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.
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
