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TANJUNG PINANG |
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Lying on the southeast coast of the island, the traditional capital
of the Riau Islands, TANJUNG PINANG , is an attractive bustling port
town with good tourist facilities and useful transport links throughout
Indonesia. There are a few sights in the town itself, although Pasar
Baru , between Jalan Merdeka and the harbour, is undoubtedly the gem.
This is a terrific traditional Indonesian market: tiny alleyways are
lined with shops and stalls selling mountains of exotic food, household
goods, textiles, tools and religious artefacts. The town has a large
Chinese trading population and there are plenty of red-and-gold temples
with smoking incense, fierce dragons and serene statues of Chinese
goddesses. One of the most atmospheric - with Kuan Yin, the goddess of
mercy, in pride of place - is on the harbourfront at the end of the most
easterly jetty, Jl Pelantar II.
The Tanjung Pinang tourist office is at Jalan H Agus Salim (Mon-Thurs
8am-1.30pm, Fri 9-11am & Sat 9-12.30pm; tel 0771/25373) and the main
post office is at Jl Brigjenkatamso 122; poste restante should be sent
here. The Telkom office is at Jl Hang Tuah 11 (7am-midnight).
Immigration is at Jl Jend A Yani 31 (tel 0771/21034) and on the ferry
pier. The island's hospitals are Rumah Sakit Umum, Jl Sudirman 795 (tel
077121733), and Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut, Jalan Ciptadi (tel
0771/25805).
The bus terminal is Batu Tujuh (Stone Seven) on the outskirts of town;
bemos ply between the town centre and the terminal (Rp300) from 6am to
10pm and public buses operate to Kijang (1hr), Trikora (1-2hr) and
Tanjung Uban (2hr) during daylight hours, but are irregular and
infrequent.
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