Wednesday, March 13

29 years old! Off to Indonesia - Batam

What did I do my last birthday? I remember being in Nearby the tree with Mikko, Henning, Shuo, Joel and some other. 2 years ago it was wild parties in Shanghai. This year will be chilling in Indonesia - Batam. Took a ferry from Singapore by Sido Princess that only takes about 1 hour. 1 hour trip and everything is different. Indonesia is still very much developing and very cheap compared to Singapore. A lot of people living in Singapore goes to Bintan or Batam for weekend trips to relax, enjoy cheap massage and great SPA treatments for a price of 1/3 compared to Singapore. 
 Buildings by the harbour looking like some post war blocks or robot houses
 Stayed at iHotel in Batam just in the center, pool on the roof was nice
 Batam is really like a third world place, the buildings look like they will fall apart, there is trash on the streets, no real city planning and a bit chaotic


Saw a lot of rats running around too, and they are HUGE
Met some of the locals in a street kitchen shop who spoke good Chinese  I asked what would be a good beach to visit for my birthday. They said that they will take me for a spin around the island and show me some cool places and beaches, yes please! Learning Chinese was probably one of the best investments I have ever done, it has brought me so many things and helped traveling around Asia a lot!
 
Food was really great and cheap though, they make great BBQ here
 Newly build resort, the houses are still for sale if you are looking for a nice beach view villa!
 


 Always loved palm trees...I wanna retire seeing them every morning when I wake up in the future
 The Nongsa beach, absolutely beautiful at sunset
 Far in the distance, Marina Bay - Singapore

 Try topping this sunset! 

 Found a bottle full of crabs, what's it doing here?
After Nongsa set off to drive to a very local place which has a great reputation serving seafood. On the way there was a big bridge where locals have motorbike races in the evening
 
Welcome to Selamat Jalan, one of the best seafood places in Batam. I would never have found it without the locals. 
Choose your crabs, fish, shrimps, clams and what not from the sea, fresh!
 Yum yum
 The restaurant is build on water, packed when the sun sets

 Thanks for the awesome Bday dinner!
 Safety first? Better not smoke around here :D 
 Next morning a 2 hour massage, manicure, pedicure. Cost? About 20 euros

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