Visitors can choose, either to walk, or to use trishaw to circle the island. For Rp.25,000, trishaw rider will bring you anywhere and everywhere. Surprisingly, there are no cars around as the island is only 1 km x 2 km wide. So, stop dreaming about getting taxi in this tiny place.
From Raja Hamidah mausoleum complex, the rider brings me to the another mausoleum.
The complex is well preserved by locals (or the government?)
It houses a few more Royal graves
Raja Jaafar & Raja Ali, both of them are theYang DiPertuan Muda Riau.
View from the window. well, there is a guestbook provided at the corner of the complex.
Apart from Mausoleum complex, the compartment consists of a pool for royals to take baths.
Not far from the complex, there lies another ancient building, with a mixture of Dutch and Anglo Architecture, and the complex is believed to house Raja Ali Haji, where he writes his Gurindam Dua Belas sonnet inside the room.
We move further up, to look for the Balai Adat, they say, the building used to be a Royal Palace
And Gurindam Dua Belas can bee seen clearly on the wall (the first six sonnet)
The second part..I haven't seen the english part, but this Malay Poetry is very beautiful indeed.
Jetty for Royals
The windy island makes our journey very challenging as I have to ensure that my journey to the mainland is as scheduled.
Most of Penyengat inhabitants settled on water, just like Kampung Ayer in Brunei, or Kampung Pilipina in Sabah.
A few moment later, I find myself looking for a shelter at Masjid Raya due to the unexpected heavy downpour.
This Pakcik approaches me as I don't look like locals, and we have some decent chat on history of Penyengat.
As the rain stops, time to look for lunch. there are no big restaurants on Penyengat, only hawkers selling food at a very reasonable price. Grilled fresh fish, with sambal, and fried kangkung is the best lunch ever!
Done with lunch, time to hop on the pongpong boat to the main island.
Bicycle rides pongpong too!
After 3 hours on Penyengat soil, I have to say goodbye to the island.
The visit is a memorable one, and upon leaving the island, I think I'm attached to Gurindam Dua Belas.
Ticket to Motherland.
Back to International Jetty, awaiting for departure to Malaysia. It will be another 2 hour ferry ride again.
Don't forget to stamp your passport before leaving the island, and it is compulsory to pay Rp130,000 tax. Just like any other Indonesia's border control. So, leave some Rupiah to pay this unexpected tax.
Boarding, and 2 hours later, I am back to Motherland
.
Bye-bye Penyengat. I have fulfilled my wishlist, hope to see you again in future.
Bye-bye Penyengat. I have fulfilled my wishlist, hope to see you again in future.
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