Last Monday, it's already in Indonesia TV, a group of indonesians were deported from Tanah Merah ferry and terminal will make a complain to SGP Embassy as to why no reason were given to them. Just take care ya.
Reported that he is a preacher with extremist view. Good that he is rejected from entering.
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I don't exchange points. So no point adding me hoping I will up you back. No need to pm me about points too.
Saw news in the internet but arrived yesterday, a day earlier with ART, insurance and vaccination report by Horizon Ferry to the Habour Bay Terminal. Observed that majority of paxs at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal going to Batam were travelling by Sindo, Majestic, etc.. to the Batam Centre Ferry Terminal. On arrival at a fadt etmins trip, procesding of the paxs at the Habour Bay Terminal was orderly and fast but the rebooking of the return ticket, a floor up on the huge complex, was not so simple. You need to complete the Sg Arrival Card before getting a boarding pass. Many of the shops at the huge oomplex were closed due to the covid19 pandemic and there were taxi touts out looking for customers as Gojeks and other drivers were not aĝlowed in the Habour Bay. We took a taxi at 50k to the coffeeshop opposite BCS for our excellent yam fish soup. We went to BCS Mall, Penuin Market and Batam Grand Mall for some shopping before going by Gojek to the Harmoni Suites Hotel.
I just checked the travel requirements to Batam via Sindo and Batam Fast sites, both stated that pre-departure Covid test still require. So although Jokowi has announced that PDT is no longer require starting from today, may not yet implement at Batam entry points. Anyway i just came back after 8 nights stay in Batam last Saturday, won't ve going again so soon. Just wait and see.
Took horizon (1410 hr Spore time) from TMFT arrived HBFT (1345 hr Indo time).Before entry to immigration area was asked for ART test & insurance.Clear went to chop passport was asked again for insurance coverage papers.Fyi now they never chop passport but paste a small arrival sticker with QR code when u exit batam then only will chop passport.Used starbuck wifi to book Grab paid 20 IDR (Yes Grab & Go jek is allowed inside HBFT/Nagoya Hill mall/Grand Batam mall/ Mega mall bros taking sindo to batam centre cross opposite to mega mall).To go hotel (Davienna) check in then walk to money changer in front of formosa.First offered 10,300 idr say want change $300 given 10,400 idr.Buy telekomsel sim card (100,000) kena ali baba cannot logged to network even after registering at Gapari
those bros using Changi Mobile dun waste money Changi mobile data roaming ($12 - 5G) really sucks at batam also cannot logged in to the roaming network.Very sorry to bro cougar21 cannot contact him for meet up.Tried logging in SBF using hotel wifi by VPN also cannot dammnnn cialat.Tried download mi chat at batam only can get through using fb other means forget it.
" You need to complete the Sg Arrival Card before getting a boarding pass. Many of the shops at the huge oomplex were closed due to the covid19 pandemic and there were taxi touts out looking for customers as Gojeks and other drivers were not aĝlowed in the Habour Bay"
Yes advise is before departing tmft on board ferry fill in SG arrival card online then keep the card in pdf easy to show at batam ferry counter when collecting return ticket best to collect before u check in hotel.Go jek & Grab pickup point signage is opposite Marriott hotel facing RM Sederhana.Go to RM Sederhana right in front of it u will never miss it.Only 30k - 20k idr.I talked to Grab drivers from them found out that Grab is allowed to enter in most places except Batam Centre Ferry terminal but if cross over to megamall u can take grab there another grab banned place is Hang Nadim airport.Most important bring a pen cos u will need to fill up a stupid form on board (Formality Form).
Prices of Gojek and Grab cars/bike are still similar from 2019. There aren't much changes. 34k GrabCar from Nagoya area to Batam center now, same as 3 years ago. Now i use the new app which is much cheaper for ehailing which is Maxim.
Had lunch buffet on Sunday at Kintan Shabu2 with Bobducks and his friend. Paid 231k nett per pax for 90 mins. Worth it. Grand Batam Mall was super crowded especially the Marugame Udon restaurant which had long queues over 10m long!
Took horizon (1410 hr Spore time) from TMFT arrived HBFT (1345 hr Indo time).Before entry to immigration area was asked for ART test & insurance.Clear went to chop passport was asked again for insurance coverage papers.Fyi now they never chop passport but paste a small arrival sticker with QR code when u exit batam then only will chop passport.Used starbuck wifi to book Grab paid 20 IDR (Yes Grab & Go jek is allowed inside HBFT/Nagoya Hill mall/Grand Batam mall/ Mega mall bros taking sindo to batam centre cross opposite to mega mall).To go hotel (Davienna) check in then walk to money changer in front of formosa.First offered 10,300 idr say want change $300 given 10,400 idr.Buy telekomsel sim card (100,000) kena ali baba cannot logged to network even after registering at Gapari
those bros using Changi Mobile dun waste money Changi mobile data roaming ($12 - 5G) really sucks at batam also cannot logged in to the roaming network.Very sorry to bro cougar21 cannot contact him for meet up.Tried logging in SBF using hotel wifi by VPN also cannot dammnnn cialat.Tried download mi chat at batam only can get through using fb other means forget it.
Yo. Alamak what a waste. I had a good time hanging out with Bobducks. Ate at Kintan shabu2 buffet. Went to the new One Batam Mall which is really huge and has a new ice skating rink which is rectangular shape! I love ice skating. Rates are 80k, 100k n 120k depends on day, by 2 hour sessions! Will go skating next time i go over.
Lucky u got 10400 as 10300 is a lousy rate. We both got 10400 too. The Telkomsel sim card cant be used on foreign handphones not registered by Indonesia coz the IMEI not registered. So there is no network. I bought 1 n went back to change and the lady gave me a Smartfren sim which is usable and active. This is their new law by Indonesia govt since 2020. U can register your IMEI for tourists or if u staying long term, need pay tax if your habdphone is valued over $500 at a rate of 40% above the $500 value. So troublesome to use non-Indonesia registered mobile phones now.
Btw my TPG line has free roaming in Indonesia and works fine. Can use data by connecting to their Smartfren network. Still can go to this forum.
Transport cost is generally cheap in Batam, why bother to walk ? For me, I either take GoCar, Grab Car or taxi wherever I go in Batam , no matter how near is the distance. I don't even want to walk for 400m in SG, let alone walking in foreign country which is a lot more risky.
Wow. I walked for 1km which is not a problem. Not a lazy ass. Y do i need to take a car for 400meters man? Or a bike? I walk can stop along those warongs and gerai2 makan dan minuman. Bleh juga singgah di toko2.
Went to the new 168 Food court in front of Godes hotel. The food court opened last year. My lady fren opened a stall there seling bakso n other food for 25k n up a bowl. She used to work at Liza's Bar before it closed permanently. Then i walked from there to Planet holiday to meet Bobducks.