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June 23-25, 2016

A First-timer in Jakarta

GPS waypoint: 6°10'31.4"S 106°49'37.7"E
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Destination Options
As my Malaysian visa was expiring in 1 day, I had to quickly decide which country to go to next. India required 4 days visa processing...too late. Kunming, China was suggested by a yogi friend but at $100 flight, it was too pricey and I didn't have cold-weather clothes. Bali was also at $100. Using SkyScanner.com, Jakarta was the cheapest at $57 from Kuala Lumpur - it also excited me a bit as I've never been to Indonesia. Without knowing anything about Jakarta, I was off to this capital city.

Travel Time
Arriving at Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK) in Jakarta, it was painless getting a Damri bus to Gambir Station (IDR 40k) to get me to Central Jakarta where I rode at the back of a motorcycle to my hostel (IDR 20k), Six Degrees. It would have been a short ride but the traffic was horrible at 3pm. It wasn't even rush hour. On the motorcycle, rain poured down getting me wet even with a partial poncho. By the time I got to my hostel and settle down, it has been nearly 9 hours of being in transit. That's the reason why I try not to move too much. If a place resonates, I don't rush to leave it. That way, I don't spend too much time on a bus or plane. Why rush? I don't have a home to go back to anyway.

Lodging
I hedged my bets by pre-booking at Six Degrees Backpacker Hostel after reading good reviews. It's pricey for my meager budget but it turns out, it's already the cheapest - Jakarta is an expensive city. Six Degrees is an ideal place for a backpacker - movie screening, rooftop bar, pool table, a/c dorm rooms, central location, cool staff, and most of all, a backpacker community I can interact. I was just glad to finally dry myself from the rain and get some rest. I already met some cool travelers on my first night. I had to make a hotel deal fast if I am to stay longer in Jakarta as I was hemorrhaging cash. I knocked on a few doors but nothing came out of it. I had to make my exit plans. Besides, Jakarta didn't seem to do it for me despite honest efforts to make it happen.

rest stop from walking at the Taman Suropati Park

Jakarta
Jakarta is perhaps the city that most closely resemble Manila - and I don't mean that in a good way. Jakarta has a horrific traffic situation, it's crowded, congested and polluted. But hey, as a big city, and I mean a really BIG city, there was lots to explore. I tried exploring around my area - the antique market, the embassy road and the big mall. Walking wasn't a good option - crossing the street was Russian Roulette, the muggy air sticks to your skin, rain comes down almost daily and it's polluted - and the deal-breaker, people smoke inside restaurants and cafes.

Ending Thoughts
After 3 days, I decided I've seen enough. Like Manila, I would consider Jakarta as a jumping board to the more exciting destinations in Indonesia - not as a destination to stay and explore. I'm sure though that a city as big as Jakarta has chock-full-of-gems. I just don't know where they are or how to get to them - paralyzing traffic factored-in. If I had a local friend who could take me around, I'm sure it would be a totally different experience.

Jakarta's highlight for me would be meeting cool travelers at Six Degrees. I had a fab time chilling there watching a movie or having random chats with fellow travelers who shared ideas and destinations. I'm sure I'll be crossing paths with some of them along the way.

--- TheLoneRider

Jakarta, Indonesia

- hotel

Six Degrees Backpackers Hostel - Jl. Cikini Raya No.60BC, RT.14/RW.5, Cikini, Menteng, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Indonesia

tourist attractions

Merdeka Square
Planetarium Jakarta
Antique Market
Grand Indonesia Mall

Brief History

669–1527 - Jakarta has always been a shipping port by the Sudanese people for its spice trade under the Kingdom of Sunda
1610–1942 - Dutch East India Company established trading posts in Indonesia. The Dutch colonizes Indonesia until WWII breaks out
1942-1945 - Japanese occupation during WWII with the Dutch capitulating. Japan surrenders to the Allied forces and leaves Jakarta. The Dutch returned to resume control but were fiercely rejected by the Indonesians who saw the infallibility of the Dutch when they capitulated against the Japanese might
August 1945 - the Dutch grants independence to Indonesia. The seat of government was established in Jakarta

Jakarta Cost Index

backpacker places (US$1 = Indonesian Rupiah IDR 13,265 = Philippines Php 46.51 as of June 24, 2016)

IDR 30,000 one small beer (alcoholic beverages are priced higher in Muslim countries)
IDR 17,000 standard noodle soup with meat dish
IDR 40k Damri bus to from airport to Gambir Station
IDR 50k/load laundry
IDR 120k dorm bed in a backpacker hostel
IDR 7k Planetarium entrance fee

Currency Converter

Jakarta FYI / Tips

the backpacker area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located along the short, narrow and seedy Jalan Jaksa area
an iconic and very identifiable landmark in Jakarta is the Merdeka Square where you find the Monumen Nasional (Monas)
rush-hour traffic in Jakarta is crippling...avoid at all costs! 8:30-10:00am and 5:00-7:30pm
haggle and negotiate...it's expected
crossing a main street in Jakarta is like playing Russian Roulette...you take your chance
Jakarta is HUGE and it's best to explore the city using the trains - the buses are crippled during rush hour. Best to choose a hotel close to a train station otherwise you make long walks or ride the expensive tuk-tuk
people in Jakarta smoke inside public restaurants and cafes
Indonesia drives on the left side of the road
Indonesia uses the Type F electrical plug

How to Get to Central Jakarta from the airport

walking out of the arrival section of the airport, you'll see the Damri Bus counter. Once the ongoing construction is done (still on-going as of June 2016), the Damri counter may move back to its original location left of the arrival section. Buy your ticket going to Gambir Station and wait for the Damri bus with the Gambir sign, IDR 40,000, 1.5 hours (with bad traffic). Last bus leaves at 11:30pm. At the Gambir station, you can ride a bajaj (tuk-tuk) or ojek (motorcycle taxi) or just a regular taxi for IDR 20,000 within 2 kms (they'll initially charge you IDR 50,000 and do you a 'favor' by lowering down to 30,000 but they'll take 20,000 if you pretend to walk away)

Things to do, Places to go near Cikini (Jakarta) area

Merdeka Square - where you find the Monumen Nasional (Monas)
Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia - 2 big malls beside each other
Antique Market - at Jalan Surabaya
Cafes - along Cikini Street

Useful Indonesian Words and Phrases

ojek - motorcycle taxi
baja - tuk-tuk
angkot - mini-bus
nasi - rice
goreng - fried

Suggested 'Next Destination' after Jakarta

Bogor - Botanical Gardens, Wayang Golek maker
Bandung - 2 volcanoes, Kawa Putih and Tangkuban Perahu
Yogyakarta -
Semarang -
Surabaya -
Bali - surfing, yoga, beach, Hindu culture

Popular Destinations In Java

Jakarta - big city, capital of Indonesia
Bogor - 80 hectare botanical garden, cool climate
Bandung - visit 2 volcanoes, Tangkuban Perahu and Kawah Putih
Tangkuban Perahu - volcano 30 kms north of Bandung
Kawah Putih - white crater lake, 50 kms south of Bandung
Ujung Genteng - beach, surfing
Pangandaran - beach and surfing
Yogyakarta - palace complex of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Borobudur Temple
Malang - 2nd biggest city of Indonesia, cool climate, colonial architecture, grand mansions, volcanoes
Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park - national park, 2 active volcanoes
Kawah Ijen - expansive volcano system, night time blue flame