Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

[mimpimanis]

Well though I have been to Italy I was just a teen and Im glad to say it didnt happen to me there/then

[SG]

SG, yes, I do love Jakarta too very very much!! I know it's horrendous with its traffics and distances to some people and to me too as it's so overwhelming to go from one place to another. But perhaps I just feel right at home as soon as I'm there as I know quite a few elites and of course it goes without saying, my large numbers of family and relatives that I'm oblivious to it. As my husband says: "I'm indifferent to it" as he too loves Jakarta.

Yeah the traffic is the obvious down side of Jakarta but Kuta this afternoon was not much better..... but I think it's a city with great soul. The people are more often than not quite welcoming and very friendly...and as a bule I get hassled far less than I do in Bali which is an upside.

The food is incredible (and many of the restaurants are visually quite stunning...Penang Bistro does better food than any in Penang), the markets I can walk for hours especially the fabric markets and Pasar Baru. It has great bars (and I'm not talking about the sleazy pick-up joints) and you can feel the history around Kota..it's just a shame it's not better maintained.

The electronics mall in Mangga Dua is way better and bigger than Singapore's Funan or Bangkok or the Kl's Low Yat, and everyone knows their stuff.

If that bores you, you can always go upmarket to Plaza Indonesia or Grand Indonesia and buy luxury goods for far less than than you'd pay in the same store elsewhere.

Oh, and Kinokuniya's Plaza Senayan branch is the best bookstore in Indonesia and second only to the Orchard Rd one in SEA.

[BaliLife]

When I was still a young God

that's gold bert..

[FreoGirl]

Places I've been:
Bali - most of, except East Bali
Lombok - all over including various gilis
Java: Jakarta, by train from Jakarta to Yogya, Borobodour, Prambanan, Merapi, all around west Java and Carita beach, Surabaya.
Would love to go to Nias, Sumatra, Balikpapan, Makassar, and east of Lombok - Sumbawa, Flores, Kimodo, Timor.

As for groping, never happened to me in Indoensia (although I was propositioned by a very sleasy Indian guy on the train from Jakarta to Yogya - and I was with my mother). But (back when I was a young goddess) 5 minutes after getting off the boat in San Remo, Italy I got a pat on my backside from a couple of spunks. I wasn't too upset at the time.

[BaliLife]

Milan,

My parents-in-law are currently stuck in Milan. They were supposed to catch a flight out today at 1.30pm'ish, but they had to drive from Venice and they only picked up the car at 9.30 then had to go back to the hotel first. I don't think they're too worried, they're with a group of 8 other indonesians.. 30 of them went on a 12 day cruise from barcelona to venice.. But there's not an empty SQ flight out of there for days - if not weeks, so it'll be interesting to see how they get out.

I wouldn't mind being stuck there right now, for a week or 2 - I'd rent a car and drive down south, and find a little piece of heaven in Sicilia..

Ct

[milan]

As for groping, never happened to me in Indoensia (although I was propositioned by a very sleasy Indian guy on the train from Jakarta to Yogya - and I was with my mother). But (back when I was a young goddess) 5 minutes after getting off the boat in San Remo, Italy I got a pat on my backside from a couple of spunks. I wasn't too upset at the time.

That's funny and appreciate your candidness on not being too upset for the pat on the backside...

SG, then you and I speak the same language when it comes Jakarta. But I have to admit I haven't been to Pasar Baru for ages now and neither have I been to the electronic market in Mangga Dua though. But will make it a point to go to that Penang Restaurant you mentioned. Where is it?
I love Senayan Plaza and Pondok Indah Mall as it is near my brother's house where I stayed on my visit there last.
Didn't know they have my favourite book shop there as I've only been to the one in Singapore which is at Tasikamaya Shopping Centre, Orchard Road.
Enjoyed casual dining at the Mulia Hotel's coffee shop which is still in the area too.
Then went to the Fashion Show in Dragonfly Discotheque near Kartika Chandra, is it? Once you live in the South of Jakarta, you tend to just remain in that part unless going to the Grand Hyatt Hotel which I went also for dinner and listening to the music at the lounge afterwards.
Yes, Jakarta is a city that has a soul and its people are so broad-minded and International. I'm not just a big city girl/lady but a "Capital City" girl/lady. Thus for my preference always for Rome, London, Jkt, Sgp, etc. Don't like Milan much, the people are still provincial, never mind it being one of the Fashion Centres of the World.

