Quote:
Originally Posted by SheldonXX
Recently, I went on my first trip to Balai. Being my first trip, I opt to engage the service of a driver, contact from a bro here. That's despite the fact that I'm aware that there are many Chinese in Balai and I do speak some bahasa indon too.
Being my first trip, my main aim, other than enjoying myself, is to know the place too cos I don't intend to keep spending unnecessary money on drivers and end up being dependant on them.
Those who been to batam with me knows that I almost never take taxi there. Not even public ojet. If can walk, I walk. Saves me up to 350k in commission and driver fee. It may be slightly difficult in Balai, given the location of Villa. But, I believe once you master the transport system of a location, you can do away with taxis.
And, lastly, and this may upset some here. If it's the norm for drivers to collect commission for bringing customers to joints, I find it hard to believe anyone who will do it without collecting commission. In this world, no one will be against money. I'm perfectly fine with that. But, just don't behave like that moron ojet that I encounter in Batam recently. He simply just park at each of the joint that we went to and tried to get commission for girls we took. That's not cari makan, that's "robbing" me.
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Since its your maiden trip is better for you to take a driver. Because you are a newbie there. But i do know a newbie in the course of my cheonging balai. He actually went alone and check himself in hotel. Kudos to him.
Since you took a driver, then make full use of him. Request for him to bring you places, learn a thing or two from him so you will be smarter on your future trips. If hes hardworking by all means tip him more than the norm.
On the contrary between batam and balai, balai is much more simple and straightaway. Just take an oplet or ojek to villa. Or can ask hotel driver to bring you there. You dont have such service at batam. All fishes under one roof i.e. villa. Take your time and pick your choice.
There you are. Like i always said how on earth one expect balai driver to survive on girls commission alone? Furthermore theres not many ferry trips to balai from kukup and singapore. I always tell my friends to tip driver standard S$10. Set a benchmark there so as not to spoilt market. But to be fair if driver really take care of you, then by all means tip him generously.