Batam | Rachel's Travelogue

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Batam’s Diary

Posted in Batam, Food, Indonesia, South East Asia, Travels on March 3, 2010| 4 Comments »

Date: 25th Feb 2010

Today’s Travel: Ferry from Singapore to Batam (Habour Front – Habour Bay)

Summary: Saying hello

I took the last Ferry (9.30pm) from Habour Front, Singapore to Habour Bay, Batam, Indonesia and arrived 9.30pm Batam time. My good old friend Marine being my host for the weekend picked me up and we went to Golden Land. It is a food court where you can buy local delicacies, Satey and Ayam Panggang (BBQ Chicken). Yum yum… She introduced me to Nat and Rob, then after 30minutes later arrived Phil and Steve. We were invited by the owner to come again on Sunday as there was some local concert going on and also he will be giving us 10 bottles of big Bintang after we buy 5 big bottles!! Don’t we love Indonesia! Good deal huh?

Rob,Steve,Phil,Nat,Rachel,Marine - Golden Land, Batam, Indonesia

Date: 26th Feb 2010

Today’s Travel: Nagoyahill, ‘Balerang Bridge‘, ACCIDENT 😦

Summary: Looked around in Nagoya Hill….met Anil….went for lunch…went to Anil’s place….went to ‘Bareland Bridge’…accident…

Both Marine and I woke up around 10.30am and took our shower and had breakfast (Indomie). Then we went to Nagoya Hill shopping complex to cool our self down of the heat before we go to Barelang Bridge. Then we received a call from Anil. So we waited for him to arrive then we went to eat lunch in KFC. Then after lunch we went to Anil’s home where we meet his beautiful wife, Kavita and cute little Kanak, nick name Kanu (his son). Spend the rest of the afternoon there and Kavita made us Indian food (Pakora) for tea.

Marine, Myself and Kanak, Anil's House

An hour before sunset, we all decided to go to the Balerang Bridge. On the way, you can see hills, paddy field, dragon fruits tree, reservoir and also the beaches and sea!! It is really a beautiful sight!

Scene along the way

We were 1 mile away before we reach the bridge and 2 motorcycle just crashed on the next road to ours! So we looked out of the window and being the safety man, Anil immediately went out of the car followed by all of us, and checked the motorcyclist’s condition. Anil threw away the damage bike to relieve the girls trapped below it. It was blood everywhere and there were four of them and 3 of them was badly injured. It was a good thing that they all wear helmets otherwise the girl who was trapped would totally crash her skull. The guys around tried to stop the car that was passing by and no one stopped. Wonder what happen to people nowadays! So they carried the girl who was badly injured to our car and Marine and Anil send the girl to the hospital 30minutes away. Marine was brave enough to drive the girl with all the blood everywhere in the car! Kavita, Kanak and myself, waited at the CS (crime scene). I knew I should have been a police woman!

Motorcycle that was involved, Batam, Indonesia

Police came with a small pick-up, Batam, Indonesia

We both waited for them while the rest of the people carried the other injured man to the side of the road. 15minutes later, a mini Hilux came with a police and drove the other two victim to the hospital. So the three of us waited there and planned to just walk to the Balerang Bridge as we could see the bridge from where we were. Just a few metres walking one guy called us and stopped us from going. He said that it is dangerous to walk in that area especially at night. So we walked back to the cs and waited for Anil and Marine. The rest of the crowd was still there just looking at us. But the guy who stopped us from walking, accompanied us just to make sure that we were safe.

The guy who accompanied us, Batam, Indonesia

So after almost an hour or so, Anil and Marine arrive and we took out the cushion cover which was covered with blood and threw it away. While doing that, i could hear the crowd was asking one another what actually happen and in their mind, it was us who knock them down. Which if was true could get us into deep trouble as knocking people down in any village can mean death (applies to Malaysian’s village too). So the guy who accompanied us explained what happen and I could hear them being in their grateful sound. So after taking out the cushion cover we drive back and send Anil and the family home and Marine and I went home to freshen up before going out again.

Marine brought me to De Patros Cafe at Habour Bay. We sat at the balcony facing the sea. You can smell the sea and see McDermott’s Fabrication Yard too! We spent 2 hours just talking and a life band came to our table to sing for us. They were 4 of them, with 2 guitars, a celo and small drum. They asked whether or not we have song request and of course we requested for I’m Yours, Jason Mraz.

Live Band, De Patros Cafe, Batam, Indonesia

Date: 27th Feb 2010

Today’s Travel: Pantai Melur, Pantai Galang Baru

Summary: Beach and more beaches

Marine had to work half day today so she dropped me at Anil’s home in the morning before gong to work. So I had breakfast with Anil and family again, Kavita as always, was preparing Gujarati food which was really nice too. So after breakfast, we went to Pantai Melur. It was a long drive as we had to drive over 3 bridges means to different island.

Barelang Bridge,Batam, Indonesia

I was still feeling sleepy despite of the beautiful scenery on the way!!! The sea was green and blue and we could see boats going in and out of the island. We arrived after an hour drive and at the entrance you have to pay a parking fee which cost about Rp.10,000 per car. The beach was BEAUTIFUL!!!! There were few groups at the beach having a picnic and there was banana boat service too. You can go to different island with only Rp.10,000 each if you are in a group. Anil and Kanak went swimming.

Pantai Melur, Batam, Indonesia

Children playing at Pantai Melur, Batam, Indonesia

Then after an hour at Pantai Melur, we went to another beach, Pantai Galang Baru. The entrance fee was Rp.5000 each. It was really a nice beach too!!! They have a small park and you can see the mangrove tree at the sea side. There were small huts build on the sea as well and we walked towards it and there was a group of University student having a picnic and it happen to be lunch and they were eating nasi lemak and made all of us hungry too!!!!

Pulau Galang Baru Beach, Batam, Indonesia

Pulau Galang Baru, Batam, Indonesia

From the Park on Pulau Galang Baru, Batam, Indonesia

Some Uni student having picnic

Pulau Galang Beach, Batam, Indonesia

Pulau Galang Baru Sea Side, Batam, Indonesia

The Small Hut built on the sea - Pulau Galang Baru, Batam, Indonesia

We then walked further into the park and met a group of girls who were practicing some dance move and it was some Hindi music and Kanak who loves to dance dance along as well. Kanak was basically a superstar, everywhere we went. Not only because of his cute face, but also, he KNOWS how to pose!!!

Kanak the superstar of the day!

Date: 28th February 2010

Today’s Travel: Vietnam Camp, Pantai Pinggir

Summary: A mini Vietnam in Batam, Indonesia

Marine and I woke up late and when we were ready, it was already lunch. So Marine brought me to this beautiful restaurant Golden Fish located on a hill where you can see the Barelang Bridge and also all the sea around the island! It was hot but there were trees to cover us from the sun. It was windy too. We ordered Salted Egg Crab, and it tasted really good. The salted egg was fried with some sauce and made you just want to lick the crab and plate clean!

Barelang Bridge from Golden Fish, Batam, Indonesia

We then drove to the Vietnam Camp which was 30minutes from the restaurant. This is where the refugees escaped and make a small village on Batam Island. They have their own, school, hospital, prison, shops, temple and churches. And those who try to run away from VC will be prisoned.