Back to 2011: Jakarta Trip

Back To August 2011
Jakarta Trip 2011

I still remember clearly how a Sabahan flew from Kota Kinabalu while a Sarawakian flew from Kuala Lumpur and both of us promised to meet at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia. When I arrived earlier than him, I dragged as much time as I passed through the immigration counter. Letting other people go first, walked slowly because I really don’t know what to do without him. His arrival time was expected 1 hour late than mine. Even though how I acted slow-motion, I still ‘managed’ to wait for him outside the arrival gate for almost 1 hour. I still remember how I was standing in front of those money changing counters and taxi counters. I was scolded (not literally) by one of the taxi counter’s staff for blocking their counter. After that, I was ‘carefully’ stood in front of those counters. As I was attracted by an incident where a local woman was chased by the guard while she was cursing loudly (actually not really sure about the situation), he came out from the arrival gate. My heart pounded as well as my hands turned cold. He kissed on my forehead; I was shy and excited to see him at that moment. We rented an airport limousine (Rp 200,000) and headed straight to our hotel.
We stayed at Plaza Hotel Mangga Dua for 6 days and 5 nights. He booked the hotel via one of the online hotel services for less than RM500 (around Rp 1.5million) with breakfast included. Anyone who interested may log on http://www.agoda.com. Mangga Dua is a shopping heaven where it is surrounded by lots of shopping complexes such as Mangga Dua Square, and even the Carrefour there also sell cheaper stuffs than Malaysia. For less than 20 minutes (without jam) can reach another shopping heaven called Tanah Abang Shopping Mall. For each and every floor, different types of outfit can be found. There's also WTC Mangga Dua. We actually had not enough time to go shopping because those locals celebrating Raya were rushed to go back since its Raya Festival during that time. So I suggest if next time if want to go there, choose a non-festival timing. But be careful, as when its not holiday, Jakarta can be super-duper crowded and massive traffic jam is common.

Mangga Dua Square

SHOPPING!!!

Carrefour is within Mangga Dua area

Pak Mus - our blessed tour guide

Talk about this journey, it was really a blessed journey. We managed to get ourselves a FREE tour guide. He is a very humble, down-to-earth Catholic. I remember the second day in Jakarta, where the shopping mission started; we requested our hotel to ready a transport for us. The hotel itself charged us Rp 300,000 for a day if we want to rent the car with the driver. As we went in the car, we saw the driver has his picture of Mother Mary in his car. Without doubt, we asked the driver where the nearest church is. The driver very helpfully offers us to bring us to the Sunset Mass that evening. Here Jesus started His plan. He literally sent His disciple to guide us towards this journey. As the journey began, the driver introduces himself as Pak Mus. He gave us direction, where to go and what to do. He even offers us to be our tour guide! FOC!!! Both of us were extremely thankful for someone who gave us a hand in this unfamiliar country. When we reached Tanah Abang, there’s the ‘mission’ began. I saw ‘Harga Pas’ everywhere, which means the price offered is the lowest or fixed price that they can give. Me, formerly a negotiate-champion couldn’t do anything in here. For a whole day, I managed to get lots of clothes for myself, my sister and my mother also, as well as for our friends back in Malaysia. Not only that, we bought a Couple Batik Indonesia for a reasonable price as well! 

Always take note of your card balance

If anyone really plans to go Jakarta for shopping, make sure there’s ENOUGH MONEY. Otherwise, a lesson will be learned like us. We were scared to bring a lot of money to go shopping, scared of being robbed. As a precaution, never bring more than Rp 1,000,000 in your wallet at any time. But finally we went back to our hotel to get more cash as we leaved it at the hotel. Its safer to go back hotel often to get your cash. A shopping-freak like me will never get enough of cash to use, get enough time to shop. Anyway,if you found yourself in trouble not having enough cash, you can always withdraw at any ATM, but you have to register first with your own bank by calling them to activate your card for use outside Malaysia. For your information, Malaysian ATMs like Maybank and CIMB can be found at major shopping complexes. It is also advisable that you should not keep your money in one particular card/account, in case if your card get stolen or lost. Get it kept in multiple card/account.

CIMB ATM Outlet

You need to familiar with the local language!!!

St Alfonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church

Back to that evening, Pak Mus waited us at the hotel and took us to Gereja Kasih St. Alfonsus Rodriguez for the Sunset Mass. We were so blessed for still managed to attend the mass-although we are Indonesia, get reunited with God, celebrating the Holy Eucharist in Jakarta. Remembering that God is everywhere-with us, shines the greatest of His love toward His disciples. Though the mass is celebrated in Indonesian language, there's no problem with it, because its almost the same in Malaysia-just a bit of local dialects.     

Pecel lele

Local Clams - Chinese style

Frog in black pepper sauce

Starting that night, we spent most of our time with Pak Mus. He brought us to try local Indonesian foods such as pecel lele and pecel ayam after the Sunset Mass. We really enjoyed ourselves even though we had our dinner beside the road. Both of us are foods lover. We don’t really mind the location.  Food can be found almost anywhere, even beside street or back-alley. We don’t mind the class of that particular food. For us, having different foods happily and enjoying the moment is the most important part. 

Chinese Stall

There are local foods from the local community but sadly, we only have the chance to taste the Indonesian Chinese foods as most of the Muslim foods has closed shop for the Raya. So these pictures are just a few.

