Batam

Okay, finally getting down to blogging about the trip.

Saturday, 24th September 2005:
Classroom session ended surprisingly early. So as per the gf's instructions, I took a bus to her place and met up with her there.

Cabbed to Habourfront Ferry Terminal, went through Singapore customs blah blah. The ferry ride was kinda nauseating I reckon cause it was all stuffy and warm. Finally reached Batam after 45 minutes, went through customs blah blah again.

When we first reached the terminal, the gf commented that it looked like Marina South. HAHA. Cracked some crazy jokes about being back in Singapore after one ferry trip nonsense then the gf suddenly pulled me away from the dustbin (was standing next to it smoking) because apparently a local decided to park right behind my bag. Call us paranoid but I think its better to be paranoid sometimes. Got up the mini van with other fellow Singaporeans/Tourists and in less than 3 minutes we were at the resort. -.-

The resort was pretty good. Small and cosy yet not dingy looking. Checked into our SMOKING room. HAHA. Lounged about, explored the tv channels and went downstairs to look for food (It was already 3pm Singapore time and we both had nothing yet) and explore more.

Both ordered pasta which was too huge a portion for either of us to finish. The gf was pretty disappointed that the hotel did not offer any sort of local food, she want to try the local delicacies pretty badly. Went for a swim after that, collected our complimentary pizza, bought REALLY CHEAP ciggarettes and went back to sloth in our room.

After much slothing, we decided to continue exploring. Played billard, walked around the whole resort and heard music but when we approached it they were playing those what do you call it again? traditional malay music thingy so we went back to our room instead. I reckon both of us were pretty tired so we just sat at the balcony smoking and talking about stuff.

Sunday, 25th September 2005:
Comatosed about 2 or 3 am Singapore time (I keep getting confused with the 1 hour difference) woke up bright and early the next morning. Small hoo haa with the gf, after which went down for our complimentary breakfast. As usual, ugly Singaporeans always have to prove how ugly they are. Can't be bothered to even blog about them. Just disgustingly ugly.

10.30 Batam time, met our tour guide for the city tour. Started off pretty well, went to some bridge which apparently is a landmark of Batam. Took pretty nice pictures of the view blah. Things pretty much took a turn for the worst after that.

You see, I was like a suicide bomber. Digging my own grave and then jumping into it. I was in my pretty Guess hot shorts and apparently people there either never saw a pretty girl or never saw shorts in their lives. Was visually raped a gazillion times.

Went to this Mega Mall place. Apparently for the richer Batam people and boy can you see the difference. 90% of the housing there were illegal. Small huts, squatters, dirty looking children running around barefooted but laughing. My heart ached. The the huge mansions built on the hills. Vast difference.

There were even more dingy looking locals there. So much so we got fed up and parked ourselves at A&W and ate curly fries and drank rootbeer (deprived of A&W in Singapore). Finally it was time to go back to Singapore! Man have I never been more excited when I hear the word Singapore!

When we got back to Singapore land, I never felt more safe and normal. Given that most girls were decked out in shorts, tank tops and no one gave a damn.

There is only one word to describe how I felt during the city tour : Traumatised.

P.S: This is a pretty brief entry. Read the gf's for a more detailed account.