Batam Trip

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.

28th April, 2010.

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! :)

Reminiscence..

Recalling from after my trip to Turkey, after the plane landed on KLIA at 7.05am and being transported back to Klang by MPV with a few fellow travelers, they insisted to stopover at a famous malay stall to have their favourite nasi lemak, mee kari, all sorts of kueh mueh and local drinks. Someone commented the food here are very delicious and why do we traveled so far to eat over there haha.. (With this I assumed they were craving for Malaysian food). As they gobbled up their cravings, I only had a glass of milo kosong and was too tired to eat anything but take away a packet of nasi lemak for lunch anyway.

Home sweet home at last. Quickly unpacked, had a bath, feeling dazed and went to sleep. Gosh, I must have slept through everything cos I only woke up 5 hours later and feeling very hungry! I thought holiday was supposed to be relaxing but it actually can take a toll on you physically.

For the past few days, I took the liberty to eat whatever I desire (mee goreng, mee siam and curry mee to name a few), no doubts my weight shoot up! It's okay I think as I am not so concern about the weight as it can be easily shed off once I start my exercise regime. Although my body is here, my mind is still floating in between Turkey and here (reminiscing my holiday) and normally it takes 2 weeks to recover. 1 week gone and another week to go, so I'm not one hundred percentage my normal self yet mentally or physically. And yes, I do miss the car ferry ride across the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus cruise that divides Asia and Europe, the beautiful views, beautiful people everywhere and I don't mind going a 2nd time and feeling with awe all over again cos it's a lovely, lovely place! 

More pictures....

Beautiful landscape of Topkapi palace.

At Ortakoy.

Istanbul town area.

Car ferry.

Below are some short videos...

5 days 4 nights Istanbul & Bursa, Turkey

Someone once told me 20 years ago that no matter where I travel, eventually I still have to come back home. How very true! I have always love traveling because it is my 1st love. Recently I have the opportunity to travel to Istanbul & Bursa, Turkey with a group of 120 MAA insurance people from all over Malaysia and its a big group and 3 buses were needed to accommodate all of us. You can imagine lah the hustle and bustle of us all being together sight seeing, eating, bargaining at shops, taking photos and even queuing for the W/C (toilet) for 5D4N. But it was fun. I might not know all of them (only recognize a few familiar faces from previous trips) but its no problem cos Malaysian are a friendly lot, just put a smile, talk about the weather and we can become instant friends. We are indeed a happy bunch of people (You can take us out of Malaysia but you can never take Malaysia out of us :) Let the journey begin.....

Day 1 Saturday 6th March, 2010
KL - Istanbul - Bursa

Flight departed from KLIA at 0030am. Did not sleep a wink (missed my bed back home). Reach Istanbul about 8am Turkish time (6 hrs difference). Upon arrival at Atartuk International Airport, departure by bus about 1hr 15 min to take ferry across the Sea of Marmara (about 40 min) to Bursa. It was freezing cold at 5degree celsius and my hands were numb cos I have to remove my hand glove as it can be slippery wearing one and trying to get a good shot. We went back to the bus for another 1hr30min ride to visit the historical monuments including the Grand Mosque and Green Mausoleum and Mosque. My stomach was growling and instantly I checked the time. It was actually dinner time in Malaysia and we are only gonna have lunch turkish time. (Our last meal was wee early morning on flight) Anyway, lunch was served at a local restaurant. The main dish was either lamb or beef kebab with rice and a bowl of soup. Sounds yummmy but lamb kebab finished and for us who doesn't eat beef, we were given pizza instead. Hmm...delicious too. No complain. Started to drizzle after lunch. Hopped into the bus and adjourned to the Silk Market for 1hr30min. The weather was gloomy, wet, windy and the place was packed with tourist. Times up and transfer to Kervansaray Hotel for check-in and dinner. Exhausted by now.

At Atartuk Int Airport upon arrival and while waiting for the bus.Can't resist taking this picture with them but with permission.

                              

 

             Aboard the car ferry crossing the Sea of Marmara.     

                   At the entrance of the Grand mosque.

         Inside of the Grand Mosque and cleansing myself with holy water.

         We have to remove shoes and carry with us.

         Just outside of restaurant before lunch.

 

           Inside Silk Market with 2 cute Turkish boys.

 

 

      Views from outside of Kervansaray Hotel, Bursa.

