Snorkeling in Batam: A Potential Nature Tourism Yet Needs (Some) Touch!

Talking about island hopping, Riau Islands is one of the best to experience. There are more than 1000 islands scattered from Malacca Strait to the South China Sea, each of them comes up with their own attractions, from diving, snorkelling, white sand beach (Lagoi in Bintan Island), business and shopping (Batam Island), sports destination, and more.

We, four of us, went to Abang Island (Pulau Abang the locals called it) where we spent full-day time by none other than… snorkelling. Did we? Ya! And it was exciting and fun!

How to and what to do

Batam Island was our starting point. We booked a tour package costing USD25.00 per person and it included:

-          Pick up – drop services in Kepri Mall, Batam.

-          Boat transfer from Galang Island – Abang Island

-          Lunch

-          Snorkelling with instructor in three different spots (islands) around Abang Island.

The bus picked us up at Kepri Mall at 7.30 in the morning. We went to Galang Island, where there was a small ferry port to Galang. I was so excited as I was about to see the Barelang bridge for the first time, even though I’d been here for about two years. 

The location of Pulau Abang in Riau Islands

It took less than 2 hours from Kepri Mall to Galang Island.  Just so you know, the island is the southernmost area Batam and was connected by six bridge through the four island in between Batam and Galang, and it stretched for 50 km length the road through and it was smooth. Along the way through we could see dragon fruit plantation, some junctions to the nearby virgin beaches, vegetable farms, and we could spend some time in Vietnam Camp, the place under UNCHR for Vietnamese refugees during Vietnam War. I liked the concept of how the bridges were firstly introduce, though less result we could see from what the government had expected at the first time. Third-world country.

We arrived in Galang and was transferred by a …what to say…small….traditional boat to be exact to Abang Island. It was cloudy then rainy on the sea. Some passengers were like “Omigod!” “Oh, shit! Don’t fall, don’t fall (into the water)!” as the wave was a bit striking. Actually the waters is fine. I mean, it’s not like in the middle of ocean during storm or something as it was really nice. Maybe because first we use traditional boat and second it rained. Overall, we did feel good. We could not wait!

It took 1 hour from Galang to Abang Island. Once we arrived, we were like “Hurray!!!” We could see the traditional house of the locals living there. I wondered how thy dealt with everyday life there.  I mean, with your house above the water and no such things to do there (seemed so). So local. Our instructor had been waiting for us and ready to break the waves. We had to wait at least for half an hour as it was suddenly rainy and we were like “Shit!”

The first spot is in an island (sorry that I cannot remember the island’s name other than Abang. So many island), 30 minutes away from Abang by boat. Equipped already, we jumped into the water and the instructor lead us to the snorkelling (and diving) spot nearby. It was our first time to snorkel and it was so crazy. I mean, we didn’t even have no idea how to these equipment work hence we kept our instructor BUSY just train us HOW TO BREATHE. But it’s okay, anyway. I mean, that’s part of his job and we’re sorry that we’re just that dumb in it. Not to mention it was very difficult to move with we-called-it-Penguin-Feet attached in our feet. You know what I mean, don't you? Gosh!

Snorkeling in Abang Island

Beautiful the coral was. And it was… deep at some points. We could even see “Nemo”! Just like in the” Finding Nemo”, from A-Z, the colour, shape, and the way it moved. You know what I mean, right? We spent around 1 hour exploring what’s beneath the surface and it was fun…and…yeah, exhausting. I mean, maybe because it was our first time and we didn’t even have any regular exercise before, quite shocking the body.

The next spot was on the island 10 minutes from the first spot. The water is clearer and deeper than the previous spot. We spent around 1 hour and we saw fish, some creepy creatures attached in the anemone, and sea urchins (locals called it “bulu babi”) everywhere. It was so bad to see many of them as it didn’t look good. I mean, the sea urchins.

Our instructor asked us whether or not we went to the last spot. And of course we said “No, thanks!” as we were exhausted like hell. We just passed through some groups preparing to do snorkelling on the spot, and we looked so messy and tired. I wonder how the diver or even traditional diver did it every day and even longer. They must be kind of half-fish.

One of the islands

Instead, we went to another small island to enjoy our lunch. It was cooked by the local and it was nice! I liked the sotong (squid) very bad. It was sauced and it ruled! What made it crazy was that the rain suddenly fell while we enjoyed our lunch. We got back to the boat and had it there instead.

