Dan’s Den

In the past weekend, I managed to squeeze in a short getaway. Very short infact, just 2D1N and it’s my virgin kelong trip.

At the wee hours of 615am, we gathered to await the van that will bring us to jetty for sibu kelong. I’m the last to arrive at 629am with still sufficient time to get teh-c at the nearby kopitiam. Van was 10mins late arriving at 640am.

Traffic was surprising clear at both S’pore and M’sia customs. Once past M’sia custom, I knocked out. Suddenly my stomach growled and just in time we reached Kota Tinggi for the much needed brekky.

Had fishball noodles and millo and I’m all ready to continue napping for rest of journey to jetty.

Reached jetty 10ish, frozen by the van aircon, I sat by the drain and stoned, waiting for the call to board the boat. It’s not a big boat, infact it reminded of the boat I took some years back to Pulau Aur, where I became the world famous merlion.

Braving myself, I stepped onto the rocking boat and proceed briskly to the back of the boat. Sat myself down, hugged my bag and I fixed my eyes on the distant land.

I’m already feeling alittle seasick, and the diesel smell made it worse.

Thank goodness things improved when the boat started moving and soon the sea breeze had blown all my feeling of seasickness away. =)

Getting onto the kelong from the boat is another challenge. There is a small deck with steps up to kelong, just at sea level, so it is quite slippery as you can imagine.

Nobody fell or got washed away by the waves.

The boys wasted no time in whipping their rods out and started fishing. As for us, we quickly koped the mahjong table to entertain ourselves.

There are 2 deck chairs right outside our sleeping bunks but Khim and I decided against suntanning there cos judging from the number of old men (not from our group) at the kelong, that would be very unwise.

Lunch was tasty. Explored the toilet after lunch and through the toilet hole, you the see the sea directly underneath. Amazing clear with many fishes. Not the most appetising thought but there it is, Mr Ang fishing right behind the toilets.

I gave it a go and behold I got 2 fishes in 2 tries! I’m so talented! Haha!

Rest of the afternoon is spent MJ-ing, sleeping and nua-ing at the deck watching the boys fish.

Dark clouds approached at evening and as there is no hot water, I contemplated not showering. But I still did, just before it poured.

Lobo time again after dinner while the boys prepare to catch sotong, but there was no luck.

With no tv and being super tired from waking up so early, we slept before 10pm.

Wind was howling the whole night and with the thin and holey blanket/rag, I woke up from the cold twice. Finally I seek refuge on the 2nd deck since it’s warmer there.

Slept past brekky, as usual, but still got up relatively early at 9ish and started MJ again. Muahaha!

Started home after lunch and it’s zzz all the way again.

It’s a truly relaxing trip cos there’s nothing much to do but to eat and sleep. Stay for 1 week sure become fatty bom bom.

MJ time!!

Clear water with many fishes.. right behind the toilets.

I had no idea what to expect for this place. Desaru hasn’t been the most well maintained beach with the nicest resorts, so I opted for this resort about 20km off Desaru.

It was quiet when we arrived on Friday afternoon, so quiet we thought we were the only guest in the resort, but people started trickling in in the evening and more on Saturday afternoon.

As we lazed by the pool on Saturday afternoon, the pool was suddenly filled with kids and angmohs. -_-”

For dinners, we drove out to look for the nearby town for some cheap and good food and we weren’t disappointed. There is a small quaint Chinese town near Sg Rengit with a few seafood restaurants, 1 fastfood chain (make a guess which one) and a number of bakeries and old school provision shops.

Our favourite is the fruit stall, where we bought 2 kampong durians for RM4 and the next day a huge mango (auntie gave us 2 small mangoes FOC some more) for another RM4! CHEAP!

Surprises always await you if you venture out. :o)

View from room balcony.

Huge mango.

>> Starting off with the freshest one — I woke up at 6.40am and ran 3km in a charity run yesterday! Yes woke up at 6.40am on a SUNDAY! I can’t even remember when was the last time I woke up at that crazy time on ANY day. I survived tho, didn’t pengsan or anything. But it’s still not for me, at all. Too much effort.

>> A group of younger girls joined for netball last Thursday and boy were they an aggressive bunch. I even got my finger slashed (blood inclusive) by my opponent’s finger nails and I’m in a defensive role! 小妹妹s today are so violent!! =((

>> Lost my bag containing my mobile, wallet and housekeys. Quite devastating but thank God a kind soul found my bag and called me up to collect and everything is intact except cash and mobile.

>> The latest thing to break down in the house is none other than aircon. Y’all must have noticed how hot and humid the weather has been lately, even at night. We had to sleep on the floor, even with fan blowing in our faces.

