Besides featuring about architecture and its related topics, there should be something that likely less 'heavy' to talk about on this blog. So, for this time around, let's hopping around because I believe, like most people do, travel is a great and awesome thing to do!
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| Me at Amaris Hotel, Panglima Polim, South Jakarta (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
It is common practice nowadays before going to travel, we have got to check any relevant blogs or websites out there that talk about our intended destinations. You will stumble upon a few sites that discuss about things to do, where to go, places to check out and so on. But then, few are rarely talking about things that you have got to know about the place, everything, like before you embarked, during your trip or as soon as after you leave.
So, looking for this kind of need, I came up with the idea of things that everyone should know when traveling to certain places. So, for this around, it is the time for Jakarta!
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| National Monument in Central Jakarta (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
WORK AND TRAVEL
On my recent trip to Jakarta, it was not really a vacation trip per say. It was actually more a like business trip (even though I am not a business person), that was sponsored by some parties. To be fair, it is good actually to credit them for sending me over for the overseas trip, that was for, or course, the IMPIANA Magazine. My thanks also goes to Karangkraf Media Group - the Magazine Division, Da Vinci, the leading furniture gallery and also Box Living, another Jakarta-based furniture gallery.
Besides them, throughout those four day trip, I had also used these following companies (which are are not my sponsors) : Malaysia Airports (KLIA/KUL), Malaysia Airlines (MAS), SukarnoHatta Airport (CGK), Amaris Hotel, Blue Bird Group and Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel. They have made a part of my successful and memorable short trip in Jakarta.
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| Another hotel I stayed during the trip. It was one of the pioneer hotels in Jakarta, as officiated by President Suharto (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
THE BIG DURIAN!
Jakarta, as everybody knows, is the capital city of Indonesia. It is the largest city in Indonesia, as a home to more than 10 million population in the city area and around 20 million across its metro area, which makes Jakarta is also the largest city in South East Asia. As most other capital cities, Jakarta is not only the seat of the government, but also a centre for business, trading, transportation, education, social and everything, you name it, Jakarta got it!
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| Jakarta at 6 pm. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
The big durian (as I read on Jakarta's Wikipedia page - even though I have never heard any Jakartans used that term) is indeed a huge city with a lots lots of people. For those who can't cope with claustrophobic, it's gonna be a daunting experience that would likely not a city fit for you. On every single corner and gaps, there are human being doing something. Somehow, this is rather unusual and deplorable, but what else can you do when 10 million people are living in one single area?
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| Jakartans hanging around Monas Park on weekdays afternoon. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
So, here are the top 10 things that you have to know when it comes to Jakarta, from my own point of views :
1. RM 300 = RP 1 MILLION
For the frequent Malaysian traveller, you should very much apprehensible when it comes to money value. From time to time, 1 million Rupiah can get lower than RM 300, as according to a recent trip by a friend of mine, who changed RM 280 or 290 something for 1 million rupiah. (Besides time, it also depends on the money changer as well, as the changed value is varied over shops). So, it's pretty easier to predict your budget, isn't?
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| One of my favourite possessions while in Jakarta : Mizone isotonic drink. Not available in Malaysia. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
2. 1 HOUR TIME DIFFERENT
This is another thing that you have to adapt once you arrived in any foreign countries. Technically, 1 hour difference is nothing much, except that you realised that 6am is a shiny bright morning, while 6pm is like a dinner time. (Historically, Malaysian peninsular time was same with Jakarta before early 1980's when Dr Mahathir changed it to one hour advance to keep pace with Malaysian Borneo. Singapore followed the same suit later)
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| Wider roads at Jakarta Central. TransJakarta dedicated lane is located on far left. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
3. ATM CONVENIENT
For Maybank and CIMB account holders, forget about the exorbitant PLUS charges when you can withdraw right from these banks. Known as BII Maybank and CIMB Niaga, they are among major banks in Indonesia and thus makes them easily available throughout the city (yeah, the fact that I regretted the most was for being stubborn to withdraw money at BRI - where I was charged for around RM20 for a single transaction only!)
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| CIMB Niaga and Maybank Syariah HQ in Jalan Sudirman, Central Jakarta. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
4. LANGUAGE WISE
Technically, Malay and Indonesian are from the same linguistic group and thus makes both languages are mutually intelligible. For sure, it helps you a lot only but if you are in certain areas and meet the right people in Jakarta. Bear the fact that Jakarta is home to various ethnic groups in Indonesia, stretching from Acehnese to Papuan. As in my case, when I interviewed this one lady (as part of my job there), I barely jotted down anything on my notepad during the session, as she spoke so fast and plus with her unique accents and vocabulary, I could only use my journalistic skill to predict her words. Language wise, they can easily understand our Malaysian Malay accent, but I can assure you might find it hard to understand them. Luckily, my accompany guy can speak English (as he is a University of Indonesia graduate, attached to the company) and my trip can never be hassle-free without his guidance. And as a part of Asia, Jakarta is also experiencing 'Englishnisation' as more Jakartans can pick up English (especially the front liners) and up to my surprises, English is can be widely seen on the billboards and outdoor advertisements, which sometimes I think a little bit more than what Kuala Lumpur have.
