Blonde on a ojek bike in Jakarta

I had my first experience on a motor bike in Jakarta yesterday…….I think motor bikes are dangerous at the best of times, but here they are positively lethal!

I needed to be at a friend’s house at 7.30am in the morning, but the car needed to take the kids and GJ to school, so it was a taxi or a lift on a bike.

Taxis in peak hour are hard to get and then you have to deal with the traffic. In a car it would have taken up to forty minutes, on the bike it was about 8 minutes although the distance is around 2 km.

Traffic in Jakarta is not like traffic in western countries, it is incomprehensible how bad it is until you have experienced it.

It was change of shift time for our home security guards and I asked one of them to give me a lift; my security guard and I are now very well acquainted lol.

I was so nervous I went for full body contact with my arms tightly wrapped around his middle; luckily, my handbag was the right size to wedge between us on the seat if you know what I mean!

There was no spare helmet and the kids push bike helmets were too small so I went bare…..my blonde hair a shiny beacon to all.

Jalan Ampera was almost at a standstill with traffic so there were plenty of people to witness my inaugural ojek (motor bike taxi) ride. GJ wanted to know if I took photos, I had to admit that it took all of my attention to breathe and occasionally open my eyes!

I saw quite a few stunned and gobsmacked faces as I whizzed by and could even hear some of the comments lol.

But I would have to say that the scariest part of my day was yet to come….

After my ojek ride I met up with my friend where we had to cross JL Ampera to grab a taxi to JL Mangpang and then we had to walk across JL Mangpang Perapatan to meet up with our other friend!

A whopping great big road with bus lanes and homicidal manic bike, car, and bus drivers.

Luckily my buxom blonde bule body is quiet noticeable and it is obvious that if I were hit I would create a lot of damage not to mention a huge mess so I given a wide berth.

By 7.25 am I had zigzagged through traffic on the back of a motor bike, crossed one big road and one whopping big, main road on foot.

I nearly needed a stiff drink and a lie down.

Luckily I was off on a day trip to the factory outlet stores of Bandung and was revived with some retail therapy.

I can, without hesitation say that this will be my one and only ojek ride.

Mahkota Lamps and Antiques, Jakarta Indonesia

It has taken me nearly 3 years to get around to it, but I have finally made time to visit this lamp shop. I drive past at least once a fortnight and have always wanted to go in and shop till I drop browse.

The lamps start out a shinny yellow brass and gradually age to a wonderful dark colour and I want one of each lol! Small lamps start at about 200 000RP (US $21) and go up to 2.5+ million RP for the giant ones (US $ 260+), bear in mind that this is the ‘blonde’ price- it’ll will vary with the colour of your hair i.e. the lighter the hair the higher the price lol

I saved these images a couple of months ago when they were featured on one of my favourite design sites, as they suit a Queensland, Australia tropical home. These photos show what can be done with a well chosen lamp, or two or three……

Ben Stiller’s home for sale, www.hollywoodspanishestate.com
Photos by Everett Fenton Gidley, www.efg3.com

There are no marked prices and the price fluctuates every 2-3 minutes so be prepared to bargain. The shop assistant speaks good English, much better than my Indonesian.

The address is JL Pangeran Antasari # 64 (close to the JL Cipete Raya intersection) Cipete, ph 021 7590 2663

  These photos were all shot on my mobile phone, the colours were much more vivid in real life.

Traditional Indonesian street markets

Ciawi markets. 

Ciawa is south of Jakarta.

Dr Fish, a fish pedicure.

We tried something new this week.....a fish pedicure.

I'll be the first to admit that it sounds creepy, (and for the first 2 minutes it felt spine-tingly creepy) but this was surprisingly fun and effective.

Chelsea had actually heard about it and then seen it in Singapore and wanted to try it. There is not much I won't try (except dancing on night club bars and bungee jumping) so off we went to D'brascos, a local factory outlet in Jakarta.

Chelsea and I went in while Georgia watched and squirmed in horror. Ben sat on the edge and after nearly falling in for the 4th time took his shoes off and came in too.

Georgia desperately wanted to try it yet was freaked out by it, but after some coaxing she gingerly stepped in and then didn't want to get out lol.

The tank is right at the front of the shop, by the entrance/exit, so of course we were the highlight of the day for many strangers. We are all used to being stared at 24/7, but this was a new high (it is Indonesian school holidays at the moment as well).

