Destination: Sumatra --> Riau Islands

• Eco-tourism:

1. Mount Bintan

Located just 55 kilometers from Tanjung Pinang, the capital city of Riau Islands province, it is a spot that you can't miss when you are around the area. Although it is lower than most mountains in Java, it still offers a panoramic view of the surrounding blue seas and a high level of biological diversity.

Mount Bintan

Silver Leaf Monkeys

Located near the equator, the island is home to tropical rainforests with dipterocarp trees as tall as 40 meters covering the mountain. The rainforests is also home to animals such as the silver leaf monkeys and a variety of birds like the sunbirds, eagles and kites.

SImilar to the rainforests, the waters surrounding the island are also blessed with biological diversity. Small sea creatures such as snails and squids inhabit the blue waters, co-existing with dolphins and two species of sea turtles, the hawksbill turtles and the green turtles.

Hawksbill Turtle

After tracking the forests and climbing your way up to the mountain peak, you can take a break at a waterfall situated at the base of the mountain. Feel free to take a refreshing bath here. After that, you might want to visit the fruits plantations managed by the locals and get yourself some fresh durians or rambutan at a low price. 

Come here in July to take part in the "Bintan Mountain Tracking and Durian Party" held by the local officials. The event consists two sessions, a race to find your way to the peak and durian party. 

A trip here will definitely relieve you from your stress caused by busy works back in the hot, polluted city. 

• Culture & Heritage:

1. Tanjung Pinang

Due to its past, the town of Tanjung Pinang is rich in culture and history. People from parts of Indonesia as well as foreign nations such as Britain, Portugal and parts of the Arab world have set their foot here in the past. Come here to learn more about the town's rich history.

Tanjung Pinang

Beside its shops and street vendors that sell exotic fruits and dried assorted seaweeds at a very low price, you can see many historical buildings here. In the central commercial district is   a Chinese temple called Cetiya Satya Dharma. Still within the city, there is a Dutch Colonial Graveyard which reflects the life of the Europeans in the past. The town's memories of the past are also preserved in the town's museum. Artifacts such as keris and ceramics are some example of the displays. 

Outside central Tanjung PInang is Senggarang, an old village that is believed to be the first home to Chinese immigrants. Proof of this is the existence of a one-hundred-year old Chinese temple called the Banyan Tree temple. Another proof is a temple complex of several temple that faces the sea decorated with colorful paintings and wood carvings.

Senggarang village

    
    2. Penyengat Island

An island located around 6 kilometers offshore Tanjung Pinang, Penyengat Island is a small island whose existence dates back to the 18th century during the time of the British Colonials, making it an island with a high historical value.

Here you can visit the Masjid Raya Sultan Riau, a beautiful yellow-colored mosque  that was built in 1832 during the reign of King Abdul Rahman. This mosque houses many old manuscripts written in Arabic and hand-written Koran, but unfortunately some of these are damaged due to dampness. The architecture of this building is a mixture of three different cultures: Indian, Malay and Arabic. Be sure to wear formal dress to avoid being denied entry to the mosque. 

Masjid Raya Sultan Riau

Another thing to see is the Raja Haji Fisabilillah Monument, a twenty eight-meter tall monument dedicated to Raja Haji Fisabilillah who died during the battle of Malacca. This monument is being considered to be recognized as a World Heritage Site. 

Raja Haji Fisabilillah Monument