Kindred Escapades: Nirwana Gardens, The Bintan Island Getaway (Day Two)

Last night, me and Nina weren't able to snooze 'coz Casey had trouble sleeping. No, it wasn't mosquitoes, temperature or un-comfortability. In fact, we had a queen sized bed and air-conditioning-- I thought it might be too cold or maybe he may be sensing something unnatural. While his eyes were shut he was crying and kept saying, 'I want to go out.'

Goodness, it was 2 am! So we carried him, unlatched the door and got out. He quieted down and returned to sleep. As soon as we lay him back on his pillow, he started getting agitated again. We probably did it 3 times. The last one on a longer interval and was successful. We went on discussing what it could have been. My wide-reader and intelligent wife said he was having night or sleep terror. She further explained kids tend to have it at around 3 which is just Casey's age. They won't remember anything the following morning.

As we were already getting ready to go back to sleep, it was starting to get bright outside. I grabbed my camera, decided to catch the sunrise and wander off the shoreline-- such a tranquil and refreshing feeling.

Just a couple of strangers taking an early stroll and chit-chatting

Not sure of the name but this sea plant is washed ashore

Found this brown, heart-shaped leaf laying untouched on the sand

Sun's rays penetrate through the bushes on an isolated area of the beach

"Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer." - William S. Burroughs

I made my way back to our chalet as I needed to wake up my folks. The Coffee Shop, which was a good 30-minute walk away, serves breakfast only until 10:30 am. Mommy was right. We asked Casey about last night and he couldn't remember a thing. Anyways, we're just glad he woke up energized and giddy.

After he had a shower, he went straight to his tita Yhani's place, knocked on the door and yelled, 'Tita Yhaniiiiiii!' While he was inside waiting for them to get prepped, me and mommy got the chance to check out the lotus pond beside our room and snap some photos. This pink flora looks adorable!

A resort employee is seen removing fallen leaves off the thatched-roof of La Luna Restaurant

LOTUS: A sacred flower and symbol of resurrection in Egypt, this flower which grows in marsh and damp wetlands, has a property to stay dormant in times of drought and to blossom again when water returns.

Given favorable conditions, lotus seeds can stay viable for long periods, even extending to several years. Oldest recorded germination was seen in a dry lake bed in north eastern China, from seeds that were 1300 yrs old.

Stamens of lotus are dried to produce fragrant teas while lotus seeds or nuts can be eaten either raw or popped like popcorn. Lotus seed paste is used in many pastry, cake and pudding recipes.
Fabric made from fibers of lotus plant is used in Myanmar for making robes of Buddha. According to old legend, lotus flowers bloomed everywhere that lord Buddha walked.

In Asian traditions, lotus is seen as a divine symbol of sexual purity and non attachment. Also symbolizing elegance and beauty, lotus is used in poetry and songs, allegorically for ideal female attributes. - L. Newtonic website

Plucked a Hibiscus (gumamela) and set it on mommy's ears

Along the way, Casey never ceases to experience the objects and things around him. I believe I've taught him that when we take the bus or train in Singapore. Instead of being seated, I usually have him stand on the seat looking out the window, describing and pointing things out to him. In the train, instead of taking the reserved seat or entertaining him with an iPhone or iPad, I carry him and stand by the door so he can see the rail tracks and the surroundings below.

We even have a game we play, while commuting, that makes him aware and observant of people and his surroundings. Now, I feel there is no need to point it out to him anymore. He is the one who shows it to us. His perception of objects and even circumstances around him has advanced-- it sometimes amuses and catches us off guard. We can see that he appreciates nature and man-made stuff alike.

We made a turn on a narrow road that had fences and glass-enclosed areas along it. Initially, we didn't know what it was until we got closer and took a peek. The first few were the cute and furry 'lil ones like the guinea pigs and rabbits. Then came the birds like the chicken, eagle and vulture. Next were the reptiles: crocodiles, pythons, etc. The mini zoo for us wasn't so 'mini' considering the pretty hardcore collection they had-- we were thrilled.

For a free breakfast, we were expecting a continental one. Instead, we were delighted and much impressed on the huge variety they've set for us. There were toast, cake, fruits, soup, juice, coffee, rice, potatoes, salad, egg (hard-boiled, scrambled, sunny-side up, cook-while-you-wait-omelette), Nasi Lemak, and many more.

At this point, Casey still relies heavily on his milk. He only eats and tastes small portions of what we're eating. There was this one yogurt he liked which tasted funny. He insisted on still ingesting it that it made him puke all over the dining area. Good thing the staff was quick to clean it up. He didn't get sick. He just does that whenever he doesn't like what he's swallowed or if there's too much in his mouth.

