A week in Singapore and Bintan

Have spent last week visiting Marie in Singapore. We 've been running, cycling around the small SE Asian country. This was my second visit in this country and region in the last 3 years.

The country itself is a modern city, very well organized and clean, in the middle of rain forest area. The temperature all year round, is between 28-32deg C, but the humidity makes it feel most of the times like 36 or 38deg C. Rains are quite often even on a daily base.

During the visit I have met the group of people working for Metasport a company that is organizing sports event in the area, ranging from cycling events to duathlons, triathlons and aquathlons. A great group of people, working together to prepare the events, but also organize training camps and sessions on a regular base.

During the weekend we moved to Bintan island (about 50mins by boat) which is part of Indonesia, in order to attend the training camp there, and also do a recce of the bike route for the Metaman of September 15th 2012. This is the Iron and half Iron distance triathlon organized from Metasport. 

The island is exotic and the bike route will provide an excellent cycling experience to the participants. It is with rolling hills. The heat is one thing to consider though! But the landscapes will reward all participants. The Nirwana Gardens resort is an amazing place suitable for families as well as athletes, and is located right where all the action is happening: start, transition area and finish!

The food in this part of the world is amazing! Healthy but also with exotic tastes and great variety. I love it! Forget about alcohol... State taxes make it unreachable! Not a problem for me though.

Did some training as well. At Bintan I met the amazing Kiwi: Cameron Brown, the triathlete who has been at the front line of the sport for 20 years more or less! We cycled and run together and this was an amazing experience. Check out the video (he is the guy in blue).

I must admit that the heat combined with humidity has been giving me a hard time during my training sessions. But not as bad as I was expecting. Early morning rides and runs (like 5:30 early...) were in the plan, and to my surprise there are many out doing sports at this time of the day.

Singapore is offering amazing parks like the Mac Richie (amazing trails) or Bedok (flat loop) for running, as well as a great beach front of more than 20kms.

That was a great week! Batteries full and ready for new adventures.