Day 1 - Holiday trip bound for Bintan

Bintan - We began the journey with a Grab ride to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore. It’s a familiar departure point for those who regularly travel to Batam, Bintan, or even Johor. The drive was smooth, and the energy at the terminal was relaxed but organised.

There’s something comforting about ferry terminals—the mix of tourists with backpacks, locals heading home, and families reuniting over weekend getaways. With our passports ready and tickets in hand, we boarded the ferry bound for Tanjung Pinang, the capital of Bintan Island.   

I chose a clean and good hotel near the Tanjung Pinang jetty and also walking distance to food.  We arrived in Tanjung Pinang, the main city and administrative center of Bintan. While it’s technically a city, it has the soul of a sleepy town.  

The ferry ride of 2hrs away from Singapore is a popular choice of travelers as it is both affordable and convenient. It is also accessible by plane, with domestic direct flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, and major cities in Indonesia.   

The economy of Bintan is centred on tourism, given its close proximity to regional hubs such as Singapore,   Bintan's land area is 1,173 square kilometres (much bigger than Singapore) with a population of 400,000 local residents.

After checking in, we walked to the nearest mall Bintan Indah Mall and it was old and dilapidated.   The mall is semi abandoned with about 70% empty and vacant occupancy.   

Lunch at Seafood Kelong restaurant

Pax found this seafood restaurant on google but finding this jem was not easy - eventually, we stumbled upon a narrow path leading to a wooden platform, and there it was—the kelong restaurant.   

A kelong is a traditional offshore fishing platform. Built from wooden stilts and planks, kelongs are usually situated over the sea and serve both as fishing structures and seafood restaurants.

Many kelongs are owned by local fishing families who serve up the catch of the day—fresh, simple, and deeply flavorful. Dining on a kelong means sitting over the water, hearing waves lapping beneath your feet, and often seeing fish farms nearby.

As we settled into our wooden table, a warm breeze swept through the open-air dining area. The decor was modest—plastic chairs, mismatched tables—but the view made up for everything. We were seated over the sea, surrounded by nothing but open sky and water.

We placed our order:

Prawns Omelet – Fresh prawns folded into a fluffy egg, lightly browned and seasoned.  

Stir-Fried Kai Lan – Crunchy, garlicky, and beautifully green.

Fried Sotong (Squid) – Crisp on the outside, tender inside, served with a sweet chili dip.

Fried Chicken – Golden, dry, and not so delicious.  

Dinner at Jalan Potong Lembu

This is a renowned open-air hawker center in Tanjung Pinang. By day, this spot serves as a parking lot, but come evening, it transforms into a bustling night market teeming with local flavours and vibrant energy.  This lively hawker center, located just a short drive from the heart of town, becomes a buzzing culinary destination, where smoky grills fire up, woks sizzle, and locals and visitors alike gather to indulge in the best of Bintan’s street food.

The first thing we ordered—and arguably the highlight of the night—was satay.

Each satay portion consisted of 10 sticks, priced at a very reasonable Rp 25,000 (less than SGD 3). We couldn’t resist and ended up ordering three plates—30 sticks in total.

The skewers arrived hot off the grill, slightly charred, glistening with marinade and smoke. The satay was served with traditional ketupat (compressed rice cakes wrapped in woven palm leaf), slices of fresh cucumber, and a generous bowl of peanut sauce.

The meat was juicy, tender, and flavourful—clearly marinated with care. Dipping it into the rich, slightly spicy peanut sauce elevated each bite to new heights. The ketupat added a soft, neutral texture that soaked up the sauce beautifully, while the cucumbers provided a refreshing crunch to balance out the richness.

We ate quickly, savouring each mouthful—and yes, 30 sticks was just the right amount for our hungry group.

This dish came sizzling on a hot plate, filled with briny oysters nestled in a soft egg batter. Crispy on the edges and creamy in the middle, it was a beautiful balance of textures. The egg was infused with garlic and green onions, and a drizzle of chili sauce added a mild kick.  The oysters was not as tasty as expected with a tinge of sour.

Stir fried Kai Lan

Wanting something green on the table, we added a serving of stir-fried kai lan. Simple yet satisfying, it was cooked with garlic and just the right amount of soy, keeping the vegetables vibrant and crunchy. It gave a nice contrast to the heavier dishes and helped refresh our palates in between bites of satay and noodles.

Black pepper crabs

Black pepper crabs—a messy, spicy, and absolutely indulgent delight. The crabs were medium sized, with shells cracked just enough to make digging in easy. The black pepper sauce was bold and slightly sweet, clinging to the shell and meat.

The stall even provided plastic gloves.  We tore into them with our hands, licking our fingers and letting the spice linger. It was the kind of dish that demands your full attention—and rewards you with incredible flavour.

Char Kway Teow

Next came a hearty plate of char kway teow, the beloved stir-fried flat noodle dish. It was smoky, packed with wok hei (the “breath of the wok”), and came loaded with prawns, egg, bean sprouts, and dark soy sauce. While it had a slightly sweeter Indonesian twist compared to the Singaporean version, it still delivered comfort in every bite.

Deep Fried Bananas

For a quick sweet treat in between savoury bites, we ordered deep-fried bananas—a local favourite. Crispy on the outside, gooey and naturally sweet inside, they were the perfect palate cleanser. Lightly dusted with sugar and served piping hot.