Jakarta, INDONESIA - Expiry Date

It is important to check out the expiry date of every single grocery items you buy from the regular grocery store in down town except those super store such as Carrefour and etc.

Do not attracted by the cheap 'Pricing' tag on the items. Checked the expiry date label before you put it into your basket.

Jakarta, INDONESIA - Visiting Around

Central Indonesia

- Jakarta, located at the centre of Java island
- Bandung, located at the west of Java island
- Surabaya, located at the east of Java island
- Yogyakarta, located at the south of Java island

From Jakarta to Bandung by car => 3 hours max approx
From Jakarta to Surabaya by flight => 45 minutes approx (flight ticket cost Rp600,000 one way (USD$60)
From Jakarta to Yogyakarta by flight => 6 to 8 hours approx (flight ticket cost Rp600,000 one way (USD$60)

East Indonesia

- Kuta (favorite beach, recent bombing tragedy), located at Bali Island
- Bedegul beach (recommeded by local), located at Bali Island
Note: Apart from the famous Bali island, local community recommended Lombok island. Got to check this out !

From Jakarta to Bali by flight => 45 minutes approx, flight ticket cost Rp600,000 one way (USD$60)

Flight ticket is sell for one direction instead of the regular return ticket. According to the locals, they rather to pay for one way direction by flight and return by sea or road due to they can spend time enjoying the scenary.. Weird huh ! :)

Watch Out (Red Alert):
- Do not take Lion Air, private Jet as they were one of the many plane crashed accident occured (althought they are the cheapest) in Jakarta
- One of the news for Lion Air Flight

Jakarta, INDONESIA - Casablanca

casablanca - acted by Ingrid Bergman, the daugther of Friedel Bergmen. she from Stockhom - Sweeden . You must be asking what does that related to? Tell yah, there's a road name here in Jakarta name Casablanca.

Weird huh, Indonesia Vs Sweeden ?? There isn't any relation at all even from the history perspective !!

More about Casablanca

Jakarta, INDONESIA - Recommended Taxi Driver

If you need help of direction, need to be picked up on time, get lost, call this taxi driver name "Ismet" from BlueBird Taxi. He can speak and understand moderate english.

At one time, after work, I asked this taxi driver to bring me to some good place in Jakarta to grab my dinner take away. He was so nice, we got off from the taxi, accompanied, guided me to grab my take away indonesian local food at one of the hawker store at Menteng Road.

Call this number of "7801288", and tell the operator to look for "Ismet" to pick you at so and so.

Note, not all taxi drivers speak decent english. Will say 1 or 2 out of 10 can speak moderate english.

"Right Taxi, Right Fare "- Jakarta

Was in Jakarta for almost 2 weeks for project. Heard lots from the local about "Right Taxi, Right Fare" and the locals recommended "BlueBird" taxi as they claimed the rest of the taxi drivers are not honors to the passangers.

I give myself a chance to experiment this. Today, after work from the customer site, I managed to catch a regular taxi. On the way to the destination, the taxi driver showed me the 50,000 Rp.. As i pretended that I do not understand indonesia language, at one point he stopped his car and ask for the help from another taxi driver of how to say "taxi fare is 50k Rp" in english. On the other hand, the other taxi driver told him that "money". He against keep telling me about "money" and showed the 50,000 Rp.

I pretended that I do not understand and turning my head and palm left and right. While almost close to the destination point, the taxi driver immediately reset the fare meter machine. I have noticed that and quickly shouted on him that "why do you reset your fare meter?" in english. He then showed me the 50,000 Rp and I keep asking the same question. Before he reset the fare meter, the taxi fare showed on the meter is 20,000 Rp. At the destination point, before I take off from the taxi, I showed my 2 fingers indicating of 20,000 Rp (assume that he comprehend the universal sign language :) ) whereas in return he showed me 30,000 Rp. I was really frustrated, pointing to the fare meter and taking out 25,000 Rp from my wallet. He has no accused to accept the money.

