Kayaking at Sungei Simpang

We kayaked in Singapore for the first time on our kayak Emma on September 25th. 

Our destination was Sungei Simpang, a cove near Seletar island, on the main island side. It is a mangrove wetland, beautiful, quiet and has many shore birds. However the launch point we selected, based on outfitter Kayak Asia's trip description, was at Sembawang Park, which is about two kilometers away via open water along the coastline. 

We arrived at Sembanwang Park around 7:30 am. After scouting, assembling and inflating the inflatable kayak Emma, we started paddle just before 8am. It was a beautiful sunny day, great for pictures, but grueling for kayaking on open water since we had to paddle into the Sun. We were prepared for this - applied sunscreen, wore light long pants, wore special add-on long sleeves and wide-rim hat.

Sembawang Beach

Kayaking trail at Sungei Simpang

The grueling first 2km made the sight and sound at Sungei Simpang so much more soothing and sweet. It seemed we entered a different world as we turned into Sungei Simpang - green mangrove formed wall afar, sweet birds' songs nearby, clean green water below and blue sky white clouds above.

near the mouth of Sungei Simpang

As we were enjoying the moments, I noticed something in the water  - jelly fish, Lily exclaimed. Then we saw more of them, all swimming solo. We paddled in our favorite mode - close to shore, proceeding slowly, looking, watching and observing plants on the shore, fishes leaping out of water, turtles cautiously wondering around, kingfishers flying by a couple times, and herons wading in the water or perching on dead branches of trees.

As always, we heard bird chirpings more frequently than we saw them, especially the smaller birds. Lucky us, a kingfisher finally decided to show us its beauty - blue feathers on the back and wings, white and black rings on the neck. A plover kept perching on dead wood ahead of us. A hawk soared over our head, we observed it for a while hoping to capture its action of catching fishes.

Then we saw a pair of great herons! A rare sight for the solitude herons. Apparently they were breeding, one heron had dry grass on its beak.

A jelly fish gently swimming by

close to shore, under a large mangrove

A kingfisher

A blue heron

gliding heron

A plover

A fish eagle

a pair of great Herons!

It was late in the morning when we paddled into mangrove formed maze, not too many birds around, we enjoyed the shade and myth the quiet mangroves in water provide.

touching a cannon ball like fruit

In the end we paddled nearly 10km, and had been on the water for 4.5 hours. It was tiring but a pleasing trip.

Notes 

1. we had one episode of encounter with water police because we beached our kayak about 500m from the mouth of Sungei Simpang to reinstall the fin (rudder) under the kayak. The land area there is restricted. see legend in our kayaking trail map in the blog.

stopped by police

we were let go after ~ 20 minutes

2. flat bottom inflatable kayak like ours, the under body fin must be installed properly. The kayak will not go straight without it if there are waves from side. The reason the fin got loose for us was that it was not latched properly to the underbody.

3. In Singapore, permit is required to kayak in reservoirs for commercial operations, no such permit is issued to individual owners. All inland lakes, ponds are designated as reservoirs !

4. Here is the link to rules and regulations to kayak in the sea along coastline https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/Vessel_WaterActivities_Fishing_Guidelines.pdf