Bringing to you,
Tsuriki and Mint's 4 Days & 3 Nights stay in Jakarta!
That was in December 2011, about a week before Christmas. Trixy is so humble, spontaneous, bubbly and thoughtful. She always patient and easy-going, the perfect travel buddy!
We're going taking Garuda Indonesia Airlines this time ---- BUSINESS CLASS.
Wohooo~!
Garuda Indonesia, a national flag carrier and owned by the government of
Indonesia which operates in domestic and international routes, has recently recognized as a 4 star airline by SkyTrax.
Garuda Indonesia flies to 32 domestic cities and 17 international cities and operates 81
aircrafts including its brand new Boeing B737-800NGs and Airbus A330-200s with the new
signature interior.
I can't wait but we still have another one and a half hours to spare before boarding.
With that one and a half hours to spare, we immediately started campwhoring on the snap and win photo contest machine at Singapore Changi Airport, first thing in the morning!
Camwhore Queens.
With half an hour left, we finally make our way to the lounge.
It was after reaching the lounge that we realise we can help ourselves to the complimentary buffet spread and free usage of amenities like massage chairs, newspaper etc.
Prior to that we ate breakfast at the T3 food court. We didn't manage to finish the porridge we shared. Honestly, I personally think that the bites we tried at the lounge were so much more fantastic as compared to the porridge we ate. > T_________T <
So comfortable, oh my 天!
Time for boarding!
Welcome to my comfy-max and spacious seat.
Thank you Trixy babe for letting me take the window seat after she learnt that I have motion sickness. Not only that, it's my 2nd time taking a plane and I'm uber excited!
*MUACKS*
My window view.
Scroll up and you'll know that I'm seating in the 3rd row, my favorite number.
There's a welcome drink and warm towels for us, just what we needed after a long wait in the air-con room. We had lunch and dessert on board too!
Make a guess what's this....
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It's our monitors to watch movies, listen to music, read information to keep us entertained. Just pull them out like this, did you manage to guess the picture right?
It read 10668 feet high, 840km/h, -43.0 degree Celsius
Outside, the clouds looked like fluffy cotton candies and marshmallows, mixed together! Made a video to show all of you at the end of the post. Trixy and I took turns to record some videos. Check out the the food on board in the video as well!
As its concern to safety, Garuda Indonesia has received IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit),
which proves that the airline has fulfilled the global best practice and security procedures.
FLIGHT ROUTES
Domestic Routes : All Around Indonesia
International Routes : Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Kualalumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong
Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Osaka, Tokyo, Seoul, Nagoya, Jeddah, Dubai,
Amsterdam
The moment we touched down at Jakarta International Airport (Soekarno-Hatta), we were warmly welcomed by representatives from Jakarta City Government Tourism and Culture Office: Agung, Kasrul and our 'boss'. You'll find out why he's our boss in the video. As I'm introducing them, I really miss my heroes; most hospitable and humorous, who kept their guests safe and comfortable throughout the entire trip. Thank you for making my stay so memorable!
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is named after the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno, and the first vice-president, Mohammad Hatta. It has 150 check-in counters, 30 baggage carousels and 42 gates.
If you're a business class passenger, you'll be given a fast track counter to go to. We're out of the airport with our luggage in say, within 5 to 10 minutes? Yes, it's so much time saved and what's more, we don't have to squeeze with the rest of the crowd. Y(^ o ^ )Y
The first thing that caught my eye in Jakarta, A&W fast food restaurant!
I MUST HAVE THAT.
MUST.
Agung said we'll have a chance to eat that.
Hurray!
Mike, a photojournalist who was also there, took this photo for us. He's a professional photographer who travels to take amazing photographs which capture the hearts of Asia. One of his projects: Singapore Botanic Gardens Photo calendars, he's the photographer behind those captivating photos of the fauna and flora of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The first day was generally relaxing and basically getting used to the change of environment. Agung and his friends brought us to 3 different malls in Jakarta: Plaza Indonesia, eX and CITOs.
An overview of our itinerary that day
- Visit Alleira Batik Fashion Boutique at Plaza Indonesia
- Lunch at Sari Ratu Indonesian Restaurant at Plaza Indonesia
- Visit Hard rock cafe at eX
- Check in to Sari Pan Pacific Hotel
- Visit Cilandak Town Square aka CITOs
- Dinner at Cafe Betawi at CITOs
Sari Pan Pacific Jakarta, a 5 star hotel, is just a 5-minutes walk from Plaza Indonesia and eX. Driving from the international airport, it takes about 35-minute to reach. Situated right in the heart of the city, it is also located in the heart of a shopping paradise, next to a theatre, some clubs, plenty of FOOD and just minutes away from its National Monument Square(MONAS).
Plaza Indonesia is like Orchard ION in Singapore, only that the levels and shops are so much easier to access, straight forward, simple yet elegance concept. Best of all, the escalators lead everywhere, it doesn't just stop on certain levels or being situated all over the place.
