Jakarta

I've been on this forum for over 10 years and nobody has discussed using Ojeks until just this past month. What's up with that? My guess is some people who normally spend all their time in Thailand or the Philippines are wanting to try a new country. They use motorbikes in LOS and the PI, so they think it's the same in Indonesia. Jakarta is not the same as Philippines or Thailand. Motorbikes are great in those places, but I wouldn't recommend them in Jakarta. An Ojek is no cheaper than a taxi and the only time I'd even consider an Ojek in Jakarta is during rush hour traffic. But for mongering, there is no reason to be traveling during rush hour traffic. A true monger is sleeping at that time. When I first came to Jakarta, I rode an ojek and the idiot driver crashed into a car and I went flying, so I never take them anymore. Whenever you see a girl with scarred up legs (and you see them often), it's because of her riding on ojeks and the ojeks having accidents.

[QUOTE=Smoothy;1700519]But for mongering, there is no reason to be traveling during rush hour traffic. A true monger is sleeping at that time.[/QUOTE]Sometimes though an ojek makes things quicker as they cut through traffic in ways a taxi can't.

I wake up around 2 PM, head to one of the Kota places by 3 PM then by 5 PM already back home and sleeping until 9 PM when I head for my second shot.

If price is of interest most of these places are well connected by the Kopaja bus, for me never had a problem regarding theft and for 3000 where you can get off where required it does the job also for other routes microlets are on hand.

[QUOTE=Sharka;1700400]Some questions about the local transportation and usual rates for negotiations as not to be rip off.

I know most mongers usually take the meter taxi such as bluebird for the hassle free trip. Also the Transjakarta bus line but they run limited routes so may not be along the routes that will get me to some places I like to see or do but at least they have a fixed price.

What is the proper prices for Ojek- moto taxi or the Bajak- tuk tuks as they seem useful for shorted trips? Also wondering if they are safe to use or just true rip offs to the foreigners?

Plan on doing some sights and travel around between monger sites using the ojeks or Bajaks if they are worth using.

I plan on staying in the Mangga Besar area in North Jakarta.

So using the Mangga Besar as starting point,
What should be the correct rates to.

1) Mangga Dua.

2) king Cross Spa.

3) Gambir station.

4) Classic hotel spa

5) Alexis

Thanks[/QUOTE]Safety should be everyone's concern when in Jakarta or BKK. I have heard that the Ojeks in BKK are all meth heads and I assume the same in Jakarta. And what about the air and the heat? No way. Give me a good secure Taxi any day. WE had an Ojek slam into the side of a Taxi we were in in Jakarta. We had to flag another Taxi because the driver had to haggle with the Ojek driver over repairs. Both were hurt on the Ojek. We were untouched.

RL.

[QUOTE=Smoothy;1700519]I've been on this forum for over 10 years and nobody has discussed using Ojeks until just this past month. What's up with that? My guess is some people who normally spend all their time in Thailand or the Philippines are wanting to try a new country. They use motorbikes in LOS and the PI, so they think it's the same in Indonesia. Jakarta is not the same as Philippines or Thailand. Motorbikes are great in those places, but I wouldn't recommend them in Jakarta. An Ojek is no cheaper than a taxi and the only time I'd even consider an Ojek in Jakarta is during rush hour traffic. But for mongering, there is no reason to be traveling during rush hour traffic. A true monger is sleeping at that time. When I first came to Jakarta, I rode an ojek and the idiot driver crashed into a car and I went flying, so I never take them anymore. Whenever you see a girl with scarred up legs (and you see them often), it's because of her riding on ojeks and the ojeks having accidents.[/QUOTE]The behaviour of motorcyclists on the Jakarta roads is the reason they are starting to close off a number of roads for motorcycles. The way most of the motorcyclists squeeze between the other road users, thereby forcing them to brake because of the Indonesian "right of way rule" is contributing to the traffic jams. THey see no problem with this behaviour, never having had a driving education (there are no driving exams in Indonesia; you buy your licence and ask the nearest policeman to approve it). In quieter cities I have occasionally taken ojeks. In Jakarta I wouldn't dream of it.

Show me a woman in Indonesia without scars on her legs and you are showing a woman who doesn't Ojek. There aren't many of them.

Ojeks can be handy. In these circumstances:

- When the traffic is guaranteed to be gridlocked from start to destination.

