Turi Beach Resort Batam: Stayed and Reviewed

We stayed at the Turi Beach Resort in Batam during the Easter Weekend. This is our 2nd time at this wonderful resort and we enjoyed it just as much as the 1st time.

There was several conditions that led us to stay at Turi Beach Batam

1. It was a short long weekend, so we wanted to go a place nearby, Malaysia or Indonesia. The travelling time to the location must be short.

2. We wanted to go to a resort with a decent beach facility and avoid the cities. So places like KL and staycation in Singapore was out.

3. So for beach resort, there were several choices like Bali, Bintan, Batam, Tioman and the nearby islands.

4. In the end it was down to either Bintan or Batam. I decided on Batam for our stay. Bintan feels too sterile for a resort. The land  where all the resorts sit, are leased by Singaporean government linked companies from the Indonesian government. I think part of the leasing agreement is kicking out all the local inhabitants outside the leased area. where it is fenced. Going in and out of this area is through a huge guarded gate. Beyond the gate is where you see the kampong houses of the local inhabitants. 

5. Turi Beach Batam, on the other hand, is located by the beach. The local inhabitants lived within driving distance with no demarcation between it and the hotel.

Getting to Turi Beach Batam is from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Nongsapura. It is a 45 minute ferry ride. Nongsapura is a quiet terminal. The queues are manageable and not long. Getting to Turi Beach from Nongsapura is a 10-15 minute drive.

Turi Beach Batam is part of the Nongsa Resort property group which comprises of

1) Turi Beach Resort
2) Nongsa Point Marina and Resort
3) Nongsa Village
4) Tamarin Santana Golf Club
5) Infinite Studios
6) Nongsapura Ferry Terminal

The Turi Beach Batam area is quite large.

The Tirta Wing is the new wing. There are 2 swimming pool.

The rooms are on a terrace layout for the Tirta Wing. That
ensures all rooms have a view of the beach. We stayed at room
412.

The original Riani Wing.

Check in counter. The lobby area is quite big. The hallway on
the right of the picture leads to the hotel rooms

Opposite view of the lobby area. On the right is the driveway to
the resort. I love the view of the ceiling roof.

The entrance to our 1 bedroom suite. Comes
with the opened-balcony on the left.

Another view of the balcony area and background.

There is also a staircase outside the entrance to the roof.

Upon entry, this is the living room area....

.....facing the tv. The door on the left leads to the bathroom.

The shower area. It is very clean and bright.

The wash-area.

Another view of the shower area.

Coming out of the toilet, we head to the left hallway into the ....

...the master bedroom. The room is quite big.

View of the bed.

The huge bed faces the TV. The wardrobe on the right.
The door leads to the other bathroom.

The toilet area of the bathroom. It is very clean and bright.

The shower area with the bathtub next to it.

View from the bedroom window.

Another view.

Along the balcony, there are 2 tree trunk benches and a dining
table at the end.

The dining table on the balcony is a very nice touch.

View from outside the balcony. The swimming pool is in the
middle of the picture.

A view of the beach from the balcony.

Part of the swimming pool can be seen here.

A view of the jetty at low tide.

A view of the beach area at low tide. I think this is a nice
composition.

There was a private party at night near the pool

The jetty at high tide.

Another view.

The jetty.

If you are bored of the beach, there is the swimming pool.

Or there is another pool not far away.

Initially we had a problem with the bedroom aircon. It was not as cold as the living room. But the technical staff and the housekeeping went all out to ensure that that aircon was cold by the end of the day. They took extra effort and came to our room couple of times to make sure it was at least pleasant. Thankfully, it was fixed on our 2nd day.

Otherwise, the resort is very nice place for a weekend stay. There were people from Japan, Korean, Indians, Caucasions and locals. It was a good mix but the area was so big that it does not feel it was crowded.. If you are looking for a getaway with the family, this is a definite recommendation.

If you have any queries or if you have stayed here before, let me know how was your experience by the comments below.

