Jakarta

[quote=mightyspearsman;1626308]yes, the traffic is bad to kota mondays through saturdays (and sundays are not much better). one option to speed up your trip a bit would be to take the transjakarta bus line #1 from the "karet" stop on jalan sudirman up to kota. you'd still have to take a taxi from the marriott to the karet stop (or else walk if it's not too hot), but it would certainly be faster (and cheaper) than taking a taxi the whole way.[/quote]my experiences on the transjakarta buses are highly variable although i guess they have purchased some newer buses recently. maybe a couple of years ago i was in one of their older buses and literally had to open my umbrella to keep the rain coming through the roof of the bus off of me. and i'm not afraid of light rain and only use an umbrella when it pours, as it did through the bus roof. the other problem is they can get very crowded. so, although i used to rely on the transjakarta buses to get to kota (to avoid, or at least minimize traffic delays) my preferred mode of transportation now is a silver bird, in which at least you will be comfortable while stuck in traffic (it does cost a bit more than a standard taxi, although the cost is still a bargain by first-world standards).

[QUOTE=Smoothy;1625152]I'm pretty sure I know which bar you are talking about. I've gotten nowhere with any of those girls. I am starting to think it's a hopeless chase. Then again, I don't hang out in there for long because it's boring.[/QUOTE]Glad I'm not alone in my strike-out rate there. The girls are among the best looking, they wear the sexiest outfits and flirt outrageously with the customers but beyond a hefty bill after buying them drinks I haven't got a damn thing else from them. It's not worth the hike to the end of the street to be honest.

[QUOTE=MightySpearsman;1626308] You'd still have to take a taxi from the Marriott to the Karet stop (or else walk if it's not too hot)[/QUOTE]Walk from the Marriott (the one in Kuningan right?) to the Karet busway stop in Sudirman? I'm not afraid of a bit of a walk but that's got to be a two-and-a-half mile rather meandering walk on Jakarta's broken, crowded, pot-holed pavements. I can't help thinking you wouldn't be in much shape for any fun after that.

[QUOTE=Hilo77;1626347]Walk from the Marriott (the one in Kuningan right?) to the Karet busway stop in Sudirman? I'm not afraid of a bit of a walk but that's got to be a two-and-a-half mile rather meandering walk on Jakarta's broken, crowded, pot-holed pavements. I can't help thinking you wouldn't be in much shape for any fun after that.[/QUOTE]I was wondering about that too. The OP on this question mentioned the JW Marriott which would put it rather far from that busway. There is the Marriott residential apartments (or whatever it is called) that would be much closer to the busway--virtually on top of it--but it is not a JW Marriott. Having stayed at the JW Marriott before, trying to do anything other than a taxi to Kota (or the area close to Kota) wouldn't be worth the trouble and inconvenience IMHO.

Incidentally, when I earlier mentioned that I used to use the Transjakarta buses to get to Kota, it wasn't from the JW Marriott but rather from the area around Plaza Indonesia, which makes it a straight shoot to Kota.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1626363]

Incidentally, when I earlier mentioned that I used to use the Transjakarta buses to get to Kota, it wasn't from the JW Marriott but rather from the area around Plaza Indonesia, which makes it a straight shoot to Kota.[/QUOTE]I used to live not far from Sarinah and found the Busway to be a tool for philandering on a par with the mobile phone it was that convenient. From my location it was less than half an hour either way to Kota or Blok M, the only problem of the day was deciding which direction to take. There was also the good likelihood of actually scoring on the bus itself (these were the days before gender apartheid was imposed on the buses) and at the end of the evening you arrived back at Sarinah which was then another hotspot for free-lance ladies finishing their day jobs and wandering round looking for a hapless bule to pounce on.

Happy days.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1626343]My experiences on the transjakarta buses are highly variable although I guess they have purchased some newer buses recently. Maybe a couple of years ago I was in one of their older buses and literally had to open my umbrella to keep the rain coming through the roof of the bus off of me. And I'm not afraid of light rain and only use an umbrella when it pours, as it did through the bus roof. The other problem is they can get very crowded. So, although I used to rely on the transjakarta buses to get to Kota (to avoid, or at least minimize traffic delays) my preferred mode of transportation now is a Silver Bird, in which at least you will be comfortable while stuck in traffic (it does cost a bit more than a standard taxi, although the cost is still a bargain by first-world standards).[/QUOTE]I tryed the transjakarta buses recently. I used to only use the kopaja's sometimes when I all I needed to go was straight. . I do not get they take our male pleasures away by separating the genders. QuikCash was not possible either, I had to buy a 5 time busticket or something. Other then that, overcrowded but A / see which made it all fine.

Ok I know this should be in the "other places" thread but who reads them, and anyway as it's only a couple of hours from Jakarta I'll push my luck and put it here. Cilegon is a major industrial town in Banten that has many expats, although mainly Koreans and Japanese it has to be said. There must be somewhere that is worth a look by someone who has the misfortune to have to spend two nights there. Has anyone got any ideas? I'd be happy to provide a full FR if required.

I'm not privvy to the expat scene in Cilegon, although as you suggest, with so many Koreans and whatnot out there, its a good bet that there is some pay for play action. I would also hazzard a guess that the area contains some kind of local scene, although the Blok and other Jakarta nightspots seem to be awash with girls from Tangerang and further afield in Banten.

