Less than two weeks after returning from The Canopi, we were heading back to Bintan.
This time, it was a completely different group. We were travelling with four families in total, including my brother, and one of the families had come from Australia.
Our destination was Bintan Lagoon Resort.
You would think that organising another short holiday to the same island would be fairly straightforward.
Unfortunately, I managed to make things a little more complicated before we even left.
A Small Mistake on a Visa Application
One of our visitors needed a visa to return to Singapore after the Bintan trip, and I had helped with the application.
Somewhere along the way, I made a very simple mistake.
I selected male instead of female.
It was just one incorrect selection on the form, but with our travel schedule already tight, it became something we needed to sort out quickly.
We ended up rushing to ICA to explain what had happened and find out how to resolve it.
Thankfully, we managed to arrange for a new visa so that the return to Singapore could go ahead.
The mistake also meant paying for another application.
A little more time and money spent because I had selected the wrong option.
Not exactly the kind of travel preparation I had planned.
A Different Kind of Bintan Weekend
Once we reached Bintan Lagoon Resort, the trip had a very different atmosphere from our earlier visit to The Canopi.
This time, there were four families together, so there were more people to spend time with and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the resort as a group.
The children got along well, which always makes a family holiday easier and more enjoyable.
We spent time around the swimming pool, enjoyed the beach and relaxed together.
Looking through the photographs now, I can see the resort grounds, the pool, the beach and the various activities available.
There was certainly no shortage of things to do.
The ATV Ride
One of the activities I particularly remember was riding an ATV.
We went out along the sandy trails around the resort, and it was one of the highlights of the weekend for me.
I don’t have many photographs of that experience, but I still remember enjoying the ride.
Sometimes the activities you remember most aren’t necessarily the ones you photographed the most.
There were other things to try around the resort too, including archery, and we had plenty of time to enjoy the facilities.
Good Food and Good Company
Another highlight was our dinners together.
With four families travelling as a group, sitting down for a meal became an opportunity for everyone to gather, talk and enjoy each other’s company.
I particularly remember how much we enjoyed the food.
The photographs bring back memories of the tables filled with dishes and everyone spending time together.
And while the adults enjoyed their conversations, the children were getting along and having fun.
There was also plenty of swimming, which was another enjoyable part of the holiday.
We didn’t need an elaborate itinerary. Between the resort activities, the pool, the beach and our meals together, the weekend was full enough.
Back Again, but Not Quite the Same
It was strange to think that we had visited Bintan twice in the space of just two weeks.
The island was the same, but the experiences couldn’t have been more different.
Our first trip had been a birthday getaway with two families and young children enjoying the lagoon and glamping tents.
This second visit was a larger gathering, with great dinners, swimming, ATV riding and plenty of company.
Even the visa application mistake became one of those travel incidents I can look back on with a smile, although I would have preferred not to pay for the same application twice.
After this trip, I certainly wasn’t expecting another Bintan holiday quite so soon.
But just over a month later, we would be returning yet again, this time with both sides of our extended family.