Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread

[nono1973]

Hmm...Batam not only going to have to deal with the cornovirus...

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...o-evaders.html

...they might also have an upcoming water crisis to deal with soon.

https://batam.tribunnews.com/2020/03...t-dam-berhemat

What can be worse? Now that even Dinosaurs also choose to invade Batam,hehehe...

A brave wise Batam man manage to coax these dinosaurs,and cut part of Batam island just for them, so they could co-exist together. Or can they?

Ever since these enormous giants move into Dino's Gate plot of land in Batam, the Batamese and the the dinosaurs have been living happil....ever after?

Just look at them eating their favourite "food" during meal time,hehehe...

End of story.

And welcome to Dino's Gate, Batam new attraction which starts few months ago.

* to some of my friends here, please note that some "baby dinosaurs" manage to escape from Dino's Gate and were spot hidden undercover in some overnight booking joints. Please DO NOT panick if you happen to see them...slowly, a step a time, move to the door and just walk off.

Enjoy Batam..enjoying my good old time.

[Lingo]

Hahaha!!!! Only Foreigners get virus??? These simpletons already have virus in their brains..they call it , demam saja, mimum air putir banyak..

Of course, even all the people in batam are infected by covid19, it is only 1.2 millions people....they have 270 millions people, and 20k islands for them to escape to.....hehehe!!!!!

Bros, play ..play in batam with utmost diligence!!!!

[BFOMF5]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Hmm...iDino's Gate plot of land in Batam, the Batamese and the the dinosaurs have been living happil....ever after?

Thanks for info.
Start getting too bore
tomorrow go Nongsa
Jlnjln.

[fde83]

Originally Posted by taurusian

Info recvd, Galaxy ktv and 1 other joint staff got the virus
Anyone heard about it?

Yup, even now papi/mami mention to the gals to be very careful when getting sinkie customers.

Ngomong apa kau minum air putir? Putir? Gk usah sok tau kau anjing. Mau kata2 org indo. BABI KAU!!

[PowerBenz]

Originally Posted by nono1973

You were right, a Japanese man sharing in tripadvisor faces the same issue during February 2020 in Batam too.

Look through a bit, seems like ONLY Sports Massage is doing that in Batam.

The rest of the MPs should be fine. In fact, most are "hungrier" than ever (a good sign). Do note to practice good hygiene habits, eg, if you have cough/feverish/flu etc, wear a mask. I mean if you dont wish to scare people away.

Will share about what i am equipping myself with in my coming Batam trip,hehehe... psychologically effect that makes people feel safe, at least. At least, thats to handle those lesser educated.

Its understandable that they just only want prevent from getting the virus...Infact i.went to nami at hbb which is quiet and no customer there...Infact batam many places is quiet and only till sat can see abit crowd in mall..Btw apotek selling those mask is repacked and retape them in box sell for 250k...I.checked and i know.its only normal.face mask and nv buy...Pls becareful.when you get from them...those with retape only box.better dont buy

[Hurricane88]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Look through a bit, seems like ONLY Sports Massage is doing that in Batam.

We can always choose not to go and patronize those willing to serve us with diligence....

Maybe have to consider when my next trip...

[Lingo]

Sorry Bros, I mean vigilance not diligence.....hahaha!!!!

[nitecrawllerr]

Originally Posted by Hurricane88

Maybe have to consider when my next trip...

I suppose they earned enough leow. No need revenue fm tourists.

[Kaboon]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Hmm...Batam not only going to have to deal with the cornovirus...

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...o-evaders.html

More to come from Indonesia to Singapore soon (for treatment)...



https://sg.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-s...120717990.html

Sinkies visit Indonesia as much as Indonesian would have visited Sg.

[seabass]

Will have to pay now for treatment, no more free lunch

[Kaboon]

Originally Posted by Naka_Timo

They are only throwing singapore lang face only.

Such kind should be send to Wuhan and let them dead there.

Now when i go over to JB or Vietnam. They will smile and said you got rush to supermarket buy toilet paper a not.

From that they will think singapore lang very easy to tok cai tao

Just learn that society in most of the other countries who went through the first stage of coronavirus all become panicky.

Singaporean not the only one. Even society the like of Japan, USA, Europe cannot escape toilet paper hoarding. At first people were still laughing at Singaporean.

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by retirebatam

I used to book formosa hotel using traveloka hotel booking previously at average about $30 per night for year 2017 & 2018 compare to using my member card at 480,000rp.

When i 1st started staying in Formosa during my 1st trip about 7 years ago, the cost was around S$63,hehehe...i think it was becos its close to CNY back then, hence the higher pricing.

