• Suellen Milham
  • Suellen Milham

Mildams & Adhams in Asia

Nick, Suellen, Steve & Kay, relaxing and exploring in Bintan, West Indonesia, followed by some city hustle & Juliet in Singapore. もっと詳しく
  • 旅行の開始
    2023年9月12日

    We’re on our way!

    2023年9月12日, オーストラリア ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C

    Here we go again! This is our fourth holiday together. It all began in 2017 when we adventured to the UK and Paris. In July 2019 we drove from Orange to Fremantle WA, October 2022 took us to Nelson’s Bay (a post COVID-19 holiday). This time the destination was Bintan and Singapore, prompted by a desire to have a holiday but also to see Ryan while he was working in Singapore. Steve and Kay Adams and Nick and Suellen Milham = Mildams & Adhams adventuring!もっと詳しく

  • Safari, Ecofarming & a quiet afternoon

    2023年9月14日, インドネシア ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Today we had a driver take us to Safari Lagoi, an Ecofarm that farms maggots and keeps wild bees, a lunch for 4 that could have fed many more and a return drive that explored more of Bintan and the infrastructure for future development.

    Our driver, Mr Marodu, grew up in inland North Sumatra - a very remote area, with thick vegetation and dangerous animals. When Turkish Muslims and the Dutch East India company came to Sumatra none of them ventured into these parts so their influences didn’t get to his people. A Lutheran missionary did go to his people group in 1862. Ludwig Nommersen reported in 1865 that 2000 people had become Christians. Our driver is a Christian man, who is living out the vision of reaching South East Asia with the gospel. The Batak Christian Protestant Church is one of the largest Christian Church denominations in Asia.
    もっと詳しく

  • A slow day with a sparkly finish…

    2023年9月15日, インドネシア ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Beautiful sunrise, very fast squirrels, tiny bananas…
    We decided to have a pool day so once again did the 10 minute stroll to the Nirwana Gardens infinity pool. Lunch was authentic Chinese food at the Kelong restaurant then back to the pool - one of us may be a little burnt.
    The evening adventure was a swamp tour to see the fireflies and, thankfully, no crocodiles or snakes. This was so peaceful and the tiny fireflies were beautiful and fun to catch in our hands. 21 yr old Ali was a great tour guide. There may have been some pre-sleep 500 played as well…

    This part of Bintan (1/3 of the island) is financed by Singapore so has good water, electricity and is safer than other parts of Indonesia. It was hit hard by the lack of tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic and many shops closed and building stopped but there is hope development will continue.
    The woman who served us last night works 6 days, mostly until 11pm and then has a bus ride for an hour to get home - sometimes she needs to be back at 7am! She is a single mum with three children - 6, 12 and 16. The eldest is away at school in Jakarta so the two younger children look after themselves while she works.
    Our wealth is confronting as the wages are low. It is quiet here at the moment so the place is very over staffed but we are grateful the workers have continuous employment.
    もっと詳しく

  • There’s a beach?

    2023年9月16日, インドネシア ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    It’s our 4th day at the Mayan Sari resort and at 6:45am we ventured onto the beach. Scary signs and a lack of other people swimming had put us off but it is oh so clear and beautiful! One of us ran and one had a swim… thanking God for this place!

    Every morning the sand is raked and sprayed…we assume for bugs! We enjoyed a beachside morning with plenty of reading and some fancy towel folding let us know our room had been serviced.
    Lunch and dinner at Nirwana Gardens and the girls victorious at 500.

    Our theme word for Wordle yesterday was ‘relax’ - two guesses later we had it - exert - that is not what we are doing here!
    もっと詳しく

  • We left the compound…

    2023年9月17日, インドネシア ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Mr Marodu kindly picked us up and took us to his church at Teluk Sebong. We sang in Balak, followed along with Bible readings (looking at the English), listened to the Bible being taught from 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 by a woman, enjoyed a visiting female choir, a youth choir from Batam, another local choir and Nick and Steve were interviewed by Mr Marodu.
    At the end we were swamped by people wanting photos with us… some had already taken some sneaky ones during the service.
    Mr Marodu has a deep concern for the men of the families in his church who choose to drink coffee at the cafe or play games rather than come to church. We pray God will change their hearts.
    What a privilege to church with these brothers and (mostly) sisters in Christ!
    もっと詳しく

  • When it rains it pours & date night!