- When it is a short distance and you need to walk (too short or awkward route for a taxi).

- When it isn't going to pour rain or isn't clear skies (I. E. You can see blue through the smog, meaning damn hot).

- When how you look or smell isn't important when you reach your destination.

The traffic level is especially important. You *do not* want to give the Ojek a chance to get up speed. One time I got an Ojek in Bali, late at night. No traffic, open road, just been raining, no helmet. Casual ride down the road turned into something resembling qualifying for Moto GP. Never again. Rides since require bumper to bumper traffic all the way to impede speed.

You could also try a Bajah. I probably spelt that wrong, and if not forum autocorrect probably will! Those 3 wheel noise machines couldn't get speed up when trying on a steep downhill run. But they can't get through traffic like an Ojek. Ideal for short runs or carrying things however.

If a regular, finding a reliable Ojek or Bajah for your daily run can also work out just fine.

All other times. Taxi. Even the Transjakarta has deteriorated over the years. In recent years it has taken longer to get *on* the damn bus than the journey north to south would have taken in a taxi.

[QUOTE=HungMan1808;1700754]Even the Transjakarta has deteriorated over the years. In recent years it has taken longer to get *on* the damn bus than the journey north to south would have taken in a taxi.[/QUOTE]Two or three years ago I used the Transjakarta buses a fair amount so as to negotiate around the traffic jams. But I got sick of using those buses around the time I honest to god had to on one ride open an umbrella to keep the rain that was [I]pouring[/I] through the roof off of me. There now are some newer buses, but I suspect there are still some running that are "umbrella worthy. " And all this on a bus system that is only about eleven years old (actually eight or nine at the time of the umbrella incident).

I suppose I like extremes in that since getting tired of the Transjakarta buses I now often use Silver Bird taxis to make waiting in the traffic jams less aggravating (and no umbrellas are needed).

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1700759]But I got sick of using those buses around the time I honest to god had to on one ride open an umbrella to keep the rain that was [I]pouring[/I] through the roof off of me.[/QUOTE]About 5 years ago I can recall hanging onto the rails holding the hand straps and wondering why it moved so much. The answer came a bit further down the bus: ONE bolt holding the lot onto the roof. I wonder how many more hours it held.

8 or 9 years ago the way to travel was for the crazy bule to get the Transjakarta up Sudirman and beat the taxis / private cars others travelled in. A relatively comfortable ride too as not many Indonesians wanted to use the bus due to the outrageously high charge of 3,000 rupiah. I guess that doesn't look so expensive now judging by the crowds.

Another favourite anecdote: 4 or 5 years ago someone decided to concrete over the asphalt in the busway lanes. Much delay and chaos results due to the buses needing to leave the lane and join normal traffic then get back in the lane after the roadworks. Except no steel reinforcement seemed to be added to the concrete overlay. Guess what they were doing again seemingly six months later? :)

Oh why not, here's another one: I was told the reason the original Transjakarta buses (or should I say, the older ones still running?) had doors on either side was due to them being imported from another country's system. Grand launch occurs, bus pulls up to the station to pick up the VIPs. With the door on the wrong side of bus. Busses imported from a "keep right" kind of country. Off to the panel works they go!

Some on here could probably verify if that story is true, but either way it pretty much sums up the general attention to detail and planning put to use in the country!

[QUOTE=Smoothy;1699377]May I ask how old these women were? Are these tante girang?[/QUOTE]As I was telling Menteng, my age range seems to have widened drastically of late. There are some ladies in their forties who are in great shape and kept themselves well. However in this case, one was 42 and the other 28; one divorced, and the other still single. There's a plethora of choice, even with the much heavier competition on the dating sites over the last couple of years. Just looked at my whatsapp and BB (I keep a tab on the ages next to the names in my contact list) and the range is from 21 to 45; oh and also whether they're married or not. This city is crazy: I'm sitting in KL trying to figure out another excuse to head back there.

MD II.

[QUOTE=HardHatMate;1700438]Others may find different experiences, but I generally pay the ojek driver what I would pay a bluebird taxi (on a good traffic day), which you seem familiar. The benefit is you get there in half the time, sometimes even less.

I haven't used an Ojek for the areas you describe, but I think;.

Kings Cross 10-15 k.

Mangga Dua no more than 15 k-25 k.

Gambir, maybe 20-30 k.

Classic is before Gambir but close, so 15-25 k.

