Condemned & Useless

I guess its time that I got so bored..and I finally got hold of the pictures..so lets blog about BINTAN!

Lets see, on the first day before we left Singapore at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, most decided that it would be wise to meet at Bedok first, which wouldnt make a difference to me being the nearest one living there. But still, aspite all the excitement and agitated faces, and the wonderful holiday we're gonna have..shit still happens. Those who had arrived earlier decided to go ahead and took the whatever bus (no. 35) which arrived first. That leaves me, Ipin, CC Wei Sheng and Dr New left at the interchange. Thinking that there would be somebody else coming to meet us at the interchange, we waited for the next bus. Alas, there was nobody and while in the bus, we got news that we were late! More unfortunate was that we cabed the rest of the way there..and end up knowing the gate was close for passengers! So we have to wait for about 3 hours plus, thanks to the Indonesian ambassy, for the next company ferry! So 3 hours of breakfast and coffee/tea/milo and CC's reader digest; that kept us occupied.

Si bei unlucky.

That's our ferry. Thankfully we got the one that has an open space at the back. Penguin 3!





And we left Singapore, like finally.

The journey takes about 1h 45 mins aboard the ferry, feels like as though you're in a vacuum chamber inside the air-con ferry, but outside, the fresh sea air never cease to take me in cloud 9. Even slept for awhile at one corner under the ferry's chimney. Then after deciding I was tanned enough, slept the rest of the time there in the ferry. 10,000 B.C. was showing on the small tv , and the rocking of the ferry, and the next thing I know..zzzzzz.




And then it takes another 40 mins or so to reach camp Loola (thats what its called). Then we shouted some Hi's and went to leave our bags at those hut houses. We didnt miss much, considering the rest we doing some archery. Well I sucked at it. Out of 4 arrows, only 2 manage to hit the board. One went 3 feet away from me and landed on the grass and the other went to hit the tree. Heh. Then, after having miss our first 2 activities, which was the rope obstacle and tree climbing, we went to revive our childhood days with the obstacle course, with Ipin forgeting how to swing, and leaving us with blisters.


I swear I was just gonna kick his butt.
A local kid showing off how it is done.

Soon after, it was time to Kayak!

With much desperation to leave the dry land and hot weather, after which the guy in charge explains how to wear the safety vest (like as if we're primary school kids), we jump straight to the kayaks available. And I got Bliss as my partner, one thing about her, for a girl, she's quite build so dont go around messing ith her. Fortunatly, we took turns. Seems her muscle power matches mine. Haha. Just kidding. Mine's stronger. But the sad case was we were allowed to only kayak for 30 mins. Was wondering why till we found out the hard way. As I was paddling with much effort to carry the kayak away from shore, realised the paddle could touch the sea bed! The low tide was coming! Good timing for kayaking guys. No choice. Went to paddle till we reached this small island that divides the deep sea ocean with what water we were on. When things couldnt get any worse, on the way back was like going through a valley with seamines. Si bei tiired rowing already then have to avoid all the rocks! It was like mission impossible to get to shore. The guy even have to pull us back.

Then we washed up a bit as dinner was after that. Wondering what food we gona have, we turn to our 24 hour non-stop hits radio, Dr Gordon Lim! (the one in blue) Bliss is the one on the right. Check out those arms. So we chilled for awhile before heading to dinner.
With nothing much left to do for the first day, some stayed to chat and soon turn the table into a gambling den, while the rest of us are left to listen to the 24 hour radio, talk about school life and his personal life, hosted by Dr Lim himself. Then the rest decided to turn off for the day but as we were on our way back to the huts, we realised we missed out one thing..the stars! It was bright on that night, but surprisingly, it was more visible than the times I saw in Singapore (of course). But despite some of those who turn in and only watch the stars for awhile, I couldnt get enough and decided to lie down on the pavement. Then I decided to sleep outside with the stars (why not). Its not like everyday you do that. So hoping to see a shooting star or 2 and figuring out the constellation, I dozed off for awhile. Awaken by the sounds of the tide coming back, I got back to my hut, spotted the moon, and slept the rest of the day hoping the following day would be more fun.

Morning was greeted by early waking of seeing the sunrise. Then it was the normal oyapeyasom of who's gonna bathe first. While waiting for those lazy city kids, the rest waited at the view of the sea. Breakfast was surprisingly good, not bad at all. It was the instant mee goreng, Loola style. Since some havnt got use to the food, the malays gobbled up most of it, didnt finish though. Then apart from lazing around after a heavy meal, some went kayaking again, including me ^.^ soon after we were told we're going to do some hiking. What a way to start the day. Well it wasnt that tiring, except the 500m climb up to one of the highest peaks on the island, on the last few steps up the hill where it was about 75 degree slant, had to use ropes for support. But it wasnt a matter for me, Im a ninja, was fast was quick like a lightning.

