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SINGAPORE BINTAN ISLAND & BATAM ISLAND Boasting beautiful beaches, beachfront international hotels and resorts, Bintan Island is located in the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia. It is part of the Riau Islands province, the capital of which, Tanjung Pinang, lies in the island's south and is home to the island's main community. Singapore, the closest major city to the island and is a 45-50 minute trip by motorised catamaran across the Singapore Strait from the Bintan resort area in the northwest of the island. The major shopping centres in town including Ramayana Mall or Bintan Mall don't really compare to shopping in Singapore, Jakarta, or Kuala Lumpur but they do offer a wide variety of items that are generally inexpensive. If you are looking for souvenirs, check out the local wooden handicrafts and don't forget 166 www.paradisesonline.com to bargain! destinations in Indonesia. Trikora Beach is beautiful and there are many watersports available to fill your day. If you are looking for more secluded beaches, venture to Sumpat or enjoy a visit to the rainforests that, although reduced in size due to commercialism, are still majestic and magnificent. Only a 40-minute boat ride from Singapore, Singaporeans are known to enjoy a late night meal at a Batam restaurant and return the same evening to Singapore. The island boasts several tourist resorts, luxurious hotels and golf courses. The most expensive accommodation is found in Nagoya or at the tourist resorts at Nongsa on the northeast part of the island. The resorts use Singapore dollars as their de facto currency, but while they're also accepted elsewhere on the island, generally the Indonesian rupiah is the currency used. Batam Island Batam is one of the largest islands in the Riau Archipelago. After it was declared a free trade zone in 1989 it has changed dramatically from being an island of simple, coastal villages and unspoiled nature. Several years of rapid construction have given the island a modern airport as well as tourist and business centres. It is now one of the fastest growing tourist The Waterfront City is a resort area on the west coast of Batam, south of Sekupang, that attracts many Singaporean visitors. There are a variety of watersports to enjoy and the more adventurous might try bungee jumping or indoor skiing. Don't forget to check out the great nightclubs! You can shop duty free for items including alcohol, perfume, chocolate and local handicrafts from all over the Indonesian archipelago in Nagoya or at the ferry terminal.