Loola paradise

Updates on my Bintan Trip.
The Loola Travelogue

Partner in Indulgence: Crystal, Yuan, Belinda & Alex
Destination: Bintan.

3/4/06

Activities: Canoeing/Archery/Low Elements/Rock Climbling/Catching Crabs and fireflies/Watching the contellations.

The first thing I notice about loola is that it is a small cosy establishment that was run by family and friends. (Owned by a Dutch, lecturer of NUS) The view was spectacular. Our huts were built on the platform in the middle of the sea with linking platform to the main activities area. On the first day upon reaching Loola resort, we disuss our itinerary with the resort manager (Dul) for the rest of the day. He recommended the above activities. I can't wait for it to start!

Sure! I have done rock climbling before but that was like eons ago. My limbs were no longer as strong before (when i was playing badminton) and it prove to be quite a quest before reaching the top. Ha ha.. But the staffs there were encouraging and we bonded very well with them even though many of them couldn't speak English. Anyway, 'smiling' is the universal language so who cares. After Dinner, we went to hunt for crabs with some of the staffs as well as the other family who was with us.

Lunch and dinner were a spread. Dul's mum was the chief and she whip up mouth-watering dishes. The fishes and seafood were daily catch from the sea. Yummie!

After the crab hunting (which was amazing), it was about 9pm (10pm in Singapore), I went to the patio to chill out and Dul and his asst (Samsoo) came and join me. We watched the stars and spotted some falling stars. Then crystal and yuan joined us. It was fun interacting with the locals! Dul says we were having "Tigertalk" (a term loosely coined by them to make fun of ppl who were talking rubbish after drinking beer) But the funny thing is that none of us were drinking. But be intoxicated by the beauty of the place and knowing that we have 2 more days in little paradise.


4/4/06

Activities: Clam hunting/ Boom-netting (shiok)/campfire/a visit to the city

It was such a change to be awaken by the splash of the tides and not by the alarm or hp. I was literally awoken by the waves. Sitting at my bed, i could see the ocean right before my eyes. I surprise myself by waking up as early as (7am, GMT+7) when normally i'll sleep in till 1pm back at home. An exciting day await...

After breakfast, we were to hunt for clams. However, due to untrained eyes, we couldn't find any. With the help of the staffs, we manage to catch quite a handful (about 25 of them) They could be born with magnific and night vision eyes because they could really spot a crab or clam even in the dark. Incredible.

The highlight of the trip was the boom-netting. We took a boat out to sea and there was this even bigger boat waiting for us. They attached a net to the side of the boat and it's purpose is to catch us when we jump off the boat from the deck while the boat is traveling at full speed. Woohoo.. I though that that was a piece of cake compared to the platform jump (3 stories high) i have to perform before getting my gold-star certificate. But it was nothing like that. When the boat was traveling at high speed, i could not even stable myself. Ha ha.. After much cooing from the staff, i took the plunge. I tried that for a couple of times before requesting them to let me jump straight into the open water (w/o the net) as the net was really hurting and bruising my legs. That prove to be more fun! Its like jumping into the sea with the water embracing me from all sides! The breeze blowing in my face, warmth of the rays, coolness of the water and a great company. What more can i ask for?

After the boom-netting, we wanted to try the flying fox but i guess my body couldn't take it anymore. So we went back to our room for a nap before dinner. And after dinner, we took an hour journey ride to the city to get some exposure to the locals. We went to the city for some KTV session. ha ha.. Too bad, there is no K-box over there. Just some sleezy nightspot area. But the beer was like super cheap. $1.50 for a can. I told Dul that with that money, we can only get a can of Coke in Singapore.

Before i sleep, i think back of the marvelous day that i have spent. A great tan, some bruising on my legs and arms, beautiful photos, wonderful friends. How lucky i am.


5/4/06

Activities: Flying fox/ Shopping in the city/ Home

I wake up with a heavy heart knowing that it will be the last day there. All good things gotta end some day. Hmm.. Well at least breakfast was good to wash away the feelings. After that, we went for the flying fox. Good thing that my breakfast stay where they are suppose to be. It will be an ugly scene to be throwing up all over myself.

After that, we washed up and Dul arrand for our transfer to the city and we spend 3 hrs there shopping in their mall. Seriously, it sucks. There is nothing that i took fancy off. Its the girls' worst nightmare. With money to spend and nothing to buy. Its emotional suicide. Ha ha...



Afterthought:

I realise one thing about me through this trip. Not only am i a procrastinator, i am a hesitator as well.. Ha ha.. What's the difference right? Anyway, I am not as brave as i thought i am. Or rather used to be. Fear always gripped me and hesitating make the fear grew out of proportion. It happens to me all the time. Like the more we hesitate about something, we tend to do more rationalisation about why we should not do it. And try to convience ourself out of what we want to do. I'm not trying to say that we should plunge into things but that's just what we need at times. Because the more we think, the less we do.

I also realise that i have great appreciation for nature's beauty. I used to wonder why I love Geography so much even though i keep failing it. Ha ha.. Now i know. God's creation is perfect. He has a spirit of excellence and everything in it is perfect.

I'm inspired to earn more money to save up for my next trip outta singapore. It may not be loola the second time. maybe some other paradises tuck in other corners of the earth. Sound like ozzie to me. ha ha... Oh no, not Ozzie again!