[BlickBassy]

History 201

WWII

You maybe wondering why Batam has so many Japanese names for their town. At one time it was occupied by the Japanese. Today tourists come to the island for golf games and tourisy activities. A dark tourist history predates the boat-people remains to be unfolded. A trip to pantai serangoon will provide some clue to Japanese living in Galang.

Right after the war, the Japanese POW were sent to Galang to grow pineapples before being repatriated. The locals suspected the Yamamoto gold is still hidden on the island. I am going to buy a metal detector if i retire one day. Meanwhile on occasional 'field' trips, i only dig out some ancient sea shells and corals right up on some hills and knolls. It suggests the Riau Islands group is relatively young. Islets are still emerging out of the seas every year. Who wants to own an island?

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Will update the history of Batam with Part 3: Pulau Abang shipwrecks from the Admiral Ching Ho era. I don't know but there might be gold in the 3 sunken ships.

If you prefer I do it chronologically, I can put preface, a brief historical note on the Johor Sultanate influence over the Riau Islands after the fall of Malacca before moving back in the timeline.