Day 2 The Side Trip to Indonesia

Hail native artists!

October 27, 2009.

The side-trip to Batam, Indonesia was a pleasant surprise. I did not know about it until the itinerary was given. Well, let’s go to Indonesia!

To maximize our time at Batam, we had early breakfast. By 7:45 a.m. we were on our way to Harbourfront Centre. While in a queue at the Indonesian immigration counter, I found out that in some slips provided by the travel agency, my name was misspelled. I panicked unnecessarily. In the Philippines where a slightest discrepancy on one’s papers may mean non-issuance of your passport or visa, and worst, being inconveniently interrogated in some immigration chambers, I am quite surprised that the immigration in Indonesia was so lax. We left the country free from creepy stares and sarcasms of immigration officers.   

We embarked at 8:45 a.m. The cruise passed along the shores of the island of Sentosa where we enjoyed the sights of Singapore from afar. We saw the heart of Singapore as we sailed to the island of Batam, Indonesia. The Singapore Flyer, because of its gigantic size, is indeed a landmark.

We reached the island after 45 minutes. Batam is the first significant Indonesian island south of Singapore. We were welcomed by a Chinese Indonesian named Pingping, our tour guide. Looking around, I noticed that some parts of Batam have reddish soil. Dr. Telesforo Luna said it’s full of iron. The island’s natural vegetation is markedly similar to that of the Philippine Islands. The island also has abundant rains. According to Pingping, they always experience intermittent rain showers chiefly in the afternoon.

Indonesia Miniature Garden

      

Pingping asked us a trivia which nobody but herself answered correctly. How many islands does Indonesia have? Dr. Canlas expected me to at least make an educated guess. To my disgust, I made a wrong guess. Pingping revealed that Indonesia is an archipelago of 18,110 islands. And with this prelude, she brought us to Indonesia Miniature Garden where the highly diversified Indonesian society is showcased in one setting. Each province is represented by its architectural landmark built in miniatures. However, we failed to see this point because we were too busy taking pictures on some of the little edifices. The rains drove us back to our van. The buildings are too small to shield us from the rains.

Batam is famous for branded shirts which can be bought there at half the price than that of Singapore. We are of the impression that these brands were manufactured here for cheaper production costs and then shipped to Singapore. Thus, the prices of the items are cheaper. Whether or not this is true, only those who purchased know.

An Indonesian lion dance.

            Nearby is a traditional theater. The locals presented an adaptation of a lion dance. Their costumes show some Chinese or Thai influences but it may also be indigenous. They also presented rustic antics and daring acts like swallowing bottle shards, playing with rings of fire or husking coconuts with bare mouth. Hail native artists!

For lunch, we went to Restaurant Golden Prawn 555 Seafood Kelong Restaurant, a dining place within a fish farm. The restaurant resembles a tropical Southeast Asian long wooden house built on stilt with nipa thatched roofs. It is standing in the middle of fish ponds where many kinds of marketable fishes are raised. Some of the harvests are placed in aquariums and tanks ready to be cooked to satisfy the cravings of hungry tourists. Our lunch was a sumptuous seafood feast.

The whole set-up is a brilliant idea. It is where science, technology, commerce and culture meet. Dr. Prospero T. Lagman, himself a science enthusiast, can’t help but appreciate the grand display of marine animals in large tubs and tanks. On my part, I appreciated the Indonesian hospitality. Like royalties, we were being served by humble waitresses.

Batam is the home of the City of Nagoya, the main business district. The city is just like a typical Philippine provincial city where life is not in a hurry. There is no clear urban planning, people build houses wherever they like. However, it is generally clean – cleaner than Manila.

Goods are much cheaper in Nagoya than in Singapore. But just like anywhere else, one has to really bargain. Pingping led us to a downtown department store named “FM Collection” along Komp Bum Indah. It is where the imitation perfumes are sold side by side with the genuine brands. The bags with big names are glaringly fake. I went out of the store without buying anything. The items on display are made of low quality materials.  

St. Petrus Church, Batam Island

At the request of the group, Pingping brought us to one of the island’s only two Catholic Churches. To our delight and Catholic pride, the Gereja Katolik, St. Petrus, is beautiful! The church is new and is constructed on top of a hill in the town of Baloi. It was inaugurated only in May 2009, or some five months ago. Catholicism is flourishing in this rather predominantly Islamic island. Pingping is herself a Catholic.

Then we went to one of the island’s mall – a modest mall with very few shoppers. Many of the stocks on display are out of style (or am I looking at it in a different perspective?) The mall has a funny name: Golden Truly. I suspect the name was a poor English translation of Pure Gold, the name desired by the owner.

At Golden Truly, I bought two beautiful wooden masks crafted by local artisans. I also bought a pair of wooden anthropomorphic figures symbolic of a Malay wedding. These items cost me a lot of money, but I am very satisfied. Cultural items of superior craftsmanship should be expensive.         

To my surprise, people smoke inside the mall! This caused the pungent smell of the mall ambiance. Because of slack moments in a rather empty mall, the salespeople gossip a lot. I started a cheap joke and in few minutes, the joke was all over. Smoking inside any mall is a taboo in the Philippines. While gossiping is a cultural pastime in the Philippines, busy salespersons can hardly find time to buzz.  

We left Indonesia at 5:19 p.m. As the Penguin Empress started to row away from the Batam, I can see an Islamic mosque sitting grandly near the bay. Goodbye Indonesia.

By nightfall, we’re back at the Orchard Parade Hotel. The next day, we will be at the NUS CELC. I browsed the web for some last minute communications from Dr. Chitra Varaprasad or RELC, but there were none. This caused me $16 charge from the hotel. (Dr. Canlas took care of the bill). I downloaded a map of the University for Ian Galistan, our driver. Though Ian is a seasoned driver, he admitted that it’s his first time to drive for tourists to a University. I smiled; after all, tourism was more of a secondary purpose.

The room’s ambiance was very serene. The bed is irresistible! The room, the lamps, the sight, the cold air and the kingly bed, together, constitute a blissful treat. Hmmm! Goodnight Singapore.