3D/2N – Trip to Karimun Island : 26-28 Mar.’09

. . . POST ON BEHALF OF ABEL TAN . . .

Batam-sized Karimun Island is 1 hour 45/50minutes by ferry south-west of Singapore.

March 26 Thursday  (Group A)

  • 1.30pm  Depart Harbourfront
  • 2.20pm (Indon time)  Arrive Tanjung Balai (Two main-street town)
  • 2.30pm  Check-in Hotel Maxi or Hotel Palapa
  • 3.00pm  Visit "The Vila" (brothels)
  • 4.00-5.30pm  Leisurely walk from seafront through 1st main-street to hotel
  • 5.30-6.30pm  Rest period
  • 6.30-8.00pm  Seafood dinner
  • 8.00pm  Onwards – Karaoke in hotel lounge with or without hostess – tips payable @ 10,000 rupiah mininum per hostess (about S$1.33)

March 27 Friday

  • 6.30-9.00am (Indon time)  Breakfast in hotel (FOC) & await Group B‘s arrival
  • 9.30-12noon  Visit Gunung Karimun waterfall (halfway up 300metre high mountain)
  • 12.30-1.30pm  Nasi padang lunch
  • 3.00pm  Visit "The Vila" (brothels) – 15 mins duration for Look-see with courteousy
  • 4.00-5.30pm  Leisurely walk thru 2nd main-street (parallel with 1st street) to seafront
  • 5.30-7.00pm  Open-air seafront seafood-dinner.  
  • After dinner is OPTIONAL to walk back or motor-cycle pillion-ride (5,000rupiah, about S$0.67) to hotel
  • 8.00pm  Onwards – Karaoke in hotel lounge or watch TV in rooms

            PLEASE DO NOT VENTURE FROM HOTEL’S FRONTSTEPS ON BOTH NIGHTS.

March 28 Saturday (Group A + Group B)

  • 6.30-09.00am  Breakfast in hotel (FOC)
  • 9.00-11.30am  Free & Easy/Shopping plus Rest period
  • 11.30am  Check out from Hotel
  • 11.30-1.30pm  Nasi padang lunch or a-la-carte lunch at Hotel Holiday Karimun
  • 2.00pm (Indon time)  Depart Tanjung Balai for Singapore

Terms :

  1. No Payment required yet until further notice to transfer S$20 to POSB Savings A/c : 510-03720-0 being hotel deposit for Deluxe room, with longbath & mini-bar, @ approxately 250,000rupiah (about S$33).  Payment of S$57 will be collected if Lily can buy ferry ticket en masse.
  2. Maximum pax of 20 (21 including Abel Tan) on a first-come-first-serve basis.
  3. Closing date : Monday 20 March 2009.  We will finalise logistic on 15 Mar during SHC gathering.
  4. Need to confirm rooms required by 25th March.

Note :

  • An expense of $150 per person excluding 2-way ferry @ $57 inclusive of Singapore seaport tax but not Indonesian side’s 30,000rupiah (about S$4), payable upon departure from Tanjung Balai, should be comfortably sufficient for the trip.
  • Travellers should just exchange S$50 for rupiahs to be shared by 2 persons before departure and the rest of needful rupiahs can be exchanged (min.S$100) for better rates at Tanjung Balai. 
  • Rate of exchange : approximately S$1 = 7,500rupiahs.

Group A :

  1. Abel Tan
  2. Terence Seah

Group B :

  1. Lim Tan Soo
  2. Lily Ho
  3. Lee Ah Nee
  4. Norlinda
  5. Bira
  6. Dolly Lim
  7. Caroline Gee
  8. Sockie

Author: Lily Ho Willocq

Divorced - 1 grown daughter - love dancing.

36 thoughts on “3D/2N – Trip to Karimun Island : 26-28 Mar.’09”

  1. Hi Abel

    I would like to do this trip but to stay for one night only on Friday. Is there an early Friday morning ferry, arriving Tg Balai in time to join you guys for the Gunung Karimun waterfall?

  2. Hi Daisy

    Have forwarded your query to Abel Tan for response. You have a valid question which I’m sure there are others who would be interested to know – me included. I have also cut & paste comments from Abel’s previous post here for further discussion.

    —————————-
    Lim Tian Soo Says:
    January 30th, 2009 at 6:56 pm e
    Abel.

    Seriously, Can I go with you guys on the 26th and come back on my own the next day.

    I would certainly like to see a ‘Villa’ that takes 15 minutes to cruise through…. in a car!! How many prostitutes do they have???

