Singapore Paranormal Investigators

[kenny]

SPI Spiritual Walk @ Kusu Island and St. John Island
on 26 June, Saturday



History of St John’s Island

Previously called Pulau Sakijang Bendera in Malay or Qi Zhang Shan (Qi Zhang Hill) in Mandarin. The Chinese name was derived from the hill located at the centre of the island and also partly because it sounds similar to its Malay counterpart.

Before the huge makeover in 1975, this island was a quarantine station for Chinese immigrants suspected of leprosy and who are cholera-stricken, from 1874 until the late 1950s. And by 1930, the island were marked as Singapore’s No.1 in world records to gained world recognition as a quarantine centre screening Asian immigrants and pilgrims returning from Mecca.

After the 1950s, it became home to a penal settlement where exiled prisoners, that includes political prisoners and ringleaders of secret societies, are separated from the general populace of Singapore, and who are awaiting deportation. In later years, the island became a drug rehabilitation centre for opium addicts.

This island is also the actual site of Sir. Stamford Raffles’s (founder of modern Singapore) anchorage before he went on to meet with the Malay Chief of Singapura (Singapore) in 1819.

In event of a national emergency in Singapore, the government has plans to convert St. John’s Island back to being a quarantine area. The island, is also reputedly haunted as according to some local traditions.

History of Kusu Island

The name means "Tortoise Island" or "Turtle Island" in Chinese; the island is also known as Peak Island or Pulau Tembakul in Malay. From two tiny outcrops on a reef, the island was enlarged and transformed into an island holiday resort of 85,000 square metres.
Legends says, that there was a giant turtle that transformed itself into a rock to save 2 shipwrecked sailors, a Malay and a Chinese. It is said that the grateful sailors returned to the island to give thanks and others continued the tradition.

There’s the popular Chinese temple - Da Bo Gong or Tua Pek Kong (The Merchant God or God of Prosperity). History records that it was built in 1923 by a wealthy businessman. The temple houses two main deities - the Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy). The former is highly regarded as having the power to confer prosperity, cure diseases, calm the sea and avert danger, while Guan Yin is known as the 'giver of sons'.

Right at the top of the rugged hillock of the island stands three kramats (Holy shrines of Malay saints) to commemorate a pious man: Syed Abdul Rahman, his mother: Nenek Ghalib and sister: Puteri Fatimah who lived in the 19th century. Many devotees will climb the 152 steps leading to the kramats to pray for wealth, good marriage, good health and harmony. The shrines are also popular with childless couples who would pray for children. Despite misconceptions, they do not pray to the kramats.

The ferry will stop at St John’s Island, where we shall spend the time there exploring the place and sightseeing. Once done, we will head back to the jetty where we shall depart for Kusu Island. The timing shall be brief on that day.


Meet-up:
Meet at 10:00am at Marina Bay MRT Station (Near Control Station)
We will take a bus from the MRT Station towards Marina South Pier. Please be punctual as ferry departure will not wait


Cost of ferry:
$15 per person for 2-ways transfer
(all costs are based on cost-sharing of boat transport)


Items to bring/wear:
Comfortable clothes
Proper shoes are recommended (Strengtheous trekking and moderate hill climbing in exploration)
Insect repellent
Water
Snacks
Torch Light

*While at Marina South Pier, you can buy some food and drinks that were available there for the trip.


Registration:.
Email the following details to register@spi.com.sg with subject "SPI Spiritual Walk @ Kusu and St John Islands "
* Your full name
* Your SPI forum nick (You are welcome to join our forum if you aren’t a forum user yet: Click here)
* Your I/C number (for security reasons)
* Your email address
* Your contact number (It is very important that you provide a contactable number)
* Indicate your membership (e.g. SPI Agents, SPI Friends, or public)

Upon successful registration, we will follow up with you on confirmation and payment details.

Registration will close when seats are fully booked (Hurry to register!)

Our itinerary may slightly change without prior notice, should the situation changes. Normal we will be back to mainland by evening.

For more information about SPI membership, click here.

Book now, come along with your friends for this exciting adventure. Quotas are limited.



Some Previews:




































Legends of Kusu Island

There are many versions of the island, and our aim is not to debunk or prove, but more to share with members. The main gist of the island is that a giant sea turtle transformed itself into land to save the two people. Before the land was reclaimed, it is said that the island was actually shaped like a turtle.

Legend A
Sworn brothers Syed Rahman (Malay) and Yam (Chinese) who travelled there for meditation and fasting.

Legend B
Shipwrecked sailors who were rescued by the giant green turtle that turned itself into an island

Legend C
Two fishermen were shipwrecked and a tortoise turned itself into an island to save the men

Legend D
Syed Abdul Rahman went with his wife and daughter to find peace. Violent storm arrived, and a tortoise came and pushed their boat to safety of land – Kusu Island.

[kenny]

Due to overwhelming responses, all the quotas are filled

Hence the registration is closed

Thank you for your support to this event

Do watch out for our future events at http://events.spi.com.sg

And our GhostLab Contest at http://www.spi.com.sg/ghostlab



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