Jakarta - Gig-Trip (3D2N)

I did my first gig-trip to Jakarta. Have never been there, but still I found it pretty exciting amidst their jams. Here's a 3D2N itinerary which I think you can follow too if you are going for a concert. 

Where to Stay: The Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta

I tried to do a money-saving by booking last minute (I booked a day before by the way). The strategy didn't work and it fell flat. There was a price surge and all the cheaper rooms were sold out. I ended out not getting the hotel we initially wanted - Artotel Gelora Senayan Jakarta or a cheap luxury option - Fairmont. 

The Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta is really convenient and within walking distance to the concert and the nearby shopping district. The compound is huge, I didn't even finish exploring the whole place. The exterior is a little worn, but the interior is clean. My favourite was their breakfast. It was delicious and had a massive selection. I even found ice-cream <3 Glad we ended up there!

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5%  Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

How to Travel: By Gojek, By MRT (during Jam)

Gojek is really cheap there and is generally the preferred option because the pedestrian roads isn't very friendly. We ended up walking in circles a few times. Good thing we knew locals who swear by MRT. During desperate times, we gave it a try. We had to purchase the card (S$3) which is so expensive for their standards. Every top up had an administrative fees. However, it is really fast and was the best mode of transport during the peak hours. It still doesn't get you right at the doorstep though.

What we observed during the peak hours was that the Gojek driver would stop moving in the map and we would be leave in limbo. MRT was definitely the best option. Either that, we considered the pillion rider on bike option, which many of their locals seems to be taking. Fun fact, there are women cabin and we had to be educated by the commuters. :P

Day 1: Kota Dua / Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption/ Hutan Kota by Plataran

We went to their top attraction. Honestly, there isn't any much there and seems like we mainly went for food. Most of the people were locals and attempted to speak to us in Bahasa. For lunch, we had Pandang Merdeka instead of the highly instagrammable cafe - Cafe Batava. No regrets because their food was super good. We struggled a little on the language, pointing and translating the menu. I stuffed myself silly. Their pop chicken looked really unappetizing but is amazingly delicious. Do not miss it!  We chilled a little at Kedai Seni Djakarte to try their Poffertjes. Ok, but not a must-go!

As I had a bit of spare time, I decided to head to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the one place I really wanted to check out. We ended up hitting peak hour and had problems catch a gojek. From there, we learnt that you need to give yourself buffer time. After debating for half an hour, we decided to take the metro (pretty convenient as it walking distance from the metro station!) and arrived at the beautiful cathedral. It doesn't beat anything you see in Europe. If you love architecture like me, you would enjoy a short visit. 

Ended the day with Dinner at Hutan Kota by Plataran, a recommendation by their locals. It is a little of a fine dining place and I love the attention to details they showered on us. (It started way before we arrived, from the day I made a reservation). As it was a special occasion, the waiters even came their a full assemble to sing us a song. Food is fusion style, but very tasty. It is pricey for the local standards, but worth every penny. The view and ambience was great. Highly recommend!

Day 2: Blok M Square Enclave

It is a very youthful place and I love it. It is a trending hang-out and I can understand why. We got a lot of caffeine fix here. Check out how many cups we had in total. Ranked according: Tuku (love their gula aren in their coffee), filosofi (typical good cup of Western Coffee), Matchaman (ok cup of matcha). It was a great shopping area. My best find being Ingood- a place which sold really cute merch and had  the most decorated photo booths with movable props and nice photo templates. We struggled a little with the payment instructions but the shop owners were kind enough to assist. Another nice find was a tee from Shrotam. 

Lunch was at Sarang Oci, which served another type of Indonesia cuisine. Another satisfied meal which I would highly recommend. We left the place soon after by metro again because the jam was crazy and I needed to collect my tickets for the concert. Would have loved fitting a massage session in, but I love shopping more!

Day 3: Last Minute Shopping - ASHTA District 8

Wasted a little bit of time exploring the Car-Free-Day booths. It is mostly street food which I had no courage to try. (I prefer shopping). ASHTA District 8 is my favourite shopping mall thus far. It has character and lots of interesting local brands. But too bad, I had so little time. I could only squeeze in a coffee stop at Fuglen and a grocery run. And it was to the airport. I surprisingly enjoyed Jakarta and can't wait to be back already. Can't wait to go there again for another concert!