Deals 2 - Batam Top Places

Klook Promo Codes 2020 to use with your SingapoRediscovers Vouchers

Leave a Comment / Deals, Sg Deals, Sg Happening / November 27, 2020 November 27, 2020

Start planning your preferred dates to visit various attraction around Singapore before the rush on 1st Dec 2020 when everyone else starts to use their SingapoRediscovers Vouchers. Here’s a list of promo codes to make those free money work harder.

10% off All Experiences in Singapore

Code: REDISCOVERSG | Min spend $50 | New Klook users only

8% off All Experiences in Singapore

Code: KLKEXPLORER | Min spend $50 | Existing Klook User only

12% off Local quick bites

Code: 12MAKAN | cap at $10, min spend $5 | Valid for 1 time use

10% off Local quick bites

Code: LOCALMAKAN | cap at $30, min spend $20 | Valid for 1 time use

ASOS: Up to 70% off storewide Black Friday sale till 1 Dec 2020

Leave a Comment / Deals, Sg Deals / November 27, 2020 November 27, 2020

Get up to 70% OFF at ASOS for a limited time only at www.asos.com.

It’s ASOS biggest deal EVER at www.asos.com! Up to 70% off everything! No coupon / promo code required.

They have got more brands, more looks, more trends and more of everything you could possibly want under one website’s MASSIVE imaginary roof. One short stock up CNY clothing for 10 years la.

They sells over 80,000 branded and own-brand products through localised mobile and web experiences, delivering from fulfilment centres in the UK, US, Europe and China to almost every country in the world.

GET up to 70% OFF EVERYTHING T&C: Limited time only. Prices marked down as shown. While stocks last.

For more information, visit www.asos.com.

Hot Deals & Offers Amazon Black Friday 2020 Deals

Leave a Comment / Deals, Sg Deals / November 24, 2020 November 24, 2020

Amazon.com has started their Black Friday deals and offers at www.amazon.com/blackfriday.

The once-in-a-year annual sale runs from 20 November through 28 November 2020, 4pm (local SGT dates). The peak of the sale happens from 27 Nov 4pm to 28 Nov 4pm.

Black Friday Deals Week has begun! Skip the lines and shop Black Friday deals from anywhere, even your couch.

Amazon has hundreds of limited-time Lightning Deals for you to choose from, exciting Deals of the Day, and savings on your favourite electronics, toys, jewellery and more.

Deals below should be available at Amazon.SG too BUT..

Simply copy the Product ID (e.g. B07C58KFX1) from the address bar and paste into the search box at www.amazon.sg

Amazon SG Prime members enjoy free international delivery on millions of eligible orders over S$60 from Amazon US otherwise the shipping fee is about the same as shipping from Amazon.com.

If you don’t have Amazon SG Prime membership, you can sign up for a free trial here.

BUT! Take note the prices in Amazon.SG for Amazon.COM items may be higher than the Amazon.COM, even after factoring in shipping and currency exchange fees. So it may be cheaper to buy from Amazon.COM instead of through Amazon.SG

Cheap Face Mask Guard for easier breathing

Leave a Comment / Deals, Sg Deals / September 2, 2020 September 25, 2020

Are you feeling stuffy under the hot weather while wearing your thick black cotton mask sweating like human ice cream late for work and chasing the bus? Here comes a cheap handy device, the face mask guard!

Available in Stick-on and Clip-on option, this simple device creates spacing in your lower face, helps air circulation, prevent smudging of your makeup and pimples outbreak. Personally worn it during exercise and it really helps a lot for my breathing.

It is reusable and made from safe PP grade elastic silicone material. Suitable for kids and adults. Really cheap as well, 1 pc for $4.9, or 5 for $22, including delivery, albeit it took 10 days to reach us since it was sold out very quickly. Anyone interested can get it here

Top Bird Nest Supplier in Batam (at least 30-40% cheaper than Singapore)

2 Comments / Batam-Food, Deals, Sg Deals / January 24, 2020 November 5, 2020

Did you know many big retail TCM shops get their bird nest directly from Batam, give it a fancy name, repackage and resell in Singapore? Batam is a place where all the wholesaler and manufacturer gathers to trade and supply bird nest to Singapore, Malaysia and China. The raw birdnest, usually harvested from swiftlet farm houses under a control condition, process, clean and package in Batam before they are ship out. Prices are calculated in liang or tael (where 1 liang is about 37.7g) Prices are at least 30-40% cheaper than Singapore. Many enterprising entrepreneurs also purchase in batches and resell in Singapore.

