Chapter 26--Batam trip

Went to Batam last weekend with Jiayi, Weiling and Famin. This is my first trip to Batam and friends who knows me well might be surprise to hear about it since I generally prefer going to countries whereby there are chinese people around such as Taiwan and China as I would feel more comfortable both language wise and food in these countries. Nevertheless, thanks to Jiayi, I finally made my maiden trip to this small wonderful island of Indonesia.


We had breakfast at MacDonald on that day before we made our way to the departure area at habourfront centre and man there was such a large crowd of people! Perhaps due to the fact that it will be a long weekend, we took about 15 minutes to clear all the customs. It was also my first time trying out the self service system whereby our thrumb prints are verified by the computer and although it is rather interesting, I feel that it can be the rate determining step when there are lots of people such as like trips like mine when there is a long weekend and people are taking the opportunity to head for a short weekend getaway at islands nearby Singapore. After boarding the yacht, it was another about 45 minutes of waiting before we finally embark our journey to Batam. The boat ride was relatively comfortable and since I do not suffer from sea sickness, I get to enjoy the surrounding scenery while occasionally taking glances at the tv. Weiling and Famin on the other hand were sleeping like a baby while Jiayi busy herself taking some photos outside. After taking a detour at selapang jetty, we finally reach the waterfront centre. Beside the brief encounter with a dumbass official who thought that my passport has expired and need to consult his counterpart, the rest of the customs was clear quite smoothly. We then board the mini shuttle bus from our Holiday Inn resort and after just a short journey that took about 5 minutes, we reach the resort. Me and Famin shared the same room at level 8 while the girls took the room at level 9. Upon entering the room, we were surprised to find that instead of having separate single beds, we have a queen size twin-sharing bed meaning that we have to share the same bed! Although I do not know about the rest particularly Famin, I feel that it is quite gay to share the same bed with another guy. Nevertheless, what can I do but just try to endure for a single night lor.


After a short rest, we join Jiayi colleagues( their company is actually having the staff retreat there and hence why she suggested going to Batam) at the lobby and took another bus to Nagoya hill shopping centre whereby we have our lunch at one of the restaurant there. For me, I ordered rice with chicken that also comes with tempeh(yep, it reminds me of my applied microbiology lab!) and I must say that it only taste so so. Luckily, my stomach was later compensated when we then head to AnW for curly fries and root beer. Was slightly excited about visiting A&W again for the first time after its absence from Singapore and man the curly fries still taste so so good despite having a 1/2 full stomach from the earlier lunch. Pity that we can only ordered root beer and not root beer float as the ice-cream machine happens to spoilt just when we were about to had our orders. Talk about tough luck... After this heartly meal( Jiayi as usual cannot finish up her food and left half a mug of root beer), we began our shopping and man I must say that Batam's shopping centres are a paradise for mens' clothings. They are just so cheap! Miss sixty one which is the first shop that we patronised was selling free sized mens' t-shirt for only S$2.50! Famin brought a few t-shirts there while I try my best to control my urge. We then proceed to the upper level where Famin brought another bag there for less than S$10.00. Could tell that the girls were quite sian though because womens' clothing were so much more expensive. Nevertheless, the highlight of this trip must be the visit to hypermart whose concept is like Carrefour and Giant in Singapore. There, we brought titbits and other stuffs such as maggie mees(strongly recommended by Jiayi) and toiletries. I also brought a pair of slippers for myself. As again, times always flies when we were having fun and soon we were on our way back to our resort. Looking at the outside view while heading back reminds me of my trips to Australia and India where the night falls quickly and the darkness is so dark that one cannot see his or her fingers w/o any light at all. After a short rest at the resort, we proceed to have our dinner at the Dragon Inn chinese restaurant where we ordered buffet style chinese dinner. Cannot imagine now how we can actually finish 20 dishes in all on that night! I can only remembered myself feeling so so full. Quite worth it as it only cost about $S25 per person and it would certainly cost much much more if we were to order this 20 dishes ala carta(of course we won't actually be so crazy to do that). After dinner, we retired for the day but not before taking a few photos at the swimming pool and playing a few rounds of "Big 2"(weiling was however already knocked out by then) and as usual, I was the one who kept winning(yawn).


The second day began with my favourite american style buffet breakfast at the resort cafe. The bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages and hashbrowns were so delicious although the bee boon was undesirable. Weiling and Jiayi then went for a dip in the swimming pool while me and Famin just lazed around at our table enjoying the peace without the girls(haha). We then checked out of our rooms after weiling and Jiayi had washed up and made our way to mega mall shopping centre where Jiayi had her medicure and hair messages while the rest of us shopped around. Brought a skipping rope, 1 t-shirt(the one that cost 2.50 from miss sixty one) and a minnie mouse bolster(for my niece). Me and weiling then ordered A&W for lunch but due to this super big fat ugly bitch from Singapore that took more than 20 minutes to order her bloody food, we had to takeaway our food instead of having our meal at the restaurant itself. As a result, we actually had our lunch at the lobby area at the resort and managed to finish our food just in time to board the shuttle bus service from the resort back to the waterfront centre where we took the ferry back to Singapore. Played "Big 2" aggin on the return trip although this time round weiling was also included. Reached Singapore at around 7 plus to conclude this rather enjoyable Batam trip :)


Best Regards,
Yongster

Still many more good years ahead...