Exploring nature’s raw elements as a form of healing and self-discovery
Lying in a cool, muddy puddle at Tampines Quarry, I feel both alien and at home. The only parts of me exposed are my face and chest, while the rest of my body floats in the warm, milo-peng-colored water. My guide, Alan Ng, is nearby, and I hear him chuckling as he disturbs the stillness with a ripple of water. “Welcome to the mud experience,” he greets.
It was my idea to take part in this peculiar adventure, driven by a growing discontent with my screen-heavy, nature-deficient lifestyle. As a child, I loved running barefoot in the grass or jumping into the ocean, but as I grew older, fears of germs and dangers in nature slowly pushed me away. Now, nature to me meant occasional views from a coffee shop window, far from the bugs and heat.
Then Alan’s Facebook post caught my attention—a man happily submerged in a mud puddle, floating serenely like he was in a sensory deprivation tank. “Feeling fantastic,” Alan wrote in his post, calling mud “nature’s Band-Aid.” Intrigued by the possibility that mud could heal the soul, I reached out to learn more about this unique practice.
Alan, 43, works in events and logistics but spends much of his free time exploring Singapore’s outdoors. He’s not just about mud bathing; Alan is passionate about hiking and adventurous activities. From planning a 162km round-island trek to participating in regular hikes, his love for nature has deepened since the pandemic. “It helped me rediscover my childhood—climbing trees, rolling in mud,” Alan shares, noting that hiking and spending time outdoors even helped him lose 30kg.
For Alan, these activities are more than physical exercises—they are a way to recharge his spirit. “I find stress relief, and I can return to work refreshed,” he says. This simple act of connecting with nature allows him to find balance and tranquility.
I, on the other hand, was feeling burnt out. The end of a relationship, constant work stress, and an overwhelming sense of existential dread had left me seeking an escape. The idea of a muddy immersion promised a break from the chaos, so I joined Alan for the muddy adventure.
We met at Tampines Quarry, my colleague Alistair in tow. As we made our way to the trail, the reality of what we were about to do started to sink in. Alan led us through puddles that gradually transformed into larger, deeper pools. It became clear that we were about to dive into something far messier than I anticipated.
The aversion to dirt is common in today’s world. Alan observed that modern parents are more reluctant to let their children play outdoors, especially in the rain, worried about germs and dirt. Yet, Alan believes that our ancestors survived by immersing themselves in nature, and the “hygiene hypothesis” suggests that too much cleanliness may actually harm immune system development, contributing to conditions like asthma.
Despite concerns about possible infections from the mud, Alan assures us that his experience has been nothing but positive. He emphasizes that the natural world is not something to fear but to embrace, as it provides a sense of grounding that modern life often lacks. He encourages a return to simpler, less sanitized experiences, finding in nature’s rawness a path to healing and self-discovery.