The fish create a tingly feeling, much like holding your leg/foot over a spa jet. The fish, Garra rufa have no teeth and live on dead and diseased skin. They can not bite nor tear skin and just suck off the old stuff. Once you get your head around the fact of live animals feeding on you it becomes quiet relaxing.

Here are some links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_fish


http://www.doctorfishguide.com/

http://living.oneindia.in/beauty/beauty-tips/2008/fish-pedicure-salon-230708.html


This cost 35 000RP each for 15 minutes (cute 5yr old boys are free), this is about US$3.50 or AU$4.20. Chelsea decided to see if the fish would tidy up her scabby knee (this did and still does gross me out lol), they did!

We thought this was a nice way to get soft feet and will definitely being going back.

Mortified at the supermarket.

Spring break (I know, we are in the Southern Hemisphere, in a constantly hot, tropical climate yet it is still called Spring Break here!) is over and the kids and I are back at work/school.

I finished work today at noon and headed to the local supermarket to do a huge grocery shop, as did many, many other people, it was packed.

Just as the last few items were being scanned I opened my purse and found it empty of cards*. They were all still in my Singapore purse!

I had a piled high trolley and had to rummage around and return stuff until I got down to the amount of cash I had on me, all while every one else in the queue behind me watched and waited.

Now I just need to go back and get the rest............with a purse full of cash and cards.




* I have a great system of multiple purses: one for each currency I regularly use; $Au , $Sing , Indonesian RP and $US. I always keep enough cash in each one for a drink and a snack at the airport and a taxi fare in that country. All I then need to do is swap over cards and licenses. I even keep the appropriate health cards and loyalty cards in each wallet. This system works very well for us (except when I forget to change over cards and end up short at the supermarket lol).

Wireless recharging of electrical devices

A new invention, please.


I have a need; and I want someone to invent a device to fix it.

I want a nice box, (timber, leather, rattan etc) approx A4 size and about 6" (15cm) deep with a matching lid.

I want it to be connected to electricity in some wireless way.

I want to throw any electrical gadget (cameras, phones, ipod's, itouch DS's etc) the family owns in it overnight and have it recharge them.

I want no cords, no plugging in, just a simple "put it in the box" and it will happen.

How long until it is a reality?

Imported goods and Electricity in Jakarta.

This is an extract from a great newsletter I receive weekly, anyone can subscribe, it's free and it lets you know about upcoming events.
This is how we find out about some of the fun things to do in Jakarta.
This is the web site: whatsnewjakarta.com


Hello again fellow Jakartan's!! We are sure that we are not the only ones in Indonesia wondering when the current alcohol-crisis will finish? Rumors have it that there are 60 containers of imported alcohol sitting at Jakarta's port. Apparently customs have imposed an excise tax of 300% per bottle – at which importers can't and will not pay. Trying to buy quality imported spirits is like a quest suitable for Indiana Jones – and when one does have the opportunity to buy some they are forced to pay 4 or 5 times the normal retail value. Wines can be found more easily but again you are paying in most cases 5+ times their normal retail price that you would pay at the origin location. We assume all this means very healthy financial times for the beer companies. In what is supposed to be a free market economy it seems some very monopolistic practices are the root cause here. Further to this, we have also heard that there is already some enforcement of restricting the import of foreign made goods if similar goods are manufactured in Indonesia. This extends to a large range of food items including cheese. (and brown sugar and heaps of other imported foods!!!!!!!!!!!, fruit has nearly doubled in price, I spend nearly $50/week on fruit alone) It is probable that this has been enforced with view to protecting local industries in the wake of the current financial crisis around the world – however such protectionist and isolationist measures could have a counter productive reaction from other countries who may consider retaliatory measures against Indonesian exports. For a country that boasts of a free & open market economy concept and that embraces Western investment and tourism, it surprising that these issues are occurring – and with very little media attention that we have seen thus far. Lets all hope that good sense prevails sooner rather than later. Otherwise a lot of people will be sadly missing having the brandy added to their Xmas puddings this year! Anyway over the next week there is plenty happening around town to enjoy – so celebrate over the next week with your friends around town this week & enjoy what this wonderful (but almost alcohol dry) city has to offer! Anyway bye for now and enjoy the rest of your week!


