The "Fake Arrival" at Ternate & Quirky Ferry Meals
It's August 19th, and I'm currently hanging out inside the massive PELNI ferry.
Around 7:00 or 8:00 AM, the constant hum of the engine suddenly stopped. I saw the water splashing outside and got super excited, thinking, "We're finally here!"—but it turned out to be just a layover.
We had actually docked at an island called Ternate to pick up more passengers. I had no idea, but apparently, Ternate is famous for its volcano and is highly recommended for its beautiful townscape. I didn't get to do anything but sit on the boat this time, though.
Now, let's talk about the ferry meals, which are always good for a laugh.
Breakfast was a simple combo of rice and meat. The meat tasted great, but the portions were so incredibly small that the food container looked completely empty!
Lunchtime, however, brought a pleasant surprise: an upgraded portion! We got a sausage, vegetables (sayur), and fish. Funny enough, there's always one empty slot left in the food tray. It's almost like an unspoken rule of PELNI ferry meals that the tray can never be fully packed.
A Midnight Spicy Noodle Surprise
At night, the guy sleeping in the bed across from me noticed I was hungry and actually cooked something up for me.
He handed me a bowl of noodles, and oh man, it was unbelievably spicy!
I originally boarded the ferry in Bitung, North Sulawesi, a region apparently notorious for its fiery, spicy cuisine. I literally couldn't stop coughing, but the flavor was absolutely incredible. Experiencing this kind of local kindness is exactly why I love traveling like this.
Finally in Ambon: A Much-Needed Seafood Feast
Finally, around 1:00 AM, we arrived at our destination: Ambon!
I was completely exhausted and dizzy from the long journey. I just wanted food, so I headed straight to a fish food stall I spotted right by the port.
The fish I had there was out of this world. Ambon is an island surrounded by the sea, but surprisingly, it feels somewhat rare to see food stalls with so much fresh fish lined up on display like this.
After eating mostly meat in the Philippines and other places, I'm beyond thrilled to finally switch things up with some amazing seafood.
I can't wait to explore Ambon and see what this town has in store for me!