After tolerating for 2 months and exhausted all our sources for the faulty parts, we had to give up cos our aircon model is out of production and the faulty part whether new or second-hand, is simply no longer available.

We have no choice but to consider the option of getting new aircon. And it has to be settled before mom returns end July cos the fan in her room fell off the wall -_-. She’ll die with no aircon and no fan.

>> Went on a road trip to Melaka! Drive up was not too bad and fast (cos we were doing 130-140km/h average). Cos we decided rather last minute, all the hotels near the town centre was fully booked, but thankfully we managed to find a decently priced one not too far away.

We were pleasantly surprise how new the hotel was (it was recently upgraded that’s why). Distance is no issue since we can drive around, the only issue is not getting lost (thankfully Melaka is relatively small). Feasted on chicken riceballs and chendol the first night we got there. Then laksa and more chendol the next day. Fattening but yummy!!

Got caught by the traffic police when we were heading back, stuffed RM20 in his hand and off we go again. Jam at customs was mad, it was only after 2hours of start-stops we went pass the Malaysian customs.

That’s all for now. I’m still waiting for our kelong holiday! *hint hint*

Sunset from our chalet (no one could make it for sunrise).

(I know this is way long overdue, but anyways..)

Earlier this year, as I was contemplating about my life and important issues such as holiday plans for this year, I decided I should stop returning to my “hometown” and visit somewhere I’ve not been before.

I thought it wouldn’t happen until later part of this year BUT! As the divine plan would have it, first new holiday destination of the year is — Batam!! =D

I’m actually a very easily contented person, just give me sun, sea and beach and it’s a great holiday for me. Throw in massage and it’ll be fabulous!

So there you go, surprise of the year (thusfar) — Batam. Ferry ride there was smooth (no seasick for me) and we could even see the Singapore CBD skyline from the resort pool we were hanging out. Paradise within reach.

On our horse-less chariot.

Weather was not the best this time round cos it rained everyday around mid-afternoon. Mornings are sunny, but by the time we got out of bed.. haiz. Moody.

Massage shops sprouted all over Kuta, much like Thailand now, but pricing fluctuates from shop to shop on the main road to the small lanes. Ofcos those in the lanes are cheaper, looks a little dodgy but actually ok. Sofar the cheapest we saw was Rp50,000 for 1hour body massage and it’s from a shop just down the lane from our hotel =D.

We had the most bizarre experience looking for the massage shops on the first day after we arrived. We rode round and round in vain tho vividly the night before we did see the shops on the same street. We just couldn’t see them in daylight.

-_-

Finally visited Celsius Cafe at Discovery Mall. It’s as nice as I’ve imagined it to be — a million dollar view overlooking the surfers doing their thing in the sea while you tuck into your Nth nasi goreng special/mee goreng special/nasi campur spesial.

Also discovered to my slight dismay that Krispy Kreme has closed its outlet at Discovery Mall. I haven’t even had a chance to try it. Bah!

—
FLIGHT
Valuair (Jetstar) - $350 per pax (tax incl)

SLEEP
Bounty Hotel (Poppies Lane II, Kuta) - $276 for 4 nights
:: I booked via Asiarooms cos the rates are slightly cheaper there, do your own comparison lah

TRANSPORT
Rented bike - Rp35,000 to Rp50,000 per day (insurance incl)
Petrol - Rp5,000 per Absolut bottle (full tank takes about 2 bottles)

Somehow and somewhat, among my group of church mates, 3 of us have developed our pet holiday destination.

To qualify as pet destination, you must go there for holiday at least once a year. Best is every other few months.

And so much so that going to that particular place for holiday is almost like going back to hometown cos you are so familar with it and people start telling others you’ve gotten permanent residency for that country.

As far as I can remember, here are the pets and their owners:-
WCIII & Alice: Taiwan
MB: Bali
Me: Phuket

So, just last Sabbath, Susan asked the 3 of us, “When are you going back to Taiwan/Bali/Phuket?”

Surprise to all, I told them I’ve not made any plans yet.

I know my church mates are all aware I travel quite abit to Phuket and sometimes Bali, but the most telling sign that I’ve managed a reputation is when someone from a sister church called to ask about accommodation recommendations in Bali. -__-!!

Anyways, I suggested a resort that I’ve never stayed before but was highly recommended by this person who got left behind in Bali.

Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali.

Stop dreaming and start saving.

Before: On the plane, all perky and ready for the holiday.

After: On the last night at Suan Lum, pengsan-ed.

See what a 4D3N BKK trip does to our poor Eric. Or maybe it’s just Chatuchak earlier in the day that killed him. Hehe!!

@#$%!!

Alright, that’s it. The rest are unglam, fat, sleeping and naked. So cannot show. Haha!!