The Sweetness of Doing Nothing in Marjoly

Feeling relaxed and carefree and you could lounge on a beach staring at the clouds all day…

“Dolce far Niente“, which means “the sweetness of doing nothing.” It does not mean being lazy, it is referring to the pleasure one gets from being idle. The ability to completely enjoy and savor a moment.

Instead of spending your free time catching up on your social media newsfeed, Netflix queue, checking your email one more time before bed or using the extra 10 minutes you had to spare the morning to make a to-do list… what if you did nothing? Life is so much easier when you just chill out.

Recently, Ed and I have had “Dolce far Niente” weekend in Bintan, one of Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago, a short boat ride from the city of Singapore.

WHERE WE STAYED

Set amidst swaying palm and pine trees, the beachfront Marjoly Beach Resort offers a peaceful retreat and minimalistic style. The Beach Resort is a 30-minute drive from Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport and a 40-minute drive from Tanjung Pinang’s city area.

Warning: To people who have high expectation of luxurious holiday – this is not the kind of resort you may be looking at. Poor Wi-Connection, no swimming pool, no gym, no English TV channels, no bath tub and no hair dryer. No other activities except when you arrange for tour packages – snorkeling, kayaking in the mangrove and fishing.

But to US – it’s the simplest but definitely one of the happiest getaways. We had many memories that will forever be etched in our mind. Our motto in life is “live simple and find joy in ordinary things.”

Don’t worry – they have a restaurant and air-conditioned bungalows with sweeping views of the sea. The unique standalone bungalows come with thatched roofs and wooden interiors. Each is fitted with a seating area and a private patio. Shower facilities are in the en suite bathroom. I want to highlight this – which is important to us, it comes with huge and soft mattress. So you’ll have a deep and peaceful sleep.

The Sunrise. Well, you have to get up as early as 6AM to catch the stunning sunrise. You can sip your coffee or dip in the water as you watch the sunrise and how the day slowly gets brighter, when the midnight blue turns to lighter blue, when the brilliant colors start to seep into the sky, when nature is painted in incredible colors.

What To Do. Simply disconnect! Disconnect from Facebook, Instagram, eMails, Youtube, Twitter and online games. Getting lost online can drain your energy and hours on social media becomes a waste of time. Instead, bring your favorite book and enjoy reading and bumming in a hammock. Meditate. Connect with nature. Close your eyes, listen to the birds and the psithurism of the trees. This quiet moment of nothing can be profoundly healing.(These are the things that you will be missed if you have TV & WiFi connection)

Bintan Indonesia

The massage. Hail to the Masseuses! We got really pampered and relaxed by the traditional massage and foot reflexology. Two thumbs up!

Enjoy, click, repeat. The resort may be so simple and bare but it’s charming and instagrammable. The beach may not be as awesome as Coron, Samui or Bali. Nonetheless, every beach has its own unique beauty, you just need to find it and express it in your own way.