i'm home.

Right now, babe is away in malaysia , doubling up his duty as a camp instructor to his kids and I just woke up from my nap. 

27th May - a day since I returned from our 2nd anniversary get-away and I thought I should entertain myself my uploading pictures of our trip and maybe blogged a little about this place that market itself so closely to that Maldives and club med. 

Babe bought this vacation 2 months back in time for my birthday. ( I think most of you have already read it numerous times of my bloggie that YES i am heading to Montigo! ) I am really excited much every since its soft launch. Maybe because of its marketing, the photography  and its proximity to Singapore. It's like paradise that's just 30 minutes away.

And so, on the 24th, our 24th Month Anniversary, we headed off to Nongsapura again. The less city-like area of Batam. It was crazy over at immigration. Still, we or rather HE made the right choice to engaging the Wave Master Club instead of Batam Fast. The ferry is newer and I enjoyed the journey there compared to two years back on Batam Fast.

Upon Arrival, we were greeted by our friendly guide from Montigo and within 5 minutes, we arrived at the Hotel Lobby.
First Impression: All Smiles, Very Good English. As we were wayy earlier before checked in, they got us a cabby to tour the villa.

 First Stop, the Spa. - where we quickly made a booking to hinge on the 25% discount on that day. Requested for a couple suite so that we can do our massage side by side, with the view of the seafront.

 Okay, in summary. There is 3 storeys, 2 bed rooms, all en-suite. the living room comes equipped with a washroom too. :) All toiletries are from Imelin -Goethe. We absolutely adore the rum body wash and the peppermint shampoo. Oh, and I love the sea salt too, which I use rigorously each time we soak in the tub that opens up to the sky light.

There is also a  simple kitchen, a front porch that opens up to the sea.  and wiiii. Soft drinks are all complimentary. :) The sound system is really strong, and babe and I had a great time playing with Raving Rabbids. Its really crazy.

 As it was vesak day on the first day of our trip, we went vegan over at Tadd's and it was surprisingly really aweseome. I can't describe my love for the Al-funghi pizza and the aglio is just so fragrant. Just simple olive and garlic. :)

 We headed back for a short nap, before the cabby came to pick us up for our Massage. It was a really really awesome experience. It's like a mini dream come through. I've always wanted a massage by the sea and we got it this time at a discounted rate too! :)

We headed back and our front porch was all set up. At 400,000 rupiah, it comes with our personel waiter and chef. However, we asked to bbq ourselves. ( But it cost 400,000 rupiah). We ordered food from the restaurant, but many singaporeans will just get the set up, and bring in their own food which they purchase conveniently from Nagoya Hills. It's free transport to Nagoya Hills btw. Montigo provides free shuttle service:) 

The next day, we woke up to extremely awesome weather but it was also the day we met with some hicuups over at Montigo. Thinking back, it's really quite amusing. 

So here's all the second day went. 

It's funny how the resort always appears so quiet like there's no habitants? and it's only over breakfast that we met like the fellow habitants of the resort. - 90% Singaporeans. 

Mostly families and they come in four. 

Babe and I were thinking, if we were to come with a fellow couple, how to share the room? 

Maybe we can take turns sleeping in the master bed room and using the tub.?

So, anyhows, 

after breakfast, we informed reception that we'll like to have our villa cleaned while we have a game of tennis. 

Yes, we played barefooted. - painful choice if you asked me.

lol, i walked away with black hot soles in need of serious scrubbing. 

We returned back to an uncleaned villa :( 

Maybe because there was a miscomm and they thought we were upstairs in the room. 

And so, we waited for an hour while the young boy from housekeeping cleaned up the villa. 

It was worth it, for this view at the end of the day: 

and we can't bear to be mad with a fierecely apologetic and sweaty young man. 

We end up giving him $6 for his hardwork. 

