psychedelik

Just came back from a 3D2N trip to the Mayang Sari Beach Resort. Boy was it relaxing. Life is: lying in a hammock, looking at the blue sky and listening to the waves. If you do decide to come here, make sure you get a sea-facing chalet. Nirwana Gardens is more resort-like and has more amenities, but has lots more screaming kids too. Water sports can be done over at the Mana Mana Beach Club, but is expensive in my opinion.

Heard that Bintan Lagoon has a lot of activities and Club Med is where all the hotties hang out. Thought some of you might be interested in that fact :)

Bottom line: Don’t come here expecting some kind of excitement. It really is more of a place to chill out and just do nothing except eat, drink and sleep. Its a good getaway for harried Singaporeans who don’t have more time to travel somewhere else. Also makes a good side trip for visitors to Singapore who’ve had enough of the concrete jungle. After all, the only proper beach Singapore has is made out of imported sand :p

PS. The service is really good and staff are friendly. It makes a difference!
PPS. Book your package through Bintan Resort Ferries instead of external travel agents because BRF owns both the ferries and the resorts so you save on the middleman fees.
PPPS. Insect repellent is a must! Especially on the legs otherwise you’ll find that bites appear a couple of days later. Nasty bites that are small but red and raised.

Great atmosphere. Take a walk on the beach, climb some of those rocky outcrops and listen to the crashing waves. Its therapeutic!

This was an unforgettable experience. After sitting on my butt in Japan for a while, I decided to get out there and just do this! No preparation beforehand, no gear, but I managed to get a Japanese friend to go along with me. Lots of people climb Fuji, but most of the locals are old-timers who do it regularly for exercise, and lots of foreigners.

Point to note: It can be really dark at times. The only light to guide you may be from your torch, and though a torchlight attached to a helmet may look stupid, it really does free up your hands for those scrambling moments. It can be sheer magic to stop on some rocks, turn off your torchlight and look at the stars. Extremely romantic, if you can forget how tired and grimy you are :)

I cleverly wore 3/4 pants and a tee shirt, brought a fleece jacket and gloves and that was it. Though you might be perspiring at the bottom, once you get a little higher up, the wind is gonna be blowing through your bones so bring warm clothing especially if you’re doing a night climb like I did.

This was an exercise in endurance but worth it. Be prepared to be covered in sand, nearly blown off the mountain if winds are strong, and fall down when going down those gravel-laden slopes. I’d say going down is tougher than going up. But you’ll take away that satisfaction of climbing a mountain. Do-able for non-athletes, just bring along an adventurous spirit and a camera.

Would do this again.

The fortress is a must-see. Walk along the tops of the walls to see the fortress in its entirety, and look down for blue waters at the bottom of steep cliffs. Beaches to die for! No sand though, lots of slippery rocks.

Not a very picturesque city. Supposedly not very safe so you’ll see tons of policemen walking around. Make it a day trip if you have to. I went shopping at Lao Jie and they really do have cheap stuff but quality can be really poor.

Beautiful waters. Please snorkel or dive when you get here. Otherwise I don’t see why you’d come anyway. Had the chance to see a giant turtle and a huge clam! You can feed fishes (they nibble at the bread morsels in your hand), and you get so see some small sharks too.

Massive. Be sure to not only hike around the rim, but go down into the canyon! Be warned… It can be mortally cold/windy at the top but hot while you’re hiking down into the canyon. It also snowed in the early morning. Be prepared for all sorts of weather in this place. Head for one of the outlooks to catch the sunset. Indescribable.

Tranquil and huge. Be prepared to climb lotsa stairs, which is part of the fun. Surrounded by quaint shops and nice forest. Its on a hill so you get a good view. You can dress up as a geisha if you want, look for the service among the shops.

Come here for the atmosphere. Part of the London experience. Lotsa people, buildings, statues, and pigeons. Bird poo anyone?

You have got to come here. Its a small town, with admittedly not much to do, but its got this relaxed atmosphere that can’t be beat. A winding river meanders through the city, and they’ve got their own castle. Check to see if there any performances or festivals going on in the town square. Have dinner by the river while listening to the local people sing folk songs. Wish I was back there! Seems like a great place to live.