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.

Jakarta a magnificent metroplis.

Half hour into the journey from Merak Bus Terminal,the bus made another half an hour stop at Terminal Pakupanan Serang,Banten Province.

 Upon paying the bus fare,there won't be any ticket being issued and this is something very odd using the private local buses.

Kota Serang is the capital of this province whereas Merak about 10km from here was the former capital.

Serang is bounded by the Java sea towards the north,Tangerang Regency (Tigaraksa the capital) to the east,Lebak Regency( capital Rakasbitung) and Pandeglang Regency(capital Pandeglang) to the south and Cilegon(major industrial city) to the west.

 Banten was part of the Sudan Kingdom according to a Hindu-Sudanese monk(Prince Bujangga Manik) who visited all of the holy Hindu sites in Java and Bali Island during the 15th century.
 The most dominant language spoken is the Sudaneses apart from Javanese and Betawi dialects. Two famous religious sites are the Banten Great Mosque and the Avalokitesvara Temple.

 Historical sites like the Speelwijk Fortress at Kampong Pamarican near Banten Gulf is where the Dutch overpowered the Sultanate stronghold. A 75.7 metres tall light house in Anyer Kidul was built by the Dutch in 1885.

The ruins of Surosowan Royal Palace is another attractions. The Larung Sesaji Ceremony held every February month is a glitzy ceremony held on Banten Beach,Panggungrejo District,40km from Blitar City to give thanks to God.In Blitar town lies the ancient Hindu Penataran Temple.

At 6:00pm the bus left Serang bus terminal and exited to the Merak-Jakarta highway.

6:45pm:Tenggerang Exit (20km west of Jakarta)An industrial and manufacturing hub.
7:15pm:Kedoya Toll booth (Plaza Kedoya Elok along Jalan Panjang nearby)
7:30pm:Semanggi Toll booth at Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto (Inner Ring Road leading to Jalan Sudirman,Jalan M H Tamrin).
Bus did not turn into the city. 8:30pm:Arrived at Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal which was 18km southeast of Jakarta Pusat.

It was such a hectic terminal and very busy at this hour.
Taman Mini Indonesia is just nearby off Outer Ring Road TMII-Cikunir Toll Road. There were a few guesthouses off the terminal's entrance charging Rupiah75,000 but the atmosphere made me feel uneasy.

I made another search of the busway platform which the bus conductor told me earlier. I managed to locate the brightly lit platform compared to those buses parking bays compound which have poor lightings.

Busway fare was Rupiah3,500 and the staff were very helpful in providing me the station stop information.
Being a newcomer here in Jakarta,trying to identify a station halt at night was a difficult task. I was lucky to meet one Mr Chien,an Indonesian Chinese working in a tax consultancy firm on his way home.Mr Chien guided me further on the bus transfer halt station at Harmoni and to get off upon seeing a big McDonald caption at Sarinah Halt,the prime location of backpackers guesthouse at Jalan Jaksa near Jalan Kebon Sirih area.

 Photo of Jalan MH Thamrin one of the arterial road of Jakarta Pusat. The highways towards and out the city have extensive traffic congestion but still move at a slower pace.

The situation was similar to that in Bangkok.




Metropolitan Jakarta is the tenth largest city in the world after Shanghai.
 In front of Jakarta's Hotel Nikko is Nikko Busway Halte along Jalan MH Thamrin whereby you have to get down here and walk to the huge mega malls which is a short distance further up.

 The Nikko Halte is just after Sarinah Halte if you were to come from the south.

At the end Jalan MH Tamrin was a big roundabout of Jalan Bundaran HI,the busiest traffic circle of Jakarta.

In the middle of the circle was a monument(Tugu Selamat Datang) of two waving sculptures(Hansel and Gretel) welcoming visitors and a colourful fountain.

It was commissioned in 1962 by President Sukarno to greet visitors and sportsmen attending the Asian Games held in Jakarta at that time.

 The Bundaran HI roundabout is also surrounded by prestigious buildings ranging from embassies,financial institutions and foreign companies.

During peak hours the influx of traffic was very massive around this traffic circle.

