Lots of stuff! Here's what some past visitors have shared about their sightings.

More about what past visitors say about the boardwalk on the Naked Guestbook

Who is organising this walk?
The Naked Hermit Crabs! Who are we? Why are we naked? and more gruesome details.

What is the group size?
Come in small friends and family groups of around 6 people or fewer. We expect to have a few guides volunteering each time, but cannot guarantee that we will have a lot of guides. Please …. don’t organize a huge company group and show up at our free walk-in tours. We will be overwhelmed and you will go away very disappointed. We will accept walk-ins on a first-come-first-served basis and once all our guides are out on the boardwalk with their groups, we will stop accepting walk-ins. If you want to organize a corporate event, contact us at nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com. We might be able to do an event with you at a reasonable fee.

How to get to Chek Jawa?
Chek Jawa is on Pulau Ubin.

To get to Pulau Ubin, take a 10-min bumboat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal (at Changi Village). The boat leaves when there are 12 passengers on board, and you pay your boat fare after you get onto the boat. You'll go through the same process on your return trip to mainland Singapore.

From Ubin Jetty, you can take a van to Chek Jawa. The van drivers will usually gather near the Ubin Info Kiosk near the jetty. The ride takes about 15 min, and the van will drop you at the entrance to Chek Jawa. You need to go through the gate and walk for about 2-3 min to reach the meeting point - Chek Jawa Info Kiosk.

You can also rent a bicycle at one of the shops near Ubin Jetty, to cycle to Chek Jawa. Prices vary depending on the type of bicycle, but generally they are cheaper than rental prices at East Coast Park.

As the trip from Changi to Chek Jawa takes about 30 min, please ensure that you start off earlier to reach the meeting point in time.

More details on how to get to Ubin can be found on the wildsingapore website which has details on how to get to Changi, how to get on a boat, and about hiring a van or bicycles on Ubin.

More details on Chek Jawa on the wildsingapore website.

How much will it cost to get to Chek Jawa?
The boat ride costs $2.50/person each way (with effect from April 2008), and the van ride $2/person each way. Some van drivers may charge a higher rate if you have a small group. In most cases, the total cost for a round trip journey is $9/person.

Bicycle rentals vary depending on the type of bicycle. Terms and conditions vary among the several bicycle shops at Ubin Town.

What to prepare for the walk?
1. The walk itself should take about 2 hours. But if you include the journey to and fro and leisure time, it will probably take about 4 hours. So ensure that you bring enough water and also some snacks.

2. We will be staying on the boardwalk and will NOT be going down to the shore itself. Wearing a pair of comfortable shoes will be sufficient.

3. Bring a hat or umbrella in case of hot weather.

4. Please be prepared for wet weather. A poncho will be more reliable than an umbrella as you won't have to struggle with the wind. If there is heavy rain or lightning (which can happen without rain), the walk will be stopped or aborted.

5. If it is raining heavily or when there is a lightning storm, we will not conduct the walks. As a rule of thumb, if it is raining on Singapore island, the guides will still proceed to Chek Jawa. We will wait for the rain and lightning to stop and then resume the walks.

6. You may also want to bring insect repellent as there are mosquitoes in the area.

7. We do not have any locker service at Chek Jawa. So keep your backpack light as you will have to bring all your belongings with you.

Chek Jawa Boardwalk Tours

All of us can now visit Chek Jawa any tide thanks to the launch of the Chek Jawa Boardwalk on 7 July 2007!

The Naked Hermit Crabs have designed a special tour on the boardwalk to introduce everyone to Chek Jawa!

Enjoy the great view and find out more about Chek Jawa. Join us to check out rare coastal plants, cute fiddler crabs, aggressive mudskippers, sturdy mangrove trees, interesting bugs and more!

