Jakarta

[SeaTraveler]

I've been traveling to SE Asia since 2003 - mostly the Philippines. As well as 2 trips to Thailand (03 & 05) and I worked in Indonesia for most of 2014.

I booked a flight to Jakarta for 3 weeks in January 2023.

I am considering a week-long side trip to either the Phils or Thailand but can't seem to make up my mind. The landscape of mongering has changed over time, especially with the impact of Covid. For me, it's all about mongering.

Can those with more experience in both of those countries collectively offer some intelligent advice?

Thanks in advance.

SEA Traveler.

[PartyAnimal]

Can anyone tell if BATs is a good joint these days (post covid).

Also how is Basque bar de tapas for pick up?

[Hilo77]

Pre-covid, prices for ST at 1 to 1. 5 juta, LT for 2 juta are relatively common for those freelancers you can pick up at the better bars like CJ. I don't think one can get those prices anymore. Jakarta has become expensive for mongering with the type of girls that I want. Girls of SA in Jakarta are already quoting me 4 juta for ST nowadays. They are definitely out of control.

I was getting on well with one lady, usual story, divorced mother of two, 28, living in South Jakarta, looked great in her photos. She seemed like an average desperate housewife, my usual choice of afternoon aperatif. I asked her where she liked to hang out, she answered "EP and Basque", that pretty much ended that conversation, I knew straight away that if I pursued it she's be quoting nothing less than 2 juta.

That's why I prefer to stick to the nice girls who live in unfashionable neighbourhoods in West and East Jakarta, and whose English isn't very good, you can talk sense to them about the monetary value of their affections.

[Ggekko2009]

But then I remembered an old contact from last year, a hot part-time model who had asked for 1 juta back then but who I had passed up at the time. If 1 juta was the going rate now she'd be worth a punt, no dice, you guessed it, she wanted 2 juta now.

Pre-covid, prices for ST at 1 to 1. 5 juta, LT for 2 juta are relatively common for those freelancers you can pick up at the better bars like CJ. I don't think one can get those prices anymore. Jakarta has become expensive for mongering with the type of girls that I want. Girls of SA in Jakarta are already quoting me 4 juta for ST nowadays. They are definitely out of control.

[Hilo77]

You think the ladies we associate with follow the news from Ukraine, or are up to date on the finer points of the supply-side snarl-up in the global economy, or the effect of monetary loosening by governments worldwide during the pandemic? I doubt it, but one thing they have noticed, like the rest of us, is that the price of everything seems to have gone up quite a bit lately and they are adding to the inflationary spiral in their own ways.

Last year I pointed out to a regular on this forum that I could hook up with decent semi-pros in Jakarta on Tinder for as low as 500 k per session (S / T), I wasn't believed but it was a fact.

It is no longer a fact.

To clarify, what I was getting for 500 k was not a supermodel or sinetron artist. I was getting a housewife, usually a single mom in her late 20's looking to make a bit of household cash on the side. They would look fine (I would always ask for pics) but I knew that the bodies wouldn't be the greatest but the service would be superb and they'd do as an inexpensive aperatif in the afternoon before the main event of the evening. The main event would generally be a younger girl, single, no babies, working in an office in South Jakarta, happy to meet up in the evening to earn some freelance income with a nice bule guy before heading home to her kos for the night, they cost me 700 k, often I'd throw a bit extra for ongkos if the performance was good.

I was off Tinder for a while (damn their photo verification) but restarted the other week, sure enough I wasn't long finding the semi-pros looking for "benefits". But Sheesh! They were sticking at 1 juta, no budging. Eventually I did get one to agree 700 k, and we made the date, she arrived and it quickly dawned on me I had a former 500 k on my hands, no worries, it wasn't the end of the world.

But then I remembered an old contact from last year, a hot part-time model who had asked for 1 juta back then but who I had passed up at the time. If 1 juta was the going rate now she'd be worth a punt, no dice, you guessed it, she wanted 2 juta now.

So there you have it gentlemen, inflation has seeped its way into our hobby, I am sure no Amalgamated Trades Council of the Semi-Pros took place where they agreed on their new pricing norms, it just happened that way. The great economist Adam Smith described it as the "Invisible Hand" of the market, and it works.

No, they aren't dropping their prices to meet their desperate need for cash in these straitened economic times, that's what you or I might do. No these girls do what they always do, they set their budget on how much they need rather than how much they could actually get and would rather earn nothing than take less than what they think they deserve (which isn't such a bad human trait, I suppose).

I think we may stick to the wholesalers these days rather than buying retail. Classic and Travel is where you bargain hunt now, if you are price sensitive in your habits.

Until they put their prices up too.

[Madvic]

An old ticket and free online PDF editor is much cheaper.

To be clear, this not a recommendation nor condonation, but simply an idle observation of two unrelated monetary values.

Ok, update.

Thanks to your suggestion, I generated a credible looking itinerary. Very easy to do.

And good thing too. It was not in Jakarta, but at my starting point in the US. The airline wanted to see the onward ticket, proof of vax and covid test (required for all transit passengers going through Taipei.

Now, in Jakarta, the VOA is cash only. But, there is ATM right across. I thought it was just going to be some bureaucrat stamping the visa. But he was asking purpose of my visit, etc. Turns out this is the immigration officer too. There is a bypass route, for VOA holders, at immigration.

All in all, relatively easy and no big delays. I am enjoying my little birdwatcher again. She has such incredible talents and a figure I can't get enough of.

