Do you know the way to Galang?

GALANG Island, Riau (JP): Since last year, visitors have been able to reach Galang by land, thanks to the development of six bridges connecting the islands of Batam, Tonton, Nipah, Setoko, Rempang and Galang.

One of the bridges is constructed similar to the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. Tourists can view the surrounding islands and clean sea.

Foreign tourists intending to visit Galang directly can enter through Batam. Tourists, mostly Singaporeans, usually use a ferry, with a fare of S$15, to reach the island only 20 kilometers south of Singapore.

Tourists can arrive in Batam's main harbor Sekupang or other smaller harbors, such as Batu Ampar harbor.

Domestic tourists usually arrive from Pekanbaru, the capital city of Riau province, by ferry.

There is also Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport, although the number of visitors through this gateway remains small.

It takes an hour and 20 minutes by air from Jakarta to Batam. There are three flights daily seven days a week.

To visit Galang from Batam, one can take the public bus. It's cheap -- about Rp 3,000 a trip --but the number of public buses is limited and the wait for a vehicle can take hours.

It's better to take a taxi -- with a fare between 30,000 and Rp 50,000 -- if you want to arrive quickly on the island to view the harrowing sights of the Vietnamese refugee camp and to find solace on the beautiful beaches of the island. (jun).