" Solo travelling boosts one's confidence & foster's independence. Family travel strengthens familial bonds. Travelling with friends opens a whole new world of fun & adventure "
First time visit to Batam or driven by curiosity (perhaps) ? Originally planned for a group of 3 (self drive car) to visit Johor Bahru & then by a ferry crossing to Batam, Indonesia but a last minute change ended up that I travelled solo (if there is a will there is a way) to this quaint & largest city in Riau Islands nicknamed "Dubai" of Indonesia, 2.5hr by ferry from Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal, Johor Bahru (Malaysia) or approx 50 minutes from Singapore (Harbourfront Centre) - this Batam visit is one of my KISS (Keep It Simple & Sweet not Stupid) style of travelling to neighbouring overseas countries like my recent year visits to Betong (July 2023), Hatyai & Songkhla (Dec 2022) in southern Thailand !
No regret coming to Batam leaving my footprints in Nagoya Hill Shopping Cenre, Nagoya Food Court, Nagoya Citywalk, Masjid Jabal Arafah & MJA Tower, Vihara Budhi Bhakti (Tua Pek Kong), Pasar Jodoh, Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Monastery, Muhammad Cheng Hoo Mosque, Welcome to Batam Landmark, Alun Alun Batam centre, Grand Mosque of Batam etc, savouring the local Indonesian food & enjoying the Grab bike rides to the various touristy places in Batam ! The 2 ferry landmark terminals in Johor Bharu (Berjaya Waterfront & Pasir Gudang) & 2 ferry terminals in Batam (Harbour Bay & Centre Point) have become a familiar territory to me as a result of my maiden visit to Batam in July 2024 ! I am keen to show up & visit the Harbourfront Ferry Terminal of Singapore & also to say hello to my ex-travel buddy (Lam) & my cousin brothers & sisters in my next summer holiday to Singapore !
My last visit to Indonesia was in May 2023 with my KL travel buddy (Thompson) & together we visited Surabaya, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Malang, Batu & Probolinggo in Java. In July 2017, I visited (traveling solo) Jakarta, Bandung & Bogor & in Oct 2011 (together with my wife), I visited Bali. My 1st visit (together with a neighbourhood friend) to Indonesia covering Yogyakarta, Borobudur, Solo (Surakarta) & Dieng Plateau was in Feb 2009 !
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| My Past - Traveling to Java, Indonesia |
I am looking forward to another visit to Indonesia in the near future, this time focusing on the Sumatra island for my 1st time visit to Medan, Lake Toba, Acheh, Pekanbaru, Padang, Palembang etc ..... KM, keep your dream alive & make it a reality soon ! Yes, I will in order to keep my DNA in travelling active in that part of the world separated by one of the world's busiest straits for maritime shipping ie The Strait of Malacca bordering the coast of Indonesia & Peninsula Malaysia !
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| KIV - Future Visit to Sumatra, Indonesia |
1) Total expenses incurred (3 days 2 nights in Johor Bahru, Malaysia): Rm261 (US$57.40)
- Hotel (2 nights): Rm90 per pax (triple sharing)
- Food: Rm61
- Bus: Rm64 (Express) + Rm13 (Town Bus)
- Taxi: Rm10
- Entrance fee (Skyscape): Rm23
2) Total expenses incurred (3 days 2 nights in Batam, Indonesia): 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 (MJA Tower): Rp5,000
- Departure tax: Rp115,000
Exchange rate: US$1 = Rm4.55, Rp10,000 = Rm2.80
Travel itinerary: SS15, Subang Jaya (my home place by LRT Kelana Jaya Line) > Putra Heights (Transit, Sri Petaling Line) > Bandar Tasik Selatan (Express Bus) > Larkin Sentral, Johor Bahru (approx 320km, 4 hours by Express bus).
Google Maps Timeline covering my 5 days visit from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Batam Island, Indonesia (Sunday July 28 > Aug 1 2024) showed the following:
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| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Batam, Indonesia |
Day 1 Location History - Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), Kuala Lumpur > Larkin Sentral, Johor Bahru, Malaysia (by Express bus)
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| North-South Expressway Kuala Lumpur > Johor Bahru |
Day 2 Location History - my travel itinerary (by bus & walking) in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia ie visited Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Street, Johor Ancient Temple, Pasar Karat, Marrybrown Peranakan Heritage Resturant, Johor Bahru High Court Building & Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum.
Day 3 Location History - my ferry ride from Johor Bahru City, Malaysia > Batam Island, Indonesia ie Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal > Batam Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal
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| Johor Bahru, Malaysia > Batam Island, Indonesia |
Day 4 Location History - my travel itinerary in Batam Island, Indonesia (by Grab bikes & walking) ie visited Batam Centre Point Ferry Terminal, Masjid Muhammad Cheng Hoo, Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Monastery, Berjaya Hill Shopping Centre, Pasar Jodoh, Nagoya Food Court, Masjid Jabal Arafah & Vira Budhi Bhakti (Tua Pek Kong).
