Family TIme
We live in NZ. My dad works in Brazil. My sis goes to Uni in Brissy. My bro just moved his family back to Singapore from Brissy last year. So, to get everyone in the same country at the same time is almost a miracle in itself!
We almost made it this time. Only person missing is Rachel, my sis.
To make full use of the occasion, my mom booked all of us in for 3 days in Bintan Lagoon Resort. Bintan, Indonesia is only an hour's ferry ride from Singapore. Very doable for short holidays for those with young children.
We had fun, even though it rained everyday! Sophie had fun at the pool and hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa and little Janice. Sophie hasn't seen Grandpa for a year and a half so she was really thrilled to hang out with him.
We even bumped into our distant relatives. They too were having a big family gathering – 2 grandparents, 2 kids and their other halves plus 6 grandchildren! They invited us to their villa for BBQ. I haven't seen them in ages although we are about the same age and grew up together. It was really good to catch up.
I love family holidays!
June 3rd, 2010 at 1:09 am
Oh so lovely these family holidays and so nice that Soph now has a cousin to play with and grow up with.
So would you you recommend Bintan for the 4 of us in Dec ? Bintan Lagoon resort looks great leh. Was the ferry ride over ok ? Any tips very welcome.
We were actually thinking of the Club Med in Bintan but the lagoon resort looks pretty good too,
June 3rd, 2010 at 2:46 am
Hey steph, I think Bintan is great! It's near and the ferry ride is so managable, only 1 hr! No need to fly. The Bintan Lagoon resort is not too bad, spacious and service quite alright. Good swimming pool and near the beach. Also got kids room for activities but we didn't have time to go. Too busy eating and swimming.
But some areas not very well maintained. A bit dirty but the hotel rooms very clean.
My friend is going to Club Med, apparently they go every holidays. They got 3 kids. Kids are entertained with lotsa activities. I think can leave the kids there too. But hard for me to compare coz i've never been. The other resorts i've gone to in Bintan are Angsana, Mayang Sari (rem that's where I got stung!) and Nirwana. But only went there as single SO donno how suitable for kids. But Nirwana is pretty.
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:42 am
Hey thanks for taking time to write this cos I know yr last few days in Spore so precious.
Hope you guys not too sad when leaving and just looking forward with excitement to the next amazing chapter coming up !
Still not sure abt Bintan although it's so conveniently located, worried abt monsoon season leh in Dec, that it will just be a washout and ferry crossing choppy and horrid……was thinking maybe just stay in a nice resort in Sentosa so can go to Universal Studios easier. We spending first week of Jan in Spore too so prob go then when hopefully less crowded.
U dont think u'll be back for Christmas somehow tis yr ?
June 3rd, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Oh! no prob at all! Yes yes we've got mixed feelings. Now preparing Soph for the departure, i think she feels it the most. And I'll feel it the most when all the attention that she's been getting reduces to just me and James!
I think I only had to give her a bath like less than 10 times during this trip, my mil has been enjoying that time w her. 
Sigh, thing about Bintan is it ALWAYS RAINS! But the ferry ride, even when it rains, is still very stable. Ya ya I think if you wanna avoid all the hustle, Sentosa is great!
Ya, my parents and prob the whole fam coming to NZ in Dec coz my sis grads. They'll fly from Brisbane after the grad. So looking forward to travelling NZ w them.