We spent the long weekend in Bintan, just a short one-hour ferry ride from Singapore. Right off the bat, even before we boarded the ferry, Bianca was giving me a full pep talk on all the “unofficial” rules of the trip. The main one being how important it was to rush to the front of the line to grab the best seats near the exits, which would make getting off the ferry easier later. I caught on quickly and managed to grab two good seats for us. Luckily, I even guessed the correct exit door! Once we arrived, we took a short but scenic ride to the resort. Along the way, I spotted a monkey by the side of the road, an big reminder that we were completely surrounded by nature. Sadly, I wasn’t fast enough to get a photo, but that disappointment faded fast once we arrived at the resort and were greeted with a warm and friendly welcome.
Our first day was a pretty laid back day. Bianca and I were a bit tired from traveling, so we took our time exploring the beach and figuring out how to navigate the shuttle system around the resort. It felt really nice to take a slow, lazy walk across the sand and just take everything in. Later, we stopped by the information center to book activities for the next day. Since Bintan is part of Indonesia, everyone spoke Indonesian, and luckily for me, Bianca does too. She became our translator for the trip, which was also a total flip for me. Back in the U.S., I’m usually the one translating for my Spanish-speaking mom, so it was humbling (and kind of refreshing) to be on the other side.
The next day was heavily packed. We got up early, had breakfast, and waited at the resort entrance for our ride. Our first stop was the Blue Lake and Sand Dunes, and it honestly looked like something out of a dream. There were two separate entrances, one for locals and one for foreigners. To avoid the extra tourist pricing, Bianca bought the tickets for us while I waited out of sight. Very quick thinking on her part because I would have been forced to pay the taxed price.
Then, we headed to a food court in the town of Tanjung Uban Selatan. We tried to walk around and explore, but our driver suggested against it, since the surrounding shops were more functional than touristy, meaning there wouldn’t be much we would see. So, we decided to stick to the food court. Bianca helped me choose what to try, especially since authentic Indonesian food isn’t easy to find outside the country. I wanted something memorable, but there were too many options to choose from!
After lunch, we made a spontaneous stop for some ATV riding. I assumed it’d be easy because everyone makes it look effortless, but I was wrong. Steering was tricky, and I ended up crashing into some bushes while trying to avoid Bianca’s overly enthusiastic puddle splashing. It was minor and caught on camera, but it’s okay because I got better after that and made it through the rest of the ride crash-free.
Our final stop was Lake Lagoi, one of Asia’s largest lakes. It truly was massive—I couldn’t even see where it ended. There were also towering statues honoring Indonesian leaders and warriors, which gave me a new glimpse into a history I’d never learned about before. Something that also caught my eye was the fact that water look red. Our guide explained that it was due to a natural checmical reaction the water and soil had with one another.
We ended our day with a group dinner and a visit to Anindya Spa. I almost skipped the massage because I was exhausted, but I’m so glad I didn’t. I even dozed off during it, because it was that relaxing. We ended the night with one last beach walk, sitting quietly by the shore, listening to the waves.
On our final morning, Bianca woke up early to beat the breakfast rush and enjoy a last swim. I took that time to reflect on everything. This trip reminded me that you really don’t know how much you don’t know until you experience life somewhere totally different. I’m grateful Bianca was there to guide me, never judging me for being unfamiliar with certain customs. She made Bintan feel welcoming and unforgettable.