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| My Travel Itinerary in Batam Island, Indonesia (by Grab Bikes & Walking) |
Day 5 Location History - my ferry ride from Batam Island, Indonesia > Johor Bahru & by express bus from Johor Bahru > Kuala Lumpur
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| Batam Island, Indonesia > Subang Jaya Selangor, Malaysia |
My travel buddy: my body & my soul
1) The start (06.00) of my Rapid KL LRT train ride from SS15, Subang Jaya (Kelana Jaya Line) > Putra Heights (Transit, Sri Petaling Line) > Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kuala Lumpur, travelling time by Rapid KL LRT approx 1 hour.
2) Arriving in Bandar Tasik Selatan (BTS) LRT Station, Kuala Lumpur
3) Bought an express bus ticket from a Centralised Ticketing Counter for my bus journey from BTS > Larkin Sentral, Johor Bahru, one way ticket (Warisan Express) costs Rm28 (US$6.15 for Senior) departing 07.30 but due to unforeseen circumstances, there was a 1.5hr delay hence the actual departure time was 09.00 - a long wait for me at the TBS !
4) A brief stopover (10 minutes) in a small R & R station (Bukit Gambir, Johor) along the North - South Expressway, mid-way between Kuala Lumpur & Johor Bahru.
5) Countryside scenery (North - South Expressway) as viewed from the moving bus's windows
6) Arriving (13.00) in Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal after approx 4hrs of bus journey, a main transport hub in Johor Bahru especially for visitors travelling outstation to other cities in Peninsula Malaysia.
7) Lunch in a food stall in Larkin Sentral Terminal - mixed rice with vegetable & egg Rm11 (US$2.40)
8) Hotel Accommodation (2 nights): Koho Hotel, 99, Jalan Kemunting, Taman Kebun Teh, Johor Bahru City Centre, Johor (near Hospital Columbia Asia); check-in at 15.00, room tariff for 1 triple bed room Rm135 @ Rm45 per pax, due to unforeseen circumstances, both my brother & sister were not able to join me for this JB & Batam trip last minute - so in both places, I stayed solo in a triple bed room already paid in advance !
9) After the hotel check-in (15.00) & a short rest, I walked to a nearby bus stop (300m from my Hotel Koho) & took a T20 bus (Rm1.50) to JB Sentral & walkabout near the Jalan Wong Ah Fook area, massive construction work (building an overland new link bridge connecting JB & Singapore) in progress near the JB City Centre.
10) Link bridge from JB Sentral > Komtar JB City Square / Komtar JBCC / Jalan Wong Ah Fook & Singapore Woodland, high traffic & busy busy area !
11) Komtar JBCC Mall, Johor Bahru, Johor - my last visit was in June 2024, located along the famous Jalan Wong Ah Fook, a favourite place for tourists & visitors !
12) Johor Bahru City Square & Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Johor Bahru, Johor - a busy CBD area & a major tourist attraction & historic !
13) Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street, Johor Bahru - a heritage street with pre-war buildings, very historic, a quiant street with many cafes, restaurants & colonial era & traditional Malay architecture, a must visit when in Johor Bahru city centre, indeed the Tan Hiok Nee & Wong Ah Fook 's heritage streets help the food & beverage trade & industry here prosper !
14) Sultan Ibrahim Building, Bukit Timbalan, Johor Bahru - built between 1936 & 1939, completed in 1940 as the British colonial government attempted to streamline the state's administration, it was officially opened by the late Sultan Ibrahim of Johor.
15) Marrybrown Peranakan Heritage Restaurant, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Johor Bahru - most beautiful red heritage building now operating as a Marrybrown fast food chain outlet in Tan Hiok Nee Culture street !
16) Pasar Karat (Bazar Market), Jalan Segget, Johor Bahru - a night flea market selling a wide variety of products mainly to local shoppers !
17) Walkabout in a food lane near Pasar Karat, Johor Bahru - a curiosity visit & rest my feet here for a simple dinner !
18) Dinner in a food lane near Pasar Karat - savoured a plate of petai (bitter bean) fried rice Rm10 (US$2.20), a place full of local atmosphere & flavour ! I loved eating petai (bitter beans) but be warned, it has a stinking smell in your urine for days to come !
19) Return bus (No T20, Rm1.50) trip from JB Sentral to Koho Hotel, Jalan Kemunting, Taman Kebun Teh, Johor Bahru; what a great day after seeing & experiencing the local vibes in Johor Baru city centre on my 1st day in Johor !
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