JAKARTA/BANDUNG TRIP 15 - 19 MAY 2009 - PART 1

This trip was planned a few months back....By March, A and I had booked the flight return tickets to Jakarta. Later, my office mate, Ajib and his friend wanted to join in. Due to some matters with the Immigration Dept, Ajib's friend cannot get the passport ready in time and decided not to go. Then, three days before we were to depart, Ajib's father had a heart attack and was admitted to ICU, GH. Fearing the worst, Ajib decided not to go too. The next day, Ajib's father regain consciousness and was transferred to the normal ward. With his blessing, Ajib then decided to join us back.

So this was our story of our trip to Jakarta & Bandung...

Day One - 15 May 2009 (Friday)

At 4.00 am, A and I took a cab from our house to KL Sentral and proceeded to LCCT via Sky Bus. Ajib was already there and after we had done checking-in, we went to Chocolate for breakfast

With Ajib at Chocolate, having our set continental breakfast

At 7.00 am, we flew to Soekarno- Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, arriving at 10.30 am (Indonesian time). I saw this interesting add at the airport and had to take a picture of it.

Do you think its necessary to put the animal pic? Pity Mexico too, hehe

We then took a Blue Bird cab (the only reliable cab in Indonesia) to our hotel, Ibis Arcadia.

Our room in Ibis Arcadia

After check-in, we walked to the nearest nasi padang restaurant for lunch. Here, they served us with many plates of foods. What we choose will be counted and be paid for. The 'ayam dendeng', 'nangka masak lemak' were among my favourites. It tasted good but it will taste better if the food is being served warm. Being hungry we did not care much and its served our purpose to eat fast so that we can have more time to roam. We then walked to Monumen Nasional (MONAS) nearby which is actually the National Monument tower (137 meter high). We bought tickets and took the elevator up to the upper platform to view Medan Merdeka Park, Istiqlal Mosque and the city view.

A, with MONAS at the background

Ajib & A, below the tower.

To enter inside MONAS, you need to use
the tunnel from the park

The view from the Tower

Another view from the Tower,
Istiqlal Mosque, one of the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia.
I read somewhere, President Soekarno choose a Christian architect to built it.

Afterward, the three of us took a ride in a 'Bajaj', a three-wheeled motorised rickshaw to Tanah Abang Market (somewhat like a high rise Wisma Yakin market area but much much more hustling and bustling) where we did a 'little' bit of shopping. Using bajaj is not only cheaper but also faster considering the horrible traffic jam or 'macet' as it is said in Indonesian. But you have to endure the smell of gas, the heat and the fear for your dear life while the driver did the "rempit" action to reach its destination...

The road behind Tanah Abang Market
(14 or so storey building - the green in colour)

We then took another Bajaj and headed back to our hotel. Afterward, we took a cab and went to Grand Indo, a huge and the most exclusive mall in Indonesia. Indeed, the word 'grand' is not an exaggeration. Nothing in KL can compare this richly taste and beautiful mall. The security is also quite tight..not only you will be screened before entering the mall but any vehicles will have to undergo the same inspection. There, I entered a shop selling original CDs and bought an album CD recommended to me by a courteous worker in the shop. The artiste is Joeniar Arief and I love his songs instantly when that guy played it for me during testing. Fall in love with the track 'Rapuh' as you can feel a snappy similar beat of 'Bleeding Love' by Leona Lewis in that song but much much better...a superb album..

One of the many attractive places in the Mall (the Arabian street)

We then had our dinner at the modern and beautiful food court. My only concern in the food court was that the stalls there do not differentiate a halal or non halal section. (Even MBK Mall in Bangkok has a section for muslim food!!!)....There are stalls putting a '100% halal' sign at their premises but his neighbouring stall clearly and proudly stated 'pork' in the menus.

Another one of the mall's magnificent place

Afterward, we took a cab and went to Sarinah Mall, a walking distance to our hotel. There, we went to Inul Vista, a karaoke place owned by Inul Daratista, the same kind of place I went while I was in Bali last year. Not only its was cheap, but the ambiance was nice and the sound system was superb. We then walked back to our hotel to rest.

End of day one - the next post will be day two of our trip which include our journey from Jakarta to Bandung via train.