This is an unexpected and fun getaway. We never expected to make a trip to Riau, Indonesia. It is a spontaneous escape to a place i didn't see coming. Kinda suprise i guess. No plans, just pure exploration. However, as you know i'm a girl traveler who always love to travel and explore the world forsure i came up with list of activities and attraction sight seeing there. This trip was a bit different from other trip before. Usually we will book early for our travel tickets. But this time, it is at the very last minute *grin* This time we travel by ferry. I booked the ticket 2 days before the journey in the ferry's booking website. It was an unplanned trip and i am super excited to plan out itinerary. We wanted to explore the Riau area and experience several interesting places there. As a bagpacker I will pack all my stuffs that I will bring and use only. Usually i will not overpacked my stuffs. I'm the type of girl that will get ready and plan well when it comes to travel. I've booked the afternoon's ferry tickets. However, after we've reached to the ferry centre, our afternoon's ferry got delayed to 3.30pm due to the technical problem. We've waited there and hangout at the ferry's waiting area. Finally, the problem have been solved and we can continued to check in inside the ferry.
The adventure began the moment I stepped into the ferry jetty. The ticket hasn't any seat number so we can seat anywhere that we like. First come first serve. The wind howled like it carried secrets from across the strait. The ferry loomed ahead—cold steel against shimmering waves—ready to pull me away from the ordinary and into something unpredictable. When the engines roared, the water split open and we pushed forward into the unknown. I'm watching the sunlight dance across the water as the boat hummed to life. I could already feel the thrill of leaving routine behind. During the journey to Batam Ferry Terminal, the waves were kinda crazy and big. I saw the waves by the window which made me felt like the waves gonna hit my window. Too near. And sometime the ferry a bit unstable moved left and right due to the wave condition. I'm a bit nervous but pretty excited at the same time. When the ferry finally docked at Batam Center Terminal, a warm breeze welcomed me to Riau—soft, salty, promising. The sky was shifting, a dramatic wash of gold and grey. The journey began with the restless pulse of the sea. The custom & immigration checking was smooth and easy. Then, we went out from the terminal area and took our rented car which is just nearby the ferry terminal only. We drove straight toward our hotel to check in and keep our bags. After checking into our hotel which is near to Batam center. Then, we went o Batamia Ole-Ole where souvenirs & local snacks stacked like treasures awaited the right wander. We bought few things to bring back and let the day wind down with the comforting clink of cutlery at Tebing Laut Cafe. The route to this cafe was quite challenging. We had arrived to the destination area but seems like we've faced a problem to find the entrance. We took around 15 minutes to find the proper entrance. Dinner at the cafe perched over calm waters, sealed the night with flavors that lingered long. It perched dangerously close to the cliff’s edge, felt like sitting at the edge of the world. Waves slammed against stones below, reminding me that beauty and danger often arrive together. The food at the cafe was okay. The best part for this cafe is the view that facing the open & vast seaview which is so unique. I would recommend you to come during evening & sunset. The scenary is more worth it. Then, we went to Batam Centre to walked around and see the colorful lights. We planned to have supper before going back to hotel. We went to the famous satay at Batam which is known as Satay Jhony located near to Batam city. If you go to Batam please try the satay there because it is delicious.The flavorful supper where smokey skewers made the night even more memorable. I love the beef satay and the peanut gravy. We ate a lot! We also ate chicken satay. Our stomach were full and happy with all the food that we've ate. I returned to the hotel wit the taste of adventure lingering on my tongue after I returned to the hotel for rest. Next adventure will begun tomorrow.
The next day, we planned to go to visit the famous signage in Batam. Our car engine ready for exploration and drove toward my first stop: the iconic Welcome to Batam Sign. Standing there felt like stepping into the opening scene of a travel documentary—me, the city skyline and the sense that adventure was just beginning. The towering Welcome to Batam Sign, rising above the city like a declaration: Your adventure begins here. Yeahhhh! There were many activities that we've planned to do for the 2nd day. After done with the big signage, we went to proceed our journey to the next destination which is Puncak Beliung located at Tanjung Riau. It is known for its breathtaking panoramic views, refreshing atmosphere and variety of outdoor activities. Basically, the outdoor activities are located at the top of Puncak Beliung where you can see overall view of Batam, Riau and the seaview. I bought the ticket to play all the outdoor activities and climb up hill. The landscapes there were beautiful and nice with bland of man made attractions and decorations. A lot of photo spots at this place such as Sky Stairs, Angel Wings, Butterfly Houses, Bird Nest, Sky Ship and colorful photo decks overlooking the sea. Each corner is designed to make your photos stand out. The natural trails and relaxing gazebos while climbing up the hill is a bonus. Natural experience to walk and stroll along forest paths, enjoy fresh air and shaded huts spread across the area. I climbed until the top and enjoyed the panoramic view is such a precious thing ever. I also tried all the outdoor activities there such as Giant Swing, Flying Carpet and Rainbow Slides. The main highlights of Puncak Beliung is its giant swing which lets visitors feel the thrill of flying over the hill with a stunning forest and ocean backdrop. It is not just exciting but also perfect for capturing dramatic photos. I recommend you to come early so that you can try all the outdoor activities without long que and avoid crowds. Pleas wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking hill. After done with all the activities, my family and i grabbed some lunch at the food stall nearby the gazebo there. The food is delicious and tasteful with reasonable price. Felt like we were having picnic in the forest. The surrounding was cool. Puncak Beliung is the perfect place to breathe, relax and reconnect with nature while enjoying a panoramic view of the island.