    2023年9月17日, インドネシア ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We have had fine weather but the rain hit today for an hour! We were driven to our rooms, about 100 metres from reception.

    After a late afternoon walk/swim we parted ways with Kay & Steve for date night. We returned to Nirwana Gardens (this time by bus) for a calamari salad and Peking duck 🦆 (not to mention a repeat of the blueberry frozen yoghurt). We walked a different route back to our cabin, enjoying the distant lights of Singapore and a couple of other interesting sights.
    It is our last night at Mayang Sari but we are ready for the adventure Part 2!
    もっと詳しく

  • Mayang Sari Resort… farewell!

    2023年9月18日, インドネシア ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Some of the bits and pieces from our time here that we haven’t mentioned….
    There is a man at the top of the palm tree! They climb up using notches that have been cut into the trunk and trim the branches and the coconuts so they don’t drop on unsuspecting tourists.
    The tree that provided us with great shade outside our rooms on the edge of the beach produces pods that flower overnight, then drop the flowers in the morning. It’s a Sea Poison tree… spectacular flowers that are mostly viewed on the ground.
    Finally, we had lovely staff at our ‘private’ resort. We particularly enjoyed Yanti, photographed between Kay and I. We were the first Australians they have had at the resort since the pandemic.
    もっと詳しく

  • Here we come and we made it!

    2023年9月18日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Bus, ferry, car transfer and we were transported from quiet Bintan to Singapore 🇸🇬
    Our hotel, the Quincy, welcomed us with specialty ice creams and, after unpacking, Sip and Snack which sufficed as dinner.
    We then took an evening stroll to get our bearings and remind ourselves it’s hot outside. In Orange we are quite accustomed to walking outside and bracing ourselves for it to be cool, chilly or just cold but in this part of the world we walk out of air conditioning and brace ourselves for the heat and humidity!
    もっと詳しく

  • ‘Technology is my friend’ so Hop on!

    2023年9月19日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    After spending half a day trying to sort out phone issues we met Rosie at the Tourist Information Centre who told us exactly what we needed to do - forcefully but also helpfully! We bought our EZ-link cards so we could get around with public transport, shared a yummy, chain-restaurant, Chinese lunch and then hopped on the Hop on, Hop off bus for the red loop of the city. We saw and heard commentary on Little India, China town, and many other sites of Singapore.

    We also managed our first train ride - wow - so clean and easy to navigate. Then walked back to the hotel feeling very hot. We were gifted another ice cream and tried out the 12th floor pool as a storm rolled in.
    Canapés (Sip & Snack) and cards finished the evening!
    もっと詳しく

  • The Yellow Route

    2023年9月20日, シンガポール ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    A train and a short walk to board the Hop on bus for the yellow route, just outside a 7 Eleven - handy places to come across.
    We drove past some of the clean up from the Singapore F1 (Formula One), more government apartment blocks (all numbered and providing affordable housing for those on low incomes), more hotels (including the Fullerton Hotel, some of the wealthier homes, embassies (including the Australian embassy), the Botanic Gardens and a cafe with a great definition: Depresso: the feeling you get when you run out of coffee!もっと詳しく

  • Gardens by the Bay #1

    2023年9月20日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    After a ‘nanna nap’ and some cards while the rain passed, we trained to Gardens by the Bay.
    Starting with the Cloud Forest, which had an Avatar theme.

    Our first ‘street food’ was very yum at Satay by the Bay. We also enjoyed the walk there through the orange trees, the other coloured lanterns and lights in the area and a dusk view of Marina Bay Sands - the building Ryan is working in.

