after a long flight

One says that it is better to give one a good recommendation and refrain from giving a bad one for it is understood. However, I want my fellow travelers know what makes a hotel tick and what doesn’t, especially this one in Jakarta. Pros: 1. Location is perfect. Very close to the famous Clover leaf Bridge of Jakarta (Jembatan Semanggi), Plaza Senayan, and the rest of trendy shopping centers in the Semanggi area. 2. Pretty cheap for a downtown 2-star hotel in Jakarta. Cons: 1. Bathroom has this funky smell when you enter the room. It has smell, and I happen to have a slightly more sensitive nose than others. I normally want a bathroom to smell fresh and clean. Some of you out there know exactly what I mean. A bathroom can be small, but if it is clean and smells fresh I really don’t mind. 2. I could hear people talking from the hallway. I think the gap underneath the door is wide enough to let noise get in the room. 3. Parking is very limited. I can’t remember if there’s any valet, but the front part of the hotel used for guest and staff parking is very tiny.

Hotel Kristal is located in South Jakarta and very close to Pondok Indah that is packed with great galleries, cafés, shopping centers, schools, and great neighborhoods. I have stayed there a couple of times and been very satisfied with my stay there. I love the neighborhood because the hotel is not located in the middle of the hustle and bustle of busy Jakarta. It sits secluded from the exposed crowded area. The hotel security is top notch. Across from the hotel there are cute cafés and restaurants and a Hero supermarket. Those places are all within walking distance. I think the hotel is built primarily to cater for business-oriented customers. However, I find that leisure-oriented customers are well catered for as well. There are fitness and spa centers, and a nice outdoor swimming pool with a tiki bar.

Sheraton Media Hotel & Towers is a deluxe business hotel close to north Jakarta's must-sees, including Mangga Dua Shopping Complex – the largest retail shop in south east Asia, Ancol Jakarta Bay City and Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy World). (taken from web-site) I stayed in a large and very clean room, good bed and very nice bathroom area, with five-star comfort. features: * Bathrobes * Writing Desk * Cable Channels + central dvd system * In-Room Electronic Safe * Free Daily Newspaper (Local) * Hairdryer * Bathroom Telephone( i'v fallen and i can't get up phone :) * Coffee and Tea Maker * mini-Refrigerator * Air-Conditioner I also enjoyed my time relaxing at their spa as a complimentary facility for guests. It was a great place, they also have an outdoor pool, bars with billiards, lounge and restaurants, very good breakfast and friendly staff! I love it here and it's affordable, not expensive for a five star hotel! I am keeping this simple, because simply put this place was AWESOME, see the pics, "THE ACROPOLIS" spa area was the best. There were many great things, from the room guy (mas yudi) giving us a great show on making the bed to the great people during breakfast like mbak Ageng , it was just a very enjoyable experience all around! BTW = I give my ratings based on what I expected for the price I paid. Expensive rating of 4 = in comparison to other Indo hotels, but about 1/4 the price of what a place like this would cost in the states. If your are looking at this seperate from my blog, perhaps consider checking out my: "Indonesia 2008" blog for more reviews and info for Indonesia. ***** Also more pics taken at the Sheraton Media(last day journal). http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/35116/time-to-leave-last-day-and-hotel-pics-Jakarta-18 http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=297

I landed around 2pm Jakarta time on may 28th and things went pretty smooth. I got in and paid $ for my visa ($10 for under 10 days, $25 10-30 days) they accept US currency but have the change ready dont give them a $50 or $100. Then I passed through customs. I was focused on my carry-on luggage and getting to the right places, so I could catch my next flight, so no pictures taken. I had a porter help me with my bags and lead the way, and he had a cell phone so I could call my friend and see where she would meet me. I met my travel companion Asri (acy_jkt) outside the terminal and we took a bus to the other part of the airport where most of the local flights are out of except garuda air I believe. We went through security (easy compared to the states and europe) and we paid the airport tax(yes, in Indonesia and i think someone said Hong Kong you pay the airport tax seperate not with your ticket purchase) (so have your indonesian $ = idr with you if taking local flights to pay the tax). There was a nice girl at the check-in , she was taking time to do something, did not know what at the time, turns out it might have been to upgrade me to business class as some of the smaller planes are not really suited well for 6 foot tall people (no leg room at all- knees crunching against seat). After that we messed up and almost missed our flight, we were the last ones on and thanks I think to the airlines noticing my height (compared to Indonesians I am a giant :) we got to sit in the front row. It was a short 1 hour or so flight but still nice not to have my knees crushed into the seat in front of me.  Soon we were off, and next stop Yogyakarta, also known as Yogya for short.

As Asri and I shared this trip , we also decided to share the blog. You will find some things written from her standpoint and some from mine.

