The un-tour (free and easy)

After the tour guides dropped us at the hotel, and we are free!!!!

Checked in the hotel for a rest and we gathered to plan for the rest of the trip.
My friends and I, who shared the same room,
soaked our legs in the bathtub chatting and waiting for the others to get ready for dinner.
^^ bathtub~~
I really want a bathtub when I get my own house next time.

We went back to the shopping mall that we had spent only 20 mins earlier before,
to settle our dinner because it was the nearest one.
I'm sure you know KFC, there is also BFC there.
Best fried chicken, we walked around and couldn't find anything else that was as interesting,
so we ate there.
Their chilli is awesome.
My Indonesian friend said that they don't sell it,
because it expires in a day so they would have to make them fresh everyday.
There are also lots of ingredients and lots of work to make the chilli.

We went around shopping, the things there are not much different from Singapore.
At least, what they have in the shopping malls.

And Then, We went out to the streets.
And it's there.
Their life and culture.
Something I have been looking forward too.




We bought some street food for supper, they are super delicious!
Another worrying thing is that they don't keep check of their hygiene.
Make sure to have some pills with you
if you have been living in such a clean environment your whole life and if you think you can't take it.
A little dirt is good for you, and besides the food is too yummy to be missed out.

There is this dish that is lontong, with beehoon noodles, koropok and an amazing peanut sauce.
The smells and taste delicious!
Though it looks quite messy, it is actually nice.
It's called kepotprak.

We also eat the crayfish, with their chilli sauce.
Loved by my local friend. You can eat the small bones since they are so soft.
We are only left with the middle bone and some parts of the head by the time we are finish.

The chicken and mutton satay, lontong.
Eat them together with the satay peanut sauce.
I should have bought more...

There is this bread desert. They made it super slowly, but it was worth the wait.
I've got no idea what it is called.
They used the bun of the hotdog bread, slice it in half to make a sandwich (from the sides, not the top),
spread lots of butter both sides.
Then, one side your choice of chocolate rice or jams and the other side warmed up banana.
Sandwich them up together and pan fry them in a very well buttered pan on very low heat until the chocolate melts.
Press them into a flat rectangular box and cut into bite size pieces. So nice!
I'll try making them myself soon. =]
Banana and chocolate, what a good pairing.



That's what we did on the first day.


The next morning, BREAKFAST!


It is awesome!!! A little of everything and I ate a lot, I am happy. =]
There is noodles, fried bee hoon, coconut rice, porridge with lots of toppings of your choice, toast, salads, sausages and omelettes, cereals and milk, there's even Japanese rice and miso soup.
They have this drink that is at the fruits and desserts section. It is good for your health, but it taste weird.
Not used the star anise taste.


We didn't follow the tour bus back to the ferry station and we opted for the last ride home so that we can spend more time there.

The transportation isn't that much of a problem.
Their taxis don't have the taxi sign on top.
But there are many taxis outside the hotel.
As soon as we step out of the hotel, they'll ask if you need a ride.

It is good to travel with friends because we can share cab fees.
We can also buy a lot of different kind of food and not be afraid of wasting them.


We wanted to play archery or paint ball but one is too far and the other is out of budget.
So we went back to the go krat area.
There wasn't as much people as the day before so the operators there had let us play longer than the allocated time. Probably twice as long.

All the people on the track are all people we know, so it is much more fun playing with strangers.
We can laugh and make fun of each other to our hearts content.

I came on this 2 day 1 night trip with 6 others from my poly CCA, the Japanese culture club.
And as expected from cosplayers, their poses are cool shit! =D


We went to the mega mall near the ferry station for our lunch and kill time to wait for the boat.
And shopping too.
Although most things they sell there are available in Singapore,
and the pricing isn't that much different, there are other things to do too.

And like many other visitors, we went to check out the A&W,
TOO BAD that their gas machine is down, no gas drinks,
the only thing I wanted to try was their A&W float. =[


We went shopping at the basement, their hypermarket. It was cool.
Though you have to be careful, they don't allow bagpacks or more than one bag in,
so you'll have to check them at the counter near the entrance.

They have an eatery within the hypermart.
My friend got me some bakso soup, and fried siewmai which comes with the peanut sauce.


 I swear, anything you add to the peanut sauce will taste delicious. No kidding.
Too bad they don't sell the peanut sauce too. T-T


I 打抱 home some fried siewmai, and they wrapped it up pretty nicely.
Bought a bunch of maggie mee (My friend got herself a basket full) and some passion fruit. =]
Like trying new things that are nice.

Soon, we got damned bored.
We finally settled down in this awesome area.
Why don't they have this is the malls in Singapore???


Waiting for the last few minutes for us to check into the ferry station.

And we are on our way home.

So tired...... and there's work the next day too.....

I came on this trip to relax.....

but still.... I want to sleep more...

ZZZzzZZZzzzZzzzzz

God bless you who are going on a trip.