Photo courtesy of Jakarta City Government Tourism and Culture Office
I ran into the GUCCI boutique! *SO LOVED*
Alleira Batik is a fushion of tradition batik techniques with modern fashion. The designs are uniquely arranged, every collection with its own personal touch and limited quantities. There are men's designs, women's designs, even children's designs, Batik fit for all. I never knew there were so many different kinds of batik. The fabrics that they choose are also the best fabrics like SILK, CHIFFON and SILK ATBM.
Batik reminds me of my art class back in secondary school. We were given this special piece of cloth to be stapled on a wooden frame. Any designs have to be meticulously traced on the cloth using a kind of transparent wax to section out the portions. If you miss a spot, the paint will leak out to the other part of the cloth, thus ruining your masterpiece. I ruined mine 757948264927465847x and somehow my patience went out. I'm referring to is the batik painting I learnt in school. Of course, there are many other methods to make batik, and Alleira Batik uses high grading techniques to make theirs.
The batik fashion you are going to see is going to be so much attractive, classy and elegance; nothing like the pasar malam batik-style sleeping dresses you wear to sleep.
You'll see what I mean. I tried on a few designs!
I'm in love with their local snack. It's gluntinous rice. I have a weak spot for glutinous rice, by the way. What amuses me more was the Lychee drink that's so popular to the locals. When I saw the logo on the can, I hesitated for the longest time whether I should try it.
The drink with this logo I tried in Singapore tasted.... well, funny. It's supposed to be some kind of plain water which reduces your body heatiness. The reason I don't like it is because of the bitterness it leaves on my tongue-- the after taste.
After repeatedly telling myself not to stereotype, I gave the lychee drink a shot. It's pleasantly soothing. It has a mild lychee flavour and not too sweet; thirst-quenching with no bitter after taste! I'm giving myself a pat on my back for the courage to try and find myself liking it.
Designed with the greatest detail, you see.
In the next few photos, Tricy and I are going to transform from this:
to this!
I think that we looked like some warrior princess from ancient royal families! :p
We got to tied the sarongs ourselves!
Photo courtesy of Alleira Batik.
At the 18th ASEAN Summit, Alleira Batik was appointed to prepare batik designs for the ministers and president.
"Held in Jakarta on May 7-8, the 18th ASEAN Summit was attended by Sultan Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Prime Minister Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammayong, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Myanmerese Prime Minister Thein Sein.
Followed by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, Senior Minister of Singapore S Jayakumar representing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong could not attend the summit as he was facing general election in his country. (Eliswan/JE)"
~source quoted from http://www.aseansummit.org/index.php?page=news&newsid=83
Thank you Alleira Batik for your souvenir!
Wanna know what is inside this package?
Watch the video!
Alleira Batik is on Facebook and actively tweets on Twitter, and they have an outlet at MBS (SINGAPORE). Hohoho.
Alleira International is located at:
L1-67, South Wing
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Singapore
P: +65 66887977
We had our 3rd meal of the day at Sari Ratu Indonesian restaurant before heading over to eX mall.
Prawn, So BIGGGGG!
Maybe you'll want to watch this video first before enjoying the rest of the post.
So the boy I captured in the video secretly is greatly inspired by his elder brother, who's a participant of the contest!
Cilandak Town Square (Citos)
A mall where youths visit. You'll find plenty of hangout places like J.co and Coffee Bean. Picture yourself in the Heeren and Bugis + public live bands.
If you are in Jakarta on a Sunday, you MUST visit between 10am to 10pm!
left to right: Me, Trixy, Mike, Agung.
Once again, I missed the chance of having A&W. Only saw the restaurant after we had dinner. But oh well, at least we took a picture with its signature mascot. He looks lonely.
Cilandak Town Square (Citos) is located at:
Jl. TB Simatupang Kav.17 Jakarta 12620.
Phone : (62)(21) 75920222
Fax: (62)(21)75920210
Visit http://www.townsquare.co.id for more information.
Back at the hotel, it's really late yet Boss and Agung(blue) were still trying in vain to activate our Indonesian sim cards & 3G plans. Thank you so much! Their hardwork paid off and we both got UNLIMITED 3G access, like finally!
Here's Trixy babe and I wearing our Alleira souvenirs, LOVE TTM!!!
On Day 2, I'll be showing you a more countryside and layback-feel of Jakarta. Tsuriki and Mint's visit to Bogor and more!
Here's sweetest Trixy's travelogue about her Day 1 in Jakarta.
MUST READ!
- 1st half: http://quentria.blogspot.com/2011/12/jakarta-travelog-day-1-flying-on-garuda.html
- 2nd half: http://quentria.blogspot.com/2012/01/jakarta-travelog-day-1-welcome-to.html
Thank you Jakarta City Government Tourism and Culture Office for this awesome max invitation to Jakarta! For more information and guides on where to go and what to do in Jakarta, visit the offcial Jakarta Tourism portal here.
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