Job Discussion Forums

Shadow2009 · Joined: 20 Dec 2008 Posts: 27 Location: W.A.

After 4 years of Jakarta I am now back home in Australia. For me personally Jakarta had reached its use by date. My last 2 years were with UPI in Tanjung Duren, so if anyone wants to know anything just ask me.

I never had time to post on this forum before: actually I couldn't be bothered too many whingers ! Now I can sit back and enjoy the verbal sparring which goes on and may even make the odd or even comment.
I hate to say this but I actually miss the insanity of Sudirman at 6.00pm on any week night. Riding the bike 10km and taking an hour to do it, sucking in all that lovely pollution and wiping off that beautiful carbon coating before teaching.

I was really happy though to find Bintang here in Perth last week. "Export Quality"......... or so the box says, tastes the same to me and at $50.00 AUS a bit pricey considering we can get Heineken for $40.00 a carton and it travels further. It seems those grasping hands manage to reach this far.

P.S. I haven't woken up at 4.00 am for quite a while now, or heard "mister mister either".

Any way everybody have a great Xmas even if it's a dry one

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

Good post Shadow, I made the same move seven months ago. It is tougher trying to make a living here (you got to work longer, harder hours) and employers generally frown upon time spent 'teaching in a third world country' however they don't say that. Generally they want to know about your recent work history at home so good for you moving when you did. Those who stay ten years or more must have a very difficult transition period.

The pollution I definitely don't miss and although things seem tame and orderly at times, I realize Oz is a better place to raise a family.

Don't know why you'd go out of your way to buy overpriced Bintang. It's only a very average drop anyway. Carlton Cold goes down better for me. You say you're in Perth? If you're ever in Melbourne, drop me a PM and i'll have a coldie with you. Cheers..

Shadow2009 · Joined: 20 Dec 2008 Posts: 27 Location: W.A.

You are definitely right about the work situation back here. We earn a lot more than back in Indo but it doesn't seem to go as far, things have got so expensive.

I agree about the Bintang but I needed a little "reminder", I realised after my first year I had developed a taste for it.

I assume your wife is Indo ? You may or may not know this but she can get her passport stamped by the Indonesian consulate to state she lives outside Indonesia and she will never pay Fiskal again. My wife did that here a couple of weeks ago and was charged $25.00, she was also told if she wanted she could have her passport re-issued with her married name.

I will definitely send you a message when we next head east.

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

I thought you were going to wax lyrical about that cafe in Jl. Jaksa. Those Fuxxors have twice now claimed that I did not pay for beer despite me handing over my hard-earned to their greasy mits, hence my resolution to buy beers at the warung over the road and just hover in their space.

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

yes memories is hot, boring and serves warm beer. The TV stopped working too and they used to have an eastern toilet on the floor which reeked of stale number 1 juice. Better drink next door at Margots or up the road at Absolute. But the idea of buying at the warung is a good one. They usually can't tell anyway.

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

Papas and Romance are the best for cold beer, the rest of the bar-tending savages on the strip would not know cold if it kicked them in the pantat. They are also great places to meet your fellow malcontent and have a gripe about the country in general.

Shadow2009 · Joined: 20 Dec 2008 Posts: 27 Location: W.A.

However all said and done Jaksa is the cheapest place to buy a beer in the city and I'm sure everybody knows that.

I am curious about the shortage of imported stuff you are all having in Jakarta. Is it over and have prices gone up much ?

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

I rarely drink spirits, but one small bar owner I was talking to expected the shortage to be over in the new year once the customs guys had taken their share of expected revenues. When I asked, I was quoted 650 000 for a large bottle of Jack Daniels from an unusual source who said she had a decent supply thereof.