Explore Batam: The Great Escape To Nongsa!

Batam is well-known as industrial center in Indonesia, the nearest island to the super busy neighboring Singapore. But do you know what makes it different to its neighbor? Yup! Batam has less polluted air than Singapore. My friends who went to Singapore often complain about the heat (sometimes reach 36 degrees) and since there is always traffic there so it's just crowded and people chase after the time. No relax lah!

Most of the foreign visitors coming to Batam are from Singapore and Malaysia since the distance is relatively short. It's only 40 minutes by ferry from Singapore to Batam and vise versa. There is an area in Batam that is the place of resorts. It is Nongsa.

There are several resorts in the area. Nongsa Point Marina, Batam View Beach Resort, Turi Beach and Palm Springs (for playing golf!) are some of the places you can escape to! With private beach and activities (land and sea sports, BBQ, partying, and stuffs!) the visitors will be pampered by the quiet, private, refreshing moments as what they just need after rushing for work along the weekdays. 


Craving for seafood? Just go to Kelong Seafood Restaurant (in Batam View Beach Resort). Overall, Nongsa is one of the best place to escape. The resorts with all facilities and activities and its inclusive beach is one of the the best with affordable price. 


The last, and maybe the crucial one. They accept US Dollar, Singapore Dollar and Indonesian Rupiah as transaction. There are money changers around the island. So, let's just escape!!!!


Next explore: Batam Central Business District!



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My Ramadan Story: Chapter 1

Ramadan is coming! Everybody's just like in euphoria by the coming of Ramadan.I'm sure you know already what Ramadan is. It's a fully-month fasting for Muslims. But it's not what I'm talking about here today. Instead, I'm talking about my first Ramadan day. When everybody prepared the best before Ramadan came, I got my worst time instead.


3 days before...
I was just so happy to have my lovely Durian juice. It's 08.00 in the evening but it's just as hot as 33 degrees, as hell! Sumpah, panas banget itu! Dan pas temanku datang dengan jus durian di tangannya, rasanya......surga! Segeeeer banget minum jus durian malem-malem gini. Pengusir gerah!

You know what, di Batam kan terkenal banget jus duriannya. Enak dan murah. Maybe karena di sini durian lumayan melimpah kali yaaa. Tapi, jus durian yang aku minum ternyata berkhianat! You know what, setelah beberapa saat minum jus durian, tenggorokanku berasa dipanggang. Panas dan nggak enak banget. I tried to sleep but I couldn't. Kayak ada tiga juta batalion semut nongkrong di tenggorokan! I just can't figure out!

2 days before...
Aku masuk kerja dengan suara sebelas duabelas ma Dewi Perssik! Berasa kayak penyanyi dangdut mau dateng ke sebuah talk show. Suara habis, tenggorokan gatal, dan badan meriang. Kok gak sekalian aja tumbuh uban. Maksudku, sumpah, berasa udur deh!
Malam hari, teman-teman ngajak berenang. Actually, I was not in my best condition physically. But, it looked like fun and I just couldn't deny it anyway.

Byuuuur! Aku renang (pake bola basket sebagai pelampung. I cannot swim, actually) ma teman-teman. It was fun. Like, a lot! Sampai aku ngerasa perutku berkhianat (kayak tenggorokanku kemarin nggak cukup parah aja!). I felt like there were butterflies rock&roll in my tummy.  I try to hold on.
Byuuuur! Bukannya aku berenang lagi, tapi aku muntah! Seisi perut keluar. ALL OUT! TOTALITAS banget deh aku muntahnya.

Okay, mungkin aku harus tidur. Setelah tidur cukup, badan pasti berasa baikan, dan pasti nggak mual-mual lagi. Dan ternyata tidak. Aku nggak bisa tidur. Cuma menggeliat-menggeliat nggak jelas di atas ranjang. Dengan perut mual. dan...
Byuuuuur! Aku muntah lagi untuk kedua kalinya...
Aku muntah lagi untuk ketiga kalinya...
Aku muntah lagi untuk keempat kalinya...
Aku muntah lagi untuk kelima kalinya...
Perutku capek.

