Details of Batam Trip

As promised, here is a travel log for my trip to Batam.

Dec 29 06(Friday):

Decided to go to Batam(one of the Riau islands in Indonesia) so I went over to HarbourFront Centre during lunch time to check on the package prices. Recommended by Princess on Indo Falcon, so on 2nd Floor where there were several travel agency and ferry counters, I asked around to make enquiries. At the Indo Falcon counter, I asked for the package price, then was directed to the office on 11th Floor. Hurried up to the office and then talked to the travel agent(Muslim Indian) and after knowing the package details, gave a call to Mich to confirm with her. Booked a two day one night package at $85 per person(including surcharge of $6 for public holiday). This package includes a one night stay at Harmoni Hotel(4 star hotel) in Nagoya Town, return ferry tickets, pier-hotel-pier van transport, and a buffet breakfast at the hotel. Did not remember my passport number and expiry date and had to ask for Mich's as well so told the agent that I'll let her know the next day. Was given some kind of invoice and two round stickers with the word "Batam Indah".

Dec 30 06(Saturday):

Emailed the travel agent our particulars. Packing up and went to the library to do some quick research on Batam through travel books. Bought some titbits and cup noodles to be brought there. Learned some last minute Indonesian phrases from Sherly. There is a slight difference of Indonesian language from Malay language, despite that, some of my Malaysian friends still think that it's almost the same). Went to Causeway Point to change some money to Rupiah but eventually knew that the rate was rather lousy. The rate was SGD1:IDR5500 only. Called my gf and she changed at the rate SGD1: IDR6000 at Mustafa Centre! Grrrr..I changed SGD50 and already lost about $4 for that rate disparity!

Dec 31 06(Sunday):

Woke up at 6:30am, washed up and left house at 7:15am to make sure that I reach HarbourFront Centre by 8:30am. Met up with Mich at HarbourFront MRT and walked over to HarbourFront Centre and then showed our invoices to the counter staffs, was in turn given the ferry tickets(including the return tickets which are open) and the arrival/departure card for the Indonesia Immigration(they helped us to type our details on it,so that's good). Since it's the eve of public holiday, there were already many people crowding the place, all mostly leaving for a weekend getaway to Batam like us. =) Hopped on the Jet Raider Ferry(Batam Fast) at 9:35am we just stayed in the lower deck(air-conditioned) and didn't go up to the upper deck as it was a smoking section. We arrived at Batam Centre Ferry Terminal 40 minutes later.

