I'm just back from Batam (Nagoya) and had a wonderful time. After reading all that is to read from this place and Network 54, I've decided to write a brief on those wanna-goers and those who require more information.

Preliminary Requirements

The first thing to note in going to Batam is that you need the minumum of the following for a 2 day/1 night stint:
A valid passport with 6mths on it
About SD$200, more than enough
World Trade Centre/Batu Ampar tickets (about $26 max)
Condoms (6 or 12 depending on your stamina!)
Mouthwash

I would suggest that you book your tickets one day in advance over at World Trade Centre and use the Penguin boat services, which run every hour, they are fast and clean.

Travel Time & Batam Time

Batam Time is 1 hr ahead of Singapore, so when you leave here at, say 10:15am, you arrive there at 10:15am. If you have booked your tickets the day before you can be at the WTC complex 30mins before time otherwise give yourself an hour.

Money Changing

I would suggest changing only $50 over here and the rest over there, the exchange rate there is about 200Rp more than what you can get over here, and there is a money changer right at the Batu Ampar Ferry Complex. It is still safe to convert there, as there are no touts yet to get you. Incidentally, SD$1 approx. 5,000Rp for quick conversion. Notes are usually in 100K, 50K, 20K, 10K, 2K, 1K, 500, 200 and 100 Rp. Change into 50K, 20K and 5K stuff.

Arrival at Batu Ampar

Ok, depart Singapore arrive at Batu Amper in 45-60mins time. You have to fill a white Indonesian immigration card, usually given out by the ticket sales in Singapore. Arrive Batu Amper, go through immigration, money changer and then face the hordes of taxi touts there.
I suggest that you walk straight past them and look out for any of those Yellow Cabs around. It will be about 20,000Rp to get you into Nagoya (which is 3Km away). This would be about the most expensive taxi ride you have to pay over there.

Hotels

My preference is one of the 4 star hotels, going rate is only about SD$65 to SD$85 per night. I like Melia Perdana, because of the nice rooms, pool, view and sandwiches, but others like Mandrin, Novotel are good as well. I would suggest that you grab one of the following (you'll see why later). Hotel 81 and Hotel Formosa are the cheaper ones ($55 and below), if you are into that, then choose Formosa, that's the best!!

Transportation

Walking
Within Nagoya, I like to walk. Staying at Melia gives me a panoramic view of things and everything is within a 1-2 km max distance. Walking also shows me things that I don't usually see. Don't carry cameras, don't use back streets, stay away from street corners where youngsters are squating, be brave and walk in the middle of the street. You won't get mugged or accosted, but you live in the danger of being run down. I usually carry an umbrella (full length) for sun, rain and whatever. Had to use it only for the sun and the rain.

-----------------------------------------------------
| | LuckyPlaza (Matahari) Ramayana
| | Hotel Formosa Shopping
| | Dynasty99
Queen| |
| | RR RS | | Memory |Dead end
| +-----------------| |-------------|Local Market
| |===stinky drain==+ +==+ +========|
| +-----------------+ +-------+ +---|
| | | | | | Melia
--------------+ + Lucy's | | | | Perdana
--------------+ + OarHouse| | | | Shopping
Hotel Mandrin | | | |
81 | | | | KFC
| |
RR Rio Ritas McDonalds| |
RS Rasa Sayang | |
<-----------------------max 2Km or 15 min walk------>
-------------------------------------------------------

Ojeks
These are motorcyclists who give you lifts from here-to-there. For the first-timer, they can give you the shock of your life as they come near you and beep-beep you (would you like a lift?) I usually wave them away and give them a smile, they are ok if you do that. (Never tried them!!)

Taxis/Cars/Bone-shakers
These are yellow cabs, green cabs, unmarked vehicles, vans, Demolishing-Derby cars, and anything on 4 wheels. They are handy when you feel tired. Any trip within Nagoya should cost you only 5000Rp max. Always ask and negotiate, I seldom bargain.
The problem is where to ask them to go? Ahhh, now here is what I suggest.

