Saturday, July 31, 2004
Beach Life

Howdy folks,back from the sun,sand,sea and seafood from Bintan and I am still suffering from the aftereffects of hours spent under the sun without any sunscreen.My shoulders are aching and the skin on my face is peeling slightly.Finally,I am living up to being born in the year of the snake.But the time spent at the island resort was fun and I had a good time there.I said good,not great.I just thought that if the trip had been with friends or a girlfriend.It might have been more enjoyable.While I am writing this,I am secretly hoping my mum,brother or sister-in-law never reads this blog.Mum might give me a good caning for saying that I don't quite enjoy her company.

I'm here to talk about beach life.Or what I'd dub a bum's life.I spent my 3 days there swimming(hence the sunburn),feasting(on overpriced food,mind you),sleeping and drinking(woh,my brother is an alcohol monster so I have to accompany him on his drinking binges).Actually,besides all these activities,there isn't much to do really.Things are also grotesquely expensive there.It was good that my mum had the good sense to buy some beer from the DFS at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to avoid consuming those stocked in the chalet fridges.God knows how much those would cost.

Anyway,I was situated at the quieter Mayang Sari resort under the Nirwana Gardens group and most people staying down there were ang mohs and a few Singaporean couples.Most Singaporeans stayed at the other resort(I can't remember the name but it was cheaper so I guess that's why it was more popular)hence I didn't really get to see many...erm,I meant to say girls at the resort I stayed in.Good or bad.What do you think?!

Anyway,I also noticed another thing at my resort...an usually large number of Caucasian men and Asian girls coupling.I don't know if those girls are Singaporean but it got me wondering what's wrong with Asian men.That might make a good topic for another post.And the large number of couples there of course was the reason why it made thought it'd have been great to have been there with a girlfriend.Oh,and another thing.When I went over to the other resort to swim at their pool(there is NO pool at my resort...and it's more expensive!),I noticed an usually large number of Korean girls there...ok,at the pool.Looks like kimchi is invading Asia big-time.I have had the impression that the average Korean has gone for plastic surgery before since it is so prevalent down there but the funny thing is these girls,unlike my preconceived stereotype,have not gone under the knife.If they did,they should ask for a refund.There was still one rather lovely girl...but one out of a dozen.I am disappointed.Oh,another thing.Caucasians are really friendly.I'd smile at them and say "Hi" and always get a greeting in return.The Asians,they think I'm trying to rob them.Or that I'm weird.Which is not wrong.

Oh,let's talk about the beaches.Gee,where did they get the sand from.So fine,they feel like ground ashes...you know,something you get out of an urn.Hmmm,I just managed to sound morbid talking about the beaches.But they are really excellent in actual fact and you should really take a swim there...and get sunburnt like me.As for the resort,because I was staying at the more isolated resort,I thought it was rather rustic.A good thing if you want to get away from people,a bad thing if you want to look at people,like me.

I don't have many good things to talk about the food.Wait a minute,make that nothing good.It's very expensive...and may I add that it's not very tasty.For the princely sum one pays,you'd expect at least some standard.But it's not even close to Mum's Homecooked Food™ and I get that for free.

Hey,at the end of the day,I'd still concede that it's a good getaway location.Whether for the weekend or for a slightly longer period.Recommended?Yeah.Bring your own Maggi Mee.