How I Spent my Seollal

Milepost: 244 Photos
So, the morning after the zoo we decide it's finally time to leave Singapore for the beach. The word was that we needed to head down to the Golden Mile Complex to see a travel agent about a bus ticket. I had my heart set on Pulau Tioman, an island on the east coast of Malaysia, so we started to ask around about bus tickets to Mersing, the coastal town closest to the island. Unfortunately, the daily bus left early that morning. Also, the next few days' buses were unavailable. I still don't know if it's due to monsoon season (less buses going there) or Chinese New Year (over-booked), but it was probably both. We could have gone to Kuala Lumpur and hoped for a bus from there, but I didn't want to risk/waste precious beach time waiting around another city.

Exasperated after being turned away by at least 8 agents, I finally broke.
"Look, we just want to relax on a beach," I said to the next agent.
He responded with a post-it note naming one over-traveled beach in southern Malaysia, as well as two in Indonesia.
"Indonesia?? Isn't that far away?"
"An hour by ferry," he replied. "Go to the Tanah Merah ferry terminal to get tickets." He was the most helpful of the day.

After a bit of internet research, Bintan, Indonesia seemed the best choice for peace and quiet. And so we traded our Ringgits for Rupiahs and headed to the ferry terminal for the rockiest boat ride of both of our short lives.

We arrived in a seeming island paradise, one of us a little lighter, both of us sicker. But I knew from my research that the northern section of the island was fenced off, over-priced resorts ala Club Med. We promptly booked a taxi driver to take us to the east cost where there were more affordable bungalows and quiet low-season treats. We found exactly what we were seeking: an adorable, cheap room; gorgeous, clean, sand beaches; absolute solitude, save for the staff. We were, in fact, the only residents at our resort.

More photos at Flickr. Click on these pictures to link to the set. ^^