Blue Mountain Kelong - a true getaway

walkway to the island

taken from our balcony - must be the 'blue mountain'

I said to my kids, "one day you will be in a place that is trying to imitate this, but this one is the real thing."  We spent the long easter weekend at the Blue Mountain Kelong.  Kelong is a Malay term for a wood house built on stilts.  A co-worker of mine recommended this place to me for a quick getaway from Singapore, and I'm really glad he did.  I have to say I have never been to such a rustic 'hotel', and it turned out to be a really beautiful, relaxed, special weekend for my entire family.  I was a bit nervous with the basic accommodation - no a/c, no hot water and toilets that flush into the sea, no modern amenities.   It's not the most private rooms - the walls don't actually go all the way up to the ceiling, so you can hear people talk, snore, whatever.  That was not my favorite part.  The sun is upa t six and so are the guests - definitely the small children, and you can hear them.  But all in all it was amazing.  The staff is great - really caring and accommodating.

the kitchen

How did we get there?  Ferry (about an hour) to the Indonesian island of Batam - there we were picked up by a van and we crossed Batam to the domestic ferry where we, along with 2 other families, boarded a charter speedboat about 1/2 hour til we reached the kelong.  Home sweet home.  The hotel takes care of all of the transportation, lodging and food.
The best part of the experience - the view?  The people?  Getting away from it all?  Hard to say - all of the above.  My kids had the best time swimming in the ocean, touching sea cucumbers, trying to fish (didn't catch much), playing board games and lazing in the hammock. They made friends with other kids there as we made enjoyed chatting with their parents.  Most of the clientele is from Singapore.  About 30 people fit comfortably at one time at the hotel.  One evening while my husband and I were talking to some of the other guests, our 3 kids went to the room to play games.  I went to the room to check on them and I saw some small shoes by the door - when I went in I found not only my kids but the 3 little boys from another family.  My 12-year-old reassured me 'mom it's ok; their parents know they are here."  So I left them all playing.

Meals are cooked by the staff and served family style.  The food is local - based on seafood, rice, veggies and papaya from the kelong's garden nearby.  They serve breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.  Snack was fried bananas one day and the next day a local sweet green bean soup.  Each meal was excellent.

My husband and I both enjoyed massage for SGD15/hour (about US$10).  I had 2 massages during my 3 days.  I already regret not having more!  Maybe my favorite moment was getting a massage in one of the wood rooms, seeing the sea through the plank floor and hearing the water when all of a sudden it started to rain - really rain - and the experience was enhanced by the breeze and the sound of the storm.

I chose to hang at the kelong while my family joined a guide and several other guests on a 'jungle trek' on the island. Turned out to be a little more difficult than they thought.  My seven-year-old came back crying and limping, showing me the scrape on her leg.  The boys had a ball.  Another day they took us and another family to a nice beach about a 20-minute boat ride away.  Found amazing shells and played in and out of the water for about an hour.

Every night at 10 pm they raise the trawler net and see what is in there - one night it was some squid which the kitchen staff cut up and served 'sashimi style' with soy sauce.  I did not partake but my husband and son did along with many other guests.  They all loved it.

All in all this was really a fabulous weekend.  It's not for everyone, that's for sure, but if you are located in Singapore and are looking for a quiet, nature-oriented weekend to 'chillax', check out the blue mountain kelong.

one of 2 tables in the dining area

view of the kelong from the water

the coast near the kelong - a fisherman lives in that house.

  

example of one of the meals - fried shrimp, veggies, jackfruit green curry, chicken wings, red chicken curry, white rice and tofu with onions.  all you can eat.  beverage choices - water, coke, carlsberg beer.

our room - 3 of the 5 beds.  very comfy! all local wood.

the famous potty that flushes into the sea - shower is also there - not hot water but you don't miss it.

example of the walkway - - - roof made of palm fronds - everything made of local wood.  You can see the island in the background.  Few people live there.

map in the kelong showing its location - see Singapore?  

the stilts (and I guess the "plumbing"?)

bright bright moon - beautiful.