Batam's Coat of Many Colors

Batam is an island of the Riau group of islands in Indonesia. It is primarily known as the place where many international brands have their manufacturing sites and factories. However, it also has a quite deserved reputation for a very active nightlife.

Most hotels in Batam are based in Nagoya, the principal town. It has a wide range of hotels. The Batam cheap hotels need to be selected carefully. It's all about location. Batam has a large entertainment district which is awake all night but as usual, tourists have to be careful before they go back to revive in the safety of their hotels in Batam.

Most expensive hotels in Batam outside of Nagoya are based in Nongsa. This is known as the resort area and has some very nice resorts. It is modeled on a similar concept of a secluded resort area in neighboring Bintan. Like Bintan, it has several world class Golf courses and of course the ubiquitous sugar-fine sandy beaches found across Indonesia.

Places to See and Be In

Waterfront City in Batam offers a host of water sports. If you're looking for a quiet and affordable stay and want to avoid Batam cheap Hotels, this is ideal. Most people go to Batam actively seeking the nightlife and entertainment on offer in Nagoya. It is worth taking basic precautions in the entertainment district. Keep your belongings close. Don't travel alone at night and even when in a group avoid talking to strangers.

That said, there has been a concerted effort on part of the government to curb the seamier aspects of Batam and promote tourism. Nongsa is a result of this effort. Hotels in Batam tend to be quite expensive and you might find that even Batam cheap hotels don't offer fair value. The pricier resorts tend to offer better value for money. Look for the all inclusive offers on the internet. These resorts are ideal for family holidays since they provide childcare, activities for children as well as adults and excellent spa facilities.

If you are at a loose end, head for the shopping in Nagoya. They have a very large mall with smaller shops near by. The shops sell everything from garments to antiques. With a bit of clever bargaining, it's possible to get a steal. The mall also has a great food court with reasonably priced and hygienic food. It's got a good variety so there's something for everyone.

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Batam, A City at the Edge

Batam, Indonesia was a quiet coastal backwater, far from central Jakarta, at the forgotten edge of Indonesia. This dramatically changed in 1989, when the duty free and export zone was established. Although Batam has lost some of its economic luster to the Chinese and Vietnamese in the 2000s, the 80s and 90s was a period of dramatic transformation. The new Hang Nadim Airport, good class hotels, restaurants and entertainment complexes mushroomed all over Batam island. Batam became the Singaporeans' playground. The golf courses are busy on every weekend, and the huge hawker centre at Pujasera teems with fresh seafood and Singaporeans alike.

Batam has a deserved reputation for its seafood restaurants. Prawns, lobsters, green clams, and the local specialty "Gong Gong" are on offer at many restaurants. Gong Gong is a conch-shaped mollusc, boiled, extracted on a toothpick, and dipped into spicy hot sambal sauce.

Nights are usually spent at a discotheque or a karaoke bar. Alternatively, take time out from eating, shopping and your massage. You might find an interesting cultural performance at "Desa Seni" in Sekupang.

Most travelers to Batam stay around either Nagoya or Waterfront City. Sekupang is the usual port of entry if you are arriving by the ferries from Singapore's WTC. Ferries to other domestic destinations leave from the pier next door. It is a 30min taxi ride to downtown Nagoya.

Nagoya (yes, it is named after the Japanese city), is the effective centre for the Batam traveler. You will find the best hotels in town, the inimitable Pujasera Hawker Centre, and of course numerous Spas offering sports massage.

Waterfront City on the west coast of Batam, south of Sekupang, is a magnet for thrill seekers. Thrills include bungee-jumping, and even indoor skiing. By night, the area comes alive with more than a handful discos and karaoke pubs. Not suitable for the faint hearted. Batam is a duty free zone. Alcohol and cigarettes are ridiculously cheap.

Overall, there is a distinct cowboy vibe to the whole Batam experience. Still, it's a fun stopover for your Visa Run to and from Singapore.

Batam is also a busy port and industrial centre. Consequently, there are several good midpriced hotels in the city. Far better than you would find anywhere else in Sumatra. You can find a list of hotels here.

It is also a great place to swing your golf clubs. Several fine courses are available at a fraction of Singapore prices. Do note that beach lovers will be disappointed. Swimming here is best done in the hotel pools.

The illegal casinos run by the syndicates have also shut down.