For more photos of the boardwalk, check out the following blog entires:
- First NHC Guided Walk at Chek Jawa Boardwalk
- An Outing at CJ Boardwalk
- Naked Hermit Crab preview at Chek Jawa

When is the next walk?
Date: Yet to be confirmed
Time: Yet to be confirmed
Duration of walk: 2 hours
Cost: $4 (does not include transport to Pulau Ubin and Chek Jawa)
Meeting Point: Chek Jawa Info Kiosk, in front of House No. 1 at Chek Jawa, a short walk from where the van drops you off location map

How to join us?
Please book your walks by sending an email to nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com with "Chek Jawa Boardwalk Tour" in the subject line and these details:

(a) Name and contact no. of lead person
(b) Number of adults
(c) Number and age of children

Why is the group size limited?
Firstly, there aren't many volunteers right now to help conduct the walks. Secondly, it's much more enjoyable for you if the group is small. You don't have to jostle to see or hear the guide, or the wildlife being discussed. If we were unable to accommodate you this time around, hopefully you could join us in our future trips? If people enjoy our walks, we promise to continue to hold more of these walks.

Who is organising this walk?
The Naked Hermit Crabs! Who are we? Why are we naked? and more gruesome details.

Why are the walks charged?
Your contribution of $4 per person will help partially cover the transport cost for the guides, and the costs of training and developing the walks. The bulk of the costs are currently funded through personal contributions by the Naked Hermit Crabs. The Crabs will of course gratefully accept any additional donations to this cause! Thank you!

How to get there?
Chek Jawa is on Pulau Ubin.

To get to Pulau Ubin, take a 10-min boat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal (at Changi Village). The boat leaves as and when there are 12 passengers, and you pay your boat fare after you get onto the boat. You'll go through the same process on your return trip to mainland Singapore. The boat ride costs $2/person each way, meaning $4 to-and-fro.

From Ubin Jetty, you can take a van to Chek Jawa. the van drivers will usually gather near the Ubin Info Kiosk near the jetty. The ride takes about 15 min, and the van will drop you at the entrance to Chek Jawa. You need to go through the gate and walk for about 2-3 min to reach the meeting point - Chek Jawa Info Kiosk. The van ride also costs $2/person each way, meaning $4 to-and-fro.

You can also rent a bicycle at one of the shops near Ubin Jetty, to cycle to Chek Jawa. It'll cost you about $5/bicycle, but note that terms and conditions vary among the shops.

As the trip from Changi to Chek Jawa takes about 30 min, please ensure that you start off earlier to reach the meeting point in time.

More details on how to get to Ubin on the wildsingapore website which has details on how to get to Changi, how to get on a boat, and about hiring a van or bicycles on Ubin.

More details on Chek Jawa on the wildsingapore website.

How much will it cost to get to Chek Jawa?
The boat ride costs $2/person each way, and the van ride $2/person each way. So total cost for a round trip journey is $8/person.

Bicycle rentals start from $2-3/bicycle/hour, or you can rent it for the whole day from $5. Terms and conditions vary. There are several bicycle rental shops at Ubin Town.

Why is the group size limited?
Firstly, there aren't many volunteers right now to help conduct the walks. Secondly, it's much more enjoyable for you if the group is small. You don't have to jostle to see or hear the guide, or the wildlife being discussed. If we were unable to accommodate you this time around, hopefully you could join us in our future trips? If people enjoy our walks, we promise to continue to hold more of these walks.

Why can't I sign up for 100 people from my company?
The Naked Hermit Crabs are small and ... well ... naked. We are very sorry that we can only handle small groups at this point in time.

What to prepare for the walk?

1. The walk itself should take about 2 hours. But if you include the journey to and fro and leisure time, it will probably take about 4 hours. So ensure that you bring enough water and also some snacks.

2. We will be staying on the boardwalk and we are NOT going onto the intertidal area. Wearing a pair of comfortable shoes will be sufficient.

3. Bring a hat or umbrella in case of hot weather.

4. Please be prepared for wet weather. A poncho will be more reliable than an umbrella as you won't have to struggle with the wind. If there is heavy rain or lightning (which can happen without rain), the walk will be stopped or aborted.

5. We will meet on Ubin even if it rains, as we will proceed to have the walk if the rain stops or is less heavy and there is no lightning.

6. You may also want to bring insect repellent as there are mosquitoes in the area.

7. All stuff will have to brought along for the walk, so keep the backpack light.

Nature's IR: Sentosa's Natural Shores

At Sentosa, nature has had an integrated resort for a long long time! And tucked away in a corner of Sentosa, is a marvellous natural shore.