It is okay (maybe) for those who had curiosity and just going local. Something we can learn, about simplicity (?) whatsoever. However, when it comes to “bathroom things”, for most visitors it’s more about hygiene, comfort, and that’s what the government should pay more attention to. Please do not get me wrong, as we saw numbers of visitors from the neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore there, but yeah, one day trip only. So bad for the islands offering lots of natural attraction and we were like no choice to stay longer just because of some little basic thing less properly provided.
We went back to the basecamp to clean our body before going back home. That’s when the issue came out. Actually it was a nice trip but minus the facility like bathroom. I was quite shocked knowing that we had to have shower outdoor.... like really…….

Overall, it was quite fun time for us in Abang Island. Love it!!!

Pricing & Tips:

-       Pulau Abang fullday all in: IDR398,000.- (USD25.00), the payment all in Indonesia Rupiah, subject to change but the price would be around the range. Some visitors were independently coming without taking the package, but it would be a bit difficult for arrangement on the spot as more took the package instead. Not to mention, it’s all in. Ease yourself up.

-          Use sunblock/sun-screen lotion as it’s a tropical island.

-          Better bring your own snack and drinks from Batam.

-    Don't bother for social media updates. No signal there for data access. It's time to fully be out of the office and paper works!

-          Please keep the environment clean.

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Selangor - Batam to Boost Tourism Ties

(L-R) from second-left Exco Tourism Selangor Y.B Puan Gan Pei Nei, Director for MICE and Special Interest Promotion at the Ministry for Indonesia Tourism  Ibu Rizki Handayani Mustafa; the Head of Tourism of Riau Islands Province Bapak Guntur Sakti; dan General Manager of Selangor Tourism Pn. Noorul Ashikin bte Mohd Din.

Tourism Selangor (TSSB) together with Indonesia Ministry of Tourism and Batam View Beach Resort connects businesses from the state of Selangor and Indonesia in a B2B Table Top discussion.

Held at the Batam View Beach Resort, the programme starting from 15 to 17 November is headed by YB Madam Gan Pei Nei, Deputy Chairman of Selangor’s Committee of Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs.

The event at the famous Batam Island provides 17 participants that came from various travel agencies, government agencies, hoteliers, health and wellness operators, and education sections in Selangor (sellers) to connect with travel industry associates from Indonesia (buyers). Each seller will be give one presentation slot for a total of five minutes to give to the tourism agencies present at the event.

Tourism Selangor has arranged three sessions for the business event – including a Government to Goverment (G to G) Table Talk session with Tourism Indonesia about the direction and goals of tourism between Selangor and Indonesia. The event’s highlight is the B2B Table Top between Selangor and Indonesia’s tourism agencies and a visit around Batam Island as part of the tourism product. 

Some of the key persons attending from Indonesia Tourism are Ibu Rizky Handayani, Director for MICE and Special Interest Promotion at the Ministry for Tourism and Creative Economy, Bapak Guntur Sakti, the Head of Tourism of Riau Islands Province, and stakeholders in hospitality industry such as resorts, aviation, golf courses and travel agents.

The three day B2B Table Top event include business minded individuals of various companies from Aceh, Western Sumatra, Riau Islands, Jakarta, and Jogjakarta.

“Selangor’s tourism industry still has a lot of potential for development and can be explored even further, particularly with our counterparts here in Indonesia.  In our quest to be an active and thriving tourism industry, we at Tourism Selangor and the Selangor government are supportive of all efforts by our local industry players to develop the attractive products available at our home,” said YB Madam Gan Pei Nei, Deputy Chairman of Selangor’s Committee of Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs.

B2B session between Selnagor and Indonesia in Bunga Mawar Room, Batam View Beach Resort

The three-day visitation was filled with trails of programs. On the first day the Selangor delegation visited some of the tourism hot-spots in Batam, such as Destination Nongsa, Golden City in Bengkong area, and Megamall in Batam Centre.

With at least 1,4 million foreign visitors, Batam Island is a promising destination for Malaysian market. Its strategic location next to the neighboring busy Singapore are very accessible, with 4 international ferry ports and one international airport made the island Indonesia's third largest contributor for foreign tourist, after Bali and Jakarta.

