Bintan Island

I’m speaking to a conference in Singapore today, on social media.  My hosts made the very sensible suggestion that if I come all this way, I should visit some neighbouring country while I am here (there isn’t that much to see in Singapore itself and I have been here several times before).

I looked at Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos, but decided that each of them really needs more than a few days, to do them justice. And then when I had drinks with Paul Buchanan (who lives in Singapore) he suggested a nearby resort island.

So I didn’t even know Bintan Island existed until I googled it. It is only a one hour ferry from Singapore, and is technically part of Indonesia.

I stayed at the Ansana, which has this very large swimming pool, and an open air restaurant on the beach. It is very reasonably priced – NZ$150 for a room including breakfast, and excellent service.

They even arrange to have a staff member on their day off hand deliver your Blackberry to you in Singapore, after you leave it behind!

Many an hour spent on the beach. I got through six books in three days (and have run out already!).

The view from the ferry terminal.

All up, I got to spend four days and three nights at a lovely tropical resort for under NZ$600. Can’t complain about that. Almost makes up for having to spend ten hours on a plane in cattle class.