    I just like to see and talk to the common people on the 27th morning and come back on my own. I can look after myself.

    abel tan Says:
    January 31st, 2009 at 3:08 pm e
    Hi Thian Soo

    Sure you can. There is also ample time for you to join
    the group’s visit to Gunung Karimum Waterfall.
    ——————————

    Perhaps, Tian Soo can help to arrange for those who wish to stay for 1 night only. How about that Tian Soo?

    Rgds / Lily

  4. Help! I’m torn between this trip and the Kelong@Water Lodge which is on 1st May… How to decide?

    Let’s see… cost? activities? been there, done that?

    Better not let the suspense continue…

    Abel, Lily: So sorry… please withdraw my name from your list.

    Thanks, Kenneth

  6. Hi Tian Soo,

    …..I would certainly like to see a ‘Villa’ that takes 15 minutes to cruise through…. in a car!!

    How many PROStitutes do they have???

    Aiyo yo, Tua tua Keladi. Nanti kena Heart Attack!
    Ha! Ha!

  7. Hi Lily #2

    I will come back after the visit to the waterfall. Anyone is welcome to join me.
    I can make sure we walk the correct road(only 2 roads) to the jetty and catch the correct ferry(only one ferry to Singapore).
    The prostitutes will all be sleeping off their hard nights work, so I guess there will not be any distraction on the way. I’ll put my arms around any shopperholics to make sure they don’t miss the boat.

  8. “How many PROStitutes do they have???”

    To know, you will have to be there to count. So go, count and then file your report when you’re dafely back at home but dont forget to minus one hor…………..heeee.

  9. “Help! I’m torn between this trip and the Kelong@Water Lodge……How to decide?”

    But you have already decided by agreeing to be torn…So half of you go to the kelong and leave the other half at Karimun. How good can a “half” do at Karimun is another question……..and if that half is a damp squib, be worried that the Karimunians will curry it for the expired ah Lians to jiat po………

  10. helo helo!…
    apa macam Dan & Kenneth..have not start sudah calibot!..hhmm
    nvm lah..sure got other boys/girls to come along..

    Steven @6…hey we go there not to count how many chickens lah..awak not tua keladi rite?..so don worry to pengsan lor..hehe

    Anybody else interested?…especially those who love seafood & karaoke..come lah..we can have fun!
    I love to panjat Gunung Karimun!so im going to check it out!

    Dear Lily/Abel
    so how much do we have to pay? is it $150 to posb acc as stated above?or we also pay ferry tiket together?

  11. Hi Tian Soo
    Thanks for your willingness to help out. But I think most people would prefer to go on Fri and come back Sat thereby only need to take 1 day leave, rather than go on Thurs and come back Fri. Is it possible for you to accommodate?
    – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
    Abel’s reply :
    There are 2 ferry departures daily from Harbourfront to Tg Balai. The 1st boat departs at 8am. Hence, travellers must check-in at Departure-lounge by 7.40am. Buy ferry tickets at 3rd level, but CHECK-IN at 2nd level. (Lily will check to see if she can buy en-masse.)

    Yes, the early group can await the arrival of Friday’s trippers whom will be received by me at the ferry terminal after passport clearance. Friday’s arrivals will land by 9am(indon time) and it takes about ten minutes to check-in into hotel. We can all leave then, by 9.30/35(Indon time) for Gunong Karimun Waterfall.
    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
    In view of Abel’s agreement, we can divide the trippers into 2 groups :

    Group A – Thursday Trippers
    Group B – Friday Trippers

    Interested registrants please, kindly indicate which group you prefer.

    I will edit this post to reflect the changes.

    PLEASE DO NOT MAKE PAYMENT YET.!
    If we do not meet the 21 pax, we don’t go, ok?

    * * * * * * * * * * * *
    BTW, for those who jump ship from Karimun to Kelong… why?
    Karimun is in March, Kelong is in May…. they are 1 month apart leh…. apa macam??

  12. Hi guys!

    So sorry to change my mind about the trip… but, like I said, it was a toss-up between the two trips.

    I’d love to go on both trips but I have to moderate my travels because I’m planning a big one to the UK in May/June…

    Hey! The Kelong trip is in May!! a bit too close man!

    Help! What happens if I change back to Karimun?

  14. Wow wei, now that Tian Soo agreed to lead us on Friday, we can go liao… Any more peoples going har.. sure 2 hv fun like Fraser Hill 1… so those interested but still thinkg, mai wait liao.. come la… Dolly

  15. Hi Kenneth,

    Don’t keep on changing lah, very “kan kor” to be undecisive…….just make a trip to Karimun in Mar and then squeeze into the Kelong in May if you can lor. After all, both trips got its own unique attractions mah. Now I see more of my buddies coming along, aiyo…. sure fun lah! Thanks to Abel & Tian Soo for being the EOs and Lily for tidy up the itiinerary, so that more people can join. Dolly yo….that day hor, no jamming in S’pore, we boogie in Karimun huh.

