Gem Island for 3 Days 2 Nights

28-30^th May 2010

I am back again to Gem Island or Gemia Island, which is situated in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia’s Dungun town in the state of Terengganu and if you have read my posting on my first visit to this island in September 2009, you will have most of the details to this island.

The difference between my first trip to this island and the current one is that this time round, we will be heading there on the Malaysian school holiday period, which means crowd. The reason I am heading back to this place is due to 2 reasons. Firstly, to organize a long overdue island trip for my church pastor in Singapore, which eventually became an 18 people group. Secondly, due to the heavy traffic during this school holiday period, all other resorts in other islands are either fully booked or does not have the capacity to house 18 of us. Initially, I was planning to head to Lang Tengah Island where I got married in but as mentioned, due to heavy traffic we have to consider other options. Don’t get me wrong by having the impression that just because we could get an 18 pax group in Gem Island while the others are fully booked means that Gem Island is a crappy place/resort and is not a destination of choice. While your impression might be true in some situations, Gem Island fortunately lives up to its name… Gem and gems are by no means cheap and crappy.

Bali: The Isle of Gods Day 5 & 6

22 – 23^rd March 2010

Brian has feedback to me that for my holiday postings, it is tiring to read it on a day-by-day posting as the initial part will be interesting whereas leaving those days at the end of the holiday dry and boring... Well, its kinda hard to leave out the details in those days as the blog is supposed to be about the LTs and thus to live out the motto of the blog, it got to contain those LTs. OK OK, I will try to shorten my last two days of my Bali trip so hopefully this doesn’t get monotonous.

Most of us (Saved for a few) woke up late for breakfast but none of us felt that there is any need for apologies thanks to the chatting till the wee hours and the oh-so-comfortable bed. We left for a day of blissful massage and spa at Murano Spa for the whole family and I have to repeat myself again, IT IS SUPER CHEAP!!! How cheap??? A 3.5 hours service including Balinese oil massage, body scrub (Choice of Green tea, Milk, Javanese Lulur, Boreh), hot flower bath with fresh ginger tea and a twin combo choice of pedicure, manicure, scalp massage, foot massage or facial wash and all these for a mere IDR290,000 or approximately S$45! Do not miss this for the moon! I know there are many other famous places like “Jari Menari” and “Body Works” but I chose Murano Spa as it is not as crowded as those two, reasonable price, non-religious massage as and most importantly there are both masseurs and masseuses (Jari Menari only has masseurs). Geez, I guess I have gone overboard in recommending the place and that made me sounds just like their agent… Haha!

Bali: The Isle of Gods Day 4

21^st March 2010

I know it has been long and plenty have happened since I last updated the blog but since I have officially tendered my resignation and will be joining a new company on 1^st July, the remaining days in ComfortDelgro are less hectic as it used to be for I will only be required to do the handover work to my other colleague. Having said that, it meant I have more time to do blogging than resting after works… yay!

I shall continue with my Bali trip as there are still 3 days to go. Prior to having my in laws, my mother and sis joined us today in the afternoon, my wife + J + I drove to Kuta today after checking out of Astana Kunti to see the beach and the atmosphere there. The drive only took us a mere 10 minutes and the road is smooth, unlike the day before which is totally horrendous! Kuta has a long stretch of beach and littered with peddlers selling gado-gado, temporary tattoo (Hanna), bows, drinks, local street food and renting of surfboards. Generally, it is pretty much like Legian beach, which is situated slightly up north and the weather for that day… well, smoking hot! You literally feel the burn on your skin so remember to pack that SPF 50 sun block.

J, my brother in law. Avid angler and photographer.