Rahman's Travel Log to Indonesia

By Abdul Rahman bin Ishak

So, I had my semester break in early January 2017 and I have plan to visit Indonesia this year. Since I’ll go visit Indonesia for 1 weeks to give myself a self reward, so my preparation is not so much. Of course there are lot of relative and friends (obviously) will ask souvenir from Indonesia even though I don’t have much idea on what actually special to buy for them.

My aunts once said, Indonesia is a heaven for someone who love to shopping because the exchange rate is low compare to Malaysia money before this. But that might not be true anymore because of current economy in Malaysia is quite bad starting from 2016 and it effect Malaysian Ringgit as well. So if you want to compare the price (for Malaysian) , there are just slight different plus some of item in Jakarta are even expensive than Malaysia! For your knowledge, the exchange rate in May 2017 for 1 US dollar is Rp 13,300 indonesia rupiah.

I go to Indonesia by Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Soekarno hatta (CGK) and it cost me RM 350 for returns for economy class. You can find a cheaper than that if you always alert with the promotion on their facebook page or their website. Air Asia are well known as a low cost air lines so everyone can fly! But the seats arrangement were a tightly packed, the seats are narrow and the pitch is terrible for long distance flight. The space of the leg room are limited while he cabin is not cool as I really expected but the crew is super friendly and caring and help a lot if you need anything from them which  I can conclude the flight are generally smooth and pleasant for the price.

This is one of my small journey that I want to share with people all around the world. There are few expectation and the reality in Indonesia that I discovered in my adventure in Indonesia. For your information, this journey is somewhere in February 2017 which it might be different in the future. This guide will be useful to someone who want to visit the capital city of Indonesia as a guidance to you on what actually happen because what you found on internet is not as true as the reality.

After an 3 hour long flight my family and i finally arrived at Jakarta! The flight went very well, aside from some turbulence. We arrived at Soekarno Hatta Airport at 9 am. Our driver was waiting for us outside of the airport ready to take us buzz in around the heart of Jakarta city. As soon as we take off from the airport, we already experienced a slow traffic outside of the airport and it getting worse and no better for real. It’s a bit tense to see the motorcycle are close to our car but according to the driver, that is normal here to drive in that situation and you can hear honk is all over the place because motorcyclist will signaling the car so they won’t accident crash with each other. One more thing that I admired about the driver in this city, THEY HARDLY USE A SIGNAL TO CHANGE LANE but it’s hardly to see they collide with each other, no matter how close they are kept changing lane to find the fastest route to each their each destination WITHOUT SIGNAL. On some aspect, we should follow their driving skill though. I kept reminding myself that he was not being reckless, that this was simply how things went here and he was probably maybe an expert driver. My little brother was fast asleep. The annoying part is the driver played no music on the three-hour drive and if he turn on the radio, all song is in Indonesian and it’s kind of like a dangdut song and I’m just not into it. My phone was dead because playing too much angry bird on my iPhone. We made whatever small talk was possible across the language barrier. Mostly, I tried to sleep but it seems impossible because of the coffee I drink along the way.

Here the thing about traffic in Jakarta that different from malaysia, Indonesia is a country that have a so much car on the road especially in area Kuningan and Bogor. This is because many of the workers come from outside of province are work here to find fortune. One factor that lead to this bustling situation is work opportunity in Kuningan is higher than other province. Furthermore, there a much differences of tax system and tenure plan to buy a car in this country that make the majority of people in here can own a car. I’ve found that there effort from the government to reduce car with using odd/even number plate scheme on a few key routes during rush hour. Vehicles with odd number plates are allowed on odd dates and even number plates on even dates. This scheme are came after three-in-one rule car-pooling give a great bill to driver especially women driver. This bill are cause by people calls ‘Jockeys’. Some of them are women with babies slung across their arm line flagging the street of Indonesian capital looking to exploit Jakarta carpooling laws by hiring few extra passengers. They will offered themselves for rent so the driver could get the required two passengers to enter the key routes. Some of the rumor I’ve heard this infants and kids were rented out by criminal syndicates, and even drugged to keep their mouth shut. What I found from the national.ae all there drugs are called Clonazepam, a strong sedatives to treat anxiety in adults and they give it to babies so they will become unresponsive. While the infants are given the tranquilizer to make them calm and compliant during the long hours waiting on the roadside to flag down the drivers and take the risk to jump into the strangers car. There are some cases where male ‘Jockeys’ took an advantage to rape women driver and even took everything from them and ran away. So this rule are scraped on april 2016. Here my advice toward all travelers, don’t EVER underestimated traffic congestion of the city.