For everyone information, do not expect the taxi driver have your's change for the taxi fare. Treat the leftover as "Tips" for the taxi driver. Be realistic, 1,000 to 2,500 Rp is nothing really for foreigner as its only cost USD$0.10 to USD$0.25 approximately.

My advice -> take "BlueBird" or "SilverBird" as both are from the same group of company. The largest taxi group in Jakarta.

Jakarta, INDONESIA - Listen to Nothingale

A friend of mine (indonesian) told me that even he himself find Jakarta is not a safe place to live especially after the economic downturn crisis on 1997. People here are suffering to survive.

Do not walk alone at night at the park or sort of remote area that are not noticeable in downtown. You will get robbed, pick-pocket, bullied and if you against these bunch of ppl, they willing to kill you for just a dollar with you.

The city is dirty and trash all over the places (particularly in small alley). You will see taxi driver throws trash on the middle of the road during traffic congested hours. Sometime, you see and notice some ppl (family) living under the flyover. Many of them standing in the middle of the road to sell bottle of mineral water, newspapers and so forth. For that, they most probably earning about USD$0.05 for a bottle of mineral water sold.

The regular salary of Vice President or President in the established company (IPO) is approximately USD$2,000 (excluded benefits and etc). People here are not aggresive and they are neither a risk taker as they would stay in the company for 10 years with the little increment of salary. As my friend said, to be rich in indonesia, you are either a robber, politician or businessman.

On the street, you see many of the young teenagers sitting around doing nothing. If you are having your's meals at the hawker store particularly in Sambang Road, oftenly you will be disturbed by these group of teenagers that come to entertain you with singing and playing instruments (another way of begging). The local community will not reluctantly to keep feeding (donate) them with 1,000Rp (USD$0.10) to 2,000 (USD$0.20) every 5 to 10 minutes depending on how long you stay for your's meals.

During this time, sunrise will be at 5am while sunset at 6pm. Ppl start working at 7am to 7:30am and off at 5pm to 5:30pm.

Green Fairy - La Fée Verte

Bullock, "Absinthe" drink ... This drink was prohibited by many countries in the 1915's. It is probably illegal for someone outside the country to sell and purchase this drink, check out with the right authority in your present country.

The uniqueness of this drink are perigord glass and tour Eiffel Spoon. This special slotted spoon designed so that a sugar lump can be placed on it & water dripper over so that it dissolved into the absinthe.

You wouldn't believed how bizzare it is if you turn Absinthe into the cocktail drink. Try this Absinthe cocktail

I will definately grab this drink soon. :)

Read more about Absinthe.
Selling @ E-Absinthe
Hop to this site of "Absinthepedia :)

Wouldn't it be nice !

This song really meant by what it supposed to means and wake me up - Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up, in the morning when the day is new

Wouldn't it be nice by beach boy

"Contact" in your's trusty bank

What if you have lost your monies?
- You wouldn't really mind sometime
What if you have lost all your's contact?
- This is worried by everyone in the 21st century.

People save their monies in the bank, but no people save their contacts in the bank. As simple as that, contact as vital as money nowaday.

I lost my mobile phone today, I wasn't sure where I lost my phone. It could be in the superstore (carefour - Ambassador Plazaa, Jakarta) or in the taxi. Lossing my mobile phone meaning loosing all my contact. Fortunately, I have save some of my important contacts in my trusty bank (small PDA and Laptop). Somehow, I lost almost 80% of my contacts. Perhaps, through email I could recover the lost.

Bear in mind, contacts and monies are so important in everyday life.

Contact = Mobile Number or Email Address
Money = $$$$$


You can borrow money but you can't borrow contact,
It is fine to loose USD1,000 or more but its not fine to loose your contact
You can find your money back easily but its hard to recover your contact if you lost it

A Happy Aloneness

If you do not have friends to accompany, what will you do? Will you sitting, walking, shopping, enjoying the moment alone by yourself? Aloneness doesn't mean that you are isolated from the society, it's a short moment that you contributing much of your time for yourself rather than others.

