Who would have thought I’d end up here? Honestly, I never planned this journey, never even dreamed of it. The word "Batam" had never crossed my mind.
Actually, I’d wanted to leave Jogja for a long time, influenced by many factors back then, whether from family, neighbors, or my social environment at the time.
I didn’t care where I went, as long as I could leave Jogja. I had thought about the industrial areas around West Java, including Jakarta. I even tried applying for jobs in Kalimantan but didn’t make it past the interview stage, and I didn’t pass the written test for Malaysia.
Eventually, rather than staying unemployed for too long, I had to work in Jogja as a PlayStation technician. Before I knew it, 1.5 years had passed. Somehow, I met a close friend from vocational school, let’s call him "CEBONG." By chance, I was looking for some pirated software, and it turned out he worked at a CD/DVD rental in Jogja.
Not only did he teach me how to use the cracked software, but he also shared a lot about his job, which somehow reignited my desire to leave Jogja.
Long story short, CEBONG invited me to take a job test at the Sleman Manpower Office, and the opportunity was for Batam. Without hesitation, I took advantage of my days off to attend, and I eventually passed the selection process. Oddly enough, CEBONG, who encouraged me to accompany him, ended up backing out because his parents didn’t give him permission. So, that was the lesson I learned from being tricked by a close friend, and I ended up going alone without knowing a single person.
When I arrived, wow... it turned out Batam was amazing!
I’d like to share a few memories from my time in Batam, my island of wanderings. There were many unique things there, as well as great spots to visit. The development in Batam could be described as advanced and rapidly progressing. Here are a few wallpaper photos I can share with all of you, which I took in 2012.
The past isn’t always something to forget, because the past is a blessing from Almighty God.
