Jakarta

[Possessed Seoul]

Jaysus, they must think they have pussies lined with gold. I've seen nothing there that would warrant a payment of more than 500 k, especially in a covid-ravaged market like this. Still, there must be enough suckers with good expense accounts willing to pay for them to ask. But hey, when a guy well into his 50's can pull a decent shag from Tinder and spend less than what they are asking on the requisite night out, why would you bother?

I've been into EP a number of times, but haven't had much luck there. All of the ladies I've spoken to have wanted 2 million, plus another 400 k for the hotel next door, some have asked for 3 million. Any indication that was unreasonable or a little high was met with the cheap charlie accusations and the true colors come out. There have been some in there that seemed a lot more pleasant to buy a drink for and have a chat, but they really aren't lookers. I've never had a lady ask for less than 1. 5 million. I think EP is good for a drink, but not for a pick up. If those are the prices, I'll just stick to the all-in massage spots for 350-500 k.

[Possessed Seoul]

The place is a bit faded now and nowhere near as popular as it used to be (for the expat crowd anyhow). Once upon a time it was not unheard of for working girls in Jakarta to do stints down there chasing business, but I've not heard of that happening for more than 10 years now. I am sure you can find something, although it may not be top-shelf, or even mid-shelf for that matter. Probably best to take your own.

Hi all,

Apologies for asking here, as this isn't technically Jakarta, but it's a common holiday out of Jakarta and I didn't see a better area in the forums to ask. I'm curious if anyone has been to Cisolok, Indonesia, which is directly south on the water.

Looking at this resort:

https://karangajibeach.com-book.com/index.php

Located here on Google Maps:

https://goo.gl/maps/oEaX7eJqmg72x3D16

I've heard from a lot of the folks that work at the company that this is a pretty common escape from Jakarta for a long weekend. It's cheap, I hear the beach is nice, and it isn't so far outside of Jakarta. The biggest question I have is obviously whether there are any brothels or girl bars down there, so I figured I would pitch it to this fine group of experts and ask! If anyone has been, would love to get some context. I am seriously needing an escape from Jakarta, and the travel lockdown finishes up soon.

Thanks!

[JKTBanger]

Hi all,

Apologies for asking here, as this isn't technically Jakarta, but it's a common holiday out of Jakarta and I didn't see a better area in the forums to ask. I'm curious if anyone has been to Cisolok, Indonesia, which is directly south on the water.

Looking at this resort:

https://karangajibeach.com-book.com/index.php

Located here on Google Maps:

https://goo.gl/maps/oEaX7eJqmg72x3D16

I've heard from a lot of the folks that work at the company that this is a pretty common escape from Jakarta for a long weekend. It's cheap, I hear the beach is nice, and it isn't so far outside of Jakarta. The biggest question I have is obviously whether there are any brothels or girl bars down there, so I figured I would pitch it to this fine group of experts and ask! If anyone has been, would love to get some context. I am seriously needing an escape from Jakarta, and the travel lockdown finishes up soon.

Thanks!

[JKTBanger]

I drink at EP from time to time, but never engage the girls there. Interested to hear how much you've been quoted though. I get the feeling a lot of them are just there fishing for a BF or husband so they can achieve that coveted Kemang lifestyle.

I've been into EP a number of times, but haven't had much luck there. All of the ladies I've spoken to have wanted 2 million, plus another 400 k for the hotel next door, some have asked for 3 million. Any indication that was unreasonable or a little high was met with the cheap charlie accusations and the true colors come out. There have been some in there that seemed a lot more pleasant to buy a drink for and have a chat, but they really aren't lookers. I've never had a lady ask for less than 1. 5 million. I think EP is good for a drink, but not for a pick up. If those are the prices, I'll just stick to the all-in massage spots for 350-500 k.

[Cucumber]

You wouldn't have come to any harm, no one would have told you to eff off, they simply would have listened politely to your complaint, smiled and then completely ignored it.... Complaining about service in a place where you are just one of hundreds of johns spending 30 bucks on one of hundreds of kampung ayam is an utterly pointless waste of breath....You did the right thing, it was a bust, shit happens, move on and try to find somewhere else. Who knows in the place next door you might just pick up a diamond in the rough, and your faith in your fellow man and woman is restored until such times as you again have the itch that only a cheap, meaningless fcuk in a grotty shebeen in North Jakarta can ease.

