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Batam is one of the largest islands in the Riau archipelago, and 30 years ago it was just another poor island with coastal villages and unspoiled nature. The declaration of the Batam free trade zone in 1989 has turned the island upside down, after just a few years of rapid construction it now has a modern airport (Bandar Udara Hang Nadim), tourist and business centers and a still growing infrastructure that has changed the island completely.

Nagoya, also known as Lubuk Baja, is the original center of Batam, and not a very attractive town with a mix of old and new characterless buildings. But if you are looking for local entertainment this must be the place, with plenty of shops, food stalls, nightlife, discos, music lounges, karaoke, restaurants and many small hotels. It is also at the present Batam’s center of business, trade and finance.

10 August 07

Batu Ampar is the port of Nagoya. HT, SK and myself arrived at Harbour Bay, Batu Ampar ferry terminal at about 2:30 WIB (Western Indonesia Standard Time. GMT+7). Going through the immigration formalities is straightforward and hassleless. The money changer at Harbour Bay operated by PT. Banda Mustikamas offered Rp 6.075 to S$1.

Took a taksi (Rp 15.000) far outside the terminal following the advice of Theosofie and within 5 min, we were at Nagoya. According to him, if you take the taxi in front of the arrival hall it will cost you bomb and the price is fixed.

It was a clear and lazy Friday afternoon and we decided to stroll around Nagoya and do some hotel review ourselves. We covered 7 hotels within 2 hours time.

Here’s the review outcome:

Hotel Prima Asia
Nagoya 2000 No. 09-10, Lubuk Baja (Nagoya), Pulau Batam 29432, Indonesia
☎ +62-778-429607, 429608, 429609 (fax: +62-778-426389).
Standard Rp 125.000, VIP Rp 165.000 (additional Rp 20.000 on weekends).
Located behind Centerpoint, it offers acceptable rooms with hot shower and TV, though a few have only wall views. It’s a good deal if your budget is really tight.

Hotel Nagoya Plasa
Jl. Imam Bonjol, Lubuk Baja (Nagoya), Pulau Batam 29432, Indonesia
☎ +62-778-459888 (fax: +62-778-456690, 456418)
Standard Rp 300.000, Superior Rp 380.000, Junior Suite Rp 600.000, Suite Rp 800.000, add an extra bed costs Rp 100.000.
A total of 131 rooms and suites. It is located next to the largest, brand new hypermarket and shopping center in Batam – Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre. The rooms are stuffed with modern amenities such as refrigerator and mini bar, IDD, private bath and shower, soft touch and master bedside control panel for central AC, TV, radio, lighting, in-house video. Other facilities include a bar & lounge, coffee shop and big screen sport café. Well known among modern executives and golfers.

Holiday Hotel
Jl. Iman Bonjol Blok B No. 1 Lubuk Baja (Nagoya), Pulau Batam 29432, Indonesia
☎ +62-778-458616 (fax: +62-778-457531)
Ekonomi Rp 181.500, Standard Rp 192.500 VIP Rp 220.000, add an extra bed costs Rp 44.000.
This is a typical Indonesian Chinese-run midrange hotel. It’s not gorgeous, but it’s the best value of its kind. The staffs seem ambivalent to give any discount, even though the room occupancy rate is low. Breakfast included and check out time is 13:00.

Formosa Hotel
A8 City Plaza, Lubuk Baja (Nagoya), Pulau Batam 29432, Indonesia
☎ +62-778-426789 (fax: +62-778-426722)
Deluxe or Superior King S$63/S$68 (weekday/weekends), Junior Suites S$100/S$110 (weekday/weekends), Executive Suites S$130/S$140 (weekday/weekends).
This Singapore Dollar friendly 3 star hotel is only steps away from the Nagoya’s shopping malls and food courts (pujasera). All 110 rooms are fully carpeted, tastefully furnished with soft color and attached sound proof bathroom. The hotel has great modern lobby, spacious rooms but no swimming pool.

Goodway Hotel
Jl. Imam Bonjol, No. 1, Lubuk Baja (Nagoya), Pulau Batam 29432, Indonesia
☎ +62-778-426888 (fax: +62-778-458057)
Superior S$106, Junior Suite S$107, Executive Suite S$245, Presidential Suite S$860, add an extra bed costs S$35.
This 4 star business-class hotel with good location offers 273 rooms and suites. Used to be known as Mandarin Regency Hotel and ever housed one of the better known casinos in Batam island, it’s quite a grand hotel but a little dated. Nevertheless, it’s served by a good team of friendly and helpful staffs. The hotel business is not as good as it used to be since the casino ban in Feb 2005. There’s a restaurant, health centre, swimming pool, pub, karaoke Lounge and saloon. Check out time is 12:00.

