Jakarta

[Cucumber]

Actually you will be well ahead of many others. I learnt both formally through classes and informally through work and girl friends. I waited six months before doing the classes and already knew the basics of grammar and had a smattering of vocab...

I recommend installing the app Duolingo on your phone. If you really want to learn the language and spend 1-2 hours per day on the app, I think you will learn a lot really fast. It is dynamic, fast paced, understands what you haven't learned yet (based on your errors) and tailors the teaching to that, many of the exercises are easy to get through but still teach you something. If you forget to practice, it starts reminding you. It should lay the perfect basis for real conversational practice. They have a free version, but the paid version is a bit better and does not cost that much. I have no connection with Duolingo or financial interest in promoting them, just think it works really well.

[Papae Noel]

Goferring, All well stated. Thanks again.

[Goferring]

My pace of learning is picking up, but as with any idiom, it will be absolutely frustrating when I try to communicate next time I am there in country.

Actually you will be well ahead of many others. I learnt both formally through classes and informally through work and girl friends. I waited six months before doing the classes and already knew the basics of grammar and had a smattering of vocab. For me, the lessons built on this and help me expand topics I could talk about and work with more formal and complex grammatical structures. You may already be aware that BI grammar is very different to English.

At the same time we had people who literally stepped of the plane not speaking a word of BI so their classes were covering the absolute basics and the simplest of vocab. They honestly expected to be fully fluent and conversing after a 2 week intensive course. Of course this was hopelessly optimistic.

At the other end of the scale was a Japanese guy who spoke no English. This meant that for him to eat, travel, sleep, anything he had to use Bahasa. No one would understand him if he got lazy and fell back to his mother tongue like we English speakers could. After two months in country he was reading the news papers and watching the local news in tv.

Enjoy. G.

[Papae Noel]

Goferring, et al, Saya tinggal di Amerika serikat.

Thanks for suggesting kamus hidup (translates to living dictionary).

My pace of learning is picking up, but as with any idiom, it will be absolutely frustrating when I try to communicate next time I am there in country.

[Menteng]

Thanks 3088, I found a good source. Just remembered to use search engine.

One of the most popular abbreviations in Indonesia is Gpp, which stands for Gak Apa- Apa. Gak means no, and apa-apa is another abbreviation of kenapa-kenapa means something happened, so gpp means it's nothing.

Example:

A: I am so sorry I forgot your birthday.

Be: Gpp, don't mind!

Actually, apa-apa in this sense is no abbrev. It just means "something". Gpp=no something=nothing.

Kenapa means "why". If someone uses "gak kenapa-kenapa" it will express (the lack of) a reason. Enggak kenapa2 DIA jatuh= Without a reason, he fell.

[Menteng]

Be careful as some words can change meaning drastically depending on context. Nikah and Kawin can both mean married or fucking around depending on how they are used. After embarrassing myself several times I just use "married" now. 😁.

Have fun. G.

Hence the expressions: kawin surat and kawin urat. ("I" like "e" in "me", "you" like "o" in "do" and "a" like "a" in "marble".

Kawin surat= documented, oficial unision.

Kawin urat= unision by sinews.

[Goferring]

Been studying about a year,

Where are you? The fastest way to learn is to take a kamus hidup away for a few days to a week on the condition that you only speak Indonesian. You will be surprised at how much you learn when it is used 24/7.

Enjoy. G.

[Goferring]

Goferring, if you have more I hope you can post. Been studying about a year, some I can recognize. Hnya is hanya, yg is yang, but what about "gpp" -.

I think I got the first part of this "Aku di sini hnya fwb aja ya. Aja ya = ?

Your question introduces some interesting points:

Bahasa can be very easy to learn, especially in the early stages. But introduce the slang, local dialects etc that is spoken informally everyday and it can be a minefield:

Indonesians love to shorten words especially dropping "s"es. Sudah to udah (already), saja to aja (only) etc. This can get really bad in texts with letters disappearing from the middle of words: Dmana kau? For dimana kamu? Where are you?

