Jakarta

[Dorman]

I normally can pretty much understand the important bits of sms messages even written in txt spk, and even with the added confusion of Jakarta slang thrown in I can usually understand the gist of it but I got this message today from a number that I don't recognise and it's stumped me a bit. I'm getting the broad idea that it's a polite message from Abang telling me I shouldn't call "jN6n" looking for the girl "cArI2 Cw" who uses the number "y6 pAke" 0815etc. because she is his girl "cW sY", but as to who it's from and whether it's just a generic spam type message sent out to someone's contact list I've no idea.

"mEt pG Abng sBIMny sY mAu minta mAaf,jN6n cArI2 Cw y6 pAke No 0815****** Itu cW sY.trimA kSh Abng"

Like I say neither the number it came from nor the number in the text are numbers I have ever come across before (I never delete contacts). Any help?

[Menteng]

They all think we are all bastards.

JAKARTA AFTER DARK

I sent you a mail bro, just in case your PM box is full (like most of the times).

[Oyenk]

Now, that's a neighbourhood that reminds me of long gone days. It used to be the location of a blackmarket and several mongering destinations thanks to the harbour of Tanjung Priok. Any recent information available?

Mentioning Kodja, Kramat Tunggak comes into my mind. Any recent information also on this sleezy mongering destination?

* I admit that some high-end spa are located in North JKT, on the other hand some very low class mongering destination...are also located in North JKT hahaha. Kalijodo is still available until now I think...if I brows some reports here. I rarely gone there...sorry. Last time I was in Kalijodo; the rate was still 40,000 rupiahs in 1999-2000.

** I believe Kramat Tunggak has been closed by DKI JKT Governor or his former. Some rumors said that the land will be built a very big mosque...

[Menteng]

Do you live in Kodja (north JKT ) ?

Now, that's a neighbourhood that reminds me of long gone days. It used to be the location of a blackmarket and several mongering destinations thanks to the harbour of Tanjung Priok. Any recent information available?

Mentioning Kodja, Kramat Tunggak comes into my mind. Any recent information also on this sleezy mongering destination?

[Oyenk]

Sorry bro,

But would you please elaborate on what a monger should be afraid of?

I don't quite follow you.

Hi Bebek,

even you changed your username...I still follow your old posts !

Do you live in Kodja (north JKT ) ?

[Oyenk]

Based on my experiences at Alexis, Emporium, and Golden Crown - all of them use different names that do not show as spa/massage place. Only Classic shows as Classic on the credit card bill.

Yes bro, some spa wouldn't let their customer down. In billing statement only written their company name; for example PT. TSM or some company name.

But I suggest to ask first the staff if you want to use CC, I am afraid it will be written the name of spa / in the billing statement hehehe!

cheers...

[Calico]

Based on my experiences at Alexis, Emporium, and Golden Crown - all of them use different names that do not show as spa/massage place. Only Classic shows as Classic on the credit card bill.

Local credit card provider have very good system for their user and I have never been scammed me before so far, what makes me more afraid is the interes.

A monger should be afraid if the billing statement falls to his home hehehe !

Cheers

[Mighty Spearsman]

Just as a matter of interest Bro Bulai ( and also Bro MS), do you guys never use a credit card while in Indonesia or is the danger of scams, in your assessment, restricted to mongering joints especially Bordello Spas/MPs. I have never used the card in places such as Kartika, Hotel Travel etc. and used it at the Alexis because its almost like any three/four star hotel, places where I pay with my card (when not mongering) and felt that the the risk of such an establishment scamming me was low.

As far as paper trails are concerned, I concur with your caution because, as Oyenk points out if the itemized bill gets to be seen by your wife, the shit will, most certainly, hit the roof.

I rarely use a credit card in Indonesia, except for buying my weekly groceries at the SOGO Food Hall in Plaza Indonesia, for buying air tickets at my travel agency, and for paying for hotels when I travel to Bali, Yogyakarta, etc.

Unfortunately the theft or credit cards and/or credit card numbers is rampant in Indonesia, so I try to minimize my card use as much as possible. Even if the merchant is honest, the card number can be compromised elsewhere, such as at the processing bank. Earlier in 2008 a prominent Jakarta bank announced that over 15,000 credit cards numbers (including one belonging to me) had been stolen by one of its employees. Luckily nothing had been charged on my card but I still had to cancel my card and arrange to have a new one sent to me from the U.S.