At the traffic circle towards the right will be Jalan Kebon Kacang where the megamalls were located.

Twelve o'clock turn will be lead to Stesun Sudirman and Jalan Jenderal Sudirman while another road on the left will be Jalan Diponegoro.





Grand Indonesia Shopping Town opposite Jalan Bundaran HI traffic circle on the right.

 It consisted of Grand Indonesia Shopping Mall,BCA Tower,Kempinski Private Residence and Hotel Indonesia Kempinski(the oldest and best known hotel inaugurated by president Sukarno on Aug 5,1962).

This is a one stop shopping paradise of Jakarta. BCA Tower is Jakarta's second tallest building (230m) after Wisma 46(250m)at Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Kavling while third tallest is The Peak 1&2(219m),a Beaufort Residence at Jalan Sudirman.

There were very impressive 5 levels skybridge linking to all the malls and with ample parking lots.


The best of Indonesian arts and handicraft is at the Alun Alun Indonesia located on the 3rd Floor,west mall of the Grand Indonesian Shopping Town.

Antiques Gallery,Batik and Weaving demonstration which is an art wholly originated in Indonesia,jewelery showcase by local designers,arts collection and souvenirs are some of the main highlights at Alun Alun Indonesia.

  Grand Indonesia with eight levels of shopping experience spread over two main building linked by an integrated skybridge is currently one of the largest shopping centre in Southeast Asia.

There are three zones:Specialty Zone exclusively for branded stores,Main Mall Zone for popular brand beauty and wellness products,and the Crossroads of the World Zone for food and meals,entertainments,amusements and shopping through different cultural atmosphere.




 Prominent department stores like Seibu of Japan and Harvel Nicols of England also have their presence here.

Plaza Indonesia just across Grand Indonesia Shopping Mall has the largest showcase of boutiques of top international luxury brand such as Marc Jacobs,Chloe,Davidoff,Emporio Armani,Joseph Abboud Rebecca Taylor,Club Monaco,Camper and many others.

Plaza Indonesia is linked to the Grand Hyatt Jakarta Hotel and eX(Plaza Indonesia Entertainment X'nter.

'eX' is an entertainment and recreation centre as well as retail outlets offering to the young,sophisticated and dynamic Jakartans.

Metropolitan Jakarta is having a super boom especially with all the modern shopping malls and highrise skylines at every corner of the city.It will soon be the next upcoming economic powerhouse of Asia.

Bakauheni pier to Merak bus teminal.

As the ferry SMS Kartanegara left Bakauheni's pier in Provinsi Lampung Selatan,the view of the mainland was fantastic.

The crystal clear water of the Sunda Straits and the cool breeze of the afternoon was very refreshing.

This is one great holiday destination not to be missed while visiting Indonesia.

 Lampung is a very unique place for ecotourism and the many mountains here are suitable for trekking.

The highest peak is Gunung Pesagi (2,262m) in west Lampung near Liwa.





The Menara Siger in the horizon is very eye catching.

The building might be mistaken as a resort hotel especially when it is located on a mountain top overlooking the sea.

This is ground Zero marker for the Sumatran Highway.








S P Ferry passing by SMS Kartanegara.Both ferries are in fact very old made wayback in the 70's or 80's but with regular maintenance then only will they be seaworthy.

It's time that there should be a certain limit of lifespan for a certain vessels to operate and be replaced with new ones.

 A larger passenger ship with the theme 'We serve Indonesia'(Kami berkhidmat kepada Indonesia)

 PT ASDP Ferry Indonesia is the main operator.
ASDP means Angkutan Sungai dan Penyeberagan (River and cross straits transportation).

List of ports throughout Indonesia:
Java Island: Jepara,Merak,Surabaya,Ketapang
Kalimantan: Balikpapan,Pontianak,Batu Licin

Maluku: Ambon,Tual,Ternate

NTT/NTB: Kayangan,Lembar,Kupang,Sape

Papua: Biak,Sorong,Merauke

Sulawesi: Bajoe,Bitung,Selayar,Bau-Bau,Luwuk,Siwa

Sumatera: Bakauheni,Batam,Padang,Sibolba,Bangka,Bengkulu,Sabang,Sinabang

A modern skybridge linking to the ferry.

