20 kilometres far from Singapore and also a favoured retreat for stressed-out Singaporeans, is the island of Batam. Unlike Bintan, Batam got its start an industrial centre, where many local and multinational companies settle their regional production operations. As a result, apart from business travellers, few animators knew much in regards to the island. During the past 10 years however, as international resorts and hotels began flocking to the island, Batam quickly became named ‘that unspoilt vacation getaway noone knows about yet’, a reputation it still carries today, as five star hotels spring up and word of its attractions flee and spread surrounding the region.

When comparing each islands, share many physical characteristics with its sister island Bintan - long beaches, clear waters, and all. Also like Bintan, Batam is considered to its excellent watersports and its well-tended golf courses, a certain attraction for international visitors. What we mean between Bintan and Batam is because unlike the former, Batam has a wealth of budget accommodations, ranging from motels located in town into the rustic chalets by the beachside. The plethora of accommodation choices makes the island an explicit favourite of independent travellers preferring to eschew package tours and jaunt around on their own.

Another area during which Batam differs from Bintan is in the activities available further from resorts. Batam is really a duty-free haven, and as a result typically the most popular activity is to loves retail therapy in Nagoya, the island’s main town. Nagoya offers a lot of little stores peddling everything from spirits to electronics at cutthroat prices. Visitors from Singapore and Malaysia who quake at today’s sky-high retail prices often nostalgically compare what pattern of of goods sold here to those they purchased in ‘the good old days.’ Then there's Batam Centre, the island’s answer to Singapore’s Orchard Road, the spot that the largest shoppinge centre - the Matahari - is located, along with banks, atms, as well as other such necessities of life. Another popular attraction in Nagoya would be the Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Buddhist Temple, while the locals don’t think of it as such. Many individuals still pray here everyday, paying little mind to camera clicks and whispers of the visitors. It is considered one of the largest Buddhist temples inside the region, which happens to be all the more remarkable website marketing built in a staunchly Muslim country. The temple draws lots and lots of devout worshippers from totally the region to wish and study.

Another sight sometimes visited is the controversial Dewi Kuong Imra monument. This statue is really a tribute to your Buddhist goddess of prosperity which is located at the KTM station in Tanjung Pinggir. Much of the difficulty surrounding it revolves around civic pride, as its massive 26 metre height helps it be taller compared to the Garuda Nusantara monument at Batam’s international airport. Apart from the shopping and sightseeing, there have also been a considerable amount of clubs, discos and other dark entertainments available, mostly to cater to the fair-sized enclave of expatriates stationed on your island. As you’d expect because of an island, Batam also has loads of excellent seafood restaurants. The really adventurous can even contemplate a trip into the highlands, exactly where the temperature has is different from 16ºC to 26ºC and has been known to drop about 8ºC while in the night.

The best way to get to Bintan and Batam is always to do the water crossing from Singapore. Ferries to Bintan may be obtained thrice-daily from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and dock at the Bandar Bentan Terminal. Ferries ply every 30 minutes during sunlight hours between Harbour Front Ferry Terminal and either Sekupang or Batu Ampur on the north coast of Bintam. It is necessary to have a visa and passport, counting on your country of origin, so it’s best to check first with all the Indonesian embassy before going and.

For More Information , Visit Batam Hotel Website

Indonesia's Secret Island-Locations - Batam Island (last edited 2011-10-28 16:29:53 by jimmywhite1970)