Busy April. Too many things going on. Finally get to update my last year’s trip to Batam. Another record broken for not updating for 2 weeks.
It was quite an impromptu decision, no idea where to go. Friend said why not go to Singapore then pop by Batam then back to Singapore for new year’s countdown. That’s how we decided to go to Batam. Found cheap tour package also, why not? I spent less than RM200 there for 3 days 2 night while the return ferry ticket, tour, and hotel room were less than RM300 for 2 pax. We didn’t splurge there too, nothing to buy. We can get them all in Malaysia with cheaper price, better quality, and authenticity guaranteed.
Once we arrived, was caught in surprise that we had to pay potter fee to the potter which we were not informed of to release our check-in luggage. Can’t remember how much though. Our tour guide and bus were there ready waiting for us. We got on the the bus and the tour started.
The itinerary gave us an impression that we were going to many places but hahaha… Felt a bit cheated because it’s all around the corner, hop on and hop off and not what we expected, even just across the street also we got on the bus to be driven over.
I guess Malaysians will not feel that it is anything special because we have it better than here and shopping isn’t as cheap as expected due to our weak currency, they didn’t even want our currency! What’s more, the products at the factory outlets didn’t look genuine to me. I could get genuine ones at Parkson with cheaper price. Read a bit about the place online and had rather high expectations on it but it wasn’t as good as described(well… at least the tourism ministry sure is doing the right thing in terms of marketing though, describe about the place so wellyet it’s not as good as described, maybe we’re on the wrong tour :P). However, looking at the place and the people, it sure did give me a sense of appreciation of what I have back home.
We were grouped with tourists from mainland Chinese as we understand the language. We went to visit Cheng Ho Mosque, nothing much, just a red small mosque, a mosque dedicated to Cheng Ho, we didn’t go in but just stopped for a quick photo. Next, we stopped by chocolate shop, again… bought nothing, went in one round, out we went back into the bus, we would get all these in Malaysia, cheaper…
Kueh lapis, if you are from Sarawak, you won’t bother hahah! I tried it, I prefer ours. It’s so expensive here also! You can get it much cheaper in major shopping malls in Batam.
Same row of shops, an illusion museum. I didn’t go in because it’s optional, means need to pay extra. We only signed up for the basic package and I’m glad we did.
Still at the same row of shops, coffee outlet. If you like coffee, why not? Can find kopi luwak or civet coffee here. I didn’t buy or try any because I don’t drink coffee.
Nicely packaged coffee powder and beans of various variance for buyers to choose. Tried the coffee chips, coffee flavoured chips! At least something I’ve never tried.
After that, went into the next few shops, the same row!! *LOL* 1st Factory Outlet and Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Outlet. Went in one round and out empty handed. We(including Singaporeans and a handful of mainland Chinese) ended up waiting in the bus catching up with sleep and enjoy the air conditioning while waiting for those in the illusion museum and factory outlets to come back. Can imagine how boring it was haha… The again, it’s just a very leisurely trip for me. I had no specific things to see or buy, just want to relax, no hassle, no rush, just to get out of the country, go to somewhere I’ve not been before.
To be continued…