Idyllic Indonesia

*Warning many, many photos*

As I am sure you all gathered by the rushed and non chronological nature of my last post, I was rather excited for our weekend jaunt to Indonesia.

Now I have made a point about the perks of Singapore previously, but this is beyond amazing. The place we went to was a picturesque spot called Bintan, a mere 50 min ferry journey from the shores of Singapore, and guess what...because they are an hour behind you actually arrive before you departed- seriously there are few things in life better than gaining an hour and ten minutes on your friday night!!



Waiting for the ferry, just in time.



Nervous anticipation?





A little more keen!



Off we jetted from the Ferry terminal at 8pm, playing it big time in 'Emerald Class' I would highly recommend that anyone who does a Bintan trip from Singers does this as it means you can sort your visa on board, you get priority boarding, all the free orange and apple juice your bladder can hold, and apparently (judging by the people who retreated from the upper deck as we docked) if you go out onto the upper deck you are actually transported back into the 80s. 

Why Bintan?

Well not just because 'we can' but because it is probably the most serene (apart from when they bang the gong when you arrive at the hotel- seriously) and easily accessible place from Singapore and the travel is dirt cheap and speedy. As it was our first trip away Brad VERY kindly splashed out on a beautiful hotel, a world renowned spa resort called the Banyan Tree, which made for a, not extortionately expensive weekend, but it is definitely possible to do it on a more sensible budget.

One of the main reasons for travel to Bintan is the golf. It is ball achingly (oh, pardon the pun) expensive to play golf in Singapore, so much so that it is just as cost effective to get a ferry over to Bintan, play a round, stay the night and then come back as it is to do 18 holes in the Shiny city, thus there are a LOT of golf types on board- not so much the stuffy 'too rich to do anything else' type as they can stay and play in Singapore- but more the Dad types and men on 'lads' weekends or corporate trips away, giggling gruffly over some tiger tinnies in the queue, and then having a little panic over whether or not their wives remembered to pack them pants for 2 days and sun cream for their sensitive maturing hairlines.

The Beautiful Banyan Tree

Without need to scramble for an overly exuberant adjective, the Banyan Tree was nothing short of incredible. Advertising a variety of rooms including villas on the rocks and villas on stilts, the selections is rendered irrelevant as once submerged in your own little paradise, you have absolutely no idea that there is anyone else around, until you are reintroduced to civilisation on your buggy rides to and from locations in the resort and in amongst the comforting background 'restaurant mumble' at breakfast and dinner.

We stayed in a Villa on the rocks which was beyond what I expected. the pictures on the website painted a stunning picture of sumptuous décor with traditional trimmings, however the breath taking setting a eye stretching views could only really be appreciated once there. Our room was set up above the rocks in amongst the trees, with a small gated terrace area with out own private pool/Jaccuzi with sun loungers and a table, so if you didn't want to , you didn't have to leave your villa at all. 

Hopefully the pictures will give you an idea...



Welcome



bed



mosquito nets have never looked so romantic



treats from reception





our outdoor area



Brads First Meal, traditional Indonesian Nasi Goreng, fried rice with mean satay prawns and fried egg





Breakfast views





Fernando the Frog



Argh posting those pictures just brought those Monday morning blues right back. Trust me, after a mini break to a tropical island, the cold reality of facing your inbox at 8:30 on a monday morning could not be further away!

I have to be honest though, as this was Brad and I, there was obviously a bit of drama....

On the final night after getting dropped off at our room we approached the movie set stairway leading up to our villa and Brad noticed our door was ajar...this was unexpected and instantly unnerving (We've all read about honeymooners horror stories in deserted Islans villas). Being the man and taking charge Brad marched on to investigate, on closer inspection we noticed it was a gang of hotel staff. Brad told me to wait behind as he commanded an inquisition. Certain they were taking their chances and having a rummage in our room Brad proceeded forward with his authorative face, telling them all to "stay exactly where they were."

 Turns out we weren't being robbed.

Nor was what came to follow Brads romantic handy work. Shame, he could have totally taken credit, lesson learnt 'Thou shan't be so hasty upon suspected robbery' as you never know when you could earn serious BF points (disclaimer. If there is an actual robbery taking place, probably best to act on it, more boyfriend legal credential that way) 

See the actual goings on below

 Imagine we'd had an argument at dinner. Awwwkward

Anyway after that photo overload, I will leave you all to planning your next sunshine jaunts.

