GO BATAM ISLAND!

GO BATAM ISLAND!

It has been more than ten years since my last visit to Batam Island, Indonesia.

This little island had transformed tremendously due to the presence of Singaporeans.

Shopping malls are mushrooming in the Nagoya or China Town area where many of the business activities, shops, banks, karaoke, wet market and hotels are located, here.

Do indulge in the traditional Indonesian massage but pretty expensive compared to Hatyai, Thailand, at Nagoya.

NAGOYA OR CHINA TOWN

A day tour to see what is in store for, in the Batam Island is a “must” for first timer, here.

A tourist can either sign up for a day tour with a tour agent costs about Singapore $30 or booked a taxi for an island trip costing RM150 per taxi.

Popular places to visit are– KTM Resort, Barelang Fisabililah Bridge, Maha Vihara Duta Mitreya Laughing Buddha, Toa Pek Kong Chinese Temple and the Waterfront City.

At KTM Resort, one can take photograph with the highest Kwan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) standing at 72-metre high. 

KTM RESORT

 

Get a chance to visit the biggest temple in South East Asia “Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya”, at Batam Centre. Here, one is encouraged to touch the belly of the Smiling Buddha for good fortune.

MAHA VIHARA DUTA MAITREYA

POSING WITH SMILING BUDDHA

Do not forget to drop-by the oldest temple in the Batam Town called Toa Pek Kong Temple, where one can pray for happiness and harmony.

TOA PEK KONG TEMPLE

Highlight, is the Barelang Fisabililah Bridge – which the biggest bridges linking the island of Tonton, Nipah to the larger setoko island, Rempang island, Galang island and Galang baru island. All these bridges make Barelang seem to be one islaand. The first bridge connecting Batam to Tonton island is an impressive with its 38-metre high spans and 642 metres in length.

BARELANG FISABILILAH BRIDGE

Batam Island is well-known as a shopping paradise found at – Batam City Square (BCS) Shopping Mall where the Batam's largest and newest mall with various shops can be found.

For tourists craving for local product such as dry food – ikan bilis, dried prawns and cuttle fish, crackers, kuih lapis, preserved food, coffee powder, nuts and batik, do visit the Bengkong Dry Food Stuff Market and GTS Local Product Shop.

Do proceed to local branded products namely Polo Shirt, Diesel and Mulberry outlets, sold at cheap price or discount.

The most popular seafood restaurant is Golden Prawn 933, divided into two restaurant in one complex, built on wood and bamboo over the sea, overlooking the view of north eastern coast of Batam.

After lunch, proceed to Pondok Wisata Cultural Dance, whereby tourists will be entertained by the locals performing a Magic Show and the Kuda Lumping performance. Apart from dancing, the performer will show off special skills like opening the coconut skin with his teeth, live coal and glass eating. It is advisable for tourists to give some tips for this special performance.

KUDA LUMPING PERFORMANCE

The Waterfront City, is another worth visiting especially for family members - where one can participate in sea sport, Go Kart, board surfing, sailing, canoeing, jet ski, parasailing and Bungee Jumping.

Night life on the island is interesting! Just take a stroll along its Red Light District at Kampung Bule. You can find kinky names of pubs such as Foreplay, N Name, Harmoni, Cock & Bull and the Last Pub.

RED DISTRICT CALLED "KPG BULE"

BACKGROUND

Batam's name derived from Stone (batu) and Red Soil (ampar). It covers 415 km plus 80,000 population.

There are four popular reasons tourists comes to the island – shopping (duty free), mistress village, golfing and massage.

The island's economy is clothing industry.

The men works as taxi driver while the women works in the clothing factory. Each family is big as one male can married four wives – 10-20 children per family. The children need to work as shoe polisher or sell newspapers to help the family, financially.

Geographically, Batam suffers no natural disaster. Batam ranks second in tourism industry after Bali.

LAST VISIT : NOVEMBER 2006 AND JUNE 2018