Exchange rate back then was about 8k plus rupiah per SGD.

Today, the room that i got cost me about S$60 or so as a member. Price was down to about S$48 and then gradually goes back up. But of course,i arent staying in their deluxe or the superior room.

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by iicycold

like tat is call try 2 improve tourism or try 2 chase all tourist away hah?

reli mus take my cap off my kkj wit the btm garmen....lol...looks like nxt mth april 4th can no go galang liao.

I hear from the news that they are temporally going to shut it off as a tourist area.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by nitecrawllerr

Beat mosquitoe...or should i say housefly

Houseflies and mosquitoes arent so "deadly" there, its those "tissue-seller" kind of touting sales people in that coffee shop who keeps coming to sell their "stuffs" which is seriously irritating.

They just keep coming and coming and coming (after rejection) until one of the auntie got really pissed. The explanation from that auntie was, she was in the midst of eating, when these touting sales people approach trying to sell her some sea-cucumber. And the very same touter has been rejected no less than twice. Cant even eat with peace of mind there,hehehe...

I simply told her, this is Batam's culture,hehehe...like what it is in Singapore 30 over years ago. See, how Singapore has improve over those years and once a while, get a taste of the past also not bad.

Originally Posted by iicycold

ppl here frequent btm more than bangkock mostly cos they r 'skilfool' ,can get abv avg beter gers easier than in bangkock lor....lol...so the trick here is 2 read & learn & keep learnin as u r tere in btm.

like the sg garmen's skill future programme says...mus always upgrade own self skills 4 the rite relevant jobs...lol...except in btm, difference is cannot use the sg garmen skill future credit 2 do tat.



so most impotent thg here is 2 read tis tread as much as possible frm page one, 2 learn the rite 'skills' tat leads u 2 the indo btm world of oppotunities....lol

once u muster the rite skills in tis tread, btm wil bcum like a wonderland.

One of the main problem with Batam (perhaps most of other parts of Indonesia too) is the inconsistent skillset (and/or mindset?) in massage and other service industry standard.

They eventually lead to some saying certain shop's girl/s or therapist providing very good service,and certain people saying the same shop providing lousy services.

Which is why i often says it here, 2 different person going to the same shop, one can get fantastically "good deal", the other one may not. It all boils down to experience and some level of luck. This scenario can also apply at times even for the 2 different person going for the same girl in the same shop too. Therefore you dont see me replying to post or PM on where in Batam can find the best girl, best joint or best MPs.

My best can be your nightmare, likewise vice-versa. I only have a list of my most suitable. Cheap and good,hehehe...best to me, in Batam.

Originally Posted by iicycold

look like btm gng 2 hv lots of fun wen they turn p. galang ex wetnam camp 2 hospital 4 cockrona virus patience....lol

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...-patients.html

like tat is call try 2 improve tourism or try 2 chase all tourist away hah?

reli mus take my cap off my kkj wit the btm garmen....lol...looks like nxt mth april 4th can no go galang liao.

This is the problem with Indonesia. They obviously shown to the public that they were NOT well-equip to handle the epidemic when they government spoke-person came out to the public that they have MORE THAN 150 clinical stations all over Indonesia capable of detecting the virus but when their citizen (as well as foreigners) approach those major hospital, the answer they got was different.

Only Jakarta ONE hospital has the capability (thats according to news article i read). The rest in other parts of Indonesia...not so sure. Which is why the lack in public confident.

Originally Posted by iicycold

i aso mus need plan 4 my qing meng btm trip liao....lol...starting beginning april.

& my protection idea is smthg like tat...wich i get idea frm online....lol

Dont have to go to such exaggeration, just practice proper hygiene and avoid crowded places should do the work well. Batam is super quiet as it is now comparing to the same time last year, hence hardly there will be any chance to come in contact with big crowd.

If what is to be done as an individual were already done, and end of the day if really got hit by the virus, then it should be fated.

Lastly, try boosting your immune system.

Just sharing.

Originally Posted by BFOMF5

Thanks for info.
Start getting too bore

Location is at the Golden City area, i think. Quite a distance from the main city area. Shouldnt be too difficult to find with google,hehehe...

Originally Posted by PowerBenz

Its understandable that they just only want prevent from getting the virus...Infact i.went to nami at hbb which is quiet and no customer there...

Smart choice, bro.

In bad times, they practice prejudice. In good times, they also cannot expect to be supported. I am no regular to Sport massage, hence it really doesnt matter much to me.

Plenty of good massage places in Batam. More than my 10 fingers could count.Hmm...maybe one day i can list the more popular ones down here as well.

