10-Things That I Like About Batam

May 17, 2019, with two luggage on hands, I flew to Batam via Singapore and decided to stay ever since (read my story about it, here). Now, exactly 1 year after that memorable day, I am here still, leading a very normal life (well, then the coronavirus hit, and things aren't that normal anymore). I can rant and vent the whole day about many stuff, but as for today, as a token of my gratitude for my excellent health despite this pandemic, I proudly present to you:

"10-Things that I Like About Batam"

1. USD20 can get you out of country and back. Have you heard how close Batam and Singapore are?
2. A ferry ride to Singapore is approximately 1-hr only, sometimes less depending on the harbor destination. Way better than Jakarta traffic, isn't it?
3. Plenty of vegan-vegetarian restaurants; warung-style, fancy-style, they have it all, thanks to the big vegetarian-community here.
4. Thank you for existing here, Grab and Gojek!
5. Beaches, plenty of pretty beaches.
6. Batam's weird "malls"; can't explain much but for me (who used to live in bigger cities) all of Batam's malls are so different except one.
7. No traffic (compare to places I lived before).
8. Cute accent, and yes, I picked that up.
9. The majority of the Chinese here speak Chinese. I like that (yeah I'm Chinese too, but I speak Sundanese instead haha).
10. I got to meet some people that most likely I wouldn't get the chance to meet if I never live here.

*****

So, the question is, how long will I stay here? Up until now, I am not very sure still. I am so ready for the next adventure, I even want to try to go east this time (Nusa Tenggara sounds awesome, but anywhere really, after Batam, nothing seems too far anymore haha). But I'm glad that I followed my heart a year ago and ended up here, I learned to outgrow my 'box' and find positives everywhere in every situation.

Yes, if you're close friends of mine, you would still hear me whine once in a while. But please if I do so, just nod and say yes to me, sometimes I just need that release valve, haha. Happy May 17th and much love from the frontier line of Indonesia!

Xx,