Day 2 Sunday 7th March, 2010

Bursa - Instanbul

Had a good night sleep and woke up feeling fresh. Breakfast at hotel and check-out. Bus - car ferry - bus back to Istanbul. Tour guide mention it was snowing in Bursa last night and we could see snow peaked mountain from the bus. Also showed us the marble mountain and the Fiat car factory. After breakfast....

En route to visit the blue mosque. Good weather with clear blue sky.

                Breath taking scenery taken in the vicinity of the Blue Mosque. 

The Blue Mosque - Sultan Ahmet I set out to build a mosque that would rival and even surpass St. Sophia (Aya Sofya). The layout of the Blue Mosque is classic Ottoman design. The forecourt has an ablutions fountain in its center. The portico around three sides could be used for prayer, meditation or study during warm weather. It is famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets.

         

The interior of the Blue Mosque. It is a functioning mosque and we have to be very quiet and there were men and women praying. Simply awesome.             
              

 Hagia Sophia one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinia. It is facing the Blue Mosque.

             

At the entrance of Topkapi Palace, residence of Ottoman Sultans exhibiting imperial treasury, sacred Islamic relics, kitchen, Chinese porcelain, weapons, calligraphy section etc. Photographs are not allowed in the exhibition centre.

In the interior of Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi) was the residence of Ottoman sultans for almost four centuries and is Istanbul's premier must-see attraction. Unlike European-style palaces, Topkapi is not one large building with outlaying garden. Its form-inspired and informed by Islamic architectural sensibilities-consists of series of pavilions, kitchens, audience chambers and kiosks built around a series of garden court yards.

Lunch at local restaurant. Chicken Tandoori with rice, roti naan with soup and salad with fruits for dessert. It's simply delicious.

             

                Check-in to Ikbal De Luxe Hotel.

At Taksim square after dinner. This tour was optional. Do you see the girl on my right? Turkish girls are beautiful. Slim, fair, big eyes and high nose.

Day 3 Monday 8th March, 2010

Breakfast at hotel. Consist lots of fresh vegetables salad (healthy) but the dressing was too salty for my liking,

                At the exit of the carpet factory.

       Inside on the carpet factory. The girl is holding a cup of apple tea. It is sweet and good for health.

Inside the aromatic Spice Bazaar, where the smells of cinnamon, cloves and thyme, rise from hundreds of colorful muslim bags at every store-front.

At the entrance of spice bazaar. I have to wrap myself up. It was cold and windy....brrr... I bought my scarf at spice bazaar for 16 turkish lira after much haggling. Too cold.....

At Ortakoy, where you can enjoy a coffee and panoramic view of the passing boats from the beautiful cobbled square overlooking the Bosphorus.

On board the ferryboat for a relaxing cruise along the shores of the legendary Bosphorus, the natural gateway that divides Asia and Europe. Numerous summer palaces and palatial homes can be seen on either sides. Cruise is about 1hr15min.

Optional tour. Top picture is traditional dance and bottom is belly dancing. I can't say I've been to Turkey and not see belly dancing. The cost - US 35 dollars.

Day 4 Tuesday 9th March, 2010
Breakfast at hotel. A lot of same food as yesterday morning. By now, I was craving for fried bee hoon, mee siam and nasi lemak. I am sure many people felt the same as me and the smart ones brought milo 3 in 1, snacks from home. After breakfast...

 Inside of Mosque of Ayup Al Ansar. Ladies are required to cover their heads before entering.

One of the shops outside the Grand Bazaar. Turkish cats and dogs are big compared to back here in Malaysia. This particular one is a mosque cat and is very clean.
   

 Top picture - at the entrance of the Grand Covered Bazaar of Istanbul which covered by hemispheric domes - houses 4,000 shops. It is huge and can easily get lost. I bought most of the souvenir here. Bottom picture is inside of Grand Covered Bazaar.

Small purse (1 lira), key chain (2 lira), tee- shirt (70 lira for 7), cap and the last picture is not a slipper but a fridge magnet (3 lira).

I bought this Turkish Delight at Bursa. The contents of it are dried fig 50%, glucose syrup, water, starch, hazelnut, pistachio, apricot seed and coconut. 8 lira for 1 packet and no discount!

 Souvenir from tour agency - hand made ashtray.

Dinner at hotel.

 Me and Karen at the hotel lobby.

Day 5 Wednesday 10th March, 2010
Breakfast at hotel. Check out at 11.15am and transfer to Atartuk International Airport for flight back to KL. Flight time 3pm turkish time and after 10 hours flight, finally reach KLIA at 7.05am Malaysian time on Thursday, 11th March, 2010.

Overall, I had a great time and it was a fantastic holiday to me.

The End.