Alexis, I wouldn't take an Ojek. For this you might consider a taxi, depending on flooding around the time you are here. Its a tollroad for part of it, and I think better by taxi, but others may have a different opinion. ?

Unlike a bluebird, the time of the day, the demand on the Ojek driver, your negotiation skills. All come into play with the price.

AND something to consider, I have had many an Ojek driver offer to wait whilst you do the deed. They charge a tad more, but hey why not. I once paid 60 k for an Ojek to from Gran Indo Fortune behind LeMeridian and 2 hrs inside and a return trip back to Gran Indo. The truly amazing thing is, after 3 yrs, whenever I see him he asks if I want Ojek to Fortune. How do they remember?

I don't pay for Ojeks up north. So I couldn't really be sure of these prices, but my recent experience is an ojek from BlokM to Maliboro on NYE and paid 60 k. BlokM to Kemang paid 20 k.

I know a girl who pays 500 k a month for an Ojek driver to take her to and from work everyday. From Grogol to Sudirman.

Remember, if its a decent distance negotiate beforehand, otherwise if its under 10 mins, 10 k-20 k works well.[/QUOTE]To Hard Hat.

No way Mangar Besar to King cross in Kelapa Gading is only 15 k,I took a meter taxi from Lokasari plaza to King cross around 6 pm it take about 40 min a lot of traffic cost is over 50 k,I take ojek once in Jakarta never again the ride is too rough for me.

Fast eddie 48.

[QUOTE=FastEddie48;1701879]To Hard Hat.

No way Mangar Besar to King cross in Kelapa Gading is only 15 k,I took a meter taxi from Lokasari plaza to King cross around 6 pm it take about 40 min a lot of traffic cost is over 50 k,I take ojek once in Jakarta never again the ride is too rough for me.

Fast eddie 48.[/QUOTE]Your probably right, Kelapa Gading is further than Mangga Besar. Probably more like 20-25 k if I re-think it.

But at 10 pm at night it should be no more than 10 mins on a ojek. For that I wouldn't pay more than 25 k.

Again, supply and demand. The time of the night. Your negotiation skills etc all come into play.

[QUOTE=HardHatMate;1701998]Your probably right, Kelapa Gading is further than Mangga Besar. Probably more like 20-25 k if I re-think it.

But at 10 pm at night it should be no more than 10 mins on a ojek. For that I wouldn't pay more than 25 k.

Again, supply and demand. The time of the night. Your negotiation skills etc all come into play.[/QUOTE]It's [B]impossible[/B] to find an ojek or taxi that will take you from King's Cross Kelapa Gading to Mangga Besar area at night for 25 k.

By the way. Coming from someone who actually mongers there back and forth from Mangga Besar on an almost daily basis for years, not what I think it should be or what I've read somewhere.

I am trying to visit Jakarta after about 4 years. I was a regular traveller before and has visited TC which was situated at Lokasari. One of the later visits I noticed that was closed down. TC was a nice place to hang around the opening time around 1. 00 pm as there were nice looking girls. Those who have visited there know what I mean. Does anyone know whether it has re-opened in another location or anything similar is currently operating. Appreciate if you can share any information.

[QUOTE=Pancha;1702184]I am trying to visit Jakarta after about 4 years. I was a regular traveller before and has visited TC which was situated at Lokasari. One of the later visits I noticed that was closed down. TC was a nice place to hang around the opening time around 1. 00 pm as there were nice looking girls. Those who have visited there know what I mean. Does anyone know whether it has re-opened in another location or anything similar is currently operating. Appreciate if you can share any information.[/QUOTE]To Pancha.

TC have been closed for a long time you should try Millie disco for late night pick up for freelancer, I never like TC the girl there is just too young for my taste and now the Stadium is closed also but there is so many other place you can get action in the area.

Fast eddie 48.

[QUOTE=HardHatMate;1701998]Your probably right, Kelapa Gading is further than Mangga Besar. Probably more like 20-25 k if I re-think it.

But at 10 pm at night it should be no more than 10 mins on a ojek. For that I wouldn't pay more than 25 k.

Again, supply and demand. The time of the night. Your negotiation skills etc all come into play.[/QUOTE]To Hard hat.

You better re-think again even with no traffic it will take a taxi about 30 min from Lokasari plaza to King cross, I took this trip just a few month ago I know how long it take.

Fast eddie 48.