Do you know the way to Galang?

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).