Traveling from Pekanbaru to Dumai

Route: Jl Riau Ujung, Pekanbaru to Duriand to Dumai: Riau, Indonesia
Date: 24 June 2019
Distance: 191 kms.
Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes night broken trip (10:30pm - 1:30am to 2:00am - 3:30am)
Mode/ Route: Fare
Bus/ Pekanbaru - Duri: 50k IDR
Oplet/ Duri - Dumai: 20k IDR
Ojek/ Dumai terminal to Jl. Sudirman: 30k IDR

Difficulty: Transfer from one vehicle to another, hot and humid during the day, smoking people inside the vehicle
Highlight: Land transportation as it shows the places passed by (Bengkalis regency, palm oil plantations of Riau, Crude oil pipelines to Dumai, Oil wells along the way

Intersection of Jl. Riau Ujung where I waited for bus, van or car

I just arrived(7:30pm) from Bukitinggi in West Sumatra where I spent my 3-day tour to West Sumatra with my co-teachers and staff at Education 21. But, I am again travelling for the next 8 days. This route is the start of my travel: Pekanbaru to Dumai.

After washing my clothes at home, I packed my things quickly. Just like my usual backpacking practice, I just brought the important ones. I have 3 shirts, 1 polo shirt, 2 long pants, 5 briefs, 2 shorts, 1 polo, 1 small bath towel, and toiletries. They have fir altogether in my medium-sized Northface backpack. I also checked my ferry, airline, and other tickets and checked on my wallet and cards.

I left home at 9:30 pm withdrew some money at the nearby petrol station. My friend sent me to the intersection at the end of Riau Ujung Road, Pekanbaru. It is where Jl Riau Ujung, Jl. Lintas Sumatera, and Jl Ria

u Baru meet. I am familiar with the place because I have already been here to get my ride to Dumai the week before. Unlike my last trip, this time, I feel more confident traveling at night.

I was able to get my ride at 10:30 pm. It is a bus going to Medan but passes by  Duri. Unlike the bus last week, the  bus I have was more quiet as there is no loud music on board. It was also very fast that I reached Duri at 1:30am. The fare was 50k rupiah.

I did not wait at the former store where I alighted. Instead, I walked further and waited in front of another store which is also a vulcanizing shop. After 30 minutes waiting, at 2:30 am, I was able to ride an oplet - an L-300 like jeepney. Again, the oplet is more peaceful this time. I seated at the middle of that car intending to sleep but I was not able to do so because it was very cold. Nevertheless, it was a peaceful ride with some 4 others who looks like they are a family. I reached Dumai terminal of the oplet at 3:30am. The fare was 20k rupiah. It was still early so I slept first at the terminal and at 5:00am I took a bath. It was not the clean and tiled bathroom that you expect and the dipper is not as clean as in the house but it was free.

I left the terminal bu riding a motorcycle called ojek at 30k rupiah. It was reduced after I bargained from 50k rupiah. As much as possible, for transport, with one on one transaction, bargain and ask for cheaper price, especially if you have very tight budget. The thing is, they would always be willing to give. I was able to reach Jalan Sudirman where Indomal Building is. It is the building where the booking ticket is exchanged for the ferry ticket at the day of travel.

After getting my ferry ticket. I settled down, rested and waited for the van to send us to the ferry terminal. It was there where more exciting experiences started.

Pekanbaru to Dumai (Google maps)