Batam Info Thread

[hardpoke]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Kaha pricing (S$48.70) is more expensive by booking.com by about S$1.70....hehehe...and agoda (S49.65) is more expensive than Kaha by S$0.95...hmm....

(base on 9750/SGD)

Doing price checking...

I booked mine (Superior) at SGD$39 excluding taxes. Not too bad I guess.

[nescafeGold]

Originally Posted by micmac888

Usually I would have 2 servings, but would be too full from the 2nd portion of noodles. This one hits the spot alright. I was elated

visit momo last sunday and a week before.. my review, I like the texture of its noodle. especially the part the noodle doesn't sticky and doesn't expanded when i tapao even i spend more than 1/2 hour on the road to reach my place. it's different with wantan mee from meximo pub which i dont recommend for tapao. its noodle will stick together and absorb the sauce make the noodle growing and expanding. must eat at spot.

it served with minced chicken meat and few slice of casao.. next time will ask for upsize casao.. with its sauce, i think its taste quite close to the best noodle that I ever eat, it's haka mee from 'roast and toast' at damansara area, PJ, Malaysia.. will tell more about it next time. bro micmac, u should try this if u happen to be nearby PJ or KL.

anyway back to momo. as for my opinion,. this is different with wantanmee@meximo and beilong noodle @ penuin wet market. it's 3 different kind of noodle. luckily, each was located at totally different location, so it won't make me too hard to choose which one i would like to eat when i was at each location.

my verdict, i still put wantanmee@meximo as my number 1, as i really like their light casio sauce as base mixed with red watery chili sauce. don't put too much though.. just one or two tea spoon is enough. for casio, u can order upsize. just tell the guy, u want casio tao (casio head as in hokkien)...

i put momo medan mee as no 2. although i prefer the noodle from momo, but it's the sauce that made me give no 1 spot to meximo.. sorry momo, it's my 'taste preference', not your problem.

then no 3 spot goes to beilong.. maybe because i'm not a fan of oily chilli sauce as base (like common bak chor mee at singapore) and the environment surrounding the seating area also does affect my judgement too.. again, it's my own problem.. it's not the beilong noodle though, it's the coffee shop that running the table and wet-market chaotic situation (like common crowded hawker at singapore, honglim complex or albert complex for example) that kill my appetite.

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by micmac888

As no one likes disappointments, went to Momo this morning to have breakfast and also let him know (to at least prepare/stock-up for this Sunday) a mini contingent of Sporeans coming to his stall on Sunday.

I call it a Basketball team,hehehe...we formed a team of 5 Basketball players on our way to batam for a "Basketball tournament",hehehe... our basketball look-a-like opponents as below :

Originally Posted by micmac888

Told him that Nono's gang is making the specific trip (to Mitra) just to enjoy his noodles, and therefore to consider this group as "VIP". And that he (Momo) to "represent" MEDAN Mee. LOOOOOL.

Hmm...noodles that can make bro Nescafegold go back twice wont go wrong... I trust his taste bud,hehehe....and wow!! Now even got VIP seat from br Micmac...

Originally Posted by micmac888

On that note, I kept thinking about INSTAR's "value meal" and shared with him about INSTAR Mie pangsit being slightly dearer (RP21K) but having more visible ingredients. He commented he prefers to stay true to Medan Miepangsit original version, but as a special request (from myself) created the "Momo size" - @ RP20K : more wanton, chicken pieces, charsiew, vege, egg

You cutting the Momo boss's carrot head ah???!!!

Extra nearly "everything" and at ONLY 21k rupiah???

The boss of momo will run road or not? Hehehehe...

Originally Posted by micmac888

Usually I would have 2 servings, but would be too full from the 2nd portion of noodles. This one hits the spot alright. I was elated

Depending on its portion,at A2 food court Bei Long 北龙,i can fill myself up 2 shares of its bak chor mee.Hopefully it wont be like Meximo wan tan mee,losing all the taste if the portion of its noodle becomes bigger...hehehe... *dont really wish to risk it*

Originally Posted by micmac888

Nono, rest assured, (where at least I can help make your trip more enjoyable - and yes, no imposition to my routine schedules), Momo should be a pleasant experience for the group.

