A short getaway: Batam (Part I - Tour)

#ootd for Day 1 (decided to take out my knitted top because it was a sunny morning)
I woke up as early as 6 am that day (22 December 2012 - Saturday) because I am always the latest when it comes to meeting them. Despite waking up early but I'm still the latest one -.- (as expected).

We were just in time (after rushing to grab a bite at Mr.bean). We have to reach an hour early before the boarding time.

The ferry that we took.

Scenery is always a must to take whenever you travel (regardless you took a plane[clouds, sunset], bus etc). The ride was 45 mins long, glad I never suffer from sea sick.

We alighted at Sekupang ferry terminal (one of the ferry terminal in Batam).
We had a thrilling experience right after we stepped into the terminal for our check-in. We were being approached for 'Express check-in' - meaning, we just have to pay them S$3/ per person and we can skip that longlonglonglonglonglonglonglonglonglong queue. Expected but still shocked. First time experienced such situation.

& we really paid them for that because the queue was terribly long. Too long untill we got irritated (the smell of the environment, inconsiderate typical Singaporean cutting queue, etc) Anyway, it wasn't illegal doing so in Batam. It was definitely a common thing you will see if you are planning for a getaway, work trip there. But of course, you have to be real careful of your belongings.

#doubledatevaccation

I took a picture of this clock, sort of a reminder that Indonesia time is actually an hour earlier than Sg timing. (SG: 8.00am which mean Indonesia: 7.00am) In the first place, we didn't know that. We thought our watches sort of spoiled or sth. 45 minutes away yet an hour difference...

Random street shot

Our 1st station: Batam Chocolate House (I didn't get anything though. 1st: Not worth the price, same price as Sg chocolates. 2nd: Hot weather, chocolates would have melted before checking in to the resort).

That's Su, my bff and with a... chocolate bar?

2nd station: Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple (biggest and cleanliness Temple at Batam)

3rd station: Polo Outlet (authentic)

4th station: Dining in at Golden Prawn 555 for lunch (no air-con, so warm).

Exterior

Interior (we were sitting at VIP area - according to the signboard) but I don't see what is it different from a non-vip area and vip area when non-vip area have traditional cultural dance performance -.-

Me and bff again. Starting to perspire due to the hot weather.

Hardly see Y laughed so wide and bright. Such a pity that I only took half of his side face.

Last station to end the tour in Batam: Batam shopping mall.

I was actually surprised that the clothes they sell wasn't cheap (same price as Sg). Maybe because they know that we're Singaporean?

If you realized, we had a sticker (pink in colour) that stick on our top (left chest area). We decided that it will be safer if we join tour in Batam since it is so messed up there (security wise) and we had no idea which are the ideal places that we should go.