The Naked Hermit Crabs have specially designed an easy one-and-a-half-hour Family Trail to introduce kids 5 years and above to this shore during low tide. No need to swim or dive! Come with the whole family!

Some of the amazing NATURAL sights include spectacular cliffs with features such as 断魂崖 (i.e. Broken Soul Cliff). A lush coastal forest cloaks this cliff and is home to rare plants such as the Raffles pitcher plant and wild orchids. We will also explore the natural lagoon which has living corals, seagrasses and lots of marine life. Sea anemones, nudibranchs and colourful crabs are some of the sights we are sure to encounter.

There will be a little bit of climbing, and you will get your shoes wet when we explore part of the lagoon.

For the more hardy and fool hardy, the Naked Hermit Crabs have also designed an Adventure Trail on this shore! This trail is much longer and more physically demanding than the Family Trail. It takes about two and a half hours and is suitable for kids 13 years old and above.

This trail brings us past some spectacular cliff features including natural caves, scupltured pink rocks and other geological wonders.

Check out more photos from our previous adventures.

When is the next walk?
Date: Yet to be confirmed
Time: Yet to be confirmed
Duration of walk: Family Trail=1.5 hours, Adventure Trail=2.5 hours.
Cost: $5 per person (does not include Sentosa entrance fees and charges)
Exact details on meeting point will be provided to those who register for the walks.

More on what to prepare and other frequently asked questions.

Sentosa Walks: Frequently Asked Questions

When is the next walk?
Date: Yet to be confirmed
Time: Yet to be confirmed
Duration of walk: Family Trail=1.5 hours, Adventure Trail=2.5 hours.
Cost: $5 per person (does not include Sentosa entrance fees and charges)
Exact details on meeting point will be provided to those who register for the walks.

Why is the group size limited?
Firstly, there aren't many volunteers right now to help conduct the walks. Secondly, it's much more enjoyable for you if the group is small. You don't have to jostle to see or hear the guide, or the wildlife being discussed. Most importantly, we would like to minimise impact upon our shores. If we were unable to accommodate you this time around, hopefully you could join us in our future trips? If people enjoy our walks, we promise to continue to hold more of these walks.

Who is organising this walk?
The Naked Hermit Crabs! Who are we? Why are we naked? and more gruesome details.

Why are the walks charged?
Your contribution of $5 per person will help partially cover the costs of training and developing the walks. The bulk of costs are currently funded through personal contributions by the Naked Hermit Crabs. The Crabs will of course gratefully accept any additional donations to this cause! Thank you!

How to get there?
Nearest MRT station: Harbour Front
Buses and trains into Sentosa start from Harbour Front at 7am
Sentosa does not permit motorcycles on to the island.
Cars are permitted into Sentosa.
More about getting to Sentosa on the Sentosa website

Entrance fees to Sentosa
$3 per person for entry by bus/train. Free use of bus/train in Sentosa throughout the day.
$2 per person, plus $2 per car for entry by car
More details on the Sentosa website

What to prepare for the walk?

Wear covered shoes. Diving booties are ideal. Old sports shoes with laces also OK. Make sure footwear have good grip as we will negotiate slippery rocks.

Open sandals and Japanese slippers are NOT suitable. For their own safety, those without proper footwear will NOT be allowed to go for the walk.

Wear light-breatheable clothing. Long pants are ideal to protect from scrapes.

Bring a hat in case of hot weather.

Bring a poncho in case of wet weather. But if there is heavy rain or lightning (which can happen without rain), the walk will be stopped or aborted.

Bring drinking water and a light snack.

There are few insects on the shores. Insect repellent should be applied BEFORE we are on the shore. Insect repellent is fatal to marine life so the Crabs prefer there is no spraying on the shore.

Bring a change of footwear to go home.

All stuff will have to brought along for the walk, so keep the backpack light.

Why can't I sign up for 100 people from my company?
The Naked Hermit Crabs are small and ... well ... naked. We are very sorry that we can only handle small family groups at this point in time.