Thank you for taking the time to join us aka be the commanding convoy to bring us to Momo for....errr....say brunch before we head for our "Basketball Tournament",hehehehe....looking forward the trip as the Batam day draws closer each day.

3 more days to go......3 more days........hehehehe.......

[1stClass]

Live Telecast in Batam.

22 July 2015 - Day 2

9am - After both our girls left, we head for hotel breakfast. Decided to go around "single" for today.
11am - Went to DC mall. bro FJ had a good leg massage while I had a haircut and played arcade with local kids. Gave away my tickets at the end of the day. It's nice to see them happy and being appreciative, something most kids in Singapore lost touch of.

2pm - Hotel provides free shuttle to Nagoya Hill so we hitch a ride but negotiated with the supir to drop us at RM Sunda Ibu Joko for lunch. Of all local food I've had, this has to be THE BEST I had in batam. Not promoting but try it yourself to believe it. Cheap and good. I can eat this everyday.
3pm - Hard negotiations with a random supir for 30k back to hotel. Bro FJ saw a toy shop near the hotel on the way back so decided to walk there and take a look. Saw fireworks tubes so was thinking of playing it there, but where? Soon after, bro FJ head back to hotel for a rest while I go continue my massage journey.

4pm - Chose keyzha after another round of selection. Got myself a cute young blood from medan, piano skills, but ended up getting sucked into taking extras with her. Paid, wash up and left.
6pm - The moment I reach the hotel I asked the front desk on where I can play the fireworks. He directed me to the rooftop pool. So after getting green light, I proceed to buy what seem to be a lot of fireworks.

7.30pm - Had dinner at an open air hawker behind citywalk, lebam fish for 45k, hokkien mie for 20k, mie kerang(cockles) without cockles ordered by bro FJ, and a couple of drinks.
9pm - Time for some fireworks. Since I know how dangerous it is without prior experience, I let the hotel staff to do it for me, while I sit and enjoy taking videos. It was so much fun, seeing fireworks dancing right above me. Sat at the rooftop with bro FJ enjoying drinks in this windy night accompanied by nice music. Sadly it is not a LIVE band or it would be perfect.
11pm - Head back to our respective rooms and prepare ourself for a new day, last day tomorrow. Already decided what to have for breakfast. Hahahah!

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by 1stClass

.... prepare ourself for a new day, last day tomorrow. Already decided what to have for breakfast. Hahahah!

Hehehe...a small idea here,hope this post isnt too late as a suggestion since you guys arent exactly heading for the regular "bonk all day party all night" kind of fun in Batam,here goes :

There are 2 theatres you can try,one at Mega Mall at Batam Center and another at Nagoya Hill Mall ,2 great movies now showing at those cinema (tickets cost around S$3.00/pax) :

1st Movie :Maggie -

A teenage girl in the Midwest becomes infected by an outbreak of a disease that slowly turns the infected into cannibalistic zombies. During her transformation, her loving father stays by her side.

_________________________

2nd Movie : Antman -

Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

[flyingarrow]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Kaha pricing (S$48.70) is more expensive by booking.com by about S$1.70....hehehe...and agoda (S49.65) is more expensive than Kaha by S$0.95...hmm....

(base on 9750/SGD)

Doing price checking...

Both Agoda and Booking.com do not display the full price. The prices you see is before the additional tax. You can only see the final prices at the payment page so it create a false impression that the prices are cheap. Both are under the priceline group.

Personally, I use booking.com once, and I realize that the final price is not cheaper.
Furthermore, using booking.com, you are paying at the hotel using rupiah, so you also need to be mindful to the exchange rate as well. Agoda is prepaid, meaing you use the credit card to pay in SGD.

Or can use Hotels.com and use the promo code "MOBAND1" for 10% discount if you are using android devices. It actually display the actual price. (but hide the cents, eg display 50 instead of 50.13)

Not out to promote or condemn any. Anyway, bros need to try it for themselves judge for yourself.

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by nescafeGold

Don't forget to include additional 20% tax (10%hotel tax + 10%service tax) on top of agoda pricing.. i'm not sure about booking.com though.. meanwhile KAHA price is nett..

I have included all taxes in all the pricing before i finalize it to be posted in the thread as of 2 - 3 days ago.

Maybe today will be cheaper?

Originally Posted by flyingarrow

Both Agoda and Booking.com do not display the full price. The prices you see is before the additional tax. You can only see the final prices at the payment page so it create a false impression that the prices are cheap. Both are under the priceline group.