    Ah Nee

  17. Hi Kenneth @ #12 – Your name reinstated. Go lah, don’t be so “po-po-mah-mah” can?

    Hi Tian Soo @ #13 – Thanks so much for being soooo accommodating. Buy you kopi ok?

    Hi Dolly @ #14 – Sorry dear, just put Caroline & your name down w/o asking. Caroline still doesn’t know she’s going hor… heehee….

    Hi Fraser gang – Ai kee mai…? Kwong Wah, Yew Kwong, Karen & company…?? Sockie… good opportunity for picture taking leh…

  20. Ah Nee #15 & Lily #17

    Help!! I only meant to be tongue-in-cheek when I posted #12. Fortunately Boon Liang from the other party got my point… I have to stay with the Kelong @Water Lodge group.

    Don’t want to be branded like some Singapore girls… so undecided and indecisive one, man!

  21. Kenneth..
    alamak..u no good lah..jumping so fast from one ship to another?..hhmm

    Karen..aiya, one day only..let the young one play,then we can also play rite?..no need to watch all the time,relax..

    helo helo..not only calling Fraser kakis…how about MHS/Chiangmai kawan2?..lets jalan2 together again & have fun!

    Lily@11
    How come must meet 21pax than boleh?…the sampan not enough space la,hehe..now only got 10 ppl, how to jadi?.. 10-15 boleh tak?

  22. Sila sila, ANee, KOK n jamming at another plc liao.. must bring our own CDs. But hor, 1st,we must cheo enuf headcount b4 we can go leh..

    Alamak, Kenneth, apa macham leh, not going????:(

  23. Hi Lily

    Pls include me under Group B and will vounteer to be your camera woman ;0)

    Dolly…we going to have re-match in MJ ya? Too bad Oi Chneg and Karen not going lei, else we will have another hilarious round of MJ….but I am sure we can find another 2 gilas to join us hahahahaha

    Sockie

  24. Post writes max. pax of 20 i.e., trip will go on even if there’s less than 20. Lily writes at #11 “If we do not meet the 21 pax, we don’t go, ok?” i.e. we need at least 20 pax to go. Pretty confusing.

    Has any one thought? We now have 3 guys and 7 ladies going. If all 10 go cruise thru’ the villas in a car or van or mini coach or whatever, will we be mistaken for another new load for the villas? Alamak, real problem, men! I’ve visited one such place on another Indonesian island and you know what, I felt so embarrassed that I dared only peep from behind the curtains in the mini van we were in. It’s a real…. eye opener and an experience indeed.

    I think the focus of this trip should be on experiencing the life on a small Indonesian town, its activities, the people, the food and of course there’s the company of fellow SHcians!

    Kenneth and Dan, if you do not do this trip, never again will you have a more valid reason to visit .

    Daisy

  25. Sockie
    – Welcome welcome. Good to have you around whether you are wielding a camera or not. I can be the 3rd MJ kaki. We only need to find the 4th one.!

    Nor & Daisy
    – The number 20 pax (21 including Abel) was set by Abel. I have not idea why and I did not ask. I volunteer to help him co-ordinate because I am interested in this trip and would be disappointed if it does not materialised.

    It is the only chance for us ladies to go visit “the villa” just like the last time, when we went on the Geylang tour – THANKS to Tim Liu. If not for Tim, we would not have the opportunity to see what is going on in the back alleys – the “casino”, the “butterfly” market, the “toy” shop, etc.

    Daisy
    – Don’t worry about been mistaken as new “recruit”. We can never compete with those sweet young chicks. However, I do hope that more guys would come along though. Not just to make up the number but as chaperons as well.

    – WILL THE GUYS OBLIGE……. Huh.?.?

  26. Yippee… Dolly just told me that… Abel, who was at the gathering tonight, said that this trip is confirmed whether we hit the 20 pax or not… alright man.!!

    Dear Fellow Trippers, …. Karimun – here we come.! :)

  27. Hi Karimun trippers,

    Arrivals on Friday morning will be received by me. Gentle reminder that the ferry leaves Harbourfront at 8.05(latest) thus, travellers MUST CHECK-IN at departure lounge by LATEST 7.40am.