Originally Posted by PowerBenz

Infact batam many places is quiet and only till sat can see abit crowd in mall..Btw apotek selling those mask is repacked and retape them in box sell for 250k...I.checked and i know.its only normal.face mask and nv buy...Pls becareful.when you get from them...those with retape only box.better dont buy

Thank you for sharing. I have seen in person, a chap in wet market packing those masks into boxes with dirty hands just weeks ago.

Price for mask in Batam is getting too high to buy. Many were more expensive than buying from Singapore online market. I no longer buy mask from Batam. Oh, and be very careful NOT to hoard up face mask or sanitizer in Indonesia. Base on news, its actually against the law (now) and police are raiding those who does.

As a matter of fact, its the other way round now. I am buying in Singapore to bring to Batam. Few friends are distributing mask, alcohol wipes and disinfectants in small number to hotel staffs and some locals. And were encourage to practice what the Singapore propaganda-ed.

Our point is that, S$1 can maybe help only one person in Singapore. But the same S$1 we bring to Batam, we can probably help more than one person,hehehe...cost of living factor here.

Example, i dont have a million dollar to donate to a temple, but i can bring 10000 people to that temple, each donating S$100. This S$1 million dollar can maybe feed 1 million people (or less) in Singapore, but in Batam, it may be able to feed 2 million people (or more).

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by Black Page

There is a problem here: the number of detected cases is the number of persons TESTED in hospital and found positive.

Hehehe...the Governor of Shanghai China also said in the news that he's worrying that the city he is taking of has come down to ZERO case.

I believe, it might one day turns out that those countries who has NO or very little corona-virus infection cases may be barred instead. Meaning countries like Indonesia (6 cases), Cambodia (2 cases), Laos (zero cases), etc etc, they could possibly end up being a much more dangerous country (to get the virus) to go to than Korea, China, Italy, Iran due to their healthcare medical facilities which were incapable of detecting and handle the epidemic.

One good example would be Indonesia, the government can say in the press that there are more than 150 hospital stations all over indonesia that were equipped to detect the virus. But almost 10/10 of the people who physically tried going to their local major hospital (at various big cities in Indonesia) were turn away, citing by those hospitalS that they DO NOT have the capability to detect the coronavirus. I read that in the news.

In other word, the capability to contain and control a major outbreak will eventually be better off than the inability to even detect an epidemic in time to come.

When travelling, always practice good hygiene habits. Be it if there is any epidemic (or not).

Just my thoughts.

* Hehehe...upcoming Batam trip, the housekeeping boys (maybe girls too) is going to be very busy with my demandS to clean the room i stayed in, the way i like it to be. But i am sure they will be happy to do so,hehehe...

Originally Posted by Kaboon

More to come from Indonesia to Singapore soon (for treatment)...

This has never stop happening since before coronavirus started,hehehe...

Medical tour can rip good profit for Singapore economic. One of Singapore top competitor on medical tour in Asia is Thailand.

Originally Posted by funboi

ah ha. so "hearsay" this Indonesian he purposely come into sg to see doctor for covid-19?

The new says he visited a hospital in Jakarta on 2nd March. They couldnt help or base on whats stated, could not even detect its the corona virus infection.He was tested positive in Singapore on 8th March, Sunday.

Base on hearsay, that Indonesian came through Paya Lebar air base in a private jet, so its not cheap hence i assume he's not a poor man.

Putting myself in his shoe, money versus death w/o proper treatment, which would i choose? My choice is obvious, arent it?

While testing may be free, but the aftermath of the treatment is where the "profit" start to flow in,hehehe...on top of it, Singapore is much often known to silently increase price slowly like "putting a live frog in a boiling pot,increasing the heat one degree Celsius a time". Most importantly, is the need to attract "more frogs", happy and willing to be jumping into Singapore's boiling pot.

Just like some of my few friends, bringing in cheap mask/sanitizer from Vietnam/Malaysia/India to sell to willing Singaporean, and with the profit buy more mask/sanitizer to bring to Batam to distribute away for free. Its more about self-sustainability. Otherwise in the long run, how deep pocket also cannot tahan.

Its been running in small scale but needless to say, the Singapore government's board game is a way much bigger one,hehehe...

Just my thoughts.

[Nulgath]

News dated on 10th March from the Jakarta Post :

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...ears-lurk.html

In Singapore’s neighbor Batam, malls empty, ferry trips reduced as virus fears lurk

Within walking distance of the Batam Center ferry port, which connects Indonesia and Singapore through a one-hour boat ride, the Mega Mall Batam Center looks a lot quieter than usual.

