foxtwo said:
Hi,
Wondering if anyone has any experience in shooting at the islands.
-How to get there?
-Stay overnight?
I'm thinking St John's, Lazarus & the Sisters. Maybe Kusu. I'd just thought it would be nice to shoot a beach without distracting tankers and oil refinerys at the background, and with clean beaches and clear waters.
Thanks.
there's a public ferry to st johns and kusu island. it's a loop ferry, and it starts from sentosa ferry terminal. make sure you tell the pple at sentosa entrance that you're taking the ferry, or you'll pay extra.
the ferry ticket is 9/10, i'm not very sure.. it starts from the terminal to kusu to st johns back to kusu and then heads back to the ferry terminal at sentosa.. the trip to st johns takes about 2 hrs?
kusu island is a dead town to me.. unless you like to take temples and one lagoons.. however if you observe hard enough, near the ferry drop off/pick up point, you might spot some raptors/terns/swallows flying..
st johns is a good place to go shoot nature... you need to pluck up the courage and walk around.. you'll spot alot of nature, like lizards, snakes, birds.. there're 3 resident woodpeckers and collared kingfishers.. 1 hill myna.. many many koels..1 albino peacock and 1 normal peacock..and the occasional raptors soaring in the mornings and evenings.. if you're lucky, you can spot the lone owl on the island..
the back part of st johns is accessed thru the path between TMSI/AVA.. however there's nothing much to see there, cept for boats passing through...
the main excitement is at the front and the sides of st johns.. the water is clear here.. very nice.. do watch out for the coast guard boat.. if you find them practicing their parking.. you're not going to get a clean beach shot with a "no-boat" background...
lazarus is now joined to st johns island.. however, no one is allowed to walk over.. you could if you want to.. walk up the slope of lazarus and you'll come face to face with a HUGE family of kites and eagles soaring to their hearts content! not much beaches here.. just one big land mass of hills and trees..
you can't stay over at lazarus, only at st johns..there's a bungalow for 10/or the barrack-style camps for 60.. you could grab a tent, and pitch at the beach.. for tents, they say you'll need a permit.. but the people on the island don't seem to bother..
night shots are fantastic at lazarus.. the view of the city lights from the top of the hill is breath-taking.. however, pls get off the hill before 7.30-8pm, or you'll find a hard time navigating your way down.. st johns island is a dead town, cept for the students who might be staying over... view of the city lights might/might not be blocked...
sister's island, i'm not so sure on this.. but the people i know usually hire their own boat over.. it'll cost about 180.. it's been years since i've been there.. so i'm not sure about overnighting here or shots here.. sorry about that!
enjoy yourself!