Surprisingly, my slippers made it through the journey. CC's sandals didnt.

But soon, it was the most enjoyable memorable event of the whole trip - Boomnetting!

For those who doesnt know what boomnetting is, its a fun thing to do where you jump off the boat and into the fishnets..freestyle! Well, the next part of it is to get carried by the waves in the net, macam fish. All you got to do now is just hang on. OR, you can get back on the boat..and jump again! There's 3 different lvls where you can jump from. 1st was the deck itself. 2nd is the boat's second level where there's seat with roof. 3rd is the roof! And all of us were brave enough to jump from there, except Dr lim of course. I made it look so easy that I decided to do some somersaults. The boat was getting somewhere while we were having fun. It was called deserted island. Nothing special there except the pile of sea waste that gathered along this stretch of sand beach. Well, one's man waste is another man's treasure. I found this cool seashell but gave it away to Suhaila. Cause on the way back, we did more jumping!

Oh this time the net really caught a crab, but it got away. Else we could hav had it for bbq. And guess what? Along the way, while most were busy jumping and swimming, we spotted a couple of dolphins! They were very far away from us but Dr Lim's eyes caught them first. Because they were jumping in and out of the water, the rest manage to spot them well. I guess they are very similar to humans! But they beat us to the jumpings.

At last,

came to the last night at Bintan. Oh we were not gonna leave without having anything special. So we had a bbq. The thing is the food has already been bbq-ed by the time we reached the food area. Well besides the food there was also the bonfire to 'blind' our eyes. It was freaking big and hot. I bet the temperature goes up to thousands. And it was near us! If that didnt heat us up, the fire crackers did. Oh we had so much fun, all were like kampong kids, very excited at the sight of the sparks. Yeah and it changes colour too! If that wasnt enough, there was the fireboomers or better known in malay as mercun. These one when lighted goes shooting out like rocket and then burst into small fireworks. Of course we cant hold them in our hands, gotta plant them to the ground. Then it was the usual light and run! Using some of the local guys's cigarettes, we finished the entire box. What more than to watch fireworks under the romantic stars over the dark ocean. Why when it was even bored to light one, I tried to shoot 3 at the same time! Nearly worked except for the last one that somehow fell to the ground at the very last minute. Lucky it never rocketed at someone else or kanna anyone's $%@*

Being the last night, some choose not to sleep early, while some had heineken (preordered since that morning) for those drinkers of course. My attempt at entertaining the rest with the guitar (asked from one of the locals) failed as the waves beat the sounds. Even the stereo was spoiled, sad because it was playing great songs for awhile. Then some resort to gambling again, some get together and talk cock again, including the drinkers, and some turn in. Me, Ninirara, Syaz and Ipin decided to pay bluff at Ipin's hut. I won 2 times in a row, cause Ninirara was so easy to bluff. And I even won titee (isit how it's spelt?) My first time playing and I won!

^_^

But this night was even more special..cause this time..I had company to lie down with me outside(Maria)..this time the stars was even brighter..this time the shooting star showed itself, twice! Well we slept there for awhile, hoping to see more, but Maria was worried she might fall down to the shore, so we got back around 3 am.

The final day (how sad)

At last, all hopes of wishing this wonderful experience to end fails as we all packed our backs the very next morning. But we had a heavy brunch that day cause maybe the food supply was in excess or the management just want to treat us wholeheartedly. But before that, there was still the rock climbing and flying fox undone. Suppose to have on first day but the tide didnt allow us. So dont wanna miss anything on the list, we did our last activity for the trip! While some didnt want to get wet, the rock wall was easy to climb. Still the girls thought twice about the flying fox. Even Dr Lim, who stood on the edge for minutes! Perhaps it was still morning. But most of us did both. Congratuation. So Syaz and Ninirara got the award for the loudest scream. Dont want to be missing out, Ipin cracked his throat for the loudest kana sai scream, after most has left. Some even tried a few times, especially the girls. Once you get them started, you cannot stop..

Then, it was really goodbye. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but memories. While the girls were busy hogging over their eye candies at the place, I breathed the sea air one last time, wishing I can go back again, just for a visit. The best holiday yet ever by school. Haha. And not forgetting the last minute shopping at some mall, where things were so cheap I could have wished I had change more rupiah money..just bought 2 tees, an earpiece, some bubble gum and a red bull (for the tournament) There was even a demonstration by some university students outside the jetty, luckily it was at the arrival site. Got in in time for the ferry's departure..we headed home.

Updates on my arm : Its still useless!

The rest of the holiday is still yet boring. Njd outing is tomorow.

Like finally.