Am @ the StarBuck cafe at Plazza Indonesia (Jakarta), sitting in the cafe to check my email before my appointment at 1:30pm later with client.

...To be continue later... off for an appointment..


Came back after work at 9:30pm, got myself a take away food on my way back home. Back to the note this afternoon about aloneness. In the cafe, there were 3 individuals dropped by for a cup of capucinno. The first was the western old man, second was a young chinese lady and the latter was the western young lady. Three of them were having coffee, reading book, surfing computer, watching out the window and all these actions are triggered between themselve when they are alone. This tell you that, they are busy and happy of being aloneness.

Jakarta, INDONESIA - "BlueBird" Vs "SilverBird'

What is blue bird and silver bird? What it got to be do with Jakarta. Indeed, remember this two Blue and Silver Bird. You'll be safe in Jakarta.

They are the trusted, honest taxi in the town from one of the largest taxi company group in Jakarta.

- Reasonable taxi fare
- Friendly taxi driver
- You willing to pay the tips to them although they don't ask

An advice from local community, please take "BlueBird" and "SilverBird", do not that others regular taxi unless you have no other alternative.

Jakarta, INDONESIA - Ideal & cool place for stay

If you have budget and wanna to look for more space, service aparment is the ideal accommodation for you. The ideal and affordable service apartment is at ASTON (Rasuna) HOTEL & RESIDENCE at Taman Rasuna.

Address (Check-in):
Tower A - Lower Ground
Kompleks Apartment Taman Rasuna
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said - Jakarta 12960
Tel: +62-219391000 / +62-2183705555
Fax: +62-219392616
Toll Free: 0-800-1-221-000


It cost about Rp500,00 (USD$60) per night wiht 2 bedrooms, dining and living rooms, kitchen utensil provided, washing and dryer machine (2 in 1), Satellite TV channels, microwave, gas cooker, cleaning up every morning for all you pan and pot, the first mineral water 19 litres bottle is provided FOC, included daily breakfast.

Rp20,000 (USD$2) - to refill mineral water 19 litres bottle
Rp80,000 (USD$8)- Daily (24hours) internet access

Facilities:
- Tennis court, swimming pool, gym, grocery store, launderette, bar & cafe
- Driving range (hiring club is available) is only 5 minutes walking distance from the HOTEL APARTMENT
- A regular shopping market (food court), 10 minutes walking distance
- Setiabudi21 food centre with all sort of decent restaurant, 15 minutes walking distance


Lovely i can say.

Note, to refesh your mind, remember the tragedy of "The terrorist bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on Sept 9, 2004" (Victim - Australian Embassy in Jakarta? The Aston Hotel & Aparment is located 10 minutes walking distance from the Australian Embassy.

Simple yet Tasty - "Pacel Lele"

"Pacel Lele", the name of the local food in Jakarta. Its only available in the evening. A plate with a "Lele" fish, few pieces of cucumber, mints leave and chili sauce and that is your dinner.

Most of the lower income earning families in jakarta like and enjoying pacel lele so much. Note, it only cost Rp7,000 (USD$0.70)

Jakarta, INDONESIA - Kicking your arse up

Cool place to drop around

Red Light District
- Mango Besar

Pubbing and clubbing
1) Cafe Pisa - Pub, Lounge, Live Peformance and decent dinning place. As the name, you find italian food here.
2) Hard Rock cafe, f-bar - Plaza eX (next to Plaza Indonesia)
- You must check this F-Bar in Plaza eX. A cool place to chill out :)
4) 24 hours StarBuck, Manchester United Bar - Plaza Sarina
+ Wireless Hotspot offer at StarBuck is not free and you pay Rp44,000(USD$4.40) for an hour traffic.
+ Dropped yourself at the MU Bar if you got spare time.

In addition, you can find decent restaurants, pubs in Citos. Tell the taxi driver to drive you to the "Citos" for drink and dine. Taxi driver know the place and the taxi fare is around Rp40,000 (USD4.00) to get there from the downtown.

