INDONESIA - Jakarta
Arrived in Jakarta in the morning and was in such a great mood as I stepped off the plane and sucked in Asian air once more.
I treated myself to the luxury of a taxi ride to the city and wondered if something had happened that I didnt know about as the streets were deserted, which I certainly didnt expect in a city of over 9million people! Anyway I should have known it was the end of Ramadan 'Idul Fitri' and the weekend was a public holiday so everyone had gone to their home towns.
I thought I had booked a luxurious hotel, but it wasnt actually that luxurious. I'd paid for the luxury of a swimming pool and gym, but it turned out that my hotel didnt have them and I had to cross the road and use the sister's hotel and I couldnt be assed! So now it is back to paying a fiver a nite.
My first day I headed out to the National Museum and managed a quick scoot round before it closed. It's amazing how I adapt to money. It cost 750 rp to get into the museum, but the guy didnt have change and I got stroppy over 250 rp, which equates to less than 1p. God I am so tight sometimes!
Anyway, next stop was Merdeka Square and up the National Monument. At the top was a 360 degree of Jakarta, which isnt really that stunning. However, if you looked straight down at the landscape gardens directly below the monument they were quite stunning. There was also a cool museum in the basement.
I headed out again and round the outside perimeter of the square. I tried to get a foto of the Presidents House, but got chased away by a guy with a big gun. Oops! Next I headed to the huge mosque and to the cathedral, but I couldnt get across the road and decided that sacrificing my life for a couple of fotos probably wasnt worth it. So it was back to my 'luxury hotel' for a few hours in front of the box.
The next day I headed out to the old town now called Kota. I decided to brave the local public transport and was surprised how great the bus service was. I headed up to Taman Fatahillah square, which is certainly more of an eyesore than a tourist attraction. The museums were shut for the holiday and there wasnt much else to do other than to look at the crumbling buildings. Anyway I spotted a guy looking at his Lonely Planet and got chatting to him. We headed for a walk up to the harbour area and checked out the massive boats. Dave decided to climb aboard one whilst I became the official photographer. We walked back to get the bus, but Dave decided he wanted to get a bajaj (tuk tuk) for the last 1km. Ridiculous! Anyway we did, then got the bus back and had lunch in the Jalan Jaksa area. Sometimes I hate meeting people. Hangin with him was more of a hinderance and too much effort!
After Dave left I went to check out the shops, but managed to resist buying anything.
On Sunday I had a day trip to Bogor then came back and spent another day in a shopping mall, but this time it was the posh one with Armani, etc. I am sure everyone was staring at me walking about in my trainers and scruffy clothes. Once more I resisted buying anything.
I checked into a place called Bloem Hostel which is an 1/8th of the price of the Ibis Arcadia and I am much happier there. Tomorrow it's the executive class train for me to Yogyakarta. Nothing but the best for me!
I treated myself to the luxury of a taxi ride to the city and wondered if something had happened that I didnt know about as the streets were deserted, which I certainly didnt expect in a city of over 9million people! Anyway I should have known it was the end of Ramadan 'Idul Fitri' and the weekend was a public holiday so everyone had gone to their home towns.
I thought I had booked a luxurious hotel, but it wasnt actually that luxurious. I'd paid for the luxury of a swimming pool and gym, but it turned out that my hotel didnt have them and I had to cross the road and use the sister's hotel and I couldnt be assed! So now it is back to paying a fiver a nite.
My first day I headed out to the National Museum and managed a quick scoot round before it closed. It's amazing how I adapt to money. It cost 750 rp to get into the museum, but the guy didnt have change and I got stroppy over 250 rp, which equates to less than 1p. God I am so tight sometimes!
Anyway, next stop was Merdeka Square and up the National Monument. At the top was a 360 degree of Jakarta, which isnt really that stunning. However, if you looked straight down at the landscape gardens directly below the monument they were quite stunning. There was also a cool museum in the basement.
I headed out again and round the outside perimeter of the square. I tried to get a foto of the Presidents House, but got chased away by a guy with a big gun. Oops! Next I headed to the huge mosque and to the cathedral, but I couldnt get across the road and decided that sacrificing my life for a couple of fotos probably wasnt worth it. So it was back to my 'luxury hotel' for a few hours in front of the box.
The next day I headed out to the old town now called Kota. I decided to brave the local public transport and was surprised how great the bus service was. I headed up to Taman Fatahillah square, which is certainly more of an eyesore than a tourist attraction. The museums were shut for the holiday and there wasnt much else to do other than to look at the crumbling buildings. Anyway I spotted a guy looking at his Lonely Planet and got chatting to him. We headed for a walk up to the harbour area and checked out the massive boats. Dave decided to climb aboard one whilst I became the official photographer. We walked back to get the bus, but Dave decided he wanted to get a bajaj (tuk tuk) for the last 1km. Ridiculous! Anyway we did, then got the bus back and had lunch in the Jalan Jaksa area. Sometimes I hate meeting people. Hangin with him was more of a hinderance and too much effort!
After Dave left I went to check out the shops, but managed to resist buying anything.
On Sunday I had a day trip to Bogor then came back and spent another day in a shopping mall, but this time it was the posh one with Armani, etc. I am sure everyone was staring at me walking about in my trainers and scruffy clothes. Once more I resisted buying anything.
I checked into a place called Bloem Hostel which is an 1/8th of the price of the Ibis Arcadia and I am much happier there. Tomorrow it's the executive class train for me to Yogyakarta. Nothing but the best for me!
posted by Cat @ 5:53 AM
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