So if you see "shane had the grilled tuna" don't worry, its not me talking in third person! :)

It all started when I booked my plane ticket and added Indonesian sites like Jakarta to my destinations on TB. Then I was sent a few welcome emails from Jakarta TB peeps, offering to help if needed when I visited. I told Rini if I could, it would be cool to meetup with some people and so began her email and texting campain :) And with her and others help, next thing we know there is the 1st ever jakarta TB meetup.  It was great to get to meet in person 12 new quality people!  We had fun, we ate and we talked and time flew by. For all of us it was just the beginning of new friendships, and the beginning of meetups in Jakarta. Hatched from this are diving excursions, and plans for other fun events. There has already been another meetup slightly smaller and more to come I am sure.  The Jakarta meetup was part of my 18 day trip: Link to Indonesia blog

Thanks everyone, it was great to meet you all, and I look forward to seeing you again!  :)

I talked alot as usual and not many photo's taken :)

So for more photos please check out =

Links to OTHER BLOGS FROM THE MEETUP

meldoet        

inirr               

mojomaru      

PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED: with links to their profiles

ME :)  - (mr_shanet)             Asri - (acy_jkt)

Rini - (inirr)                           Santo - Rini's "friend" :)

Indira - Indira                       Liena - Jeonli1978 (from Malaysia)

Rizky - rizky_wisnu               Berlianne - Good_shepherd

Keke - Inikeke                      Amel - Meldoet

Marthin - Mojomaru              Harum - Harumaniss

Tino - Sparky76                    Alice - msSleep

This is the end of my first trip to Indonesia. I will miss my new friends and  I wish I was staying longer or could just hop over easier for the weekend. But reality is not as fun! I miss it for many reasons, but not included in those =  the bad traffic, smog and being bothered to buy stuff.

I took pics of my last day at Sheraton Media Hotel, I loved staying there. The staff was nice and friendly, good breakfast, quiet hotel, we also could use the gym and spa for free as guests - was awesome, only one thing, the street in front of the hotel is always crowded.

For more pics of Sheraton Media please see review below.

We also took some pics at the airport where we had this not so good tasting Japanese Sushi, Sakan Restaurant, very expensive - as it's located at the airport. the Japanese food I tried just did not work for me. Sorry  :) can't believe people pay extra for the seaweed wrap thats salty and sour :(  and i did not find the deep fried octopus appealing, perhaps if it was grilled?

Well Thats it for this time, I look forward to coming back to Indonesia and seeing some of the same places again, next time not being as timid, and also seeing new places. Next time or two I will definately make it to see my friend Mitust in Lombok, I promise :)

LINK TO MEETUP BLOG - below

*****     Please use this link to see photos and info for the 1st ever Jakarta TB meetup     *****

On thursday we went to Plasa Senayan, a fancy mall where we had lunch at Chatter Box located at Sogo Department store on the 5th Floor with our friend Tante Lina.  It is a nice place and the food is good all be it a bit pricy. Shane, as usual had to try their Lumpia (he tried Lumpia at most restaurants we went to). We also ordered Singapore Rice Chicken and Thai ice desert. We also went to the book store and bought a nice waterproof plastic tube(adjustable length) for the rolled up paintings I bought previously).

In the evening we had ice cream at Pisa Cafe, and the staff was friendly, allowing shane to sample many of the flavors before ordering :)   This was a preview of the 1st ever Jakarta TB Meetup which was held 2 days later.   

On friday we went to the Mall Mangga Dua which is a famous electronic and computer mall in Jakarta. After buying some DVDs there, we went to Plaza Indonesia - a fancy mall - to meet  Asri's good friend Yulin one night , we had dinner at this good restaurant called Dome. The food was good and we had a good time, also took some pics at the mall after dinner.  We also went to the Hard Rock Cafe "Jakarta" which is located at EX, a fancy mall connected to Plaza Indonesia.

Welcome back to Jakarta - arriving at night and still not having booked a hotel yet. We got the hotel vouchers at the airport (Kaha Tours and Travel) with good rates, then we went out to get a taxi, Express (the white taxi with yellow light above), this taxi like Blue Bird (BB) is a safe taxi, Express have lower rate compared to BB but not as plentiful and available as blue bird usually so good to get.

We did lots of things while staying in Jakarta for a while, going around Jakarta's main streets, such as S. Parman, Sudirman, MH. Thamrin streets - names were taken from Indonesia's famous late generals and politicians, we took some pics of statues, places, biggest mosque and church, etc.  Just some fun days of navigating through clogged streets.

