Close Encounters
Planning a last-minute weekend break out of Singapore? Two of the easiest getaways from the Lion City have their fair share of thrills for even the youngest travelers.
BINTAN
A 55-minute boat ride from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal is all it takes to reach a clutch of world-class resorts on this tranquil Indonesian island. Families needn’t stray too far from the comfort of their lodgings for a series of fun-filled excursions by BRC
Tours ( brctours.com). Aside from exploring Bintan’s natural sights and local heritage, several itineraries also feature Safari Lagoi, a refuge for animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade and a 17-hectare ecofarm cultivating pineapples, papaya, dragonfruit, and other fruits and vegetables that supply resort kitchens and also feed the resident critters. Expect to see orangutans and other primates, sun bears, and Sumatran elephants while strolling the grounds. Further down the road at Lagoi Bay, Indonesia’s endemic species take center stage at a lantern park beside the publicly accessible beach. The neighboring mall of Plaza Lagoi is home to Rumah Imaji, a trick art museum whose newest section recreates the traditional interiors of a Malay house, though upsidedown. Kids will love the street-style Indonesian fare at nearby Warung
Yeah!, where the menu includes an egg-bound Indomie “pizza” and a delicious nasi bakar— a steamed rice parcel stuffed with dried fish, herbs, and turmeric-scented chicken all grilled in banana leaf.