That being said, if it is still open, head for Anyer, about 20 kilometers away and you have the Blue Moon Bar. The waitresses there are reportedly up for extra curricular activities. You can find more info on directions by searching for Blue Moon Bar and Restaurant Anyer on Google.

[QUOTE=Hilo77;1627044]Ok I know this should be in the "other places" thread but who reads them, and anyway as it's only a couple of hours from Jakarta I'll push my luck and put it here. Cilegon is a major industrial town in Banten that has many expats, although mainly Koreans and Japanese it has to be said. There must be somewhere that is worth a look by someone who has the misfortune to have to spend two nights there. Has anyone got any ideas? I'd be happy to provide a full FR if required.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=PossessedSeoul;1627225]I'm not privvy to the expat scene in Cilegon, although as you suggest, with so many Koreans and whatnot out there, its a good bet that there is some pay for play action. I would also hazzard a guess that the area contains some kind of local scene, although the Blok and other Jakarta nightspots seem to be awash with girls from Tangerang and further afield in Banten.

That being said, if it is still open, head for Anyer, about 20 kilometers away and you have the Blue Moon Bar. The waitresses there are reportedly up for extra curricular activities. You can find more info on directions by searching for Blue Moon Bar and Restaurant Anyer on Google.[/QUOTE]Thank you for your helpful reply, I actually am familiar with the Blue Moon but I think its glory days are very much a thing of the past, the last time I was there I was the only customer and the forty-something ibu nursing the child behind the counter didn't look like she was up for much.

I have checked out a few of the Indonesian websites (Kaskus, BintangMawar etc) and have got some info from them, it seems karaoke and "salons" are the main option. There are two problems however, the maddeningly imprecise nature of the directions "dekat Ramayana", "belakang Mayofield" etc. , the other is that when I do track down positive leads and google them it invariably leads to a news story about how they've been closed down in a razia, Banten like much of western Java is going through a conservative phase these days.

However nothing daunted I am looking forward to the challenge, it'll be like the good old days in Indonesia of ten or more years ago before the interwebs and you'd rack up somewhere like Manado or Balikpapan and simply have to find out the scene yourself, ojek drivers, taxi drivers and bell-hops in Cilegon can expect to get good tips from me soon.

It's going to be fun (provided there's no razia of course).

[QUOTE=Hilo77;1627467]Thank you for your helpful reply, I actually am familiar with the Blue Moon but I think its glory days are very much a thing of the past, the last time I was there I was the only customer and the forty-something ibu nursing the child behind the counter didn't look like she was up for much.

.[/QUOTE]Wow. Love to hear that name again. Blue Moon. I had some fun times there. It used to be the center for the HASH (drinking club with a running problem) and had a lot of very interesting personalities. Where did everyone go? I heard the place was bombed and re-opened. I went there again in 2012 and it was way slowed down but was still able to take a cute waitress home for the weekend. The owner was an amazing Dayak lady married to an Aussie. . What happened to them? Anyone know?

[QUOTE=Yomama99;1627522]Wow. Love to hear that name again. Blue Moon. I had some fun times there. It used to be the center for the HASH (drinking club with a running problem) and had a lot of very interesting personalities. Where did everyone go? I heard the place was bombed and re-opened. I went there again in 2012 and it was way slowed down but was still able to take a cute waitress home for the weekend. The owner was an amazing Dayak lady married to an Aussie. . What happened to them? Anyone know?[/QUOTE]I get the impression the place is living off past memories, there's a lot of Hash memorabilia on the wall but it looks dusty and dated and I get the impression they haven't been there in a while. The place wasn't bombed but burned down a short while after the Bali bombing thus putting the owners out of business (or if some rumours are correct the owner had already become the bar's main and frequently only customer) the place is locally owned now I believe.

I stand to be corrected as it's a place I had heard great reports about but which turned out to be a disappointment when I actually found it.

[QUOTE=Yomama99;1627522]Wow. Love to hear that name again. Blue Moon. I had some fun times there. It used to be the center for the HASH (drinking club with a running problem) and had a lot of very interesting personalities. Where did everyone go? I heard the place was bombed and re-opened. I went there again in 2012 and it was way slowed down but was still able to take a cute waitress home for the weekend. The owner was an amazing Dayak lady married to an Aussie. . What happened to them? Anyone know?[/QUOTE]Yes I recall the Blue Moon, once had some luck there. THink I made a post about it once, but its been a few years since I have ventured that way.

A timely reminder as it is something that has caught me out very often in the past. Sunday is goat-slashing day, which means that on Saturday night everywhere is shut, and if you do venture out taxis home will be like hens' teeth. Something worth bearing in mind if you have made any plans.

I will be in Jakarta next week staying in Holiday Inn. I heard it is near some golf course, any actions that there that can be recommended. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hello guys,

Its my first time to visit Indonesia after being a regular in Thailand and Philippines. Do you have any advice on where I should stay? Somewhere close to the action, safe and easy to pick up nice girls. I am African American. So I hope that's not a issue with the girls. Anything you guys can recommend would be great. I am planning a 4 day trip.