Singapore from Sentosa

  Singapore from Sentosa 
  Originally uploaded by budak.

Pre-dawn view of Singapore (with parts of the Central Business District and the Prima revolving restaurant) from Renggis, the rocky shoal just west of the cable car tower at Sentosa. The strip of land housing the tower used to be an islet called Pulau Selegu or Sarong Island. Despite the extensive past reclamation work and harbourfront activities, this strip of coast that stretches all the way to Siloso and the Underwater World still shelters rich growths of coral, sponges and other marine life. Rare sand dollars, mature colonies of hard coral, cowries, countless crabs, flatworms and fish have made their home here, possibly since the days when the waterfront was a mere fishing village. It's a supreme irony that this natural coast, some 8 hectares of it, will most likely be reclaimed in the name of an integrated resort that will at tremendous cost house recreated reef habitats and endangered creatures from the seven seas, after having destroyed the real thing right at its doorstep. This steady erosion of Singapore's natural heritage will probably persist so long as the fatally false notion that Singapore has no natural wealth is entrenched in most minds ("Singapore got corals ah?!" is a not uncommon response of virgin reefwalkers – no offence intended).

Before it all vanishes under the sand barges and our insatiable appetite for profit over posterity, here's a glimpse of what the WildFilms crew have uncovered lurking in the waters that embrace Singapore's shores.