Jika mahu baca di dalam Bahasa Melayu:
08th March 2014 (Saturday)
The ferry ride through international shipping routes. Ships ago here very huge. The pictures of Singapore's city center can be taken from the sea.
08th March 2014 (Saturday)
I woke up in sleepy mode while the train stopped at Gemas around 0130 am. Quite long been here, about an hour. Maybe because of waited locomotive from east track. Then, in the darkness, the train continue to the south.
Then I woke up again when the train arrived at Sedenak at 0500 am. Railway track at the south route is not like the north one. There was no progress in majority place except certain part of it. I can felt the difference which the train ran smoothly at north railway compare with the south one as I experienced it in my journey to north by train two weeks before.
After Sedenak, to Kulaijaya and to Kempas Baru then to Johor Bahru, I saw bushes and railway assets which not maintained well, but it better that Thailand one. When will this sector will be upgraded?
After the train start to move at Kulaijaya station, I heard Subuh prayer call from outside and from my phone. So I took ablution using water spray and performed my Subuh prayer by sitting on my seat.
Finally at 0625 am, Train 25 Senandung Sutera arrived at Johor Bahru Sentral. All passanger no matter want to alight here or at Singapore, must alight here. We went to upstair by escalator. For passanger to Johor Bahru, they turned to left, while to Singapore had to go straight to do immigration dan custome formality.
Here there were 6 counters and only 4 had been opened. Beside that, they were a couple of autogate for Malaysian biometric passport holders. Even though I have that facility, but chose to use manual counter, to try my luck to get depart stamp from here. After the immigration officer scanned my pasport, I asked to her to stamp my pasport. Huh, with her arrogant (this is my first time I facing the arrogant Malaysia immigration officer). She said, (translate from Malay) if has already scanned, CANNOT be stamped. Even at that time, I wore a jacket obviously showed Malaysia's coat of arm, which mean I am a government officer. She added, if I want the stamp, she can refer me to her supervisor. In deep of my heart, I want to see her supervisor, but this is small matter and as I was among the first arrived at the counters, I ddi not want people behind me got interrupted because of me.
Yes, at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (which Johor Bahru Sentral station is a part of it), it very hard to get immigration officer to stamp in the Malaysian passport. As been commented by many people.
After settled with immigration, I went to custom lane, the officer asked me what was inside my backpack? There were any thing should be declared? I just said, it was only contained cloths, prayer mat and personal things only. So he let me through. Huh, quite strict and tight here. May be some Malaysian or Singaporean made some bad thing here. Wallahuaklam (Only Allah knows).
After that, I waited at the front door to the escalator below. It was not open to ensure no more assengers to Johor Bahru (to control as they do not go to Singapore without going through immigration and customs procedures). Once no more passengers to Johor Bahru then auxiliary police in KTM Johor Bahru Sentral opened the door, and we went downstaris to ride back the train to the next destination which is not less than 2 km away. From the escalator I saw Johor Bahru Sentral station is quite large with some 4 island platforms (meaning can do 8 or 9 platform), more than the KL Sentral. Maybe for the future facility.
When I sat back in my seat in the train, I took out my SIM card DiGi Postpaid from my iPhone5 to convert to SingTel Prepaid SIM Hi! I bought last week at HarbourFront when on my way home from Karimun Island via Singapore. I check my data plan, oh, 7-day subscription data plan Value (Value) 1GB worth SG $ 7.00 (+-RM18.20) at 3 days before (when I was a working visit in Johor Bahru), can still be used. I also activate FlexiRoam for Singapore, for international roaming services more affordable. At 6:50 am, the train was moving slowly toward the station Woodlands CIQ.
(Note: The term CIQ or ICQ or the latest CIQS or ICQS (for attention, the letter C = Customs (Customs), I = Immigration (Immigration), Q = Quarantine (Quarantine) and S = Securities (Security)) is the term checkpoint border gate in Malaysia. For Singapore, it is known as Checkpoint (Pintu Masuk in Malay) and in Thailand, it is known as the Customs House (Rumah Kastam if in Malay), although the customs and immigration Thailand under the Royal Thai Police.)
Finally at 07:00 am, Train 25 Senandung Sutera arrived at Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Singapore's official name)station. Prior to that, many cars, motorcycles, buses lined up to get into Singapore. Just before the train stopped at the platform, many of pessangers alighted (or jumped?) and ran to the immigration counters. Huh, just remembered, here is Singapore , to be need to be kiasu...
There were a lot of counters was opened. There was a special route for the specific card, probably for the citizens of Singapore or Malaysia who used to go out in the two countries frequently. Since I was a little ahead, (because I was "jumping" once after seeing some others "jumped") and I was already filled up Singaporean immigration form which I prepared at home (at KL), I kept some forms from my previous visit to Singapore.