    The flower dome included gardens from around the world. Lots of things we recognised and some other interesting specimens. We picked up a sample of Chrysanthemum tea, which was very good 👍🏻
    We think it would have been better to see the Flower Dome during daylight but who doesn’t love an evening stroll through the garden?
    もっと詳しく

  • The Fullerton Hotel and the Merlion

    2023年9月21日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We had a tour of the Fullerton Hotel - a grand historic building with a multifaceted history. It was originally the GPO, has housed the Singapore Club (white men only), been the location for Singapores government offices, a hospital and the place where the decision was made that Singapore would surrender to the Japanese in WWII.
    We learnt other interesting things such as the present day compulsory 2 years of National Service for men once they turn 18 and that the Fullerton Hotel was not bombed because spies had previously reported its potential usefulness when Singapore would be taken.
    On the tour with us were Graham and Vicki. Vicki is a tour guide for Fullertons in Sydney (which was also originally the GPO). They kindly treated us to morning tea and together we went to see the Merlion - where Nick drank his fill.
    もっと詳しく

  • Boat & Clarke Quays and Ryan

    2023年9月21日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Found the Salad Shop to eat at and wandered through Boat Quay seeing some lovelocks to rival those on the Thames and in Paris. We were approached by many food hawkers trying to lure us into Happy Hour which starts at 11:30am and goes all day.
    Walking to Clarke Quay gave us a lovely look at the river but it was hot… so we jumped on a train to Bayfront and entered Marina Bay Sands for the first time.
    We contemplated our potential purchases: Prada, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Dior, Cartier… and settled on a food court table to wait for Ryan. We observed tables with shopping on them or other items, such as a packet of tissues, which we later learned is how people reserve their table before they go and get food. No one will try to take it. Can’t imagine that working where we live.
    We saw the Theatre but it will be Saturday before we see the show.
    It was great to see Ryan and hear a little of his adventures before heading back to Quincy.
    もっと詳しく

  • Changi Museum & DFO’s

    2023年9月22日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    A bit of a journey on trains and a bus, through some more suburban?? Singapore, to read of the dark times for POW’s under the Japanese occupation in WWII.
    Many who served for the freedom of others.
    An extended lunch at the Bark Cafe while Steve and Optus discussed Kay’s phone 📱 and the rain came down. Then some wandering and shopping at the DFO. Kay had a tinkle on one of many pianos we have seen in public places.
    もっと詳しく

  • & Juliet

    2023年9月23日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    A very rushed dinner for Ryan so he could get back for a company photo.
    & Juliet was action packed, fun, with some very clever lines. Some themes were more indicative of our cultures take on life to the full than what God says is best for us but we enjoyed the show and the opportunity to follow Ryan’s spot.
    We were given vouchers for a drink at the opening night after party but we left Ryan to it and headed for the MRT (railway). Steve and Kay took the wrong, long escalator down but found their way back to us!
    By the time we were back at the Quincy it was close to midnight… a slow start tomorrow.
    もっと詳しく

  • Reading/TV or shopping and 500

    2023年9月24日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    A rainy day meant reading / sport on TV for one and shopping with Kay for the other.
    At the entrance to the shopping centre, and the Quincy, there are plastic bags to cover wet umbrellas.
    Some good shopping in M &S (Marks & Spencer), H & M’s (Hennes & Mauritz) and a small gift shop. When your credit transaction is declined because you didn’t bring your physical card but tried to use your Apple wallet you are very grateful for a good friend (who has access to money 💰). It is challenging to remember that Singapore dollars are only worth about 80cents AUD and there is GST and a sales tax added.
    We returned to the Indonesian restaurant, Tambuah Mas, in the Paragon and the tourist information centre for a chat with Monica about the Night Safari at the zoo.
    We saw the one and only person lying in the street that we have seen since leaving home and small groups of people sitting in the road edge gardens with umbrellas and plastic sheeting suspended in the trees protecting them from the rain while they picnicked.
    Sip & Snack was a hit again, sufficing as a dinner alternative between hands of cards.
    もっと詳しく