Restaurant
1) Eating sushi on the women body (Sushime) - KOTA
+ Sushime is for men, don't they have something similarly for women call "Sushim" .. Sus'him' Vs Sushi'me' :) Apparently, Sushime is a girl name in indonesia.
2) Place such as "Sabang" is recommended. You'll get all sort of local foods there.

Traffic
- You see traffic congested all days 24/7 (day time)
- The only hours that you find peace in the city is in the evening between 8:30pm to 12pm

Jakarta, INDONESIA - Food & Eating

You should try the following local and authentic food in Jakarta

Local Foods
1)Sayur Asem - Sour vegetables soup with cone, long bean, white carrot and etc. Cost only Rp6,000
2)Sop Buntut - try the fried and grill type in Hotel Borobudu - Bogor Cafe. Cost only Rp80k - USD8
3)Pecel Lele - Chili dip, few slices of cucumber, mints leave, Lele fish and rice. Cost only Rp7,000 (find it at Sambang Street)
4)Nasi Pandang - Chili dip, bunch of local vege leaves, either a piece of chicken or beef, source and rice. Cost only Rp 7,000(USD$0.70)
5) Soto Betawi Soup - A soup with slices of beef, tomatoes, fried onions, and sour. Cost around Rp10,000 (USD$1)
6) Nasi Tembel - Similar to Pecel Lele but taste differently, cost aroud Rp7,000(USD$0.70)

Note, all above foods can be obtained from Mentang or Sambang Road hawker stores.

Local Drink
1) Avocado juice drink
2) Poci Tea - Tea in the pot (only available in the center of Java island)

Others Drink
1) Green Tea frappuccino - StarBucks
2) Caramel apple cider - StarBucks
3) Java jungle cocktail (tequila, galliano, bacardi and pineapple) - Citos, Tartine Restaurant

Using public toilet cost Rp1,000

"Gondola" on the sky

Was been attracted by this name of "Gondola". The first weekend in Jakarta I dropped myself at this "Ancol" sea front. It wasn't a great beach as I expecting. While walking along the stone beach i noticed the following sign board of "GONDOLA".

Recall the Gondola in venice, Italy. Keep searching for the Gondola and finally it wasn't the GONDOLA as I thought it was. It is Gondola on the air instead of the water. :)

Gado Gado - Jakarta

After the meeting with customer today, felt wanna to look around the city. Called a taxi and went to this Electronic City located at Sudiman Road that recommended by someone. Thought it really mean by its name of "Electronic City", when I was there, I wasn't able to blink and my eyes went still. It's just a big comparment that inside has lots of electronic shop, but it doesn't sound gigantic as the name call "electronic city". Went in and look around, suddenly I felt wanna to grab some quick bite. There is a food store in it.

What's that? Gado Gado? First question comes to my mind when i saw this "Gado Gado" in the food menu. If you don't feel too starving, it is a good choice for a quick bite.

It has the following contains:
- Egg, cracker, rice in cube, potato, long bean, cucumber, fried beancurd, beansprout, peanut sauce and etc
- Cost around Rp9,000(USD$1.05)

Similary to one of the quick bite in Malaysia called "Rojak" but in different version :)

p/s: suit for vegetarian too

Jakarta , INDONESIA

Airport Name
Soekarno Hatta Internation Airport

Taxi Fare
1) From Airport To Downtown Jakarta => Rp110,000(USD$13/MYR$44) to Rp 150,000(USD$18/MYR$60)
* At the airport, do not buy the taxi ticket from the taxi booth when you get out from the Arrival Hall. Please heading to the Taxi Station and look for the "Silver Bird" Taxi as its only cost you approximately Rp100k(USD$10) to the downtown city. Otherwise the booth taxi fare will cost around Rp200,000(USD$23.50/MYR$80) to Rp250,000(USD$29.40/MYR$100).
2) Downtown Taxi Fare:
* Only BlueBird & SilverBird Taxi are running meter
* SilverBird is slightly expensive than BlueBird Taxi
* General taxi fare in downtown cost around Rp15,000(USD$1.80/MYR$6) - Rp20,000(USD$2.30/MYR$8)
* BlueBird & SilverBird Taxi contact number 79171234

