Joanna James
Bintan is an island in Indonesia that is a melting pot of culture and tropical paradise which offers visitors so much more to see that just its glorious beaches. It would take you about two hours from Jakarta and should be your base if you are planning an Indonesian vacation.
Panglong village is home to the sea gipsies or Orang Laut who are considered to be Bintan Island's first settlers. They were originally nomadic fishermen and still are, to some extent. They are mostly settled on the shore of Panglong and spend the day casting nets for fish in the ocean on their traditional boats. Their iconic homes on the shore are known as mud igloos and are well worth a visit to check out the beautiful relationship these people have with nature.
Crystal Lagoon is located on Treasure Bay and is the first artificial saltwater lagoon of its kind. It spans 60 hectares and is ideal for water sports and such related activities. It's the ultimate Bintan resort package and even if you don't want to take part in water sports you can just lounge around on floaties for house working on your tan.
Vihara Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is also known as the Thousand Faced Temple and is located in the south of the island. It is a cultural attraction with an interesting twist. The temple is home to over 500 life-sized statues each with a unique face and expression. It is utter magic and one that will hold you captivated for quite a while. Make sure you take some time out to visit even if it's a bit of a drive from your hotel the likes of Bintan Lagoon Resort.
What would you be if you visit an island and don't partake in the fresh seafood? Be sure to find a place that does grilled fish and have a try. It will blow your mind. As will all the other kinds of seafood. Don't restrict yourself, wherever you are eating ask them for their seafood dishes and you can be guaranteed to leave without any food regrets.
A charming fishing village of people that descend from Bintan's Chinese roots, Senggarang is a village that has canals for streets; a sort of rural and tropical Venice, if you please. The houses are great to look at and take pictures of, but it will call to mind your sense of humility and privilege by comparison. There are some colourful shrines and temples that you should also visit if you can spare the time and love architecture and want to see the Chinese influence on the culture.
The original tourist hotspot on Bintan, Trikora Beach is a string of four pretty beaches that are great for some relaxation. You can choose to lounge about or go swimming, snorkelling or simply take a walk around sampling the street food on display.
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