What used to be a view of cars competing to find parking spots is now a vacant lot. This is the most favorite stopover for Singaporeans who visit Batam to buy what they need before going back home across the Singapore Strait.

However, the game changed at the end of January, when Singapore announced its first COVID-19 coronavirus case and embarked on an extensive public health emergency campaign, including travel restrictions and self-quarantine requirements after trips.

Shipowner business representative Asmadi said four ferry operators serving the Batam-Singapore route have reduced their crossing numbers as only a few passengers embark. The same is apparent on ferry routes bound for Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

“Normally for every trip a ferry boat carries at least 50 people, now it’s only 20 people,” Asmadi, the chairman of Indonesian National Shipowners Association’s (INSA) Batam chapter, told The Jakarta Post.

“All ferry operators are reducing their trips. Operational costs are high while the numbers of passengers have dropped drastically.”

Ferry operators in Batam on average make 30 trips daily between the city and Singapore, a number that has been reduced to half today. The ferries dock at the Batam Center international port, Sekupang international port, Batu Ampar Harbour Bay, Nongsa Point Marina and Marina City.

Singapore has so far detected 160 cases, of which 93 have been discharged, with no deaths. It is intensifying prevention, testing and care efforts to avoid further spread of the virus, including by restricting entry by visitors from China, South Korea, Iran and northern Italy.

If the condition continues to persist, in the next one or two months ferry operators are likely to lay off some of their 1,000 workers, including ferry crews and their onshore staff.

“Layoffs are within sight, although until today there has been no staff grounded or had their contract cut, but income has severely dropped,” said Asmadi.

Riau Islands, with more than 1,000 islands that host the city of Batam, places second for foreign tourist arrivals, after Bali. In 2019, Riau Islands attracted 2.59 million visitors, almost half of which (47 percent) are from Singapore. China comes in second providing Riau Islands with foreign tourist arrivals, accounting for 10 percent with 260,000 people.

Batam contributed almost three quarters of Riau Islands foreign tourist arrivals at 1.76 million, followed by Bintan at 575,000 and Tanjungpinang at 154,000.

With fewer people visiting Batam, workers like Melati, a therapist at First Choice spa, massage and reflexology in the dense city center of Batam, suffer the most disadvantages.

“My income depends on how many customers I serve. If it continues like this it will be difficult to survive,” said Melati, who can normally handle five to six customers daily, mostly Singaporeans.

Today she’s lucky to serve one customer in a day, Batam locals.

Her manager Yanti Lie said the spa, massage and reflexology center has been forced to cut salaries for non-therapist employees such as herself.

“We understand the situation. Our salaries were cut because there have been no customers. We have been dependent on Singaporean, Korean or Chinese tourists who enter from Singapore,” said Yanti.

The massage center normally thrived on tourist groups that could visit the place bringing 30 to 50 customers at once.

“Now we are really counting on the locals. Even when we give 50 percent discounts there’s just no customers,” Yanti added.

There has as yet been no official data released on how severely the COVID-19 coronavirus is affecting the economy of Batam, which is supported by the manufacturing industry and tourism sectors, but there has been indication of a slowdown in the economy by way of a deflation recorded in February 2020.

The Riau Islands in February saw 0.16 percent deflation on a monthly basis from January. That compares with a month-to-month nationwide inflation rate of 0.28 percent in February and also with the province’s 0.18 percent inflation recorded in January. Airplane costs, chicken and red chili prices contributed to Riau Islands’ deflation in January.

Meanwhile, the electronics manufacturing industry may well be the last line of defense, but production has been disrupted by a suspension of raw material supplies from China since January.

Batam’s Batamindo Industrial Park general manager Mook Sooi Wah said half of the 68 factories in the industrial park depend on raw material from China.

“There are two options to consider: first, seek supply alternatives from other countries apart from China; second, stop operations. Looking for an alternative supply is not an easy and quick task to do,” Mook told the Post.

Raw materials used for production at the Batamindo Industrial Park come from various countries around the world, but China accounts for 70 percent.

A source at another industrial park said Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) has paid attention to Batam’s manufacturing industry situation, sending a letter to industrial parks asking for clarifications and the options being considered to tackle the issues.

“Meanwhile our government has yet to reach out about the problems we’re facing amid the coronavirus,” the source told the Post.

The government is to soon launch another stimulus package to ensure a smooth supply of raw materials for the country’s manufacturing sector amid the widespread impacts of the coronavirus on the global market.

“About 20 to 30 percent of the raw materials for the country’s industries engaged in plastic, textile and steel production are sourced from China. For some other industries, the raw materials from China could reach 50 percent,” Sri Mulyani told the press at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on March 4.