Eames Chair: The Eames Softpad Executive Chair

In 1958, Charles and Ray Eames was asked to design chairs for a wealthy industrialist in Columbus, Indiana named J. Erwin Miller. Chairs that could be both for indoor and outdoor usage. Chairs that could withstand the weather and the elements, be comfortable and be beautiful enough to also go indoors and not clash with the decor. (Source: Herman Miller, Smart Furniture)

According to Smart Furniture, 'what they came up with they called the Aluminium Group, and it was this group that led to directly to the creation, decades later, of the Eames Soft Pad Chairs. The original Aluminum Group Chairs were, indeed, indoor-outdoor creations. They were upholstered in mesh, and that made them easy to use outdoors without getting ruined. They were supported by polished aluminum, and that made them attractive and modern. They were shaped in a beautiful curve, and that made them classically stylish chairs. Immediately, almost everyone involved saw that these chairs were perfect for indoor use, and perfect for leather upholstery. The idea quickly shifted, from making idiosyncratic chairs for a single buyer into making amazing chairs for a legion of new buyers looking to improve the look of their homes and offices. These chairs, the Aluminum Group that was upholstered in leather and given the familiar profile we now know so well, were the progenitors of the Eames Soft Pad Chairs.'

The Eames Soft Pad Chairs, taken from Smart Furniture

'The Eames Soft Pad Chairs were updates, released in 1969, to the original Aluminum Group Chairs, and they were also an addition; they introduced a side chair into the mix that had its own special purpose in the system. The design of the Eames Soft Pad Chairs owes a lot to the original Aluminum Group, and also to the original indoor-outdoor prototype for both. Mainly, the technical innovation of the comfort pocket is owed to the original prototype.'

The Wife acquired two Eames Soft Pad Executive Chairs and a Herman Miller Aeron chair from an office auction at approximately SGD20 each. They office was reducing their floor space and they were getting rid of their excess office furniture. I do not think they are aware of the value of these chairs. The Eames Soft Pad Executive chair is retailing at around USD2,400 each and a basic Aeron chair at USD600.

There is a slight twist to the Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair that was bought. It was manufactured by ICF Italy.

Taken from www.depadova.it

According to both Smart Furniture and Scott Howard UK website, 'The Aluminium Group Chair was first manufactured by Herman Miller Inc in the USA who later granted four manufacturers a "Licence to Produce" for their own markets in Europe. The four original licencee's were Vitra in Switzerland, Hille in the UK, ICF in Italy, and Mobilier International in France, of which only Vitra still retains a licence from Herman Miller Inc to manufacture for the European and Middle East markets, after becoming sole licencee with effect from the 1st of January 1986.'

ICF was founded by Fernando and Maddalena De Padova. According to their website, 'On a trip to Basel, Maddalena De Padova happens to discover the Wire Chair by Charles Eames. The encounter changes her life. A few months later, in fact, through Willi Fehlbaum, the founder of Vitra, Maddalena meets with the American company Herman Miller and acquires a license to produce the products designed by Charles Eames and George Nelson in Italy. Founding of ICF De Padova, with headquarters in Vimodrone, near Milan, for the production in Italy of the office furnishings of Herman Miller.'


Here are the photos of the Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair that I own.

Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair - Front

Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair - Back

Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair - Side

Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair - Aluminium Handle

Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair - Aluminium Frame

Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair - Aluminium Frame

Eames Soft Pad Executive Chair - Aluminium Frame

In case of any doubts...

ICF Italy's Address

The chair was used by the office since Sept 2006. Despite its age, it is still in very good condition. The leather is still good, despite some scuffs mark in the usual places for an office chair. The cushion is still strong. The pneumatic lift is works effortlessly. Most of all, it is one of the most comfortable chairs that I have ever sat in.

Writing this blog piece on this beautiful chair has given me a deeper appreciation on the architectural achievements of the Eames, of putting physics into a simple thing like a chair or an elephant for kids. Prior to this chair, I have also blogged about the Eames elephant.

According to Smart Furniture, the Eames Aluminium Group Chairs '...feature two polished aluminum ribs that range up and down the seat and seat back. Between these two ribs, the leather is stretched taut. And that's it to the casual eye. This creates a comfort pocket, in the same way hammocks and camp chairs create a sling. But the comfort pocket on these chair is different. Not only are the materials exquisitely comfortable, but each pocket is precise, measured, and repeatable to the Nth degree. They figured out a way to be precise with the sling, and make it actively inviting and comforting and supportive, rather than just sitting there. It was the first major chair not to use a solid back, and it was a huge hit. Years later, with the Eames Soft Pad Chairs, the technology is still sound and unimproved upon. The chairs are just as grand and comfortable today as they were four decades ago.

Another thing that the Eames Soft Pad Chairs took from the Aluminum Group was variety. There are four different types of Soft Pad Chair, and each one of them is specialized and unique, all the better to fit your life more precisely.'

Source:
Eames Design
Herman Miller
Vitra
Smart Furniture
wikipedia.com - J Erwin Miller
Scott Howard
Mid Centuria