After checking into our hotel and changing into some clothes more appropriate for the weather -it's 28 degrees here! Here a little bit about my hotel, CITI M Hotel located in the heart of Jakarta and you can barely walk to president palace and the national monument or so called “menara Monas”. To be honest, I’ve tested it to walk to the Monas alone and it cost me about 20 minutes which lead you the main door of Monas. Make sure bring your Google maps together with you because you might lose in the maze of the city! Of course, the reasonable price that this hotel offered is one of the reason I choose to stay in this hotel in the future. It’s about an hour drive from CGK airport without traffic jam. The hotel staff are the highlight, friendly and helpful even they provide us some travel tips and place to visit. Although the hotel is looking old and worn down but it is clean and well kept. The food was really good and the beds are decent for a short stay. The air conditioner? Not disappointing from a budget hotel. It was really cold and comfy to sleep under a well working air cond. This hotel near from any major tourism place, and you can easily get a taxi. If you’re lucky, you can get free shuttle to Tanah Abang which that place is like a heaven to those who want to shopping and find cheap stuff.

This is one of the gems of capital of capital Jakarta destination. I have rarely seen a national monument like this anywhere else, which has spirit of nationality to its core. The Indonesia National Monument or so so called ‘Monumen Nasional’ by the local and abbreviated to “MONAS”. It look like a very huge and tall obelisk with and eternal flame. For your information this flame made of 14.5 ton bronze and covered with 35 kg gold foil. It has glorious views in a day as well as night. It’s located In the center of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta and build to commemorate the struggle for Indonesian independence. The location is great and surrounded by greenery – well maintained park. You can get an amazing view of Jakarta from top of Monas which cost you around 300,000 idr and about one hour to wait for your turn especially to enjoy the night view from the top. It quite a joke because there are only ONE LIFT on this amazing place to enjoy a breathtaking view. I am upset because couldn’t get the views because of the long waiting time. You need to be early for queuing up if you are serious to enjoy the view or else you will be just like me lol. Be sure to only get off your car once the park is open which is 9 am! There a few entrance to enter this ENORMOUS site and it a bit complicated to find the gate because it was barricaded with tall gates around the tower. You need to ask from local or you will probably walk round and round and lost – with the tower in sight ,so close yet so far. I very upset because not be able to go and just stopped for a photo and enjoy the scenery. But I didn’t miss the museum on the ground level and 2^nd level of the tower, it easier to access and there is some write ups on the history of this monument and the journey of Indonesia independence. You can easily go to this place by TransJakarta bus or the BlueBird taxi on the side if the street. The park all well maintained clean, safe and nice environment to preserve the dignity of National monument. You will see so many local families and group are enjoying themselves along the road. It’s a great place have some fun walking around and exploring. You can cycling, roller blading, futsal ( they have 3 futsal court) and so many other sport inside there. There are valuable object around Monas like National Museum, Jakarta Cathedral and Istiqlal mosque (the other big mosque at south East Asia). I highly recommended to sightseeing at Monas when you visit Jakarta.

Then i visited the mosque of independence, the Istiqlal mosque. This mosque name was derived from Arabic word is “istiqlal” which mean independence, built in order to celebrate Indonesian independence and largest mosque in Southeast Asia. You won’t find a beggar around this area but you may encounter some of the kids that sell plastic to keep you sneakers. For a tourist, these were unnecessary as they were locked away in the tourist cloakroom. I feel pity and sad to them because they had to work in such age to earn money. In there, there is a desk with some guides that will ask you to write down some information and sign a guest book. Then they will provide you a robe if needed and will tour you around the building in there, there is a desk with some guides that will ask you to write down some information and sign a guest book. Then they will provide you a robe if needed and will tour you around the building. The view of this vast mosque did not only grant us a spectacular view when we went inside, but because of its height we also had a lovely view of the surrounding area. The architecture of the building provides wide air circulation, thus it still breezy without air conditioner. The dome is huge but the decoration and the design is more to practical than beauty but still magnificent. The main building consist of five floor and one ground floor with large dome and single tower in the southern corner of the mosque. It can accommodate MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE. It has gigantic yard. Apart from being used as place for a worship of muslims, this place also been used to organize Islamic festival, social event and activities from school nearby. There are even bookstore on the ground floor and have a wide selection if Islamic books and references in Bahasa Indonesia and English. For some reason, non-muslim are not allowed to enter the prayer hall on the ground floor and second floor. A little advice to you, after your change your attire and already have a tour inside this mosque, the guy will who guide you will asked for a DONATION. I personally think you didn’t need to feel obligated to give them a money or maybe just give the amount according to what they deserve. They can use a non-verbal gesture to make you feel obligated to pay but please, it just a DONATION not some entrance tickets. Some of these guy are poor to communicate in English, so you will encounter some problem to communicate. Extra marks if you can communicate in Javanese before visit this country to avoid miss communication. One more thing, I’m not sure there are time limit to visit this mosque because some of the tourist feel kicked out from the mosque because taking so much time in the mosque. I feel that is ridiculous and shameful to the administration. During my times, I just spend less than one hour and it is enough. Overall, I was great to visit this place but please tolerance to non-Muslim tourist to promoting Islam.