Other than that, it was a sumptuous and yummy buffet breakfast. Perfect before we plunged in the infinity pool.

Toast, cake and dessert area of The Coffee Shop

Nirwana Gardens' infinity pool facing the Singapore Strait

Casey finds a playmate at the children's wading pool

Massaging jets activated on the left side area of the infinity pool

If we were a mobile phone and already in red 'low battery' indicator, this was the 'charging' station. It was an ideal venue to just empty your mind, lay back your head, stretch out your legs, feel the cool breeze on your face, and take a nap. The scenery was soothing and very laid back. The hands of time seem to be in slow motion while you're there.

Yhani and B grabbed some fresh coconuts for all four of us. Oh, and did I mention, they had wi-fi? But who cares about facebook-ing 'what's on your mind?' Just kidding. Actually, we still discussed and were concerned what could have happened to Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 as it was all over our news feed.

This was the perfect time for me, Casey and mommy to hit the beach as Yhani preferred to just lounge around. She was so glued and thrilled reading her e-book she's downloaded on her phone. B made the most of it, napping. Well, couldn't blame him. Once you've laid down, you pause... take a deep breath... and fart. Hahaha. No, he didn't do that. But you get what I'm saying. It feels like you needed a jack-hammer to pull you out. Turquoise water, coco greens, windy breeze, splashing waves and far-off horizon your eyes can see obstruction-less. So we left our belongings and camera with them as we took a dip.

Birds' nest resting on a branch of a tree by the beach

These coconuts were big, young and contained lots of water

We didn't have a schedule. It was just purely instinctive. As we were getting hungry, we headed back to our chalets, rinsed off and freshened up. Yhani and B, who both are fans of Animal Planet's River Monsters chanced upon a water tank that contained a real Arapaima, the largest freshwater fish. Again, on our way home, we took a peek at the mini zoo-- as we continued on walking, we got startled to come across a free-roaming, sizable monitor lizard.

It didn't take long for the IndoRent 7-seater van to arrive. We just inquired at the front desk and they advised it was S$5 round-trip to Pasar Oleh-oleh. The vehicle was brand-new, air-conditioned, comfortable, and spacious. We drove by the other resorts but nobody else came so we had it all to ourselves. As it was getting late in the afternoon and having awakened earlier than usual, Casey was already tired and fell asleep.

On the way, we heard sirens and were intrigued to see many stalled vehicles up ahead. Visibility of the road in front of them was vague. A thick fog of smoke which ensued from brush fires made the road impassable. Firefighters just barely got there and were still battling the flames. Luckily, we weren't headed towards them. Thank God our van turned right at the corner just a little bit before all the commotion. Not sure if the town hasn't also been getting rain for a couple of months thus causing the spark. 'Coz back in Singapore, it hasn't rained for more than 2 months and some reservoirs are drying up.

Yhani got a wooden souvenir item here, B his chili, sambal sauce, and mommy a wooden fork to bundle up her hair. Ordered 2 set menus with chicken, kangkong, cailan, veggie soup, egg and drinks included at Cafe Helo-Helo. Price was a little bit steep for an okay meal. They have some friendly staff though. They saw I was having difficulty eating properly as Casey was deep in sleep and hanging from my other arm. They took off the cover of one table and gestured towards me to lay him down. My son is a cowboy. He didn't roll off the table and I got to finish my meal-- constantly checking on him. Smh.

That's now how you play chess, Case

Around 4 or 5 average-sized crocodiles reside in this tank

Monitor lizard scurries towards the bushes as we walked by

IndoRent driver was kind to lift Casey up the van

Power lines along side the main road towards Bintan Resorts

Police and fire crew close the road as smoke from raging brush fires envelope the surroundings

It seemed like a ghost-town-- we were the only ones having our lunch

As we got back Nirwana Gardens, Casey was fully recharged, up and ready to go! Power was down due to the fire. We had to zip up the window blinds to let light in. As Nina did the other window, the blinds came off and fell. Maintenance came in a golf cart and was willing and quick to repair it. I asked them when will electricity be restored but they could not provide a definitive answer as the huge fire earlier was affecting the whole town . Anyways, it was no biggie as there was still sun. Casey changed to his beach outfit, put on his hat and sunglasses and head out for the beach. He and mommy initially played a jump-step game but later went exploring the different pieces on the shoreline. When we had our camping at East Coast Park, we picked shells and he wanted to add to his collection.

He was so immersed into what he he was doing that he didn't mind the pounding waves and sun's heat anymore. I brought him to the rocky area to chase some tiny crabs. When he was done gathering, he was having difficulty clutching the shells as he got way too many. At the end of the day, he turned dark. Ironically, of all the trips we've made, this has been the most chill and well-rested so far.