The cost of living is becoming enormous for us here.
I think our electricity is being stolen, goodness nows how long that will take to get sorted!!!!
We have really cut back our consumption, yet the bill keeps climbing. Last month the bill was 4.9 million Rupiah...just under AU$640.(US$410.)

This is for ONE MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This is another thing that the scrooge company that GJ works for doesn't contribute to, we pay all cost of living, tax and majority of education. GJ needs to get into oil, gas , banking or mining, much better packages!

Bandung has turned us......

My friend and I pride ourselves on not being your typical expat wives.

We both work, shop, care for our kids and don't do the whole "gym-lunch-shop" thing day in and day out. Not that there is any thing wrong with that...LOL

My friend in particular hates to shop......I must admit I do like wandering around a mall now and again as well as a market or two, but do not have nearly enough time to do so.

I have managed to turn her.......this week we did retail therapy to get over my Australia stress.
Luckily it is sale time.......Pondok Indah mall got a work out.

The turning point was Bandung.

Bandung is a city about 2 hours from Jakarta and is famous for its factory outlets.

We did two separate days of shopping in one week...we even encouraged each other to purchase...wait for it....handbags.

I have mentioned before that I missed out on the handbag gene at birth. One purse and one handbag will last me a couple of years, same goes for my friend.

I felt just like Mary Tyler Moore tossing her hat in Minneapolis when I was surrounded by all these branded factory outlets LOL (NB I am definitely not old enough to have lived through watching the MTM show.....but I do remember my mum watching the re-runs when I was a VERY small child). We had so much fun rushing to one outlet to the next.

The kids got some great stuff and I think I have finished my sisters Christmas shopping. I only bought one thing for my self and nothing for poor old GJ.....next time.

Oh yes.... this is how far we have turned...we are already planning a next time. Even the 3 hour journey home through horrific Friday night traffic didn't turn us off.

We are going to catch the train up with the kids and make a weekend of it. Pool and cinema for the kids...shopping for the parents.

The Kamoro tribe of Papua, Indonesia

Blogger ate my post.........

I had an epic post written about the great Lunch T and I had with the some members of the Kamoro tribe of Papua, Indonesia.

It will never get posted unless I summarize......

• Indonesia Heritage society organized in support of the Ubud writers festival.
• Kal Muller spoke about life with the tribe, his role in distributing the tribal art and his job at Freeport mine.
• It was a first for T and I, we work, we don't "lunch". In fact T went back to office after the lunch (and one bucket sized glass of wine).

Ibu Sabine

I was introduced to a lovely elderly German lady last year, Ibu Sabine.
Sabine and her husband moved to Indonesia in 1962 and have the most amazing collection of Indonesian art and furniture. Sabine's dream was to retire with a business restoring and selling furniture and objet d'art.
Unfortunately her husbands failing health has made this impossible. Sabine is selling off her collection to finance a move back to Germany to get the appropriate health care for her husband.

Most of the building materials:- original carved doors, stained glass, teak windows etc have been sold. There are still many chairs tables etc. Every time I visit there is something new to look at.
As it is still the rainy season most of the art is still in storage. Come March Sabine is going to get out the art and batik for viewing.
Sabine has had a man working for her since she arrived many years ago and she has trained him in restoration. Once you decide on purchasing something Pak Atmore will schedule the work and call when finished.

Before shots

After shots

Ibu Sabine is relying on word of mouth to get customers and lives in South Jakarta, in the vicinity of the zoo. If you, or someone you know is interested in being introduced to Sabine please email me and I will pass on the contact details. Sabine, naturally, is fluent in Bahasa Indonesian, German and English.

Pasaraya Grande

I have a really feel-good story about Pasaraya Grande.


