We were introduced to this ‘Kelong resort’ by a friend who had a splendid time there with her family.
Our family had stayed in a Kelong before, and had a fantastic time, though it was certainly not like the usual holiday Singaporeans are used to. We felt the kids would be ready for a second Kelong experience, so once we managed to rustle up 17 people (the minimum is 10), we were set!
Food glorious food
Owner Tony wasn’t kidding when he said his guests usually put on weight after a few days at his kelong.
5 meals a day! Breakfast, lunch and dinner are huge spreads. Tea time and supper and served on a smaller scale but no less yummy.
Every meal has one large fish and assorted seafood. The chef is so professional that he never serves the same dish twice. Our kids liked his fried chicken so much that we asked him to repeat it, instead of varying it to dishes such as chicken with tumeric (which the adults really enjoyed).
BBQ Dinner
On the final evening, we had BBQ! Including some lamb chops, no less.
Activities
Some folks might think they’d get bored stiff at a Kelong, but whilst we relished all the peace and quiet, there were also enough activities to keep us occupied.
Fishing
What more apt to do at a Kelong than fish?
The kids had a great time choosing to fish almost every few hours. Glad that such a simple past time was so fun to them. Never mind that they didn’t catch many fish, it was the process and the sea breeze in their hair that they enjoyed most!
Also, having 6 kids from 3 families meant lots of fun with friends. Not all of them knew one another well before the trip, so we parents were so glad they all got along so well. Uncle Tony even complimented our parenting and said they were great kids! * thankful *
Seaweed spotting
We dredged up so many varieties of seaweed!
Canoeing
We took the sampan speedboat for 30 minutes to visit a ‘private island beach’. There, we took turns hopping on three kayaks that were extremely light and easy to manoeuvre.
I think it was the girls’ first time kayaking, and it was a great family bonding experience! We managed to kayak quite far out, and it was a good chance to work off all the food we’ve been gorging on!
Swimming
We also took the chance to wade and swim about in the clear, cool waters.
Massages
Two ladies from the nearby village come daily and offer solid Indonesian massages at SGD $15 an hour. The ladies amongst us had a great time having our muscles (tired out from the daily grind in Singapore) kneaded daily.
Chillaxing
Overall, all of us just spend a lot of time chillaxing. Dozing off on the deck chairs as the breeze buffets us, reading a book or just swinging on a hammock.
Back to Basics Kelong Life
This Kelong was slightly different as compared to the last one we visited. Punggur Bay Kelong has simpler and smaller rooms (comprising bunk beds and single beds). The difference is that when a larger generator is switched on in the evenings, we get air-conditioning and heated water for showers. These two factors meant that us spoiled Singaporeans had some creature comforts.
The facilities were very simple and spartan, but perfect for a back to basics stay for our kids who are used to so much more.
Sunrises and Sunsets
My favourite part of a Kelong stay is the opportunity to be surrounded by sea and sky. And to bask in the beauty of God’s artistry as morning dawns and evening fades.
All in all, it was a great trip where time slowed down and the kids still had fun, so much so that they all said they wished we were staying 3 nights instead of 2!
Many of my friends said that they returned from their recent holidays feeling exhausted. Not this one! The best part of this Kelong trip was that it was the most restful holiday I’ve had in years.
Glad that this place is just a couple of hours away from our busy island. You can contact Tony (Facebook Page) if you’d like to make a booking. You can send a Whatsapp message to the number listed on that page.
Punggur Bay Kelong
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