Indonesia is a country that is known but not very well known in our country.. Most visitors prefer the capital city of Jakarta and Indonesia’s exotic islands..
Today I will be on one of Indonesia’s islands, but this island is a bit different, here is Batam Island, Indonesia with my travel notes !
Batam Island General View / Ruined Sides of the City
How to Get to Batam Island?
Sunday, April 30, 2017. Very early morning in Singapore. Today my journey is to a very different world. I’m not just going on a day trip, I’ll be entering the Indonesian border with Batam Island.
To get from Singapore to Batam Island, I go to the Harbor Front in the south-west of the city.. It takes 15-20 minutes to get here by Singapore Metro, This is the departure point for ferries and ships to Batam Island.
Harbour Front is a joint complex with a large shopping mall, the previous day I was also here on my way to Sentosa Island. I bought the sea bus ticket to Batam, Indonesia from here.
My Batam Ticket / Singapore Harbor Front
Transportation Between Singapore and Batam
Sea buses running between Singapore and Batam are quite frequent. There are 3-4 different companies working on this line, I chose Batam Fast.. You can also buy your tickets online, you can get information about flight times from this site.
The cost of going to Batama from Singapore is 25 Singapore Dollars one way, you can catch small promotions if you buy a round trip.. I bought my ticket by paying a total of 40 SGD for going and returning on the same day.
One of the Sea Buses to Batam
These sea buses from Singapore have different services in Batam. There are destinations. Of these piers in different parts of the island, I preferred Harbor Bay on the north-facing side.. Among your options is Batam Center Pier.. As a result of my previous research, I decided that Harbor Bay is more of a sightseeing style.. You may need a transportation vehicle in Batam Centre.
The system at the pier is like an airport.. After following the expedition screens and passing the passport control, you get on the sea bus.. The weather is sunny today ! I’m ready for a pleasant sea voyage.
We’re leaving on time. It’s beautiful to watch Singapore and Sentosa Island while sailing on the waters of the Singapore Strait. It’s like a mini boat tour.
During My Pleasant Journey to Batam – Singapore / South China Sea
Indonesia for Beginners
Now I would like to give you brief information about Indonesia and Batam Island.. Indonesia is a huge country located between Southeast Asia and the region called Oceania.. Its lands in the form of separate islands stretches as far as Australia and Papua New Guinea at one end!
Indonesia, with a population of 255 million, is the world’s most populated country after China, India and the USA. fourth country. 87 percent of its population is Muslim. Their language is Indonesian and their currency is Indonesian Rupiah.
Batam Harbor Bay Beach / Across the Notable Slums and a Beautiful Mosque
Where Is Batam Island?
Batam Island is located at 900 meters from the capital Jakarta. kilometers north of the country, in the northwest of the country. Don’t mind that I use the north so much. Batam is the southernmost point I’ve ever been to. The island is even south of the first parallel, almost right above the Equator!
The population of Batam is close to 1 million. This population is scattered around the island.. Recently, they are trying to get stronger with tourism.. The newly established resorts at the extreme points of Batam have become an cheap and nature-infused alternative, especially for the countries in the immediate vicinity such as Singapore.
The Sign Welcomes Me at the Pier
A quiet journey of about one hour. then we approach Batam. Indonesia is 1 hour behind Singapore. I turn my watch back and start looking around as I dock at the port.. Ada looks poorer and backward than I expected. With the filthy water in the bay and the houses resembling slums in the distance, I’m a little confused!
Is it Necessary to Get a Visa to Indonesia?
I’m setting foot in Indonesia. I’m at the dock for passport control. Indonesia does not require a visa from Turkish Passports, no action is required for your travels not exceeding thirty days.
A Pleasant Street Around Iskele
After passport control, I am now in Batam. Harbor Bay Pier is slightly north of the settlement.. I intend to complete my little route on foot, I want to fully experience the Indonesian atmosphere.
Everyone I came from Singapore with, got on luxury vehicles for Batam and left the pier, I think most of them are wealthy people living here. locals and holidaymakers from Singapore. There isn’t even a tourist like me trying to explore the city!
Walking Towards Batam City Center / The Motorcycles I Mentioned
My First Impressions
Being a bit of a single tourist and a bit of astonishment of the scenery in front of me I’m walking in. The road to Batam city looks smoother and cleaner than my impression on the ferry, its nature and tropical vegetation are eye-catching!
Actually, in Indonesia, the traffic must be flowing in reverse, but dozens on the road must be flowing. the motorcycle just goes on its head. From the first moment I started walking, one of every two vehicles passing me honked their horns and tried to take a taxi for me, long past the Indonesian mess and Thailand.
Now I’m in the residential area.. The tallest building I’ve ever seen is two or three floors, I can’t even say these buildings are falling apart, it’s almost a miracle they’re standing!
Walking to Batam City
Batam Island Public Market
I arrive at a market-like square. There is a mobile shop as far as the eye can see and a lot of products.. From food to basic electronics and clothing. It can be said that our town markets are quite primitive and unhygienic.
As I progress in the market, I get into a bigger mess.. It is not easy to walk in this crowd without stepping on the benches set up on a cover on the ground.. The hardest part is that I don’t attract much attention in this environment!
