Reasons why you should visit Bintan Island

Are you planning a romantic getaway and wondering if you should visit Bintan Island in Indonesia? If you are looking for signs as to why Bintan deserves your most sought after escapade, here are the 6 reasons why you should head to an island blessed with beautiful white beaches and year-round tropical weather.

It is conveniently located

Bintan is one of the largest islands of the Riau Archipelago in Indonesia. Depending on where you are going to in Bintan, the journey would likely take between 45 minutes to two hours. Meanwhile, the trip is about an hour when you are headed for the Bintan Lagoon Resort complex, which is situated in the northern coast of the island.

It is perfect for nature lovers

Bintan, an island about 2.5 times the size of Singapore in terms of land space, is inhabited by only approximately 300,000 people. Most of the island is occupied by lush forests, rolling hills, and pristine beaches, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with nature.
Join the day tour for an educational ride to learn about the different species of mangrove trees and observe the surrounding flora and fauna. For an unforgettable experience, embark on the night tour and let glowing fireflies and the sparkling blanket of stars lead the way.

A paradise of relaxation

Bintan is without a doubt the ultimate island to really relax and relieve stress. The Luxury Club Med Spa, operated by Osama is situated next to the water’s edge with a backdrop of pure blue skies. A range of stress-relieving massages and treatments are on offer for guests to truly indulge in relaxation.

Also offered at the resort is a range of wellness activities including yoga and meditation. Not forgetting that your Club Med Bintan Island holiday is all-inclusive too, which means that all of your flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, snacks, drinks and many activities are included in the price.

Experience rural life in Indonesia

Well-manicured golf lawns provide a backdrop to the highway as tourist shuttles course through the main highway. Bintan combines rustic sceneries and modern facilities and it was only recently that Bintan was developed into a resort town.

According to a local, it was only a decade ago that communities and fishing villages had electricity. They used to experience blackouts on rotation, a few hours daily.

Party from sunset to sunrise

Partying until dawn is among the de rigeurs in Bintan. Popular party spots include nightclub Silk Club in Bintan Lagoon resort, the outdoor La Luna Beach Bar at Nirwana Beach, and the Club Med and Banyan Tree resorts.

Read more: Top things to do in Lake Toba, Indonesia

Its wide variety of dining experiences

The cultural diversity of the island is mirrored in its culinary variety. Popular dishes such as carrot cake (pan-fried radish cake), fried noodles, and kuey teow (flat rice noodle) were heavily influenced by the Chinese.

Bintan, an island dotted by fishermen villages and bordered by 105 kilometers of coastline, is also big on seafood. The options are endless, ranging from black pepper crabs to garlic butter shrimps to the iconic gonggong (sea snails) and sup ikan (fish soup). Whether you are dining at established restaurants such as The Kelong Seafood Restaurant of Nirwana Gardens or local food places like Akau Potong Lembu and Rimba Jaya Night Market in Tanjung Pinang, fresh seafood is abundant.

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Top 5 beaches you should visit in the Philippines

With over 7,000 islands making up the Philippines, you will certainly have a multitude of beaches to choose from. To help you find your slice of paradise, here are 5 of the best beaches in the Philippines. Each has its own unique characteristics and feel, so take a look and see which one is perfect for you.

Bounty Beach, Cebu

Lying along the southern coast of Malapascua Island and extending for quite some distance up its east coast, Bounty Beach is yet another one of the Philippines’ awe-inspiring beaches. While many people come to enjoy the picturesque shoreline and the island’s laidback way of life, Malapascua is known for its fantastic dive sites. Just as many visitors come to explore its underwater delights. Its colorful coral gardens are teeming with life; you can see all types of sharks in the surrounding waters, as well as sea turtles, manta rays, and shoals of fish. Consequently, it is one of the most popular places to go scuba diving in the Philippines. Bounty Beach itself also warrants a visit for its glorious white sands.

Nacpan-Calitang Beach, Palawan

The twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang run parallel to each other, with just a thin strip of land separating the two. There aren’t many places like it in the world. Together, they form part of a peninsula that juts out from the west of El Nido. While Nacpan curves up towards the north and stretches into the distance, Calitang is much shorter in comparison, and curves down to the south. It is a very peaceful, secluded spot, lying around forty-five minutes away from El Nido Town. As such, it is the perfect place if you’re looking to get away from it all for a bit and relax on a beautiful beach or two. Dense jungle hugs the coastline, and due to the beaches’ remote location, you really do feel as if you’re on a deserted island.

