The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
~St. Augustine
~St. Augustine
We are flipping the pages in book called "World Map" and we got to read the chapter called "b!nT@N - !NdOnEsI@". We ( L- R Muthu Sir, Ashok, Me, Anand, Farooq, Mahantesh)packed our bags and headed to Tana Merah Ferry Terminal to board the ferry to Bintan Agro resort. What a Pleasant surprises - the ferry team were calling out our names and we rushed to get in to Ferry after the immigration check. We went to the top of the ferry to get a "Titanic" feel and it was a smooth sailing till we reached Bintan. Our guide "Chitra" - We were surprised to hear an Indian name, took us to the Sea side beach resort. Room was good with a scenic view of the beach from the balcony and when you step out of your room you can see sky blue swimming pool easily inducing us to dive in.
We started off with our lunch in a wrecked boat gave the feel of the beach. Then we kicked of our campaign to win the Beach Football - hands down I would say that was my/our best ever football match in may be everyone's lifetime. Farroq's relived the moment of Beckam - with a replica of "Bend It Like Beckam" kick !! We fought hard but for Farooq and Anand's heroics snatched them a good WIN but we LOST in a energy sapping two rounds of game albeit the best efforts of our team !! Few hours of break then for the first time in my life whole team went for Kayaking - It was an awesome and tiresome experience!! Awesome - cos it is the first time in my life I'm went for a kayak and to add excitement to that I did it alone, it was tiresome cos even after kayaking for close to 30 min we couldn't reach the "White Sand Island" which was visibly close to our naked eyes !! Then we realised - How tough the life for Fisherman's are !!
From water and sailing now again to beach for playing beach Volley, now its not alone our group, but it was an International encounter. A clash of INDIA Vs UKRAINE !! What a game it was we were losing in the initial set and when Anand came in we started to reverse the scenario to beat the Ukranians in 3-0 of the best of 5 encounter. Next pit stop is in swimming pool and then the day winded peacefully in the supper table with bill touching One Lakh Rupiya* for just two guys (*Indonesian currency) !!
Next day after a very good breakfast we decided to go for "Snorkelling. We choose an island "Wapura" which was far off and little wavery. Mahantesh and Farroq the Ian Thorpe's of our crew can swim only in pool , but we convinced them to come with us - as we 4 members knew swimming quite well. Now with fears in their mind but smile in their face Farooq and Mahntesh boarded the speed boat to take the plunge of their life with life jacket to protect them. Once we started in the speed boat, everyone had a share of luck to keep a hand on the driving wheel. Once the wheel was in the hands of captain he showed his skills with boat going at full speed and most of the time the boat was in "AIR" and equally fierce waves made the boat to plunge in to ocean quite often. For every jump our breakfast was ready to see the world.The captain showed no signs of fear but everyone started to feel the heat more specifically the sea sickness feeling so we need to turn back after covering almost the distance in 30 min. So when we reached the shores again we asked Mahnthesh - who was sitting in the front row with hands tightly holding the steel bar - " How Did you felt Mahntesh ?" - he told all his life he has never experienced this kind of threat, but to tell you he never showed that in his face, till he reached the shores -Bravo Mahntesh, Bravo !!
After returning to resort, 4 of us decided to go for snorkelling again but in the near by "White Sand Island" which we thought of Kayaking the day before. For the first time in my life I did snorkelling to find the Corals, Star Fish, A big Shell, Nemo Fish and quite a few fish species. Then we swam to reach the white sand island to find a fisherman's hut. Hut is max of 10 x 10 area made of palm leaves with gaps to get sun light and ventilation but no current, and they don't have the best of the equipments to support their day today life, but they got a scenic beauty of the never ending blue horizon of sea and cloud with peace and tranquillity filling the place is still vivid in my memory. This trip is one of the best trips for us, as the whole team had a fun and Only FUN !! We are trying to read all the pages - Next page is around the corner - Lets read it later !!
We started off with our lunch in a wrecked boat gave the feel of the beach. Then we kicked of our campaign to win the Beach Football - hands down I would say that was my/our best ever football match in may be everyone's lifetime. Farroq's relived the moment of Beckam - with a replica of "Bend It Like Beckam" kick !! We fought hard but for Farooq and Anand's heroics snatched them a good WIN but we LOST in a energy sapping two rounds of game albeit the best efforts of our team !! Few hours of break then for the first time in my life whole team went for Kayaking - It was an awesome and tiresome experience!! Awesome - cos it is the first time in my life I'm went for a kayak and to add excitement to that I did it alone, it was tiresome cos even after kayaking for close to 30 min we couldn't reach the "White Sand Island" which was visibly close to our naked eyes !! Then we realised - How tough the life for Fisherman's are !!
From water and sailing now again to beach for playing beach Volley, now its not alone our group, but it was an International encounter. A clash of INDIA Vs UKRAINE !! What a game it was we were losing in the initial set and when Anand came in we started to reverse the scenario to beat the Ukranians in 3-0 of the best of 5 encounter. Next pit stop is in swimming pool and then the day winded peacefully in the supper table with bill touching One Lakh Rupiya* for just two guys (*Indonesian currency) !!
Next day after a very good breakfast we decided to go for "Snorkelling. We choose an island "Wapura" which was far off and little wavery. Mahantesh and Farroq the Ian Thorpe's of our crew can swim only in pool , but we convinced them to come with us - as we 4 members knew swimming quite well. Now with fears in their mind but smile in their face Farooq and Mahntesh boarded the speed boat to take the plunge of their life with life jacket to protect them. Once we started in the speed boat, everyone had a share of luck to keep a hand on the driving wheel. Once the wheel was in the hands of captain he showed his skills with boat going at full speed and most of the time the boat was in "AIR" and equally fierce waves made the boat to plunge in to ocean quite often. For every jump our breakfast was ready to see the world.The captain showed no signs of fear but everyone started to feel the heat more specifically the sea sickness feeling so we need to turn back after covering almost the distance in 30 min. So when we reached the shores again we asked Mahnthesh - who was sitting in the front row with hands tightly holding the steel bar - " How Did you felt Mahntesh ?" - he told all his life he has never experienced this kind of threat, but to tell you he never showed that in his face, till he reached the shores -Bravo Mahntesh, Bravo !!
After returning to resort, 4 of us decided to go for snorkelling again but in the near by "White Sand Island" which we thought of Kayaking the day before. For the first time in my life I did snorkelling to find the Corals, Star Fish, A big Shell, Nemo Fish and quite a few fish species. Then we swam to reach the white sand island to find a fisherman's hut. Hut is max of 10 x 10 area made of palm leaves with gaps to get sun light and ventilation but no current, and they don't have the best of the equipments to support their day today life, but they got a scenic beauty of the never ending blue horizon of sea and cloud with peace and tranquillity filling the place is still vivid in my memory. This trip is one of the best trips for us, as the whole team had a fun and Only FUN !! We are trying to read all the pages - Next page is around the corner - Lets read it later !!
Photographs By - Yours Truly !!
4 comments:
Hi Vinod,
Nice narration, buddy.
Indeed, we realy had a nice time there.
BTW, the girl's name is Sri Santi, not Chitra ;-)
-Ashok
Ashok,
Hmm Im bad in this :) U rememberd still now ? Cool I know now u r competing with Chitappu :-) Pun intended !! THx for coming !!
Good quote da Vinod...
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page"
Seems they have done some chagnes to website access.am able to access urs da.
wil gothrough them and log my comments tom.the ones in eh fron page are cool.
Good narration bro,got a feeling as if i was there with you,Enjoy Bro,You wont get this time back
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