According to US National Library of Medicine, Bird nest is also a immune-enhancing food.

So while in Batam, it will be a good opportunity to get direct from wholesaler, resell and HUAT ah.

So here are the best established places you can by from.

HITANG Bird Nest WholeSale

Established in 2003, HiTang Wholesale bird Nest has been supplying bird nest to Singapore TCM shops for over 10 years. Use to only selling in bulk, they recently open up their channel and sell online to end consumer. Do a quick comparison online and you can find their prices are among the cheapest since they cut out all the bells and whistle, like branding, advertising etc. They provide delivery anywhere in Batam or Singapore.

I did a quick price comparison online from Singapore Retail store for the Grade AA (Long Ya Yan) here and here and can’t believe retail prices mark up that much! It is at least 40% cheaper!

Their birdnest are harvested from swiftlet farm houses in Riau Kalimantan Island. Quality is among the best since their farm are located in rural area, away from pollution, resulting in cleaner bird nest with lesser impurities. Also nest from Kalimantan tends to fetch a higher price compare to other Riau island. In their online store (under construction), they select the 2 best overall types of bird nest for sale. They also provide content to educate consumer about bird nest on their site as well. Also take note, their packaging is those generic plastic container as shown in the pic above. For gift box, you”ll need to pay extra.

Rates (Do take note prices are seasonal and may fluctuate )

Grade AAA: 100 gram SGD 290 | 500 gram SGD 1350 | 1kg SGD 2400

Grade AA: 100 gram SGD 260 | 500 gram SGD 1200 | 1 kg SGD 2300

Contact: [email protected] | whatsapp: +6590883981 | Call: +62 811 7048998

Website: Birdnest Wholesale

Address: Jl. Harbour Bay, Sungai Jodoh, Kec. Batu Ampar, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia (open in google map)

Ling Star Bird’s Nest

A tourist favourite retail store. If you prefer ready made, you can try a variety of flavours of their bird nest in their shop. This Company offers pure swallow nests with different varieties.

Rates: TBC Web: Nil Contact: +62 821-6933-7450

Address: Jl. Laksamana Bintan, Sungai Panas, Kec. Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia (open in google map)

The Fora

If you love variety like I do, then the Fora, which is already famous for its Kueh Lapis cakes is a hub for swallow nests. These edible nests are available in different shapes and styles like the Triangle ones, the Super ones, or even the small pieces. The pretty cute is a Super one, which weighs 50 grams and costs Rp 1,440,000. The big pieces weighing 100 grams cost Rp 2,530,000.

Rates: 50 gram SGD +143 | 100 gram SGD +260

Contact Phone: Whatsapp +62 877 7889 0186 Email: nil

Address: #02-29 Harbour Bay Terminal

Tora Tora

Tora Tora, famous for their inhouse kueh lapis, sells a variety of items like Indonesia snacks and chinese herbal dried food. Here, you can check out Super Cup or the triangle ones. The Super cup of 500 grams cost Rp 13,910,000 and the Triangle ones weighing 500 grams cost Rp 12,305,000.

Rates: Superior Cup Size Bird Nest 500 gram SGD +1400 | Triangle Size Bird Nest 500 gram SGD +1250

Opening Hours: Everyday: 8am – 7pm

Web: NIL Contact Phone : whatsapp +62 813 6393 3778 Email :NIL

Address: Harbour Bay Terminal, 1st floor, near Starbucks, beside Excelso cafe.

2019 Top Batam Hotel Reviews (Cheap & Good )

Leave a Comment / Batam-Accommodation, Deals / November 18, 2019 September 25, 2020

As a Batam old bird, always travelling back and forth for work, I have stay in almost all the hotels in Batam, using company expense lol. Here’s my recommendation for some of the most value for money city hotel in Batam that are not resort.

1. Zest Hotel

Zest is a really affordable hotel (about 20 sgd night ) with a great sea view. It is connected by Bayfront Mall from Harbour Bay Terminal. The room are basic, but with all the necessary amenities. Size of the room is decent, with full length mirror, desk and chairs. Shower area is small with 2 in 1 shampoo and body shower gel. There is no hair dryer in the room, but you can request from the reception.

There are many shops, eateries and supermarket around the hotel. 5 minutes walk, you can find many bars, seafood restaurant residing along the coastline. Nomad, one of the newly open bar/club/restaurant, is a nice place to chill out. It is also one of the places where the young milliionaires from Batam and Jarkarta like to party.