Regina Inn
Kompleks Inti Sakti Bl A/4 Lubuk Baja (Nagoya), Pulau Batam 29432, Indonesia
☎ +62-778-425290.
Ekonomi Rp 90.000 Standard Rp 110.000 VIP Rp 130.000.
Uninspiring, unexciting, this budget option can be pretty grimy. Rooms are very basic.

Sari Jaya Hotel
Kompleks Bumi Indah, Lubuk Baja (Nagoya), Pulau Batam 29432, Indonesia
☎ +62-778-451338 (fax: +62-778-451342)
Superior Rp 250.000, Junior Suite Rp 300.000, add an extra bed costs Rp 60.500.
This hotel has seen better days. Renovation works are still ongoing and will only finish around end of Aug ‘07. It has big and spacious rooms, offers standard TV, hot water and breakfast. However, there are some hairline cracks observed on the wall in the room. Daily renovation works end about 17:00 and it’s not really worth the price unless having a perennial 20%-off special. Check out time is 13:00.

Updated the hotel review information in Wikitravel and thanks to HT & SK!

I still remember 21 July, evening time at Harbourbay (Batu Ampar ferry terminal), Batam.

“S$18 will buy you one way ticket to Singapore, S$24 for a return ticket“. The ticket counter personnel, who is an Indonesian chinese quiped.

Brought a return ticket means we will go back to Batu Ampar.

Yes, on 10 Aug, we travelled back to Riau Archipelago, starting another island hopping trip.

Will try to pen down the following:

1. Batam Lubuk Baja (Nagoya) hotel review
2. Moro
3. Pulau Kundur

Moro - Exploring land of peach blossoms
摩洛 - 探世外桃园

Thanks HT and SK!

I

陶渊明在《桃花园记》里写道：

晋太元中，武陵人捕鱼为业；缘溪行，忘路之远近。忽逢桃花林。夹岸数百步，中无杂树，芳草鲜美，落英缤纷，渔人甚异之。复前行，欲穷其林。

林尽水源，便得一山。山有小口，仿佛若有光，便舍船从口入。初极狭，才通人。复行数十步，豁然开朗。土地平旷，屋舍俨然，有良田、美池、桑竹之属，阡陌交通，鸡犬相闻。其中往来种作，男女衣着，悉如外人；黄发垂髫，并怡然自乐。

Tao Yuan Ming wrote:

In the year of Taiyuan of the Jin Dynasty, there lived a man in Wuling who earned his living by fishing. One day, he rowed his boat along a stream, unaware of how far he had gone when all of a sudden, he found himself in the midst of a wood full of peach blossoms. The wood extended several hundred footsteps along both banks of the stream. There were no trees of other kinds. The lush grass was fresh and beautiful and peach petals fell in riotous profusion. The fisherman was so curious that he rowed on, in hopes of discovering where the trees ended.

At the end of the wood was the fountainhead of the stream. The fisherman beheld a hill, with a small opening from which issued a glimmer of light. He stepped ashore to explore the crevice. His first steps took him into a passage that accommodated only the width of one person. After he progressed about scores of paces, it suddenly widened into an open field. The land was flat and spacious. There were houses arranged in good order with fertile fields, beautiful ponds, bamboo groves, mulberry trees and paths crisscrossing the fields in all directions. The crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs were within everyone’s earshot. In the fields the villagers were busy with farm work. Men and women were dressed like people outside. They all, old and young, appeared happy.

I am particular attracted to this phrase: paths crisscrossing the fields in all directions, the crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs were within everyone’s earshot (阡陌交通，鸡犬相闻).

II

24 Feb 07, watched Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land (暗恋桃花源) by Stan Lai with Z and G.

III

Is there a land of peach blossoms? I wonder…

Prelude
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Location of Moro in the Riau Archipelago

Interlude
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0900 WIB (Waktu Indonesia Barat, GMT+7)

从峇淡岛的塞古邦(Sekupang)乘渡轮到摩洛,大约是1小时.
早上9点的渡轮是 PT. Putra Abadi 经营的 SB. Rahmat Jaya 号 (峇淡塞古邦电话: +62-778-327832, 80000盾, 外加5000盾的港口税).
中午1230点的渡轮是 PT. Ayodhia Bahari 经营的 SB. Budi Jasa 23 号 (电话: +62-8127092585, 65000盾, 外加5000盾的港口税).
下午1点的渡轮是 PT. Marinatama Gemanusa 经营的 Marina Baru 号, 票价也是65000盾, 外加5000盾的港口税.

SB = Speed Boat
MV = Motor Vessel

0910 WIB (Waktu Indonesia Barat, GMT+7)

挤满了人的渡轮… 估计乘客是SB(Speed Boat)法定人数的两倍.
船开后, 爬到外头, 坐在靠近船喇叭附近,握紧一支铁杆…