Quote:
Originally Posted by nono1973
My 1st impression of Batam before i reach there was...Batam is going to be a VERY VERY dangerous place to be in,hehehe..
Safety has always been my number 1 concern and it still is today whenever i visit Batam.
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Your fears are valid.
I first step foot to Batam at about 15+ years ago. Went with 2 friends.
Alight at Batu Ampar.....immediately swarm with drivers.
Stay at a not so great hotel.....musky carpet.....n the window...appears to be facing a abandoned place....at night kind of looks like cemetery.
I didnt take any chicks.....and the chicks doesnt appeal to me.
Went to change money at a store....and the guard was armed w a shotgun!
Where we went, we got stares from locals.....like we are intruding their place....loads of children beggars.....my friend told me dun give any money....many beggars will appear and surround you.
We took lunch at the hotel itself because we dont dare go anywhere.....the food taste like crap!
I couldnt sleep at night, TV was all indo channels and was fuzzy.
I heaved a sigh of relief when on the ferry back to SG...Penguin....hehe.
Fast forward today, Batam had changed alot....new malls, new hotels,....etc.
Anyway, it was also partly due to reading Nono's interesting FRs that made me decide Batam was safe to go alone.
Previously, I only go when my friend was with me....he had relocated n working in china now....hahaha.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
Same for me. The first time I went to Batam I was extra-cautious due to all the bad stories and warnings read on the Internet (mostly Singaporean travel blogs  ).
After a while on site, I realized that it's much safer than most countries I visit worldwide. Batam is peaceful and enjoyable.
All those bad warnings are mostly exaggerations written to scare off people. |
I think many of them have unrealistic expectations of Batam.
I even read some of them got food poisoning eating at coffeeshop stalls....that got me a bit worried.
Lucky, so far so good for me.