If you have a day to kill in Jakarta

During my recent stay in Jakarta, I happened to have a day to kill and not about to hide in the hotel. So I went shopping at a place that I know well. See, those days when I was living in Jakarta, I stayed in Senayan area and me and my other colleague went to Plaza Senayan on a daily basis after work.


There is actually a few shopping places in Jakarta such as the Mangga Dua where you have 4 malls interconnected to each other you'll probably get lost it in. Problem is, Mangga Dua is actually more of a commoner place (if you know what I mean). So you get suspicious jobless people hanging around the mall and instantly get worried and be on your toes all the time. Senayan, on the other hand is extremely safe. You can walk about the street and actually see real traffic police manning the traffic and once you passed their security check at the mall entrance, you feel you can safely concentrate on shopping without having to worried that you get your purse snatch.


During this trip, I found that there are two new malls since my days in Jakarta.

The first being this, the Senayan City. Totally upscale and you don't find any of those funny looking people lottering around checking you out from head to toe. So, you can shop til you drop with a peace of mind.

Another new mall which is probably only 1 year old is the FX which is also located in Central Jakarta and within walking distance from Plaza Senayan and Senayan City.

I cannot believe how chic and trendy this mall is. It is totally like a designer mall.

On the second floor, they have transform it to meeting suites so if you have to have a business meeting in the city, instead of having to meet in some lame hotel cafes or lobby, you can rent their suites by hour and you instantly becomes a trendy up todate professional.

Each suites is design with a different outlook and it has the designer name at the entrance. Although I don't know who this designer is but it just gives you the feeling that this place is so cool.

I think the FX Mall must be like 8 storeys high if not more. So if you would like to take the elevator, this is how the elevator lobby looks like. Is this class all the way or what?

Apart from being poshy and classy, the FX Mall has its fun side as well. From the top of the mall you can take a ride all the way down to the ground floor with this. Not that those designer dressed, Birkin carrier will actually slide down from the top floor but it is cool just to have it here, don't you think?

On the top floor called Mazee, it is dedicated entirely to local budding designers to showcase their designs be it apparels, home furnishings or even sculptures or jewelleries. Look at the design, half of the structure protrudes out to the central foyer. So totally cool!

OK, I couldn't help but to take a picture of this sculpture located in the roundabout between these 3 malls. If you see this guy, you're in Senayan.

Location : Jakarta, Indonesia

Date of travel : May 2011

The same ol' same ol' Jakarta

Ahhh, talk about nostalgia.


About 15 years ago, while I was still an innocent not so experienced Assistant Manager, I was transfer to Jakarta for about 3 months to troubleshoot the visitor promotion of a major exhibition there. Well, I know how it sounds. It is as if I'm a specialist in visitor promotion while the truth is, I've only done two other projects in that company. Anyway, I've not really been back to Jakarta after all those years because I have the worst experience ever. During my few months there, I have a daily stomach upset and by the time I finished my assignment and goes back to KL, I was diagnosed of gastric due to the over acidic food (such as chilli) which I don't have much choice but to eat everyday.


Most recently I went back to Jakarta for work (again). In the plane, I was seated next to an Indonesian lady and we strike up a conversation. She has apparently left her country to work in Malaysia for 10 years and she has not been back. She told me she is very excited to see how her country has changed and what it is like now after all these years. Hmmm, I'm thinking to myself that maybe nothing much has changed ...


... indeed, nothing much has change.


The day I arrived, it rains and the scene on the road is exactly the same as 15 years ago. The road is flooded and the traffic has practically comes to a stand still. I know in other parts of the world, the major cities jam too, but here in Jakarta, you have no other transportation options such as MRT or train or whatever but to sit in the cab for hours to reach a destination that is probably only about 15-20 km.


While we reach a certain cross road, jobless locals takes up the role as traffic controller directing traffic with hopes that some people wind down their windows and give them some token for their assistance.


While the car comes to a standstill at certain places, locals will comes with stuff to sell to you. But the most unforgettable moment I had 15 years ago is that some of them comes with a guitar and starts serenading you with songs in the middle of the road! I still bump into a few during my 3 days there recently. Ah, talk about memories.

Don't get me wrong, Jakarta does have its beautiful side. Say for example the above picture taken from FX in Senayan shows the metropolis side of it. Jakarta is actually a very beautiful and safe city if you stay within the city centre. I remember 15 years ago, they already have Tony Romas (which I went to dine once a week) and also the Fashion Cafe (owned by the supermodels in the name of Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Elle Macpherson) which is not available in KL.

Location : Jakarta
Next, If you have a day to kill in Jakarta

Lang Tengah

Seriously what is there to blog about when all I've done in 3 days in an island called Lang Tengah is nothing but ...

sun lounging

relaxing and admiring the peaceful surrounding

and yes, snorkeling .... nothing. So, here's a video to show the view of the place.

Lang Tengah is located in east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, unreachable thru air, so you gotta go to Kuala Trengganu and get to the island via speed boat. If you're tired of the over commercialised Tioman Island or the likes, Lang Tengah is one of the best bet before it's discovered big time and get polluted as well.




Location : Trengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

Batu Ferringhi

When you ask a local what is there to do is Penang, they'll probably come up with a few themes such as 'A day in Penang Hill', 'Eat until you drop', shopping, culture & heritage trails or beaches & water sports. For my most recent trip (well, which only happens last week), I have skip all the hustling and bustling in town and hide myself in Batu Ferringhi for 2 days.

Batu Ferringhi is probably the most beautiful and well-known beaches in Penang island. It is located on North-east of Penang island. From the airport, it is directly the other end of the island. By road, it will probably takes you about 30 minutes from the bridge, depending on the traffic in town. You'll know you've reached the coastal area the moment you hit Tanjung Bungah. Beautiful resort, beautiful seaside condominiums and hosts of international eateries lined up the few kilometres stretch.

The latest and hippest hotel that joins the crowd is the Hard Rock Hotel. It is located quite at the tail end of Batu Ferringhi and need I say more, it has the hippest crowd. Every single night, you can feel the hype where a rock band will performed.



At day time, you get to soak in the pool or play at the beach. Another interesting thing about Batu Ferringhi beach is that they have a lot of water sports available. Be it para sailing, jet skiing or even canoeing. The sea is never quiet. What's more, the price is absolutely reasonable, I mean MYR50 for para sailing ... that's the cheapest you can get anywhere.



Finally, may I add that the sunset in Batu Ferringhi is absolutely beautiful.


Location : Penang, Malaysia
Date of travel : May 2011