Paul Chai Nov 1 2014 at 1:15 PM <\/p>\n
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The city-state is better known for its 50-year sprint to become an economic powerhouse of steel buildings and high finance than for lazing around on beaches (not surprising as they're almost non-existent and almost all made from trucked-in sand). For a quick getaway, expats and well-heeled locals head to a trio of private islands, so next time you head to the Lion City, consider swapping the shopover for an island hopover. <\/p>\n
Telunas <\/p>\n
Telunas Private Island has a wooden arm of 15 spacious over-water sea villas decorated in a disarming and original Cape Cod-weekender style but with an all-indigenous Indonesian flair. It makes sense when you discover Telunas was founded by American college friends Mike, Eric and Brad and their wives who came to the Riau islands in 2000 and just drifted along in a small boat until they found their perfect beach base. They set up Telunas Beach Resort as a social-impact project 10 years ago that's it opposite your new private -island stay and later expanded with this more upmarket property. <\/p>\n
The best thing to do is just hang out and explore. The island's jetty ends in a seven-metre plunge that makes it perfect for jetty jumps with a gentle tide that carries you back to the steps so you can go again. A small scoop of beach runs from the jetty to the villas for sandcastles and burying small children up to their neck or you can try to find the \"secret beach\" an even more private sandy hideaway along a jungle trail past the accommodation. <\/p>\n
Access involves a 50-minute ferry ride to Sekupang (Batam Island, Indonesia) then a small boat transfer to Telunas; a $75 round-trip. Villas start at $200 a night with dining an extra $75 for adults. See telunasresorts.com. <\/p>\n
Batu Batu <\/p>\n
The posh neighbour of Malaysian islands such as Rawa and Tioman, Batu Batu (real name Tengah Island) has 22 well thought-out villas that hug the coast of this mile-wide stretch of tropical perfection. <\/p>\n
The island itself contains ideal conditions for snorkellers schools of tropical fish flit away in front of us as we float over bone-white brain coral sand for the less active, and an infinity pool for those in between. <\/p>\n
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Singapore private islands: Telunas, Batu Batu and Nikoi<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Paul Chai Nov 1 2014 at 1:15 PM For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Continue reading