Belitung (14 - 16 Oct 2016)

This trip is inspired by the following post:
- https://indonesia.tripcanvas.co/sumatra/belitung-island-guide/


Summary of cost:
- Batam Fast ferry: $48 per pax
- Lion Air Flight: IDR 2,440,600 (SGD$253.80)
- Tour package by http://www.belitungisland.com/: USD$399 for two (IDR 4,907,000 or SGD$538.92)

Cost per pax: $477.35


Source: http://www.xe.com/
The SGD to IDR rate is dropping; I changed at SGD$299.80 to IDR 2,800,000

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Flight plan（LionAir) BATAM (BTH) --> TANJUNG PANDAN (TJQ) Flight: IW 2276 (1 stop at Pangkal Pinang PGK) 12:40 14:55 TANJUNG PANDAN (TJQ) --> BATAM (BTH) Flight: IW 2277 (1 stop Pangkal Pinang PGK) 15:15 17:30 *The original price (per pax) was IDR 1,422,000 (SGD$147.50) increased to IDR 1,488,000 (SGD$189.89) and up to IDR 2,440,600 (SGD$253.80) at some point (which I was double-charged, but managed to get refund)

Ferry plan (BATAMFAST) Depart Harbourfront to Batam Center  ETD 09:30 (Singapore Time) ETA 09:40 WIB Return Batam Center to Harbourfront ETD 20:30 (Indonesia Time) ETA 22:40 (SG) *Changed the return journey at no additional cost Return Harbour Bay to Harbourfront ETD 21:20 (Indonesia Time) ETA 23:10 (SG) *SGD$48.00 per pax

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Day 1


Ferry to Batam


Taxi from Batam Center to Batam Airport (Hang Nadim Airport, BTH) cost IDR 90,000 which is overpriced


Islands


Transit at Pangkal Pinang, Depati Amir Airport (PGK)




Visited the Danau Kaolin (Kaolin Lake) which is on the way towards the hotel


Kaolinite is a clay mineral, Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄, is responsible for the colour of the blueness.


The name derived from "Gaoling" (高嶺; literally: "High Ridge"), a Chinese village near Jingdezhen in southeastern China's Jiangxi Province


Arrived at the Central City 2 hotel


Common area


The room




3D map


Museum Tanjung Pandan


Re-filling water


Found a dive centre


Pasar Pujasena




Dinner at Dinasty


Tin ore


A typical local meal


Coffee time


The only KFC in Belitung


Bundaran Batu Satam at night

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Day 2


Breakfast at hotel


Students going to school


Pasar Tradisional




Pasar Ikan


Sharks


Turtle eggs


Resort that didn't materialise


Preparing for island hopping






Pulau Lengkuas - The lighthouse


No footwear allowed


Frame

#Belitung #PulauLengkuas #Lighthouse #theta360 - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

360 in the lighthouse






Packed lunch


Too many tourist


Incoming storm






Snacking


Sunset


Dinner




Meow


Nightlife at Tanjung Pendam Beach


Keladi cafe



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Day 3


Revisited Kaolin lake


Sunrise


Revisited fish market






Coffee and tea delivery




Instead of going to Tanjung Tinggi, we headed East to Museum Kata Andrea Hirata




Post office


Old stuffs


Kopi






Kelenteng Fuk Tet Che




Raining








Changed plan to depart from Harbour Bay instead of Batam Center

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Thoughts:

Belitung isn't a place that has direct accessibility from Singapore. Having to take a ferry, taxi and flight, the time spent on getting to the destination probably isn't worth the effort or the cost. Due to limited time, we weren't able to visit the abandoned tin mine – Open Pit Kelapa Kampit. The tour package is generally acceptable with the driver being able to communicate with simple English. The vehicle used is also new and in good condition. I wasn't able to find out sufficient details to do SCUBA diving there, though there are reports for diving at Northern (Near Lengkuas Island) and Eastern (Manggar) side of Belitung.

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More pictures: Belitung (14 - 16 Oct 2016)