Correction,bro. Agoda pricing exclude the +10% +11% taxes,whereas booking.com includes all taxes (which is stated at their site).

I have also booked from both places before. Usually (95% time) the price i see in booking.com is final (a few cents difference at times),but not agoda. And surprisingly,sometime adding the tax into agoda,it can still be cheaper than booking.com ....lol.

See how both sites creating the false illusion making people think that their site's pricing are the lowest?

Originally Posted by flyingarrow

Personally, I use booking.com once, and I realize that the final price is not cheaper.

Agree with you bro,the final price is not always cheaper.Then again,it has to depend on which hotel too.

Originally Posted by flyingarrow

Furthermore, using booking.com, you are paying at the hotel using rupiah, so you also need to be mindful to the exchange rate as well. Agoda is prepaid, meaing you use the credit card to pay in SGD.

Both sites can be paid using credit card online or by cash at the reception of the booked hotels. If we choose to pay by cash,it will not be charge to our credit card where we initial book the hotel from the respective sites.

You are right,the exchange rate do play an IMPORTANT role,whether we are paying by cash or credit card.

Originally Posted by flyingarrow

Or can use Hotels.com and use the promo code "MOBAND1" for 10% discount if you are using android devices. It actually display the actual price. (but hide the cents, eg display 50 instead of 50.13)

I have check hotel booking sites from time to time. Last week,hotel.com is cheaper than booking.com by about S$3 plus and S$2 plus over agoda.And still more expensive than Kaha by S$1 or so. This week,apparently they become about the same. I am using a pc to test book (not actually booking) all 3 places and i am not using their apps to do the test so as to be fairer in the comparison for the 3 sites.

I cannot disagree that using apps from hotel.com can be cheaper tho,hehehe...becos i do the test using a pc and not from its apps.

Originally Posted by flyingarrow

Not out to promote or condemn any. Anyway, bros need to try it for themselves judge for yourself.

So my conclusion is,price do change from time to time for different hotels. Meaning different dates,different day,different hotels, price is always constantly changing. To get the best deal,always double check and confirm which sites offers the best deal on the respective dates of the trip.

Last year around this time,same hotel ,same site booking (booking.com) cost around S$61.00. This year it is about S$47.00...hehehe...

Going to Batam to stay over is becoming cheaper?
(believe me,being a stingy+kiasu+kiasi man,i do keep track of the hotel pricing,especially for formosa)

Booking a formosa deluxe room from agoda during CNY cost S$456.00 (exclude tax),hehehe....

Nowaday,I dont book my hotel rooms via agoda,booking.com nor hotel.com anymore if i go Batam ,hehehe....

[1stClass]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Hehehe...a small idea here,hope this post isnt too late as a suggestion since you guys arent exactly heading for the regular "bonk all day party all night" kind of fun in Batam,here goes :

There are 2 theatres you can try,one at Mega Mall at Batam Center and another at Nagoya Hill Mall ,2 great movies now showing at those cinema (tickets cost around S$3.00/pax)

Alamak didn't saw this in time. But it's okay. I'm not really a cinema fan. I prefer watching videos/movies in bed instead. Haha!

Thanks for the help bro! And I manage to get contacts for a 12seater van. Who knows, in future we can organise a GROUP trip. ^.^

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by 1stClass

I prefer watching videos/movies in bed instead.

I always do that in hotel room in Batam,hehehe....

Originally Posted by 1stClass

Thanks for the help bro! And I manage to get contacts for a 12seater van. Who knows, in future we can organise a GROUP trip. ^.^

Its ok,i just suggested it so you guys gets the chance to try watching a Movie in Batam and to see how's their theatre feels like,hehehe...consider it a sightseeing experience...lol.

You got the pricing for the 12 seater van with driver?
(actually i did,but i just want to compare price)

And the MP name at Swiss Inn?

Enjoy,bro!!

* shall comment more on the other parts of your FR later

[flyingarrow]

Originally Posted by nono1973

So my conclusion is,price do change from time to time for different hotels. Meaning different dates,different day,different hotels, price is always constantly changing. To get the best deal,always double check and confirm which sites offers the best deal on the respective dates of the trip.

Agree. using the app and website also have different prices.

