B6B - Barelang 6 Bridges (11-13 November 2023), Day 3 - Batam Rideabout and Home

"Welcome to Batam" signage

Buffet Breakfast at OS Style Hotel @ IDR75,000 for 2 pax was too good to resist

After breakfast, we checked out from our hotel and headed out to the city. This time, we took Jalan Ahmad Yani, a different route back to Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal as we wanted a to visit the city.

Photo taken at 10 am, Malaysian time @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/aQJDb1xRYjxBLXzQA

Dataran Engku Putri was disappointingly closed

Southgate

Jl. Raja H. Fisabilillah @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/f1YskZEz8Az42L7B8

DPRD Batam aka People's Representative Office

Wide pavement for safe passage through in the city

Kantor Walikota Batam aka Mayor's Office

Bank of Indonesia and Telkomsel

Bank Tabungan Negara

Approaching the Northgate of Dataran Engku Putri with white twin towers

Museum Batam

Bundaran BP Batam, a roundabout

Approaching Harmoni One Convention Hotel and Serviced Apartments @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/1QB7DiYE9fdRHVw87

On the way to Ocarina @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/x4uEEapM8sncVZbv8

Ocarina was disappointingly dusty. There's a themed park inside with an entrance fee. Hence we decided to not to enter but languish outside, by the shades

There are 12 zodiac signs in the area 

Jalan Golden Prawn made famous by a few seafood restaurants on stilts at the end of the road, right by the seafront @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/vqvDB6rTC99wow7b9. Funnily all the restaurants and businesses there adopt the "Golden" name!!!

Kopi Bandaro @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/GB45mmvPrAoVYqiE8 after a long steep climb of 6.6%, strava segment Bengkong Mahkota. Jalan Bengkong Palapa which joins Jalan Yos Sudarso comes with a few steep climbs

Mr Lim sporting POC sunglasses.

It was 11.30 am Malaysian time when we decided to head to Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal to catch the 1.45 pm ferry home. Surprisingly, changing our departure time to an earlier slot was hassle free. 

1.00 pm, Malaysian time. Saying goodbye to Xiao Mei Mei who has a later ferry to catch at Batam Center. She will first get caught in the rain then reward herself with a 2 hour massage before more food!

Our bikes

This time our ferry is a catamaran, MV Purti Anggreni 03

Lower deck, economy seats

Upper deck, business class seats

Upper deck comes with a pantry

Pantry

The Bridge

Clean toilets

Washing machine on board!

Engine room

Marriot Harbour Bay 

View of Tanjung Uma from the ferry

Al Mu'minin Mosque

Leaving the harbour at 3 pm Malaysian time (2 pm Indonesian time despite a 1.45 pm scheduled departure)

MV Purti Anggreni 05, our 1st day ferry arriving at Harbour Bay. It will return to Puteri Harbour for the scheduled 3.45 pm departure

Cranes at Batu Ampar Port visible at the far left

Schedule correct until 2023

B6B - Barelang 6 Bridges (11-13 November 2023), Day 2 - Kelong Almira to Barelang Ujung to OS Style Hotel

At Barelang Ujung.

This roundabout with zero kilometer signage is brand new. Even the grass were newly planted. There was nothing when York Fuan visited in September 

Seabed visible at low tide at Kelong Almira

Having our complimentary breakfasts of lontong and yellow rice with coffee and tea

After breakfast fun activities involved pulling ourselves from the raft to the floating platform built for avid anglers

The raft is secured by ropes and a pulley system to ensure it will not drift away

Midway to the floating platform, the girls stopped for a group photo

On the floating platform

Mindy attempting a wefie with the girls, photo taken by York Fuan

Finally, York Fuan joins the wefie

The girls making their way back to the mainland

Another group of guests from Singapore having their complimentary breakfast at the resort.

9 am Malaysian time and about to ride out. 

The resort was so lovely, we were in no hurry to get to Barelang Ujung. After all, we had a whole day to ride.

