Crazy and Polluted Jakarta

 So our last travelling block has begun. We have left rainy Auckland on 2^nd October with Jetstar flight with a stopover in Singapore. As with Air Asia we were a bit worried how the flight would go as there is a large number of complaints on the web. But after a small hitch of having one hour delay, everything went smoothly. Even with the delay we have arrived before the estimated landing time, if you have your own headphones you can watch in flight TV channel, our baggage was transferred correctly in Singapore, and the food was also really nice with a lot of meat. We have even received a meal on the flight from Singapore (our third one) and they provide two drinks as standard with every meal. So overall we had a pleasant flight.

After arriving to Jakarta, we had to apply for visa on arrival. These are processed very swiftly as part of the immigration clearance. We paid US$25 each and were out of the airport in less than 30 minutes including the baggage reclaim. Outside the easiest is to take a taxi to the city. We were recommended a Blue Bird or Express. These are reliable companies that use meter to provide a price so no haggling is required. We have found later on that Express is slightly cheaper. On the top of the normal fare you have to pay airport surcharge of RP10,000 and motorway charge of RP12,500. So overall the trip to our destination costed us RP130,000 (NZ$16) which I think is a really good deal considering that the airport is about 40km out of the city. In general, taxis are really good way to travel around Jakarta as they are fast, reliable and only about triple the price of public transport (half an hour journey cost about RP25,000 which is about NZ$3).

We were staying at Apartments Taman Rasuna where my former St Andrews classmate lives. The complex consists of 15 apartment towers, two swimming pools, shops & spa. Each of the tower has its own security and the complex is cleaned regularly. It doesn't have a feeling of a hotel, but with the service provided it is far from typical block of flats in the Czech Republic. Dian and Najib live on 32^nd floor. There are two small balconies and the views are amazing, just a bit too high for my tasting when you look down:-).

The following day we have received an unpleasant information. The national union was organising demonstrations for higher minimum wage. We have been ensured that they will not be violent but traffic jam could be a big problem. So we have decided to go by taxi instead of public transport. In the end we have not seen almost any signs of demonstrations; there was only higher presence of police and presidential palace had barb wire all around it.  

Our first stop was Sabang Street, one of the old street in Jakarta, very narrow and very busy. There are lot of shops along the street, so we easily managed to get us photographed for visa (we need passport photos for Vietnamese and Cambodian visas), purchased a sim card and get our stomachs full in traditional way in Garuda Restaurant. The food is served on plates stacked on each other as they bring you everything that they have on the menu and you just choose what you like.

From Sabang street we walked to Merdeka Square. Around the main roads within the area there were many police cars. Initially we though that they are there because of the demonstrations. However, as we walked around the square we met a lot of army personnel and then even helicopters and various other army machinery. This would be a bit overrated for the demonstrations so we have asked and they have told us that there will be some celebrations running for next few days so they are preparing an army display.

As we walked around the city centre we were greeted by various people and some of them even get into chit chat with us. Overall, our experience from Jakarta were mainly those very friendly and respectful people. One of them even paid our photos for us:-).

Later in the evening we were taken for our dinner to Penang Bistro, very nice, upmarket, but still reasonably priced restaurant and later for a few drinks to Social House. It is a shop/restaurant/bar in the posh mall called Soho, where you have to pass security gates when entering. The bar has views over Jakarta and in the evening it was magnificent.

While travelling around we could experience the proper Jakarta traffic jams and the terrifying driving styles. One thing that also strike me was that there were people around the street waiting to be picked up. Dian explained that during rush hours only private cars with three or more passengers are allowed into the city centre. So to beat the law, these people are paid RP15,000 to be the third person when necessary.

And that was the end of our Jakarta stay. The following day we took a taxi to the airport and flew to Lombok.