The Spa Secret

The next morning, we had our breakfast, packed our bags and checked out of I Hotel Baloi. Our driver (Feri +62 813 6468 1780) was already waiting for us at the lobby.


The plan for the day was to relax and enjoy the spa and massage at The Spa Secret, which is located opposite Nagoya Hills Shopping Centre.





After we paid for our packages, we changed to slippers and followed the staff upstairs.



One of the spa room (there's a small locker under the bed)

As recommended by some people on TripAdvisor, we gave them a tip at the end of the massage, since their service was pretty okay.

I Hotel Baloi Batam

After we done with dinner at Barelang Seafood Restaurant, our driver (who had been waiting for us all these while) drove us to our hotel.


We stayed overnight in the newly opened I Hotel Baloi.


The reception



On our way to our rooms (too bad we didn't get connecting rooms)





The bathroom (with standing shower behind the door)


The toiletries (including the generous supply of toothpaste)


View from our room the next morning


We can see the swimming pool below from our room


View from the other room of the other side of the hotel


My breakfast

Barelang Seafood Restaurant

We spent almost an entire day at Batam Cable-Ski Park and I think I am going to get major muscle-ache the next day. As the park is about to close for the day, a cab was called in for us and we were off to our dinner venue.


My friend requested the driver to bring us to see the Barelang Bridge. As we were approaching, there were food stalls on the roadside.


Perhaps it was the weekend, groups of locals were gathering along the sides of the bridge.


View from the bridge


The Barelang Seafood Restaurant was near the bridge and we got there in no time.


At the end of the restaurant, there's a little kelong rearing sea life, such as fishes and shellfish.



Crabs in the water


Clams in the basket


View of the restaurant and the Barelang Bridge from the kelong.



Our dinner that came with a bucket of rice and costed us about SGD 50 in total for four girls.


Apparently, this Teh Botol is popular here. It actually sweetened jasmine green tea.

Batam Cable-Ski Park

After KB and I were back from Maldives, I had another trip lined up in the following weekend. This time, I'm going for a short getaway to Batam with my three girlfriends. One of them is super resourceful and planned the entire trip for us.



So, here we are at Harbourfront Ferry Terminal, boarding the boat on a hazy Saturday morning. When we reach Batam, we disembarked at Waterfront City Terminal. As we were going through the custom as a group (with the other people going for cable ski), our passports were collected. This felt really insecure for us, as we would definitely prefer to have our passports kept by ourselves while in a foreign country. Then, we boarded the bus that would take us to Batam Cable-Ski Park (BCP).






The ride on the chartered bus was a short one. It was about 11 am (Batam time) when we arrived at the ski park. Batam (GMT+7) is 1 hour behind Singapore (GMT+8). Each group of guests were allocated their own sitting area. One of the staff, Brown, was entertaining us and looking out of us, knowing that it was our first time there. Before we can go down to the water, all the first timers had to be briefed on the technicals know-hows and safety of cable skiing.


A super big trampoline






The queue for the cable ski

Throughout the whole time we were there, their sound system was blasting techno music. The place was pretty much filled with youngsters, who are way too happening and are perhaps drinking a little too much. They're not really my kind of crowd.