Balilife, what nice parents-in-law you have as they seem to be enjoying their life travelling to great places and with friends on top of that. How lovely that must be.
What is it that makes you so in love with Sicily so much. I remember while on one summer holiday there, I was just so glad to fly out to London from Palermo to get away from there for a 2-week vacation in London where it was windy and cold in August. Still, I liked London...
I love the Italian lifestyle, that's tops in my book, so yes, I did enjoy being in Sicily too for the reason where we'd go to the beach from morning to afternoon, with casual lunch at a casual restaurant but oh-so-tasty Italian food. Then we'd drive back home passing the hills and valleys for a little rest and shower then dress to the hilt for dinner in town. Stopped at the Piazza and just strolling on the cobbled narrow streets with shops on both sides just to be seen as much as to see the beautiful people taking our aperitifs of crodino, aperol or bellini.
Then off to dinner on their typical seafood dish of blackshells in tomato sauce - by itself or with spaghetti as "primo". Then for "secondo", a simple grilled fish of your choice with fresh salad. Dessert of your choice in the restaurant or otherwise, stroll again and stop at a Bar and order you espresso. But I prefer to stop at a Gelateria and have 2-3 scoops of ice creams of straciatella, nocciola and crema or whatever you like. Italian ice creams in Italy are the best in the world. This what makes me put on weight in summer. It's the ice-cream but I can't help it as again, we just came back from dinner just now in the open-air restaurant tonight and not wanting to order dessert there. We came home and had just 3 scoops of pistacchio, coffee and nocciola ice cream here. It was supposed for hubby only but I had to dig in as well. Too delicious to refuse...what can I do?

Sorry, I'm off topic again...

[Jimbo]

I am ready, willing and able to be in the groping business. At my age it would nice to know my adonis face and figure are still a center of attation.

As an aside I am a god always

[SG]

Milan, Penang Bistro is in Jl Kebon Sirih..about half way along. They have a branch in Pondok Indah too but the Jakarta Pusat one is the best and has a three floor high water wall inside which is quite spectacular.

If you know where to go the food in Jakarta is incredible.

and its people are so broad-minded and International.

Agreed, much more so than even Singapore, and Sydney (which always feels a bit provincial after Jkt).

[milan]

You got it, SG. I will definitely go to Penang Bistro in Jakarta Pusat/Kota. Thanks for the info. It's excites me already.

[SG]

You got it, SG. I will definitely go to Penang Bistro in Jakarta Pusat/Kota. Thanks for the info. It's excites me already.

A couple more favourites while I'm at it....the Japanese in Jakarta is far better than anything in Bali, but my favourite is Susigroove..they have several branches but the one In Setiabudi 1 does the best Dragon Roll I've ever had. The are opening in Bali this year apparently.

And there is a killer Dim Sim place on the top floor of Hotel Grandeur in Mangga Dua. It's hard to find but it's worth it. Or the Taiwanese Dim Sim in the place behind Plaza Senayan is great..quite different to Hong Kong Dim Sim.

You may already know those places but if not....

[chintia]

what an interesting topic thanks to put this on. the place i have been visit whilst i live in Jakarta love "Manga Dua" shopping this shopping mall just brilliant you could pick up so much linen, towels (all sort ), clothing for children and adult, shoes, even i remember now my mom said : can you just pick up some curtains.. for my parents " hows bizare " but love my parent i did it for them and on the top floor you could check so much great food there unbelievable with good price i remember me and my sister we had hoka hoka bento (japanese food ) and we try all different food at that time .dont mentioned whilst i have to make Thesis for my final at University I have to collect all info get from one library to another university library so yes was bizzare visit Taruma Negara , Trisakti cause had friends study there so i can acess their library and Indonesia University was brilliant . visit Pelabuhan Ratu great place at that time i come to that place with my parents (lovely fishing village and ocean ) you also could purchase great seafood and cook in the same time. such a great place been there so many time when i was in Jakarta that was a long time ago with my university girls friends . Cause at that time Jakarta so close to Bogor we just a uni kids and we visit Bogor love Puncak and have "ASinan Bogor " with all mixed fruits and with delicious sweet chilly vineegar and "kerupuk " i love those. This is bring back so much memory ok place i have been visit Pangadaran, Borobudur, and Prambanan ( Jogyakarta ), whilst we were kids usually mom and dad take us to see hows magnificent candi borobudur so we vist often this place and of course visit Marlboro market night with parents it was good. Bali of course Ubud, Nusa Dua , Tanah lot and love every bit of bali . Have you been visit Cianjur and Sukabumi . this is the place i think you should to consider to visit there are lovely people out there and love the local food. in Medan you can also check this lovely lake most of the Medan people goes to Medan lake and have a great food also. the good part of Indonesian food i keep eating them and still be skinny ..lol which i found wow this is brilliant. well if you love outdoor try this Botanical garden Bogor , Gunung Pangrango.Bandung actually lovely and quiet places had family there nice people i remember visit Bandung for 6 times now with my parents so we usually u know buy all sort of snacks " Bandung had this lovely nasi uduk + empal goreng + sambal telor " ..this is really make me hungry just talking Indonesian food . And dont forget try this empek empek goreng whilst u visit and Nasi Padang its everywhere. and Lombok special place also.


place like to see in Indonesia :
Kalimantan , Irian Jaya and Sulawesi and Tanah Toraja

[milan]

Jimbo wrote:

I am ready, willing and able to be in the groping business. At my age it would nice to know my adonis face and figure are still a center of attation.

