Off to the islands.

I like to think my beach girl days are over. Gone are the times when I would daydream about lying in a hammock, lulled into a catnap by the sound of waves lapping against a not so distant shore; when my idea of fun involved baking myself in the intense sunshine; and when I fervently sussed out deals for beach getaways and island retreats.

It's a little ironic then that work is, once again, taking me back to the islands. And despite the bad leg situation, I was so excited it took me awhile to get to sleep last night. I may have hung up my beach sarong indefinitely, but I guess you can never quite tame my inner island chick. :)

The silent evolution.

It wasn't too long ago that I was hitting the pool every other day and packing off on an island getaway every chance I got. It's certainly been a long while since my last proper sun soaked beach vacation, and while Krabi was moodily wet a good part of the time, going out to sea and swimming with the fishes made me release how much I've missed it.

How did it happen?

How did I go from selecting my holiday destinations by beaches to selecting it by the restaurants I want to check out?
How did I develop such a consuming passion for food?

Redang, July 2007

Sydney, May 2010

Back to the island: Krabi, Oct 2010

I used to religiously check in on my favourite yoga and wellness sites, but I read more food reviews than I do fitness news these days.

I think it's time I retipped the balance...

Festivity exhaustion.

Festivity exhaustion.

What a long weekend of celebrations it's been! Barely rested from our packed Bangkok itinerary, we welcomed 2010 in the movie theatre (stroke of genius on my part, and a tradition I'd like to continue) and an impromptu prata supper. I had to cop out of beaching the next morning as I could crawl out of bed only in time for a quick coffee with Lyn followed by shabu-shabu and Monopoly with the gang.


I've never been a fan of hotpot but man this is good, especially with kurobuta and wagyu.

The monopoly and snacks lasted way past midnight too, and I almost couldn't crawl of bed again the next morning. But I'd rather be sleepy than a fool to miss the beach a second time especially during such temperamental weather, so I dragged my sorry head down for 2010's first suntan with Ran. The sunshine was gorgeous, but we did get our sarongs drenched by an overenthusiastic rolling wave. Nothing like a little sea water to start the year I say, along with a promise to run in 2011's Great Eastern when Ran's back for good. :)



No pictures of a beach still boarded up from the beach countdown, but look what greeted me on my walk home? Almost feels like winter.

And now, off for a quick date before Mom's birthday dinner. Oof.

I don't think I'm a beach babe anymore.

I don't think I'm a beach babe anymore.

While I still am a sucker for almost any movie set on the beach (horror/psycho thriller excluded), and while several picturesque scenes in Couples Retreat had me taking in noisy gulps of air, my 10-year dependence on balmy air and sandy feet has ceased to be.



Sometime in the past year, my idea of paradise has transcended beyond sparkling waters and suntan oil.

This realization comes as surprise, for it wasn't that long ago that I yearned for the sea whenever the hullabaloo of the city, or life in general, got too much to bear. It wasn't that long ago that a weekend beach getaway could put my life back in perspective after months of chaos, and that I usually found solace only when facing the ink-black sea and its calming swishing song. And it wasn't that not long ago that I was a shameless sun seeker who coveted the bronze skin and sunkissed cheeks.

I no longer hanker for them like I used to. Life and holidays no longer revolve around island days and the perfect tan, though a part of me would always jump at the chance to stroll barefoot along the water's edge and have the sunshine on my skin.

These days, I am more concerned about SPF and sun damage. I'm searching for meaning, and while the beach grounds me, it no longer feeds my soul.

I can't decide if I feel a little sad or liberated, but I think it'll be awhile before I disappear on one of those beach holidays again.

I always seem to forget how fragile are the very strong.

I always seem to forget how fragile are the very strong.

But life goes on.



Nothing quite means having Ran back like a trip to the beach for some shameless sun-worshipping. It's been awhile since I've sat in the sun doing absolutely nothing, and knowing it's gonna be some time before I'll do it again eased the niggling guilt of skin damage. Kinda.

P and I popped by Ben & Jerry's Chunk Fest later in the evening for a taste of some fest-exclusive flavors. Can't say I was a fan of Sir Elton John's sweet concoction, but I quite enjoyed Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. Chocolate peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter cookie dough and fudge chips. Yum!

And there we go, another weekend come and gone.

Island dreaming.

Island dreaming.


picture from qunci villas

My Perth plans have regretfully been canned as Australia's been listed as one of the countries with sustained community transmission of swine flu. I was really looking forward to my virgin down under trip, but I figured it's not at all civic minded to follow through. As C said: "Perth will always be there."

So I am instead going away to an island I've always wanted but never quite got around to visiting. I would usually be on a mad hotel-surfing spree, emailing countless reservation departments and comparing deals, but my traveling companion has got it all covered. All I gotta do is to hand over my passport and wheel my suitcase to the airport on Saturday. For once, I'm going to arrive at our destination semi-clueless without my list of must-sees/must-dines/must dos. I do feel kinda spoilt, but relinquishing control is surprisingly a welcome change.

So it's goodbye for awhile, and hello island life. ;)

The dance of sea breeze upon my skin.

The dance of sea breeze upon my skin.

