Nirwana Banyu Biru Villas Bintan

... cuisine. We got Big Mama back to Munich safely and then the 12 hour flight to Singapore and a ferry ride to here last night. Needless to say we were mindless heaps by then. This is the typical tropical resort - lush and very hot and steamy. I am off to the pool shortly and then we might go feed the elephants later. W have one last night in Singapore and I expect we will do something different like eating great food. We are back in ...

... people who drive you from place to place on the back of a golf buggy (am thinking that may be my new career!) - was so cool!

The villa we had was in the rainforest and unlike Batam the roof was connected to the rest of it, so no fear of the storms! The room was amazing and we had a jacquzzi on our balcony. All the pools were the type that look like they go ...

... fan, but I have to admit - it was actually really fun. After that, we went back to the hostel and spent the rest of the night at the outdoor beach bar. There were probably 50 exchange students (from both universities in Singapore), so there were lots of new people to meet.

The next day consisted of laying on the beach, exploring the water, and eating lots. We went to the hotel's restaurant and waited for about two and half hours to get and eat our meals. Speed is not an asset ...

... boardwalk, we came to a chinese (buddhist) temple there in the middle of nowhere, seemingly inaccessible, except by the river. Back to Tanjung Pinang then, and Didi inquired as to what we wanted for lunch. More indonesian food? Yes, but something new. He led us out through the stilted buildings, to the end with a view of the water. Here we pick some crabs out of a tank and they were steamed for us, we picked some small, lobster-like guys ("fronds ...

... the beach so we just lazed about in the lobby.. Nibbling on biscuits while watching the members of staff hurrying about hiding chocolate eggs for some Easter party for kids, then going around to gather all the little ones.. Hmm.. looked a little haphazard.. the kids seemed a little coerced to participate, the activities (apart from the egg hunt) were blah and the Easter bunny seemed ...

... their natural state tend to exude more beauty!! Remember that well!! Before we knew it, it was lunch time and we faced the dilemma on where to eat.. do we want to have expensive and possibly not-so-filling Japanese food, or expensive and filling but not-so-yummy buffet at the main cafe? No surprises, we chose the latter.. And yes, no surprises, the food ain't that ...

Cool little island, low tide was not as beautiful as high tide since the bottom of the ocean is not that great. Lots of relaxing, reading, exploring. Highlights were chicken satay, fresh juices, inexpensive, and really nice sister resort for beach volleyball, pool, restaurants, spa, etc. First travel away from Singapore!

... with the pathways to get to them and look great. So after first been annoyed with the taxi driver i set back on my balcony watched the sunset over the ocean, a family fishing for tomorrows dinner from their room and enjoyed. After having a walk around visiting the small communities there i realised apart from it being a very pretty place with nice beaches there wasn't much ...

... Singapore is one of the richest cities in the world, Ben an Adam gave the place a bad report so i was dubious. I boarded the tiny little plane in Thailand (which btw blew about in the sky like a demented pigeon the whole way there) and read my Lonely Planet in an attempt to formulate a plan of action. I decided on a hostel in a part of the city called, Little India, which i later discovered is the one and only "scruffy" part of Singapore - it was bliss. The ...

... Air is wonderful...meals and snacks every few hours you've gained weight already), service is friendly with very cute small waisted flight attendants. It it is now Monday noon, we have one last 2 hour flight to Bangkok and we actually don't feel so bad (besides feeling like we need a shower!). The airport is wonderful...free internet stations, orchids everywhere and clean...very clean (no dog hair here!).