Total expenses incurred (3 days 2 nights in Batam): Rm263 + Rp376,000 = Rm370 (US$81)
- Hotel (2 nights): Rm80 per pax (triple sharing)
- Ferry: Rm183 (Johor Bahru > Batam return)
- Food: Rp174,000
- Grab bike (5 rides): Rp82,000
- Entrance fee: Rp5,000
- Departure tax: Rp115,000
Exchange rate: US$1 = Rm4.55, Rp10,000 = Rm2.80
Travel itinerary: Koho Hotel, Johor Bharu > JB Sentral > Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal > Batam Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal > Hana Hotel, Batam
Day 1 Tuesday July 30 2024 (Batam, Indonesia) - the start of my Batam visit (by ferry from Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal, Johor Bahru) after a 2 nights stay in Johor Bahru (Malaysia), ferry ride took 2.5hr, after my express hotel check in, I spent the afternoon & evening doing a walkabout & exploring downtown Batam mainly in Nagoya area & enjoy the local Indonesian food in restaurants in Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall.
1) An early hotel check out (06.00) & took a city bus (Rm1.50) from a bus stop nearby my hotel > JB Sentral followed by another city bus (Rm1.30) to Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal.
2) Bought a Johor Bahru > Batam return ferry ticket (Rm183 = US$40) from a ticketing counter in Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal & rested for a short while in a waiting lounge prior to boarding the ferry departing Stulang Laut at 09.00 to Batam Island, Indonesia, the return ticket is open dated valid for 30 days !
3) Boarding a ferry from Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal > Batam (08.30); KM, wishing you a pleasant & safe journey to Batam !
4) Coastline of Malaysia / Singapore (Johor & Singapore Straits) as viewed from the ferry's windows (ferry ride took 2.5hr)
5) Arriving in Batam Harbour Bay International Ferry terminal, getting a bit excited & looking forward for an enjoyable stay (2 nights) & sightseeing in Batam, my 1st visit - the best is yet to come !
6) Immigration clearance & security screening of luggage etc
7) A quick stroll of Batam Harbour Bay Mall, window shopping & an opportunity to taste the local Indonesian food in the food court !
8) My 1st Grab bike ride from Batam Harbour Bay Mall > Hana Hotel (1.5km), paid Rp20,000 = Rm6 to a standby Grab driver (without using my mobile app as I did not buy a Sim Card for this trip) but more than happy to pay a higher price as it was quicker to reach my hotel instead of walking under a scorching sun !
9) Hotel Accommodation: my 2 nights stay in Hana Hotel Batam, Komplek Nagoya Business Center Blok IV, No 17, Nagoya, Batam Island, Indonesia, booked a triple bed room Rm120 per night (originally two of my brother / sister supposed to join me for this Batam trip but opted out last minute) !
10) Walkabout in Batam Nagoya area from Hana Hotel towards Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre
11) Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre & the surrounding, Batam - my 1st encounter & enjoyed my leisure walk to gain a better impression of this premier shopping mall in Batam !
12) Masjid Jabal Arafah, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Lubuk Baja Kota, Batam - a beautiful mosque near the Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre, visitors can also visit the MJA Tower by paying a small admission fee (Rp5,000 = Rm1.50) to have a panoramic view of Batam Island !
13) MJA (Masjid Jabal Arafah) Tower, Imam Bonjol, Lubuk Baja, Batam - admission fee Rp5,000 = Rm1.50), visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Batam Island from the Tower's top ! The viewing platform is air-conditioned so enjoy your time & viewing at the tower top.
14) Vihara Budhi Bhakti (Tua Pek Kong), Jalan Pembangunan, Batu Selicin, Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam - a well known & old Taoist temple frequented by tourists & local visitors, some construction works (tiling) in progress !
15) Morning Bakery - an established bakery chain store operating like a Kopitiam (coffee shop) in various regions of Batam, I bought an assorted of bakeries on the following day from one of their premier shops located opposite the Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre, the bakeries were fresh & tasty !
16) Just walk & walk like a mud crab in Nagoya area so as to explore the downtown Batam in greater depth !
17) Nagoya Citywalk, Lubuk Baja Kota, Kota Batam - a shopping mall in Batam.
18) Nagoya Food Court, Jl Imam Bonjol Kompleks Nagoya Newtown, Lubuk Baja Kota, Kota Batam - a hawker centre with a wide selection of Indonesia, Chinese & International style food for visitors to savour & beer drinking as well !
19) Pasar Jodoh Batam, Pusat Kota Nagoya, Kawasan Nagoya, Kota Batam - a bazar market like the style of Pasar Malam (Night Market) in Malaysia, interesting to see locals shopping around for all sorts of wares (mainly clothing, footwear & daily necessities etc on sale in Pasar Jodoh !
20) Dinner in Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre, Jalan Nagoya Hill, Lubuk Baja Kota, Batam, savoured a bowl of Japanese original ramen + a cold drink Rp30,000 = Rm9
21) Baresto Cafe, Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre - another round of light dinner & refreshment in Baresto Cafe, savoured a bowl of bakso (Rp12,800 = Rm3.85) & cendol (Rp20,100 = Rm6); enough of eating tonight for a hungry first time Malaysian in Batam ie Japanese ramen, bakso & cendol !
22) My post-dinner window shopping in Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre, Batam before heading back to my hotel & called it a night - my 1st night in Batam was well spent, a stimulating & refreshing one ! I retired to bed early & looking forward for a new & exciting day in Batam !
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