Batam Day Trip on May 2nd 09

Came back from a near disaster day trip to Batam yesterday..... How so?....

THE FERRY...
Normally the 50min or so ferry trip would be a breeze. But the one we took, the air-con was not working well. So it was warm and stuffy on our way to Batam, Sekupang ....

At that point, something in me told me that the day may not work out so well... My gut feel was right !

THE ADMIN & THE GUIDE....
Upon arriving, I was happy to see a young chap receiving us after the swift Customs clearance. He directed us to the washroom to freshen up and told us to wait on our bus thereafter. It was bus 62.

As abiding citizens, so used to instructions, we boarded the coach.

Once everybody was up, about 38 of us, he started to check names... (but he did that earlier at the arrival ?)

Next he called out the groups that are on the day trip, so as to collect the return ferry stub and the $7 return port taxes...
He went up and down the aisle many times....
Somehow, I knew this chap was very weak in his admin.... He mixed up my group with another group of 7 pax a couple of times. He came asking me for my return tickets after he had collected mine 5mins ago...

To cut the long story short, the whole collection exercise took him close to 30mins... He collected the wrong ticket and money from another group.....
Only upon satisfying himself that he got the money and numbers right, he took another 5mins running back to the terminal to book confirm our return ferry for the evening....
All those time taken were our precious 1 day tour time....

THE SICK JOKE AND NARRATION:
When we started moving, he apologized. Trying not to allow a bad start to ruin our day, we tried to accept it in our stride. We were in Batam, its a norm that things don't work fast or efficiently, it a norm to accept Batam style of working, slow and messy at times...

So on the bus, he did his tour guiding thingy.... Tried to crack jokes that only he can laugh at and about Swine Flu. Sensing that we are not responding, he went on to explain our itinerary for the day...
But one problem, he failed to realize that half the bus were senior citizens from Singapore that only understand Mandarin.... He was talking the whole morning (or what's left) with his half boiled English.... He kept apologizing that his command of English was poor and he said the same when he explained that his Mandarin was poor too.... So Cleo and I were very puzzled... since both were no damn good, how you got your job then !??....

Anyways, I was quite cheezed off when he tried to explained two things enroute to the brdge...

He talked about funerals (inspired by the fact that drove past a cemetary)....how Indonesians are 'buried' in Indonesia, though not exactly in Batam.
He talked about the 'Sky and Air' Burial.... I'll skip the grusome details here.....

Why would he want to talk about such crap to a bunch of senior citizens whom are out happily for a day trip ???!!!.. Talking about death !?!? Talking about how the body was supposed to be sliced out in pieces to feed fishes after death ??!!!! Trying to impress that one Ang-moh or a small group of Indians for a fat tip? Trying to show off his geography??...

First stop was the famous Barelang Bridge.
Just before we arrived at the bridge, he tried explaining some history of the bridge before he exhibited his sick persona once more...
He talked about why many Batam folks go there... >>>>>To commit suicide !!!
He further stressed that once you jumped from a particular spot, sure die !!! Hey, are we there on a CSI field visit or what?...

With that kind of start.... my day was a washout already.....

MORE DELAYS AND BAD MASSAGE ENCOUNTER:
We were delayed for lunch at Prawn 933... A very old establishment and has since expanded to many other businesses...

So with one delay and it just snow balled....

The massage was SUCKS !!!!! The place was SO disorganised and noisy !!!! Despite the fact that he sold so hard that the massage places he is arranging is so darn good and professional !!! ANd because it a peak season, it would be tough to get a good therapist and so on...... It was the total opposite !!
It was obvious, it was S$20 for 90mins session, he could have easily pocketed S$10. And we did not have a 90mins session after all the commotions. It was a rip-off !
At Negoya Hill Mall, we can easily get the same thing for less than S$10 !!!
Since we were off to a day trip a knowing well guides needed some extra income from arranging optional tours like these, we thought we'll let him earn his keep.... but he failed to be responsible for the add-ons that he took us to....

Our last stop was the Negoya Hill Mall.... what was supposed to be a 1hr 30mins shopping time to wrap up the day (on itinerary), with all the cockups and over-runs.... we were left with 30mins to shop there.... SHOP WHAT ?!?!?!.... OMG !!!!

DEPARTURE CHAOS...
If that was not bad enough.... he situation at Batam Centre Ferry terminal was like refuggees wanting to escape the country....

The Departure was jammed packed with passengers, all standing at the glass doors waiting... I cannot see any staff on duty, not sure where to queue.... Like our coach for the day, the freakin air-con in the hall was down....

By the time we realized that we were standing behind a big group of people, which looked like a big fat queue to the right gate and right ferry, a voice annoucement came through telling us that we should be at another gate.... from gate B to gate A
So the whole group, easily about 50-80 passenger moved enmass towards the other gate.... It was chaotic !!!!

THEN.... the same stupid voice said.... So sorry.... Batam Fast Ocean Raiden pls go to Gate B again.... faint!!!

Chaos 2..... from front kenna pushed to side and all over....

By then, I was boiling deep within !!! I can see myself being one of the few that would bash that freakin Indonesian up should there be a free for all....

Hot and humid, shoulder to shoulder, big bags small bags all over, waiting and nothing happened.... it was already 6.40pm, the stipulated ferry departure time.... The whole day was rubber time, filled with overruns, delays and rushing from point A to point B... I wasn't sure how long I could manage my temper then....

OLD MAN STEPPING AWAY...
I was partially relieved when all 7 of us made it to the ferry when that bloody gate finally opened, we all sat separately.... I sat by the aisle.....

I thought I can sit down, relax and compose myself and try to forget what happened the whole day.... An old man pissed me off big time !!!....

He moved in and sat beside me with his wife.... I had a bag of stuff on my lap, so I had to grab my stuff before I can let him in..... He moved past me, stepped on my feet, so did his wife.... I told myself, they are old and cannot move well, so its ok, be tolerent and kind...

Then he stood up suddenly from his seat, saw his friends and wanted to offer his seat... without warning and letting me move my bag away, he pushed my bag aside and moved across my seat impatiently ..... stepping on my feet again... I looked at him, quite stunned with what he just did to me....

With my bag held tightly against my chest, knees tucked in, expecting him or another to move across me.... But it was him again... apparently his offer was not taken...

He moved across me like an elephant ! I gave him all the space and respect he needed as an old man... He stepped on me for the THIRD freakin time !!!!

Cleo read it all on my face....

I called out to her in Cantonese.... "IF 'people' around don't move in and out some many times, I'll won't be so fedup !!!! "

After that he settle down quietly all the way back to Singapore....

HOME SWEET HOME....
Home air and level of efficiency has never been felt so good.... things moved fast despite the thermal scanning...

I was so glad that all of us came home in one piece.....

Will try not to go Batam on a peak public holiday weekend, its MAD !!!!