Batam trip with my web friends...(updated 18/07/07)

Yo! Yet another Batam Spa weekend trip (16th June 2007) but this time it's with my web friends and ex-colleague... TO SOME OF YOU WHO CANNOT MAKE IT TIME AND AGAIN, MAKE IT A POINT TO GO!

My former colleague, Zul, have gone to Batam with me twice and this time he brought his elder bro along! They all had fun....

He brought his brother but when his friend, Jaja, heard about it, she decided to follow and dragged her family members and also friends along for the trip - 5 of them. I'm missing one or two or three more friend though. They said they'll be joining me and my friends but they always kena postpone their trip. OI! MAKE A STAND! NO MORE ASSIGNMENTS OR APPOINTMENTS WHEN U WANNA GO BATAM WITH ME! HAHAH! (Shamira Shake-Your-Bon-Bon! Siti Aminah Yunos! Yati Mohammed! When!!??)



So, in total there were 9 of us going on this trip. It was a total havoc just booking for the trip, spa & our own transportation. Tho we took the travel package, we need to book our own transport to bring us around as we booked free & easy. So, I called upon my trusted regular chauffer in Batam. And Jaja's friend, Kak Kiah called her friend in Batam to book their van.

But above all, the trip was fantastic! All we all ever did was eat & shop! And not forgetting the Spa retreat! Syok, man!

Upon reaching the new jetty in Sekupang, we went to the money-changers there. There were much hagglings between the 2 or 3 money-changer shops trying to get customers and the customers were trying to get a good deal of exchange rates. Finally, on that day, we got SG$1=5880 Indonesian Rupiah. It was more expensive that previous week which was about SG$1=6100 Rupiah but money rates was always fluctuating in Batam Island. So we settled for the best price we could get there.

My chauffer, Johni was already there waiting for us. So was Kak Rokiah's friend who got to rent the van from someone there. Luggages was loaded and we were brought to Vista Hotel to check-in and drop our luggages first.

Jaja, got the Family Suite as there are 7 of them. The Family Suite consists of 3 separate bedrooms with their own bathroom & TV, 2 of the rooms connected to 1 large balcony where they can hang out. There's also a kitchen pantry and a dining room. It was huge. They were happy. As we usually do, my husband and I was located at the groundfloor deluxe room near the Reception.

We gather at the lobby after putting down our bags and discussed where to go next. All were hungry so we decided to go and eat at a local Sederhana Restaurant.

For Nasi Padang meal in Indonesia, guests will be seated and dishes will be laid out in front of them in small plates. There'll be like tons of delicious dishes to choose from to eat with your plate of rice.



But once you touch one of the small dishes, it is already counted in your bill. As long as you don't touch the dish, it won't be included in your bill. Unless you go by package that INCLUDES lunch. So whatever u eat or don't eat will already be in the bill.



So all 9 of us were seated in the airconditioned area and served up dishes and dishes of yummies. I don't know who's hand was that but he/she was really eager to grab the dishes. hahah! Just joking, ah!

Here's a sample of the dishes... Lemak Sotong (squid cooked in coconut milk and chilli)



The Aftermath...


After, we finished our meal, called on the waiter for the check. Being Singaporeans, we were always so kiasu... Everything also want! And so we ate a lot of dishes. Got the waiter confused as to how to calculate the amount we consumed. BUUURRPP!
See him scratch his head here...

It was really funny... we all laughed and the waiter laughed too!

After lunch, my husband and I went back to the hotel to arrange the spas and our spa was at 2pm that day, but the rest of the gang carried on shopping.

The spa was as usual wonderful... (1) Body scrub using the traditional 'lulur', (2) Full body massage (my regular masseuse knows my body well so she knows what type of massage helps me), (3) a half hour (or until you're satisfied but not more than required according to spa advise) in the sauna room & (4) a soak in the warm tub with herbs and flowers. Waaaaaahhh. syok....

We finished our spa at around 4pm and arranged for our other friends to have their spa. We went to our room to rest a bit while waiting for them to finish their spa.

Zul had a male massuesse to massage his aching body and also his brother was having the 'bekam' treatment. It was a gross sight coz the process was clinical and involved removing 'dirty' or toxic blood from the body through the skin from the back of the body and also the back of the legs. I took a picture of what 'bekam' treatment is like. Quite a number of guys like to do this 'bekam' treatment. It's good for their body.

