Yes, i only paid for the exact fare base on the metre as i hired the bluebird cab on the street without any booking.
During that time which is my first visit to Batam three years ago, I was actually desperately looking for taxi at DC mall going back to harbourbay to catch the 7.30pm ferry back to spore. However was quite frustrated and disappointed because such a big shopping centre don't even have a single taxi stand. Even in johor bahru, any small shopping complex will have at least a taxi stand and alighting area for shoppers.
I started searching for taxi from 6.00-6.45pm but to no avail. Then i remember ever come across the nagoya map that from dc mall there is a straight road all the way to harbourbay terminal which is called jalan duyung, it will pass by places like top 100, pacific hotel, novotel hotel before reaching harbourbay. But I know if I started to walk from 6.45 i may not reach harbourbay terminal in time as by 7.15pm i would have to check in to the terminal.
Fortunately luck was on my side as i just started to walk few minutes a bluebird cab came to my "rescue". The cab driver was well dicipline and greeted me politely and i really appreciate for his good service. However when i reached the terminal, i gave him the exact fare of 35k and he didn't ask for more and therefore i did not give him any tips as i always believe in not spoiling the market price for the sake of all cheongsters , hehe.
From this experience, i began to realise that whenever you want to travel to another country or city, should always study the map first to have at least a sense of direction, at least to know your geographical location in the city where you are staying (example in N,S,E,W,NE,NW,SE,SW) and to roughly know the way back to the airport/bus or ferry terminal.
If you know where your position is, machiam like gps, you won't get con by the cab driver making one big round before reaching the destination as you will know the estimated distance.
Then for my 2nd,3rd and 4th visit, I will normally walk from harbourbay to formosa hotel (my favourite) by many different routes. This coming october will be my 5th visit.
The
first walking route that I always like to use is:
1) From harbourbay mall exit turn right walk along jalan duyung and before reaching pacific palace cross the road to the opposite side.
2) Then continue to walk south and before reaching novotel, turn left walk along jalan raja ali haji where you will pass by many shops like morning bakery and bank BCA.
3) When you reach hotel planet holiday outside you will have to cross the road where you see a mosque, walk along the pavement until you reach goodway hotel.
4) Now you are at jalan imam bonjol which is the main road of batam. From goodway hotel you have two route to formosa:
i) First is continue walking along the main road pass mandiri bank and nagoya plaza hotel until you see nagoya hill shopping mall, then cross the road and walk directly to formosa
ii) Second is from goodway hotel outside cross the road where you see hotel sari jaya and walk down all the way south directly via the small lane passing by many shophouse, dynasty joint and centrepoint before reaching formosa hotel .
There is another
second walking route which i ever tried before during my second visit to batam from harbourbay to formosa hotel:
1) From harbourbay mall exit turn right walk along jalan duyung and before reaching pacific palace cross the road to the opposite side.
2) Then continue to walk south for quite a distance pass novotel hotel, until you see top 100 shopping centre then turn left.
3) Rite now you will be passing by the wet market and continue to walk straight until near hotel sari jaya and turn right to reach formosa hotel.
The
third walking route is via hotel panorama regency which I would not recommend as it is rather complicated as you need to cut across many shophouse and buildings.