Our Holiday Destinations: February 2013

We went to Jakarta for three days last weekend, which was definitely too short for a vast city like Jakarta. Nevertheless it was still a good experience to see the whole city. Hubby went there last year and very much wanted me to see the city. And that came true last week.

It wasnt dissapointing, in fact it was so uplifting. To see the whole city in my own eyes gave a new meaning to a whole new experience. Jakarta was so big, crowded, polluted but at the same time I found the people were friendly and polite. The people we met were respectful, amid all the chaos of traffic jam, and the influx of people I think Jakarta was still a good city to live. Although we also saw some not so good sight like the slums and the poor who were trying to survive in the world.

We stayed at Best Western Hotel Mangga Dua. Located slightly away from the city centre but it was new and recently opened. I love the hotel so much!!! Except maybe the only downfall it is located at the slum area of Mangga Dua. We found the hotel while browsing through the internet looking for a place to stay. We stayed in their suite which was so huge, with 2 flatscreen tvs lol. And to add to our amazement, there were 2 (!!) private balconies in our room! And we got to see most of Jakarta from our 29th floor room, amazing.

Us at the airport departing for Jakarta

We arrived in Jakarta at 12.30am, so late but the Jakarta never sleeps.

At the Jakarta airport, catching a taxi to our hotel

Checking in at the hotel

Our room at level 29, notice they dont have level 13 and 14 and 24? I guess some people are still superstitious

Still wide awake at 2am

Our suite!!!

Sight of Jakarta at 2am from our room balcony

During the day from our balcony

We only had 3 full day to explore Jakarta so its kind of a rush. We went to a few places, mostly shopping complexes!, so there was not much to catch on our camera.

Breakfast on our first day

Enjoying the breakfast

Our first agenda was going to the big mall nearby our hotel called Mangga Dua Square. The huge complex consisted of 3 big malls but we went to two locations only, Mangga Dua Mall and ITC Mangga Dua.

This place is huge! There was no way we could cover the whole place, all 6 or 7 floors of them. Its crazy, so many stuff were on sale and we were just kind of lost and didnt know what to buy... hahaa..

My daughter and I at ITC Mangga Dua

This place is huge

Pizza hut here is Halal and they were yummy..

In the evening of the first day, we went to Plaza Indonesia. Slightly far away from our hotel and to reach here we had to wade our way through very heavy traffic. I think maybe because its rush hours at 5pm in the evening. We were caught in traffic for 1 hour and the way Indonesian drives really make me cringe! Its only about a few inches from car to another! And to add to the rush, motorcyles were also rushing here and there.

Plaza Indonesia is grand! Only for the upscale of Indonesia. To get inside the building was like going into the airport. We were scanned and handbags were searched. So serious man...

Anyway, its a very nice place. So many branded items, so upscale, love the place.

Plaza Indonesia

Us having dinner at one of the restaurant in Plaza Indonesia

My dinner, yumm..

I am still not familiar with the currency, look at the damage done. Its 259,000 rupiah haha..

Second day we visited another popular establishment in Indonesia called Pasar Tanah Abang. Wow... this place was amazing. Again like Mangga Dua Mall, its huge and full of merchandise to buy. I was just so giddy with excitement hahaha. And again we didnt manage to cover the whole 7 floors, there are just too much!

Hubby and I on our 2nd day breakfast

On our way to Tanah Abang

Frontage of Tanah Abang building

Inside Tanah Abang

So busy and crowded

Hubby and daughter

So much to see here

3 days flew by so quickly, days are shorter of course. And without knowing it, the holiday was almost over! But it was a good and nice break from our normality and routine life. I even managed to go for a massage at the hotel spa. It only cost me Rp 190,000 (B$24.74) for one hour, well worth it.