I had a bit of trouble recalling my last beach holiday, but I'm inclined towards Goa in March. As much as Guethary in June was an awesome summer trip, France's beaches lacked the certain je ne sais quoi of Asia's beaches. Bintan was the getaway I didn't know I needed to realign my balance. It's not going to be easy reliving the trip without the 101 snaps I took, but I'll try.
*All the following pictures are taken off the Bintan Lagoon Resort webpage.

Though the dates were properly set, the start of the holiday seemed like a mad rush. The ferry website was down, and we were unable to pay for our tickets online. Mich only returned from Langkawi less than 12 hours before we were to board our 9am ferry to Bintan, and I was out late with a friend and thus unpacked till almost midnight. We were groggy and sleepy that cloudy morning, and only when we arrived to clear blue skies at the Bintan jetty did it sink in that we were on holiday.



Bintan Lagoon Resort was huge and sprawling, and basically one I would never have chosen if not for the free stay. All traces of fatigue were lost the minute we slotted in our key card and entered our room. It looks almost exactly like the picture above, except for our twin beds. A flat-screen tv, teak furniture, a huge window seat looking out to the sea, and a spacious balcony all had us squealing like seals in heat.



We wasted no time in changing into our bikinis and strolling to the beach. The last time I was in Bintan with Ceci, the beach was a 30-minute drive away and its waters were murky. This time around, the beach at our doorstep had powdery soft sand, rolling waves and crystal clear waters despite it being the monsoon season. With the sea breeze caressing my skin, I watched the uncluttered beach through half-closed eyes and felt the inexplicable rightness coursing through my veins. The rhythmic pounding of waves was nature's lullaby, but Mich and I proved too chatty for sleep. So we talked, and laughed, and walked along the water's edge picking up seashells.

Hours and minutes seemingly melded into moments, and if not for our evening spa appointment at Pasar Oleh Oleh, I'm pretty sure we would have lazed our day away till sunset. Pasar Oleh Oleh was nothing to rave about, though the massage was bone-crackingly good. We returned to the hotel and not wanting to feel like old ladies, we checked out the Silk nightclub, which was disappointly empty. I was served a really toxic Vanillatini though - by the time I'd drained the glass, I was popping peanuts at my chin and giggling a little too much.

It was pretty late by the time we made our way back to the room, and after a hot shower, I wrapped myself in the comfy cotton bathrobe and stood at the balcony watching the sea. The skies were fairly light, and it felt more like the early dawn than midnight. I turned my face up to the starless sky, feeling at ease for the first time in a very long while. I'd watched the seas too often with a hollow in my chest, but this time around, with the sea breeze playing with the lapels of my robe and the sound of waves crashing onto shore, I was whole.



I was dead to the world by the time Mich finally slept, and the next day passed by in a blur of breakfast buffets, sunshine and suntan lotions. It was a quick holiday no doubt, but this first trip with my bitch was truly an enjoyable one.

My kind of Saturday.

My kind of Saturday.

The skies were clear and the sun was out. Our beach date would have been perfect if not for the Japanese tourist who dug her high heel into my ankle on the beach tram. For the last time, who wears heels to the beach?!






"First the beaches in India, then Guethary, and now Singapore," said B. At times it did feel like we were on Goa's Baga Beach, and the sunset reminded me of our stay at the romantic Sur La Mer. The only difference was Tanjong Beach's exceptionally dirty waters. We could feel oil on the seabed, had to swim our way through a seaweed fortress, and i couldn't see my toes! What happened to the clear waters?




But with salt on my skin and the wind in my hair as I watched the skies blush at sunset, dirty seawaters were the last thing on my mind. And as we dined in candlelight at km8, I felt like we were on a beach holiday.

So, change is really the only constant huh?

So, change is really the only constant huh?

Once in awhile, we're faced with situations that force us to reconsider and address what we thought was ingrained in us. It is enlightening as much as it is unsettling, so I like to think of it as part of my growing process.

On a different note, I couldn't help but wonder as I arranged the pictures - Am I busier than I think I am?



Just in - Pictures from B's birthday/housewarming barbecue on Saturday.




The Spottiswoode gang's annual mooncake gathering.


It was Tzin Ling's birthday, so what better way to celebrate on Mid-Autumn than with a birthday mooncake? We're innovative, not cheapskate.


Going to the beach's the only logical thing to do when the sun's out. Keeping in style with my newly embraced no-planning mantra (more about that in a separate post), I abandoned my plans to stream Gossip Girl and start on my travelogue, and instead packed up for an impromptu beach trip with Ken this afternoon.


Blue skies and relentless sunshine. And as I had just borrowed a copy of Sex and the City from the library, I thought I'd order a different cocktail and have a Cosmopolitan instead. Still prefer my favourite Mojito, though the Cosmo did lull me to sleep under the shade. I'm still sunburnt despite my attempts at minimal exposure. "Je suis rose," I told B when he called earlier. I am pink! But knowing my skin, it'll probably subside by tomorrow.

I had just about enough time to squeeze in a run before Gitte came for her piano lesson. Though the scorching evening sun left my throat parched halfway through, I unknowingly shaved a minute and a half off my usual timing (note to self: play Hootie and the Blowfish for a faster run).

The GST offset letter just came in the mail, like an early birthday present of sorts. Guess I can now afford to be a tad more lenient with my three-months-to-Bali saving plan. But along with the GST letter came an overdue statement update from my Europe jaunt. I've glanced through it briefly, and the offset package is far from balancing it out. I've thus chosen denial. Haha.