I don't have an idea where Batam is located. So as usual before I hit the destination, I will google it 1st to read a thing or two about what to do and what to see.
Yeah, another trip (3D2N free and easy) with MAA Takaful agents. 3 buses full on board. It was a long long journey of 7 hrs on the road with R & R stop in between. Set off from Klang at 6.30 a.m to Johor Bharu ferry terminal and from there another 1 1/2 hrs ferry ride to Batam. Ferry ticket for adult is RM10.00. It was evening by the time we reached the island. Fortunately, the immigration check point was fast and hassle free. From here, the bus ride to the hotel was 15 minutes. Upon reaching, we were given a welcome drink. Checked in, unpacked, showered and hit the nearest food stall for dinner. After dinner we walked around nearby but the guys have their own agenda...discotheque for dangdut or a massage.
We stayed at Hotel Nagoya Plasa which is located in the heart of Nagoya Town. Nagoya Hill shopping center, biggest mall in town is just 5 minutes walk away. We did not sight-seeing much as there are not much to see (so I heard). For shopaholic, this is the right place to be. Things are very cheap, affordable and are duty free throughout the island. Satisfaction guaranteed! There are a lot of shops in the mall selling leather goods, clothes, hand bags, shoes, kain batek, etc..etc..and blackberry phones. All the h/p shops here sell only blackberry phones. Seeing so many of it and I am tempted to get my very own blackberry! You can shop till you drop or shop till you are broke, whichever comes 1st. I am not a shopaholic freak but I came home with a very pregnant luggage bag. And I was once a millionaire (in rupiah) in Batam but came home down, tired and broke. Poor me :)
On the 2nd day, 10 of us rented a van for a full day tour. Cost us 70 thousand rupiah each. Our 1st stop was Barelang bridge. It was about an hour drive from town. And then we stopover at Yong Heng food trading and bought some food stuff and lastly to a famous kain batek shop. Our tour was cut short as some people wants more shopping, so we headed back to town.
I had my 1st taste of masakan padang for lunch at a local restaurant and it was love at 1st taste. Tasty and delicious. Must hunt for this food in Klang! I heard there is one restaurant in USJ. Gonna check it out this weekend.
Ferry At JB Ferry Terminal. This ferry can accommodate 140 people.
Inside the ferry
Batam Ferry Terminal
With Ms Phang (MAA Takaful Marketing Manager)
Hotel Nagoya Plasa
At Barelang Bridge. One of the six bridges that connects 3 islands (Batam - Rempang - Gelang) together.
View from Barelang bridge. Wish I own one of the houses in that small island.
We left Batam the next day and took the ferry back to JB. Reached home at 1 am 1st May, 2010. It was an okay only trip for me but if I can get my hands on that blackberry phone, then it would be good! As I google it again, there are some tourist attraction places that I missed out. Should I come back to this island for a 2nd round visit, I'll be doing more sight-seeing instead.
Cheers! :)
3 comments:
you should have just closed ur eyes and get that blackberry :) we must go together one day heeh, hey there is suppose to be a nasi padang restaurant in subang parade, not sure if its opened yet or not !! if ada .......... u know lah, u and me hehehe
sounds interesting place, must try one day!
already over with the blackberry fever cos i don't see many over here. yeah, its a date then if there is one at subang parade. staying in jb is not that bad after all eh? cos you can make a day trip visiting neighboring countries! Lots to explore!
Glad you enjoyed. I had a great time at my pad in a hotel Batam where the massages are out of this world and relax you dead.
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