Did you know that it’s possible to explore three countries in just one day without taking a single flight? Thanks to their close geographical locations, I was able to travel entirely by land and sea. Here’s the story of my exciting journey across the borders of Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Malaysia to Singapore
As I explained in the previous article, traveling from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to HarbourFront, Singapore is surprisingly convenient via overland transportation. For this trip, I used the same premium coach service as before: AEROLINE. If you’d like to know more about the journey details, be sure to check out the article below.
The journey began at 9:00 AM local time in Kuala Lumpur. I traveled from Wangsa Maju to the Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur by LRT, surprisingly, I was running late. By the time I arrived at the hotel, the bus had already arrived and was literally waiting just for me. Luckily, I still made it on time, even though I hadn’t prepared or brought any snacks for the trip.
During the journey, passengers were served one complimentary meal, and this time the menu was fried noodles although, to be honest, it looked more like spaghetti.
After arriving at HarbourFront, we have to finding the ferry service to cross over to Batam Centre. Most ferry counters are located on the second floor, but the exact location depends on which operator you choose. Since I was traveling with Sindo Ferry, I had to go up one more floor to the ticket counter.
SINDOFERRY
After receiving the ticket, we had to complete the check in process at the designated counter. Just like boarding a flight, you’ll also need to check in any luggage or suitcases you plan to bring onboard. Once everything is done, the next step is heading through immigration for baggage screening and passport inspection.
I paid IDR 495,000 for a one way ferry ticket from Singapore to Batam Centre, for this trip. You have to know that ticket prices may change at any time depending on the season. After the ticket is printed, we will be directed to wait near the Singapore Duty Free area and line up at the boarding gate listed on the ticket. However, it’s important to keep listening for announcements from the staff, as the departure gate for the ferry can change unexpectedly.
At the entrance to the ferry, your ticket will be checked once again before boarding. After entering the vessel, passengers are free to choose any available seat. The ferry journey typically takes around one to two hours, depending on the weather conditions and sea waves during the trip.
WELCOME to BATAM
After arriving at Batam Centre, we will disembark from the ferry and head straight to the immigration area. However, the luggage process can sometimes feel a bit chaotic, as everyone rushes to retrieve their suitcases first. My advice is to stay patient, since there will still be another queue waiting at immigration afterward.
Even though Batam is considered a small city, its immigration system is already equipped with modern auto gates. Travelers simply can scan their passport and complete facial verification for entry clearance. Once you pass through immigration, you officially arrive in Batam, a city well known for its rows of roadside shop houses, or “ruko,” and its hot tropical weather.
Next, you can watch my full journey from Malaysia to Batam in the video below.