Then, we proceed to second destination of the day which is Kampung Sawah. About 10 minutes from Puncak Beliung. For your information, Kampung Sawah is a quiet and calm place. The paddy fields, village scenes and a simplicity that felt grounding. It is contrast with the previous destination that we went. Wooden houses, green fields and quiet paths which proof that not all beauty needed to shout. We arrived there with the long, tall and bushes of bamboo plant at left & right of the road side. We visited there for awhile less than 10 minutes because we the field was not green and no paddy because out of season. We just walked around and took some photos. After that, we drove car to go to Barelang Bridge. It took us 30 minutes to arrive there. Driving across the majestic & massive Barelang Bridge, I felt like I was crossing into another chapter, one framed by scenic waters and grand arches. Its steel ribs arched over the restless sea, a gateway between worlds. I parked the car at Cafe Laut Batam which have many seafood restaurant there and really close to the bridge. This is the famous place to have variety of seafood here. The surrounding and the view are so sooo beautiful. Seems like in LA due to the massive bridge design located at the breathtaking ocean view. Really love the landscape here. Sunset views here are especially mesmerizing, attracting both tourist and locals. We also had some teatime street snacks there. We ate corn grills and special corn grills to chill while admiring the huge & wonderful bridge. Really enjoyed the corn grill...too delicious & sweet. We continued our journey to Rumah Kue Wiweka which is well known in Riau with their layering cakes or known as 'kek lapis'. We bought alot of snacks, cakes, and local indonesian food here. Love love. There are many type of 'kek lapis' we you can choose. We bought more than 10 cakes with cheap prices. Also variety of chips and snacks to bring back to hometown soon. After done with the food shopping, we went to Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall to buy more souvenirs and tradisional indonesian clothes known as Batik. I stepped into the buzzing world of Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall. The crowd was loud, the lights bright and everything felt alive. Before went back to hotel, we had our dinner at the famous indonesian cuisine which is Bakso. We went to the famous restaurant named Bakso Gunung. I really recommend you to try bakso at this restaurant. The taste was awesome and delicious. You will be satisfied to try the bakso here. Our stomach is fulled with bakso and we happy with the food. Our day end with delicious food and we slept so well that night.
The final morning came slowly. Packing my bags felt heavier than it should have. We enjoyed our hotel's breakfast buffet before start our day with beach hunting. The hotel's breakfast was just nice and make our tummies full. After breakfast and checkout, I took a last breath of hotel air before setting out. Then—magic. We started our journey to visit the De’Sands Café and Restaurant. The famous blue & white theme restaurant which resembled like you are in Greece. I stepped into the bluey glow of the restaurant —a quiet moment before the chaos of exploration. The building and architecture were so cool and seems like in Greece. It is located at Batam town. We got free drinks too. After that we went to the famous market in Batam to buy some groceries stuff & fruits to bring back home. We bought many kind of fruits and wild fruit such as salak, duku, mangosteen and some mangos. Then, the most exciting place to go is of course our lunch place which is Sambal Bakaran Restaurant. There are many types of sambal you can try at this restaurant and varieties of Indonesian cuisine to try. You will never regret to try all food here. We tried all types of sambal here. Super delicious! Our lunch was so mindblowing..love..love..love! Lunch at Sambal Bakaran was a final explosion of flavor—a farewell feast wrapped in smoke, heat and heart. Please come to this restaurant if you attempt to visit Batam, Riau. After done with the lunch, we continued to Atlantis Beach Club. I let the day wind down by stepping into the relaxing rhythm of Atlantis Beach Club. It felt like the island was waking up just as I was fading into it. Waves whispered, sunlight shimmered and afternoon vibes wrapped itself around me like a warm embrace. Then, i made my way to the magical Bluefire Beach Club, home of the dreamy pink sand beach. The blush-toned sands were as beautiful as whispered—soft, unusual, unforgettable. It stretched before me in soft blush tones that felt unreal, like nature’s secret revealed only to those who dared to look closely. Waves rolled gently across the pink grains, each one whispering: Remember this. But time, as always, is merciless.
Then, we quickly headed back to the ferry terminal and returned our car rent there. By 4:20pm, I found myself back at the ferry jetty, port tax paid and luggage in hand. The city, the flavors, the sea breeze—all of it stayed with me even as the shoreline disappeared. We were the last person to get into the ferry and we were very late. The boat pulled away and Batam faded into the misty horizon—its bridges, its markets, its cliffs, its pink sands—becoming memories that clung to me long after we docked at Pasir Gudang Terminal. This time the waves, wind and weather during going back to my home was just fine. Therefore, the ferry's captain let us to hangout at top of ferry open deck to enjoy the seaview and sunset. We went back home with satisfaction from this short & unexpected trip.
Do visit to my travel photos in my Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LIMIPHOTOGRAPHY) to see my journey to Riau Wander
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