This trip was just an impromptu holiday. Went out on thursday with my family and came across this travel agency and there was this notice which had a 2D1N package to Bintan Lagoon Resort.

My mother went in and enquired more about this package. It turned out that there was some vacancy avaliable! My mother signed up on the spot. I was so surprised at that point of time!! First time had a holiday which was less than a day's planning away. Haha.. So went home, prepared and packed for tomorrow's early departure.

Woke up at 5.15am, did some final packing and checking to make sure nothing was left at home. Left home at 5.50am and reached the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at 6.25am and check-in for our ferry tickets. Then had to fill in the customs forms for my whole family. After tha had breakfast at a mini 'kopitiam' there. Just ate some toasts and orange juice. Went into the departure hall at 7.20am then procceded to the ferry at 7.30. The ferry was so nice compared to the one I sat to Batam. Bintan ferry much more high-class. There's a bar there too, for passangers to have some snacks. Left Singapore at 8am, reached Bintan at 8am. Bintan's time is 1hour behind Singapore's time (Singapore 8am=Bintan 7am). Only a short 1 hour journey.

There were coaches waiting to fetch tourists to the hotels in Bintan. My family took the Bintan Lagoon Resort coach which was rather full. The bus ride was only about 20mins to the hotel and there were people welcoming us when we alighted from the coach. Drums, dancers, people serving us drinks, entertaining us. Afterwhich, we checked-in and got three rooms, my brother and I to a room, parents one room and grandparents one room. The room was pretty big with a platform and a daybed for resting.

Rested for awhile while admiring the scenery. As the room was deluxe seaview, the room was facing the sea and the horizon, good view for sunrise and sunsets. Walked around the hotel and look at its facilities, restaurants and shops. There were so many activities that made us to mad. We couldn't decide which to take part in. Finally decided on the All Terrain Vehicle(ATV) ride and the Mangrove tour. The ATV ride was interesting. 1hour S$50. There was a full list of RULES that we have to follow.

After the ride we had buffet lunch at the restaurant called Kopi-O! Haha. Sounded so Singaporean. Didn't eat much, then my mum start nagging, "I pay so much and you eat only one plate?! Next time don't eat buffet anymore!" She said that umpteen time already, eversince I first started eating buffet meals years ago. Never mind about that. I am still eating buffet lunch here.

Then rested at the room for 1hour before going for the Mangrove tour. So many mosquitoes! Nonetheless the bites were nothing compared to the experience, different from Singapore Mangroves.

The tour ended at about 5pm, Bintan time (Singapore time 6pm already).

We went to shop at a 'market'. Like a shopping centre but open air. Then came across this shop which make keychains which they carve out your name for you. The sign was funny but the handwork was good.

Then went for dinner at a kind of funny restaurant. They sell Japanese food, Western food, Chinese food, Korean food and indonesian specialities. Wow!! SO wide range of varities. I chose the western menu and picked sirloin steak. Dinner was so full, went back to hotel room and had a warm bath soking in the bathtub for 1/2 hour. Watch the channel 8, 9pm show. 2nd last episode. Slept at about 11pm that night.

Woke up at 6am! Got ready and went out to the beach to take pictures of sunrise. Early bird gets the best view. Really. Here's the proof.

Below are the picture of some animals which were seen at Bintan.