Around SINGAPORE: Jaunt through Batam, Indonesia

Think you've had enough of Singapore already?

Why don't you take a breather to another country (and add another stamp to that passport of yours) for a day or two? *wink wink*

Batam is one of the numerous islands surrounding Singapore where you can quickly jaunt in and take on a whole new experience. Still at its infancy stage, but surfacing potential as a tourist island, Batam is a developing community where the most you can visit are the resorts.

If you're not there to golf or swim in pools, here are some activities you can do:

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SINGAPORE: Guide to Budget Terminal

If you have ever been to most low-cost terminals, you'll find Singapore's Budget Terminal a breath of fresh air. You will somehow feel that you've received something more than what you actually paid for because of the amenities provided. Aside from the usual food and souvenir item shops found in most airports, you may enjoy these facilities:

Singapore Budget Terminal

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Singapore: Eat Pray Love Sundays

Eat. XO fish soup.

This is not your typical fish noodle soup. As the name suggests, what makes this dish stand out is that dash of XO (alcoholic drink) they include in it. Sounds weird but it works!

Eat. XO Soup.

Pray. Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple.

A trip to the East Coast will take you to a smaller Hindu Temple than the one you'll find in Little India.

Hindu Temple

Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple

Love. Joo Chiat.

What attracted me to this place is the line of colorful traditional shop houses, situated in a very quiet neighborhood. 

Traditional Shophouses

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Eat Pray Love Sundays is a series I'm doing, highlighting one destination and how it nourishes travelers and locals alike. 

"Eat" features a location's food; how it nourishes the physical body.

"Pray" pertains to anything about worship or nourishing one's spirit.

"Love" is such a broad topic that it covers the rest--people, nature, culture. Those that nourish the soul. 

Next Sunday, I'll be putting Bandar Seri Begawan on the spotlight!

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Backpacking Malaysia - Singapore - Brunei

If you're one of those lazy to do a bit research, utterly clueless about South-East Asian geography, and baffled that I got to visit 3 countries in one go, then stick around. I'll let you in on a little secret.

The Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei route is absolutely attainable and you don't have to be moneyed to be able to do that. But it will definitely be helpful if you brought out a map now (or google it) as I explain the routes.




My original itinerary is as follows:

* Clark - Kuala Lumpur
* Kuala Lumpur - Johor Bahru
* Johor Bahru - Kuching
* Kuching - Kota Kinabalu
* Kota Kinabalu - Clark

While I was clicking away and booking my online flights, I strategically located them in such a way that it will let me explore nearby countries. Now if you take a second look at the map, you'll see that Johor Bahru (JB) is near to Singapore. And if you look at Kota Kinabalu (KK), it is in close proximity to Brunei. I could've also included Indonesia in my itinerary but that's another story, and that'll require another few weeks to explore!

So how did i do it?

JB-SINGAPORE
Coming from Senai Airport, I didn't waste any more time by getting a bus that would bring me to Kota Raya.
cost: RM 8

From Kota Raya, buses would frequent the terminal picking up passengers headed to Singapore. Make sure you know and specify your destination; otherwise, you'd have to pay double.

[As for me, I thought they only go to Kranji MRT. It was only after I got out of Singapore immigration that I found out that they also service Woodlands Bus Interchange, which should be the best route for my destination. Ergo, I had to pay again. So, make sure you know where you're going.]

Also, make sure that you keep the ticket the bus driver issues. That way, you won't pay twice. Remember, you'll be on and off the buses to go through immigration exiting Malaysia and entering Singapore.

cost: RM1.1

* NOTA BENE: On our first drop off, I found it odd to spot a desk positioned by the road. On it, 3 Indian-looking locals were queued while another man sitting behind the desk were filling out immigration cards. Since there were no signs in english, I waited patiently for my turn. But when I saw the men shelling out a couple of ringgits, my instincts tell me something was off. This guy was pulling a scam on them! So I immediately went pass them and straight up the stairs. And right there, i saw the official booth.

travel tip
The best way to get around Singapore is to get yourself an EZLink. It'll be your ticket to all rides--bus, MRT, LRT. That way, you won't have to fumble through your purse looking for loose change.

cost: S$15

travel tip
If you're a Filipina going to Singapore, read this.


KK-BRUNEI
This leg has only one itinerary:

KK-Labuan ferry: 3hrs
Labuan-Muara ferry: 1 hr
Muara-Bandar Seri Begawan bus: 30 mins

The ferry always leaves KK at 8am. If you want to get guaranteed seats, you can purchase your ticket a day before. Their booth (in Jesselton Point) is open until 1.30pm.

travel tip
It's always cheaper if you get a straight-through-ticket from KK to Muara than buying KK-Lbn & Lbn-Mra.

cost: RM 53 + RM 3 (Terminal fee)

Once you reach Labuan, and assuming you got a straight-through-ticket, you still have to go to the Ticketing Counter to pay for another Terminal Fee (for Labuan). you can't get away with it, because they check it before letting you in.

cost: RM 5.

From the Muara ferry terminal, you can catch a bus that brings you to Bander Seri Begawan. Just walk straight out the hall. You won't miss it, there's only one Bas Express parked there.

cost: B$2travel tip
Since Singapore and Brunei have practically the same exchange rate, you can use your leftover Singapore dollars as tender in Brunei. it is widely accepted.

travel tip
If you're a Filipina going to Brunei, read this.

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Original journal entry written in 2007

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Immigration Blues: Unfortunate Pinay

in my conservative kurta

It was my turn at Singapore's immigration. The officer gazed at me, took a close look at my passport, and started bombarding me with questions:

"How long are you staying in singapore? When are you leaving? Do you have a return flight?"
..and demanded for my ticket.

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Travel Gear: SCARF

Why does this item deserve an entire entry? One word: versatile. Never leave home without it.

Where to get them: If you’re in Asia, they abound in night markets or in bazaars.

Cost: Between US$ 1 TO 2.

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