KENA HANTAM AT BATAM

A resort area at Sekupang. Background is the sea.

Sleepy after a heavy meal of Padang cuisine

A total of thirty dishes were served in front of us


What? 'You still want to shop?' asked Abang to Adik?

At Nagoya Hills Shopping Plaza. Upbeat area.

At Nagoya dry market where dried stuff and pickled fruits to buy

Ferri - the snack stall owner with mum

Since I can't take part in F1, this go-karting is good enough!

What Ma? No polo tee for me! That's Nizar and hubby.

The local police keeping guard and looking vigilant

At the Thua Pek Kong Chinese Temple

Sea voyagers of yesteryears

A local tourist shop selling carvings

At The Golden Prawn 555 Seafood Kelong

Thaqif reliving his childhood days...

The local performers who ate glass pieces and red hot charcoal

A tranced dancer eating pieces of glass

The Kuda Lumping Dance

Having fun in the bus

Mum had Tini to take care of her needs. Thanks Tini!

The Go-Kart Circuit opposite Golden View Hotel

A myriad of tee-shirt designs in the background

Getting ready for the go-kart ride

The second rider behind the wheeel

Thaqif looks like Robo Cop here!

Haggling madly for the right price!

Polo Ralph Lauren going at 50% disuount

A villa resort by the beach. Enchanting view of the sea.

The lashing of the waves on the rocky coast could be heard

A FAMILY TOGETHERNESS

Finally got everyone together for a short getaway to Batam. Our last family trip to this island was when the kids were about 4-6 years old. Back then, Batam was the hot choice for Singaporeans hungered for a short holiday destinations. That was also the time when Zoo Station hit Singapore's radio wavelength like crazy. I remember, with the help of the local police, we had to carry my son's pram above everyone else's head to board the ferry alive.

This time round there was no pram to push and no milk powder to pack. The boys had grown into young men while my husband and I had earned ourselves more wrinkles and white hair. But all these are the price you pay for the joy of parenthood and for not having discovered the fountain of youth yet!

The trip got the boys excited because of the Go-Kart Circuit Centre (opposite Golden View Hotel at Bangkong) which was officially opened on 1st June 2009 with 395 metres of length and 8 metres. The track features 9 turns and 6 straights with access speed of more than 50kmph. It cost SGD $15 for a ten-minute drive. It took me a day of persuasion by my boys and hubby to try the karting. Verdict? Exhilarating and awesome for a first timer behind the wheel.

We hopped down at Sekupang from the air-conditioned coach and visited the 23 metres iconic Kwan Im Statue, which is the biggest statue at Indonesia’s Archipelago. Seafood lunch was at Golden Prawn 555 where we also watched the Kuda Lumping Cultural Dance. We ended the first day trip with a traditional massage - oiling away the stress and stiff joints accumulated throughout 2009.

Our second and third day was spent on shopping and more shopping at Batam Centre, DC Mall, Nagoya Hills and Nagoya Market. My two sons hoarded their bags with T-shirts that were selling at SGD $3 and shirts and jackets that were going at huge discounted price. My hubby had an eye for anything unusual and found himself a hand painted loose shirt made from jute cloth.

You want to know what I ended up with? Snacks for the siblings and tons and tons of blouses and shirts for my new wardrobe. Rest assured, nothing expensive for I made huge savings on the 'Buy Two At 50% Less' marketing strategy. The Indonesians sure know how to entice me to part with my rupiahs. Kena hantam left and right by the shoping bug at Batam! Very difficult to resist the buying and spending. Ngak bisa dong!

My husband and I were glad that we dragged the boys, mum and my maid for the trip. The trip brought us closer and we had fun doing the same thing. So what shall we do for our next holiday? But first, must find the common time slot before planning for one again!