my retreat

and so, after much research and deliberation, I have decided on Malacca. Why Malacca and not other places?

Scenerio: I can only leave Wednesday night and arrive back at work at 3.30p.m. on Friday.

Places I considered:

Option1:

Phuket: Flight time, 1 hr 50 mins (I can read and meditate on the flight) and then chill and read by the oh so clean water and sand beach. However, I have to take the flight back on Friday. There is a risk that I will be late for work if another bugger decides to fly into Singapore airspace and airspace gets frozen for 50 minutes.

Option 2:

KL: 5 hours by coach. Love that idea because coaching to KL for me is the best time to meditate. However, if I take the coach Wed evening, I will arrive late Wednesday night and pay for a night of accommodation, wasting it. If there's traffic jam taking the 8a.m. coach back to Singapore on Friday, I am also unsure whether I would arrive to work on time.

Option 3:

Batam: Taking the ferry would give me motion sickness and no time to meditate at all. Sure, there will be the beach, but I figured I would be too distracted by the number of people and all the cheap things I like to indulge in over there. Think: Massage, manicure, pedicure etc.

Option 4:

Malacca, staying at boutique hotel Casa Del Rio: 3 hours coach, enough to read and meditate and still able to eat well when we arrive. Can continue to read in hotel balcony (really pretty hotel) or by the river and still be close to some action if needed (because hotel is just behind Jonker Street, the famous food and shopping street at Malacca). I also invited by sis to enjoy the hotel room with me because it's a waste enjoying it alone. I told her that I will only meet her for meals though. haha. However, the hotel was fully booked on AGODA by the time I checked again. And the official hotel website charges 800 MYR (338 SGD per night). Too expensive.

Option 5:

Malacca, staying at Philea Resort (about 30 minutes drive from Jonker Street). Rather secluded and good for a retreat. Average reviews but it fulfills the purpose. And it cost only $130 per night. So the plan is this: Coach on Thursday morning (which leaves Wed night free for me - so precious), can read and meditate on the 3 hours ride up. Arrive during lunch time. walk, shop and even do foot massage for about 2-3 hours (for sister's sake) before heading to the resort for part two of ohmming. Morning coach on Friday at 8a.m. back to Singapore. Woot. Should be back by 330p.m.

Yay! Can't wait. Need the time to take stock.
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