(to be continued soon.. hopefully by this week.. wahahah! I keep telling myself that)

No easy money but at least EARN JUST BY READING EMAILS.

Hi, all
Just started this earn at home thingie. I've never tried before and was not always convinced about these things until a personal friend of mine introduce to me.

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I'm trying right now. So far I've got $0.054! hahah! not much but at least I earn something out of reading emails. Try it!

http://www.emailcashpro.com/?source=Source_Name&r=missdarkness73

Just spend only 5-10 minutes checking ur emails and earning the points.

My monthly trip to batam (16th June 2007)

Hi, all,

Seems that I'm in pain in my womb and my back is killing me. The only thing I have to do besides taking painkillers everday and suffer every night is to have my massage with my regular masseuse in Batam. She's good in this sorta thing. I'm gonna spend at least 3 days there just relaxing, de-stressing and getting myself back to health.

U guys wanna join me for spa? (read my blog dated 6th June 2007) Contact me and let me know by tomorrow morning (13 June 2007).

I'm going on the 16th June and will be relaxing and de-stressing so that I don't suffer from depressions like I did long time ago, till I felt like killing myself, sitting on window ledges and slashing my wrists. So long as I have my husband with me to comfort me and de-stress me, it's okay.

I'm really suffering physically and mentally in self-esteem but I seemed to be invisible to a lot of people but it's okay. I just have my husband to depend on or to give my love and care to.

Besides that, I'm gonna buy my mom the branded bag she always wanted for her belated birthday present. I was looking around in Batam also and saw an electric gibson guitar - thought of buying it for someone but it seemed that I'm invisible so I'd just save my money.

It seemed that I'm always thinking about other people when I'm on vacation or whenever something reminded me of what they always liked or their favourite things and I always manage to buy those things for them... but it seemed to me, caring and thinking about them, does nothing but conjure up their hatred towards me.

I've always loved all of them... but maybe I'm just not wanted or loved anymore. People seemed to think that my husband and I are selfish people but they just don't know what sacrifices we have made and what we've suffered and still suffering till now.

But it's okay. I'm not going to fret about it like they always do about how they've spent their money on me and saying if it's not because of them I wouldn't even get to be where I am now.

That's fine with me... but it's time I fly the coop and take care of my own nest.

So far, I've been helping and sacrificing and if people still think I'm selfish. It's okay.

As they say, 'Absence make the heart grow fonder' & also 'You won't know what you have until you lose it'.

And so... feeling useless and rejected and invisible, I'm trying my best to make myself scarce and trying my best to take my leave from this place and start a new life of my own.

I am guessing people won't miss me that much when I'm gone coz they simply hate me and my husband for I don't know what reasons.

As whitney houston said 'It's not right, but it's okay.' I'm gonna love them anyways... quietly. In my heart. It will be my secret. For however I showed my love, not by saying them, but by doing small little things for them everyday, I'm just invisible and of no use anymore.

So I'll take my leave.

Really thanks for everything.

Our Batam Trip

My husband and I went to Batam recently (26/05/07) to help out my parents who has a group of travellers from a company who wanted to make their yearly celebration there. We've arranged for them the hotel, meals, event hall usage, transportation and tours.

It was hectic & tiring but it's kinda okay too coz I get to go to my monthly spa over there. I used to stay at the Vista Hotel in Batam but because this particular group which I was bringing over, wanted to stay at the Planet Holiday Hotel in Batam and so I had to stay in that same hotel in order to meet up with the hotel staff on the arrangements of facilities for the event.


Saw a very thick cluster of cloud... decided to take a picture of it....

But nevertheless, here are some of the photos and descriptions of the 2 days I was in Batam.

On the tour bus upon reaching Batam.

The tour guide
Lunch time at the Bundo Kanduang 'Padang' restaurant.

While guests settle down to eat in the private airconditioned eating area, my husband discussed with the tour leader in Batam (below) on other arrangements to be made for the event.

After the discussion, we sat at a table with the tour guide and designated bus driver to eat the delicious lunch. Lots of local dishes to choose from, but remember, they're being laid out for u on the table, but once you touch a certain dish, you'd have to finish everything on the plate as they will charge you by the plate of dishes you've touched.

After lunch, my husband and I were dropped off at the hotel while the rest of the group went on a tour around the island.


Pictures Above: Planet Holiday Hotel & the lobby the hotel, Batam Island, Indonesia.





