It was my final traveling trip before joining thousands of people here in the morning rush hours (in crowded MRT, full of people with earphones in their ears). I was on the train to meet Peggy at Jurong East station when I realized that I was surrounded by people who all had earphones, different colors and types. The feeling was “Hey this person is listening to his mp3, and this too, oh, that one too, oh no, this one, that, that and that and that too!”
Well, back to Bintan! I met with Peggy (AIESEC intern from HK) at Jurong East and we head straight from one end (west) of Sg to the other end (east) to meet with KN (friend/AIESEC member) and Rene (friend/CEEDer from Germany). We took the ferry from Sg to Bintan, Indonesia. The time at Bintan was really too short! I wished I can stay there longer. The place was heavenly, but of course, the company was the best of it. No doubt, each trip we get closer and know people better. It was great to be traveling with KN, Rene and Peggy. Too bad, Peggy will be leaving today for HK. She has ended her internship here and will be like I did return to her home country and heads for the future. At this moment I am writing this, all I could think of is her at the airport, recalling the past few months, just like what I did December 30th 2006 (and how she has to pack her stuff, last minute). I wonder how she is feeling, probably too busy to be overwhelmed by it yet, I am sure she will a few days later, or a few months from now. I suddenly feel very low, tears flow freely; I guess I am reminded too much about my last day in ITH (indiranagar trainee house) and Bangalore Int’l Airport. I may have repeated about these so many times, but probably only I understand why. I think I may be wrong in my last post about ITH and India getting further and further than me, because every now and then, people and situations will bring me closer to it again, what so important is that I keep them right here in my heart and mind. Peggy and I never get to know each other before this, because, I went to India and at the same time, she came here. Myself, coming back to Sg, I may have not be able to spend more time with ed, ith, and pharmarc-ian (which i regret), what I win is new friendships like this one with Peggy and many more not mentioned. Win or lose, tough to draw a line which is which.
Oh…Oh, back to the Bintan trip again, we arrived in Bintan, which is one hour behind SG time on a very comfortable and empty ferry, with a drowsy KN (hahaha, sea sick?) onboard. Before that, there was last minute scares about not being able to get onto the ferry because Rene mistaken March for April (April for March??) on the booking form. I played a part in this silly mistake, because I was supposed to do it and Rene asked me to check the form before he submitted. Sorry! J Anyways, small problem-la, thanks to Rene and the lady at ferry terminal counter (At this moment. I am not sure if the travel agent we contacted days before and this people at the counter at the ferry terminal are of the same company, one so lousy, one so efficient) Always so good to be traveling during off peak season. Empty ferry, and… empty beach!!!! But wait, arriving at Bintan, we got picked up by a private car provided by the lodge we booked (surprised!!) And then again, small hiccups about the accommodations because we do not have any order form. Again, small problem-la. I loveeeeeee the lodge! It was really cheap, so comfortable, and yet so complete, but with an AC controller in Chinese and a bed that make a thunderous sound with the slightest movement. Peggy and I kept waking up each other, and had so much fun laughing about it the next morning.
And after checking into the lodge, changed, we hit the road in Bintan. Walked to the nearest eating place, which happened to be not so tourist-y and for the first time after India, I felt the attention that I got, all the eyes looking, STARING at us. I must admit, it was a bit worse and scarier than when I was in India, maybe because I was more conscious as I didn’t expect that being so near to home. After lunch, we bought ourselves each a SD 6 two-way bus ticket to the beach!
The beach was yes, heavenly! Water was very clear, beach was so clean, so peaceful, so beautiful, and beach chairs so comfortable (not so comfortable, after a while :S ) And, best of it, relatively empty. We spent the whole afternoon and night at the beach. After having so much fun taking all sorts of pictures, walk up and down the interesting landscape of the beach, and the rest had enough of the water, we were all so eager for the night to come, because of the stars we could never get to see in cities like SG and HK. We (ok, only KN and Rene) dragged the chairs nearer to the coastline (beachline?) away from the trees so that we have clear bright sky above us, lying flat on our backs. The sky was fortunately bright, cloudless.
We waited and waited, especially for Peggy and I who had never seen a shooting star in our lives. And how wrong I was, I thought shooting stars are like those in cartoons, with long tails and goes across good big part of the sky. Thanks to KN’s spectacles and descriptions, Yes, history was made. I saw my 1st shooting star, and the second, third, through to the sixth! I thought I am never a lucky person, and will never be so lucky to spot a shooting star. Chhheeehhh, Luck? No, it was because I never have a spectacle and had a wrong picture of what a shooting star is (and never spend hours looking at the sky). I was happy when I saw my first, but was even happier when I saw Peggy’s first shooting star. I guess I am happier when people I know are happy!
After we got enough of stars (that comes with good music from waves and ipod and chats with good company of friends) we finally cannot tolerate the hunger, headed for the restaurant nearby. Realized that I was RED in the lights, but we had a great dinner together. Then, it’s time to use our SD6 tickets again to get back to our lodge which was quite far from the beach. Waited and waited, no sign of the bus, realized that there won’t be any, felt cheated of our money, and had to order a cab for another SD15. Arriving at the lodge, we were too tired now, just gather in front of the TV, and believe it or not, watched the Oscar…
The next morning, it was time to leave :( But not before we got our money back from the bus company. So, again, Rene showed us his power of persuasion (and experience in complaining. Haha) We got ½ of what we paid back. Good enough. We continue having fun on the ferry. The ferry was again quite empty; we got a business-class sort of seats, played cards and had more fun and laughs on the forfeits. And then finally the end has to come, came home, tired, slept from 6 pm to 10 pm. Woke up to type this.
What a long post. I must be very happy to be traveling again, and the fact that I found a place so close to SG where I can go whenever I am feeling it’s too much of work or city. All in all, I spent just SD72 (about Rs 2100), a bit more than my usual trips in India, but far more cheaper than any trips you can get from SG. End. End. End.
Mana mana Beach
Peggy, Myself, KN
Sand
Ghosts on the beach
Stars , if you can see
Sunset
DINNER, Finally!!!!!
Dinner Dinner!
