General Info

[Kerrstar]

Most of the Indo population here with phones had a blackberry 5 years ago. Its not the case anymore. I still have my old blackberry, but I don't use it much. Just as a second phone for hookers who I don't want to know who I am. I never carry it around.

Yes, most of the Blackberrys I see are older models carried as second phones by some, but I have seen some newer models, not many though. I have a new Blackberry DTEK 60 but haven't seen any others here. Don't even know if they sell them here.

[Eszpresszo]

One thing to think about is how you will travel around and how much flexibility you need. I used to travel to Asia a lot on business trips before becoming semi-based here. After a while I realised that it's easier to fly to Singapore (or Bangkok) and travel on from there. There are lots of cheap airlines that fly most places pretty often everywherein Asia. I wouldn't bother about booking too far in advance with flights but it's useful to think ablout where to fly in and out from, especially if you need visas. You don't really want to return home flight to be out of Indonesia if you are only here at the end for 16 hours and then need to buy a visa.

Thanks for your kind and informative response. I'm sure you business travel experiences give you an understanding of the logistics involved, and it is clearly not the same as traveling Europe or North America. Like the PI, Indonesia seems a bit more complicated by the fact that it is an archipelago. But, it also seems that points of interests for mongers is scattered over various islands (whereas in the PI, it would appear to concentrated on Luzon.) I appreciate you mentioning the use of budget airlines (some others on the PI forums suggested that as well) as these airlines are obscure to us outside of Asia, and don't appear on the airfare portals. Someone else also suggested BKK, SIN or KUL as hub for travel where I could take advantage of these low-fare carriers.

To clarify, I am looking to do an serious trip to SE Asia in the next year. I did Thailand last fall and loved it, but obviously new adventures await. I keep hearing there are better mongering experiences to be had in the neighboring countries. As I pointed out earlier, Indonesia seems to have its share of devotees, so I thought I should inquire here. Does anyone have a favorite location that combines ease of mongering as well as other attractions? Jakarta doesn't seem very pleasant based on the opinions of some acquaintances who have lived there, and I'm not too interested in sprawling, fast paced urban environments.

[Smoothy]

I'm in Indonesia and I've got 2 blackberrys and I see them every day in meetings I attend. Lots of people carry two phones here, usually an iphone and an android, 2 androids or a blackberry and android.

Most of the Indo population here with phones had a blackberry 5 years ago. Its not the case anymore. I still have my old blackberry, but I don't use it much. Just as a second phone for hookers who I don't want to know who I am. I never carry it around.

[Kerrstar]

Hey fellow mongers,

Mind you, I am trying to plan a trip to Asia that will cover a bit more turf than my last visit, which was restricted to Thailand (and that is not a bad thing).

One thing to think about is how you will travel around and how much flexibility you need. I used to travel to Asia a lot on business trips before becoming semi-based here. After a while I realised that it's easier to fly to Singapore (or Bangkok) and travel on from there. There are lots of cheap airlines that fly most places pretty often everywherein Asia. I wouldn't bother about booking too far in advance with flights but it's useful to think ablout where to fly in and out from, especially if you need visas. You don't really want to return home flight to be out of Indonesia if you are only here at the end for 16 hours and then need to buy a visa.

[Kerrstar]

5 years ago that was true. Not anymore. I can't even remember the last time I saw anyone using a Blackberry in Indonesia.

I'm in Indonesia and I've got 2 blackberrys and I see them every day in meetings I attend. Lots of people carry two phones here, usually an iphone and an android, 2 androids or a blackberry and android.

[Robert Long]

It is a fair enough question you ask but not so easily answered.

The logical place to start a mongering entry to Indonesia is Jakarta. It is a city where you can do nearly anything. Sex, as an industry is huge in Indonesia. Not just for bule but it seems to exist on a level in Indonesian society that ensures it's permanence. Match that up to a booming population of under 30's and you have the conditions right for a supply pipeline which is exactly what happens. Anywhere in the archipelago.

Almost all reports here are from the places that comfortable middle class males frequent because it is in their comfort zone. Hotel alexis, classic, maliaboro ad nauseum. But believe me, all across those thousand islands there are girls who would love to hire out their selves to your big bule thing. You just need to ask.