Beside that, there are some non-Singaporean citizens, many of them were Malaysias, wrote on a table where the form were avaiable. Unlike at the entrance of Thailand or Indonesia, are either form were not available (do ask at the counter, usually provided for a fee (valid or not, wallahua'lam) or there will be available only at special counter which is not aimmigration officials (of course for a fee to get it). Malaysia has no longer needed to fill the form, because it is no longer practiced since 2011.
My turn shortly thereafter. An inspector from the mmigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (as described in wikipedia) checked my passport. I noticed, lately, that always the staff who checked my document was always Malay staffs. There is a coincidence or an irony? Thank God, there is nothing stopping me from entering Singapore for now, huhuhu (when I remembered there was a momoent when I was holded temporary for half an hour and then been released).
After the finish, I have to ride an escalator to the exit from the checkpoint. Apparently it is connected with the pedestrian bridge to the Woodlands Immigration Checkpoint proper. So I knew it would come out to Marsiling residential areas and commercial areas of Woodlands Points.
Just out of this checkpoint complex, there is a taxi and bus stop. But I chose to walk alone to the nearest MRT station, Marsiling station, about 1 km. I looked at some blogs, many suggest to take a bus or taxi to Causeway Point (mall) or other name, Woodlands Interchange (integrated bus station under Causeway Point), a distance of about 4 km. So as a cheaper alternative and healthy, after all, not very distant, about a 10 minute walk, Marsiling station is one option. With existing data plan, I was able to Skype with my family when I walk to the MRT station.
This time I took another route to the HarbourFront MRT station (can check more info on SMRT website), a passage through the North-South (North South) in red to Dhobi Ghaut station, then change to Northeast (Northeast) in purple. This route only change once than I do on the travel back to KL from Karimun Island last week, but this route through the compact populated area. My time period is for about 51 minutes compared to last about 45 minutes.
I arrived at HarbourFront MRT station at 0830 am. I went straight to Cheers (such as 7-Eleven) to buy bread and milk for breakfast, there are actually other purpose. I want to get new Singapore coins which I do not have, for my collection. Ultimately successful. Here is a picture of the money-money:
5 Singaporean cents (2013 version) = +- 13 Malaysian sen
10 Singaporean cents (2013 version) = +- 26 Malaysian sen
50 Singaporean cents (2013 version) = +- RM1.30
Next, I went to level 2, Singapore Cruise Centre to Batam Fast counter to buy tickets. However, I missed the ferry to Harbour Bay, Batu Ampar, Batam at 9:10 am because I was there at 8:45 am. Tickets must be purchased 45 minutes prior to departure, for the purpose of immigration and clearance by the terminal management. There's only 11:50 am ticket only.
For information, in Batam, there are six ferry terminal jetty which are Waterfront City (Teluk Senimba), Sekupang, Harbour Bay (Batu Ampar), Batam Centre, Nongsapura and Telaga Punggur (from west to east). The main terminal for routes from cities in other provinces in Indonesia and Tanjung Balai, Karimun, is at Sekupang. Telaga Punggur jetty is for the ferry to the islands of the Riau Islands province in the east such as Bintan and Lingga. Ferries to and from Singapore are available at Waterfront City, Sekupang, Harbour Bay, Nongsapura (rare and need to jetty Tanah Merah, Singapore because of HarbourFront have no service) and most frequent in Batam Centre (every half hour). I chose to go to Harbour Bay because it's closer to the hotel and the main centre of Batam which is Nagoya Hill. Singaporean prefer to Batam Centre as there are shopping centers that connect directly to the ferry terminal (Harbour Bay was actually the same, I would tell you).
Batam Fast one-way ticket price was $ 25.00 SG and SG $ 48 for a two-way street. Then I went to 3rd floor for the reception Prima Ferry. There got ticket at 10:00 am, but the ticket cost was SG $ 32.00 one-way and SG $ 46.00 two-way for. I only need one-way ticket because I have a ticket back to KL by flying with FireFly. So depending SG $ 7.00 so I go down to book tickets at 11:50 am in Batam Fast counter. Furthermore, I can walk around in Singapore while waiting for the ferry and also time for me to check in at Pagoda Hotel, Batam is at 14:00 (2:00 pm) Western Indonesian Time (WIB) of 15:00 (3:00 pm) at Malaysia & Singapore.
