Wanna Be Snobbery: Visit From The Stoneda's

NOTE: In case you're wondering, I've been writing about the stuff we did during the Stoneda's visit not in chronological order, but in order of awesomeness. This was the most awesome.

Nikoi Island

Paul and Chandra wanted to take a little side trip while in Singapore, something where Chandra could "get her beach time." The possibilities were endless, but after asking around, we narrowed it down to someplace beachy, out of the way, but also a place we didn't have a fly to. Nikoi Island is a small private island located just off the coast of Bintan, Indonesia. We took a 45 min ferry ride from Singapore, a white-knuckle van ride across Bintan (it was pouring rain and the driver didn't exactly diminish his driving speed flying around the narrow Indonesian roads), another 35 minutes ferry ride to the island, and then a 30 second boat ride to the beach. Land. Finally. I took my sandals off the minute I stepped on the beach and didn't put them back on the whole time.

"Check-In" was an open air bar with $3.50 Caipirenhas (rum, sugar and lime juice). I knew I was going to like this place.

After a quick, family style lunch in a "dining room" (roof, but no walls and white sand floor), we were ushered to our hut. Sea breezes 24/7 = all natural air conditioning. There is electricity and running water, but no phones, internet or television. What is there to do? Not much. That's the point. There are only a total of 15 huts on the whole island (every one with unspoiled ocean views), which means there are very few people, too. Just you and the sound of waves crashing.

Distracted in the evening by a game of majong, the next day we quickly got to the business of doing simply nothing:

We had a great view of iPod Rock, which is named so because it looks like an iPod plugged into a charger). David tried to swim there, but attempting to do this during low tide and lacking reef shoes, Mr. City Kid only made it knee deep water before he had to turn around because the rocks hurt his feet.

Our time was spent reading, hanging from the rafters, and having drinks by the pool. It was cloudy most of the time, but the fairer-skinned of us didn't mind at all.

Did I mention there's a coral reef right off the shore? You can walk up the beach and let the currents take you all the way back, seeing tons of different fish and coral along the way. You barely even need flippers.

(Un)fortunately there was cell phone reception, and we still couldn't get David to stay off his iPhone.

The staff rocked, probably because they have the best jobs ever.

Two days is not enough at this place. The trip ended all too soon, and I had to put my shoes back on to get into the boat heading back to civilization.