MadVic.

[Irish Mongrel]

Thanks, I hate the crap shoot.

When I went there, back with the mandatory in-hotel quarantine, 5 months ago, it said I needed $XXXK (I forget value amount) of medical insurance. I went and paid for it. That was the only thing I was never asked to show upon arrival.

I am thinking no-one has ever asked to see proof of onward flight. But, if I get some young guy, he just might.

I was already pricing a cheap one-way flight to Singapore (closer than Thailand). About $82.

Thanks again.

MadVic.

Book a flight that can be canceled with no cost, and cancel it once you have the e-ticket.

[Hilo77]

I've only been to Jakarta once before in 2018 and I had a great time at classic hotel. There must have been at least 100 women and so many 9 and 10's. Got lucky and picked a looker who was an absolute performer. I'm back in Jakarta in a couple days. Is classic up and running? What time do the girls start filling up?

Yes, from abut 4 pm onwards.

[Madvic]

An old ticket and free online PDF editor is much cheaper.

To be clear, this not a recommendation nor condonation, but simply an idle observation of two unrelated monetary values.

Oooooooo. I did not think of that! You sneaky bastard!! I love it, thanks!

MadVic.

[DavidClarke]

I've only been to Jakarta once before in 2018 and I had a great time at classic hotel. There must have been at least 100 women and so many 9 and 10's. Got lucky and picked a looker who was an absolute performer. I'm back in Jakarta in a couple days. Is classic up and running? What time do the girls start filling up?

[Kopi Hitam]

Thanks, I hate the crap shoot.

When I went there, back with the mandatory in-hotel quarantine, 5 months ago, it said I needed $XXXK (I forget value amount) of medical insurance. I went and paid for it. That was the only thing I was never asked to show upon arrival.

I am thinking no-one has ever asked to see proof of onward flight. But, if I get some young guy, he just might.

I was already pricing a cheap one-way flight to Singapore (closer than Thailand). About $82.

Thanks again.

MadVic.

An old ticket and free online PDF editor is much cheaper.

To be clear, this not a recommendation nor condonation, but simply an idle observation of two unrelated monetary values.

[Madvic]

This might depend on the person processing your visa at the VOA Counter. I have visited Indonesia twice this year and the first time there was a middle aged guy who asked me how long I was planning to stay. The second time there was a young guy at the counter and I was asked to show my insurance, proof of accommodation for the whole stay as well as my retutn ticket. It might make sense to book a temporary throw away return ticket to some nearby country (Thailand would be a good choice) and keep it with you, just in case.

Thanks, I hate the crap shoot.

When I went there, back with the mandatory in-hotel quarantine, 5 months ago, it said I needed $XXXK (I forget value amount) of medical insurance. I went and paid for it. That was the only thing I was never asked to show upon arrival.

I am thinking no-one has ever asked to see proof of onward flight. But, if I get some young guy, he just might.

I was already pricing a cheap one-way flight to Singapore (closer than Thailand). About $82.

Thanks again.

MadVic.

[OldFogey]

OK, I have some upcoming work in Australia in 2 months. But first, I want to detour and spend some more time with my little Indo birdwatcher (her pic is in photo gallery). I am going to do the IDR500 K VOA (visa on arrival) at CGK, when I arrive, later this week. But, it says I have to show proof of onward ticket. I don't have one yet, as I am still finalizing details with my Aussie client. Do they really check for onward ticket before issuing the visa?

MadVic.

This might depend on the person processing your visa at the VOA Counter. I have visited Indonesia twice this year and the first time there was a middle aged guy who asked me how long I was planning to stay. The second time there was a young guy at the counter and I was asked to show my insurance, proof of accommodation for the whole stay as well as my retutn ticket. It might make sense to book a temporary throw away return ticket to some nearby country (Thailand would be a good choice) and keep it with you, just in case.

[Madvic]

OK, I have some upcoming work in Australia in 2 months. But first, I want to detour and spend some more time with my little Indo birdwatcher (her pic is in photo gallery). I am going to do the IDR500 K VOA (visa on arrival) at CGK, when I arrive, later this week. But, it says I have to show proof of onward ticket. I don't have one yet, as I am still finalizing details with my Aussie client. Do they really check for onward ticket before issuing the visa?

MadVic.

[Kopi Hitam]

Yes, udah is used more frequently in conversation than sudah.

A few language tips below when in these types of venues.

When seated at the bar or table and the mamasan approaches, a few phrases to let her know the type of women you'd like.

Aku cari cewek yang (I'm looking for a girl who).

Ada toket gede (has big tits).

Ada pantat besar (has a big arse).

Toge pasar (slang for big tits and arse. It will likely get a laugh).

Kurus (skinny).

Gendut (fat).

Sedikit gendut (a little bit fat).

If one takes your fancy and you get to chatting but you realize it's not to your satisfaction, you could say something like.

Maaf, tapi aku mau cari yang lain (Sorry, but I want to look for someone else).

Kamu manis, tapi kita ga cocok (you're sweet, but we're not a good match).

The girl will then let the mamasan know who will bring you someone else.

Those are just a few phrases to hit the ground running.

I'll be in Jakarta next month. I may or may not go to this place, but definitely appreciate your tips for using bahasa Indonesia.

You wrote udah punya, is that a informal version of sudah? Any more tips would be very welcome.

BTW, saya minum kopi hitam setiap hari!