The old waterfront kampung of Tanjung Pinang is one of the most atmospheric places in the Riau Islands. Houses, shops, and small factories sit on wooden stilts over the strait, connected by a maze of plank walkways that creak and flex under your feet. This is not a tourist reconstruction — it is a working neighbourhood where families have lived for generations, where fishing boats tie up directly to front porches and children run past on their way to school.
The best approach is from the main waterfront near the ferry terminal, following the walkways north. You will pass tiny provision shops, women sorting fish, and cats waiting patiently near the smoking racks. The light in the late afternoon, when the sun is low and the water glitters between the planks, is worth the walk on its own. Most residents are welcoming to respectful visitors who ask before photographing. Budget a few hours to get properly lost.