Hotels - no problems

Pubs etc - no problems

Whorehouses - here is a guide, to prevent paying the commissions:

Goto Lucky Plaza - for Queen Massage, Dynasty99, Hotel Formosa Karaoke

Goto Hotel 81 - for Karaoke just up the street

Goto Perdana Shopping @ Melia Perdana for Memory KTV

Girlie Places pricing about 200K to 270K

Queen
Lots and lots of girls there in a fish tank style. Sometimes you don't know whether it is a whorehouse or market place. There is a security guard at the front. Ask for Capri, who can guide you. Dynasty #### Karoke directly opposite Queen, just as popular, though not as many girls. The girls there are not quite as pretty, but sometimes looks can be decieving.

Hotel Formosa Karaoke
Quite good, the mamasan there can help you. (See I told you that Hotel Formosa was great!!!!)

Orchid99
Same thing, lots of girls there, but I have yet to call anyone from that place.

Memory karaoke
The girls here are on the plumpish side but like I said, girls looks can be decieving. They have so far been the best of the lot, very obliging and no airs. Usually very quite about their wants.

The girls are of varying ages. Some pretty, some not. Mostly plumpish few skinny. They are fine in accommodating you in bed, however may turn down the request for Blow Jobs (carry Strawberry flavoured ones or Mint flavoured - it helps). Most of them do have bad breath (reason for mouthwash) and most do not speak English though some can converse in Hokkien.

I have never had any luck on twosomes or threesomes or pool parties with the ones that I pick. Tried twosomes before, most of the time the girls feel shy about their bodies and while you are bonking one, the other prefers to turn around or pretend that you are not there. If anyone can recommend me a "cooperative" and "show-type" twosome, I would appreciate a lot. I had a semi- cooperative twosome before from Memory KTV, while I was bonking one, the other just sat beside me and watched - I don't call that being cooperative, but that's as far as I've got, you may have better mileage.

Beware of cons, sometimes when you pick the girls up early, after the first session, they say they have shopping or other things to do (probably to head back and get some more bonking!!). They would also ask you for money etc. It falls on deaf ears.

Don't believe the pimps, they will agree and tell you everything. I'm not going to go into rejecting girls etc, as that has been covered elsewhere, and for the price, I can't be bothered. Usually, I tip the girls 50K if the service has been good, otherwise 30K, if she has been a bitch, send her back and make the mamasan deliver another one, of course you have to pay another 100K, for the exchange, even if you have not bonked her.

What to do there in the afternoons and evenings?

1. Bonk
2. Bonk
3. Bonk

No, you can always go to a pub, disco or bowling etc. I wouldn't go shopping in the afternoon with the girls in tow, some locals just don't like it, and it's not nice to provoke them, especially when you see them selling Samurai swords and parangs etc on the streets.

Beware of discos, if you are in to those type of things, Ecstasy (sp) or Ubat as they call it are rampant and most of the girls are into it, though not in a big way. The worst thing that could happen to you is to go to a disco, enjoy, buy your girl some "ubat" and she pops half into your drink. Wouldn't like the Customs & Immigration at WTC taking a look at your urine!!

Pubs are ok, beer is cheap if you are into that thing. I usually bring a pack of cards, bottle of brandy or whisky and share the night with the girl. Usually in the evenings I pack a swimsuit and bring the girl swiming in the pool when the lights go down. Treat them well, and some of the girls really do enjoy your company.

Coming Home

Give yourself 50mins at least to clear your hotel bill and grab a taxi over. The ride takes only 10 mins, and you have to check in 10-15 mins before time. Remember, Batam time is 1 hr ahead of Singapore time.

As you get out of the taxi, beware of touts who will ask you for your ticket and immigration card, which they will hand over to the counter for you, they will also grab the boarding pass and immigration card from the counter and hand it back for you for a tip. I was accosted once like that, but the trick to do is to take it back from them, pretend to search your pockets and at the same time walk towards the Police officer at the entrance, they will stop following at about 10 feet away!!

Well, enjoy yourself, play safe and if you find a nice pair (pretty, slim ones about 20-25yrs) that enjoy and perform 2-somes or 3-somes let me know. Always had a fantasy of one of those like you see in the XXX movies. Oh, BTW, don't bring back any VCDs and such, all luggage is X-rayed at the WTC, they will confiscate the lot, but before you reach home, they will already have 2 officers there searching for your hoard. The going rate is $500 per copy found (my, my what an expensive hobby we have). Usually the officers are Customs ones, so they have a right to search for illicit material.