Birthday at Nikoi

P planned a great birthday for me. He tried to surprise me with a trip to a 'secret island', but of course he couldn't manage to keep it a secret for long, as he needed to consult and confer with me..."Should we bring Calista? Should we go? Maybe we should bring your parents?"

It was a short 3 days 2 nights at Nikoi, a beautiful cosy island off Bintan. Upon arriving at the beach house, Christian asked "Why we stay 2 days only? Why not 10 days?" I had the same thought.

We didn't bring Calista cos -
(i) she's 4.5 months old and won't remember it;
(ii) we won't be able to carry all the luggage, and ensure that the two kids don't fall into the ocean all at the same time;
(iii) we won't be able to kayak and roam about.. and will have to worry about how we are going to get her to nap in the day without a yaolan;
(iv) we have not made a passport for her!

I felt really guilty as we left the house, but she seems none the worse for it when we came home. I could also tell that Christian really enjoyed having all of Mama and Daddy's attention for 2 full days...he was a great traveller too.. taking the choppy boat rides well, and generally entertaining himself by playing in the sand as we ate (all the dining areas, and the house itself, have sand as flooring.)

As I told P on the way home, it's been a great birthday which reminded me of the Me before kids - i managed to kayak by myself, watch the boundless ocean at sunset, hear the waves crashing as I slept, and even managed to read an entire book! ^_^

We ended my birthday with a fabulous hazelnut crunch cake from Conrad which P asked Christian to keep as a secret from me, but poor guileless Christian blurted out...

Mama: Oh.. Christian.. Daddy just told the driver we need to go pick up something.. what can it be?
Christian: Your birthday cake!
Daddy groans and makes a face, before whispering into Ch's ear "It's supposed to be Daddy and Christian's secret...don't tell mama.."
Ch: Oh, cannot tell mama, it's Daddy and Christian's secret.. (playfully pushes my face away)
I bide my time, and then start a while later..
"Hmm.. did you come with Daddy previously to get a cake?"
Ch (Nods, then catches himself): Cannot tell you.. it's a secret. Cannot tell you about your birthday cake.. with chocolate and biscuit...

Mama bursts out laughing.