Batam is an island in the Riau archipelago, in Indonesia. Covering 715 sq km (276 sq mi), Batam has a population nof 1.1 million people. It is the largest city in the Riau Island Province of Indonesia. Due to its proximity to Singapore, which is just 20 km (12 mi) away, Batam is today a Free Trade Zone under the Sijori Growth Triangle.
Barelang Bridge, Batam
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Barelang_Bridge#mediaviewer/File:Jembatan_Tengku_Fisabilillah.jpg Author: Wira Sattah Jr
Visiting Batam
The main ports in Batam are Harbour Bay (Jodoh), Batam Centre, Nongsapura, Sekupang and Waterfront City (Teluk Senimba). These are visa-free and visa-on-arrival ports of entry. You can catch a ferry from the Harbourfront Ferry Terminal in Singapore to Batam Centre, Sekupang and Waterfront City. To go to Nongsapura from Singapore, take the ferry at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
You can also fly from Kuala Lumpur-Subang to Batam, arriving at the Hang Nadim Airport (BTH), which also receives domestic flights from Bali, Bandar Lampung, Jakarta-Soekarna Hatta, Medan, Padang, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Pontianak, Surabaya, Tembilahan, and Yogyakarta.