Summer break at Telunas Private Island

This was one of the best holidays we’ve had—everything was fully sponsored by papa’s company.

We hadn’t planned any trips for June because both kids needed to prepare for their final-year exams. But thankfully, my husband’s company organized a Family Day at Telunas Private Island. It was our first time visiting a private island, and we were beyond excited.

Our journey began with a ferry ride from HarbourFront to Sekupang, Batam. From there, we continued by speedboat to Telunas Resort. Each leg of the trip took about an hour.

We arrived just in time for lunch and were treated to a delicious three-course set menu: Thai beef salad as the appetizer, prawn balado with steamed rice for the main course, and Thai mango sticky rice for dessert.

After lunch, we headed to our villa for some free-and-easy time. The kids chose to fish from the balcony. After nearly two hours of patience and excitement, they caught four fish and asked the kitchen to cook them for dinner.

Since the weather was scorching hot, we cooled off with a swim while watching the sunset. The sky was stunningly clear—no clouds in sight. Later, we had dinner with the group, followed by a bonfire and toasted marshmallows under the stars.

We slept soundly that night.

The next morning, we took a short 3-minute wooden boat ride to a nearby island resort for a team-building activity: raft building. It was our first time doing this! We had to build a raft, sail it to a designated point, return, and disassemble it. Challenging but so much fun!

After returning to the villa and having lunch, the kids took part in a pottery class while the adults relaxed and enjoyed some quiet time.

That evening, we had a BBQ dinner followed by a company appreciation ceremony.

On our final morning, before checking out, the kids were eager to go fishing one last time—an activity they can’t easily do in Singapore. After lunch, we packed up and headed home.

It was a truly special experience, even though the weather was humid and incredibly hot. Staying in the villa for 3 days and 2 nights was just what we needed to recharge and reconnect. When we got back home, we felt so grateful for air conditioning—something we often take for granted, yet can’t live without!

First and Life Time Experience at Papal's mass

Last Thursday, September 12, 2024, was a truly memorable day for our family.

By God's grace, we had the incredible privilege of attending the Papal Mass. Papa and koko Richie even had the honor of serving during the Mass—papa as a Communion Minister and kook Richie as an Altar Server.

Being just a few meters away from the Pope, especially witnessing him bless the little children and people with disabilities, was an emotional experience for me. I couldn't hold back my tears.

I felt the profound, unconditional love of God and witnessed the essence of what humanity truly needs.

Attending the Papal Mass felt like a glimpse of Heaven, with God on His throne, surrounded by Angels and Saints, while the rest of us worshipped Him. In that moment, there was no judgment based on race or worldly success; we were all equal in God's eyes.

Though we couldn't choose our seats, we embraced our place with deep gratitude.

Much like in Jesus' time, people came for various reasons—to see the Pope up close, some for selfies to share on social media, others to experience God's love more intimately. Only God truly knows each person's heart.

For my family and me, while we did hope to capture a close-up picture with the Pope as a keepsake, the real gift was the love and joy we experienced there.

One key message that we will always remember is:

"Without love, all are nothing."

Happy 11th Birthday Tromson !

Tromson is turning 11 and is entering puberty, a time when hormones and emotions start to intensify, and he's beginning to assert his independence and challenge boundaries.

He's developing his own perspective and is more inclined to argue when asked to do things. It's a normal part of growing up, and we're hoping this phase will be brief.

Today, we celebrated his birthday with a hike at Bukit Timah in the morning, followed by lunch at HaiDiLao and a Minions movie at the cinema. It was a fulfilling day!

Happy Birthday, Tromson! May God bless you and guide you always.