Alona Beach, Panglao

Lying on the small island of Panglao that is attached to the larger Bohol by two bridges over the water, Alona Beach is one of the most idyllic beaches in the Philippines. The surrounding waters are home to loads of fantastic dive sites. While there are many great resorts, beach bars and shops nearby, Panglao is much quieter than Boracay and is more family-oriented in outlook. There’s a very laid back vibe to the island, and many scuba divers and snorkelers head to Alona Beach for the wealth of marine life that lies just off its shores. Appearing as if out of a holiday catalog, the beach itself is as charming as they come; its pristine white sands lie next to inviting tropical waters and shady palm trees that offer respite from the blinding sun.

White Beach, Boracay

One of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole of the Philippines, White Beach on Boracay will make you feel like you’re in paradise. As the name hints, the sand is dazzlingly white. Coupled with the crystal clear waters and deep blue skies above, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more visually appealing beach. Hidden away amongst the palm trees lining the beach are loads of fantastic restaurants and bars for visitors, as well as some great shopping and lively nightlife for when the sun dips into the sea. White Beach regularly appears on lists of the best beaches in the world. In addition to the spectacular scenery, it has loads of watersports in the form of kayaking and parasailing – if you ever manage to tear yourself away from the sand.

Marimegmeg Beach, Palawan

Routinely lauded for its stunning scenery and array of beautiful beaches, El Nido in Palawan province is a delight to visit, and Marimegmeg Beach is just one of the many fine beaches that it has to offer. Lined by swaying palm trees, its white sands are bordered by glittering turquoise waters, and the incredible views out over Bacuit Bay only add to the perfect scene. Often referred to as Las Cabanas, due to the popular resort that lies along the beachfront, Marimegmeg is located just a short distance away from El Nido town, which makes it very convenient to get to. As well as lounging on the beach and enjoying a drink at one of its laidback bars, visitors can take an exhilarating ride on the zip wire that connects the coast to Depeldet Island; the views from up high are breathtaking.

See more: Visit the most beautiful towns in the Philippines

Source: Internet

The most tranquil coffee shops in Saigon

In Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), there are many cafes with various styles from garden cafe, street cafe, family cafe, cafe take away. For people who want a quiet place to read books or working, their choices must be book cafes or co-working spaces, which is considered as mini libraries.

Song Cham Cafe 

Is there time when all you want to do is slow down, to have some moment to do nothing but just sit and think about everything in your life? Is there time when you just want to hide yourself in a little corner, to feel time slowing down?

Song Cham Cafe is highly recommend for people who want to find their own space, enjoy books and it is also a place where authors and poets living in Ho Chi Minh come to meet and discuss about cultural topics.

Address: 63B Tran Quoc Thao Street, ward 7, district 3, HCMC

Banksy Cafe

This gem hides itself in a concrete building almost invisible to all the street. The three things this coffee shop has are good coffee, a great concept, and a killer cocktail.

The cafe is named after the famous artist “Banksy”, a British graffiti artist. The decor is matched to the concept with books about Banksy lining the shelves and Banksy-related photographs and canvases on the walls, which lend this coffee shop deep urban vibes.

Address: 14 Ton That Dam, Nguyen Thai Binh ward, District 1, HCMC

Chieu Cafe Shop

The cafe shop is named after its owner. It now has more than 1000 titles of book, mostly the owner's, the others are contributed by the customers. Just like other book cafe shop, the aim of Chieu cafe shop is to conserve the reading culture in the internet society.

Address: 377 Hoang Sa street, Tan Dinh ward, district 1, HCMC

Geek Hub

This coffee shop is located in a small alley, so it is very quiet and tranquil even though it is in District 1, the most active district of Ho Chi Minh City. The Geek Hub design is minimal and is decorated with many cute small trees set in simple wood shelves. You can also make a reservation for a meeting room or room for groups of 12 to 15 people. The best part about this café is the chairs, conference chairs without wheels which makes you feel like a professional working in an office.

Address
27B/9 Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, Da Kao ward, District 1, HCMC 
244/31 Huynh Van Banh, Ward 11, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC

Think in a Box Café

Think in a Box has several types of work rooms for you to choose from, depending on whether you are doing personal or group work. The name Think in a Box seems contradictory to the saying “think out of the box”, but as a working space, this café really offers you a “box” to work in.

Everyone respects the rule of silence in this café. The theme color is white to also inspire clarity. Stay on the first floor if you are working by yourself. You will also have a white board at each seat and it is free to use.

Address: 
116 Nguyen Van Thu street, Da Kao ward, District 1, HCMC
27 Nguyen Khac Nhu street, Co Giang ward, District 1, HCMC

Comma Cafe

Operating on the basis of “pay-per-minute” with more than 2000 titles of various genres and a selection of board games, Comma Cafe even surprises you with its book tents and unique beehive cubicles fully equipped with lighting for you to lie down and devour books to your heart’s content or to have a word with your friends without fear of distraction.

Address: 653 Le Van Luong street, Tan Phong ward, district 7, HCMC

See more: 5 interesting places outside Ho Chi Minh City

Source Internet