Jalan Kebon Kacang area budget hotels.

Sarinah Complex ,The Indonesian emporium.
This is the first department store to open in Jakarta way back in 1967.
A popular place where every Jakartans are familiar with.
In fact in the everyday life of the people commuting within the city using the Transjakarta Busway,the word Sarinah Halte will be mentioned every now and then.

 Another significant event in 1967 was the current US President Obama was just six years old when he moved to Jakarta with his mother,Ann Dunham.

He studied at the Fransiskus Asisi Elementary School and he was nicknamed Barry.
At third grade he was later transferred to Besuki Elementery School.These were related in his book:"Dreams From My father"

The Sarinah Emporium has lost its appeal due to the rising stars of newer and bigger megamalls nearby.

To international backpackers visiting Jakarta,Sarinah Complex will be a name to be reckoned as within this departmental store vicinity will be a good place to stay due to its central and strategic location.

 



Jakarta together with Singapore are among the cleanest city in Southeast Asia.
 Photo of Jalan M.H. Thamrin with the very wide city roads taken from the overhead bridge in front of Sarinah.
Vehicles stopping at the traffic light intersection with Jalan K.H.Wahid Hasyim stretching on both sides.
Turning right and walking pass Mc Donald Restaurant,the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel and after Jalan H.Agus Salim junction straight ahead will lead to Jalan Jaksa/Jalan Kebon Sirih area across the road here.

 The previous night I made a mistake by crossing the road on my left thus landing me in a community area known as Jalan Kebon Kacang.

My intention was Jalan Jaksa but anyway I have discovered cheap 'penginapan'(guesthouses) in the area.




 Gedung Sekretariat Negara Republik Indonesia(State Secretariat) building directly opposite Sarinah.

A department under Badan Pengawas Penilu. The main secretariat headquarters building is at Jalan Veteran.

Jakarta is like a mini Manhattan of the west.

 Tourist Office is at No:81,Jalan M.H.Thamrin,Jakarta Theater Building which is just across the road from Indosat(Indonesian Satellite)

.On the fifth floor of Sarinah Department Store is the post office.

 Menara Topas is an elegant high rise skyscrappers just ahead owned by a rich tycoon.It is part of the Bank Mayapada Group with vested interest in Duty Free Shoppers retail chain,Hospital Mayapada Tanggerang,and properties owner of Mayapada Towers,Topas,Permata Tower 1 and Sona Topas. 





  During my first night in Jakarta,I managed to walk through the whole of Jalan Kebong Kacang neighbourhood just by chance in search of a 'losmen'.

The narrow streets were just like the 'Sois' in Thailand and quite dark.
A few mosques were in the vicinity and the locals tend to spend their time hanging outside their house chatting.

 After enquring from some of the 'bapaks around,managed to find this Losmen Muara located at Jalan Kebong Kacang 1. Rates from Rupiah85,000(bathroom outside) while Rupiah110,00(aircond,attached bathroom). Rooms ratings very poor.

Just adjacent to the Losmen Muara is Wisma Muara,rooms here are much better and cleaner Rates from Rupiah120,000-140,000 aircond with bathroom inside.It belongs to the same owner.

At Losmen Muara the main hall is very spacious and vacant just to cater for goods storage. Most of the hostel guest are here to 'belanja'(shopping) at the nearby garments wholesale centre and the goods packed in bales are temporarily stored for safekeeping. Contact the young boy in charge to book a room:Wendi








Beside Losmen Muara is Wisma Davinci a newer building.
 No:94,Jalan Kebon Kacang.Tanah Abang,Jakarta Pusat.
Tel:(021)314 7783
Rates:Rupiah200,000 - 250,000.

  Penginapan Arina.
No20,Tanah Abang,Jakarta Pusat.
Tel:(021) 3145784 Room Rates:Rupiah100,000-150,000

Wisma Muslim,
No:2B,Jalan Kebong Kacang,Tanah Abang,Jakarta Pusat. Just after a small market.
Tel:(021)314 6559.
Room rates:Rupiah80,000-150,000










Penginapan Lampung.
This one has goods storage front hall.

Penginapan dan Runah Makan Icha.
N0:11,Jalan Kebon Kacang 1.Tanah Abang,Jakarta Pusat.
Tel:(021)3902545,0816 136 3422,0856 9731 2667 (contact Epen) an Indonesian Chinese.
This is just beside Hotel Focus and the back entrance to garment wholesale centre.








Hotel Focus,
No:9,Jalan Kebon Kacang 1,Tanah Abang,Jakarta Pusat. Location is at the far end of Kebon Kacang 1 with less than 600metres is the Metro Tanah Abang Mall.
Room Rates:Rupiah280,000-350,000.








There were many forwarding companies around providing shipping,air freight and land transport for delivery of goods both domestic and international.

The moment you walk into this Metro Abang and happened to be a businessman dealing with textiles and garments or having boutiques shop you are bound to make bulk orders here.







 The Metro Tanah Abang Mall,just nearby Hotel Focus.

 How do you walk to Metro Tanah Abang from Mc Donald Restaurant beside Sarinah Department Store?
Cross the road onto Jalan K.H.Wahid Hasyim,on the other side at the traffic light junction with another ten minutes walk and you'll reach the Grosir Tanah Abang market with lots of activities during the day.

Midway before the market is a sideroad Kebon Kacang 10 that joins Kebong Kacang 1.During night time the road here is poorly lit and it is safe to walk even though quite dark as there are many shops around. Most of the African students aka businessmen have made Tanah Abang area their santuary.