[nono1973]

Originally Posted by Naka_Timo

Thanks for sharing, ya most of thing change. What yo ned to reboot?

Reboot almost equate to Re-Start.

景物依舊 人事已非

Place/location no change, pricing (food & necessities) no change...only the people in it & things they do changed.

You won't believe it, i actually lost my way in Batam around Utama Hotel area when sunset,hehehe...

I am now a newbie in Batam,hehehe... need to compile more information 1st, then can share them here.

I rated myself as level zero in Batam for now.

By November/December 2022, should reach level One. Then i can start to "jio" my friends to join me in my Batam trips.

Originally Posted by wanfulou

...I will make sure I have small change of 5k, 10k, and 20k. Then pay them exactly the amount, then tips accordingly if you feel like it.

I think this is a pretty much common sense thing in most 3rd world country. I often keep some small loose notes, or at least enough to pay for small items like a drink from convenience stall etc.

It just like taking a taxi in Singapore & i give driver S$1000 note (or even S$10000 note) & expect driver to have change. Likewise for Indonesia Batam too. Indonesia's highest dollar note is 100k rupiah, 2nd biggest is 50k rupiah. Singapore 2nd biggest note is S$1000/S$500 note (which still in circulation).

I would refrain from using credit card as much as possible in any 3rd world country.

Originally Posted by HeatguyAlvin

For me it was sad for me to find out Bella Italia at Harbourbay is closed .

I guess over 2.5 years of tourist deprived market in that area makes the restaurant unsustainable.

Originally Posted by HeatguyAlvin

At least my favourite seafood spot rezeki is still there

If you are a restaurant-ambience-conscious diner, then GoFood/Grab Food or the likes of it may not be suitable for you.

Originally Posted by BFOMF5

5 years of living in batam....
just because of covid every thing gone.
haii....really need to restart.

I thought i was the only one who got that "FEELING", didn't expect you felt that too.

It will be easier for you since unlike myself, i have language barrier, relying on google translate 95% of the time. And i got transport issue as i do not use GoCar/Gojek/Maxim apps.

Still looking for a justifiable priced transportation.

Need a Re-Start aka Reboot.

I am taking my own sweet time with "rest & relax mood" to do so tho.

Just have to find where to start from (still need to start somewhere).

I'm still feel "lost" (in Batam) at the point of this post tho.

Originally Posted by BFOMF5

for me I really missed my kidney/pig Blood fr Panuin and
Nasi Padang fishhead and sambaijo near the UTAMA "longkang"

Your favorite food all rather "exotic", mine is just basic simple ones, hehehe...

Food was never an issue to me.

My number 1 on the list issue is still "how to make clean MP, dirty".

Originally Posted by BFOMF5

haha I think you passed by too late, II remember my early morning trip to market (for replenishment of my shop) at around 6-7am. can alway heard that music still ponding

True, i was there during noon when i got "lost" (yes, again, 2nd time on my same trip) in between my walk from Utama area.

Passed by & it looks deserted from the outside but i have emphasized that seeing isn't believing when it comes to Batam.

Originally Posted by BFOMF5

Utama that was my regular hotel when you regulared Formosa.

For your info, Hotel 18 still in operation.

Utama is like Formosa in many aspect, from its room design, furniture, beddings, elevator etc. Even the manageress were as good as Sinta from Formosa (someone who would provide a solution, rather than just a clean rejection). Just that the facilities were on the aging side.

Originally Posted by BFOMF5

yes guest could freely use the spa and gym but facility was a little old. inhouse massage girls cmi.. so used to pay extra Rp. to get girl from neighbor MP to came over.

I'm surprise you said the girls in Utama Spa CMI.

Perhaps we went there at the different years of the time. My impression of the massage girls there were better than formosa's King MP. I even get to book some of the girls for overnight too.

Quality of girls in terms of looks, i'd rate them between 7-7.5 (age around 24-27). That is base on comparison with Delta's or Octopuss's 8 to 8.5 quality. (when Altalanta men's spa closes down, some girls hopped over there)

Service level beats any booking joint hands down. Thats given the fact that their 1 hr massage skill level were close to if not better than those in many MPs.

Best of all, booking price only 1 juta before covid time.

The bad thing is they can only come to my room after they finishes work which is usually around midnight. They leave my room usually between 9-10am next day.

Originally Posted by BFOMF5

Think would be revisit as a newbie within this month.

Any one can hold my hand?

Newbie here too.

Sorry bro, got many girls handsss to hold on to already, i only got 2 hands, hehehe....

If you can come to Batam between 7th to 10th of this month at the hotel where i stayed in, 1st night room stay on me (pls pm me).

*I better state clearly, i am not sharing room with you,hehehe... I got free 1 night room stay for you to stay for 2 person (with breakfast) in the hotel i stayed in.

_______________________________

Few things i need to do in this coming Sept 2022 trip.

1. Get a hair cut (nowaday go Batam, its a MUST to go for haircut,hehehe..even when my hair is short). My friends say i'll go botak soon if i go Batam every week,hehehe...

2. Buy a haversack to replace my current one.

3. Get my Indo phone line fixed.

4. Rest & relax.

5. Plan for my next trip on Oct 2022.

I'm going on much slower pace compare to before covid time. I don't set a target for myself to hit. My priority is to relax, rest myself since i am badly deprive of that in Singapore.

In my last trip i checked Aiko at A2 closed down.

( Click to show/hide )

Same for the Aiko at the petrol station opp BCS too (both Aiko MP has closed down).

Next to visit is my Favorite MP (weekdays only)...

Made "dirty" in my MP listings before Covid time, but becomes "clean" again after Batam re-open. Gonna need a few more trips to Debest hotel to make them "dirty" again,hehehe...no harm trying.

Just a bit of my sharing for now.