Sumatra's major east-coast port is Dumai , 189km north of Pekanbaru and just across the Straits of Melaka from the Malaysian city of Melaka. Dumai recently became a visa-free entry point , and a fast ferry runs daily to and from Melaka (2hr 30min). Regular buses run between Dumai and Pekanbaru, but if you get stranded you can stay at the City Hotel, Jalan Sudirman (tel 0765/21550).