Have a safe journey and have fun!

=]

The tour

If you are on a budget for the trip, then you'll probably get the same package as me.
Funny that I see many people coming to Batam going to the same tour, same places.
Taking the same photos.
Do they only have these places to go to?
I don't think so, and I don't think tourist would want to go to the same tour twice.
Once to these places is enough for me.


So here is what we did.

Firstly, we were brought to a polo store.
I'm not interested at all, so I'll not talk about it.


Then we went to a chocolate shop.


A lot of chocolate to try ^^
I brought this really nice mango biscuits (but I should buy some chocolates at a chocolate store...)



Next stop was a temple.
Didn't really go in, just stayed outside which was a pleasant surprise.
The sky here is really clear and sunny.


Though the weather is about the same as Singapore, it is probably because there are no tall HDB flats or office buildings blocking the view of the sky, it made the view looks wider. As if the sky here is bigger.



After that we went to their Dry market where we buy koropok.
I bought a lot, my dad says that if I am to buy something back buy those.
But you'll need to pay extra attention to not crush them into small pieces.
There are so many kinds, it's kind of amusing.


Then, we passed by a kway lapis store which the tour guide told us
that they are bringing us there because it is near that area where we are going to eat lunch.
Kway lapis, the direct translation of the Chinese name is 'a thousand layered cake'.
(but i don't think there is a thousand layers)
It is like their representing food.
You see them everywhere.
And because it requires lots of effort to bake the cake layers by layers,
it is a little pricey if you are on a budget trip.
If you are planning to buy some back, one whole cake is around 25-27SGD.
But of course, make sure you change enough rupiah,
since most things will be cheaper there in rupiah.


Ever since the start of the tour, I was hungry.
My friends were also hungry too.
They didn't eat much in the morning,
since they are afraid that they'll vomit during the ferry ride.
And I don't normally eat breakfast.
Anyway, we were really hungry and thank god for all those samplings.
From chocolate to koropok and kway lapis, we eat and try all those samples.
There are surprisingly a lot of stuff to stuff your mouth with.

And then, finally! Our seafood lunch.
It is at a really pretty place, but there are quite a lot of mosquitoes.


Even though we were hungry, the food isn't that fantastic.
They are not bad, edible, but I wish we had when somewhere else instead.
They have ridiculously large clams!


There is also a performance show.


Go krat.
I really shouldn't go learn driving.
I like speeding too much. =P
The sun, by now, is blazingly hot.
And very much to our surprise, playing the go krat proved to be a good decision.
The wind cools down your body immediately as you start driving.


I was kind of worried about wearing the stinky helmet but it wasn't that bad at all,
we were given hair nets and the helmets were not stinky.
This cost around 100K rupiah.


If you are not interested in the exciting game,
you can go the the miniature park and experience being giants.
Or if you are sleepy from the lunch you have just eaten and the weather is making you tired easily,
you can just stay in the bus to rest.


Massage. It lasted one full hour.
It is freaking cool. This place.
They had lots of beds in a room like a big hall, each separated with curtains.

I don't normally like people touching me but it's a great experience!
I came on this trip to relax and I am glad to get the massage.
Although it is a little painful at times, it is good pain.
The lady says I'm too stressful. > < Life in Singapore.....


We were brought to the shopping mall next.
We've got 20 mins, what's there to shop?!?
T-T we need more time.


The last stop is the hotel. Mercure.
Looks not bad, I didn't see the pictures before I came
but my friend said that it looks like what they had shown.
There is a bathtub too.
Although the lift is a little small, it doesn't bother me much.

Every time when I go overseas, I always look forward to hotel breakfast!
Most will serve breakfast buffet style and I am so looking forward~~~
Weird coming from someone who don't eat breakfast,
but I'm excited nevertheless.

=]
God bless you!
Thank god for the trip.

Gaining one hour (off to Batam)

The waters are pretty under the sun.




Escaping from my lovely country for the time being.








We went along with the waves and current, so the boat ride wasn't bumpy enough to make me sick.


A few months ago, I went to Thailand krabi, the ocean there is so beautiful. There is nothing at the horizon, just the sky and the sea, you cant even see far away land.
But in Singapore, there are vessels everywhere. The shores here are so busy. I study logistics, so I kind of find them interesting. But to others, they are probably just block the sea view.



Even if we were out of the Singapore seas, because all the neighbouring countries are so near each other, there is never a chance to find a clear ocean in this area... =[


I love that the sky is very far, but it looks as if you can touch it if you stretch out your hand, the soft blue colour.
I love the clouds floating at their own pace, together with the wind, never stressing and never hurrying.
I love the sea which is darker and greener than the sky. Sparkling wherever the sunlight hits.

Seeing these 3 together brings me such peace, and I'm amazed by God creation.
This is such a lovely place to be.

Throughout the hour ride, I just stared out the window. =]

One hour later, we are here at batam!

Very looking forward to what we are going to do here~