I always say up front: "Good service, good tip. Very good service, very good tip. Bad service, no tip. " I find it often helps. And I do tip really well for good service. , so it is just as well to say so in advance.

[Hilo77]

I get the feeling a lot of them are just there fishing for a BF or husband so they can achieve that coveted Kemang lifestyle.

That's exactly what they are, actually more likely they are the ex-wives and ex-girlfriends of South Jakarta bules and they are in EP trying to score a replacement, or someone at least who'll pay for this month's school fees or rent, for the kids or the apartment respectively, that they've been left with.

Cynical gold-miners wouldn't even begin to describe the EP ladies, but bless them, they dress well and speak good English and can be decent company for the evening.

[Hilo77]

I didn't bother complaining because it didn't seem like a very friendly, or safe, place and from the moment I walked in they seemed to almost shrug off the fact that I was there. They were much more focused on a house full of locals, and seemed more annoyed that a foreigner was there than being keen on my business. Lots of rough looking Indonesian guys who'd had a number of drinks in the main room and also had scooped up almost all the girls, many of the girls didn't even make eye contact with me. I'm fine with popping in and checking the place out, but they seem much more concerned with Indonesian business and I had a feeling that my complains would either get me a F off or thrown down the stairs. But almost certainly not another girl. I won't be back unless someone else has a better story and some details that helps me right if off as just an off night. Which it may have been. Maybe I was there on the wrong day / time.

You wouldn't have come to any harm, no one would have told you to eff off, they simply would have listened politely to your complaint, smiled and then completely ignored it.

The scene you describe of the big table of locals and your being blanked by most of the girls might indicate the problem. Presumably they were regulars and (relatively) big spenders, the girls wanted in with them, maybe hoping to become the long-term squeeze of one of them. Maybe the girl you picked already had such a guy who wasn't there and he was getting messages from his mates that she had gone upstairs with some bule bloke and she was spending your time together reassuring him that she would soon get rid of you. It happens, nothing personal, maybe if you'd arrived on a quiet afternoon when you had the place to yourself you'd have had a different reaction.

If we hang out in cheap brothels, we have to be prepared for cheap brothel behaviour. We can't walk in expecting to be treated like the long-awaited white prince returned from exile to reclaim his throne, we mean as little to them as they do to us. Complaining about service in a place where you are just one of hundreds of johns spending 30 bucks on one of hundreds of kampung ayam is an utterly pointless waste of breath.

You did the right thing, it was a bust, shit happens, move on and try to find somewhere else. Who knows in the place next door you might just pick up a diamond in the rough, and your faith in your fellow man and woman is restored until such times as you again have the itch that only a cheap, meaningless fcuk in a grotty shebeen in North Jakarta can ease.

[Possessed Seoul]

I drink at EP from time to time, but never engage the girls there. Interested to hear how much you've been quoted though. I get the feeling a lot of them are just there fishing for a BF or husband so they can achieve that coveted Kemang lifestyle.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'm not familiar with this area. Would you be able to recommend any bar areas or bars in the north that are popular with the freelancers, but maybe not as organized as a spa? Something like a very seedy version of Eastern Promise with fewer foreigners and cheaper girls would be excellent. That said, I'm still making a note of Sumo Spa! Will need to make a visit, but please do let me know if there are any other spots in the area since it is a bit of a trip.

[JKTBanger]

Any seedy girl places open? I messaged a few on IG that I could find an account for, will see what they say and report back.

Friend and I wanting to go out tomorrow night.

[JKTBanger]

You will get this experience all the time if you want to be treated like that. Remember you are visiting s bordello which has a management, need a repeated business and thus reputation is paramount.

I wonder why did not you complain to the management?

If many visitors take the same actions and tell them that they will expose their bad experience to let other people know about their premises I believe they will take it serious.

I didn't bother complaining because it didn't seem like a very friendly, or safe, place and from the moment I walked in they seemed to almost shrug off the fact that I was there. They were much more focused on a house full of locals, and seemed more annoyed that a foreigner was there than being keen on my business. Lots of rough looking Indonesian guys who'd had a number of drinks in the main room and also had scooped up almost all the girls, many of the girls didn't even make eye contact with me. I'm fine with popping in and checking the place out, but they seem much more concerned with Indonesian business and I had a feeling that my complains would either get me a F off or thrown down the stairs. But almost certainly not another girl. I won't be back unless someone else has a better story and some details that helps me right if off as just an off night. Which it may have been. Maybe I was there on the wrong day / time.

