Batam, as we know it.
I have been going to Batam since I started working here in Singapore in 2009. I may have taken five personal trips, and then the rest of the time I spent on this island was because of my job, which meant traveling at least once a month. As the years progressed, my work trips became more frequent, and I always find myself nonchalant when I booked my trips, arrived at the terminal, did my business, then booked the trip back. The familiarity felt like a montage of what has been my professional life. My favourite thing to do on the ferry is sleep. Sleep is gold in this day and age, for sure. Therefore, getting some shuteye during transit is always a welcome blessing. But then again, I am not here to talk about sleep.
I need to remind you of what you can actually do here for a short holiday.
The spa is one of the most popular pleasures that we always see. Too often, we think it's already overrated. Well, no, it's not. It will always be something that will never go out of style. The experience of having your body relax and being immersed in its therapeutic ambiance will always be different. One may think it's so common. Maybe, but even if you are not a fan, just try it.
Experiencing culture through food is unrivaled. Eat good food. Yes, every place in this world has something great to offer. When you combine the rustic atmosphere with the local flavors, you won't be able to help but indulge and just eat with great gusto. It hits differently when you have a taste of these delicacies that are near and yet so far. Familiar, but once it touches your lips, the sensor sends succulence directly to the heart.
Finding a little space for yourself is also a good thing to do here. Whether you walk into a quaint cafe, visit a temple, or just take a stroll in one of the parks or shorelines that are pleasantly impressive for a place one hour away from the hustle and bustle, you will then wonder where you have been all this time and why it took you a while to do this for yourself - to just take it easy without dwelling on a guilt trip.
With that, driving around is also a fine way to spend your time here. Try crossing the 3rd or 4th Barelang bridge, or try heading to Nongsa, and savor the sights and sounds of the road trip playlist that you can prepare ahead. Make occasional stops to get murtabak or pisang goreng keju from the roadside stalls. Just drive. Even without a clear destination, you are sure to have a fun journey.
It is also surprisingly consoling to be in a place where the time is one hour behind. Suddenly, you have more time to do things. If you want to play more, eat more, sleep more, and swim more, you get an extra hour. How to beat that simple pleasure? This is probably why we feel the locals here are just super chill. It's like having a fairy pull you back, tempting you to stay back in a world filled with magic.
Go now and plan. Don't wait for a business trip to bring you here. Be spontaneous and remember to be kind to yourself.