Upon checking into my hotel room, I've got this habit of checking out the toilet first just to make sure everything's in order or there's no leaky gadgets or if the flush is working or not. The hotel checked us into a Deluxe room with a balcony where I have a nice view of Batam Island and the hotel pool (pictures below).



After checking in and resting a while, we met the tour leader to discuss more of the hotel arrangements for the event. About an hour later, we went out to buy some stuff and called upon our trusted chauffer, Johni (picture below).



After buying the stuff we need - products there are really cheap, by the way - , we went back to the hotel to have our spa retreat for about 2 hours.

My husband and I had our body scrub, full body massage, sauna & warm herbal bath in the tub to relax our body and mind to the sound of javanese music in the background. After a month's hard work and stress, this is our time to de-stress.

But at around 5pm, it's time for us to get back to our job of making sure things run smoothly for the event.



We made sure the event hall at the hotel was arranged properly, lightings there, and the Emcee for that night - who were coincidentally was crowned Miss Batam 2004 at their local beauty pagent (pictures of my husband & I with the beauty queen).



My husband became the deejay for that night. Unfortunately, the facilities for a small party wasn't quite sufficient so we end up playing songs from whatever CDs we had on us which was limited. If only I had the 'jack connector' for my MP3 player, I could just plug in all my hip hop songs into the speaker.. but alas, we got to make do with what we had and make it the best we could.

My Husband, the part-time deejay. haha!


When the event hall was filled with the guests, the even started with games and such, arranged by the guests' leaders themselves. I was the one doing the photography and such. After a lot of gun games and lucky draws, the guests just enjoyed their food from the buffet, while my husband and I went out to meet up with the tour leader again for courtesy and discussions just to update him on what's going on or whatever it is that we needed for the event.



Though there were a little bit of hiccups and such, we managed to go through the night without major disappointments. The event ended around 11pm close to midnight, and everyone retired to their own hotel rooms.

The next day was free and easy time for everyone. After breakfast, I called my personal masseuse to my hotel room to have my private 2nd body massage. I had to regain my health and my regular personal masseuse was the only person who knows how my body works and she gave it her best shot at massaging me and getting all my body muscles back to health.

Later, after my masseuse left, my husband and I got a full hour sleep before we check out of the hotel.


Taking pictures of my handsome husband for fun.

At about 1pm, we made sure every one of the guests in our group were settled into the bus and their ferry back to Singapore were arranged and greeted them off as formality and smiling at them, (despite being treated invisible by three-quarter of the group members). When they were off, we waited for our chauffer, Johni to have lunch at our favourite restaurant in town. See pictures of my favourite local dishes and bottled tea below.




After lunch, my husband and I went window-shopping at one of the famous shopping centre nearby the ferry terminal.

We still got a couple hours left before our trip back to Singapore. So we decided to hang out at a local Donut cafe called J.Co and surf the net using our iPaq.

I was sick again...!

I don't know what's wrong with me, man... Maybe it's the ventilation in the office? Maybe the non-ergonomic chair I'm sitting in at my desk? Maybe it's the weather? Sigh...

I was sick again past few days, my tummy wasn't feeling good, my joints aching, my back ached every damn morning and I had to take two types of painkillers prescribed by doctors.

This time I didn't take MC coz you know how people talk in the office. Although I'm genuinely sick, if I take MC too frequently, HR mgmt will enquire.. sigh... Life's like this... It's so unfair that you get questioned all sorts when you're sick.... and sometimes not only colleagues or mgmt are skeptical, even family members don't believe that you're really sick.

I took painkillers yesterday and couldn't even work as it was too painful. My husband bought for me medicated muscle relief patches to put on my back and I took about 2 hours of sleep at my desk here coz I couldn't even concentrate on my job. I informed my other colleagues and they helped me do some stuff.

I'm grateful and appreciative of them for helping me out and my boss for understanding me.

I'm better today... after a lot of rest.. but I don' t know if my husband is okay coz around midnight to about 2am he had to leave the house to drive all the way back to his jobsite as there was something wrong with the chiller that provided the cooling atmosphere through aircon to the server room and it is very crucial for the server room to be cold all the time in order to keep the computers working 24hours.

I can't remember wat time he came back home as I was already knocked out after taking the muscle relaxant and couldn't wake up even if a bomb exploded next block. I hope tonight upon returning home, my husband get to sleep well and hope nothing goes wrong with the stupid chiller at his job site again.