Batam Zaky 6the Bday: Day 3

It was the last day in Batam. A later bedtime also meant a later wake up time – 7.30am, still early but better than nothing. Zaky woke up 1st and ran to pull the curtains yelling that the sky was bright and it was time to wake up. Zzzzz. We lazed around before proceeding to the empty restaurant for a happy “pick and choose” bfast.

We headed back to the almost empty arcade for one last round. After spending about $50 over the span of 3 days and many countless happy hours for the kids, we exchanged the winning tickets for a plastic- bagful of snacks.

Zaky requested for the last Segway before we headed back and it was granted. This time, he tried the hover board instead. Lil Shauna preferred to stick to her safe old Segway but finally went a little faster.

We all had a chance to try the hover board. OK, I had to force Lil Shauna to stand on the hover board. Lol.

It was amazing how initiative it was in reading the body cues to move in the right direction. Seriously, when I first started, I didn't even register what I did to make it move in the direction that I wanted. I half suspected that it was reading my mind. Lol. Very quickly, Zaky was exploring the different tricks on the hover board. He had quite a few nasty falls on the Segway and I thought that the hover board would be even more dangerous but I was wrong. Maybe bcos of the ability to jump off when approaching danger or maybe he couldn't go as fast on the hover board. I was just glad that he was safe.

Zaky was very upset when we had to leave. I was tempted to get him a hover board for his bday but I didn't suggest it, suspecting that it would cost an arm. Daddy Lim could read my mind and asked exactly what I was thinking. I replied that we should check the prices 1st. Zaky probably has telepathy too and right after the session, he requested exactly a hover board for bday present! Let me think hard about it.

We spoke about going for massages before and throughout the trip but never really walking into the massage places that littered the street between the hotel and the shopping mall. Lil Shauna tried her 1st foot massage in Bangkok a few years back. I have no issue bringing the little girl for long and nice massages. I was worried that the boy wouldn't last until the hour long massage ends.

With less than an hour to checkout and transfer to the ferry terminal, the kids bugged for massage. We walked in to the one right next to the hotel and was glad that they agreed to do 30 mins foot massage for us at $70k each; the massages are usually at least 1 hour long. The kids were in an opposite partition; I couldn't see them but could hear them and their giggles when it gets a little too ticklish. Lol. I was glad that there was free wifi and the kids while enjoying massages were also entertained by Youtube. They totally enjoyed the experience, which means more massages in the future. Woohoo!

What happened after the massage were mad rushes to get out of the hotel, into the cab and to the Harbor Bay terminal. Luckily, there was no traffic and we arrived at the terminal 1 hour before the departure time. Check-in was done in less than 3 mins and we even found time for a quick lunch before the ferry. Soon, we were on the way home.

Did the kids enjoyed the trip? Of course they did. Did I enjoy the trip? I spent a lot of good time with Daddy Lim and the kids but found the trip super exhausting. I think I am too old for such weekend gateaway and I don't do well for no itinerary trips. My Hong Kong, wait for me, I am coming soon. Haha.

Leaving you with some crazy pictures.

Mummy Lim

Batam Zaky 6th Bday: Day 2

So, what was the trouble? This was.

Why was she the trouble? Bcos it was 5.30am Batam time. It was partly my fault; I forgot to pull the curtains and my phone alarm went off at 6.30am (5.30am Batam time). The sky was bright at 5.30am. Lil Shauna was sleeping on the couch; we pulled it next to the bed. She complained that it was cold and changed into her clothes at 5.30am. All the actions chased away any possibility of her going back to sleep.

We were all up by 7am and proceeded to the restaurant for the kids' favorite "pick and choose" bfast.

We hid in the room until the mall opened at 10am. By then, the kids were super restless. Of course we had to head to the kids' favourite place.

It was super early and we had to pull the kids from the arcade and made them roamed the mall + snacked.

This ice cream that was made on the spot was super unexpectedly delicious!

While roaming, we also found this segway and rover board rental. The kids tried the segway and Zaky fell in love. Lil Shauna, in her usual manner, was just super cautious.

After a while, Zaky became super good with it and started exploring, going super fast and doing tricks. As for Lil Shauna, she was still very cautious. Lol.

The kids went 2 rounds. By the 2nd round, Lil Shauna opted to ride the "motorbike" instead. She looked like she was bored after a while and Daddy Lim joined her.

We all had a chance to try the segway. It was really quite fun.

We went back to the hotel for a swim in the afternoon and we repeated the whole sequence in the 2nd part of the day. Lol.

We returned to the hotel after dinner to enjoy a movie in the bed and turned in at 10pm. Yawn.

Mummy Lim

Batam Zaky 6th Bday: Day 1

Every year, it is a vicious cycle. I would give Lil Shauna a bday party and then regret when I realised how much work it was. Then I couldn't wiggle my way out for Zaky bcos it would be so "unfair". After the 2nd bday party in October, I would totally promised myself that there would be no more bday parties forever. However, by May the next year, my backside will be itchy and I found myself planning a party for Lil Shauna. *palm-face* This was exactly what happened this year. Zzzzz.. call me stupid pls.

I really got sick and tired of bday parties. So I tried bribing my way out and Zaky fell for it totally. He agreed to exchange a short getaway in place of a bday party. Muahahaha. Coincidentally, his bday fell right smack on the PSLE marking days and Lil Shauna has no school. He asked for Batam, at a hotel right next to a shopping mall with a big arcade. *magic dust* It was done.

The last time we stole a getaway to Batam, we opted for the earliest ferry and had to spend hours waiting for the mall to open and the hotel room. This time, I get cleverer and opted for the 11.50am ferry.

On our way to find a cab.

Excited us.

We arrived 2 hours earlier and checked in to find that there wasn't much crowd and should have come later. We tried to burn as much time as possible at bfast.

The kids were over-excited and ended up with very whiney while waiting. Zzzz.. Finally we could board. The kids were slightly more manageable on the ferry.

The ferry ride from Haborfront to Harbor Bay took us 1 hour. It was much alright except for the French  (?) man sitting in front of me, who was constantly looking at his hair and sunburnt face on his phone and peeling off the sunburnt skin! Not only did I frequently caught myself photo bombing his pix, I found his DNA blown onto our luggage! Maximum grossness!

The immigration was quick and we found our driver waiting for us. The transfer cost $80k and our hotel was about 10 mins away. We opted for the iHotel, which is conveniently 3 mins walk from the Batam City Shopping Mall with a big arcade. It is also one of the few hotel that fits Zaky's criteria and comes with a swimming pool. For a no itinerary holiday, a swimming pool is a must!

The hotel room was not ready and we headed to the mall for lunch. Yes, we ate again. I shall roll back to Singapore. The kids opted for this super cute restaurant but the food wasn't fantastic. Anyway, food wasn't important, the arcade was.

After lunch, we spent the next 2.5 hrs in the arcade, spending 150k (about S$15) but very happy kids. We headed back to the hotel for TV and a swim definitely before finishing the day with a dinner at the hotel.

I was excited about eating at the kopitiam right next to our hotel but I was the only excited one. Daddy Lim and the kids atas and wanted to eat at the hotel restaurant. We went to the mart opposite the hotel to buy grocery before dinner and I bought a ramly burger on the way.

It was a score; everybody wanted a bite (many) of my burger. Lol. Ended up, we still had dinner at the restaurant but the kids asked for minimum order and then asked for more ramly burgers. Muahahaha. I headed back to the stall for 3 more ramly burgers take away. Hehe.

I don't know why we were all so tired. Maybe it was the travelling but nobody lasted later than 9pm Batam time. I smelled trouble.

Mummy Lim