Don't worry, Jimbo! You still are...

Thank you so much SG for the names of the other Restaurants given. I have copied them down in my file. You keep hitting the right button by being such a connaisseur on cuisines hubby and I love. Just so you know, I'm not keen on Arab, Greek and African food, though. Indian food only up to a certain extent.
Will let you know once I'm in Jakarta and experiencing all these delights. Just can't wait!

[pPamela]

Hi,
I am not an expat, though I would love to be.
I have been travelling to Indonesia since 1997 and my last trip in April/May 2008 was my 8th trip.
And I have been lucky enough to have the wonderful luxury of travelling in this wonderful country for 5.5 months in 2006.
Over the years I have visited

Bali- spent a lot of time on back of motor bike with Indonesian friend, so have seen a lot.
Love being outside Bali in the villages. Have stayed on a compound where my friend had a room and been taught to make the little basket offerings- though never mastered the skill.

Lombok- went there in 1997 and loved it- only saw north Lombok-Sengiggi area and an afternoon over on Gili Trawangan.
However in November 2006 I visited Kuta in south Lombok and stayed with Gemma, Made and Marty at Mimpimanis for 5 days and had one of the best times of my life.

Java- West Java - have spent a lot of time in West Java. Went to Bogor in August 2000, love the Kebon Raya - Botanical Gardens, on my way to volunteer teaching of English in Cianjur 2 hrs away by bus.
Loved it there, made fantastic friends and ended up having my own mobile weekend English school in Cianjur and Cipanas for 4.5 yrs, paying a teacher to run it for me.
The lessons were free for Indonesian kids in the areas who wanted to learn English but had no money to do so. We used to have an annual picnic for the school in the beautiful Botanical Gardens there.
Have done a fabulous 5 day tour from Bogor to Halimun National Park, then across to Tasik Malaya, Kampung Naga where the break away Badui live, and Garut where they have small hot water swimming pools in the hotel bath rooms.
And finally down to Pangandaran Beach.
Whilst in Pangandaran I have also been to visit Green Canyon and eaten the best sea food.
Have also been to visit the original Badui village in far West Java and stayed for a couple of days. Interesting place- rice is grwon by the dry method on the side of the water parched hills. People live like they always have with no electricity, no pillows, no modern appliances, eating two meals a day and sleeping after sunset.

Bandung- cooler than Jakarta, but places up higher like Lembang are lovely. There is a great 6km walk through the Gardens there- very pleasant.
Down in the town area not so pleasant, hot, dirty around the market area.
Volcano outside town worth seeing and hot springs area.
Have done the day train from Bandung to Yogjakarta- really great trip and wonderful scenery on the way.
Central Java.
Like Yogjakarta- lots to do Borobudur and Prambanan, beaches south- black sand but quite beautiful- Parangtritis, Sundah, Krakel,Kukup and Baron.

Actually one can get a bus/ferry/bus from Pangandaran to Yogjakarta- not done it myself.

East Java.
A super friendly area- some of the most friendly people I have met in all of Indonesia.
Have visited Gunung Bromo-spectacular- a definite 'must see' Saw it on my 7th visit.
Malang- pleasant clean cool town.
Jember- loved this place- great friendly people. lots of places to visit- only went south.
Bondowoso- town one usually visits on way to Kawah Ijen.
Kawah Ijen- another great place to visit. A long 3kms walk up to the crater.
Used Surabaya as my base but not fond of this big noisy, polluted city with so much traffic.

Sumatra.
West Sumatra- Padang a big city clean in most parts with wonderful Minangkabau architecture.
Painan- fishing village 2-3 hrs south by bus from Padang. Magical place- homestay right by the water. Cingkuk island 20 minutes away by boat- beautiful white sand.
Bengkulu- south Sumatra- ok.
Bukittinggi- 2hrs north of Padang- cool clean very Dutch inspired town.
Also Payakumbuh, Harau Canyon in the same area. INcredible scenery- have walked a lot in this area.
Lake Maninjau 44 hair pin bends away- spectacular scenery.
Wonderful jungle trek between the two places staying overnight high up in the jungle waking up to the most spectacular views of Maninjau.
Embun Pagi -stay up high and see the clouds sitting on the Lake. Have rented a house with friends and walked to the outlook to see the lake.
Bonjol- where one crosses the Equator Line- nothing spectacular.

