Bintan Island

5:48 PM Bali , Bintan Island , Indonesia , South East Asia 1 Comments

In the largest archipelago in the world, Bintan stands out as the topmost tourist spot in Indonesia aside from Bali. It is actually located closer to Singapore so the culture there is more Westernized in this largely Islamic country. And with beaches so serene as those in Phuket, foreign tourists – especially Caucasians – slowly flock here after visiting the other paradise which is Bali.

And the nicer thing about Bintan is that it is not yet as exploited as Bali. There are no five-star beach hotels, just the nice in-your-face resorts to make you feel like you’re treading in waters at night with glowing planktons around you, the scene is real awe-inspiring.

When going to Bintan, it’s more enjoyable to have a backpacking trip there with a really big group like ten friends or couples perhaps. And you must have a local tour guide with you. The natives here are experts in guiding you to such fantastic beaches as Trikora, Sumpat and Penyengat Island offshore. To top it all, it’s sort of a clash of cultures here – there are Chinese natives, there are Muslim Malays and a little bit of the Bugis tribe. Oh and seafood here is so fresh, you can buy one right out of the boat.

photo credits: Roro Fernandez