Learning Journey to Singapore Southern Islands

I went for a learning journey to Singapore’s Southern Islands on a hot and sunny Friday. The Southern Islands is one of the few parts of Singapore that I haved not explored actively. It was therefore an eye-opening experience: besides calming my mind with its space and serenity, I also gained some knowledge about Singapore and took away with some reflections.

1. Pulau Semakau landfill. It is Singapore’s only landfill situated offshore among the southern islands, and is filled mainly with ash produced by Singapore’s incineration plants. While I initially assumed that it would be a dirty and smelly landfill (like the one I encountered in at Sunnyvale, California), I discovered that Pulau Semakau was surprisingly clean, free of smell, and scenic, with interesting flora and wildlife in and around the island.

My takeaway: I learnt that it is an expensive endeavor to build and operate Pulau Semakau for efficient waste management, but such hardship and tedious activities are invisible to many of us. One should learn to look out for and appreciate what goes one behind the scenes and the unsung heroes behind them. This applies not only to waste management, but other aspects of life as well, e.g. cloud infrastructure work in technologies.

2. Raffles Lighthouse. Built in 1855, the lighthouse is located at Pulau Satumu, the southernmost island of Singapore, and offers a panoramic view of our southern sea lanes. While filled with architectural heritage and historical significance, it is a functioning lighthouse operated by friendly lightkeepers. Yes, the lighthouse has been operating for more than 150 years!

My takeaway: I can see how busy and congested our southern sea lanes are and observe firsthand what being a maritime hub looks like. The sea around us is our lifeblood, and it is critical to keep our sea lanes safe. One should appreciate the importance of hub to Singapore, knowing that should it be lost, it would be almost impossible to rebuild.