Found Wikitravel, a free, complete, up-to-date, and reliable online world-wide travel guide. I have benefited a lot from this site previously and now decided to include some information that I have on Karimun to its Karimun page.
Here are some information that I have updated:
Section 1.3 Get in from Malaysia
Tickets cost RM50/70 one-way/return (excluding RM10 port tax/boarding fee). Journey time is about one hour.
Section 1.4 Get in from the other Riau Islands
From Batam: Tickets cost Rp. 60.000 one-way (excluding Rp. 1.000 port tax & Rp. 1.000 insurance)
Section 2 Get around
By mikrolet
The cheapest way to travel in Karimun is by mikrolet. These small minibuses running a fairly standard route and picking up and dropping off passengers anywhere along the way. You can get almost anywhere in Tanjung Balai for Rp. 2.000. Expect Rp. 2.500 if you travel from Tanjung Balai to Meral.
By bicycle
This would be one of the ideal way to explore Karimun. However, yet to find one bicycle renter in the town.
Section 3 See
- Baitul Karim Mosque, Tanjung Balai.
- Vihara Cetiya Vidya Sagara 朱王庙, Jalan Jenderal A. Yani, Meral. This chinese temple was built in 1926.
- Vihara Sasana Diepa 妈祖宫, Jalan Jenderal A. Yani, Meral.
- Pantai Palawan, a beautiful beach. There is a nice small restaurant under the palm trees, overlooking the sea. On Sundays and holidays, it is a popular destination for the locals.
Section 4 Do
- Stroll around Tanjung Balai, which is the main town of Karimun Island, and it is one of the busiest town among the Riau Islands. You can walk around and explore this town on your own or you can take the mikrolet for Rp. 2.000.
- To enjoy the rural lifestyle on a tropical Indonesian island, you need to get away from the main town of Tanjung Balai and go to some local kampung areas in Meral or Pasir Panjang.
- Chinese temple visit to Vihara Cetiya Vidya Sagara and Vihara Sasana Diepa in Meral. Take your time to look at the temple drawing such as “General Xue and Lady Fan” and “Lady Warriors of the Yang Family”.
Section 5 Buy
- Karimun’s main department store is Indo A. Yani Swalayan & Dept. Store in Tanjung Balai town. Swalayan means supermarket in Bahasa Indonesia. This 3 storey department store offers foods, clothing, housewares, stationary and basic necessity.
- You can obtain 250g Karimun Utama coffee (Kopi Karimun Utama) for Rp. 7.150, local produced deep fried fish crackers (Bona Kerupuk Atom 50) costs Rp. 7.000 per packet.
Section 6 Eat
- Bakso, meatball soup is just as popular as nasi goreng. It is sold from street side stalls, or push carts that make their rounds through the neighborhoods. Bakso is sold from late afternoon and throughout the night.
- Several chinese restaurants can be found along Jalan Trikora Laut (opposite Holiday Karimun Hotel). This is probably the centralise area for Teochew-style Bak Kut Teh. Noodles are also available.
- The long stretch of open-air food and drink vendors that convenes outside the ferry terminal after 5pm is a great place to try out authentic, cheap Indonesian food.
Section 7 Drink
Try Lasegar, an Indonesian refreshing soft drink for Rp. 3.500 per can. One can of Carlsberg beer costs Rp. 5.500.
Section 8 Sleep
Holiday Karimun Hotel: Jalan Trikora Laut No. 1 Tanjung Balai (very near to the ferry terminal). Tel: +62-777-21065. Between Rp. 120.000 and Rp. 140.000.
Section 9 Get out
Boat
- Tanjung Balai is a major jumping-off point for visitors planning to travel to Sumatra or Java.
- A PELNI ferry KM Kelud leaves every Wednesday at 8am from Tanjung Balai to Jakarta, taking 31 hours. On the other hand, the same ferry leaves every Saturday at 7pm from Tanjung Balai to Belawan (Medan), taking 17 hours.
Section 10 Contact
Telephone numbers
The country code for Indonesia is 62. The area code for Tanjung Balai is 777.
Postal services
Post office (known as kantor pos in Bahasa Indonesia) in Tanjung Balai is open daily except Sundays and public holidays. Sending a postcard costs Rp. 5.000.
