Have Perut Will Travel...: BTH Day 2 │ Guided Tour Ends • Harbour Bay • Pasir Gudang to TBS!

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Sunday, 11 October 2026

BTH Day 2 │ Guided Tour Ends • Harbour Bay • Pasir Gudang to TBS!

Full Final Episode — The Batam Whirlwind

Our 24 hour guided tour of Batam unfolded like a fast, colourful reel — a tight, satisfying getaway packed with flavour, mishaps, laughter, and the kind of moments that only happen when office mates travel together.

Mr. Ong Bakery — Morning Treats

The bakery stop was a quick, cheerful reset — staff buzzing with early morning energy, shelves filling fast, smiles everywhere. Cat and Tasha went straight for the colourful pastries, Sunil hovered over the savoury buns, and we drifted through rows of soft rolls, layered cakes, and golden puffs that looked fresh enough to still be warm.

The whole place felt homely and calm, the perfect pause before the day kicked into gear. We left with a box of Bika Ambon for IDR70,000 (≈ MYR16 / USD4 / EUR3) and a Banana Cake for IDR90,000 (≈ MYR20 / USD5 / EUR4) — small, sweet boosts to start the morning right.

Masjid Cheng Hoo

After Mr. Ong Bakery, we headed to Masjid Cheng Hoo, its vibrant reds, greens, and golds glowing under the Batam sky. We wandered through the courtyard, soaked in the Chinese Islamic architecture, and snapped a bright group photo that instantly became a favourite.

Pink Beach & Dean Snack Batam

Next was Pink Beach, quiet and lifeless despite the entrance fee — a flat stop we abandoned almost immediately.

Pak Syakir rescued the morning with Dean Snack Batam, a cheerful detour bursting with colour and energy. We grabbed powdered Ginger Tea and instant drink mixes for IDR445,000 (≈ MYR101/USD25/EUR22).

Then came the hiccup: on the sloped driveway, we accidentally opened the wrong minivan door. It snapped shut sharply, and the other driver reprimanded us harshly, refusing to accept our apologies. A sharp jolt in an otherwise fun stop.

Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal

Our 24 hour tour wrapped up at Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal, bringing the adventure full circle. With an hour to spare, we settled into Kopi Kenangan, ordering a Jumbo Iced Kopi Mantan and Iced Avocado Milk for IDR96,000 (≈ MYR22/USD5/EUR5).

While I guarded the luggage, the womenfolk went shopping. Cat scored IDR534,900 (≈ MYR121/USD30/EUR26) worth of Watson’s goodies. At eleven, we breezed through security and Immigration without incident.

Dolphin Fast Ferry — Homeward Bound

Our 11:30am Dolphin Fast Ferry boarded smoothly, departing at 11:33am. The crossing was calm, and we arrived at 2:15pm MY time. Immigration was quick, and Rajan arranged a 6 seater Grab to Pasir Gudang Bus Terminal for RM18.00 (≈ USD4/EUR4).

We bade farewell to Syaiful as he continued toward Larkin and Melaka. At Pasir Gudang, some prayed while others grabbed lunch at the lone food stall.

LA Holidays — Chaos on Wheels

Our LA Holidays bus arrived at 3:45pm, and the disaster began instantly. Travelling as a party of eleven meant every misstep hit eleven times harder.

The driver declared he was unwell and would dump us onto another bus at Larkin. We waited until nearly 5pm before departing again. The replacement driver arrived furious, venting his frustrations directly at passengers — a masterclass in terrible service.

At 8pm, at Tangkak Lay By, he barked no eating on the bus. The irony? He chain smoked every half hour for the entire seven hour ride, turning the bus into his personal smoking lounge. The stench and inconsideration were unbelievable.

TBS — The Whirlwind Finale

We reached TBS at 10:45pm, finally ending the gruelling ride. After quick goodbyes, we grabbed a RM20.00 (≈ USD5/EUR4) ride home.

During that quiet drive, we replayed the entire adventure — from the dawn ferry of the previous episode, to Pak Syakir’s warm guidance, to Masjid Cheng Hoo’s colours, Pink Beach’s flop, Dean Snack’s energy, Harbour Bay’s calm, Kopi Kenangan’s chill, the Watson’s haul, the smooth ferry home, and the smoky chaos of LA Holidays.

Despite the bumps, we both had an awesome time with my office mates, and honestly, we were sad it ended so quickly. A fast, flavourful, wonderfully balanced whirlwind — one we’ll gladly repeat next year!