Here’s the report on our 1st overnight gathering :
On 07.07.07 – forty SHC members met early at HarbourFront for the first SHC overnight gathering in Batam. Despite heavy rain that morning, most were there on time except for one who almost missed departing with us.
On arrival at Batam, we boarded an aircon coach and together with the local guide as well as the Singapore guide, we set out for the sight-seeing tour. As the local guide only spoke Chinese, there were complaints from a SHC member. The matter was resolved after Lily told the Singaporean guide to take over.
Due to the rain, the first stop at Waterfront, an amusement park with water activities such as water-skiing, para-sailing, etc., was changed to a ‘drive-through’ only. The rest of the sight-seeing followed as according to the programme which included a delicious seafood lunch at a kelong style restaurant.
At our last shopping stop, Batam’s biggest and latest shopping mall, some 18 SHC members opted to go for massage instead. So, the group split up and at the appointed time and place, we met up again for the final journey to Sijori Hotel. From the comments by some SHC members, the massage experience was a lousy one. One lady member even came out bruised.
At Sijori Hotel, we had a simple dinner after check-in. Members had a chance to freshen up before meeting up again at the KTV lounge for karaoke session and some dancing. There were complaints about the food, the small portion of it, and the small size of their ‘villa’. (It was the same person who complained about the Chinese speaking guide.)
When the singing and dancing session was over, the organiser led some members to a midnight swim. Only the men were swimming. The women hung around the poolside talking and taking pictures of the ‘hunks’. Their excuses….?…. "Don’t want to get my hair wet lah, make-up ruin, blah blah blah……."
Later in the night …..uhmm….. I mean, in the morning ….., we had our ‘open-house casino’ at the ‘boys’ villa. Mahjong and black-jack sessions were on at the same time until members dropped off to sleep 1-by-1. After breakfast, our ‘casino’ resumed, with more players, till check-out time. We arrived back in Singapore at 4.30pm.
The event organisers hope that everyone have at least enjoyed the trip a little, and apologise to those, whose expectations we did not meet. We also take this opportunity to thank eveyone for their co-operation and spontaneity in making this event a fun one.
Thank you everyone,
and thanks to Yew Kwong and Terence, here are photos for your viewing :
http://www.silverhairsclub.com/SHC/SHC070709a/
http://www.silverhairsclub.com/SHC/SHC070709b/
Event Organisers (Terence & Lily)