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Published: April 2nd 2013
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Pic 1
Telunas Answers to Q11 The New Lunar Year brought in the year of the snake. Julia (2009) and I (1973) were born in the year of the Ox
Andrew (1972), in the year of the Rat
Katrina (2012), in the year of the Dragon
Well done to Isabelle and John who guessed Andrew's year of birth correctly! Bonus question - When Chinese people refer to themselves as being a BbC - they mean British born Chinese
Question 12 - 2 points
When we stayed in Telunas (Pic 1) a month ago, Andrew and Gaspard went shrimping with the resort guides one night. (Pics 2).
Shrimping is done at night, at low tide, and it must be pitch dark outside. One wears and head-torch and carries a small spear. As you wade in the water, you look for tell-tale flashes of which colour? Bonus question - 2 points When out shrimping, Gaspard and Andrew found these 'things'. (Pic 3). What are they called and what sea animal produces them?
Telunas!
During Maman and Gaspard's holiday, we spent 4 days at Telunas, a small resort on Sugi Island, part of the Riau Archipelago in
Pic 2
Shrimping team Indonesia.
I'd seen an article about it in the Expat Living magazine and decided to book it. I'm pleased to say I couldn't have got it more spot on with what we were after! What a place! What a little gem! The resort is located south of Singapore, about 3 hours by boat. First, a ferry to Sekupang in Batam, followed by another boat trip to the place.
Passport control on arrival in Sekupang was a tad tedious and more than a tad slow, but we were greeted at the gates by Iann, our guide for the duration of our stay. We'd opted for the local ferry to take us to Telunas but as it happened, one of the staff Mike and his family were also travelling out there the same morning as us, so we all took the resort's own Melayu traditional fishing boat.
Water bottles are provided and it's a good idea to take some snacks for the 1.5 hour journey! The scenery is beautiful (Pics 4) and it's hard to believe there so many villages on stilts just over the water from the towers of Singapore!
The speed-boat trip was all a bit emotional Pic 2
Shrimping for maman and me. The last time we did something like this was in Sabah, with papa (and my sisters too of course)! So many great memories. Even just writing this brings a lump to my throat! :-(
Anyway, we were welcomed by most needed cool towels and fruit juices and lunch was served immediately (Pics 5). Iann did a good job of looking after Katrina so I could eat in peace and so started our holiday in Telunas. When we were ready to see our accommodation, we were led up a rickety boardwalk (Pics 6) but actually very strong and beautifully done with the wavy design of the fencing. There is always a hammer handy to hammer in sticking out nails. And if posts need to be fixed, they come with a boat from underneath. Needs must! We stayed in two deluxe family rooms (Pics 7) - private rooms with a shared roof. Each room is equipped with a queen bed, a bunk bed and has an ensuite shower room with hot water (sometimes!). Ours were facing the beach, had a private porch and were suitably quirky for my liking. None of the rooms have keys, Pic 2
Shrimping I love that you can see the sea through the floor boards and that the wall doesn't quite meet the floor! :-)
We didn't take part in every activity the resort has to offer (leaving some for next time) but weren't bored in the slightest (Pics 8). For a start, there are the diving platforms - 6m and 3m at their highest. Gaspard wasted no time in jumping and so it became the theme for most of our three days there. Julia jumped from the lower deck. I jumped from the higher one, once. Maman also. Gaspard lots. Andrew bottled it from the high one, after giving Julia a "you must conquer your fears" lesson!!
Then, the beach, the swimming and the kayaking - though remember never to team up with Gaspard in a kayak - lots of splashing and no paddling. The short walk to the high ropes and of course the shrimping.
Back at camp, board games and card games. To finish off a splendid few days, we had a pizza dinner served on the beach and a logfire (Pics 9). Before leaving, Gaspard also decided to have breakfast at "the window" (Pics 10) and who Pic 2
Shrimping could blame him?!
I know we'll be back. Thank you Telunas! See you all soon. Delphine
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