Relaxing amid cerulean waves at The Mini Maldives'
Located 50 km south of Singapore, the tranquil atmosphere at Telunas makes for an attractive tourist destination.
With cerulean blue waves rolling gently upon sands as soft and white as cotton, it makes good sense that the stretch of Riau Islands where Telunas lies was coined, “The Mini Maldives” a paradise amidst the Riau Islands, just 50 km south of Singapore. It’s the tranquil atmosphere that makes it so attractive and its unexplored nature brings you into a state of nirvana.
It takes around two-and-a-half hours to reach Telunas. Batam is an hour away from Singapore, and an extra 90 minutes ride in a pancung (Indonesian traditional boat) takes one to Telunas. As you sail through the murky muddy waters into the bright turquoise, there is a sense of ecstasy that everyone craves during vacations.
On the south-western tip of Pulau Sugi, you’ll find Telunas Resorts. Secluded and surrounded by green mangrove forests and blue-green waters, 15 Telunas beach resort villas branch out on stilts over the water, resembling a local water village or kampung. Set against the backdrop of lush greens and white pearl sand, Telunas is all about long days spent at the beach.
At this moment, I feel compelled to illuminate the fact that, there is an absence of Wi-fi connection in the beach resort; an element purposely excluded from the experience to make your stay at the resort refreshing, rejuvenating and divine.
Telunas is just the right place for couples, families or group of friends looking to unplug for a short getaway from their conventional usage of mobile phones. A perfect circuit breaker from the daily hustle and bustle of the city life; offering utmost rejuvenation and social media detox. It’s the perfect escapade, with the focus on kids’ building sandcastles and playing in the early bright fresh air.
The epitome of idyllic island life, the resort provides amazing food with set breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet menus. Apart from that, personal orders and a small shop for buying fast food items at the Telunas beach resort is also available. The dining area overlooks the sea with currents of blithe. Breakfast is usually a simple buffet line with délicieux dishes, and an egg station. Continental dishes fill the menu, with some typical Indonesian meals like Nasi Uduk, Nasi Padang, Tempe, Tahu and Lapis cake. The culinary team manage to whisk the most delicious feasts.
The island has a lot of activities to offer and is a playground for you during your stay.
Kayaking, stand-up paddling, jetty jumping, shrimping and specific activities guided by Telunas staff is available. Personally, Jetty jumping and some specific activities that included: Jungle trekking and camping, Swimming in Air Hitam (black water) waterfall amidst the jungle, and the village visit to Setonggeng island, are some ‘off -the- beat activities’ apart from the typical water sport activities every island resort has to offer.
The visit to the village on a nearby island- ‘Setonggeng’, is sure to be revitalising with amiable smiles and greetings, interaction with the locals and ravishing food! The jungle trek covers 5 km of walking in and out of the forest. Walking for a good two-and-a-half-hours to reach the campsite, setting up the hammocks to sleep, dipping in the waterfall surrounded by greens. The cold, black waters are calm and composed with a tint of ataraxia in the view. The most challenging part of this jungle trek experience is that, you have to cook your own food on a bonfire and there are no toilets, implying that you have to find a piece of turf in a far-off area to do your business!
“Look straight and jump”- fly away from your fears with a 10 metre, high jetty jump. The thrill of jumping from a 10 metre tall platform into waves of sea-salt is surely exhilarating. The view from the highest point in Telunas beach resort is breathtaking with cerulean waters below, and cloud pacing fast above you; imagine the enthusiasm in the moment you let your feet free.
As the stars at dusk start to appear, sitting down with friends and family, chatting and roasting marshmallows on a bonfire with live music by the beach; Telunas staff ensure your nights are as lively as soaking up in the sun throughout the day.
If you are looking for a short getaway where logging off and connecting with you inner-self and a few people around you is the main objective, look no further. Telunas ensures guests put aside their social crutches and enjoy the elements of their services, well-established landscape and spend time socialising with others and themselves. Some may find the island life a bit too slow, but sometimes a slice of Eden and absence of Wi-fi makes it just the perfect place for a solitude time.
The article and images have been contributed by Mumbai student Jasmin Budhiraja.