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
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- 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
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- 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.
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.
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.
Jakarta, INDONESIA - Kicking your arse up
Cool place to drop around
Red Light District- Mango Besar
Pubbing and clubbing1) 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.
Restaurant1) 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 Foods1)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 Drink1) Avocado juice drink
2) Poci Tea - Tea in the pot (only available in the center of Java island)
Others Drink1) 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
Jakarta , INDONESIA - Virgin#1
Airport NameSoekarno Hatta Internation Airport
Taxi Fare1) 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 RateUSD$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 Rate1) 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 tragedies)
- 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 AroundJakarta 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.