I immediately returned to the MRT station to go Bugis MRT station to head to Kampung Glam. Kampung Glam is the place where Sultan Mosque, Istana Kampong Glam and Arab Street are situated, which is closely related to the existence of the Malays in Singapore. To get to the Bugis MRT from HarbourFront MRT station, there are a lot of ways, I took the path Northeast (Northeast) in purple and make the exchange to the East-West route (West East) green Outram Park MRT station, heading east (Pasir Ris) to a Bugis MRT station. The journey takes 15 minutes..
Exited from Bugis MRT station, if want to go to Kampung Glam, should exit at number 4, which will be out in the Raffles Hospital. Not very far, within a 5-minute walk, will be arrived at Kampung Glam area.
Arrived there, I went to the mamak restaurant row along North Bridge Road opposite the Sultan Mosque, to eat. There are three popular restaurant, where all three are in a row. The restaurant are Restaurant Zam Zam Restaurant, Victory and Restaurant Tasneem. This time I want to try to eat at the restaurant Tasneem. Then I order a red bone, but it is not yet ready, says restaurant owner, because it was still early in the morning (0930 am), it only avaiable at 3.00 pm, so I can not share here what a red bone, insya Allah next time when I have a chance. So he suggests that I take deer murtabak. But I ordered lamb mutabak and iced tea. Delicious, and the prices are quite reasonable, about SG $ 6.20 (+ - RM16.12).
Already repose my stomach, although disappointed due to no red bone, thank God. Finished the breakfast, then I cross over across the street to the mosque and performed optional pray of tahyatul masjid and dhuha at the Sultan Mosque. The mosque can be considered as the national mosque of Singapore. The mosque was ordered to be built by Sultan Hussein in 1824 which is when the British were first able to govern Singapore after making a treaty with Sultan Hussein. It's a sign to King Hussein as ruler in Singapore and Muar. But after that history relates how the family of Sultan Hussein overthrown. However, importantly, the mosque is still intact, reflecting the rule of Islam and Malays in Singapore. Hope it can be maintained indefinitely even a very rapid development crowding the mosque.
If be observed, Sultan Mosque is very active with various activities. Even while I was praying in the mosque, Quran learning sessions to children is underway. The medium of instruction is Bahasa Melayu mixed with some English. Also, there are tourists who appear to take commemorative photos, but there were limits to the places that can be visited. I feel grateful, because I as a Muslim, can explore more from them.
Among the pictures that I capture for my memories. Indeed, there was some difference s compare to the last time I visited this mosque last five years ago. After that, my visit to Singapore did not visited the mosque.
Next I went to Malay Heritage Centre, just next to the Sultan Mosque. The center was once Kampung Glam Palace , the palace of the generation of Sultan Hussein who had been the Sultan of Singapore. My last visit before, the centre is still under construction, and the descendants of Sultan Hussein still live here. When they reminisce events dragged out of the palace, very sad. Nowadays, the palace is a museum for the heritage of the Malays in Singapore.
Alhamdulillah, though there are cons of events that create the center, but the centre is also have the pro. Young people in Singapore have a place to learn about Malay cultural and heritage. While I attended, there was a group of students, studied to play kompang, where, the teacher was a cheerful person. Even managed to joke to me while I was taking selfie (above). So take them as my selfie backgound after that.
My watch on hand already showed 1030 am. So I needed to go back to HarbourFront. Before that, I bought a souvenir in the vicinity of the Malay Heritage Centre (Istana Kampong Glam) and Sultan Mosque. The price of the souvenirs such as fridge magnets, T-shirts, keychains and so so cheap here compared to elsewhere in Singapore. With the price of SG $ 10.00, you can get a T-shirt, 5 keychains or 5 fridge magnets. More can get than buy at Orchard Road or at Merlion Square.
To return to HarbourFront, this time I took the MRT Downtown (route blue) Bugis station to Chinatown station, before transit to Northeast purple route, leading to HarbourFront station. I need to walk to Bugis station, which took about 10 minutes. The time taken to travel MRT about 14 minutes.
I arrived at the entrance for departure at 1115 am, then I went straight to the door to checked in. I been security checked and proceed to do immigration and customs formalities. This was my first time I been in departure hall of HarbourFront ferry terminal.
At 1140 am, then heard an announcement for passengers of MV Batam Fast 15 to get into the ferry. We all lined up and boarding passes are scanned one by one. Some like at the airport, where boarding pass are scanned using a 2D bar code. After scanned, then I walked towards the ferry. boarding pass and ticket been taken by staff ferry (the only reason I have only managed to scanned receipts only, the boarding pass and ticket forgot to take the pictures, huhuhu).
