second award travel in this year

As I visited Delta.com in late June, I searched possibility of award travel in August, one of Japan's traveling peak season.
That's why I could do it with only 20,000 miles in spite of traveling during Golden Week (Japan's spring consecutive holidays).
I think such hidden privilege may be with Gold Medallion Members, I hoped to be displayed "some flights on your itinerary were repriced for less mileage" again.
And I obtained award tickets to Singapore with only 20,000 miles again as I expected.

However, I didn't intend to stay in Singapore through whole period.
Thereby I thought making a short trip to Malaysia or Indonesia, but my destination would be limited because of having only 2 days.
In the event I joined Asia Travel - 2D1N The Pulai Desaru Resort Ferry Package by Asia Travel.
I would have rather joined tour of Pulau Besar Johor by Sedunia Travel Services, but my holidays were lacking because Singapore to Mersing takes about 4 hours by express bus.

Delta Sky Club at Narita Airport

2 day excursion to Desaru

Needless to say, Hotel 81 Princess is located in Geylang's red-light district.
This hotel is low price, it's no problem to use for only transit; however, I was annoyed by street girls waiting around the hotel in the morning.
While I was waiting for the taxi, they propositioned me with casting a coquettish glance; unfortunately, I was pushed for time.
At past 8:30 a.m., I went to Changi Ferry Terminal where ferries for Desaru depart by taxi.
According to the terms and conditions, Check-in time is ONE HOUR prior to departure time. Boarding and Counter closes 30 minutes before sailing time; I needed to come in time.
The ferry terminal is hard to be accessed by MRT or buses; hence, taxies are only useful for getting there.

The ferry departed at 10:00 a.m.
From Singapore to Desaru takes around half an hour, I enjoyed taking a picture each other with Eric and Alice who got to know at departure lobby at Changi Ferry Terminal.
This day was fine and suitable for cruise with the sea breeze.
As we passed the passport control at Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal, a service man from The Pulai Desaru Resort was awaiting for us.
Eric and Alice were planning to stay same hotel as me, we took the pickup bus together.
The duration to the hotel was around half an hour, we barely found route buses and taxies along the way.
Evidently,foreign tourists must apply some package tour like me or rent a car for coming here.

Changi Ferry Terminal		Ferry to Desaru		Tg. Belungkor
The Pulai Desaru Resort			Desaru Beach
Desaru Beach
Teppanyaki Restaurant			Fireflies Experience

Though check-in time is officially 3:00 p.m., we were supposed to enter the room around 1:00 p.m. according to the front staff.
In the meantime we killed time with juice at hotel lobby.
It was striking that Eric asked me "I worked for Japan's Sumitomo Bank. Only Japanese workers were busy. Why were they busy? Are you also busy?"
I couldn't offer a clear-cut his answer, only said "I'm not so busy, therefore I'm here."
Why are Japanese workers so busy?
Don't they feel strange that Japan is perennial loser by most of survey about taking a vacation such as poll of Reuters and Ipsos on August 6, 2010.

There is tour desk in the lobby where we can apply any activities, but all tours require minimum 4 pax.
Eric and Alice joined Fruit Farm Tour in the afternoon, and they invited me to join together; however, I had relaxed in the beach.
Meanwhile I would have dinner and join the Fireflies Experience tour together with them because this tour is most popular in Desaru area.

After having dinner at Teppanyaki Restaurant, we went to Fireflies Experience tour.
Hotel staff said participants were 16 person, it was more than I expected.
We were taken to the loud restaurant by two cars, and then required to wear life vest.
After a few moments we were carried by boat, we could find many fireflies which have been hardly seen in Japan.
As tour crew splashed water toward riverside, fireflies twinkled; it was very fantastic.
After watching fireflies we came back to the hotel.
Eric and I estimated Desaru is enough to stay one night, only fireflies were possibly memories.

must-have cellphone at Changi Ferry Terminal

When I relaxed with book in the pool after breakfast, it suddenly squalled.
I stayed under the sunshade for a short time because I thought to stop the rain soon, but I returned the room as many of guests evacuated from the pool.
In such a situation I just got a massage, fortunately room guest was only me in spite of rain.
After all I got a body massage, and then having a lunch; it was just ideal tide.

Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal			Santa Grand Hotel Bugis
Sultan Mosque		Chinatown

I was taken to Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal and boarded ferry for Singapore.
During half-hourly cruise I was worried whether taxies would wait for us.
Because I remembered "Book a Taxi here?" message on the sticker in the entrance of the departure lobby of Changi Ferry Terminal.

When I arrived there, I was accurate my concern.
Because I asked lobby staff "where can I pick up a taxi?" and he answered "if you take a taxi, please call by cellphone."
Chinese tourists who were going downtown on foot, British couple who stood on the outside of arrival lobby; as I came back to call a taxi to departure lobby, they intended to follow me.
But there were locals who had cellphone in hand by me, I immediately said "if you call a taxi, please more 3 cars!"

After arriving Santa Grand Hotel Bugis I relaxed in the rooftop pool and then explored the town.
There are many good restaurants along the Arab street, and crowded in Chinatown as usual.
I had a dinner in dazzling night city, watched people with beer, and finally got a massage.
This time I went only 2 days excursion; in case of solo traveler, it would be better to go to Batam Island in Indonesia, not Desaru, I guessed.
Hopefully, best destination is Bali Island for me.

having breakfast at Sky View Lounge

Delta Airlines Flight 280 are scheduled to depart from Singapore before 6:00 a.m.
Thus I was planning to checkout at 3:30 a.m., I had a rough time due to sleep deprivation.
In such a situation I wish I could have gone to casino, but I was lack of money this time.
And in order to come here with only daypack, I brought neither long trousers nor shoes; hence I might have been declined to enter casinos except Las Vegas.
So Las Vegas casinos hasn't any dress code such as no shorts and sandals; it's unique in the world, I guess.

After going through the embarkation procedure I had a breakfast and napped at Sky View Lounge.
I boarded with hearing announcement, flight time would be around 7 hours to Narita.
As I chose in-flight music, We Are The World 25 for Haiti (lyrics) was put on.
It was rerecorded for helping victims of Haiti earthquake on 12 January 2010.
And I fell into a deep sleep with hearing this song before I knew it.

Sky View Lounge at Changi Airport