After soaking in the tub and furiously scrubbing my soles with the sea salt, 

we were all ready to head down to Nagoya and Kepri Mall in search for food and maybe goood buys. 

Knowing that Montigo has free shuttle to Nagoya,

We still decided to still book a personal ride, as I wanted to visit the Bridge ( Balowang) as well as Kepri Mall. It'll cost us 350,000 rupiah for a 3 hour booking with additional 100,000 rupiah for every extra hour. 

Our ride was a 6 seater SUV.

Very comfortable, except that our driver can't understand English:(.

We wanted to engage our previous driver, back when we visited Turi Beach. 

But he changed his number and so we had no choice but to continue with his pak chik. 

It was a mistake I guess, 

because even though we said we'll meet him at 3.45pm, he didn't meet us at the pick up area as agreed upon and so after 15 minutes of aimless waiting, we decided to catch the Montigo's shuttle service back. 

Therefore, even though we had our A&W. I didn't get to shop much, much less get a cheap pedicure:(. 

The amusing thing was, 

after returning back from nagoya, 

we wanted to shower. 

But there was this momentary black-out and cut of water supply on batam island! 

B hadto help me wash off the shampoo with mineral water. hahahaha. 

Over at dinner and dessert after, 

the restaurant ran out of snapper ( which we wanted so badly to eat) and my much coveted coconut ice blend:((  

Talk about bad luck huh! lolll 

Still, Handri, the duty manager made it up for us, 

We paid half the price for the ride, 

and had a 10% discount off our yummy dinner at PannThai. 

and.. he very gladly extended our check out time till 2pm.

It cost us only $30 for a meal made up of prawns, cuttle fish and vege for dinner that night. 

Chilled over at Taad's thereafter, since there was a live band going.

and we tried out the yummy local dessert of pisang ray. - steamed banana with grated coconut. Goes well with the luvossa coffee and his teh o beng. 

and I guess brownie points for addressing me as Mrs. Chan. ( teehee)

a pleasant mistake that the both of us didn't bother to correct :D  

Note: Montigo's backup generator works really well. The electricity and water supply comes back on after a minute or two. - not a big enough factor to deter you from coming, im sure:) 

On the morning of our last day, 

we spent it down at the pool

and sun tanning on the top of our roof. 

We ordered room service in as Babe wanted to just laze in the room. 

As.we didn't have the nasi padang that we did the last time we were in town, 

We were both craving for aunthentic indonesian cuisine, 

and so we got ourselves ayam soto and some nasi ayam thinggie. 

Both were oh-so-good. 

we were really blessed that the afternoon drizzle didn't turn into a full blast storm at all  despite the thunder and lightning. 

In short, 

I had a really great trip. 

Service was immaculate

and I spent it with the boy. 

I love you honey. 

[ Right now, 

You are in Malaysia, at a local pasar malam. 

I'm missing you much. 

This morning, I woke up to prepare breakfast for you, 

After  I sent you to work, 

the taxi uncle ask me if I'm a housewife. 

lol I guess, he thought we were married and I was just sending you to work. 

I returned home to mama and papa chan alone, 

played with gareth, 

and send him to school.

a part of me wonder if I will one day be like a housewife.

Waking up and going through the routine. 

I like the quietness of the early morning at your place, 

with coffee and bread. 

But I'm pretty sure, for a better quality of life, 

To seek that inner satisfaction that I derive from my career, 

Both of us have to work! 

Our work will require us to travel from time to time, 

and I suppose this year was a good taster for what may be more to come. 

longer and further trips.. 

but we'll get by:) 

I am good at occupying my time. 

lol i still have unfinished work, 

and... 

first up, i'm meeting my pals for chomp chomp and durian tmr!! 

can't wait. 

I'm smiling now. hehe =P 

Thank you for loving this

fickle minded

freedom loving

stubborn

girl.  ]

Baby, 

you see me right through my walls, 

and  everytime you place your arms around me, 

I'm home. :)