Finally, I land here in Hang Nadim Batam airport after half an hour delayed. Really, the scene before landing is awesome! So many islands down there and the seas are so beautiful. Their colors mix together like painting makes me thanking God over and over for this chance seeing it. Actually, my visit to Batam is a surprise at first but I changed my mind when lining for check-in in Jakarta. I told him that I was about to coming this noon and asked him whether he could pick me up. Still, it is a big surprise to him :). It’s even teary him of happiness for sure.

Soon after stepping feet, I meet him at the arrival. I am so glad. He’s a bit mess up with that unshaven moustache and beard. He takes me to the most favorite sea food restaurant in town, not only for people in Batam but also Singaporean as I see that noon. It’s located on sea side and crowded. We order crab with Padang spicy sauce, fried calamari, gonggong (Batam’s specialty food – sea snails), some vegetables and two young coconuts ice. The food is so yummy. It is very expensive coz we spend more than three hundred thousand rupiahs in this restaurant. The crab is extremely high! Wewww.. I think it’s worth the taste. Anyway, lesson learned not to order too many dishes coz it’s a large portion. By the way, the restaurant is Rumah Makan Seafood Rezeki located in Batu Besar area only fifteen minutes from Hang Nadim airport.
In the evening we visit Nagoya mall next to i-apartment, his place, to buy daily stuff in Hypermart. It’s Saturday night and the mall located in Nagoya hills is so crowded. People in Batam surely dream about entertainment and fortunately there is some art performances in the mall, also dolphin show at the front yard. That’s it. We end the night laughing and watching movies in TV cable.

Then we visit Nagoya, store to store to find stuff for souvenirs. Cheap perfumes, hand bag, and purses also other stuff you can find in Mirano store. They are extremely cheap and the quality is good. Do not forget to bargain, the smarter way you bargain the cheaper price you get. You may do survey first to compare their prices. It is better you shop in different places to get the best price. Also visit Kawi Jaya shop to find cheap imported chocolates, corn candy, kwaci and other snacks. Before leaving this Nagoya shopping area, we buy durian montong and eat it there. It’s so yummy. It’s worth to pay back our bad taste durian last night. We bought two kinds of durian last night in hypermart and both tasted bad! Yacht! Fortunately, this time the durian’s tasted so good and cost thirty eight thousand for three kilograms gross. The actual price is fifteen thousand each kilogram. Here also you must bargain. ;)

Afterward we reach Nagoya mall to find imported soap, cheapest ones. Tip to Toe is the name of the soap, located on ground floor of the mall. There are plenty of imported soaps, perfumes and other beauty needs. Trust me they are cheap, even cheaper than Pasar Baru in Jakarta. Shopping again! :) Then we take short break before having dinner.

The fourth of us are having dinner at Mr. and Mrs. Istiarto’s place on the eight levels. They cook us pork with rica rica spicy (Manado famous kind of spice). It’s so yummy. We bring the Padang sauce crab. With fresh mango as desert and a glass of hot lemon tea, the dinner is awesome. Mrs. Istiarto shows us her stuff, bought in Aviari market. It’s a place to buy second stuff from Singapore and trust me, so cheap! For imported hand made ceramics, you can get ten thousand each. Woww.. I would love to visit this market next time to find stuff to decorate home. :)

Late night, I and my future hubby have a heart to heart conversation telling one another mind. I have my own mission visit him, to convince him that I do love him and a bit show off to my (willing) ability becoming a housewife. ;) I satisfy to my result, I think it’s succeeded. He surprises and is happy for sure. He tells me that I’ve convinced him with both my visit and willing to show him housewife ability. I try to cook and take care of his place. He really appreciates my will to change. It comes to the highest value, he says. So, my mission is accomplished! Yay!

The next morning, he leaves to Singapore for a meeting. He wants me to accompany him but I left my passport back in Jakarta. So he leaves me to Mr. Istiarto to have a walk in Batam. Mrs. Istiarto has to go to work. So this morning begins with driving along the road and visit Penuin traditional market. Pak Is, that’s how we call him, shows me around. Groceries of vegetables, fruits, meats and fish are around. It’s quite expensive compare to traditional markets in other part of Indonesia, he says. He and his wife have certain interest in visiting traditional market all over the place they had visited. They both enjoy walking around the market and find fresh stuff. So sweet yah? Pak Is buys banana fritter, five thousand for four pieces. The queuing makes you curious. Sometimes after while queuing, you might not gonna get your order coz the fresh banana fritter is already booked by others.

Leaving the market we depart to Harbor Bay, the nearest harbor from our place to catch ferry crossing to Singapore. I meet my bf here before he’s leaving for meeting in Singapore. This harbor is clean and nice except for the stink. Afterward, Pak Is and I go to our partners place to work. He shows me the project handled by my beloved. I am so proud seeing that huge living quarter. Really, I never imagine his responsibility of his work. I think he is so brilliant and magnificent. I am proud becoming part of his life. Anyway, we can’t get in. The security is very complicated so we only see the office from across the street and take picture of ‘his baby’. ;)

Pak Is takes me to Batam Center where the governmental stuff located and we visit Batam Mega Mall. Not better than mall in Nagoya though. Then we leave to have our early lunch. Fish Soup is one of Batam specialty. Pak Is takes me to the best place of it, unfortunately it’s closed. There’s not enough fish to cook. :( So we go to another restaurant and I order mix fish soup consists of mix seafood in one bowl. The taste is good but not as good as the other one, Pak Is says. Anyway, it costs sixty seven thousand for two including drinks and krupuk, quite expensive. Then we return to the apartment and rest.

There are some unusual things I see in Batam. The cars, I rare find new fancy cars here. Usually new cars are from Jakarta. I even see Mercedes once after three days. :D Cars here are imported from Singapore and mostly Toyota and Mitsubishi. They have different types compare to ones in Jakarta. Taxi here has no Argo meters. Yes, you can bargain every time taking cab. Plus, its function similar likes public transportation that freely taking other passengers instead of you in the cab. The roads are wide and not as crowd as Jakarta for sure, but the signage is rare to find here so prepare to get lost when self driving. ;) Don’t worry Batam is a small city! It won’t take you long to get lost though. If you have to drive in Batam please make sure that in every traffic light you are freely to turn left without noticing red light or you’ll get a horn or two from car behind you. Plus, you don’t have to worry of police officer. I only meet two patrol cars since arrived. They stand by for morning duty only, weekdays. What a life! Enjoy driving in Batam..

Now, I have one duty left here, seeing my bf playing futsal tonight after arriving from Singapore. The rest is free time for me. Maybe, I’ll do the packing for tomorrow-leaving tonight. I have plenty of stuff to bring home. ;) Plus, I can’t wait to meet my bf this evening..
Next time visit to Batam, I’ll prepare better than now. I won’t leave my passport for sure coz it’s easy to reach Singapore and Kuala Lumpur from here even Bangkok. I will next time! ;) Also, my biggest thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Istiarto for very well treating my first visit to Batam. You both are sweet couple with big heart. Really, we both wanna be a great couple as you both do.. Another lesson learned of treating people and becoming a great host!

Story By : Taree

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