Oppa Batam Style

To know more about it, I wrote this article to introduce the place where I live on the island of Batam Riau Islands, Indonesia. I will not write about Batam city profile due to you can search by yourself on Google, so that will be written this time around Batam is my experience that certainly  different from the experience in my village.

Ok let started. So here are the interesting facts about Batam.

Singapore

As one of the province closest to the neighboring country, it is no wonder Singapore has a lot of influence on the lives of Batam. The distance is usually by a ferry only 45 minutes away plus 5 ferry terminal scattered everywhere so it is not surprising to most people in Batam is certainly ever go to Singapore. I was often so. Go in the morning lurking there into the night and just got home at the last ferry. So not need to pay rent a very expensive hotel there. Ticket prices range from about $ 42 USD. If there is a long public holiday, it can be ascertained Batam city will empty since the many return to their home town (most of citizen in Batam are nomads) or are foreigner such as Singapore, Malaysia etc...

Lifestyle

Lifestyle in Batam also widely affected by Singapore and Malaysia. In Batam TV channels without cable or parabolic antenna also been able to see Singapore and Malaysia TV channel! Because it is close to Singapore then on Batam almost all kinds of Singapore second hand good/junk can easily to get. Starting from HP, clothes, laptops, to boots and sandals. I have a friend who works in Singapore by collecting junk and reselling them in Batam.

So for the people of Batam with insufficient capital also can follow latest trend in Batam. Also because the distances are very close to Singapore can usually be found uncle/oppa (in Korean) from Singapore that lurking around at Nagoya Batam especially in the week end. Well I think the nightlife in Batam all of you already quite familiar. Usually some of these uncle illegally to have a wife in Batam so fitting his weekend to meet his wife and child in Batam although in his native country may only have labor job like cleaning service or taxi driver not a white collar worker. Surely the presence of uncle/oppa also helps increase income for the prostitutes / transvestites in Batam. Then usually also often found in local newspapers Singaporean’ uncle who died while being associated with prostitutes. So tragically...

Colloquial

Many Batam people who can master the average Chinese Mandarin well. Maybe because the TV channels are providing a full mandarin, the surrounding environment and work demands which are established by Singaporeans in Batam. In fact many private school, has taught Mandarin since elementary. Also of course the English language is very important in Batam.

Economy

When I was visiting Jakarta I once asked by my friend if in Batam use Singapore dollars huh? Hah interesting question. Of course not, but if you go to the boutique shopping at the mall and had no rupiah anymore, they still accept dollars. In fact, it was more profitable to use the dollar for clothes bag purse usually imported from Singapore. Therefore the money changer mushrooming in the city of Batam. Batam is also driven by the economies of many foreign corporations from many in Batam shipyard, Electronics, manufacturing etc... They say Batam are job paradise seekers because there are many companies that coupled with the adoption of the Batam Free Trade Zone.

Food

Well that is for food lovers definitely cannot wait. Batam's most famous culinary seafood. Here there are lots of tasty seafood restaurant from the fresh sea. For food with a local flavor is also there. Want to eat Batak; Padang; Chinese; Japanese; Sunda is all around considering your pocket is not empty. There are also many food vendors. Which I kind of regret is nasi Padang here is less chili kick! Quite different from the original Nasi Padang in Jakarta.

Walk

Many foreign tourists come to Batam for spa or massage. If they are keen on beach in Batam, they will stay at the resort. Resort in Batam quite a lot with various water games facilities. If regular local visitors are more inclined to shopping because here bag / branded clothes have many brands and quite cheap.