Experience with a Malio dancer.
Has anyone had any experiences with either a dancer in the bar downstairs or the lounge upstairs?
Was it worth it?
A Visit to Blok M. And a Police Shakedown.
My second evening at the Orchardz Industri Hotel grew near, and I knew that it did not make sense to rely on another chance encounter at the karaoke bar. Earlier, I had taken a long walk, including two circuits of the Kota Indah loop (Starmoon and others). I received a couple of invitation from the doorways, but although I did not find the area as sketchy as expected, I don't think that it's a good place for a solo, relatively inexperienced, bule with minimal Bahasa. I did actually see one other white foreign male, who looked as lost and out of place as I most probably did.
So after a rest and a freshen up, I took a bluebird down to Blok M. Even as the crow flies, that's about a 12 k trip, but it was quite late now, maybe midnight or so, and by that time most of the Jakarta traffic, apart from the central Thamrin area, is quite light. So it was probably less than 30 minutes. My body-clock had not yet adjusted, so the late hour meant little anyway. My expectations of the Blok were low. I had visited a couple of times on a previous trip, although probably mostly or all during the week, with results which could be described as mixed at beast. The first bar that I visited then was the famous but now almost deserted Top Gun, which must been only a few weeks before it was holstered for the last time. Although on the previous occasion I visited "all" five or so bars in the Blok, this time I stuck to two bars. MyBar and the's Place, which conveniently are only a few paces apart. My Bar is the one on the left, with the disco-type atmosphere, and the's Place is the one on the right, containing a small stage with four or so dancing girls, and which has more of a general bar type of atmosphere.
So on this Friday night I was pleasantly surprised by the lively atmosphere and quantity of girls, particularly in My Bar, where I ended up spending the majority of the time. Quality was better than previously, too. That time, it was difficult to find a single girl worth taking, and although I am quite selective, I am not excessively picky. Any girl who I would rate in terms of looks as six or above is worthy of consideration. This time, there were at least three who were definitely takeable, no doubt about it. I got talking to one of the three, surprise surprise. Told me she worked as a hairdresser, and came to the blok only at weekend. Certainly on my next visit, on a weekday, she was not there. Also got talking to the second of my personal 'top three' prospective companions for the night. She was cute, slim and petite, and an enthusiastic and excellent dancer. Told me she stayed in an area of South Jakarta which is only about 3 k from the blok, as the crow flies. I did not talk to the third of my top three, who was the prettiest although not as slim and petite as the others. In retrospect, I regretted that decision and if I saw her again, I would definitely make a move.
Anyway, the beers were flowing down and I was having a good time, but the clock was moving on. The hairdresser, who by this time I had spent a fair amount of time with, and bought some drinks for, and who I seemed destined to go with, started to get a bit impatient, which did not bode very well, action-wise. Soon it was nearing closing time, which I think is about 5 am on weekends. The really pretty girl had disappeared, the dancer girl seemed better left for a subsequent trip, and the hairdresser had becoming cloying and annoying. So, in a last-minute switch, I picked up an alternative slightly less cute girl but with seemingly better attitude, and headed out in the darkness and taxis. At that time, traffic was still very light, the trip back to north Jakarta was going very smoothly, and the taxi was only a couple of km from my hotel, when I saw a police roadblock up ahead. There were a couple of police cars, with it seemed about six or seven police, some uniformed and some plain clothes. The taxi was flagged down and I was asked for my passport. I knew about the obligation to carry it, but had forgotten and in any case preferred to leave it in the hotel safe. I got out of the taxi as requested, and a plain clothes man, who seemed to be in charge, asked me whether I knew about my ID obligations and what I had been doing that night while another guy, can't remember if uniformed or not, fished about in my front left trousers pocket. I was not too comfortable with that, but had little option. Anyway it held only a few totally innocuous items, so I had nothing to worry about on that score.
Although I had had quite a few beers, I had sobered up swiftly. I was completely cooperative, respectful and friendly throughout, and explained that I had been in some bars, had forgotten to carry my passport, and was on my way back to my nearby hotel, the address of which was on a couple of hotel cards that I was carrying. The policeman did not ask me about the girl, I guess he worked that out for himself. He asked for a donation or contribution, using some rather round-about wording, but leaving the underlying meaning perfectly clear. He was very polite throughout, but of course in a situation like that there is no doubt where the power lies. Thanks to the generous previous contributors on this thread and my extensive and indeed enjoyable RTFF, I knew the drill and swift complied, politely handing over 100 k, which is only £5 or $7.
Of course I would if necessary have gladly handed over the complete contents of my wallet, at that point probably down to about 500 k - 1 M, to avoid any escalation. I politely bid him good day, and got back into the taxi. The taxi driver and the girl, who I think simply been asked for their IDs, were clearly relieved that the episode was over. As one point, I had caught the briefest glimpse of the girl passing something small. Too small for me to see. To the driver, presumably for easier concealment at the front of the vehicle. When the trip resumed, I asked her what it was, but the mumbled response was not enlightening, so I left it there, as at that time I probably really did not want to know. If it was something illegal, I guess that the situation could well have taken an unpleasant and expensive turn for the worse, regardless of my innocence and whether I had been carrying my passport or not. Soon we were back at my hotel, at which point it was already daylight, so it must have been shortly after 5. 30 am.
To be continued shortly.
