Pulau Bintan

• Hlance23's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Tanjungpinang

Trip Start Jun 10, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Ongoing Next
Entry

  Tanjungpinang, Riau, Indonesia
Sunday, June 29, 2008

We arrived earlt Friday morning in Singapore with the intent of staying in Sleepy Sam's Hostel Friday night so that we could go to church Sabbath morning.  After waiting for two hours outside the hostel, we were tolda that there were no rooms available.  So, instead we left earlier than we intended on our ferry to Pulau Bintan, Indonesia.  The 45 minute ferry ride lengthened to two hours (maybe the stopping in the middle of the ocean and going backwards for a few minutes contributed) before we finally arrived in Tanjung Pinang. 

We struggled for a long time to find a couple of honest people who could drive us to where we wanted to be for little cost.  Finally, two young men pulled up and offered us a ride for 50,000whateverthecurrencyis to the east coast.  We boarded and headed up the coast with only three random stops over 40 kilometers.  We found a beautiful beach with awesome bungalows to stay in, and agreed to stay.  Next, we went to pay our drivers.  Turns out 50,000whateverthecurrencyis is actually per person.  We weren't prepared for this, and no matter how we argued, we still lost.  We didn't have enough whateverthecurrencyis to pay these gentlemen.  Finally we hooked them up with a few American dollars and singapore dollars, and we were good.

I'd describe the place we were at, but I think you would just have to wait and see pictures, because my words can't describe how beautiful it was--frankly, neither will the pictures.  But we fit the three of us in one bed that night and slept really well.  When we wanted food, we would just ask and they would bring it to wherever we were and just put it on our tab.  The whole time we spent there, including transportation around the island, cost us about twenty bucks each.  It was awesome! 

Anyway, we caught the 6:00 ferry back to Singapore on Saturday night.  There were tons of stars above, and lightning flashes all around us in the great big thunderheads.  It was a great evening to spend on the upper deck of a ferry.

We called EVERY hostel listed in Singapore to find a place to stay once we got there.  All were booked, except the one where I am at now.  This one, however, was going to put us back $35 Singapore, which was over our limit, but we would deal with it, as it was our last resort.  Besides, it has free Internet and a continental breakfast.  Turns out, once we got here, the price was actually $40, and the breakfast consisted of two slices of white toast.  I am disappointed, and really hungry.  I think I'll figure out a McDonalds.

Thailand and Singapore give us the nice option of toilet paper OR spray.  Malaysia is strange...only a spray hose.  I don't know if I can ever get used to that.  A shower afterward is a MUST!

Print this entry Share

Previous Entry Next Entry