A short getaway for the Chinese New Year school break was planned and executed from 25th - 27th January, 2020. My partner in crime this time was another ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, This should be my second time in Batam and the first trip was like 9 years ago.
The adventure started at Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal in Johor Bahru city. If you think the Chinese would stay at home playing mahjong or visiting friends and relatives on the first day of Chinese New Year, then you are wrong my friend. There was a huge crowd at the terminal and I could see a very long queue at the ticket counter when I arrived there in the morning.
Fortunately, the tickets had been bought online by my travel partner so there was no need to wait in line. We could just go straight to the counter to collect our ferry tickets and that should be a big relief.
Then there was another long queue at the immigration check point. *sigh*
After two hours, we arrived at Batam Centre Ferry Terminal.
And here, there was even a larger crowd, trying to get into Batam from many other ferry terminals and from Singapore too. The boats seemed to arrive at the same time. There were zig-zagging lines just to get to the immigration counter and PATIENCE was the keyword when one was in this situation. I must say the immigration officers worked efficiently and even the line was moving very slowly and the hall was packed, but it was done rather smoothly.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY: [1] Do not go to Batam during the Chinese New Year break, or most probably any other festive season as everybody else is also doing the same thing. [2] Another option, try to enter Batam via other ferry terminal such as the new Harbour Bay.
Don't forget to come back for more stories and photos of my Batam trip soon.
OTHER RELATED PAGES OF MY BATAM TRIP
Lunch at Pondok Batam Kuring
Batam Wakepark
Indonesia Miniature Houses
Visiting Three Factory Outlets
The Street Food
Shopping at DC Mall
Dinner at a Stall by the Roadside
Breakfast at McDonald's
Visiting Baitusyakur Mosque
Tebing Langit
Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah Mosque
Observing Batam from the Mosque Tower
Balerang Bridge
Fried Duck at H. Slamet Restaurant
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