Hungry Town fast food

Getting food in Jakarta is not a big problem. It depends on your taste buds and whether you prefer luxuriousness or fast foods or night street stall foods. We do have a sample on all the types of foods to see how they differ. To us, it doesn't differ too much except for the price you pay and for the quality of place you sit.  For example, there are fast food restaurants comparable to KFC standards like the CFC and Hungry Town. They are cheaper and even taste better. And in case,if you really can't adopt the local foods, there is always an option for you to buy food from Carrefour such as the fried rice or bread. But this is such a waste for you for not trying the local food. What's the point then going to such a place full of food haven like Indonesia?? 

Local stall

CFC ~California Fried Chicken

Carrefour fried rice Rp 7500

Pork satay stall

Nasi Gudeg Jogja ~ very tasty 

Local transportation ~ bajaj (bajai)

Day 3 in Jakarta, Pak Mus started to bring us to go around Jakarta by using public transportation such as bajai or local minivan. The bajaj cost around Rp2000 to Rp10000 depending on where you go. It is more convenient to take a bajaj than a taxi as taxis tend to cheat as what we have experienced from a taxi driver,who asked for the fare Rp70,000. It is an advantage using the local transport to meet the local people and culture, and of course to see what are people selling or buying. =)

The Monas

That night we went to Monas, one of the Jakarta's significant buildings. The night scene was breathtaking. Locals also love spending their time there with friends and families. The compound in Monas was very lively with the huge crowd. There were also heavy police presence in the area of Monas just to watch the activity of the people. This keeps the area safe. 

‘Professional’ cameraman also can be found everywhere in Monas compound. They offer pictures taking services in a very cheap price and ready in less than 5 minutes. We also had our first couple-riding bicycle as well for a reasonable price. That night, we had our very first satay-babi (pork) too, which you should strongly TRY!!!

The local cameraman at work

Pork satay (sate babi)

The satay babi bill ~ Rp 169000

Seaworld Ancol Indonesia

Entrance Fee ~ Rp70000/pax

Day 4 in Jakarta, Pak Mus brought us to Sea World. That’s the picture-taking day for us. We enjoyed the landscape there, the fascinating Sea World, statues on different significant cartoons also. One thing that should be praised and surprised is the souvenir shop. They allow visitors to take as many pictures as they want. Free posing with the toys as well! 

While we were enjoying sea creatures in the undergrounded aquarium, Pak Mus was waiting for us outside while reading his book as he knew that the entrance fee was quite expensive (Rp70000). He is really an honest man. Again, we praised Lord for sending this good man guiding us. 

Well, we were crazily having fun, having our first Fish-Dip for a super cheap price, taking pictures here and there like nobody bother us until we get hungry, and went straight heading to Hungry Town fast food.

3 bus tickets for 3 person

Day 5 in Jakarta was another picture-taking day for us. Pak Mus brought us to another fun park, called Taman Mini. Literally NOT mini as it called. This Taman Mini took us ONLY RM 1 (Rp3500) for a single trip for ALL 3 busses. We respected the bus' operations-in-charge person. They were fully committed in their job and never under-estimate their job even as a bus conductor. Frankly said, public transportations in Jakarta are very convenient especially for tourists like us. Once we know the exact location for the place that we are heading to, it is really easy to get there through public transportation. Locals (counter-in-charge person) also overwhelmed to help us.

Taman Mini view from cable car

Inside Taman Mini ~ Thai/Bali-like

In Taman Mini, it was like a super duper huge combination of many Genting Highlands and even Sunway Lagoon. The buildings there were so confusing for us to think that we are in Bali or Thailand. We were amazed by the variety of buildings and such a huge place forced us to rent a motorbike just to stop at every single type of buildings to take pictures. In Taman Mini, we managed to queue for almost an hour to get inside the cable-car riding. It’s worth enough for us to queue for such a long time because at the end, we were fascinated by the view of the whole Taman Mini from the air. From early in the morning until late at evening, we were exhausted visiting, taking pictures in Taman Mini. If we had another chance to visit Taman Mini again, we definitely will rent a motorbike once we enter the entrance gate because it is seriously a HUGE place to walk. 

MORE PHOTOS after this....

Worth it ~ fish spa

Fish Dip aka Fish Spa

Inside Seaworld

Underwater aquarium

One of the building inside Taman Mini

The famous Dermaga Hati

Monas landmark

Entrance to Dufan

Inside Bus Station with the friendly staff

WTC Mangga Dua

Local business

Dufan ~ Dunia Fantasi Ancol

Inside Dufan

Disneyland look-a-like in Taman Mini

View from cable car in Taman Mini

View from cable car in Taman Mini

FINALLY......Our Jakarta trip ended with another BIG shopping. Even the final moments in Jakarta, we still managed to get ourselves stuffs from Carrefour Jakarta which were much cheaper than Malaysia’s Carrefour. Everything-lah is cheaper in Jakarta than Malaysia. Because of that, I ask him whether we can stay in Jakarta. ROLF. Though not all experiences were shared in this blog, we hoped that you can get a glimpse on what Jakarta can offer and worth for your holiday. Well the days flew past so fast. That’s the end of our blessed Jakarta trip. 

Thank God for everything happened smoothly according to Your will.

Tips for Jakarta trip:

1. Prepare your passport earlier (even it can be done within a day)
2. Bring a huge and empty luggage (for shopping-freak)
3. Convert enough Rupiahs earlier in Malaysia (never change during peak season)
4. Bring your camera (+ tripod for couple)
5. Remove price tag for stuffs from Jakarta before going back (otherwise will get inspected by the local immigration)