Beside that, we went to Plasa Senayan, one of the fancy malls in town, having our lunch at Chatter Box (at Sogo, 5th Floor). After that going to the National Monument (Monumen Nasional aka Monas), where we took lots of pics and Shane saw a traditional blow dart gun made from cow bone (never saw this one before), was really cool but very expensive. Like what amazonians and ancient tribes would use (poison darts blown from mouth) was really cool, had 3 pieces and they screwed together when assembled, bottom was an alligator, middle a dragon, and top a prehistoric type bird... all carved form cow bone and dyed to look like wood.

Everything was good, we took a free local train ride to go around the park, and Shane, again, met some local students who asked lots of questions there. Only one thing, we had a bad experience from a local staff member of Monas, nicely offering us a "special way" to go to the top of the monument (where we didn't have to wait long in queue for the elevator)(means he cuts us in front of other people we learned), we know at the end we had to give him a tip for that, but we didn't expect after many stairs - he said USD $20 for that!! We paid the entrance fee for aound USD 1.6 for free elevator (with the que), so no thanks for the "good" offer, that was too much, see you Mister! So we did not want to go back and wait in the long line, we were hot and tired and our ride would be there soon. So we just took pics form the observation deck that we were at when he offered the special way. You can walk the stairs to observation deck and not have to wait in line if dont have as much time or patience for the line.

We also visited some other places, Pisa Cafe (where we attended Jakartas First TB Meet Up 2 days later), Plaza Indonesia (another fancy mall) where we met Asri's good friend Yulin, Mangga Dua Mall(electronics mall) where Shane bought lots of DVDs and cases(best to buy binder and buy plastic sleeves, cd in back and paper in front of sleeve), ITC Mangga Dua and Pecenongan where we had some traditional food.

I always like Izzi Pizza, mostly for the place and atmosphere. Good staff and food, with the great interior design. Oakwood is one of their new branches, located at the premier and luxorious appartment, in the heart of Jakarta, between city skycrapers. It's highly recommended if you are looking for a place to eat, talk and enjoy the city view while waiting for the traffic. Better to go there for dinner, as you can enjoy the view and atmosphere better. When i came there, was 50% discounted for all food (they have famous Italian food such as Pizza, Lasagna, pastas, also salad, steak, chicken wings etc). Also variety of beveages such as shakes, coffe, beers and wine. Oh, don't forget to taste their ice cream :) They have one branch open for 24 hour during weekends, at Menteng, with free wi fi. I couldnt get better pictures, didnt bring my camere along with me, i took the pictures by mobile phone.

5 days more... huray... This is my plan for the holiday in West Sumatera. I hope my plan can go well.

I woke up at 3 o'clock in the morning and prepared myself to be ready and half an hour later I woke up my first daughter, Arin. Just right before we left the house, I woke up Raya. She was ready to go before going to bed. She had changed her cloth and brushed her teeth.

At 4.15 we left for airport. We arrived at airport 5.30. After we prayed shubuh, we had breakfast. When we finished, just in time Harisko and his brother, Irfan, came. After saying goodbye to my husband and my brother (who took us to the airport), we proceeded to check in and waited for boarding.

We took Mandala to fly us. The take off time was 8.05, we boarded at 7.45. The flight was on time and comfortable enough. Only we didn't get any snack or drink. They provided food and beverage but it was excluded the ticket price. Fortunately, I had prepared snack and drink for my daughters so we were not hungry and thirsty during our 1 hour and 20 minutes flight. The airplane landed safely, but not smoothly. Harisko said it was the worst that he ever experienced. I remember the pilot’s name, Captain Fatahilah. (So what? Ha ha ha…) 

Supposedly Jakarta is the most dangerous city in SE Asia.  Even though it is not a major tourist attraction I was interested to see how it compared to South American cities in terms of "danger". 

I only left myself one day to explore the notoriously chaotic capital.  Unfortunately the day I was there was the last Monday of the month which apparently meant that absolutely everything that you would ever want to see in the capital was closed.  I walked around all day and was a bit disappointed with the lack of chaos.  Just a day earlier I met a girl who had lived in India for four months who claimed that Jakarta was crazier than anything she had seen before so my expectation of madness were quite high. I thought it felt quite safe, people were generally friendly, and for the most part things were no more unorganized than they had been elsewhere in Indonesia.

The only place "of interest" that I managed to check out was the biggest mosque in the country.  It was big but pretty plane jane looking.  Again, nothing like what you can see in Brunei.

Air Asia changed my flight without notifying me so I had to spend an extra night in town and then get back to the airport by 8:00 am.  At first they just wanted to give me my money back for the flight and told me to go try a different airline.  Without to much negotiating they agreed to put me up in a hotel for the night.  Then they said all the hotels close to the airport were booked. In the end they gave me the equivalent of $25 for my troubles and sent me on my way.  Surprisingly that was enough for my transport back and forth into town, my hotel, supper, breakfast, and a gift bag of coffee in the airport.

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