I took a seat roof deck of the ferry and it was covered. Downstairs seat had air conditioner, but I wanted to feel natural wind, easier, more comfortable and hard to seasickness, because natural wind will reduce the incidence of seasickness. But for me, this trip is about 45 minutes to one hour, may not be sickness, insha'Allah.
Exactly at 1155 am, the ferry took off from jetty. I took some photo around HarbourFront. The scenery Sentosa Island by cable car, Resort World Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore and Port Authority of Singapore is very clear.
The ferry ride through international shipping routes. Ships ago here very huge. The pictures of Singapore's city center can be taken from the sea.
After half an hour in the ferry, Harbour Bay ferry terminal in Batu Ampar, Batam clearly visible. Only waters here a little bit polluted with ship oil and a little muddier. At this time, I inserted the TelkomSel SIMpati SIM card that I bought a week before at Tanjung Balai, Karimun. I also activated FlexiRoam for usage in Indonesia. Ten minutes later, at 1135 am West Indonesian Time (not to be confused, WIT is an hour later than the time of Malaysia & Singapore), the ferry was docked and I first time set foot on this island of Batam.
Immigration is quite simple here. There were no appeal for express routes, and no customs. In terminal is also got duty-free shops, but it's not my purpose.
I went out after finished the immigration inspection, then I see this terminal seem like the ferry terminal in Lumut to Pangkor Island. There are places to eat and some shopping. In fact there are a bridge leading directly to a shopping centre. I followed the path to the mall to avoid calls from providers like angkot transportation (van or small truck converted into a small bus, this term is an abbreviation of the city transport), motorcycle taxi (ojek) and regular cab. I got the information, pengakutan providers are quite aggressive in calling people to find passengers.
I passed through Harbour Bay Point mall. The mall was pretty empty and there was no appeal. No wonder why Singaporeans are not go here but more to Batam Centre, probably because there is more lively and terminals existed eralier, although Harbour Bay is much closer to Nagoya Hill from Batam Centre. Harbour Bay ferry terminal is actually just 2-3 years of operation, based on internet information.
Base on Google Maps app on my iPhone5, Pagoda Hotel was within walking distance, so I decided to walk.
Apparently Batam was a pedestrian hostile. Worse then Johor Bahru, even worse than dying towns in the state of Perak. Although always be described that Batam is developing the town is quite dusty conditions, no sidewalks for pedestrians and road conditions are not very good maintained. Seem like to be in Malaysia in the 1960s or 1970s (I imagine because when I was growing up in the 1980s, the situation is better in Malaysia in general). Before this, I said that Johor Bahru is pedestrian hostile city because the city is not priortise the sidewalk except certain places, but in Batam is more, no sidewalk. Even the buildings just have less than 2.5 feet sidewalks, about half from Malaysia's.
In hot conditions because there were not many trees along the way, my sweat was wetting my shirt. I also regularly checked Google Maps app to know the distance traveled. Finally, after half an hour of walking, I began to see DC Mall shopping center (below), showing the destination was just near. Pagoda Hotel, located just behind the shopping center. Along the way, many times I called (for me there were rude) by transport vehicle drivers from the road, or even from the roadside. But I ignored it.
Finally at 12:25 pm, I went to Pagoda Hotel. Oops, there's another more than an hour and a half to check-in. I've already can not stand the heat and begin to feel uncomfortable, it simply, I asked the desk clerk if it can check in. Counter clerk (a man) said it can and I handed over the Agoda booking voucher. Alhamdulillah, I went in without any advanced payment. But before I leave, he managed to ask me whether I want a massage or find a "friend"... In my heart, eventhough most of the men to Batam for that "business", but not me. I said maybe later, so he gave me his phone number to call.
What's more, I went into the room, I feel like a break. Very tired, hehehe, tired that be requested. Never mind, that an experience. The room was quite clean and the facilities are quite complete, it may be for less than RM50.00. Complete with a towel and toiletries. The restrooms quite OK. After that, I continued to change clothe, go to the television and want to sleep.
Just about to fall asleep, accidentally opened One TV channes, a news channel of Indonesia, featuring news of the loss of a Malaysia Airlines or MAS around the South China Sea, while heading to Beijing, China. Code of the airplane's flight is MH370. I was quite upset and shocked. This is the first time in the history of MAS lost while flying. Everyone in Malaysia and many other people around the world know MAS have very high level of security and safety standards at the KLIA is also quite strict. How can it happened? Wallahua'lam, god only knows. In my heart, I prayed that this event will see the solution as soon as possible. Moreover, the next day I would be boarding a FireFly which is a subsidiary of MAS. It is the story at TV One and another Indonesian news channel, MetroTV broadcast the MH370 loss from their view. . As I watch, without my realised, I fell asleep ...