Seriously! Nggak tahu kenapa ya aku muntahnya semaniak itu.
Bahkan ibu-ibu hamil aja muntahnya gak se-militan itu.
Perutku seperti dikuras habis sampai-sampai aku takut perutku ntar yang keluar karena dah nggak ada lagi yang bisa dikeluarin.


1 day before...
Aku muntah untuk pertama kalinya sore ini (aku coba menahan untuk nggak muntah dari makan siang tadi!)
Aku muntah untuk kedua kalinya sore ini. Cewek-cewek model Elle aja biar ngidap bulimia nggak seserius ini muntahnya.
Akhirnya aku istirahat totalsore itu. Dan malamnya badanku membaik. Kayaknya tubuhku sudah bisa kompromi. Aku yakin besok sudah bisa puasa. Tinggal istirahat aja dan pasti semuanya bakalan membaik.


Dan ternyata tidak. Ketika badanku dah mulai bisa sinkron, teman-temanku mulai berkhianat. malam itu aku lagi enak-enaknya nonton TV. Nonton NCIS. Dan tiba-tiba dua sejoli nangkring di depan TV sambil kerokan pake minyak kayu putih. O'o...Aku cuma bisa nutupin hidung pake novel yang kupinjam dari Ade. Okay...mereka semakin brutal nuangin minyak kayu putihnya. Dan seluruh ruangan penuh dengan aroma-aroma yang tidak diundang itu. Mereka semakin agresif deh karena tahu aku tidak bisa menolerir bau-bau seperti itu. Buru-buru aku lari ke kamar mandi sampai akhirnya...

Byuuuur! Aku muntah lagi karena hal konyol. Minyak kayu putih.

Dan badanku berkhianat lagi.

When the day comes...

Tadaaa! Aku nggak puasa karena aku masih mual.

"Hamida (hamil) buk?" tanya temanku and I was like "whatever".

Anyway, aku bisa puasa untuk hari keduanya dan moga aja sampai Ramadan kelar.

And anyway, Happy Ramadan!





PS: Benda konyol itu benar-benar bikin aku mual ~.~ 

  


  



 
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Carly's Take A Picture: Another Summer Hits!


Who doesn't recognize Carly Rae Jepsen? The young comical hipster-style Canadian singer that hit and flooded last summer nuance with her hit-wonder's "Call Me Maybe". Now, she's back with another mid-80's beat's "Take A Picture". This song reminds me of Madonna's 80s' and there is Butch Walker's "Open Happiness" intro inserted that reminds us of The Coca Cola commercial as well. The melody is ear-catching, a little bit after-night-twist-beat, and definitely, SOOO SUMMER!!!!

The lyrics are easy to remember. You can move along the beat. Just take a look at the lyrics below and listen to the song. I do not think I need to breakdown the song lyrically, paraphrase it like a literature study. Just check this one out and seize the summer time!!!

 
"Take A Picture"

Flying kites
With boy wonder
Hold tight
To me all summer

Reading my magazines
Dancing in my blue jeans

Pucker up in sunglasses
Making love to the flashes
Posing the way that we do for everybody to see
Polaroid through your lashes
Only thing that will last is
I take a picture of you taking a picture of me

I take a picture of you taking a picture of me
I take a picture of you taking a picture of me
Tomorrow always happens too soon
I wish I had an electric moon
To save the light

Fireworks
And night streamers
Baby blue
With the day dreamers

Under water
Close to me
Hold my breath
In my blue jeans

Pucker up in sunglasses
Making love to the flashes
Posing the way that we do for everybody to see
Polaroid through your lashes
Only thing that will last is
I take a picture of you taking a picture of me.



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