[JKTBanger]

I'm not an expat but I have never had to buy multiple drinks in any Jakarta bar. Nothing like Soi 6 in Jakarta. The closest would be the small bars in Kota Indah. Most guys go alone. Once you deflect the papasans you can sit there all night and enjoy your drink until you see a girl you like. Same for the spas and bars in Kelapa Gading. Neither of these areas are nearly as touristy as Classic and Travel. You'll likely be the only Farang in the bars as it's more for locals.

Photo of Sumo Spa in Kelapa Gading. Kelapa Gading is a great place to bar and spa hop for a couple of nights. It's just far away. Don't go during rush hour!

Thanks for the recommendation, I'm not familiar with this area. Would you be able to recommend any bar areas or bars in the north that are popular with the freelancers, but maybe not as organized as a spa? Something like a very seedy version of Eastern Promise with fewer foreigners and cheaper girls would be excellent. That said, I'm still making a note of Sumo Spa! Will need to make a visit, but please do let me know if there are any other spots in the area since it is a bit of a trip.

[Possessed Seoul]

Indonesia in a nutshell. Customer service or taking responsibility is a relatively foreign concept.

Yeah, maybe this works in western places but this is Indonesia, you can complain to your heart's content, you'll get a shrug from whoever you are complaining to and later they'll talk among themselves about the grumpy old bule who had some problem or other about something (and possibly by that stage the girl has already given her side of the story about how you were some beastly pervert trying to inveigle her into all sorts of unnatural practices) and nothing will be done.

Perhaps if you are a very rich Chinese bloke who regularly orders $400 bottles of cognac on his visits people might pay attention, if you are just Joe Schmoe bule racking up for the first time, ordering a couple of bottles of Bintang and complaining about the service don't expect to find the maitre'd running to do your bidding, rubbing his hands in supplication as he tries to salvage your evening.

Just chalk it up to experience, leave and don't bother going back.

[Hilo77]

You will get this experience all the time if you want to be treated like that. Remember you are visiting s bordello which has a management, need a repeated business and thus reputation is paramount.

I wonder why did not you complain to the management?

If many visitors take the same actions and tell them that they will expose their bad experience to let other people know about their premises I believe they will take it serious.

Yeah, maybe this works in western places but this is Indonesia, you can complain to your heart's content, you'll get a shrug from whoever you are complaining to and later they'll talk among themselves about the grumpy old bule who had some problem or other about something (and possibly by that stage the girl has already given her side of the story about how you were some beastly pervert trying to inveigle her into all sorts of unnatural practices) and nothing will be done.

Perhaps if you are a very rich Chinese bloke who regularly orders $400 bottles of cognac on his visits people might pay attention, if you are just Joe Schmoe bule racking up for the first time, ordering a couple of bottles of Bintang and complaining about the service don't expect to find the maitre'd running to do your bidding, rubbing his hands in supplication as he tries to salvage your evening.

Just chalk it up to experience, leave and don't bother going back.

[Egy Monger New]

I am expecting either Thailand or Indo will open to tourists towards end of this year

Indonesians love to use foreigners as the scapegoat for new infections, so I can't see borders opening for tourists anytime soon.

You could still come on a 6-month B2 A11 business visa, but it ain't cheap ($500).

[Banana Boi]

Has anyone else had any experiences at VFour, and what were they? Any experiences in that area or other places that might be better to check out? Ideally I'd love to find a bar that resembles a bar on Pattaya soi 6, where it's more like a pub where I can go alone and buy a single drink, and not be stuck buying a whole set with mixers in a mini nightclub environment. Thoughts?

I'm not an expat but I have never had to buy multiple drinks in any Jakarta bar. Nothing like Soi 6 in Jakarta. The closest would be the small bars in Kota Indah. Most guys go alone. Once you deflect the papasans you can sit there all night and enjoy your drink until you see a girl you like. Same for the spas and bars in Kelapa Gading. Neither of these areas are nearly as touristy as Classic and Travel. You'll likely be the only Farang in the bars as it's more for locals.

Photo of Sumo Spa in Kelapa Gading. Kelapa Gading is a great place to bar and spa hop for a couple of nights. It's just far away. Don't go during rush hour!