The other day I walked over to check out the almost completed ferry terminal that is next to our marina. It will be an international terminal with ferries going to Harbour Front in Singapore, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Indonesia (west of Singapore near Sumatra) and Harbour Bay, Batam, Indonesia (to the south of Singapore). I had heard rumors that it would not be opening until next month. It was originally to open toward the end of last year but things get delayed here in Malaysia all the time.

As you can see from the picture I posted about, this complex will be very nice when it does open and will make getting around very convenient. Unlike the bus we take to Singapore, which drops you off at a mall in the suburbs, this ferry will drop you off right in the harbor area of the city. It makes getting into the downtown area so simple.

The ferry to Singapore will run three times a day departing Puteri Harbour at 0700, 1400 and 1800. The ferry will take about 90 minutes to make the 29 nm trip. The round trip was will be $58 RM or about $19 US.

I was not allowed to go into the complex to check it out but the guard insisted that ferry service will be starting this Wednesday, May 8th. If that is true, then it will be operating in time for us to take it as we start our trip to China this Friday, May 10th. It will make getting to our hotel in Singapore so much more convenient. I have now been in Malaysia long enough to know that an opening date just has no meaning here but I am encouraged. I thought I would walk back over to the ferry terminal on Wednesday to see if it is really open and that the ferries are running. With my luck, it will be open but only the ferries to Indonesia will be running...