Four Birthdays Together on a Private Yacht - Alvinology

Four Birthdays Together on a Private Yacht

Yes, it's our birthday! (L to R): Mark, me, Rachel and my sister, Xinyi
Yes, it’s our birthday! (L to R): Mark, me, Rachel and my sister, Xinyi

Today is 26 October 2010. I have finally hit the big 3-0. My best buddy, Mark, turned 30 yesterday on 25 October 2010. My wife, Rachel, turned 28 today while my sister, Xinyi, turned 27 today.

Mark and I did not choose to know each other since Primary 1 because of our birth dates. Rachel and I did not choose to date each other and eventually get married because of our common birthday either. My sister…. I do not think my parents were able to time our birth dates so precisely.

Yes, it’s a string of coincidences. For some strange reason, people close to me tend to share very similar birth dates.

That’s why Mark and I decided to celebrate our turning 30 together as a big family last Sunday (24 Oct). Both of us chipped in and rented a private yacht, Kingdom from Neo Yacht, for half a day and treated our loved ones to a little sea adventure. 🙂

Mark came with his wife, Meiyen; his brother, Darren and his girlfriend; his parents, parent-in-laws and grandmothers.

I brought Rachel, my parents, my sister; my aunt Catherine, her husband and their son/my cousin, Jun Jie.

Rachel and I in our beach outfit, ready to set off
Rachel and I in our beach outfit, ready to set off

We had the yacht from 2pm to 6pm. After parking our cars at ONE°15 Marina Club, Sentosa Cove, we proceed to board the yacht.

Rachel and i at ONE°15 Marina Club
Rachel and i at ONE°15 Marina Club
Rachel talking to our food caterer
Rachel talking to our food caterer
Kingdom, the yacht that we will be boarding
Kingdom, the yacht that we will be boarding
My loving aunt and uncle
My loving aunt and uncle
Rachel and I, just as loving
Rachel and I, just as loving

The food was loaded and ready for consumption when we hopped on Our skipper, Yudas, promptly briefed us on the route details and we were off to the big blue sea in a jiffy.

Our crew of 18
Our crew of 18
Another group picture
Another group picture
Our lunch at sea
Our lunch at sea
We brought two bottles of champagne
We brought two bottles of champagne

We were impressed by the yacht’s cleanliness and the facilities available. There were a total of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a KTV room. Best of all, part of the area are all air-conditioned.

Spanking white yacht
Spanking white yacht
The rear deck
The rear deck
Rachel and I on the deck. It was drizzling slightly when we set off.
Rachel and I on the deck. It was drizzling slightly when we set off.
Inside the KTV room
Inside the KTV room
Jun Jie and my uncle lazing in the KTV room
Jun Jie and my uncle lazing in the KTV room
Rachel and I singing
Rachel and I singing
Darren and his girlfriend on the KTV
Darren and his girlfriend on the KTV
Ornamental Buddha and wine glasses
Ornamental Buddha and wine glasses
Two of the cabins were located on the left and right flank of the KTV room
Two of the cabins were located on the left and right flank of the KTV room
One of the sleeping cabins
One of the sleeping cabins
Rachel and I in one of the cabins
Rachel and I in one of the cabins
Clean bathroom
Clean bathroom
Mark and Meiyen at the control room
Mark and Meiyen at the control room
Mark and Meiyen pretending to steer the yacht
Mark and Meiyen pretending to steer the yacht
My dad, the real McCoy?
My dad, the real McCoy?
The real skippers - Alvin and Rachel?
The real skippers – Alvin and Rachel?
The real skipper, Yudas
The real skipper, Yudas

It was drizzling slightly when we set off, hence we kept mostly in the enclosed area. Luckily by around 2.30pm, the rain stopped and the sky cleared. It was the perfect weather to be out at sea then. The sun was not scorching hot, due to the partial cloud cover. The breeze was blowing gently and the sea was a nice blue-green hue. Life is great. 🙂

We sailed off to Lazarus Island first, a small island beside Kusu Island where a famous Chinese temple is located.

While the yacht was sailing, we enjoyed our catered buffet lunch from Orange Clove. Rachel and I also brought along two bottles of exquisite champagnes we got during our wedding in June, but never found the right occasion to pop. This was the special day for us to pop both.