Overall, it is a good way to escape from Singapore. Cheap, noisy, and loads of fun if you are looking for some naughty fun.

Hary Elias is editor of http://www.itravelindonesia.com.

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Batam Island Info For Vacationers

Batam Island is part of Indonesia, and is located about 40 km south of Singapore. There are several hotels and resorts on the island, as well as plenty of tourist attractions, 7 international golf courses, shopping centers and restaurants, and a few nice beaches for swimming or taking the kids to.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS

Most of the attractions that Batam Island has to offer to its visitors include fine beach resorts, natural wilderness, breathtaking landscape and exotic nightlife. Apart from the typical luxury, however, there exist several places that are among the landmarks of the island and are worth visiting.
Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Buddhist Temple is a major attraction in Batam as being one of the biggest Buddhist temples in South-East Asia. Located in Batam Centre the temple hosts one statue of Buddha as well as two other statues of the Goddess of Mercy. There is a souvenir shop and a restaurant within the temple's district. Vihara Buddhi Bhakti Temple is a typical Chinese temple in the town of Nagoya. At present it is used by the locals for their daily prayers and religious rituals. Waterfront City is among the nicest resort areas on Batam Island. It is situated on the west coast and it mainly attracts visitors from Singapore. The resort is famous not only for its beaches but also for the variety of sports and water sports that are available there, including cable water skiing, Step 1 Go Karts and many others. Most of the hotels offer spa treatment and massages that continue to astonish their guests. Vietnamese Refugee Village can be visited in Pulau Galang. It was the home to many Vietnamese refugees who escaped from their county between 1972 and 2001 and sought shelter in Batam. The Indonesian government allowed them to live in the region, where they developed their own town by building a school, hospital, cemetery and temples. What is left of their lifestyle can still be seen almost intact in the area. Jembatan Barelang Bridge is actually a chain of bridges that connect the 6 islands of Batam. The view from all of them is magnificent and many tourists visit the bridges exactly for the sake of aesthetics and in order to take some pictures of the nature on the island.
AIRPORT or FERRY

Reaching Batam is possible by either flying there from Jakarta or Malaysia, or by using the ferry services that provide transportation from Singapore or Malaysia.
Hang Nadim International Airport is an airport located at the east side of the island and serves mainly domestic flights to and from other Indonesian destinations. The airport is only 30 minutes drive from Nagoya, the capital of the island. The easiest way to get to the city centre is by taking a taxi. Taxis from the airport are not metered but the drivers have a list of destinations for fixed prices. Penguin Ferry and Batam Fast are the most frequent ferry companies that operate between Singapore and Batam every hour for a price of $ 30 and additional 3 dollars for insurances. There are five ferry terminals in Batam, the major one of which is Batam Centre. The journey takes about 45 minutes. Upon arrival you may be confronted with taxi drivers trying to offer you a ride to the city centre. Bargain the price before you agree to it.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

Several means of transportation are available in Batam:
The local buses operate in fixed directions and can be stopped on the street as a taxi. Make sure that the bus is going into your direction before you take it. Damri buses are the cheapest way of getting around, though unreliable from a frequency point of view. Fares start at Rp.1000. Taxis are metered but you should negotiate the price in advance because most drivers in Batam don't use the meter. Unless you tell the driver you don't want to share the cab, he will pick up other passengers. Prices for a shared taxi vary from Rp. 8000 to Rp. 10,000. It is also possible to hire the car for the whole day. Prices: around Rp.150,000 to Rp. 200,000 per day. Ojek is another cheap means of transport, namely a motorcycle taxi. Bargain the price before you get on. It is usually around Rp. 3000 Rp. 6000 for short distances.
HISTORY

The settlement history of Batam as well as that of its adjacent islands goes back to 231 A.D. as some Chinese chronicles state. The region has been under the influence of different kingdoms, beginning with the Malacca Kingdom from the 13th century. Later, in 1824 the Dutch and the English split the area and ruled it until it became under the power of the Riau Lingga Kingdom. The trajectory of the Batam history absolutely changed its way when in 1969 the island became a base for the oil exploration of a state-owned oil company. Two years later it was designated an industrial area and since the Batam Authority was formed in 1975, it has continually grown into a duty-free zone with expanding industrial business and great seafood for its visitors.

If you would like more information about Batam Island, please visit us http://www.batam-island-info.com/

Terry Sandford

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