Wasn't really a planned vacation trip. Was there to attend baby's colleague wedding dinner. Why Batam? That's the couple's decision. Up to you to imagine.
Place - Rural/Sub-urban
Pretty kampung in some places, otherwise modern developments like hotels and shopping malls have already dotted the island. Roads are paved but ill-maintained. It's like you will see deep potholes out from nowhere and then it's sometimes too late to siam them. Car's wobbling, heads bobbing. Really makes you think, why the hell bother to pave the roads in the first place? I rather they keep it sandy, at least make me feel like I'm in a rally race or something.
Poor drainage along roads. Floods are supposed to be naturals disasters and natural disasters aren't supposed to happen often. Imagine a local guide telling you, "Oh! Here eberitime rain eberitime flood, normal la!". Quite a number of SGreans having businesses there. Pubs, hotels, restaurants, you name it.
Hotel - Novotel
OK only lor. Facilities-wise, the expected things are all there. I was pretty contented...provided things work. The hair-dryer died on me after using it for 3 seconds. The safe doesn't come with instructions and I have not watched enuff heist movies to know how to use it. No scenery to talk about. A look out the window I see an incomplete building. Actually it's just pillars and a 2nd floor. I indulge in self-deceit by seeing it as an ancient ruins, derelict and unexplored. All in all, still livable. Breakfast was good...no qualms about it.
Shopping
Pretty decent, alike a neighbourhood mall back home. Certain things that you can't find in SG: A&W restaurant, pirated discs shops, smoking within the mall. Refreshing, like good ol' times kinda feeling. Food is cheap. Cigarettes are cheap. Everything's in rupiah and bloody cheap. How was it like holding on to hundreds of thousands of dollars in my pocket? I feel thick. 2hr massage on our last day was shiok but I was pretty sore all over after that. Not that I'm complaining. (^.^)y
Would I go back there again? Yes, I feel rich there. LOL.
Place - Rural/Sub-urban
Pretty kampung in some places, otherwise modern developments like hotels and shopping malls have already dotted the island. Roads are paved but ill-maintained. It's like you will see deep potholes out from nowhere and then it's sometimes too late to siam them. Car's wobbling, heads bobbing. Really makes you think, why the hell bother to pave the roads in the first place? I rather they keep it sandy, at least make me feel like I'm in a rally race or something.
Poor drainage along roads. Floods are supposed to be naturals disasters and natural disasters aren't supposed to happen often. Imagine a local guide telling you, "Oh! Here eberitime rain eberitime flood, normal la!". Quite a number of SGreans having businesses there. Pubs, hotels, restaurants, you name it.
Hotel - Novotel
OK only lor. Facilities-wise, the expected things are all there. I was pretty contented...provided things work. The hair-dryer died on me after using it for 3 seconds. The safe doesn't come with instructions and I have not watched enuff heist movies to know how to use it. No scenery to talk about. A look out the window I see an incomplete building. Actually it's just pillars and a 2nd floor. I indulge in self-deceit by seeing it as an ancient ruins, derelict and unexplored. All in all, still livable. Breakfast was good...no qualms about it.
Shopping
Pretty decent, alike a neighbourhood mall back home. Certain things that you can't find in SG: A&W restaurant, pirated discs shops, smoking within the mall. Refreshing, like good ol' times kinda feeling. Food is cheap. Cigarettes are cheap. Everything's in rupiah and bloody cheap. How was it like holding on to hundreds of thousands of dollars in my pocket? I feel thick. 2hr massage on our last day was shiok but I was pretty sore all over after that. Not that I'm complaining. (^.^)y
Would I go back there again? Yes, I feel rich there. LOL.
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