We had a small shopping marathon with Tan, Rob, GJ and myself just before Christmas. We split up; Tan and I one way and the men the other.
As Robs ankle was still very tender we thought that the boys would be finished way before us (we actually thought we could do Seneyan City as well).
After about 1.5 hours Tan and I were laden down with just a few bags…LOL….we met up with the boys and gave them our shopping bags as they were taking the car and going home. After another hour we ran in to the guys (they were still drooling over the mens shoes…any one that knows these two would understand how out of character it is for them to be shopping let alone drooling over shoes!
We all had lunch and went home to view our great sale purchases. I had a few pairs of SENSIBLE shoes ( I love Rockport!) and Tan with half of this years collection of ladies Polo shirts….or so she thought!
Tan had finally managed to find the ultimate blue pin strip ladies business shirt in her size (we had searched most of Jogjakarta and Jakarta for said garment).
When we arrived home we found a bag missing, the bag that contained the ultimate Ralph Lauren shirt….
The guys shrugged and denied all responsibility…..but we knew, girls do not loose shopping bags of on sale merchandise.
Two days later we head back to Pasaraya Grande to repurchase the ultimate blue pin striped ladies business shirt and on a off chance check with the section to see if it had been handed in. It hadn’t but they referred us to customer enquires who didn’t have it either but referred us to customer service who DID have it!

There was much hand shaking and thanks going on in this room (we did stop off on our way home from a champagne brunch at the Ritz Carlton).
It was so nice to have our faith in honesty reaffirmed.

Shopping in Jakarta

I am not much of a shopper here in Jakarta. I love to browse but not much else. There is the time factor, the crowds (it is a national past time here to cruise the malls) and the fact that clothes here are all designed to fit a small Asian figure.

I don't venture much past Pondok Indah mall or Pasaraya Grande. I rarely venture into the city malls (they are truly spectacular) or to other ends of Jakarta.

BUT.....

When Tan and Jan are here I try to take them to all the hot shopping spots.

Tan has a passion for shoes and bags as well as anything by Polo (Ralph Lauren).

Polo brand is VERY expensive in Australia and much cheaper here.

Tan lucks out with the shoes....size 41 is not common here, but scores with everything else. Polo only goes up to about a size 34-36 so Jan just squeezes in but not poor old me.....

Places we go:-

• Cilandak town square. Wednesday is ladies day and it has market stalls set up with fairly good fake handbags and curios.

• Bogor. Bogor is a satellite city about an hours drive south of Jakarta. It is famous for its elevation, botanical gardens and being a handbag lovers paradise LOL. You can see our pictures and post of Bogor here. Handbags are sold here in huge warehouses filled to the brim with just handbags!

• Pasarya Grande. 7 floors of interesting goodies. Until this shop I had NEVER ever seen so many shoes for sale in one shop (you can usually find up to size 39 here easily). The range of mens shoes and clothes is equally enormous!

• Mangga Dua. Read all about it here.
• Tamman Anggrek, Read about it here .
• Pondok Indah Malls. My favourite, has everything.
• Ratu Plaza. Tan has a years supply of DVD's. Seasons and seasons of favourites as well as a few or quite a few movies. But do remember the important warning about this mall
  

Mom and Tan hit all their favourite places and found a few more...a little shop in Kemang Timur that sells silver curios, my antique man Pak Anis to name a few.
I have a wonderful story about Pasaraya for the blog soon as well as the scoop on Pak Anis's wonderful treasures.......

Mangga Dua shopping

I had my first shopping experience at Mangga Dua last week. Mangga Dua is suburb in the northern section of Jakarta. It is renown as being a bargain shoppers paradise. It also has a large electronic and computer centre.

This centre was 7 stories high, packed to the rafters with EVERYTHING! There is not much fixed pricing, you need to bargain HARD. My friend Sharon took us and she gets her driver to come and help us bargain.
The array of fake designer handbags and shoes was enormous.

We finished the day off at Sharons favourite nail salon.....a quick manicure and pedicure for all.
The salon was KooKoo in Keb. Baru. It was a great place, not the cheapest but very professional.

Ball Gowns in Jakarta

It is Ball season here in Jakarta.

And as all women know, you simply must have a new gown for each ball LOL.

No you don't, but you do need more than one!

I decided for the upcoming ball I would like to find a ready made one, hopefully cheaper than what I could get one made for. We are the poor Australian expats, the ones who aren't in the banking or oil industries.

My first foray was to Pondok Indah Mall- Dismal. There was plenty of tiny sizes, zero my size.
I met a nice American lady who was also gown shopping to no avail. This is my favorite mall in Jakarta.

Next attempt was the city, Plaza Indonesia...even more dismal. This time there was plenty to choose from IF you were a prepubescent tween shaped woman.....In the end I just went straight to the sales assistants and asked if there was anything in their shop that would fit me. A few staff members managed to keep a straight face and say no...most burst out laughing and sniggering I KID YOU NOT!
Even if there was something that would of fitted me I couldn't of afforded them. One shop had stunning creations that started at 10 Million, that would be just under AU$1500.


