Day trip to Tanjung Pinang

Map of Riau islands
We did not see the Chinese temple or the Grand Mosque on Penyengat island on this trip. I have to make another trip soon
Heading home
John wanted to get a feel of Indonesian massage. I fell asleep waiting for him in the couch
Eddy our guide kept asking if we wanted to have girls. John who has been to Phuket recently remarked that the sex industry seems to play a big part in South East Asian tourism
The North East monsoon rain heading our way
A 20 seat cinema occupies the top while a cafe just underneath it
We arrive at Puncak hill to get a view of the city built over the sea

The Gong Gongs they serve here are huge!! Our total bill came to Rupiah $206,000
Steamed grouper
Choosing our seafood
Our guide brought us to have lunch at a restaurant at Sungei Jang
Jalan Pelantar or China town.As we headed to the seafood restaurant for lunch I found the layout of the town very similar to Manado in North Sulawesi. Batam resembled cities like Johor in Malaysia

As we walked down the pier after clearing immigration we were bombarded by touts advertising their hotels.One of them offered the rental of a van for a tour around the city.They were charging 250,000 Rupiah

Bintan first became politically important when Sultan Mahmud of the fallen Sultanate of Malacca fled to Bintan and created a resistance base there after Malacca was taken by the Portuguese forces in 1511. The Portuguese eventually destroyed the stronghold in 1526, and after a few years the Sultanate founded a new capital back on the Malay Peninsula and developed from there.

Bintan was also once the capital of the Sultanate of Johor that grew to considerable political and cultural power from the 17th to the 19th century. The island played a central role in Malay culture.

View of Bintan as we approach the port
John at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal

My colleague had some off days to clear and asked me if I could show him around. I suggested visiting Tanjung pinang in Bintan island as I had never been there before. Most Singaporeans are more familiar with the northern part of Bintan where the Singaporean owned resorts operate.