Job Discussion Forums

saint57 · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:34 am Post subject: Jakarta for a Week

I will be in Jakarta from March 10-18th. I am living in KL and the return ticket was just over $100 CDN, so I figured it's better than hanging around my house for the week.

I'm going alone and I'm totally clueless. I don't even have a Lonely Planet guide. My students asked me why I decided to go to Jakarta for a holiday. I didn't really have a good answer for them.

What would you do with a week in Jakarta?

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

Sorry to sound negative but Jakarta is not chockful of tourist attractions. You could visit Monas monument or the old city in Kota but for the most part Jakarta is a place to go shopping, get totally smashed or meet some local ladies mmmmmmmm. Beware it is a much larger and crazier city than KL so buy a good road map and navigate yourself a little before you get there. The busway has alleviated some transport problems though.

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

2 days in Jakarta will be sufficient:

Taman Fatahillah and Sunda Kelapa are the must see spots in the city. Other than that, as the previous poster said, it's not the best place for a tourist mission. The nightlife is superb, far superior to anything in KL, so you have to take advantage of that.

After this head to Yogyakarta and/or Bandung. The train jouneys to these places are a great way to see the beauty of Java.

I'm jealous.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

gugelhupf · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek

Can't advise on nightlife - boring old fart, you see - but shopping is generally cheaper than in KL and there are a few decent places to eat. Problem is that getting from place to place can be a nightmare due to traffic.

Upside is that Jakarta taxis of the Bluebird group are a darn sight more user friendly than in KL.

beefer · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 238 Location: java

saint57 · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:30 am Post subject:

drgonzo · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 82

You can find 1/2 of the EF teachers down on Jl Jaksa. Also check out Bugils or Casbar if Bartele is having a free beer night... Perhaps Aphrodite if Fred is having a free beer night.

saint57 · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:43 am Post subject:

jaganath69 · Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 32 Location: Korea

Other nightlife spots you might want to check out include Fez and Nu China in Kemang (Jl Kemang Raya), Red Square in Senayan (especially for 2for1 Mojitos during happy hour) and the most bachanalian of delights, Stadium in Kota. Beware, the latter is not for the feint of heart. Jl Jaksa can be good, Memories and Betawi cafe rate honorable mentions. You can also head over to Jakchat and check out their nightlife and dining recommendations. Hope this helps.

PS, Oh yeah, blok M, Jl Fellatio for the ayam, if that be your thang.

TEAM_PAPUA · Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 1679 Location: HOLE

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

It all depends what you are looking for but I don't know of too many good places to drink in Jakarta. They are often far more expensive than anything back home and if you are in a particular bar, you may die of thirst looking for the next one. Where in the west we normally have good bars in all neighbourhoods, nightlife spots tend to be far apart here. Not a patch on Thailand's main cities or even Singapore.