Another things for batam hotels, sometimes the walk in prices can be cheaper (esp those 1-3 stars hotels).

[newyorker88]

Originally Posted by Newcomer2015

Is that any Chinese gal or China gal in Batam who work in Massage center?

These China Man or woman lives in Suka Jadi, make scam calls to others in batam. All kena caught by the police before Hari Raya

[micmac888]

Heads-up : Boss Denny, of Marine Live Seafood, sent msg to my partner to help him to inform the samsters who regularly, or intending-to, patronize his resto – that the resto is not open today and tomorrow (Friday). LOL he must be thinking of John, Maddog, NDND, Koh and quite a few many others.

Originally Posted by nescafeGold

it's haka mee from 'roast and toast' at damansara area, PJ, Malaysia.. will tell more about it next time. bro micmac, u should try this if u happen to be nearby PJ or KL.

SIP

Originally Posted by nescafeGold

anyway back to momo. as for my opinion,. this is different with wantanmee@meximo and beilong noodle @ penuin wet market. it's 3 different kind of noodle.

hmmm… really must try .. It’s bcs Newyorker likes that and he being one of the old-guards (meaning to say he should have tried alot of places for close-to-20 years) that I put it on my list in the first place. But no luck – it closes really earlier than others – been there several times (at 1015 onwards) and it’s already closed. (It’s a drive for me : 30-40mins depending on traffic and parking). And yes, I have to agree about the seemingly less sanitizing, space-constraint environment there. It did put me off each time I go there. But definitely will try.

Originally Posted by nono1973

You cutting the Momo boss's carrot head ah???!!! Extra nearly "everything" and at ONLY 21k rupiah??? The boss of momo will run road or not? Hehehehe...

LOOOOL, truth be told. as I live in Batam Center, to drive to INSTAR/PENUIN wet market, means I have to get up much earlier than usual – beat rush hour, and find parking (packed during mornings – especially the wet markets). Once a while, ok. But if its really good, or great value, food I still am unable to getting up much earlier and driving almost everyday just for a $2-$3 meal.

So I am being selfish actually. I write food-FR is so that these value-for-money (Btm-standards), good-food (to me) businesses perhaps further flourish. Have actually seen, and heard (from local friends) good food stalls close or cutdown/substitute-ingredients due to lack of biz , or increasing costs, or (like ADI 88 case), forced out of location / vanish. When such thing happens, what I eat ? I also *susah* as I live-to-eat.

So I always try , never-try-never-know even if its not my cup of tea. Example : My trip to FR INSTAR yielded a mutual-benefit : got Momo to understand the competitive landscape and created "Momo-size". Win-win (I eat one bowl @ RP20K, instead of 2 std bowls at total RP36K, and he having created the quiet-low-profile upsize-portion based on my feedback of ingredients - made himself even more competitive and attractive to walk-ins) LOOOL!

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by micmac888

hmmm… really must try .. It’s bcs Newyorker likes that and he being one of the old-guards (meaning to say he should have tried alot of places for close-to-20 years) that I put it on my list in the first place. But no luck – it closes really earlier than others – been there several times (at 1015 onwards) and it’s already closed. (It’s a drive for me : 30-40mins depending on traffic and parking). And yes, I have to agree about the seemingly less sanitizing, space-constraint environment there. It did put me off each time I go there. But definitely will try.

Erm...erm...i think bro Nescafegold mis-spelled the shop name. The one in Penuin wet market is Bai Long,not Bei Long. The one bro Newyorker likes is in A2 Food Court called Bei Long....to me,from Penuin wet Market to A2,and then to Meximo Pub,all the way to Instar Coffeeshop noodles,i rate them all the same. Being an Eat-to-Live person, i really cant tell which is better than the other.

Hehehe...i eat to live,and these 4 noodle shops in Batam easily beat most noodle shops in Sillypore hands down.

[hawkeye007]

Originally Posted by micmac888

Heads-up : Boss Denny, of Marine Live Seafood, sent msg to my partner to help him to inform the samsters who regularly, or intending-to, patronize his resto – that the resto is not open today and tomorrow (Friday). LOL he must be thinking of John, Maddog, NDND, Koh and quite a few many others.

Lol... Thanks for the heads-up, micmac...!

[Newcomer2015]

Try look for Ratih.