You then have the 00's of dialects and informal slang included. Bahasa Gaul is really popular around Jakarta and on TV Sopie's. There is even a Bahasa Banci. The "gak" that you discovered is actually nggak shortened which is Gaul not true Bahasa Indonesia. It's not uncommon for several languages and dialects to be included in the same sentence or conversation: AmongGayPay? (spelt phonetically) is Memang (in BI) Gue (in Gaul) Pikirim (in BI) or Would I think about it? (Literally) or I don't give a shitt (intended meaning).

"Aku di sini hnya fwb aja ya" is "I'm only doing friends with benefits".

Be careful as some words can change meaning drastically depending on context. Nikah and Kawin can both mean married or fucking around depending on how they are used. After embarrassing myself several times I just use "married" now. 😁.

Have fun. G.

[Tommy Suharto]

Yes, language skills help but many girls also enjoy "practicing their English".

Typical nineties and noughties, I'd say. Common practice in public places back then. Like malls or... the restroom of MacDonalds sarinah. A drink, a burger and a blowjob. "Honey, can you spell Happy Meal" ..I doubt it is still being used much?

I got one for you. How about "the nod"? Is that still an occurrence these days? Old hands will recognize this. I didn't see much of it over the last few years. For those that don't understand what it means. It's better than being swiped right on Tinder.

[Papae Noel]

Thanks 3088, I found a good source. Just remembered to use search engine.

One of the most popular abbreviations in Indonesia is Gpp, which stands for Gak Apa- Apa. Gak means no, and apa-apa is another abbreviation of kenapa-kenapa means something happened, so gpp means it's nothing.

Example:

A: I am so sorry I forgot your birthday.

Be: Gpp, don't mind!

[Member #3088]

Goferring, if you have more I hope you can post. Been studying about a year, some I can recognize. Hnya is hanya, yg is yang, but what about "gpp" -.

I think I got the first part of this "Aku di sini hnya fwb aja ya. Aja ya = ?

Gpp = ga apa apa or 'is that ok'.

[Papae Noel]

That may have been me??

The system is pretty simple: hastag_what_where eg. #cewejakarta.

The only complication is Indonesians' love for abbreviations and conjoined words:

#bispak (ai) is bisa pakai or ready to be used (for sex).

#jaksel is Jakarta Selatan or South Jakarta.

#ABG is Anak Baru Gede or a naughty young girl.

#BO is Booking Out.

#include / exclude relates to the hotel so is essentially in or outcall.

#wajibcap is compulsory condoms. #bebas is free or without.

Sometimes the individual hastags are used but many, many times they are combined eg #OpenBOJakSel.

Basic Bahasa is useful as many of these girls speak no English and a lot of the slang used won't be found in Google Translate.

Enjoy. G.

Goferring, if you have more I hope you can post. Been studying about a year, some I can recognize. Hnya is hanya, yg is yang, but what about "gpp" -.

I think I got the first part of this "Aku di sini hnya fwb aja ya. Aja ya = ?

[Turgid]

...Yes, language skills help but many girls also enjoy "practicing their English"...

Actually Chinese girls were famous for wanting to practice their English. I used to get some freebies in Chang Ping because of that before the 2014 lockdown.

[Goferring]

I ever listened the legend of atrium and blok m mall. By the year 2012 I first went to Jakarta, all of these were already non-existent.

You are correct for straight up hookers and street walkers strolling for John's.

However, a smile and small talk can still easily lead to a phone number, coffee and potentially more. Guys just need to put more thought and effort into the conversation than "BJ for $50?

Yes, language skills help but many girls also enjoy "practicing their English".

Enjoy. G.

[Stykler]

Good info for those without much indonesian knowledge. Nowadays twitter price still starting 1 juta? Sad that last time all the cheap options: travel, classic 300 k,350 k,450 k,500 k all gone. Not sure now the pimps on twitter are still using fake pictures or not.

And maybe CJ's and BATS will bite the dust as well sadly.