Thoughts after my Batam trip

** "BIAS" is a special feature in my blog where I get to say whatever I want with scant regards for your feelings. I'm not politically correct in this feature, so go ahead, judge me."



I just went to Batam and returned today. Making the trip made me realise how fortunate we are in Singapore. You know, as a typical Singaporean, I have my own share of complaining and whining. Eventually, it's only when you're out of home that you'll find how comfortable your home is. Do realise that I'm not making a comparison between the two countries, it's not fair. It's just that I realised that being too long in a nice place makes you forget that it's nice and you'll take it for granted. It's like eating your favourite wanton noodles everyday. You like it in the first week, but after eating it for 1 month, will you still feel that it's good? That's why it's important to leave home to find home again.



Some of the things I took for granted in Singapore:


1. There are pavements for pedestrians to walk safely. This is like a given. It makes walking along the road very safe.


2. Clean and green urban environment. I think one of the first thing that I miss when I'm overseas are the nice planted trees and flowers along the roadside. The drains are also flowing freely and are covered up so that it doesn't smell at all. The amount of dustbins in Singapore are just staggering...perhaps you'll see a rubbish bin every 200m or so? Amazingly clean and green in Singapore.


3. Efficiency. Somehow, I feel that in Batam, things are of a slower and more relaxing pace. I may whine and complain about how slow Singapore's bureaucracy can be, but I believe things are of a different magnitude altogether in other countries. I must learn to appreciate how fast people are already serving us in Singapore, rather than how slow they are doing so. I'm not saying in Batam, people there are slower. They are just more leisurely, which is a refreshing change of pace. I actually go there to have a change of pace.

That's the hotel I'm staying this time round - ihotel. Very value for money.

Having a different tempo is exactly my kind of a holiday. I'm way past cheonging with the guides and waking up early to visit point A and point B and follow the list to point Z. Take a picture of a famous attraction to say that I've been there. It feels too much like work. I want to feel totally irresponsible and not having to have anything on my to-do list. I want to be disorganized and messy and let someone else take care of me.  I want to wake up each morning without setting an alarm and to sleep during the day whenever I am tired and have a drink towards the evening to wash down a good meal with good company. That's my kind of holiday.



Not too much to ask for after I've slogged hard and saved hard for the months that lead up to this month.