Speak soon

XXX

Feast For The Eyes

As anyone will tell you who lives in Singapore, the travel opportunities are one of its major selling points. Although a vibrant and exciting city in its own right, Singapore is only about 710km squared with a population of just over a 5 million, to put it in perspective thats less people than are crammed into London.

Acting as a gateway to Asia flights from Singapore are cheap as chips, it really is an incredibly base for travelling in the Far East. On our hit list over the next couple of years will certainly be Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali, Borneo, Thailand, the numerous idyllic islands, and the contrasting commercial hubs such as Beijing. 

Malaysia is the first port of call for travel from Singapore, you can take a boat across or drive, it only takes a couple of hours and is connected by causeway. It is so close you can pick up Malaysian phone signal in Singapore, not so good when it charges you for foreign roaming!

So lonely plant travel guide aside, we started small. We do after all have a few years to test the waters. This saturday morning we met up with some friends and hired a "bumboat" to pop across to Malaysia FOR LUNCH. This is what living in Asia is all about!

Our 'Bumboat" (actual name) commissioned by Captain Jack Sparrow. I think he napped most of the way 

It took about 45 minutes on the boat to get to the shores of Malaysia. We were in a group of about ten, and it was a great mix of home friends, their local friends, and local buddies of theirs too. Where we alighted was a place called Desaru, and it was an absolute blessing to have Malay speakers with us. The place almost seemed deserted bar two taxis which were ready and waiting for us. In nascar style they tore through the dusty roads of Desaru to take us to an incredible local seafood restaurant recommended by Ivan in our group. We only drove through 1 wedding and 2 back gardens en route with minimal damage caused. Don't quote me on this but I'm pretty sure there are no traffic laws in Desaru!

Not knowing what to expect (are only brief being "wear loose clothes") we arrived at the restaurant. It was amazing, forget western facades this was an authentic family run Malaysian seafood restaurant on the side of the road. Plastic chairs, plastic tables, bottles of Tiger beer the size of my leg, and the FRESHEST seafood you will ever east. It was amazing. The vibrant atmosphere, the hoards of locals, the smell of fresh food and the laid back attitude just made it all the more enjoyable. Ivan (who by this point was turning out to be Mr Malaysia, organising everything from the bum boats to our drivers) ordered us a selection go the best seafood they had on the menu in flawless Malay, and then disclosed that his family had been bringing him here since he was a child, and if the Tiger beer and cigarettes didn't kill him, the deep fried lobster probably would....you'll soon see why.

Eat you heart out

The infamous Chilli Crab. The little things behind are sweet doughy buns that you dip in the crab meat sauce pipping hot, best technique, stab them with a chopstick.

Quite a spread, this was course 2 of 3, Pak Choi, Crab, Wild boar (a resounding favourite with the boys) Egg and oyster omelette. Beer. 

DEEP> FRIED>LOBSTER

Beautiful Steamed Lobster, my fave!

Little lobster face

Steamed lobster meat. Nails courtesy of Gellish...

Salted Lobster (really yummy, tasted a bit like bbq crisps)

More salted Lobster

Near defeat

More wild boar

scene of the crime.

The pictures don't do what was was an absolute FEAST justice, but i hope you get a feel for the quality, quantity and quirkiness of the place. We would definitely go back (if we can find it without Ivan) and I am now fully aware of the reasoning behind the loose clothes memo! 

We consumed approximately 15 lobsters, 6 crabs, a Heard of boar, a hutch of eggs and several bowls of Nasi gooring...the cost TWENTY FIVE QUID A HEAD. incredible. 

By the time we rolled back into the cars to head back to the port, we were all nursing rather epic, however guilt free, food babies. it is easy to see why Asians are so slim. We consumed mountains of food, but it was all fresh, steamed fish and vegetables, with the exception of the devil fried lobster. As we got back to the boat a I took some snaps, it was still about 30 degrees, however the clouds were starting to come in!

Cloudy skies

home on the horizon

x

After an idyllic day in Malaysia it was back to normality on Sunday, as everyone back in the UK celebrated the Jubilee we spent the afternoon partaking in some truley singaporean past times. shopping. New laptop purchased we then headed to our favourite little British bistro, necessary patriotism, and rounded off the weekend going to see Men in Black 3.

An exciting weekend of complete contrasts, each conveniently on our doorstep. Time to empty the sand out of my handbag and repack it for work tomorrow as reality sets back in... we look forward to discovering what further delights Asia has to offer.

Good night.

XXX