Boom Bab Lala: The crazy two-weeks-in-a-row Batam trips

Yes, you are reading this right. I went to Batam two weeks in a freaking row.
See, sea cucumber and I had a really good time there last last weekend so we came back and rave about it. We talked non-stop about it and got DW (sea cucumber's boyfriend) excited. So barely two days after we got back, they planned for another Batam weekend!

But...we didn't stay at Turi this time cos it was fully booked. So we stayed at Nongsa Point Marina. And it's quite like ONE°15. Check this out :

The view of the supposedly beach from our room

The marina. The boat is mine.....and so I imagine.

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However, I am damn disappointed with the hotel. See, it positioned itself as a luxury resort serving all the rich atas people who own their private boats. The rooms are more expensive than Turi. And the pictures on their website had everything looking pretty. So, naturally we or rather I had high expectations. However, everything was shit the moment we reached the hotel lobby. In point form, these were what got me upset :

Reached the lobby and tried to search for the beach. Apparently, the beach has been turned to a marina for the boats. So there is no beach to speak of. Great, so there is no beach at a beach resort. Okay, so it's called Nongsa Point MARINA for a good reason. Not too happy anymore because there is no beach.
We requested for early check in but they had no rooms available so we had to wait till 2pm. It was only 11.30am then. So never mind, we told them we will go shopping and they can call us a cab. Annoyed because I was tired and I just want to check in, go to my room and sleep!
Then we waited in the lobby for like thirty minutes for the cab to bring us to town for shopping. We seriously suspected that they forgot all about us. Pissed because I had to wait. Nabeh - I don't like to wait ok???
After returning from shopping, we had to wait for the car to drive us to the "villa" which is actually a bloody chalet like those at Tanah Merah. And the "villa" is up on the freaking hill. The best part - we have to go down these long flights of stairs to get to our unit. Inside the "villa" - I had to climb up more winding stairs to get to my room. Totally pissed because I am TIRED and I don't want to climb up or down anymore fucking stairs!

The long stairs down to our unit. Duh.

And winding staircases in the "villa". I was tired but being in PR, I know when to put on a sweet smile for the camera despite cursing and swearing at the back of my mind.
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Went to the pool and realized the pool chairs were all taken. Btw, did I mention there were like only fifteen pool chairs around the huge pool? So they are expecting me to bring in my own pool chairs and a picnic basket? Or they supposed I am rich enough to have my own boat where I keep my personal pink Hello Kitty pool chairs??? I might have said "Fuck off and die" at this point. But I no longer care if anyone hears me.
Recce the "villa" and thought everything is fine FINALLY but realized they have no shower caps and hairdryer. I had to called the Reception and told them off and asked them to give us a room which had a hairdryer. They called me back eventually and said there are waiting for guests to return the hairdryers, after which they will bring it over. I am FUCKING PISSED now and sweared that I am going to write a complaint email when I am back. Btw, it's been two days now and I haven't seen the bloody hairdryer. Neither had anyone called me back

Ok fine, I admit I am a very atas hotel guest but I pay for the stay alright? The least they can do is not have me waiting and let me have a pool chair to park my fat ass! And also give me a bloody hair dryer!!!! Well, to be fair, I must say that their service is really good. The staff are all polite and smiley. If everything else sucks, their service is their saving grace. However, this will not stop me from writing that email complaint. Neh neh ni boo boo. NOT HAPPY that I didn't have a hair dryer because I had to live with hair like this for two freaking days :

See? Messy hair! No wonder no one picked me up at all!!
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So anyway, like I always said, when everything sucks, make the best out of the worst scenario. So we went around and find stuff to do and being typical Singaporeans, we went to town for shopping. And guess what? We found A&W!! Oh yes baby, the root beer floats we missed; the curly fries we sooo loved - we gulped them before you can say aye!

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The A&W logo which means Happiness!

The root beer floats....oooh.....

Dugong and sea cucumber loving their root beer floats...

Not forgetting the well loved curly fries!

Look Mama! I got the curliest fry!

A meal that costs 174,400. We are expensive to feed.
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Off we went shopping at Ralph Lauren. Sorry mates, we are not letting you see what we bought. Hah! But you can look at the bags they came in :

Some damage there...tsk tsk tsk....

Do you know that there's like 3,500,000 million Rupiahs worth of shopping in there? Yeah, we spent this much despite having a 50% discount on everything! Gosh, a shopping bill in the millions. I feel like a freaking billionaire! Oh well, that's actually like about SGD500 spent only but we all ended up with Ralph Lauren polo tees! And the winner of the whole trip - DW who bought 7 polo tees!!! Sea cucumber was second in line with four polo tees and a cab. And surprise, surprise, I only bought 2 polo tees and a cap. I've got discipline for once!! (Fine, it was because I left my credit card at home) But still...... So, with all the Ralph Lauren polo tees, I can foresee many Batam golf trips coming up. Never an avid fan of golf but I will come along and parade around in my Ralph Lauren polo tees. Actually, maybe I will do a few shots - in memory of my late god-father who was a golf lover. Sea cucumber will be so happy to hear this as she knows I hate golf.

Oh...and the seafood! Geez...I tell you, the crayfish is something to die for! I have heard a lot about the restaurants overcharging tourists but surprise - we only paid about SGD100 for all of these! I would like to think the cashier fell in love with me and gave us a huge discount but.....never mind, just continue to look at the food.....

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The not-sure-what-is-inside-pot was the focus. We were just the extras. *sigh*

And it turns out that it's just steamed rice in there. Cheh!

Veggies that looks nice but don't taste nice. Bleah.

Drunk prawns. We had a bet. The loser will end up on the dining table. The prawns lost to me at dice.

Funny buns that I never quite like because they look funny.

And the fish that Sea Cucumber cleaned up like a cat...

The chilli crabs were disappointing though....

Oh...and the crayfish I will die for!

I love gong gong! I mean the food above. And of course, I love my grandfather.

I was the winner hands down. I finished almost the whole plate of gong gong!
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Btw, did I mention that on our way to Turi for drinks, we walked past this area where they set up tables for dinner and drinks? Sorry, no pictures taken there. We were busy losing ourselves in the ambiance. It was open air and right by the sea and there were candlelights on every table. Super, duper romantic setting. A perfect place for a nice proposal. I am a sucker for settings like that so pardon me when I go gaga....
And so I started imagining that if I get proposed to at a place like that, I will say yes. Of course, there will be the Tiffany box with my two carat diamond ring in it, a dozen of my favorite champagne roses, a bottle of Cristal champagne on the table and my man will go down on one knee and ask "Will you marry me?".......

Okay, back to reality. Anyway, despite the shitty moments, we had a bit of fun too. But I am not showing everyone everything on my blog. If you want to look at the rest of the photos, go to my Facebook. If I did not add you on, then it's because I don't want you to see my stuff. Huh! Here are some happy pictures :

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