Suddenly I wake up, the clock shows 1545 (3:45 pm). Close to 3 hours out of my sleep. I began to feel hungry. TV One also featured a special program such as advertising, but for an hour, display of a shopping mall in Jakarta, Harco Glodok. I have known this place, like Jalan Pasar in KL, where the sale of electronic products. Why do I equate with Jalan Pasar, not Low Yat Plaza, because what I remembered, the building was very ill. Apparently this special program featuring planning Harco Glodok modernise the premise. Here they are going to find the money to do a special show for an hour more. Astro Awani, Bernama TV or Capital TV do not do like this, even mention such terestarial stations as stations RTM and Media Prima.
Then I went out to the DC Mall, just want to know what is inside. Just a lot of shops selling women's clothing such as scarves, veil and dress. There are also several eateries such as KFC, BFC and others. I want to eat food that no special Batam elsewhere. So I decided to go to the mall Nagoya Hill, about 1.5 km away. Looks like close only in Google Maps.
Jika seperti kampung tak apa lah juga, tapi ini bandar. Naik kematu kaki saya, dengan naik bukit turun bukit. Nampaknya saya tertipu dengan gambaran dalam Google Maps. Nampak macam mesra pejalan kaki, tapi tidak juga. Dalam perjalanan juga saya ada melihat keadaan sungai atau lebih sesuai saya kata longkang. Airnya hitam legam bak belakang kuali dengan sampah memenuhi sehinga tersekat sungai itu. Tak hairanlah kenapa air laut Batam agak tercemar.
The journey reinforced my views on Batam city is pedestrian hostile. Some times I want to be knocked by the vehicle, because the road was no pedestrian walk space. If it just like a village is ok, but this is a city. Seems I fooled with Google Maps. Looks like pedestrian-friendly, but not too. On the way there I also saw the river, or more appropriately I say a drain. The water very black like back of pan with a lot of trash filled up and stucked the flow of the river. No wonder why Batam sea water seem polluted.
Finally I arrived outside the building also Nagoya Hill. Before that I want to convert some Malaysian Ringgit into Indonesian Rupiah because my rupiah become decresed. The money changer offered me RM300 to Rp 1 002 000 million only! In KL shall be Rp1 046 000, if in Tanjung Balai, Karimun will get Rp 1.048 million! ... The exchange rate in Batam quite expensive, so at next time please do not to change here. At last, I bargained until got Rp1 020 000 to RM300 ... It can also be a collection of money that no Rp20ribu.
Rp 20 000 (2013 version) note = + - RM6.00
After the exchange, I immediately went to Nagoya Hill. There were a lot of visitors there. Therewas a live band performances, promotions, interestingly, the band plays more 90s balladsong from a group from Malaysia, what I could not remembered the song but remember the group which is Slam. I did not expect it. Prices of goods here, if not the same as the price in KL, more expensive. Why do many Singaporean willing to be here, better go JB.
It seems I could not find the food I want to eat, so I ate at a restaurant in the building. I ate a special bakso (meatball) (besides some small meat head and large, there are crab meat, fish cake and many more) and tea o ice (here called tea o beng). Overall was costed Rp 44 500. I gave Rp100ribu and got the balance of Rp55 500 . Hah, here I got more money for my collection of the latest versions of Rp 50ribu notes (version no orange dots below) and for the first time I got the coins Indonesia after all this time (I used to get coins on 12 years ago while working with a of Indonesia), namely Rp500 coins. Alhamdulillah.
Rp 50 000 note (2013 version) = +- RM15.00
Rp 500 coin (2008 version) = +- 60 sen Malaysia
I clearly exhausted, I found motorcycle taxi directly outside the building Nagoya Hill, as to return to the hotel. He asked Rp20 thousand! What? Since I was tired, I was to tired to offer further, I just accept it. Is not worth it. On top of the motor, the motorcycle taxi riders took a shorter route. It was approximately 1.5 km and it equally fare of RM6.00! The rider also asked, a similar question like the hotel cleark, are you looking for a massage or "friend" (which mean a hooker)! I just silenced myself... Upon reaching the hotel, I pay it and immediately went inside the hotel. Batam is not my soul.
I kept watch the television until 2100 (9:00 pm) for me to go down to eat at the restaurant in front, which was I saw from above like veru delicious. When arrived at the restaurant, it shut my appetite, because it is a Chinese restaurant and a dog inside the restaurant. I went back straight to my room, and watched only a few television channels Indonesia, Singapore 8 channels (China) and some satellite channels. To cure the regretness coming to Batam. Maybe this is not my fortune to travel. Batam not my soul. Without realizing it I watched TV, I zzzed ..
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