Batam Shopping.
Batam has many shopping malls the best ones being Nagoya Hills in Nagoya itself and Mega Mall, Batam Centre close to the ferry terminal. There are also shopping malls close to Harbour bay ferry terminal, Sukajadi,DC Mall, Batam City Square (BCS) and Lucky Plaza.

The Nature reserve at Mata Kucing is Batams very own wildlife park , monkeys, squirrels and lots of birdlife roam free in their natural environment.


.

Whilst not famed for its beaches like the sister island Bintan, Batam does have much to offer when it comes to beaches. There are resort beach complexes as beaches frequented by the locals.

The best known tourist beach is a Nongsa Point Marina. to the east of Batam, but there are also many other beaches in the Barelang area which are quite suitable for sunbathing and swimming.

One reason so many people travel to Batam is that Spa treatment is available at a fraction of the price in Singapore. Batamholiday apartment is located very close to Batam's most famous Spa Tempat Senang Spa. so you're just a short walk away from complete indulgence and luxury.

Batam has a great range of food courts . Windsor food court is favoured by many for its vibrant atmosphere, but for those seeking a more sedate atmosphere where conversation is a little easier Harbour Bay food court is the probably the better choice.

Batam nightlife attracts many to the island . There's a wealth of pubs to choose from in Nagoya as well as nightclubs for those not wanting to retire to bed too early.

The suspension bridge (Jembatan) at Barelang is a must for both visitors and locals There are 6 bridges which connect the small islands to make up what is known as Batam but is actually Barelang (Batam - Rempang - Galang). The main suspension bridge is popular destination for sunset watchers. There are also lots of sea food restaurants located in this area serving fresh catch of the day.

Families seeking a fun day out should look no further than Ocarina / Coastarina. A theme park for great fun and family entertainment. Ocarina has a large ferris wheel and many other attractions including a water park,.

Language
 
Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is modeled on the Malay trade language, Riau Malay is regarded as quite similar to the Malay language and visitors from Malaysia will find the Indonesian spoken here very similar to Bahasa Malaysia, which is the version of Malay spoken back home. Batam also has a large population of chinese Indonesians, who speak Hokkien (Fujian), Teochew and Mandarin. There is. Of course as with almost everywhere in the world these days most people have a good command of english

Batam Transport
 
There are plenty of taxis in Batam, licensed taxis have yellow license plates. As there are no meters, you will need to bargain with the drivers Batam also has it's own unique bus services which operate throughout the island.

Food and Drink

Batam has plenty of eating out choices, including great Chinese seafood in the outdoor food courts, such as the Windsor and Nagoya Food Courts and A1 Pujasera.

For seafood over the water, try Golden Prawn or Rezeki seafood at Batu Besar. They are famous for their seafood.
In the Nagoya area behind Harmoni Hotel, there are dozens of bars that serve Western pub food popular with the expat community
For authentic Balinese roasted pork, visit Warung Bali in Batam Center. They have fresh babi guling every Saturday after 11:00.
All of the major hotels have restaurants, some better than others. If you come during Ramadan (In August-September), you have your choice of all-you-can-eat buffets of traditional Indonesian fare from every major hotel; prices range from about Rp. 45,000-75,000.
Beer and spirits are readily available in Batam and at a fraction of the price in Singapore. Food courts serve the cheapest beers but it's a little more expensive in the bars.
Wine is available from the duty-free store in Harbor Bay, some off licences and bars in the main entertainment area.

Money
 
The Indonesian rupiah may be legal tender, but the Singapore dollar (S$) is Batam's unofficial second currency. Tourist-oriented hotels, restaurants and shops usually quote prices in S$, and they will be accepted by nearly anybody, money changers can be found at the major shopping malls e.g Nagoya Hills, DC Mall, BCS Mall and Mega Mall
If you decide to pay by credit card, by law your bill must be converted to rupiah first.
There are ATM machines everywhere most of which accept foreign debit cards

Batam Island really is a great place to getaway to. Batam shops and stores have fantastic bargains available, especially at the many large shopping malls in nagoya and Batam Centre or you could visit in the local markets and street stalls.

For real value and authentic experience, visit one of the many Batam food courts where you'll be overwhelmed by the choice of delicious food.

Batam boasts several sea fronted food restaurants offering delicious fresh catch seafood dishes.

The Vietnam camp used to be home to many Vietnamese boat peoples. The village was functional until 1996 but has been left virtually untouched since it was abandoned. Also on the site are churches and the famous Quan An Tu Monastery, built in 1984. Located along the Barelang trail, the camp is amongst the popular Batam tourist destinations.

BCP - Batam Cable Ski Park is located at Waterfront City Resort. BCP is the first Cable-Ski Park built in Asia.
 
For those seeking a few thrills on their Batam Island Visit this is a must do activity.

For more information about Batam Cable Ski Park click on the image.