Earlier this year, to get away from work/sch, me and Nelson booked a trip to Montigo Resorts (located at Batam Island). It was a trip I had wanted to embark on since long ago because the photos looked so amazingly beautiful and serene.
It was like a prelude to Maldives.
Let the photos do the talking. :)
Day 1
Sleepy eyes at the boarding area at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
Montigo Resorts is located at Nongsa so you will have to take the ferry from Tanah Merah instead of Habourfont.
Before the trip, we were told by Montigo that there will be a person from the resort to pick us up and give us a ride into the resort. Do note that you will have to email Montigo and arrange this yourself (don't take for granted they will know when and where to ferry you from the terminal!).
When we reached, we got a bit lost because there were no one from Montigo in sight. Just as when we were going to call Montigo, we heard a man chanting "Montigo, Montigo, Montigo" Haha. He held a list and matched our names before we board his van.
We heard that there will be people who try to pose off as Montigo's staff and ferry tourists away (but not into the resort). So please only go with the man if he has somewhat verified your details.
Upon reaching the resort, we were greeted with a loud "Gong!" and were brisked off to the lobby of the resort to wait while they checked us in. We were also given some refreshing honey lemongrass drink, while seated in front of this amazing view.
At 10am, there was a bus to pick us up to head to the nearest shopping mall (Nagoya). We left our bags with the resort staff and set off! Along the journey, you will see a world different from that within Montigo. There were beggers of all ages kneeling along the road just to get some money from the drivers passing by. However, we were told to not give money to them if we see them outside because it will attract a hive of beggers.
It made me realise how fortunate we are to live in Singapore. And that's the reason why I love travelling. It opens your eyes to so many parts of the world.
When we reached Nagoya, we went to satisfy our craving for A&W! It has been 20 years or so since I last had a meal at A&W.
But, sadly, the portion was so small and the standard dropped quite a bit. The curly fries were cold and chicken wasnt succulent enough. No wonder KFC opp had a bigger crowd.
Anyways, that was our only purpose to Nagoya. After that, we walked around but there was really nothing much to buy! I think we are pampered too much by shopping centres in Singapore (think ION, Wisma etc). There wasn't any big brands to shop there and furthermore, there were a lot of smokers smoking inside the mall :(
I think the only saving grace is the super cheap supermarket. We stocked up on our daily necessities there (lol) and bought a few tidbits for us to munch on.
While waiting for the Montigo shuttle bus to pick us up at 4pm, we literally walked a-round and round the shopping mall. If I were to go Montigo, I definitely will not spend my time travelling to Nagoya. Would rather stay in the resort.
Chanced upon these egg tarts which had a long queue. Decided to queue for it since we had so much time and it was the most delish egg tarts I ever tasted! The crust was crispy and the entire egg tart was still warm when we bought it. Surprising find! I cant rmb the name of the shop but it was at level 1.
Headed back to our resort after that and checked in. I did not managed to capture much photos of the amenities because everything took my breath away. It was too pretty! Just check the photos out.
Day 2
We opened our eyes to the most beautiful sunrise the next day. The last time I woke up to such beautiful sight was in Korea when I opened my eyes to snow in front of my bed.
I'm sure you can picture my happy face, no?
We proceeded to our free breakfast at one of the two restaurants (TADD'S) in the resort. Btw, we travelled with the help of buggy throughout our entire stay. Trust me, you will not want to walk with the strong sun shinning down on your face. Not like I don't have enough freckles already.
Breakfast spread was good and we filled our tummies with loads and loads of English breakfast items.
After the breakfast, we went for a swim and spent our day relaxing by the pool before going for lunch at TADD'S (again).
Transformed into a lunch area
Appetiser, which did its job pretty well. It truly opened our appetites with the sour and refreshing salad.
Mine - I cant remember the name but it tasted reallllly good.
Nelson was so irritated by me because I kept exclaiming how delish the long beans are. Haha.
Nelson's
Coconut Creme Brulee - this I remember the name (totally biased towards desserts).
It was sweet but addictive.
After that, we returned to our resort to play some Wii games.
Every resort in Montigo has a Wii set where you can play interesting games such as Mario Kart. If you are bored of the game you are playing, simply head down to the lobby and change your CD for other interesting titles.
Few hours after, we observed the most beautiful sunset ever.
Dinner was at the other restaurant in Montigo - PANTAI.
Love the rustic feel
Surprisingly, the food was more impressive than many other Tze Char restaurants in Singapore. It was my most enjoyable meal and I especially loved the sambal asparagus!
Day 3
This was our last day and we did nothing much except to pack our stuff to get ready for the ferry back.
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All in all, this was a very relaxing trip.
I had a great time, not having to think/plan for itinerary or having to rush from one place of attraction to another. It helped me take a breather away from work and the hectic lifestyle in Singapore. And one thing I have to add is, the staff there are truly very very friendly and courteous. They speak really fluent Eng so there will definitely be no language barrier, unless you speak Singlish. Haha.
If you need time off from Singapore but has a tight budget, I would highly recommend Montigo.
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