Jakarta most popular and preserved Cathedral is an ancient architecture, rebuilt between 1891 and 1901. They have two tower, the north one called Turris Davidica or ‘tower of David’ symbolizing Mary as the protector against the power of the darkness and the south called ‘the ivory tower’ symbolize the pureness of a virgin Mary. Jakarta cathedral or in Indonesia “Gereja Katederal Jakarta” is a roman catholic cathedral which also the seat of the roman catholic Archbishop in Jakarta which currently Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo. It STAND RIGHT IN THE FRONT OF THE BIGGEST MOSQUE IN SOUTHEST ASIA. . My driver said, it was a symbolize in harmony between religion in this country and it’s truly amazing to such a beautiful Cathedral in this country as Indonesia is prominently a muslim society. Worth a visit to take a look at a piece of Dutch history that build in early 1900s and it was preserved well. It is relatively a very small place worship if you compared to the istiqlal mosque across the way. It consist of two floors, the upper floor can be flight-of-stairs climbed from the northern tower. The altar was set up high. Behind the altar, you can see the light going through the church from pretty colored stained glass. You can see the panting of the angels on the stained glass. There is so many people visit it and if you really want to pray here, you should came early and sit because so many tourist here including me. What amazing is, I saw all the disciples pray very quietly and for a roman catholic, I personally think this a must historical visit place if came to Indonesia. They keep the traditional architecture and arrangement as you can see old wood traditional chair and all beautiful old ornaments. They have a garden with Mary statue on the front garden and I saw some of the ardent follower will pray there. The architecture is common from European style, with high ceiling and authentic vintage ceiling orgel (some sort of decoration on the ceiling).  This church utilize natural air but I do feel a bit hot because of the air flow structure is narrow. If you like the architecture then don’t miss visiting this cathedral.. To non catholic, I urge you to respect people. Kindly to put away your smartphone or put it on silent mode or get out from the place if you want to make noise that can disturb people to worship their god. Some of the in need a shelter to send some prayer. My conclusion is, One of the few really good place to see in Jakarta. Best to use GrabGoJek or Uber to go to this place if your hotel in in the central business district since it was a very heavy traffic around this place. it’s a beautiful cathedral that you can visit for FREE and no need to be a Christian to see. A place is a lovely place in the middle of the chaos of Jakarta traffic

So here the few thing I’ve found about Indonesia.

1.     WEATHER

Expectation.

Indonesia shared the same season and humidity with Malaysia but the air quality in most major cities in Indonesia is quite severe and getting worsen, which they must purchase the face mask to cover the face especially to people who ride a motorcycle and pedestrian.

Reality.

When I was there, the weather a quite nice and warm. Frankly speaking, the weather are cooler than Malaysia. It’s different from Malaysia now where we are facing extreme heat due to equinox phenomenon, when the sun crosses directly over the equator. The temperature could strike to 35 C and even 37 C for 3 consecutive day a week. Even the night will be hotter as usual in Malaysia. I didn’t discovered any severe haze but I do found a motorcyclist always wear face mask due to so much car on the road that they need to face on. It hard to find a people wear a facemask when I buzz around the city. Generally speaking the best time to visit Indonesia between Mac and September. During this time the day are sunny and dry.

2.     FOOD

Expectation.

I expect to find a cheap traditional Indonesian food on the city of Jakarta. Among popular dishes in Indonesia is satay! These pleasant meat skewers cook up over coal and they use fans to waft the smoke away. The popular sate on Indonesia are called ‘sate madura’ and the legendary ‘sate ragusa’. Bakso! ‘A dishes that we’re not always sure what’s in it but we always want more’. It basically a noodle soup with meatball and sold mostly pushcarts called ‘kaki lima’ on the side of the road.

Reality.

What I find is Indonesian cuisine is very similar to Malay cuisine in Malaysia but by location, some more spicy, some are sweeter. To be sure, it will not give a big surprise to you guys throat because the ingredients used for cooking is very similar to that used in Malaysia. You guys must be happy to sit in Indonesia because you will be good friends with many more types of rice such as rice Rames, rice cone, chicken, rice, pizza and more. However the price is not very friendly in big restaurant on this city unless you willing to buy food from the pushcart as an second option. But I experienced quite a stomachache soon after I ate the food from the pushcarts. IT HAPPEN EACH TIME I BUY FOOD FROM THE PUSHCART. Maybe it is not my luck or they didn’t really care about hygiene on food preparation. They didn’t wear gloves and flies around the pushcart so you can’t eat that food with ease thinking the hygiene issue. However the food are not disappointing me at all as the meatball are springy and tasty despite the preparation are simple from the pushcarts. Somehow it exceed my expectation for the it’s taste J