My concerns about using a card at a place like Kartika is both the risk of having the number stolen and a new fake card made up, but more importantly the potential risk of having something like "Kartika Massage Spa" or "Ambassador Gentlemen's Club" appear on the monthly statement - guaranteed to cause problems on the home front!

Solution - pay cash, there's no paper trail, and it's safer.

[Memekman]

I agree with MS about this - it happened to me 10 years ago and I've never used a card since. Technology has moved on since then so it will be even easier.

Just as a matter of interest Bro Bulai ( and also Bro MS), do you guys never use a credit card while in Indonesia or is the danger of scams, in your assessment, restricted to mongering joints especially Bordello Spas/MPs. I have never used the card in places such as Kartika, Hotel Travel etc. and used it at the Alexis because its almost like any three/four star hotel, places where I pay with my card (when not mongering) and felt that the the risk of such an establishment scamming me was low.

As far as paper trails are concerned, I concur with your caution because, as Oyenk points out if the itemized bill gets to be seen by your wife, the shit will, most certainly, hit the roof.

[Menteng]

Sorry bro,

But would you please elaborate on what a monger should be afraid of?

I don't quite follow you.

I think brother Oyenk refers to the monthly specification of the expenses/payments with the credit card, provided by the cc company. Your wife might get upset

[Kodja]

A monger should be afraid if the billing statement falls to his home hehehe !

cheers...

Sorry bro,

But would you please elaborate on what a monger should be afraid of?

I don't quite follow you.

[Oyenk]

One friendly comment regarding your phrase "You can pay by cash or by credit card including Amex." Sorry, but in my humble opinion, a monger would be crazy to use a credit card at this place or any MP/spa/etc. in Jakarta, both because of the risk of having your credit card number stolen & misused, and also why leave a paper trail of one's illicit activities?

Local credit card provider have very good system for their user and I have never been scammed me before so far, what makes me more afraid is the interes.

A monger should be afraid if the billing statement falls to his home hehehe !

Cheers

[Bulai69]

I agree with MS about this - it happened to me 10 years ago and I've never used a card since. Technology has moved on since then so it will be even easier.

[Xsjoe]

That's why the girls coming to Jakarta will try to buy a Jakartan KTP. That this (illegal) KTP is not cheap, is obvious.

As I wanted a break from the (real) freebie I had met in Mal Atrium a few weeks before, I decided to try a Jl. Felathehan bar. Apart from the infamous Bali Hai I had never tried a blok M bar before.

So I went to MyBar. I paid a drink to a girl but quickly realized it was not the kind of "company" I wanted and actually I was not really sure I wanted to fuck as I had a great session planned for the day after with my freebie. Didn't know how to get rid of her until a nice face girl (but chubby) arrived and asked me if I was with my girlfriend. I said no. She then introduced herself and after 10 mn the other girl became angry, took her bag and left he place. My new escort pretended to be a teacher and not to be there for working but just for enjoying and nothing else. The conversation was quite pleasant and she almost convinced me that she was here just for fun. When I told her I wanted to have a walk outside she agreed to come with me. And as Jl. Falatehan is not exactlty the kind of place for a romantic walk I proposed to take a taxi and asked her if she knew a hotel. When she mentioned Melawai it should have ring a bell to my ears but she repeated so many times that she was here not for money but just for fun. First I had to negociate the taxi rate from 100 Krp to 40 Krp which is already a rip off for a less than 5 mn ride. Then at the hotel: price is 400 Krp, no passport or ktp required, just fill in a form. In the room, to check if what she had said about her age, name, religion etc. Was true I asked to see her KTP just by pretending I wanted to see a picture of her when she was younger. For the name it was ok but not for the age (43 instead of 26) neither for the religion (muslim but pretended to be catholic, maybe she thought it's more suitable when it comes to hook a bule) and the picture. Wasn't hers. Definitely not. Fake or bought KTP for sure.

She said that actually her face had changed since she became a bit overweight. I pretended to believe her and we had a great night until 4 a. M. Each I mentioned taxi money she was replying that she was not a prostitute. Once we got dressed and ready to go I insisted "how much she wanted for the taxi".

The real answer eventually came: . 500 Krp. And yes of course she's no prostitute. A freebie in MyBar. What a naive man I was.

[Non Olet]

Mighty Spearsman

Terima kasih banyak, this gives me hope for the (not-too-far) future.

NO