Latest ferry fares list in per 1000Rupiah( adult/children/motorcycle)

Tanjung Kelian-Palembang (46/31/70)

Merak-Bakauheni(11.5/7/20)

Ketapang-Gilimanuk (6/5/8)

Padangbai-Lembar(36/23/52)

Bajo'e-kolaka (62/41/90)

Sape-Labuhan Bajo (46/30/70)

Sape-Waikelo (45/30/71.5)

Selayar-Labuhan Bajo (111/71/177)

Pagimana-Gorontalo (73/49/115)

Balikpapan-Mamuju (111.5/74.5/175)

 Batulicin-Garongkong (126.5/86.5/190.5)

Bitung- Ternate (95/64/150)

Namlea-Sanana (117/88/175)





Merak Port workers waiting for the ferry to berth.

Lately the Sunda Straits is experiencing winds of 35 knots and the seawaves of 2.5m making berthing slight difficulty.

The workers are very professional in administering the situation. On the whole,Merak Port area including the bus terminal is very clean.

Even the crystal clear blue sea hardly can you find any rubbish strewn around or any eyesore sights.





We have to walk through rows of stalls selling snacks and drinks before reaching the Merak bus terminal.

 Foodstalls are available near the buses platforms.

The most popular package instant noodles in Indonesia is 'Mie Sedap' with chicken,curry and soto flavours.

The stalls here seemed to have ample stocks of pancakes and the 'krupuk'(prawn crackers)




  Merak bus terminal is just beside the Merak Port(Pelabuhan Merak) situated at the westernmost tip of Java Island in the District of Pulo Merak,Cilegon,Banten Province.

Merak terminal is about 125 km from Metropolitan Jakarta City or about 95km using the Merak-Jakarta highway

The small bus terminal have many buses both aircond and economy seats to Kalideres,Bandung and Cipularang,Pulo Gadong bus terminal,Tanjung Priuk bus terminal,Kampung Rambutan bus terminal and other cities in Central Java.

There won't be any ticketing counters nor touts except for the respective bus companies drivers and conductors scouting for passengers.

I took an aircond bus with a fare of Rupiah20,000 departing at 5:00pm(WIB) with an estimated travel time of 3-4 hours depending on traffic conditions.

  Provinsi Lampung has a population of over 6.5million where a large portion of the people are migrants from Java,Madura and Bali.

 Due to overcrowding in Java Island the government has embarked on a transmigration program.

The province has 8 regencies and 2 cities:
Bandar Lampung and Metro.
With a valuable assets of various ethnic cultures,cultural dances like the Ponogoro(Java's mask folk dance),wayang kulit(Java's shadow puppet show),barongsai(chinese lion dance) and Bali's Ogoh-ogoh (purging of evils) are popular over here in Lampung Province.

Unique Rumah Adat(Customary Houses) are the Nuwou Balak(Balai Keratun) which is the home of Village chief and Nuwou Sesat or Sesat Balai Agung, a place where the chiefs of the villages convene can be observed at Taman Mini "Indonesia Indah"

About 80km from Bandar Lampung is the Elephant Training Center (Taman Nasional Way Kambas,Lampung Timur) and the nearest zoo(Taman Wisata Bumi Kedaton) is 7km from the city in the direction of Kampung Sukarame II,Batuputu,Kecamatan Teluk Betung Barat.

The main entry to the zoo is via Jalan Pangiran Emir M Noor.
Entrance fees:Rupiah3,000
Animal shows:Rupiah10,000
Elephant ride:Rupiah10,000

The most famous food of the Lampung people is the Pindang Lampung,with a gravy similar to 'Tom Yam' of Thailand.
Try it at No:45,Jalan Arif Rahman Hakim,Taman Santap Rumah Kayu. Another popular dish is the 'pempek' which can be found everywhere. When it comes to shopping for souvenirs,the Kain Tapis Inuh is a traditional hand woven embroidered silk fabrics in various design.