    Ferry tickets to be bought on THIRD level at Indo Falcon counter(on your left after escalator) and check-in on SECOND level, walk rightwards after escalator, in-between long-counter drinks/makan stall(on your left) and seats-makan tables(on your right). Straight ahead and slightly towards your left will be uniformed PSA-police assisting one or two ferry-operator’s staff at check-in aisle. PLEASE DO NOT DROP/MISLEAD YOUR BOARDING PASS which can be re-issued BUT THE HASSLE AND LOST TIME MAY CAUSE ONE TO MISS current boat departure and WAIT FOR 1.30pm trip.

    After baggage/passport clearance, take escalator downwards to first level and proceed LEFT to sitting area. To the Right is waiting area for Batam trippers. TV Monitor-screen will indicate departures/arrivals.

    Time to embark will be hollered by ferry-operator’s staff.
    Scan your boarding-pass similarly like taking MRT train and walk through sliding-doors. Please note that since mid’2007, morning departure boats can be the bigger more comfortable PENGUIN COMPANY ferry which is more steadier and less buffeted by waves for 10-15minutes duration, about half-hour before arriving Tanjung Balai, as the boat journeys through the southern entrance of the Malacca Straits, the knee-high to waist-high waves being caused by Earth’s rotation that result in waters from Java Sea rushing into mouth of Malacca Straits or sometimes by passing wake of huge oil-tankers, two tankers in quick succession within five minutes “saying Hello” less than 100 metres distant which is not done in purpose but due to a rather lack of deep-sea space as there are more than twenty Sentosa-sized/twice bigger Indonesian islands dotting this quite busy seaway. The empty-laden oil tankers are just one hour away for “replenishment” from Jambi, the oil province in south-central Sumatera.

    Just bring Axe-brand oil and some smelling salts in case………not to scare Silverhairs though more than half the time my previous journeys went wave-less.

    Abel Tan

  28. Hi Nor #21

    Cannot MIA from office during these dates. Would love to enjoy jalan jalan dengan go “hong nam-ing” with you also. Hope there will another trip organised.

    Enjoy your trip.

    Cheers
    Alicia

  29. Aiyah, now cannot go. My colleague applied for leave on same day before I’ve put mine thru’. Shall hope she’ll cancel her leave later or there’s a change of dates for the trip. After all, it’s a two day one night trip so can do over the weekend, no need to take leave. Sorry ugh…..

  30. hi Alicia
    Alamak!…wrong timing ah?..thot it wud be fun to have you , Mike & Rene too since u all are the trekking ppl.I was just dreaming we going to climb Karimun before gg to bigger & higher gunung…remember our plan to go hiking?..hehe

    Lily…ya lah Abel also told me any number of participants will sure jadi…jangan tak jadi!..
    btw…that day at our monthly gathering, he was asking & looking for you..& i told him u will be late!…sudah lupa u told me that u not coming cos of your joget class!…haha…kesian him lah…

    Carly…im glad that u coming along to hv fun with us!..think this 1st time that u following us to short trips rite?…must jadi ok!..nanti saya blanja nasi lemak!

    Sockie@23…yeah!…lagi fun that a funloving outgoing cameragirl is coming too!..kita boleh tompang ambil gambar tak?hehe

  31. Hi there,
    Instruction from Abel :

    – Closing date for this trip now Friday, 20th March.
    – $20 deposit not required.
    – No. of rooms need to be finalised before he leaves on 26th March.

    The post have been updated accordingly.
    – – – – – – – – –
    Norlinda,
    Abel seek your favour as interpreter for this trip – Boleh tak?

  32. Hi Nor

    You want to ambil gambar, no problem lah, just yell and I will be there hahahaha…saya always on the lookout for model lah.

    BTW I have cut a CD for you for the Fraser Hill’s trip…will pass this to you when I see you ya?

    Sockie

  33. Hi Abel,

    I see only two of us for the Karimum trip. Do you want to go with group B, or you are going Group A, because I raise my hands for Group A. I am flexibe for group B.

    Terence Seah

  34. Terence

    Better that you 2 guys join the B group, otherwise, I going alone with a group of pretty giggling girls, the local pimps may think that I am muscling into their territory.
    I cannot run very fast.

  35. Tian Soon, why run? A rare opportunity of making a fast buck comes knocking at yr doorsteps.

    I will arange for the locals to pick them up and pay you, cash on delivery. Since they dont know where they are, so where they are taken to makes no difference and so they will continue to giggle…….

    We split the money once van disappears from sight…………

  36. Yo manyak sushah lah, Boss announced yesterday that our big office move will be on Friday 28 Mar ….so cannot go with you folks now…..some more gotta be ‘kepala’ to co-ordinate move …… Have to keep my camera in dry cabinet and roll up my sleeves to do do hard work instead….haiz

    Soooo you folks enjoy yourself.

    Nor sayaang, save all your pose for the kelong trip ya ;0)

    Sockie

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