bumboat

"But look here," he went on, "here's what I want to know, Barbecue: how long are we a-going to stand off and on like a blessed bumboat? I've had a'most enough o' Cap'n Smollett; he's hazed me long enough, by thunder!

Avid explorers who would like to spend the entire day amidst the wonders of nature can take a bumboat to Pulau Ubin, an island that's home to rich ecosystems, teeming wildlife and diverse landscapes.

You can also take a leisurely bumboat ride along the Singapore river, past the Merlion - the national icon with the head of a lion and body of a fish which symbolises Singapore's start as a fishing village and its original name, Singapura - 'lion city' in Malay.

Rooms at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore (hoteljen.com) start from SGD$190 (PS105) A Bumboat at Clarke Quay

Once in Singapore, the teams rode a bumboat from Changi Village to the island of Pulau Ubin.

Take a bumboat ride down the river where you'll see traditional buildings dwarfed by skyscrapers and hear a guide to Singapore's history.

When told that his water-clerk was one of the crew who deserted the Patna, Egstrom remarks, "And who the devil cares about that?" Jim is a first-rate bumboat runner for the company of Egstrom & Blake, and they "can't get a man like that every day." (69) We find the same attitude in "An Anarchist." The manager of a cattle station, just as the captain in "The Secret Sharer," encounters a refugee from the law, a convict who also happens to be an engineer, and the company needs an engineer to work its steam launch.

One of the most favourite spectacles during a freeze-up in the 17th century was an old bumboat woman who had been taking her girls and a couple of barrels of fruit out to the sailors moored on the river.

Singapore Airlines have launched the Fabulous Singapore Stopover package, where tourists can stay for pounds 1 per person for the first night at selected hotels, and enjoy free entry to places such as the River Bumboat Tour.

Malaysians cross the border easily to southern Thailand by land or bumboat to see friends and relatives, or for business, while tourists from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei also go there for the lure of karaoke bars, massage and girls at well-known nightspots.

Those seeking a different experience altogether can visit the island of Pulau Ubin, which is reached by hiring a bumboat from the piers at Changi.