With the lady boss!

Heading out to Barelang Ujung without our bags at 9.00 am, Malaysian time.

We will return to collect them on our way back!

Dirt and gravel tracks of about 500 m from Kelong Almira to the main road 

Within 20 minutes, we have arrive at the 6th bridge!

Named Raja Kechik Bridge, this is the smallest of the 6th bridges and is only 180m in length. It connects Galang Island to Galang Baru Island

View from the 6th bridge. 

The new service road leads to Bendungan Sei Gong, a new dam built across the River Gong 

Another view from the 6th bridge

Some of the team members on the 5th bridge. As York Fuan has been to Barelang Ujung, she has decided to chill at the resort and to sort out her tyre punctures once and for all with a full and thorough inspection !

On Galang Baru Island, heading for Barelang Ujung, there are many communication towers along the road @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/oCJMMfn1zThyRMq3A

Another piece of land cleared for construction.

Seems like Galang Baru Island is dotted with modern resorts and beaches which explains the number of buses that sped past us in the morning. Claudine lost count at 9 buses!!!

Another set of communication tower. This one is on top of a hill top, next to a Chinese temple @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/zSCZqGZny7rHZ7Nm8

The Chinese temple

Another communication tower @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/QwAiB65wmDuHK8d3A

You will know you are very near to Barelang Ujung when you spot this red and white communication tower. The rests are not painted

Barelang Ujung and the 0 km marker @ 10.15 am, Malaysian time

FINISH

Here comes the rest

Posing only as we had crossed the finish line earlier without photos!

Group photo

0 km marker

Coconut break at the one and only stall at Barelang Ujung

The stall was enjoying brisk business as a convoy of motorcyclists were enjoying an excursion to the same 0 km marker

Heading back at 10.50 am, Malaysian time

Endless long climbs 

Mindy, leading the rest of the group, passing the 6th bridge @ 12 pm, Malaysian time. Chooi was not doing well with butt pain, having not ridden for some time 

One of the few traffic lights along Trans Barelang, near Galang Military Camp

Komando Distrik Militer 0316, Batam aka Galang Military Camp @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/N3E7JBGt1d8CaMxB9

This military camp is located right in front of the Ex Vietnamese Refugee Camp

Halte Kampung Vietnam is a bus stop located at the junction into the Ex Vietnamese Refugee Camp aka Galang Refugee Camp @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/pyFSxNoDUfCq7WEdA 

The Camp is now turned into a museum with a nominal entrance fee. It was used from 1976 to 1996 to house Vietnamese fleeing their country after the fall of Saigon. As many as 250,000 Vietnamese passed through this Camp while waiting for resettlement into their host countries, mainly USA, Canada and Australia

Pit stop after returning to Kelong Almira for our pre-ordered nasi goreng and also to pick up our luggage. 

Chooi had decided to quit the ride, taking a Grab to the hotel to meet us.

Meanwhile, we were separated from Mr Lim and Mr Liew at this point when the 2 amigos decided to make their own stop just 1 km away. We waited more than 20 minutes for them and with bad signal, unable to contact them. They finally used Day 1's communication method which never failed...they stopped a motorcyclist to convey the message that they will ride on their own and not to wait.

Coconut and roasted corn stop by the 2nd bridge

Roasted corn on the table, roasted people on the chairs!

A well deserved dinner! We arrived at the hotel around 5.15 pm, washed up and decided to walk out for dinner at this nearby restaurant

BBQu @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q6FMDmQXCEpvmWJf9

Korean BBQ buffet for only IDR60,000

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OS Style Hotel (Managed by Orange Sky)

Putri Hijau Complex, Jalan Letjen R. Suprapto, Sungai Langkai, Kec. Sagulung, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29425, Indonesia

Photos looked perfect but the toilet was far from clean and water logged. Smoke gets into the room despite a non smoking room. Room rate was RM76.63 for 2 pax so it was overall good!