By the way, Indonesia is one hour behind Singapore. Upon clearing the custom, we were greeted by a Chinese speaking Indonesian Chinese who could recognise the stickers that we were wearing, and then being led to the van which will transfer us to the hotel. Along the way, we looked at how Batam was and found most of the places were rather slum, roads having frequent occurences of potholes and not properly paved, and then most of the shops along the way seemed to be close for New Year. To our dismay, the traffic seemed not to be in order, not many pedestrian crossings seen, there was no overhead bridge also. It took about 20 minutes to reach our hotel, Harmoni Hotel, looking good exterior and interior too. We were given welcome drinks as the agent helped us with the checking-in and then I was made to pay $50 as a refundable deposit for room service(beers in the mini fridge for eg) if it's used. We sat at the lobby since it was only 10 something the room was still being cleaned and we just took several quick photo snaps at the lobby area, where there was a giant bronze statue of three galloping horses facing in different directions. Kept on asking the counter staffs on places to visit in Batam and then was informed that there's a kelong-style seafood restaurant by the name "Golden Prawn 555", they were saying that best seafood in Batam could be found there. Sounded good, so it should be one we would be going to later for dinner. After being told that the room was ready, we went up and rested for a while, with the TV blaring with news and then killed our time by watching the remaining part of the movie "Wimbledon" on the HBO Channel. After we were done with our resting, we decided to walk around to see if there's anything interesting to see or not, just to end discovering not much. Ha! Then we decided to walk to Nagoya Plaza(shopping mall nearby) and did some shopping there, the slice of cake and brownie we bought at the Hypermart did not really taste good(the things being sold there was totally dirt cheap!). Also bought two long sleeve shirts and some daily necessities. Went on look around to see how cheap the things are in comparison to the things in Singapore. Bought a can of Heineken beer for IDR7000(SGD1.15), where can you get such a cheap beer in Singapore?!Haha. After all that, we decided to go to the seafood restaurant from Nagoya Plaza instead of going back to hotel first, so we hired a cab to Bengkong where the restaurant was located in, negotiated with the driver for a return trip and one hour waiting time for IDR70,000(about SGD12). I spoke Malay plus a little bit of Indonesian phrases that I've learned so far, and we managed to understand each other because he also knew a bit of Malay.Haha.The trip to Bengkong was not really a breathtaking one as we saw more slum parts of Batam along the way. At the restaurant, it was about 4 something when we reached there, there was only a few patrons since it was still early, but we kinda like the tranquility of the ambience. We were shown the menu and it seemed to be so cheap that we ordered five dishes which might be too much for two people to stomach!Haha..but I am not called Buffet King for nothing!Haha. So we ordered Red Snapper fish(caught alive from their pond-we can even choose which fish to catch), Fried Sotong, Die Pan Doufu, Sambal Belacan Kangkung and Mee Goreng. Can assure you that all the dishes were delicious and fresh! Worth the money, only IDR255,000(~SGD42) for two people.Actually I kinda ate two-three person's portions!Glutton me! Had fresh coconut drink too! Dinner was heavenly and really tantalised our tastebuds! There were kepitings(hermit crabs) and lobsters too, also looks cheap and surely I will go there to try these and others too!

After that very sumptuous meal, we went back to Nagoya Hill on the same cab to do the remaining shopping. Paid the driver tips(IDR10,000-about SGD2) for telling us stories about Batam. But thinking about it, we should have gone to DC Mall or BCS Mall to shop since they might offer different shopping experience!

Countdown for New Year was Noname cafe and Ktv pub at the hotel I stayed at, paid admission fee of IDR90,000(SGD15) which was inclusive of a bottle of Mix Max Vodka Cranberry Grapefruit 4.8%. There was a belly dance performance for which the performers flew all the way from Jakarta. Quite cool actually. Received some happy new year sms from friends in Singapore and it was actually still 11pm (Batam Time). After the countdown, I went to McD to buy fries and a big ice cream cone for supper. And then killed my Heineken beer. Haha.


Jan 1 2007(Monday):

Woke up at 9am, was actually planning to wake up earlier to have more time for the buffet breakfast(6-10am) but couldn't get up. Haha. Dressed up and went down to the Borobodur Cafe where we had the buffet breakfast. The food was not that nice so didn't really enjoy the breakfast. After breakfast, we went back to hotel to rest while watching the classic "Star Trek:First Contact" on HBO. Forgot that the official check out was 12pm and we only realised
at quarter past 12, so we hurriedly packed up our luggage and then went down to do our check-out, no surcharge was imposed, fortunately. Haha, got back my $50 deposit too. A travel agent from the same company came to pick us up with the bus, and then we made our way to Batam Centre to catch the ferry at 2pm. The agent seemed not to be quite organised in assigning the ferry tickets, rather inefficient. After paying him the ferry tax of $3, we headed to the custom counters and boarded the Ocean Raider Ferry. It was also free seating style, so initially we tried looking for seats in the lower and middle deck but it was futile until when we were at the middle deck, one of the sailors opened up the business class deck and then offered us entry. Waaa..The seats were in couch style and looked high class enough. Pretty lucky ha! The ferry started moving and we bid farewell to Batam, thinking that we will go there again just for the seafood! And maybe shopping at DC Mall and BCS Mall. Other that those, it remains not much a reason to be visited. A good rugged travel experience, making sure we don't take for granted the things we have back in our hometown, despite having to pay more for tax for the extra-added convenience which makes our life more comfortable to live.