My theory goes that anthropologically, Indonesians are jam packed into some tiny spaces. Java is the most densely populated island on earth, it goes for me that Indonesians and particularly Javanese have evolved tolerance as a Darwinian survival mechanism, they do not have the luxury of space to escalate disputes. Javanese are some of the most tolerant people on earth. As with most societies, It is the 5 % of radicals that get the press time, most Indonesians hate them. The Javanese language drips layers of respect. And there are mechanisms within the languages. All of them, Sundanese, Javanese, Bahasa Indonesia to diffuse respect and it permeates the day to day exchanges of people on the street. As a bule you score points big time by being humble and respectful. And more so the farthur you get from the metropolis of Jabotabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi), the more you will enjoy it, and here's the good bit. Because they are tolerant and culturally there has always been a Majahapit version of P4 P in play. As a traveller you just ask and you shall get although never forget money is what makes the world go round. The concept of food as currency still exists in common language and for many it still is literally that.

The difficult bit is English has not permeated far into daily society. But if you fall into the curious cateogory of personalities, you will quickly gain enough to get by. Start anywhere. Any city over 100 000 residents will have a mongering scene, ask the taxi drivers, ask any young person with tattoos. Indonesians are some of the nicest and helpful people you have ever met and no guilt about helping you whith P4 P. Start in Jakarta and take a train somewhere else. Bandung, Medan, Lampung Purwokerto. Or just stay in Jakarta and get lost in sin like OS does.

Hope that helps.

OS.

But there is always the Dark Side. This is not paradise. There are many that will swindle you and try and cheat you. Swell is correct about 90% of the Indos and he appears to be well traveled and has knowledge. But never let down your defense. Small money will get you anything but always beware.

RL.

[Offshore Swell]

Hey fellow mongers,

I am reading about Indonesia with curiosity. It seems to attract a loyal following, and it seems to be a place for a good monger experience judging from the posts here. My question here is: where to start? After all, Indonesia is a huge archipelago with a variety of airports serving various islands, but also cities that might be better left non visited. I'm coming from the US and there are no direct flights to Indonesia from my region. I realize people coming from Australia or Europe or even North Asia will have different options for air travel.

Jakarta is the obvious place to to arrive from North America, but it seems to have little of interest in itself. Correct me if I am wrong there. Its an obvious hub, but I am wondering about different paths to the right place.

Mind you, I am trying to plan a trip to Asia that will cover a bit more turf than my last visit, which was restricted to Thailand (and that is not a bad thing). I plan to revisit the "Land of Smiles" (though I did not see too many there) along the way but need to visit one, maybe two other countries in the region. It has occurred to me that once in Asia the travel situation will be very different and I could easily connect to Indonesian destinations from BKK, SIN or KUL. Any suggestions on preferred destinations and efficient travel routes would be appreciated. I understand mongers from Singapore are taking advantage of easy travel to Batam, which is accessible by ferry. What are your destinations of choice and how do you usually get there?

Thanks.

It is a fair enough question you ask but not so easily answered.

The logical place to start a mongering entry to Indonesia is Jakarta. It is a city where you can do nearly anything. Sex, as an industry is huge in Indonesia. Not just for bule but it seems to exist on a level in Indonesian society that ensures it's permanence. Match that up to a booming population of under 30's and you have the conditions right for a supply pipeline which is exactly what happens. Anywhere in the archipelago.

Almost all reports here are from the places that comfortable middle class males frequent because it is in their comfort zone. Hotel alexis, classic, maliaboro ad nauseum. But believe me, all across those thousand islands there are girls who would love to hire out their selves to your big bule thing. You just need to ask.

My theory goes that anthropologically, Indonesians are jam packed into some tiny spaces. Java is the most densely populated island on earth, it goes for me that Indonesians and particularly Javanese have evolved tolerance as a Darwinian survival mechanism, they do not have the luxury of space to escalate disputes. Javanese are some of the most tolerant people on earth. As with most societies, It is the 5 % of radicals that get the press time, most Indonesians hate them. The Javanese language drips layers of respect. And there are mechanisms within the languages. All of them, Sundanese, Javanese, Bahasa Indonesia to diffuse respect and it permeates the day to day exchanges of people on the street. As a bule you score points big time by being humble and respectful. And more so the farthur you get from the metropolis of Jabotabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi), the more you will enjoy it, and here's the good bit. Because they are tolerant and culturally there has always been a Majahapit version of P4 P in play. As a traveller you just ask and you shall get although never forget money is what makes the world go round. The concept of food as currency still exists in common language and for many it still is literally that.

