Welcome to My Kusu Island with Seet Huat Seng and Tay Peng Kiat

Hop onto a ferry with MCF2021 to Kusu Island to meet the friendly temple caretaker Mr Seet! Leave the hustle and bustle of the mainland on an exclusive morning tour of the island before the other visitors come in. Experience the peace and quiet of this humble island and join us to listen in to Mr Seet who will be telling participants about his stories on the island, the annual Kusu Pilgrimage, the secrets of the child-wishing tree (求子树), the 8 Taoist deities that call this temple home, and much much more!

Meet your guide, Peng Kiat

Hi everyone, I am Peng Kiat but you can call me PK and I will be your guide for Kusu Island! I have been a commercial insurance broker all my life but the outdoors are my true passion. It is thus no surprise that islands are one of my tour specialisations. Our mainland is very much a concrete jungle and Singapore’s many islands provide an oasis of tranquility and peace. Whenever I visit our islands, I am able to enjoy the breeze, the fresh air and instantly feel rejuvenated. Furthermore, there is a community spirit within these islands that many of us overlook. Many of the islanders still continue to gather today and it is this community spirit that touches me deeply every time I visit the islands.

Meet temple caretaker, Seet Huat Seng!

Hello everyone, I am Mr Seet, the temple caretaker of the Tua Pek Kong temple on Kusu Island! Alongside my father who was the previous temple caretaker, I have witnessed the gradual transformation of the island since the 1950s. Where the small lagoon and bridge are today, the temple used to face the open sea and boats would dock right in front of the temple. Despite the island itself has faced numerous changes, the soul of the island has remained the same – as a place of refuge and pilgrimage.

Today, I stay on the island for most of the day, only returning to the mainland for medical appointments and some meals. My favourite part of the day is when all the visitors leave the island and I am the only one there. Literally having the entire island to myself at night allows me to clear my mind and enjoy a peace and quiet that is hard to find on the mainland. I am looking forward to sharing more about my stories and experiences this coming September, right before the Kusu Pilgrimage!

Details of the Programme

• Language: Hokkien with English translation from the guide
• Dates:

• • Sat, 11 Sep: 0800-1100
  • Sat, 18 Sep: 0800-1100

• Meeting Point:

• • Entrance of Marina South Pier (31 Marina Coastal Dr Singapore 018988) - Holding area for Southern Island cruises

• Please arrive 20 minutes before the event for registration. Our facilitators will be wearing our event t-shirt.
• A chartered ferry transferring participants runs on a schedule. As such, all latecomers will have their tickets forfeited.
• Parking is available at the Marina South Pier.
• Venue is not wheelchair accessible.
• The event will proceed rain or shine.

Who should come?

• Participants must be 13 years and above to participate.

What to bring?

• Participants should bring along umbrella/poncho, hand sanitisers, insect repellent, and a bottle of water.
• Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and wear covered shoes for hiking/trekking.
• Participants are encouraged to bring their own earphones (with a standard 3.5mm audio jack) because we will be using radio guides for the tour!
• Asthmatic individuals are encouraged to bring their inhaler.
• Individuals with seasickness should carry their medicine along.

COVID-19 Precautions

• All hosts and facilitators in this tour programme are fully vaccinated or have taken a Pre-Event Test (PET) in the past 24 hours
• Facilitators in this tour or programme are trained in basic first-aid.
• All participants must complete TraceTogether, a health declaration form and temperature taking at the start of the event.
• All participants must wear their masks properly throughout the event.
• All participants must maintain a one-metre distance from other participants during the event.
• All participants will be issued with coloured stickers and be divided into smaller groups. Participants must stay with their groups and not intermingle between the groups

Disclaimer

• All ticket sales are final. There will be no refund if you wish to cancel your tickets.
• By agreeing to participate in the event, participants are responsible for any injury, loss or damage due to the negligence on his/her part or of the children under his/her charge.
• Participants must abide by the house rules set out by the host. Facilitators will brief participants at the start of the programme.
• Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.

For updates:

• Follow us at @mycommunitysg on Instagram and @myqueenstown on Facebook.
• Visit mycommunityfestival.sg for all our latest updates.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Marina South Pier, 31 Marina Coastal Drive, Singapore, Singapore