Nagoya is only 10 minutes away by taxi. Taxi is a fix fare of RP30,000.

Pros: Cheap, good location, Amazing sea view, many amenities around the area.

Cons: Room may be too basic for those who are fussy. Rate: 20+ SGD /night

Website: Zest Hotel

Swiss-Belhotel Harbour Bay

Stay in this 4 star hotel twice. Swiss-Belhotel is a short walk away from Harbour Bay Terminal. Stay in the Grand Deluxe room. It is spacious and well equipped. The room has a comfortable king bed, a lounge sofa, an armchair and a work desk with chair. The toilet had a bathtub with separate shower area. Flooring is carpeted as well.

The hotel has a small swimming pool, sauna and gym. The buffet spread was good with tons of varieties. Their local food served could be better but the western dishes were delicious. They have a live piano band performance as well in the lobby.

There is a mall connected to the hotel, nothing much there except a supermarket in the basement and a Cinema on the third floor. The cinema has all the latest movies with tickets at about 4 sgd!

There are Seafood restaurants along the coast line and massage/spa outlet along the shophouses in front of the hotel. To Nagoya is only 10 mins cab ride.

Pros: Great room, good amenities in the hotel, good food.

Cons: The lift is slow going up to the room.

Website: Swiss-Belhotel Harbour bay

Harmoni One Hotel

First impression, the hotel looks 5 star from the outside with a retro luxury looking interior in the lobby. Spacicous room with carpeted flooring. Tv channels has good selection, with a comfortable seating area . Bed is big and comfortable. But one thing to take note, hotel is near to the mosque, for those silent sleeper, you might wake up by the prayer. There is a pool, gym and steam room and their food is not bad.

The location is awesome with 24hrs Mac and KFC around the corner and 10mins walk to Nagoya Hill shopping cente.

Pros: Good location. Very affordable for a 4 star hotel.

Cons: Room might be hit and miss. Morning prayer from nearby mosque.

Website: Harmoni One Hotel

Grands I Hotel

One of the classier hotel in Batam, the Deluxe room is spacious and wall maintained with a work desk. Wifi connection was good. The channels were abundant with HBO, HBO hits, FOX movies, AXN and Mediacorp etc Room service id 24 hours and the food’s tasty too.

There is a nice big gym and pool for those who love to spend time in the hotel.

Location is excellent as Nagoya Hill Mall is just behind the hotel with various eateries, shops and spas available in the area. Taxis are available around the clock from the hotel lobby.

Bonus: the mini bar is complimentary!

Pros: Good location. Very classy hotel. Room is wall maintained.

Cons: Expensive.

Website: Grands i Hotel

Best Western Premier Panbil

This Hotel feels 5 star, is a bit far from the City but they make it up with 2 pools and one is warmer called “whirpool” similar to a jacuzzi, a Ktv, a sky bar on the 15th floor and massage spa at level 2.

Everything feels brand new within the hotel. The decor, furniture and furnishing look classy and expensive. Food is awesome.

You get what you paid for. The room has all the amenities you need from a expensive hotel. The scenery was great for my room. If you wanna do some nearby shopping and entertainment, there is Kepri Mall which has Carrefour and Cinema. It is only 5 min drive away.

Pros: Great room. Many facilities within the hotel.

Cons: Location not ideal. On the pricier side.

Website: Best Western Premier Panbil

Eska Hotel

From the same owner of Eska Spa, Eska hotel was build I guess to mainly cater to their spa ecentric customer. The highlight is you”ll get all your spa and massage treatment all under one roof. The room is decent with all the amenities you required. No qualms.

There’s a rooftop garden, a nice place to chill out. Breakfast buffet was not bad with varieties of cakes (pandan cheese cake was delish). You can do your shopping and movie at Kepri Mall, which is 5 mins walk away. There is also a KTV outlet nearby.

One thing to note, Grab driver is not allowed to pick up passengers in the hotel, you”ll need to walk 5 minutes out of the hotel area for pick up.

Pros: Decent room. Professional Spa massage under one roof. Rooftop garden is a nice touch.

Cons: Location away from City center. Service can be improve.

Website: Eska Hotel

That sums up my review. There are many that didn’t make the list though. If you require more info about Batam I be glad to help. Just email me at [email protected] . Cheers@

7 Batam Seafood Restaurants That’s Cheap (I Love No 3!)

1 Comment / Batam-Food, Deals / July 27, 2019 September 25, 2020

In Batam, there is a saying, “give a man a fish he”ll say wa so fresh ah” Famous for its seafood, lets dig right through all the yummy Batam seafood. For those hard to access area, like Kelong seafood restaurant, you may wanna consider chartering a car and driver to save the hassle of waiting for taxi.