The meeting was also aimed to introduce Batam Island to Malaysian market, get them up close and experience the attractions it offers, from shopping, golf-destination, resort, among many. It was expected to start increasing the traffic between Selangor and Batam, besides the direct flight that connected them ease and catalyze growth in the near future.

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Awal Sebuah Kehidupan

Aku, Rheina, Hazil.

Kami bertiga menyusuri sebuah lorong panjang tak berujung. Kami dimabukkan oleh permainan warna yang menghiasi sisi-sisi lorong. Begitu pudar, berpendar, gairah yang sangat nyata tersirat dalam warna-warna yang terus bergerak. Seakan mengikuti kami bertiga…ya…menyusuri lorong ini.

Aku bisa merasakan Rheina ingin pulang ke rumah secepat mungkin, karena takut ibunya memarahinya habis-habisan dan tidak mengijinkannya makan malam bersama saudara-saudaranya yang lain.

Aku bisa merasakan Hazil terbebas dari belenggu yang mengungkungnya selama ini. Aku merasakan ketidaktahuanku atas semua yang aku alami…lorong..warna yang tidak henti berganti…perasaan sahabatku…Kohesivitas emosi di antara kami bertiga.

Aku menggigil kedinginan…

“Kenapa?” Rheina mengambil sebuah safir di bawah kakinya.

“Dingin.” jawabku singkat

Sementara Hazil berjalan di depan kami. Bahkan setengah berlari.

“Kenapa kita ada di sini?” Rhiena terlihat bingung, “Aku harus pulang.”

“Kita telah sampai,” Hazil berteriak, memberi instruksi agar kami berjalan mengikutinya.

Ya. Kami sudah sampai. Begitu banyak pilar berdiri tegak menyambut kedatangan kami. Terkesan menakutkan.

“Di sinilah kita bertiga harus memilih,” Hazil menunjuk ke deretan pilar-pilar itu. Memang Hazillah yang mengajakku dan Rhiena untuk masuk ke lorong ini. Dari mana kami memasukinya, kami tidak tahu. Hazillah yang selalu mendengungkan kebebasan kepada kami, yang akan kami temukan hanya dengan memasuki lorong ini.

“Kita bertiga akan bebas…dan dari sinilah kehidupan kita mulai,” tanpa menoleh kepada kami ia bergegas memasuki deretan pilar itu.

Tidak ada salam perpisahan atau hal semacam itu dari Hazil. Aku bisa merasakan Rheina ingin pulang secepat mungkin.

“Apakah aku bisa pulang ke rumah lewat pilar itu?” ia kelihatan gelisah.

“Mungkin,” jawabku ragu, benar-benar ragu.

“Kita akan berpisah di sini?”lanjutnya

“Mungkin. Atau kita akan bertemu di balik pilar itu.”

“Setelah kita memasukinya?” dari dulu ia memang sering bertanya.

“Bye,” aku mengucapkan salam perpisahan padanya. Rheina memelukku.

“Kita akan bertemu di sana. Dan juga Hazil.” ia mencoba meyakinkan diri.

Aku memasuki salah satu pilar. Dan sebuah lorong panjang terbentang menyambutku. Aku melihat segala sesuatu yang belum pernah kulihat selama ini. Kupandangi sekelilingku. Terasa asing semua ini bagiku.

“Apa yang harus aku lakukan?”tanyaku dalam hati.

“Kita akan bebas...” kata-kata Hazil terlintas di benakku.

Aku tahu. Ya. Aku tidak harus melakukan sesuatu atau tidak melakukan sesuatu.

“Dan dari sinilah kehidupan kita dimulai.” Aku bisa mendengar Hazil berbisik di telingaku. Aku berpaling ke belakang. Tak seorang pun di sana. Aku sendiri.

“Benar, kau sendiri!” suara Hazil terdengar di seluruh lorong.

“Dan aku bebas,” kataku spontan, ”dan dari sinilah kehidupanku dimulai.” Aku mengulangi kata-kata Hazil.

Terdengar olehku tawa Rheina, dan Hazil, tawa kami bertiga. Di lorong panjang tiada batas…yang menyambut kami.

*pernah dimuat di https://blog.djarumbeasiswaplus.org/ranggayanwar/ 

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