Currency Rate
USD$1 = MYR$3.7
USD$0.30 = Rp2,500
USD$1 = Rp8,500
MYR$1 = Rp 2,500
MYR$10 = Rp 25,000
MYR $100 = Rp 250,000

Hotel Rate
1) Most of the 4 stars Hotel cost about USD$85(MYR$314.50) - USD$110(MYR$407)
* Park Lane, Jakarta - Stay more than 3 nights, USD$85(MYR$314.40) per night
- Wireless access cost Rp75,000(USD$8.80/MYR$30) per day/24hrs in the Hotel.
2) Budget Hotels
* Ibis Hotel - USD$50(MYR$185), You've to book early in advance
* Aston Atrium Hotel - USD$50(MYR$185)

Prepaid Phone Card
- Indosat
* For any regular number it cost about Rp30,000(USD$3.50/MYR$12), chosen number will cost more than the regular number Rp70,000(USD$8.20/MYR$28) to Rp150,000(USD$17.60/MYR$60)
* Top Up Credit
+ Pay Rp25,000(USD$2.90/MYR$10) for Rp20,000(USD$2.40/MYR$8) calls usage
+ Pay Rp55,000(USD$6.40/MYR$22) for Rp50,000(USD$5.80/MYR$20) calls usage
+ Pay Rp100,000(USD$11.70/MYR$40) for Rp100,000(USD$11.70/MYR$40) calls usage
+ 1 minutes cost Rp1,000(USD$0.10/MYR$0.40) to Rp2,000(USD$0.20/MYR$0.80) approximately

Meals
- Regular standard 3 meals (breakfast + lunch + dinner) => Rp60,000(USD$7/MYR$24)
- A botle of Coke (200ml) cost about Rp4,000(USD$0.40/MYR$1.60)
Note, before the rised of fuel, regular taxi driver spent Rp30,000(USD$3.50/MYR$12) for daily meals.


Others
- Police officer salary = Rp700,000(USD$82.30/MYR$280) per month
- Taxi Drivers daily car rental expenses = Rp275,000(USD$32.35/MYR$110)
- Taxi Drivers daily petrol/Gas expenses = Rp200,000(USD$23.50/MYR$80)
- Average gross earning for Taxi driver per day = Rp500,000(USD$59.80/MYR$200) To Rp 700,000(USD$82.30/MYR$280)
- Average nett earning for Taxi driver per day = Rp25,000(USD$2.90/MYR$10) To Rp 225,000(USD$26.50/MYR$90)
- Van Bus (Sligthly smaller scale than regular Bus)
* Fare = Rp3,000(USD$0.35/MYR$1.20) one way
- Government school fee per month = Rp30,000(USD$3.50/MYR$12)
- Car summon/fine = Rp500,000(USD$58.80/MYR$200) To Rp700,000(USD$82.30/MYR$280)
- Regular low cost/Government own house = Rp500,000(USD$58.80/MYR$200) per month
- Police officer can be corrupted to avoid for paying car summons/fines = Rp200,000(USD$23.50/MYR$80)

Aware of the following when you are in Jakarta @ this moment (Due to the recent bombing incident)

- Sensible precaution is all that is required
- Do not wear unnecessary jewelry.
- Do not travel alone on "off-the-beaten-track" parts of the city after dark
- Do not carry large amount of cash
- Tipping: Service charge is included in your bill. There's no requirement to add to this, unless you feel particularly attentive service needs recognition. Taxi drivers tend to be expect you to leave the change;make sure ou carry small change, as taxi drivers to not(there's no requirement for this).
- Ppl are talking about the increase of fuel recently, life become taugher for most indonesian.
- In downtown, you'll see a lot of police officers checking car at Hotel Main Entrance, Shopping Mall and on the road sometime to avoid the bombing incident.

