Back in Jakarta

It has been a while since my last post on this blog. On one level or the other I thought I give up on continuing this blog. I don't have enough spare time.  The only the other hand I thought to simply continue with it while being on holidays in Indonesia.

And here I am. Back in Jakarta.  Nearly the end of my stay in this beautiful country.

I can't help think of my colleagues in the cold and wet UK. It is nice and hot here in Depok with 39 degrees.  Luckily the air conditioning works well and the cold drinks are flowing plentifully.

I really am a southern guy I guess.  I live in South England and stay mostly in South Jakarta. The reason being is that my in laws live in Cinere and we are staying with my wife's sister in their spare bedroom.

This trip is more a family visit over Chinese New Year and we are spending as much time together as a family.

The other times we are spending in treating ourselves to spa treatments, massages and yummy indonesian dishes or just having street food.

Yogyakarta

I have been twice to Jogja and I really like this city. It is quiet (in comparison to Jakarta) and full of young people on their bicycles. It is a modern university with highly educated and bright people. Skilled craftmen offer their work on the street markets and in their shows. It is well worth to browse and to bargain. Don't be shy - have a go at it.

Don't miss going to the Borobudur and Prambanan temples while you are in Yogyakarta. You would never forgive yourself.

Check out Wikitravel for more details.

Jakarta

What do I like about Jakarta? All the things other people hate. Yeah, I probably only like them because I don't live there. When I was in Singapore last year, I said to my wife that Singapore is just like London (clean, tidy and well organised) but hotter. I missed the chaotic traffic, dust, noice and JCo in CIM. My wife said "You are crazy!". She must be right?

I have never lived in Jakarta (evenso one day I hopefully will). The madness on the road is unique. I miss the traffic jams and people tuting their horns - it makes me feel alive.

I have been blessed though never experience the flooding that happened recently in this wonderful metropolis. I am amazed how people cope with this regular flooding of large part of the city. Chaos and madness would occur here in London, but somehow people in Jakarta are used to it and they seem to cope well,

You are really amazing...

There is more to Jakarta then shopping

Some people say that Jakarta is the mecka of shoppoholics, but I think that there are some interesting sights to see.

The National Monument allows some stunning views across Jakarta (if there is no smog :)). The area also has some beautiful museums. Have a drink at Cafe  Bathavia in Kota (the old and in some parts quiet beautiful old Jakarta in the North). Or why not stroll along the bars and clubs in Kemang (quiet popular with foreigners)? Do you play golf? Then why don't you play a round or two at one of south-east Asia's best golf course in Pondok Indah.

Okay I agree it is not the tourist's logical destination, but a shop-over before heading of to Bali or one of the other 18,000 islands of Indonesia.

Jakarta - Intro

Jakarta, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Located on the northwest coast of Java, it has an area of 661 square kilometres (255 sq mi) and a 2010 census count population of 9,580,000.^[4] Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre. It is the most populous city in Indonesia and in Southeast Asia, and is the twelfth-largest city in the world. The urban area, Jabodetabek, is the second largest in the world. Jakarta is listed as a global city in the 2008 Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network (GaWC) research.^[6] The city's name is derived from the Old Javanese word "Jayakarta" which translates as "victorious deed", "complete act", or "complete victory".

Landmarks include the National Monument and Istiqlal Mosque. The city is the seat of the ASEAN Secretariat. Jakarta is served by the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, and Tanjung Priok Harbour; it is connected by several intercity and commuter railways, and served by several bus lines running on reserved busways [Read more]...

Jakarta

Some of my favourite places in Jakarta are:

• Coffee @J.Co @Cinere Mall
• Windows Shopping at Pondok Indah Mall
• Having dinner at Woreng Indo