Makan Kakis Go To Batam!

The initial weather that started the day was totally contradicting with my mood as I woke up in the morning to get ready. This outing to Batam with the Makan Kakis was event that I had been looking forward to since the previous Makan Kaki trip to Johore Baru, as the combination of good food and even greater company was seriously something I very much appreciated.

So initially when Aidil informed me that the company this time round was rather different as compared to the last, I was quite apprehensive (as usual). But during the first hour where we all gathered together at the terminal, all worries faded away in an instant! Kekeke.

Kimmy and I were saying, perhaps certain people attract a certain group of people and thank God, this attraction has quality wakakaka! Thus, without further ado, let me introduce the zany characters for the day!-

Every single one of them was just good sport and it is refreshing spending time with new people, but I do admit I miss people like Siti and Fai (who is always a ball of fun to be around with, I daresay).

Anyway, after we touched down from the 60mins ferry ride and getting over some confusion at the terminal, the 15 of us along with our guide hopped aboard the mini bus and sped our way to the first stop – brunch at Stamina Ocu. Like Shaz said, weird name for a stall, but the food was really, really good in my humble opinion.

I mean seriously, scrutinize the faces in the second picture lah! Hahaha! I realize that everyone has that longing look on their faces, as if they’ve have not eaten for years hahaha! When all the dishes were finally served (and look at the number!), the table went quiet for a while as everyone dug in.

I have to agree again with Shaz, that the grilled chicken marinated with green chilli was the best dish throughout. I could have seriously licked the plate clean I tell you. Fish dishes (a couple of them) were not bad too, besides the chao-tared one which no one touched haha!

After the filling meal, with everyone squealing “Mmm this is nice!” or “That is nicer!“, the guide brought us all to Barelang bridge for some sightseeing. I have to admit, when I first heard of the plan, I was thinking “Er… all this way for a bridge?” but once I stepped out from the minibus, I felt as if I could stay up there forever!

Even though the sun was shining pretty hard, the breeze blowing from the ocean all around was so damn cooling it reminded me of the time I was at Pura Penataran Beratan at Bali. So heavenly, I tell you! All of us had a fun time camwhoring whilst laughing at our hair which went crazy, and even managed to catch a full blown fist fight between the street hawkers around us. Scary stuff there, I have to admit.

The fight was so close to us that Kak Wati, fearing for our safety, quickly ushered us back up the minibus, which was a shame cuz I really wanted to spend more time on the bridge. Seems like we kept stumbling into people fighting on that day, as earlier on at the ferry terminal, we were witnesses to a vocal fight between two grown men, all full of flowery language and dumb thinking.

Makes me think if people DO ever grow up. They were saying things like “Call police ah! I not scared!” Doesn’t that sound SO primary school? Hahaha.

Anyway our next location was BCS Mall, which I’ve been to the previous time I was in Batam. Since there was not much stuff there to shop, Kimmy and I went around looking for more food. We saw a very colorful small stall selling “Ice Cream Goreng” (Fried Ice Cream) and Kimmy was telling me that the one he had in Singapore was good, so we should give the Batam version a try.

Unfortunately, turns out we were kind of ‘cheated’ as it’s not really that they fried the ice cream. It was more of… freezing the ‘cream’ in a frying way. HAHA. But nevertheless, it did taste relatively okay, so we didn’t feel that ripped off.

90 minutes later everyone gathered at the main entrance and off we headed to the Polo outlet, where some went crazy buying the goods but as for the rest of us, we took one quick round and waited for them outside, with some looking at the goods for sale by the street hawkers and the rest just ‘bonding’ behind the van.

I really pity the street hawkers sometimes. I don’t think they get to sell much of their goods and they were practically begging us to buy the stuff la. But I guess, these hawkers are luckier then those in Bali, which were made up of mostly young kids and senior citizens. Here, they are full grown men, so you know they can support themselves.

Once the shoppers reemerged, we hustled along and got our asses to Golden Prawn 666, a seafood restaurant atop a man made lake. I have to say, that the previous time I went there, the food was much better. Probably, because we ordered the nicer dishes but this time round we had to stick to what’s in the tour package.

But in any case, you can never go wrong with the Makan Kakis, I guess. The free flowing conversations and laughters that rang through the table pretty much made up for the lack of very good food :)

And what are we without our jump shots? Wakakaka. Full tummies and all, it was still and ok go. Initially we wanted to take jump shots at Barelang Bridge, but seeing the traffic and the high speed wind coupled with altitude, I guess that was a bad idea hahaha.

Kimmy and I have found our crapping buddies on the bus by this time round, non other then Tuty and NH who were sitting behind us. They were really a ball of fun to be with and initially I thought they were my age, but on further discovery, found out that one had already graduated from poly and is now working, and the other, an undergraduate.

Young at heart, honey! Young at heart!

Finally it was JCo Donuts time! Shaz and Aidil did an AWESOME job ordering our 720+ donuts and getting reservations for us, that everything came and went with only minor glitches. It was hilarious (and embarrassing) when the guy behind the counter kept repeating my name to collect my orders la hahaha.

Another short chillin’ session here before everyone ran off buying Vcds and whatnot. Iqa recommended a film titled “Jakarta Undercover” and Kimmy bought the original, only to have it spoiled halfway still. WAHPIANG! Original still can like that ah? hahaha. Now he feels pissed cuz he doesn’t know the ending and I feel pissed too cuz I had plans to borrow the dvd from him. Buh.

And finally at 730pm Singapore time, we bade farewell to Kak Wati and boarded the ferry back to home sweet home; quite a sight with our tow of boxes of donuts mwahahaha! Hilarious stuff there, I tell you!

So in conclusion, I had a ball of time with the Makan Kakis, and am looking forward to the barbecue planned for November (if it falls after my papers lah). Not sure if there’s going to be an iftar session, but if there is, count me in dudes!

And last but not least, thanks Shaz and Aidil for organizing the trip! You guys make awesome hosts and even awesome-r Jco Donuts contact people! Kekekeke.

Related posts:

1. The Makan Kakis go to JB!
2. Makan Kakis Hold a Bbq!
3. Makan Kakis Hold a Bbq! (Preview)
4. Makan Kaki Go To Batam (Sneak).
5. Trip to Batam.