Getting Around
Jakarta is not a "Walking" city. Taxi are easy to find and inexpensive to hire. Generally, any taxi taken from one of the larger hotels can be relied upon honest service. Busses are hot, crowded and confusing, but not off limits to the hardy traveler.
Note, for urgent business meeting, user can opt for "Bike" taxi that the fare will cost around Rp3,000(USD$0.35/MYR$1.20) for one way. User can bargains for the "Bike" taxi fare (helmet provided). "Bike" taxi is quicker/faster than taxi/VanTaxi when the traffic is really congested.

Coke vs "TehBotol" in Jakarta

Noticed that most indonesian prefer to drink the fizzy drink in a bottle instead of in the can, and Coke has been replaced by "Tea in the bottle". Scratching your head huh. Indeed, they do like to drink in a bottle and it called "TehBotol" in the local language mean the tea drink in the bottle. Check out yourself at most of the food store in Jakarta.

Apparently, TehBotol cost cheaper than Coke of Rp3,000(USD$0.35) and Rp4,000(USD$0.47) respectively. Coke contains 200ml unlike TehBotol contains 220ml.

How does it taste like? You tell me how does the tea taste like....

Virgin Step Down In Jakarta

Arriving in Jakarta, Soekarno Hatta Internation Airport, local time @ 5:20pm, temperature was 28 degree celcius. This is my virgin visit to Jakarta for business trip.

It is true that the image of the airport can identify the wealthy and the development of the country. The Soekarno Hatta International Airport is too far beyond my expectation. It doesn't give you the feel of the Internation Airport.

More about jakarta for the 1st time can be found on the following link Virgin Visit I created.

Beldevere

Finally found this vodka of "Beldevere" in the airport duty shop. It is a new vodka and have been hunting for this drink in the pub. Unfortunately, not all the pub that I been to have this drink.

Once I complete my project in Jakarta, will definately grab a bottle in the airport later :)

Check this out Beldevere Vodka

Rainy Night

Woke up middle in the night due to received phone call from my colleague for some emergency company call. Eventually, they found out the caused of the problem and apologized for waken me up.

I couldn't fall sleep then after. It was raining outside. I couldn't fall sleep neither but raining made me felt good afterall.

It is nice to call someone at this moment especially for a chat.

In between Love & Like is "Knowing"

Went out for a flim yesterday with my mate. The film was "Flight Plan" by Joody Foster. Before the movie started, we were in the Hard Rock Cafe having light dinner and small talk.

There was one of this doubt and question from her about "If I lost my phone, lost my email contacts, where or how should i manage or able to find my boyfriend?" . Guessed, she must already have the answer of it. Sometime, loving & like someone is distinguish by a common feeling of "knowing". Take a simple example, if you love someone, you want to know more about the person you love. If you like someone, you might or might not want to know more about the person you like.

Isn't it the "knowing" can drive you crazy of whether you love or like someone? The answer is in you.

Thats about a friday night sometime !

Your's Desire

Recently, have this strong thought in mind. What is my desire? Weird isn't it, every human must has desire, what are their desire? and what is mine then?

Is money, car, accommodation, other expenses my desire? None of us will say no. At this time in point, which is my top priority of desire? Will you say money? Once you find your definate desire, you will know yourself better at this point in time.

Of course, your desire is dynamic and volatile, you might have different desire upon you have achieved your previous desire. But, can happiness become part of the desire too? Yes, indeed, desire for happiness can be as "Desire on feeling".

The key point here is that desire helps a person to identify the needs in life at the particular moment. As layman said, human major annoy in life is "money & partner". Thus, the temp solution for desire can improve your living lifestyle.

Apprently, there is some scientific research been carried out to investigate the human desire. One of the book i have read was "Who Am I?" by Steven Reiss. His finding on the 16 basic desires drive much of human behavior was so popular in 1998. His finding attracted reporter from BBC, national radio and press release in many of the major U.K papers and spread to magazines throughout the world, including India, Italy, Australia and Canada.