Part II: Indonesia, a side trip to fantanesia...

As I mentioned on the Part 1: Singapura, the universal synonym of fun, Part II would be a tale about our Indonesia day tour on the day of our Lord August 17, 2010. The nearest City in Indonesia from Singapore is the Batam City which is a 45-minute ride from Harbourfront. But before that day came, I requested my cousin An, to arrange a tour for us through the website she suggested, http://www.batamholidays.com/. Well, I tried to book it online but it did not  push through since they required an address in Singapore and by default, I typed my address in Davao, Philippines.

The whole day tour package was SGD 42.00 but it excludes the fuel charge, SGD 20.00 to be paid at HarbourFront - BatamFast Ferry Counter upon collecting the boarding cards, the Batam Tax, SGD 7.00 and the Tour Guide tips, SGD 2.00 per person. So all in all, that was SGD 79.00 for each of us.

So after a good first night Singapore sleep, we went down to take our complimentary breakfast, which was a couple of toasted bread with margarine, a coffee and 2 soft boiled eggs. After filling our craving tummies, we went on to the MRT station going to Harbourfront. From the Harbourfront Station, we just followed their very helpful signage going to the Harbourfront port going to Batam. But first, we went to the BatamFast Ferry Counter to collect our boarding cards and paid the SGD 20.00 each. Then we waited at the gate for our boarding.

The trip lasted for about an hour and when we arrived, we were greeted by our Tour Guide, collected our tour tickets and the SGD 7.00 for the Batam Tax, went to change SGD to Indonesia's Rupia and off to our Van for the tour.


The city didn't seem fascinating at first since what we were seeing familiar scenes, it was like we went back to the Philippines. There were not much skyscrapers or fascinating structures, but hey, the tour isn't over yet... And before I forget, Indonesia is an hour late from Singapore, we somehow adjusted our presumptions, including the gnawing pain in our tummy because at 11AM in Indonesia is already 12NN lunchtime in Singapore and Philippines. And the tour don't got no snack... :)

Our first stop, the Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple, the biggest Buddhist Temple at South Asia, where we spent our time amazed with the huge Buddhas and embracing their huge tummies while picture taking. Then we went to The Polo Boutique to check some Polo products for sale that is. They say Polo has a factory right inside the Batam City. 

After site seeing and window shopping, we went to the Golden Beach where I was able to buy two pairs of nice sandals for me and Mamo for Rupia 100,000.00. That was also the place for their go-Kart and Taman Mini, a place where we can find a lot of miniature houses of all Indonesia province.

After a few picture taking and a little rest, we went to GTS Local Product Shop, where we bought some delish Indonesian coffee called Arabica, and no kidding, it was soooo good, I want one cup now. They also sell other local products such as Batik shirt and Handy Craft, and then to Bengkong Dry Market Food Stuff Market, where we purchased some local famous cheaper dry food such as Ikan Bilis, Udang Kering, Kerupuk, Belinjo, and more.

After buying some stuffs, we went to the Golden Prawn Seafood Restaurant for our sumptuous lunch, where we ate our hearts out and had a chance to chat with other tourists. The group with us were the group from China and they were interested to go to Cebu, so we gave them a few info about Cebu as well as Davao of course and other places of interest in the Philippines.


After lunch we went out of the Restaurant to watch a show, a local cultural dance called "Kuda Lumping", a kind of Cultural dance from java where the dancers will go in the trance and they will perform how to eat the glass, peel the coconut using their teeth, etc.

Then we went to Toa  Pek  Kong  Chinese Temple, the famous oldies Batam Chinese Temple. Stayed there for a while to take a few pictures and then left to go their famous layered cake baker for a taste test and maybe to order. We were interested to buy some take back to the Philippines but I don't think the cake would taste the same when we get home. Then we went to another boutique for shopping, but me and labsy just joined them to window shop. :)

The group was supposed to go for a massage and another malling but me and labsy requested our Tour Guide to take us to the Ferry since we weren't interested for a massage and malling, we wanted to go back to Singapore to visit Marina Sands Sky Park later. So, our kind guide took the other participants to the spa, a couple to the mall and then us, to the ferry...

So, we cut short our tour, to give us more time to explore Singapore Parks at night...

Nothing so fantastic with the side trip except the chance to feel and spend a day with my labsy in no less than INDONESIA... There is no best place but the place where you and your beloved can spend enjoying each other a not so exciting day but made it a day to remember a lifetime...