Places – Sea Gypsy Village, Pulau Sibu, Malaysia

We spontaneously decided to get away for this past weekend. We remembered reading about the Sea Gypsy Village on Singapore Kids Places blog some time back and that it was a great place for the family. Often, we are unsure of how ”modest” the beaches might be so it’s always helpful to have a trusted referral. So we sent in our reservation form provided on the website with our request. They only take two night reservations on the weekends and we only wanted one night so we had to wait until Wednesday when they open up one night reservations based on availability. We were lucky and got a spot for one night.

We left our house at 5:30am, caught the 9am boat to the island and the 3pm boat back on Sunday. Included in our reservation for the family chalet was three meals (additional meals and snacks were on us at the restaurant) and boat service from the ferry terminal. It was more of a camping feel. We had comfy mosquito netted beds, though, and no tent to set up and did not have to pack very much at all. We took our books, a few snacks, Phase 10 (which goes with us on every trip we take), toiletries, pj’s, a clean set of clothes, swim suit, sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Towels and soap were provided. We didn’t have shampoo. Oh well… It was only two days, right?

Overall, we had a really great time. It was so nice to get out of the concrete and car noise. We heard the waves crashing on the shore from our front porch. The kids played basketball. The beach at Sea Gypsy was clean, soft sand, no shells. We wanted to snorkel and see ocean stuff so we hiked over to a nearby resort and and saw sea cucumbers, gross!, and Nemo fishies and fish that looked like they had mother of pearl skin. Tommy and Jakeb went pretty far out and saw more neat stuff but Anna and Istayed closer to shore and enjoyed looking for cool shells and coral.

It ended up being a little pricier than we’d expected but a worthwhile weekend getaway for sure. We all needed this time to relax and regroup. It’s nice to know that a place like this is only a 3 hour drive and 15 minute boat ride away. The boat ride was great fun too!! I haven’t been on a fast boat in a long time.

When you make your reservation, the resort staff will send you great details on how to get there. You can drive your car or they can arrange transportation for you. Just make sure you get the details on making the return trip. We failed to do that and ended up lost in Malaysia. Not a good thing when it’s getting close to dark and on a Sunday when everyone else is trying to make their way back to Singapore as well.

My favorite things were the super clear water, the family time (wishing Tori was with us), the relaxing and the Kway Teow I had for lunch.

Tommy’s favorite things were sitting on the front porch doing nothing and snorkeling.

Jakeb’s favorite things were the more primitive environment and it not being resort’ish, the clear water and just getting out of town.

Anna’s favorite things were the french fries! and seeing Nemo.

The french fries were really good! They took us back to Dairy Bar for those of you reading who are from our home town.

So at 3pm on Sunday afternoon, just two short but relaxing days after we arrived, it was time to head back to reality.

And the monkeys at the ferry terminal all lined up to tell us goodbye.

The Truth Hurts

Honesty is the best policy, right? Should some truths be kept to yourself? I think so. I’m not quite sure why some people here seem to feel the need to be so honest. No, it’s not all of them so I’m not stereotyping or even generalizing about Asians, Singaporeans or anything like that. I just know that I’ve been told some things in the year that we’ve lived here that if I was told that in the U.S. I would have promptly removed myself and my money from that establishment post haste and then gone and totally vented on facebook.

It’s different here in Singapore for some reason. I don’t think they know it’s painful or hurtful to point things out. I think that in most cases, they are merely stating the obvious and they’re just not used to what they see. Like they can’t help themselves. Like when a 6 yr old belts out the question as to why that ladies face is so wrinkled or why that guy only has one leg. For the most part, I think it’s just innocent honesty. I don’t think they mean to be mean. I usually find it funny but it mostly puzzles me.

Here are a few of the gems of honesty I’ve received over the past year are. I didn’t have them written down anywhere so as you can see, they’ve sort of stuck with me.

“You have too much skin.” – during a pedicure. Isn’t that why I came for a pedicure??

“We have big size for you!” – I hear this yelled out by many well-meaning shop employees as I walk by. I usually pretend that I don’t hear them. Like I know they’re surely not talking to me….

“No size for you. Your hips are too big.” – this from the shop owner while holding up a skirt to myself to check the size.

“You have fleshy feet.” – while trying on shoes. I did get a good deal on them, though, because not too many people here need “fleshy feet” sized shoes.

And my most recent comment and inspiration for this post.

“You are getting fat. You need to go for a jog.” –from my favorite fruit seller guy at the wholesale market I frequent. He made the blow up face and held his arms out to motion the increase in size. In my defense, I am not one ounce heavier than when he saw me the last time I bought LOTS of fruit from him, I just happened to choose really dumpy looking clothes to wear this time. So you see, it’s totally my fault! I still bought fruit from him. I’ll take the painful truth as long as he gives me good fruit for a good price.

Yep… the truth hurts.

I think I really might go for a jog. Right after my Big Mac settles.

(And just to clarify, I am laughing about this. I’m not upset. The mirror doesn’t lie either.)