Indonesia, Bintan

16th to 19th May 2003

Bintan is situated in Indonesia about 45 minutes from Singapore by ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. As the island is so near to Singapore with most of the visitors being Singaporeans or travellers making a short trip to Bintan while in Singapore, all of the transactions on the island are done in Singapore Dollars.

Ferries plying from Singapore to Indonesia are operated by Bintan Resort Ferries with an onboard deli bar and plasma screen TV.

Bintan Island has been master planned,developed and managed by Bintan Resorts since 1990. There are a few resorts to choose from. Just to name a few: Club Med Ria Bintan, Bintan Lagoon Resort and Banyan Tree Bintan.

View of Bintan Lagoon Resort's Hotel Block and Amenities Building

My stay at Bintan Lagoon Resort was a really enjoyable one. The resort is beautifully landscaped and equipped with a 18-hole seaview golf course. Staff are really friendly and the service is great!

Just a few recommendations to point out if you stay at Bintan Lagoon Resort:

Visit the resort's open air restaurant 'Kopi-O' and order their chef's recommendation 'Nasi Campur' [pronounced as na-si-chum-po].

Priced at S$16, this meal comes with a small bowl of chicken and potato curry, battered prawns with sambal chili, a slice of fried fish, beef rendang, fried sweet eggplant, fried boiled egg, fresh and pickled vegetables, and belinjo crackers with fragrant steamed rice.

I have to say ... it is value-for-money, really gives you a taste of everything Indonesian, and better than the buffet!

Have a drink at Horizons lounge at the resort's lobby and enjoy a live band performance in a balmy Indonesian evening.

A visit to the beach is a must. It is definitely a good place to relax on the beach chairs and to enjoy the seaview. Getting a good tan would be a good idea too, however, just a few hours in the morning would be sufficient.
Sea sports are also available like jet-skiing, canoeing, body-boarding, wake-boarding and banana-boat.

Beach view on the Left

Take a relaxing swim at the resort's swimming pool and then swim up to the poolside bar, 'Ripples on the Pool', for a drink.

'Ripples on the Pool', a Poolside Bar at Bintan Lagoon Resort

Visit 'Pasar Oleh Oleh' and shop for sarongs, swimwear, local crafts and tidbits.
Check with your resort on the bus schedules to the market. The bus fare is S$2 for a return trip ticket.

Cempaka Villa at Bintan Lagoon Resort

Buggy with the view of the Driving Range at Bintan Lagoon Resort

At the Kitchen in the Villa