Batam-Singapore commute

Michael_V · Post by **Michael_V** » Tue, 01 Feb 2005 4:53 pm

I am considering an offer that will see me working in Batam. I have read some things on the web that lead me to believe it would be possible to set my wife, kids and dog up in Singapore (maybe Dist 15 or 16?), and commute to/from via ferry if not every day then at least for the weekends.

Is this realistic?

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Tue, 01 Feb 2005 6:58 pm

Actually, there are people who do it the other way around... live on Batam with family because it is much cheaper, then commute to Singapore for their job. Ferry is about a 30 minute ride.

Bafana · Post by **Bafana** » Wed, 02 Feb 2005 1:46 pm

Michael_V wrote:I am considering an offer that will see me working in Batam. I have read some things on the web that lead me to believe it would be possible to set my wife, kids and dog up in Singapore (maybe Dist 15 or 16?), and commute to/from via ferry if not every day then at least for the weekends.

Is this realistic?

LOL I like your style and will your wife and kids ever come and visit you in Batam

Michael_V · Post by **Michael_V** » Wed, 02 Feb 2005 11:23 pm

Hmmmm.....I'm looking for a subtext relative to your wink. I have indeed read that Batam is pretty wild and wide-open. Is this so? I wanted my wife and kids to be safe and secure, with proximity to all the mod cons, schools, hospitals, etc, if Batam is in fact more, er,.....more. I understand it is, in addition to an oilfield support center, a more or less free trade and industrial zone.

I confess absolute ignorance on all things Singapore as well as Batam. I was entertaining the notion that I could find a nice 2- or 3-bdrm bungalow or semi-d in Sg for maybe US$2000/month? Two boys in elementary school (British or Aussie; cannot afford the American School) at US$5000/year each? Groceries, public transport, utilities and misc. for another US$1K/month?

Plus a small bungalow in Batam for a fraction of the foregoing?

Am I wildly off-base here?

Michael_V · Post by **Michael_V** » Wed, 02 Feb 2005 11:25 pm

Upon further thought, I doubt my wife would come visit me in Batam.

Bafana · Post by **Bafana** » Sat, 05 Feb 2005 7:14 pm

All I will say is that Batam is not a family oriented tonw for expats.

I don't think you will find many full families in Batam but will find more single, divorced or living apart men there.

faithful · Post by **faithful** » Tue, 06 Jun 2006 6:16 pm

Batam is a place for stressful men, looking to break free...
Beware of cewek2 / shoplifters along the way...
Good place to test our faith to God.

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