Saturday, July 27, 2013

One Day Batam Island Tour - Batam, Indonesia

I booked and bought our one day tour package going to Indonesia in advance with JA travel  and paid online. 
We took a fast craft ferry going to Indonesia.
We were at the Harbour Front Singapore at 7 am as I don't want go be late. The ferry departed at 8:45 am - on time.

We were greeted by our very charming and bubbly tour guide Evie. Our first stop is at a local cracker shop. I bought few crackers to take back home.

Our next stop was at a POLO shop. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures because the sales person was always behind me and I was also so engrossed with their displays of bags, POLO shirts and other souvenir items. My daughter bought few items (at my expense - of course.)
I bought the Lapis chocolate on our next stop and bought it back to the Philippines as pasalubong (gift or present).
This is the biggest temple in South Asia - Vihara Duta Maitreya.














On our way to the Golden City to have our lunch. Indonesia is an hour behind Singapore.

When we arrived at the Golden City, my daughter wanted to try go kart but nobody was playing and also, it's so hot as it was noon time. 
So we went to the miniature houses instead.




Sooooo hot and so hungry.
Now the best part of the tour - nourishing my hungry body so that I have the strength to appreciate the beauty of Batam.  We had our lunch at Golden Prawn Restaurant.
Waiting for our seafood lunch to be served.

We were four in the tour, a young Singaporean couple, Krystal and I. I wanted to take pictures of the food before it were downed but since we have company, I cannot just tell them, hey don't touch the food yet, I will have to take pictures of them. And since I am hungry, I cannot complain too.
I am not into chili sauce but this one is delicious.
Though I was hungry I was not able to eat too much. I was already full and the couple finished everything. The seafoods were incredibly - Lezat (delicious). 
The finishing touch, my dessert - Longan with jelly.

We stopped at several souvenir shops, bought more souvenirs then went off to Nagoya shopping malls.
Our final stop is at Batam City Center. We were given the option to go for a traditional Indonesian massage which I really wanted to try but I have to think thrice, my daughter was there for sightseeing and a bit of shopping (ugh!). Though I'm dying for a good body massage to relieve my then aching body and feet, I opted for the mall. Here, we ate Baskin Robbins ice cream.  A scoop is at 48,000 Ind. Rupiah. Krystal and I had two scoops each.

I did not get the chance to take picture of Batam City Center because I am not quite sure if picture taking is allowed inside the mall. I did not dare to take one shot of the mall to be on the safe side. Krystal bought a Lacoste backpack this time and nothing for me.


By 4:00 pm, Evie our tour guide was there already to bring us to the pier and the couple to their hotel. The queue at the pier was too long and I thought Evie will leave us once we set our foot at the pier. But she helped us get through immigration and made sure that we get to the ferry before she finally bid goodbye. I gave her more than the imposed tip she declined and wanted to give me the change but I told her, it's a simple gratuity from us. 
 It was raining and the sea was quite rough and gave me a bit of seasickness. Arrived late in Singapore, had our dinner as usual at KFC. So tired and sleepy but had fun with my daughter.

Thank you for dropping by.

No comments: