Indonesia - Bintan

Bintan Lagoon Resort

 

Overlooking South China Sea, this resort provides wonderful indoor and outdoor activities for all ages.

It is a short distance away from Singapore and a quick getaway to relax and rejuvenate.

We started from home after breakfast and reached Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal by 10 am. After a smooth check-in, we took a stroll around the terminal and found that we had freshly made mouth-watering breakfast options there!

The terminal is small but comfortable. Unless you buy some food or drinks, there are limited seats to sit and wait for the ferry.

Sunrise at Bintan, Indonesia

Check out Bintan Lagoon Resort website for latest promotions.

We had fantastic time strolling on the beach leisurely soaking in on the early sun as it rose on the horizon, going on a firefly watch on a boat deep into the forest river, and much more.

Here are some pictures and links to plan your trip.

Ferry operators to Bintan  - http://www.singaporecruise.com.sg/index.php/leaving-singapore/ferry/ferry-operators/

Visa requirements - info from Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore

Visa not required for passport holders of  - http://www.kemlu.go.id/singapore/Pages/AboutUs.aspx?IDP=54&l=en

Visa on Arrival for passport holders of - http://www.kemlu.go.id/singapore/Pages/AboutUs.aspx?IDP=55&l=en

Country not listed in either categories, please contact your nearest Indonesian Embassy.




Bintan Lagoon Resort, Indonesia



Sunrise from balcony, Bintan Lagoon Resort

 



 

 



Introduction to Bhagavatula Charitable Trust, Visakhapatnam, India

Last year I visited Visakhapatnam and fell in love with the simplicity of its life. I strolled along the lively beach road, visited the Kali temple, sipped hot chocolate on Novatel's roof garden, and simply spent time roaming around the famous Andhra University, looking at the Raj era stone buildings and their dark corridors. 

Whatever it is, the city called me again and again to share its priceless values and unbeatable moments. I enrolled in the university to study (don't ask me what) and went to stay there for months.

During my time in Visakhapatnam, I happen to meet many wonderful people. They are all of different ages but dynamic and vibrant just like their city!

One of such wonderful people was Mr. Bhagavatula Srinivasa Rao garu. In one occassion, he told me the story of a boy named Parameswara Rao, who, all his life, dreamed of building a school in their village Dimili near Achutapuram in Visakhapatnam. 

Here is the simple version of the story. When Parameswar Rao was a young boy, he traveled a few kilometers to the school with his brothers. As he grew older, he started thinking why they don't have a school in their own village. When he completed school, he went to ask his father's permission to start a school, father told him to finish his college and get some knowledge before he do any such thing. After finishing college, he went to father for his permission. This time father said, go get some experience. He went to become a scientist in Bhabha Atomic research. Along the way got married to a wonderful woman. He approached father to see if he is eligible to start a school now. Father told him that he will think about it.

Meanwhile, he got an offer to do his PhD in US. He moved there along with his wife and stayed to get more experience. When he was offered the best place in one of the top US universities, he approached his father again to find if he can start his dream school. Father said, he should ask his wife's permission as he is now more responsible to her as it is his wife who has to make more adjustments than anybody in his life.

Finally Parameswar Rao moved to India and to his village where he made his dreams come true. He invited his brothers to join him to make a difference in this materialistic world by giving real meaning to education and to the preachings of Gandhiji. Srinivas Rao is one of the Parameswar Rao's brothers.

Now the entire family is involved in the service of the villages around Yellamanchili in Visakhapatnam. Parameswara Rao started a school not just to educate the future citizens, but also to give them a sense of self worth and develop self dependency. 

The family started Bhagavatula Charitable Trust (BCT) to support their noble cause. As they believed that it is not just kids who should be educated, they started programmes to empower rural women and farmers. Over the years they made a difference in the lives of thousands of people. 

                         

See the video below to get a glimpse into the BCT and visit their website to see the reality in making a society self dependent. 

      

 



Click http://youtu.be/5P81yJtvPHA to watch the same.

Bhagavatula Charitable Trust - http://bctindia.org/