| Welcome to the Bluemountain Kelong Retreat and Resort Website! What? another kelong? Yes you got it! Our kelong also known as Bluemountain kelong
is built on the sea with a traditional fish trap. Kelongs are used for centuries by the sea tribes of Indonesia and Malaysia to harvest the sea of fish, squids and prawns. It is built on stilts in the sea about 5-7 m deep and has a 6m x 6m net. To trap the fish the net is lowered at night and a bright light is hung in the centre. The light attracts the fish and squids. When the net is lifted above the waterlevel, the fish, squid or prawns or all of them are trapped and gathered. Our kelong is a functional kelong and is also built on stilts, on the sea off the eastern shore of Cemera island in the Riau, Indonesia. We use it to harvest the sea of fish and squids for food for ourselves rather than for commercial purposes. But here is the difference; Bluemountain kelong is built with seven guest rooms, and each room
has its own flush toilet and shower, and our guests sleep on mattresses with freshly laundered
beddings. Friends and vacationers come for short stays to enjoy the ambiance, each other and to experience a few days of quiet living in the midst of God's creation. Unlike the "kelong" of your youth, ours does not smell like dead fish. Instead one smells the pure fresh sea air that is as intoxicating as the sights of distant islands, blazing sunrises and starry nights.
Where is Bluemountain kelong? If you look at the map below, it is about 15km SE of Batam, Indonesia and about 60km from Singapore
   
click to enlarge children with old school in background villager(Ali) whittling teachers, Nalim, Joinn, Hendri What we do here. We are teachers reaching out to the sea tribes through teaching English to the children of the Riau islands near us. Our teachers are Indonesian citizens and graduates of the Bethany Bible School in Batam. The kelong is used as our base camp and headquarters. Our teachers use a boat for transportation. Friends who come for weekend retreats find our kelong idyllic for building relations and bonding; a place to find rest and peace away from the busyness of city living. How does one get there? Board a ferry in Singapore (HarbourFront) for Batam Centre in Batam. Then go by land transport to one of our pick up points where our boats will transport you to Bluemountain kelong. You will be escorted by one of us from HarbourFront (Singapore) to Bluemountain and back to Batam Centre where you will board a ferry for Singapore. Groups usually leave at about 9:30am (Singapore time) and arrive at 11:30 am (Batam time). | 
