Those hard beds

Slow boat to Java

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November 25th 2009
According to the official Indonesian ferry service website (PELNI.co.id) there was a ferry leaving from Batam Island, near to Singapore, for Jakarta this afternoon. The ferry went about every four days, so getting the day right was important. And catching a ferry rather than the easier option of flying was important to me too. Ben and I left Little India at 7am and caught the clean and efficient M ... read more

Asia » Indonesia » Riau Archipelago » Batam

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The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; the islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hos... ... read more