Have done a 19 day West Sumatra car and drive trip with Indonesian friends in Jan 2005, visiting Painan, Padang, Pariamin, Bukittinggi, Lake Maninjau, Lake Singarak, passing by the Twin Lakes- loads of vegetable gardens in this area, Maura Labuh- ricee growing area where my adopted Indonesian grandmother lives- have cut rice in the afternoons and burnt the rice fields in the evening, Kersik Tau and Sungai Penuh in Kerinci area, Kerinci National Park, Maura Sako, Tapan and back to Painan.


North Sumatra.
Lake Toba- 4 hrs from Medan. Great place to relax, do motor bike trip around island to see all the Batak culture and burial sites.
Mainly Christian area- loads of accomodation- lots of tourist infrstructure but is very much like a ghost town these days.
Bukit Lawang- 3-4 hrs from Medan. Suffered a huge flood in early November 2003, which washed away the tourist village built on reclaimed river land.
Now the travellers are coming back in droves ( I have spent the last 3 years writing about Bukit Lawang and letting travellers know it is ok to go back)
Loads of new accomodation, new business, all new business up the pathway alongside the river.
Tangkahan- 2 hrs from Bukit Lawang by ojek ( motor bike and rider)- a special Paradise- so different to BL and most definitely worth a visit.
First visited in September 2006 and have been writing about it ever since.
One can also get a 5+ bus from Medan to Tangkahan.
Have also done a train trip to Kisaran to visit one of my Indonesian friend's uncle.
There I learn all about the wallet bird that makes nests out of spit that are collected and harvested and sold to the Chinese for bird nest soup.
In Kisaran the Chinese buy up houses and recreate an environment for the birds to build nests and breed- totally fascinating.


[b]Aceh[/b]
Visited Ketambe ( Ketembe) for the first time in 2006- a 7 hr bus trip from Medan to Kutacane and then a 1 hr local bus trip up to Ketambe.
One can now fly down to Kutacane with SMAC- 20 minute charter flight.
Another paradise- though a lot busier now than in 2006.
Did an overnight jungle trek up to the hot springs area- had to cross a river- great fun.
Have taken the bus north from Ketambe to Banda Aceh stopping off in Blangkejeren. ( one can now do treks from here to Kedah) and getting another bus 4 hrs later to Takengon.
Takengon is a beautiful area in the Gayo Highlands beside the very spectacular Lake Tawar.
From Takengon I took an 8 hr bus to Banda Aceh.
Have visited Pulau Weh- a diving area off Banda Aceh.
Loads of treks in the Banda Aceh area theses days run by ex Gam members ( were not available when I was there.)

Places still on my list are
Maluku area.
Sumbawa.
Flores.
Sumba for the Pasola Festival.
Papau.
South Sumatra.
Lombok- loads of places I have not been to.
plus all the places I have missed out on typing.
Pamela.

[pPamela]

Oh, forgot to mention Jakarta. I do not mind it as a traveller.
However living there all the time with the traffic would be just so so terrible.
It took over 3 hrs to get from the airport to Bogor on 10th April when I flew in from Sydney- Used to be just over an hour trip.
Went shopping there on May 6th 2008 before I flew home to Sydney that night at midnight from Bali.
That morning I woke up in Bandung, caught the 7.30 am train- got into Jakarta at 10.30 am, put my 2 backpacks into storage at Gambir station and got an ojek to do some shopping at a couple of the shopping centres. Great way to get around Jakarta.
Got back to Gambir, had lunch and then got backpacks and caught the DAMRI airport bus at 2pm-took 1hr 15 minutes hrs to get to airport.
Pamela.

[milan]

Very Interesting indeed. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Where do you live now? Still in Indonesia?

[pPamela]

Hi Milan,
Never actually lived in Indonesia, just spent chunks of time there. Live in Sydney Australia but would love to be in Indonesia travelling for at least 6 months every year, but that is an unachievable dream at the moment.
Here in Australia I spend most of my free time ( when I am not working up to 6 days a week, sewing, house sitting etc) on the different travel forums answering questions about travel to and in Indonesia and answering the huge number of emails I receive from travellers wishing to go to Indonesia.
Seems many are inspired by a woman like me travelling alone in Indonesia with no language skills who always seems to have the time of her life and is willing to pass on my knowledge of the many places I have visited.
A quick search on Google for pPamela shows the depth of my passion for beautiful Indonesia.
Pamela.