Yummy food from Orange Clove
Yummy food from Orange Clove
Our lunch menu
Our lunch menu
Lunch time
Lunch time
My parents enjoying their food
My parents enjoying their food
Rachel and I brought our food to the top deck to eat
Rachel and I brought our food to the top deck to eat
Rachel and I popping the first champagne
Rachel and I popping the first champagne
Drinking to the very last drop
Drinking to the very last drop
Mark and Meiyen enjoying their champagne
Mark and Meiyen enjoying their champagne
My uncle and aunt enjoying the champagne
My uncle and aunt enjoying the champagne
Aunt Catherine, her husband and my cousin, Jun Jie
Aunt Catherine, her husband and my cousin, Jun Jie
My cousin, Jun Jie and my aunt Catherine
My cousin, Jun Jie and my aunt Catherine
My aunt's family
My aunt’s family
Rachel with my mom
Rachel with my mom
I knew this goon for 23 years already! More than 2 decades!
I knew this goon for 23 years already! More than 2 decades!
Alvinlogy's happy family
Alvinlogy’s happy family
Just Rachel and I
Just Rachel and I
My entourage
My entourage
My family
My family
Mark's family
Mark’s family
Mark's entourage, minus the two grandmothers
Mark’s entourage, minus the two grandmothers
Meiyen's family
Meiyen’s family
Loving couple, Mark and Meiyen
Loving couple, Mark and Meiyen
Me with my sister and Rachel - the three of us share the same birthday
Me with my sister and Rachel – the three of us share the same birthday
Rachel, grinning wide
Rachel, grinning wide

The yacht docked itself nearby to Lazarus Island. Yudas and the other skipper then launched a small deck for us to dip our feet into the sea as well as to dive in. A two-person kayak was also available for rowing.

Rachel and I had a go at both kayaking and swimming in the sea. It felt really refreshing and tranquil – the beautiful weather and the sparse surrounding.

Rachel and I, before we dip into the sea
Rachel and I, before we dip into the sea
Our skipper Yudas, unloading the kayak
Our skipper Yudas, unloading the kayak
Even when kayaking, Rachel will yak on and on like a Chihuahua
Even when kayaking, Rachel will yak on and on like a Chihuahua
We got the hang of it
We got the hang of it
Rachel and I, swimming in the sea
Rachel and I, swimming in the sea
I think it is quite obvious who the stronger swimmer is
I think it is quite obvious who the stronger swimmer is
Mark went for a swim too while the rest looked on
Mark went for a swim too while the rest looked on
There were a few other yachts in the vicinity
There were a few other yachts in the vicinity
Ready to pop the second champagne after our swim
Ready to pop the second champagne after our swim
Champagne by the sea
Champagne by the sea
Meiyen's parent got on the kayak too
Meiyen’s parent got on the kayak too
My cousin enjoying his champagne
My cousin enjoying his champagne
My sister and my cousin getting onto the kayak
My sister and my cousin getting onto the kayak
My sister and my cousin kayaking
My sister and my cousin kayaking
Headed for Lazarus Island
Headed for Lazarus Island
Some light snack after a swim
Some light snack after a swim
Me enjoying music on my iPhone on the deck
Me enjoying music on my iPhone on the deck
Ah... this is the life :)
Ah… this is the life 🙂
Enjoying life
Enjoying life
My dad and my uncle sun busking
My dad and my uncle sun busking
Lazarus Island ahead
Lazarus Island ahead
Rachel and I dipping our feet into the sea
Rachel and I dipping our feet into the sea
Sipping champagne by the sea
Sipping champagne by the sea
Me sipping my glass of champagne
Me sipping my glass of champagne
Rachel getting drunk
Rachel getting drunk
Rachel is happy
Rachel is happy
Mango mousse cake
Mango mousse cake
With the birthday cake
With the birthday cake
Two old men
Two old men
Rachel and I in the room, Mark cutting his cake
Rachel and I in the room, Mark cutting his cake

At around 5pm, the yacht made it way back to Sentosa Cove, passing by St. John’s Island along the way for us to get a quick view.

Heading home
Heading home
Cruising off against the setting sun
Cruising off against the setting sun
Sky was turning dark
Sky was turning dark
Nearing Sentosa Cove
Nearing Sentosa Cove
Closer look at the expensive condominium
Closer look at the expensive condominium
So many private yachts
So many private yachts
Setting sun
Setting sun
There's still a lot of construciton going on at Sentosa Cove
There’s still a lot of construciton going on at Sentosa Cove
Everyone enjoying the breeze on our way back to Sentosa Cove
Everyone enjoying the breeze on our way back to Sentosa Cove
Rachel is drunk with happiness
Rachel is drunk with happiness
Rachel and I in front of Kingdom
Rachel and I in front of Kingdom
Rachel enjoying her music with Lazarus Island behind
Rachel enjoying her music with Lazarus Island behind
Parting shot with Kingdom
Parting shot with Kingdom

Before we realised it, our little yacht adventure was over. Everyone was happy and went home with a smile on our faces. Mark decided he will buy a yacht next time when he makes enough dough. He should get there faster than me as both his wife and him work at banks where salaries are generally inflated. For Rachel and I, rental will do fine. :p

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