Batam Center / Some of the Local Shops
Being a Tourist in Batam
What happens when I try to shoot a video in the meantime, I started to feel like a celebrity with the curious glances of dozens of people, every head tells me something and everyone in the market is trying to sell me a product, there is no English of course, it is impossible to communicate.
More In order not to attract attention, I put my phone in my pocket and continue my route quickly.. Meanwhile, the sun is above me! The weather is so hot and humid, and with this atmosphere, I almost fainted.
The crowded Batam Market I mentioned
Shopping in Batam – Nagoya Hill
The city is right there. I reach Nagoya Hill Mall in the middle of. The buildings in this area look a little more modern. Time to go inside and breathe.
Fortunately, Nagoya Hill has an air-conditioned environment.. Even the air conditioners didn’t help much in the heat outside, at least it’s nice to breathe in dry air.
Smoother Parts of Batam Bazaar
The best place to buy something from the Shopping Center Batam. Everything inside is reasonably priced, especially they seem free to me, who was in Singapore a few hours ago. The products are cheap, but I can’t say that they are very high quality, especially for clothing, you may like things specific to here.
I continue from the street in front of Nagoya Hill to the north again, there are many hotels along the way.. These are the most luxurious and tallest buildings you can see in Batam. What is remarkable is that some hotels have deteriorated and closed, and walking in some parts of Batam has the feeling of walking in a ghost town.
Entrance to Nagoya Hill Mall / Attractive Modern Cars
Places to Visit in Batam Island
I come across the only building on the street that I recommend to be seen in Batam; Raya Baitusysyakur Mosque.
Masjid Raya Baitusysyakur in Indonesian, a modern Indonesian mosque. It has a very beautiful architecture with its engravings, domes and details of its minaret.. Since we are used to visiting churches in our neighborhood, it is a different pleasure to examine mosques as a tourist!
Nagoya Hill Surrounding / Modern Part of the City
After this minute, I am improvising in Batam, time is fast anyway. passed out. After taking lots of photos on the side streets, it’s time to head towards Harbor Bay for my ferry back to Singapore, which will depart at 16.00.
In this way, my trip in Batam comes to an end.. I couldn’t tell you much, because there is not much to see in Batam. Also, the sun must have hit me because I was tired, I didn’t think much of going to the extremes of the island.
Raya Baitusysyakur Mosque
The Tropical World of Batam
By renting a motor or It may be an option for you to go to the extreme points of the island by taking a taxi.. But I don’t think you’ll see much else than tropical coves and nature! This nature is already present in the part I’ve been to.
Speaking of nature, this is considered a rural part of Indonesia away from metropolises.. The countryside of a tropical region can bring you creatures that you are not accustomed to seeing.. During my walk, I even witnessed an Iguana that measures almost one meter walking beside me!
One of the Dumped Hotels I Mentioned on the Right / Reverse Flowing Indonesian Traffic
Why Go to Batam?
To sum up, Batam Island is a travel destination that I can recommend to those visiting Singapore. This is a place where you can experience the different world, which is only 20 kilometers away from a rich country like Singapore, rather than travelling.
In addition to all these city impressions, an affordable nature in luxury hotels at the extreme points of the island. You can also plan your vacation. Can you be suspicious of the sea of an island in this region?
While Among the Tropical Trees of Batam
But I can’t say it’s okay if you don’t go! Because at the end of a one-day trip to Indonesia my second attempt to Singapore was a bit unpleasant. When I too absentmindedly gave the wrong hostel address on the login form, I think the daily country change caught their attention, so I was exposed to questions for 15-20 minutes in the next office.. Although I was asked questions about my school in Turkey, I eventually entered the country, of course.
Why did I tell you this? Usually my passport checks go smoothly and I don’t want everyone to feel like it has to be like this all the time. Sometimes, many country changes in a short time, especially when you are alone, can get stuck in security locks like this, but it is not difficult to understand the people around me. Indonesia
As a final note; Actually I think Indonesia is richer and more possible than life in Batam. I don’t want the whole country to be remembered like my impressions here, Batam can be thought of as a more remote part of this country, or it had a greater effect on me after the magical world of Singapore.
Singapore and Batam are so close that this far from my impressions, I was able to choose the Marina Bay Sands Hotel from time to time. It is stunning to see these two different worlds in one frame !
Batam Harbor Bay and Me / On The Way To Singapore
Places To Visit Around Batam
It is not possible to limit Batam only to Singapore.. For those who will continue to the Indonesian side, my suggestion would be the surrounding tropical islands and Jakarta. In my opinion, it is necessary to breathe both the metropolitan and exotic air of the country for a complete Indonesia trip.
I am now ending my travel notes on Batam Island, Indonesia.. If you haven’t, I suggest you read my article on Singapore, I don’t think that those who come to Batam can return without visiting Singapore.. See you in another article, have a nice day !
For those who came from my Singapore Post: Continuation of the post after BatamFor those who haven’t read my Singapore post: Singapore City from the beginning, my Travel Notes strong>You should review: My Southeast Asia Travel Route
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