BATAM IS AN ESTABLISHED HUB OF INDUSTRY, BUT ITS QUALITY LEISURE ATTRACTIONS ARE PERHAPS LESS WELL KNOWN. DIYANA ALAN TRACES THE ISLAND’S DEVELOPMENT AS A BONA FIDE DESTINATION

Golf, watersports, spas and choice seafood – in Batam? Tourists and locals alike have come to associate nearby Sentosa or Bintan Resorts with such pleasures, but Batam has become one of the fastest-growing industrial zones in Indonesia. Those familiar with the under-rated charms of this island know it is home to as many leisure activities as it is to shipyards and factories, offering visitors relaxation and indulgence at affordable prices.

A case in point is its rich choice of spas. Try Tiara Mustika, located in downtown Batam Centre. Despite its humble interior, the spa offers a wide selection of Eastern and Western face and body treatments. Or for something special, visit Batam Spa Villa in Sekupang. Facing the South China Sea and just a stone’s throw from the colossal Kuan Yin statue, it is the perfect sanctuary for those who want to relax in more scenic surroundings. Enjoy Javanese-inspired body treatments, 90 minutes of pampering with an unrestricted ocean view, for a cost of just under Rp 350,000 (US$37.45).

Golf fans too should feel at home in Batam. A five-minute drive from Batam Spa Villa lies South Links Country Club, renowned for its lowland greens that allow for high speed. Unique to this 213 hectare area, of which over 100 make up the golf range, is its all-female caddy pool. Twenty minutes’ drive north, resort hub Nongsa hosts Palm Springs Country Club, the island’s biggest golf course. Built along the stunning coastline, the club’s idyllic, textured landscaping has played host to PGA tournaments, and plans are afoot to transform it into a 36-hole course.

If you’re planning to stay the night, check in at Batam View Beach Resort, situated beside Palm Springs. Providing a variety of accommodation from standard rooms to family-friendly villas, the resort offers the largest variety of watersports in the city: wakeboarding, snorkelling and banana boat rides can be enjoyed in the private lagoon. And the resort’s organic garden boasts aloe vera, long beans and other vegetables and herbs.

Batam’s famed seafood is among the city’s highlights. Batam View’s Kelong Restaurant is popular for family dinners. Those hankering for more down-home tastes should head to Aneka Fish Soup at Taman Buana Indah in Sungai Panas for its assam pedas udang. This fragrant Malay fish dish, accompanied by a bowl of steamed rice, is both fiery and comforting. Also check out Rumah Makan 222, nestled in the bustling area of Nagoya: its otakotak is barbecued to chewy perfection. Then try the udang lada hitam, succulent prawns and squid stir-fried with black pepper sauce.

Once you’ve refuelled, it’s time for a taste of adventure with some cable skiing – a sport based on water skiing. Cable Ski Park at Waterfront City is the location for an activity that’s ideal for those seeking adrenaline and excitement without the crashing waves. A half-day package gives you up to four hours of recreation, including lunch, for only Rp 325,000 (US$34.75).

For something a little gentler, experience another side of Batam by renting a car or taxi and taking half a day’s drive south. Stop first at the Barelang Bridge. Built by French company Freyssinet International in 1992, the bridge project connects five islands and has become iconic to Batam. At first sight, it is breathtaking. Small, lush isles lie among blue-green waters on both sides, making the bridge a magnet for photographers and tourists.

As you enter the last bridge, turn into Galang Refugee Camp for an interesting history lesson unknown to many. In 1979, 20,000 Vietnamese “boat people” sailed across to seek refuge in this part of Indonesia. Hoping to escape their wartorn homeland, the refugees sailed in dismal conditions. Some boats held up to 100 people in search of a country to grant them asylum. After numerous rejections, they finally settled in Galang, which later became a United Nations-recognised refugee camp.

For 19 years, the settlers made a life for themselves here – a church and temple are still in place, while an archive house showcases the belongings and family photographs the community left behind. Eventually, many gained permanent asylum in Australia and Canada, while others were deported back to Vietnam. Galang officially closed in 1995. Left untouched since the immigrants were evacuated, the camp evokes a sense of solace, a poignant reminder of an important chapter in Asia’s history. Entry to the camp is just Rp 10,000 (US$1), and a visit calls for quiet reflection. The perfect way is to catch the sunset at Pantai Melur, just outside the camp. Here, locals wind down with a coconut juice and the lullaby of the ocean waves.

To end your visit on a high note, drive out of Barelang, feasting at the many food stalls offering Indonesian teatime options such as fresh fruit, pisang goreng and jagung bakar, marinated with peanut sauce.

A day’s escape to Batam offers a lively introduction to the Riau archipelago, and its colourful past and present.

Contacts

• Batam Spa Villa KTM Resort Jln Kolonel Sugiono Tg Ping-gir Sekupang Tel: 62 778 7255790 www.batamspavilla.com  
• Batam View Beach Resort Jln Hang Lekir, Nongsa, 29432 Indonesia, Tel: 62 778 761740 www.batamviewresort.com  
• Cable Ski Park Waterfront City Tel: 65 9487 5007 www.cable-ski.com  
• Galang Refugee Camp (Ex Camp Sinam) Desa Sitanjung Kecamatan Galang, Batam  
• Palm Springs Golf & Beach Resort Jln Hang Lekiu, Nongsa Tel: 62 778 761222 www.palmsprings.com.sg  
• SouthLinks Country Club Jln Gajah Mada 9km Skp Sei Ladi, Sekupang Tel: 62 778 323752 www.southlinksgolf.com