Day 1 in Jakarta

Day 1 [25th January 2009]

A night stay in the hotel [Ibis Hotel, Mangga Dua]
Frankly, there’s nothing much to say about the hotel. It’s clean. It’s comfortable. It’s just okay. BUT THE STOOOPID WIFI IS R.50,000 (RM18) PER HOUR!! Siaw! Even the front desk fella recommended me to online outside at the CyberCafe. Double Siaw.

The view outside our room. It’s even hazy on Day 1 (though it rained everyday in Jakarta before we arrived).

Anyway, before starting our first day in Jakarta, we had our breakfast first. The only familiar and not so bad food along the buffet table is this:

Croissant. There were fruits, but their fruits are all preserved! There were sausages (beef) – quite nice, POTATOES (damn cute, ok! small small ones) – loved it, the rest like Soto, weird pancakes and etc.. Their local delicacies  (lotsa coconut milk) which I’m not familiar with…….YET, and not taking the risk to try them early first day here. [Mai later touring or shopping lao sai arrr]

Good thing bro and I had our “breakfast” earlier, so, we were not that hungry.

After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel. First the city tour, then to Bandung. So, the followings pichas are just 2% of what I took throughout my whole trip. More pichas to edit still. Huhuhu.. and this is just Day 1.

On the way to the National Monument..

Billboards! So many billboards, ok! Left and right. As long as there’s a divider or empty land by the road side, there’s a billboard.

Ting Ting Ting.. Bus stop!

Their public transportation so the good ok! The bus stop is air conditioned!! Plus, the busses have their own lane. It’s like LRT/MRT but in four wheels. Truth is, the government actually wanted to invest on LRT/MRT but it wasn’t feasible. Bare in mind, Jakarta is actually 600++ feet BELOW SEA LEVEL!!

Their public transportation here does not belong to the government, but a private corp. The government here derived revenue mostly from the petroleum.

I took this picha because we don’t have anything like it.

Our first stop for the day was the National Monument (MONAS). It has a significant meaning behind the design of it. Some history stuff.

Every Sunday, this place is packed! There deers in this place! That’ explains why the whole place is fenced up. Plus, this is where the Indonesians exclaimed their “Merdeka” (Independence day) as how ours are at the Padang Merdeka. Also, here’s where they go on strike.

The public toilet outside the Monument compound. I didn’t go in to check it out. @.@ would you?

Jakarta policemen are so slim and fit! Let’s not compare them with our policemen. They’ll end up looking like sticks =X

This is my Bro. He is the youngest in the family, but I look like the youngest. Meehehehehe.. Anyway, behind him is the Central Bank of Jakarta. So, this is where my Multi-Millionaireness came from.

The government introduced this global warming campaign, whereby, the people would cycle around town (in costumes!!). Fact is, there are some Indonesian islands have disappeared from the face of earth! Actually, they were drowned due to global warming. Ice melted, water level rises.

The government encourages the people to cycle rather than tuk tuk or vroom vroom.

Well, some went creative about saving the earth. Instead of 2 motorcycles on the road, why not ride on 1.

=X sorry.. I’m being mean.

PM office or US embacy? Can’t remember.

The people risks their lives to make a living! Wherever the car stops, you will see them walking around selling goods, newspapers, magazines and even food!

So DANGEROUS OK!

Some cycle around.

On our way to the National Museum, we saw this

The moment we saw it, we went, “Stop stop stop! Can we stop here for awhile?”

The tour driver made a turn and dropped us by the roadside and the tour guide lead us in. The church was magnificent!

I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as her! My favourite spot in Jakarta would be this church.

Build in 1881

Next stop: National Museum

No cameras allowed inside. But I am educated with lotsa Indonesian history. Much more interesting than our country’s history.

There’s a beautiful story about the statue. Very Tiramisu like..

After the museum,

Pass the toll……………

Next is on..

Taman Mini Indah