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| Photo Credit: Pak Ming |
I have had big plans for Batam; I was going to go experience everything Batam has to offer! From exploring the abandoned shipwreck on the beach of Pulau Tunjuk to watching the sunset at Pa-Auk Tawya Vipassanā Dhura Hermitage, we were going to do 'em all. But once we arrived, it's kinda hard to muster up the willpower to organise a day trip away from the comfort of the resort, and our goals drifted towards maximising our time catching rays, going for the opportunistic swim and having a beer.
Despite the influx of tourists into Batam annually, it can still feel a little underdeveloped and so I wasn't expecting much cause for photography. Still, I was pleasantly surprised in the early morning, when the shade of the sky over Barelang Bridge looks like something out of a Van Gogh's. (The vagueness of impressionism art is proudly contributed by my ancient phone camera)
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| Barelang Swing, at low tide |
The highlight of the trip was the Banana Boat attached to a speedboat, which brought us along the coast and beyond the Barelang Bridge. And afterwards, the helpful fellas took a shot of the iconic Barelang Swing in high tide for us.
We didn't have to go too far off for food, and in fact the best meals of the trip were found in the in-resort restaurant Barelang Seafood Restaurant. The freshness of their steamed crabs can't be beat, and the food choices were courtesy of the waiter's excellent recommendations.
"We’ll take the fried salted egg flower crab"
<The waiter pointed to the steamed flower crab>
"And the tamarind fried sotong."
Silence from the waiter, and a frown.
"I mean the butter fried sotong?"
<He approved>
A kelong is a traditional fishery built from wood and extends out into the waters. While waiting for the food to arrive, we wandered down the wooden planks to take a gander.
When we finally did work up the willpower to leave the resort, our first port of call was the local brewery Batam Fresh Beer, and at $1.50 per pint, it's criminal not to patronise. It opens from 12pm till 2am, and Pak Ming and I popped by for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. Even discounting craft beers, the low alcohol tax makes drinking at every meal (and in-between meals) an attractive proposition, and the supermarket at Mega Mall Batam Centre near the ferry terminal kept us well-stocked throughout the trip. Alcohol aside, stepping into the mall feels like time-traveling back into the warm embrace of Wendy’s, A&W and Llao Llao.
Another place we went to was Sei Enam, where we polished off an ungodly amount of crayfish. We love their fluffy deep-fried buns! Local beer and seafood goes hand-in-hand, though in Sei Enam, we took a break and opted for their freshly-blitzed fruit juice.
We went looking for a massage parlor. Having a massage in Batam can run a gamut of prices. The in-resort masseuse is $70 an hour, while the massage house in the Mega Mall Batam Centre goes for $30. Business is booming, and every slot was taken, but we finally came to Fitness Massage, which goes for $10 an hour, though you have to brave the heat, as well as to jaywalk and to hop over several drains. Still, you get to see some incredible buildings, like the one below. The upkeep of the striking white walls couldn't have come cheap, and in quite a contrast to the surrounding buildings and construction, some of the unfinished buildings which looked untouched since Miss XS was last here in 2015.
I'm a big fan of crossing the border into Malaysia for short trips filled with great food and drinks, and I can now add Batam to the list of nearby destinations to travel to, where good hospitality, fresh seafood and a day of beach, spa and relaxation beckons.
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