THE SOLO DRIFTER: The Next Best in Indonesia (A Travel Guide)

Last stop of my third #SEAtour is one of the islands of Indonesia, Bintan! With one hour time difference with Singapore, Bintan is just 45-50-minute trip by motorised catamaran. At 7 a.m., left Orchard Hotel to catch ferry trip to Bintan Lagoon Resort in Tanah Merah. Still the same, immigration process in Tanah Merah is strict just like the Malaysia-Singapore border, but the former is way faster. The immigration gates were opened 45 minutes prior to boarding. The Mozaic Ferry Lines seats are comfortable. Two-way ticket price is only SGD69.

Philippine passport holders are granted visa-free entry to Indonesia for 30 days.

What you need to know about Bintan

Locally known as Negeri Segantang Lada
Part of the Riau Islands province, the capital of which, Tanjung Pinang, lies in the island’s south and is the island’s main community
Indonesia is promoting Bintan as the next best tourist destination after Bali

From the docking point, a shuttle brought us to Bintan Lagoon Resort. There is no other public transportation there but a taxi. Got a Chill Cove Combo Package of Treasure Bay Bintan via Klook and enjoyed water activities and exciting adventures.

I tried for the first time kayaking.

I also thought I don’t know how to drive a motorbike but thanks to the Bay’s electronic scooter.

But what I enjoyed most is riding a two wheeler where I got to tour around the whole resort and get a view of nearby places like The Canopy.

And the most challenging for me and I love most is taking myself to a private jungle trail of mangrove trees via ATV. This is also my first time and yes, I did it!

Funny thing was I exchanged an amount of Singaporean dollar to Indonesia rupiah, but only to realize later that the resort only accepts cards.

Going back to Singapore was easier as the immigration process in Bintan Lagoon Resort is simpler.

Stayed in Bintan for just a half day but I really enjoyed it and I promise to go back to Indonesia. This time, in the romantic Bali and historic Jakarta.

Click this for the itinerary and budget.

Please click the following links for their respective travel guides:

Malaysia

Singapore

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About the Author

Paul Michael JaramilloChief Executive Editor

PJ is a CPA, writer, storyteller, environment and youth advocate. As a writer, his articles on national development were published in a Spanish newspaper and local news network Rappler. As a storyteller and environment advocate, his documentary films on mining and environment were featured by ABS-CBN News and GMA News. He launched his career as a CPA at KPMG in the Philippines in late 2015. He started his professional journey as an external auditor of a global workspace provider (the largest audit client of KPMG in the Philippines), global bank, leading MFCG in the Philippines and a number of shared service centres. As an auditor, his team won the KPMG Asia-Pacific Data & Analytics Challenge and coached the Philippine team that placed third to the KPMG GlobalRunner Cup. More than two years later, he led KPMG in the Philippines’ Network of Audit Innovators and Data & Analytics Champions and its academic arm, while serving as a member of the KPMG Asia-Pacific Audit Digital Transformation Workstream. He served as a member of the Audit Methodology Group and Root Cause Analysis Team of KPMG in the Philippines. He was a regular training facilitator of KPMG on audit methodology, innovation, data and analytics, professional standards and regulatory updates. He also served as a coach for newly promoted supervisors. PJ was also the Firm’s System of Quality Management Implementation Manager and a Workforce of the Future Champion. He was also a Sampling Specialist of the Firm. In 2019, PJ was a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)’s Technical Working Group on Audit Methodology. PJ led in developing some of the innovative solutions of KPMG in the Philippines. Above all, PJ is a people investor. He invests on people who have potential and talents. That makes him a coach and mentor to some young professionals in the profession and served as a People Committee member of KPMG in the Philippines. He leads advocacy projects that help communities. He produces vlogs thru his YouTube channel, PJspirations which features stories of different individuals. As a volunteer, he is the Academic Master and Head Coach of PREMIER International Learning and Development Center, which provides coaching, mentoring, training and learning programs and platforms that promote growth and development in every individual’s life and career. He is also with the Middle East and Caspian regions of KPMG as a member of its Professional Practice group and Audit L&D for the Saudi Levant Cluster, providing subject matter knowledge and guidance on audit methodology, and learning and development programs to its offices. He is a proud Ilocano and a graduate of Northwestern University.

He also conducts #IamRemarkable sessions, a program initiated by Google for women and underrepresented groups.