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| One of the billboard and outdoor displays at a shopping mall. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
5. TRAFFIC
Another culture shock that will haunt you during the stay in Jakarta. There's two things that I wish to highlight, the first is : traffic jams or locally known as macet. The traffic is very bad throughout the whole day in almost every major roads in Jakarta, except the highways. So, for those who are in a hurry, plan your trip timely, as I don't face it that much due to my hotel close proximity location to any nearby areas. Another thing is honking. Don't be surprised that honking is essential here, as if you are wearing a seat belt before driving. Drivers honk everywhere without having any guilty and offensive feelings, as compared to Malaysia and Singapore, where honking is very very much sensitive thing. So, if you happened to wait for the bus or taxi by the road (as I did), get ready to 'listen' to the great noise pollutant of Jakarta - at anytime!
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| Jakarta traffic before rush hour. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
6. RICE & FAST FOOD
Rice is the staple food for Asians, and same goes to Indonesians. However, as compared to Malaysia, they put rice a little bit too much, I guess, especially when you mixed it up with western fast food meals. It's not something new in Malaysia, but in Indonesia, a mashed potato and coleslaw is substituted with rice. Can you take it as a KFC meal without them?
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| Menu selections at local cuisine cafe. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
7. SMOKING
From the recent fact that I have got, two thirds of adult Indonesians are smokers. So, again, don't be surprised with another 'pollutant' agent that you will accidentally fumed and inhaled whenever in public areas. Besides, cigarettes can be easily found and seen everywhere, including on the billboards.
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| A billboard I saw before approaching the airport. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
8. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
In terms of public transportation, Jakarta is far lacking behind its neighbours. But somehow, because of that, the people have become more resilient and innovative instead of waiting the abandon monorail project to be commenced. Besides bus and taxi (taxi is way much better than Kuala Lumpur, as it runs by company and well maintained and kept), you can also use bajaj (a motorised trishaw) or ojek (a motorcycle taxi). As I opted for bus, there are few types of bus, as Trans Jakarta is a modernised bus system with its own dedicated lanes in the middle of the roads, while Kopaja is an old-fashioned bus that can be fetched anywhere, as long as you have the guts to stop the bus!
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| Interior of Kopaja bus. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
9. KEY CHAIN?
As usual, a trip would be meaningless without any souvenirs to bring back. And certainly, among the most popular souvenir is key chain. But the ugly truth is, as the term 'key chain' itself is widely used in Malaysia, the term is never been heard and used by the Jakartans. They just didn't know what key chain is when I asked people around and of course I didn't know what the key chain itself in Indonesian. (from Google translate, key chain is called gantungan kunci). And what makes it worse, when I couldn't find any decent shops that sell key chains! The same thing happened to my friend on his recent trip there when he couldn't find one after visiting various places, from Mangga Dua to Tanah Abang, you name it! Finally, he found it in Bandung! As for me, I managed to find it in airport shops (which was quite expensive, as I have expected)
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| Tanah Abang Market new extension building. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
10. RM 50 TAX
Last but not least, a final checklist that you have to remember. Please keep at least RM 50 or RP 150,000 before you planned to spend all the Rupiahs that you left. Yeah, as a friend of mine had reminded me earlier, but unfortunately, I was having around RP 100,000 at that time, but luckily my friend got a spare RM 50 note. I am not aware whether this is a normal practice, but as far as I am concerned, I have never gotten charged when leaving Singapore twice! Or is it practiced by Indonesia only, as part of their income revenue. If it's true, then it would not be a good move to boost foreign tourists receipts to Indonesia. (Yeah, as compared to Malaysia, with the whole population equivalent to Jakarta, can attract a lot more tourists than Indonesia does, as Malaysia is among the world's top 10 tourist destinations - details on my previous post on Malaysia)
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| Signage to Terminal 2, Jakarta Airport. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
So, that sums up my 10 things you have got to know or aware when visiting Jakarta. There are few other things too, but these are the significant things that you really really have to check out when it comes to Jakarta.
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| Selamat Datang or Warmth Welcome roundabout in Central Jakarta. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
Personally, those four day trips have never been enough for me. But for a first timer like me, it was totally worth it. Definitely, I will keep looking forward to a next trip in the near future, but didn't know when is it yet.
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| A local performer singing at local stalls at Blok M shopping mall. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
But somehow, Jakarta has taught me a great lesson that have been imparted to me ever since that, always always always be a grateful Malaysian Malay Muslim. This is a not patriotic notion or what so ever, but rather a lesson for me to appreciate with everything that I have here in Malaysia. As I have seen how hard it was to find a good decent life by some of the 13 million Jakartans, from being a pedestrian on-bike vendor to on-street salesman to disguise beggars by the roads to abandon children wandered around and with a lady on-truck vendor who was willing to share her stories. These people were actually the gist of my whole trip in Jakarta!
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| A stall we had visited at Karet Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta. (theimpianareview.blogspot.com) |
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