The difficult bit is English has not permeated far into daily society. But if you fall into the curious cateogory of personalities, you will quickly gain enough to get by. Start anywhere. Any city over 100 000 residents will have a mongering scene, ask the taxi drivers, ask any young person with tattoos. Indonesians are some of the nicest and helpful people you have ever met and no guilt about helping you whith P4 P. Start in Jakarta and take a train somewhere else. Bandung, Medan, Lampung Purwokerto. Or just stay in Jakarta and get lost in sin like OS does.

Hope that helps.

OS.

[Eszpresszo]

Hey fellow mongers,

I am reading about Indonesia with curiosity. It seems to attract a loyal following, and it seems to be a place for a good monger experience judging from the posts here. My question here is: where to start? After all, Indonesia is a huge archipelago with a variety of airports serving various islands, but also cities that might be better left non visited. I'm coming from the US and there are no direct flights to Indonesia from my region. I realize people coming from Australia or Europe or even North Asia will have different options for air travel.

Jakarta is the obvious place to to arrive from North America, but it seems to have little of interest in itself. Correct me if I am wrong there. Its an obvious hub, but I am wondering about different paths to the right place.

Mind you, I am trying to plan a trip to Asia that will cover a bit more turf than my last visit, which was restricted to Thailand (and that is not a bad thing). I plan to revisit the "Land of Smiles" (though I did not see too many there) along the way but need to visit one, maybe two other countries in the region. It has occurred to me that once in Asia the travel situation will be very different and I could easily connect to Indonesian destinations from BKK, SIN or KUL. Any suggestions on preferred destinations and efficient travel routes would be appreciated. I understand mongers from Singapore are taking advantage of easy travel to Batam, which is accessible by ferry. What are your destinations of choice and how do you usually get there?

Thanks.

[John Aldrich]

Google a news (fake news?) article "Who wants a BlackBerry these days? Millions in Africa and Asia " from 2015. I don't have stats but I can tell you I see a lot of West Africans (buying bulk used phones is various markets several times through out my travels. During my quick google, India and Indo were also listed (2014) as big used markets for the BB.

Absolutely. The middle class and the lower middle class cannot afford new phones, since its very pricey there. I bought the BB bold gor USD 900 in Lagos and I got to know later that an unlocked phone in the US was priced at USD 625. Thats the kind of price difference. So those who aspire for these gadgets want to buy used phones, since they cannot afford new ones. But, still, there's a huge market among the rich and upper middle class and that's the reason they launch it on the same day that its launched in the US at a premium.

[Wimble]

I have lived in West Africa for 3 years and have been travelling every 3 months to West Africa.

Google a news (fake news?) article "Who wants a BlackBerry these days? Millions in Africa and Asia " from 2015. I don't have stats but I can tell you I see a lot of West Africans (buying bulk used phones is various markets several times through out my travels. During my quick google, India and Indo were also listed (2014) as big used markets for the BB.

[John Aldrich]

All those old BB must go somewhere to die. I would have assumed west Africa and not Indo. FWIW, I like the keyboard. I make a heck of a less typos back then.

I have lived in West Africa for 3 years and have been travelling every 3 months to West Africa. They are much more advanced in terms of phones. There are some amazing models which gets launched there and many a time it takes more than 6 months to see it in Indonesia. Especially the European and American brands. The Chinese and Korean brands get launched earlier in Indonesia. In 2010, I picked up the BB bold in Lagos and when I brought it into Indonesia, everyone was trying to covet it. It got launched a few months later in Indo. While in West Africa, it was launched on the same date when it was launched in the US.

[Goferring]

5 years ago that was true. Not anymore. I can't even remember the last time I saw anyone using a Blackberry in Indonesia.

Girls quite often still quote their BB Pin but I'd suggest they use it on the App rather than a physical BB device.

[Wimble]

5 years ago that was true. Not anymore. I can't even remember the last time I saw anyone using a Blackberry in Indonesia.

All those old BB must go somewhere to die. I would have assumed west Africa and not Indo. FWIW, I like the keyboard. I make a heck of a less typos back then.

[Stykler]

To Ceegee.

There are many Blackberry phone in Indo

Fast Eddie 48.

You must go to a different Indonesia than I do.

[Smoothy]

There are many Blackberry phone in Indo .

5 years ago that was true. Not anymore. I can't even remember the last time I saw anyone using a Blackberry in Indonesia.