Welcome to Jakarta

Yeah last week I visited Jakarta just for spending my holiday while I'm still waiting for the result of high school graduation. hmm although I've visited Jakarta for hundred times perhaps, I think my last visit was different. I tried challenge to use public transportation in Jakarta. On that day, my destination was Grand Indonesia. It is located in 'Gold Triangle' of Jakarta at Thamrin Avenue. FYI, Grand Indonesia uses a little part of building of Hotel Indonesia which now it has merger with Europe hotel corp ( forget the name of corp, sorry :P ). Grand Indonesia was inaugurated by The President of Indonesia last year. It is planned to be a mall with segment high class shopping center.

My adventure began at Sunday morning approximately 11 am. My house or exactly my older brother's house is located in BSD City, Tangerang, Indonesia. first, I had to use KRL (Kereta Rel Listrik) or Mass Transit. I waited for it at the station and bought the ticket only Rp4500 (US$1=Rp10000). KRL uses air conditioner and as a train, it is impossible to get traffic jam (the worst maybe the rail's broken, but I never hear that). Using KRL was so comfortable and nice. Or just because It was Sunday so it looked comfortable? hmm I don't know. but I suggest to the reader, you must try it!

then, I stopped and got down in Pondok Aren station. I connected my way by bus or metromini. Honestly, using metromini was the compulsion choice transportation in Jakarta. yeah because the bus was jerk. I think metromini must be reconstructed. but, without metromini, there is no big transportation on the road. there is another choice like Angkota or Public City Car but it is too small and narrow. Oh, the fee for Metromini on that day was Rp2000 until Bus Terminal Kota Blok M.

At terminal, located in Blok M, I went to underground tunnel to reach Bus Rapid Transit Shelter, named Transjakarta Busway. people like to say 'busway' for this transportation. Using this transportation was sooo comfortable!! It brought some facilities like air conditioner, self-way to avoid traffic jam, and the ease to know destination like this on bus, there was a voice every almost reach next shelter, for example: WELCOME TO TRANSJAKARTA, NEXT STOP BUNDARAN HI, CHECK YOUR BELONGINGS AND STEP CAREFULLY. woow it was SO amazing for me that domiciled in Semarang. eh eh... Using busway is relatively cheap. only Rp3500 you can use until last shelter.

At Bundaran HI, I got out and took some pictures in front of Bundaran HI. hmm.. It is one of the pride landmarks in Indonesia. then I stepped for some minutes to Grand Indonesia. It is near Bundaran HI. Walking there seems like in Singapore, yeah because pedestrian around there is 'life'. moreover its nightlife.


My purpose to Grand Indonesia was just want to know how it was. Also there was 30% sale to all items in Gramedia Bookstore, so I didn't want to pass it. Inside Grand Indonesia, I just could to say: It was a glamorous place! yeah, it really looked like high class mall! hmm... there, I decided just to try the food court and buy a book in Gramedia. because the price was as high as sky you know. I bought nasi goreng kambing or lamb fried rice at Sate Senayan Restaurant. I got it for Rp32000. Oh no! It was so expensive for food. but including the great place and the high class chairs and table, I thought it was enough. suitable price.


After lunch I went to Gramedia bookstore. I thought this Gramedia was different because it was 'no red' and mostly black and silver atmosphere. Finally, I found a nice book about traveling and it was RP50000. Don't forget the discount, so I got it just for Rp35000. Wow, great! I was fully satisfied here. :)

At last, the day was afternoon already. 2 pm. I stepped to bus way shelter and came back to Terminal Blok M, prepared to go back to BSD city.

How nice holiday. I got the different activities, have tried the public transportation in Jakarta and visited the no. 1 shopping center in Indonesia. haha :D thanks God for giving me a wonderful live!