Monday, February 22, 2010

Viva La Bintan.

When Hubby said let’s go to Bintan Island for the Chinese New Year holidays, I was a bit skeptical about it. All I knew about the Island, is that it’s part of Indonesia and quite near to Singapore. Did some research online and found out that there’s nothing much to do there but to chill by the beach. Hubby wanted to have a chilled and relaxing holiday within the resort itself that does not involve any hectic sightseeing activities. Therefore Bintan is ideally the best place for it.

My brother in law (Hubby’s youngest brother) joined us for our Bintan escapade. I wasn’t expecting much from the island that is famous in history as the place where Sultan Mahmud of the fallen Sultanate of Malacca fled to after Malacca was taken over by the Portugese in 1511. Keeping an open mind, we made our way to Bintan Island from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal via a 55 minutes high-speed catamaran ride on the eve of Chinese New Year.

Hubby booked us accomodations at the Nirvana Garden Resorts. There are many beach side resorts in Bintan Island but as it was the Chinese New Year holidays, many of the resorts were fully booked and we were fortunate enough to get a room at Nirvana Gardens. At first we were contemplating to stay at Club Med Bintan, (as we’ve heard good reviews from friends who’s been there) but when we got the quotation and found out that we had to fork out USD8,000 for the whole family for a 4 days 3 nights package, Nirvana Gardens Resort was our best choice. It only cost us a grand total of SGD1,800. (inclusive of food and all the outdoor activities)

For someone who was a bit skeptical about holidaying in Bintan, I ended up liking the Island (actually it’s more of  liking the resort as we spent our time only at the resort). I enjoyed lying in the hammock by the beach reading while Shafiq and his Uncle was busy building sand castles and Hubby taking a stroll along the beach. We enjoyed lazing around the resort’s pool that overlooks the beach.We enjoyed the outdoor activities available within the resort (lasser tag, riffle shooting, riding the ATV,etc…). We enjoyed the buffet spread. Shafiq enjoyed his time at the resorts’s kids club and made some new friends.

Overall, I would say it was a very satisfying holiday. (The only down side of it, all of us came back very, very tanned!!! :D)

Some pics from our Bintan trip.


 In the catamaran, on the way to Bintan.


Our not too big, not too small hotel room.


 Chinese New Year celebrations at the resort.


Hubby joining in the "Yee Sang tossing" festivities.



Getting ready for "laser-tag"


Hubby in "combat" mode.


BIL showing off his gun.


Me, trying very hard to take cover so I won't end up being shot. 
Unfortunately, as I was dressed in white
(how stupid of me when playing war games!), I was an easy target.


Mummy's Little Cowboy.


Mummy's Little Cowboy seems to be upset with his "horsey".


Hubby discovered a new "passion".


Shafiq and his newfound friends from the Kids Club.


At the "Kellong".


By the resort pool overlooking the beach. 
(It was a very windy morning as can be seen by my windblown hair!)


The Adventurous Four in their ATVs' (All Terrain Vehicle)


"Haiyah"! ATV got stuck in the sand....


ATV crew to the rescue.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Call It The Monday Blues.

Here comes another Monday. After what seems like a “bullet-speed” weekend (how time flies…. sigh), it’s back to the weekly routine. Come Monday to Friday, I become the unofficial “chauffer” to hubby and son. (Can’t complain about the “chauferring” bit as Hubby has given a nice car to drive around.)

I really don’t know what’s wrong with me at times. I have a great life, the love and devotion of a wonderful man whom I proud to call my husband, an adoring son who’s always telling me how much he loves me and yet there comes the time where I feel a sense of emptiness inside of me that I’m finding hard to shake off.

Back in August 2007, I was a wife and a mother with a career.  I was a Group HR Manager for a plc  with 8 subordinates reporting directly to me. Come September 2007, Hubby got promoted and as the new position required my Hubby to be based in Hong Kong, I quit my job and followed Hubby as the family made the move to Hong Kong. For the first time in my married life, I became a full time mother and wife. After 2 years in Hong Kong, another big leap in Hubby’s career and hence the move to Singapore where we currently reside.

I have never regretted the decision to quit my job as the family follows Hubby to wherever his career path may take us. It has been an exciting journey and an eye opening experience for us. I felt that it is the right calling for me to be there 100% for the family. But as Hubby climbs up the career ladder and my son is growing up so fast right in front of my eyes, I’m beginning to feel so left behind, with no career accomplishments or any sort of personal accomplishments that I can be proud of. I wonder if other housewives feel the same way that I feel.

Many of my working friends say that they are envious of my life. They wish they could just quit their jobs and dedicate their lives to being a full time housewife but financially they can’t afford to. Well, I guess I’m lucky enough that I don’t really have to be worried about finances as the monthly allowance that my Hubby gives me is more than what I was earning when I was still working. But at times, I think I’m the envious one when I see my friends doing so well in their respective careers.

Is there something wrong with me? Why can’t I just be contented with the great life that has been bestowed upon me? Sigh….