Last attempt was Pasaraya Grande.
WOW......new stock and huge range of sizes. I got a ready made, perfectly fitting, black, full length ball gown for 350 000RP. This is about AU$45. This dress also match's some shoes I already own....GJ is most impressed! I have the dress at the tailors this week lowering the neckline a little which will cost less than $10.

Duty free alcohol in Jakarta

There is another problem at the moment with getting a bottle of wine. Some crack down has occurred...or bribe whoops I mean payment has not been paid.

You can not enter the duty free/wine shops at the moment unless you have a diplomatic kitas card.

Unfortunately stocks were running a little low at home.

Friend to the rescue!

My friends husband works at an embassy here in Jakarta and took me shopping. When her choir group heard about it they all came too..........

10 women all with filled trolleys all saying "we are with her".

The official that was supervising was humming and harring and kept saying no more but we all got through. This was especially fortunate as I was the last in the queue!

Hopefully the correct payment will be made and the right documents filed and the duty free business will be back in operation before the festive season.

There is another non duty free shop in Kemang, Vin+ don't bother ..the shelves are almost empty.

Weekend re-count.....Saturday

I laughed at this title...this is my Monday theme for this term with my ESOL students.
We discuss our weekends and then I help them write it into sentences. A lot of the kids know all the words but are unable to write correct sentences (ie correct tense, structure, pronouns, using adjectives etc).
So here is my version

Saturday

I arranged for Mrs A's antique dealers friend to come to the house for a showing for a few friends. Pak A is from Surabaya St and has a great selection of batiks from around the archipelago. (If you want his contact details just email me)
We had a great few hours oohing and aahing over some beautiful fabrics and objects.


Later on the families joined us for a party, and this is when I found out our homes new nickname-

The Chocolate house.

Our chocolate fountain is so popular and memorable that it has named our house LOL
One of the kids when they found out they were coming to our house said oh, the chocolate house!

The nine kids play so well together, no fights!!!! so out came the chocolate fountain.

This time we were clever, all the adults had a quick dip in the fountain before the hoards descended.

Our fountain was a Christmas gift from Aunty Tan Tan.....it has been a very much loved present, one that I would heartily recommend.


This is my new Jamu lady statue......GJ thought that the dealer had forgotten her for a while...until he checked his wallet.... This statue is about 1.2m high and we are calling her granny Jamu. A Jamu lady is a lady trained in traditional herbal remedies that travels around
neighbor hoods dispensing cures. We often see a lady on our way to school.


After quite a few wines we did have to put a blindfold over her eyes as she was staring at some of us!

Crowds at Pasaraya Grande Jakarta

We made a HUGE tactical error on Sunday.

We all went to Pasaraya Grande to get the kids new shoes. Pasarya Grande is a huge department store with 9 floors of shops ( 7 floors and 2 basement levels)
We met up with 50% of Jakarta's population inside the department store LOL.
Chelsea showed her displeasure at the EXTREME crowds by throwing up all over the floor, it was all the excuse we needed to rapidly exit the shop.
Many, many people were there buying new outfits for the start of Idul Fitri (13th October 2007).

Think of what the shops are like on the last Saturday before Christmas within a city with 20 million residents!!!

Under no circumstances will we be going to any shops in the next week and a half

Last weekend was pay weekend, I think most people get paid at the end of the month usually in cash. As it is Ramadan, it is double pay month.
Many Indonesians get a bonus months salary for Lebaran and it also customary to give tips to workers and trades men.

To give you an idea of payments, this is what I have done this year:-

• RT 550 000( RT is like the local council, so like a rates bill, usually 250 000/month)
  
• Sampat 160 000( sampat is the garbage collector. Garbage is collected by hand into a oversized wheel barrow and hand wheeled around the neighbour hood, usually 80 000/month)
• Newspaper delivery 200 000. Newspaper should be 90 000/month delivered but for me it is 145 000, so he only got a 55 000 bonus)
• Sarinah and Samino.....lets just say it was nearly 5.5 million. This should of been less as it is pro rata BUT they worked extra hard when I was bedridden with the broken ankle and I felt that they deserved it.
• