Articles from this Category
20 May 2018
I was surprised to be issued breakfast vouchers (but realised they were given by mistake and there would be none for subsequent days). It was a simple buffet of rice, chilli fish, veges and a few other things. Despite Ramadhan, I did see some Muslims eating. It appears that Indonesia is more relaxed than Malaysia […]
19 May 2018
We landed about 10 minutes late into Singapore but it didn’t bother me as I had a scheduled 4h40 self-connect to Jetstar to Palembang (a flight that was nearly free apart from Singapore airport’s ever-increasing taxes). As with my last trip, we were parked at the far end of T3 at Changi which required a […]
7 February 2017
Above: Last glimpse of Natuna, near Ranai after take-off. With a mid-morning departure from Natuna back to Batam I neither had plenty of time nor had to rush. I had a breakfast of soto next door before being taken to the airport by Yuli. It wasn’t a long drive but speed was restricted in the […]
6 February 2017
Meng couldn’t take me out today but Bey had offered. As she was busy in the morning, it would be a 1230 start with her.Yuli brought nasi dagang with a choice of egg or tuna, and mini bread balls filled with tuna. I was told I couldn’t have just one so walked away rather full. […]
5 February 2017
I grabbed a breakfast of gado-gado and very sweet milk coffee next door. I had brought milk and muesli but got tempted into this. Yesterday I had finally agreed to go with the pricey car excursion. That’s what I thought but at 1000 Meng turned up on his motorbike (called “Honda” in Natuna regardless of […]
4 February 2017
My destination today is Ranai on the island of Natuna Besar in the Natuna Archipelago, which is part of the Riau Islands of Indonesia. It is not well known so I guess I’d better give it an intro. Background & History of Natuna Natuna consists of 272 islands in the South China Sea that is […]
3 February 2017
Flying to Singapore Today I fly to the tiny Republic of Singapore to transit to Batam in the other Republic … the big one, Republic of Indonesia. The head of the big republic once jokingly called the smaller one “Little Red Dot”. A good friend Boo happened to book on the same flight to just […]
23 July 2016
Above: The 30 min flight is a good alternative to the 2h speedboat to Nunukan, then a 2h speed boat from Nunukan to Tawau. Flying to Tawau This was my latest wake-up since leaving Auckland over three weeks ago. I woke at 0700 after retiring after midnight. Quite a change from the 2030 bedtime and […]
22 July 2016
Above: Today, I fly from Berau to my last stop in Kalimantan, the island and town of Tarakan. The 25 minute flight replaces 2h30 by bus to Tanjung Selor followed by 1h30 by speed boat to Tarakan. I woke relatively late today at 0600 and had breakfast at 0630. It was a good spread […]
21 July 2016
Derawan advice & summary The diving is awesome but come with a friend to share the cost of the boat to the best dive sites. One friend is adequate ‘cos with more people, you need a bigger boat and the price so it doesn’t really get cheaper. It is more of a local getaway and […]