Harbour Bay

A stone throw away from Batam’s Harbour Bay terminal, is a long stretch of restaurants and bars by the sea. The areas sells live seafood, sheesha and drinks. It also has a beautiful sunset and some restaurant with live bands playing. Stroll down and enjoy the sea breeze, its a good place for gatherings.

We tried 3 restaurants in this area, recommended by our friends and first up is “Wey Wey”.

1. Wey Wey

This place is great! The food as “cheap affordable”! It is so nice we described it using the same words twice”. It’s highly recommended by Batam locals. One of my favourite fish is their Fried squid with salted egg yolk. Nothing says fancy like eating squid with multiple things done to it to make it taste better. The chilli crabs is very affordable and they added a little twist to the chilli crab sauce. The steam grouper is fresh and tender as well.

Must try: 2 Crabs is only for SGD 34, 1 steamed and 1 chilli crab! HIGHLY recommend to eat with fried mantou, I was almost licking the last drop from the plate. Salted egg yolk fried squid about SGD 5 + Steam grouper SGD 20+

Opening Hours : Everyday 10:30am – 12.30am

Web: nil

Contact Phone : +62 813-7226-2420 Email : nil

What to do next: 5 min walk to Harbour Bay Mall for Massage or movies or Bayfront Mall for Eska Spa and Kueh Lapis hunting.

5 mins walk from Harbour Bay Terminal

Address: Jodoh River, Batu Ampar, Batam City, Riau Islands (open in google map)

2. Jumbo Seafood

Jumbo Seafood is Thai food with a Chinese twist! What more can you asked for. We think the Thai and Chinese food mix came from the owners of the restaurant. They couldn’t agree what type of food to sell and both owners need each other’s money!

Try the fried fish skins or scales as normal people will call them. Jumbo Thai Kitchen features two VIP rooms and a live band that can be booked upon request. A lot of business people come here after work to unwind. The taste is authentic that’s because one chef is Thai and another is Chinese. The Chinese chef just to work in a 5 star hotel restaurant. The standard is upheld by the dishes he serves.

Must try: Tom yam soup 700g Sri Lankan black pepper crab, a 600g Harbour Bay style steamed black garoupa, 1 large plate of hot chilli mussels, 1 medium plate of sambal kangkong, 4 bowls of rice, 2 cans of beer, and 1 coconut, the total cost came up to around SGD$65 (Special takeaway requests for their famous fried fish skins!)

Opening Hours : Everyday 11am – 11pm

Web: nil Contact Phone : +62 822-8487-8800 Email : nil

What to do next: 5 min walk to Harbour Bay Mall for Massage or movies or Bayfront Mall for Eska Spa and Kueh Lapis hunting.

5 mins walk from Harbour Bay Terminal

Address: Jl. Harbour Bay, Sungai Jodoh, Batu Ampar, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444 (open in google map)

3. Harbour Bay Seafood

This Indonesia- Chinese mashup is one of my favorite. The menu has pictures because most people cannot pronounce the fresh ingredients on the menu. I recommend the the Black groupa and especially the cripsy baby squid. The taste is balance, and the chilli is OMG! Harbour Bay Seafood Restaurant is also a popular wedding venue. It offers a variety of setting for diners, including a private VIP experience too! Wedding by the sea in Batam, anyone?

Must try: Black pepper crab, Crayfish and the Crispy baby squid.

Opening Hours: Everyday 10.30am – 10.30pm

Web: nil Contact Phone: +62 778 741 5188 Email: nil

What to do next: 5 min walk to Harbour Bay Mall for Massage or movies or Bayfront Mall for Eska Spa and Kueh Lapis hunting.

5 mins walk from Harbour Bay Terminal

Address: Komp. Harbour Bay No. R08, Jl. Dayung Sei Jodoh, Batu Ampar, Sungai Jodoh, Batu Ampar, Sungai Jodoh, Batu Ampar, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444

4. Rezeki Seafood Restaurant

Next stop, out of Harbour Bay Area, we have Sumber Rezni. It is one of the many live kelong seafood restaurants in Batam. You don’t get that in Singapore. We love the fresh food and unique ambient here. We recommend the prawn or green chili chicken depending on what animal you have a taste for.

Must try: Green Chili Chicken SGD 5+, Steamed Prawns SGD 12+, Garlic Fried Chicken SGD 5+

Opening Hours : Everyday 9am – 10pm Web: http://seafood.rezeki.id/

Contact Phone : +62 778 761180 | Whatsapp (Chat Only): +62 85 88888 99 28

Email : nil

40 mins drive from Harbour Bay Terminal

Address: Pantai Batu Besar, Jl. Haji Muhammad Saleh RT. 01/ RW. 02, Batu Besar, Nongsa, Batu Besar Nongsa, Batu Besar, Nongsa, Batam City, Riau Islands 29465 (open in google map)

5. Barelang Seafood Restaurant

Located around 30-40mins drive away from the main Nagoya city center in Batam. We love this restaurant, mainly for the view overlooking the iconic Barelang Bridge and four other islands in the horizon. Enjoy the sea breeze if you choose the spacious open-air dining hall with capacity for up to 1,500 people.

For an exclusive experience, a fully air-conditioned VIP room with karaoke facilities is also available. There is a monkey guarding the restaurant’s kelong named Melissa, it was adopted from a neighbouring island as an infant and loves eating coconuts! We ask how Melissa how she think about the food and I think she prefers coconuts.

The live seafood are keep in nets in the sea and patrons get to choose who to execute if they stare them the wrong way. We recommend the fresh lobster, it taste great and you don’t get this kinda prices in Singapore. It’s like tiger prawn pricing, but you are getting lobster.

Must try: Lobster 100g / SGD 9+ Opening Hours : Everyday 9.30am – 8pm

Web: www.barelangseafood.com/home Contact Phone : +62 812-7755-9191

Email : [email protected]

45 mins drive from Harbour Bay Terminal

Address: Jalan Trans Barelang City, Tembesi, Sagulung, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29472 (open in google map)

6. Kopak Jaya 007 Kelong Seafood Restaurant

Another kelong restaurant, this particular one is remote and hard to find and the name of the restaurant come from bad brain storming session, lol. Go Instagram crazy as it has an amazing sea view overlooking Barelang Bridge and a nice old school new school mesh up vibe to this place.

It’s interior is beautifully decorated with colorful shells and hanging dreamcatchers. They have a comprehensive menu with crab, shellfish, slipper lobster, prawns, squids, oyster as well as Chinese dishes and traditional Indonesian seafood plates, such as Ikan Stim, steamed grouper in a spicy turmeric sauce.

They keep the fresh seafood in nets under the restaurant so the slipper lobster can’t slip away. The lobster taste great. (Man, how can go wrong with lobster) It is our favorite dish by the way! Get the turmeric sauce and spread it on everything!

Must try: Lobster, steam groupa and shell fish.

Rates: About $25 per person for a 10 person meal with crab, crayfish, squid, prawns, fish and lobster.

Opening Hours: Everyday 9am – 7pm Web: http://kopakjaya007.com/index.php?route=common/home

Contact Phone: +62 812 1378 007 Email: [email protected]

50 mins drive from Harbour Bay Terminal

Address: turn right (follow the signboard, Kampung Tua Tiangwangkang Tembesi Sagulung 300 meter before 1st bridge of, Barelang, Tembesi, Sagulung, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29472 (open in google map)

7. Kelong Restaurant 188 Citra Utama

With free range chickens running around, this seafood restaurant has a rich kampong vibe to it. If I was a chicken, I would think why I am hanging out at a Batam seafood restaurant (not sure why), but it beats spending the day with KFC Colonel Sanders. The chicken greeted us as they nodded their heads, multiple times! Super polite, lol.

Reaching the main wooden building that housed the reception of the kelong restaurant. Further in (yes, more walking is required) is the seating area; unlike seafood restaurants in Singapore, you don’t get the overcrowding feel where tables are literally side by side and you have a good chance of bumping into the chairs of the neighbouring tables. The dining area is extended out into the sea.

Next to the floating platform is the live seafood section; the above picture actually showed the physical link between the fixed and floating sections. The seafood is as fresh as it gets.

Must try: Salted egg crayfish Opening Hours: Everyday 9am – 11pm

Web: https://www.facebook.com/kelongcitrautama188/

Contact Phone: +62 778 7821 188

Email : nil

45 mins drive from Harbour Bay Terminal

Address: Jalan Jembatan 1 Barelang, Tembesi, Sagulung, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444 (open in google map)

Conclusion

Batam seafood is a must try when you are there. Prices are relatively cheap and they are fresh from sea and kelong seafood restaurant is something unique that you need to experience.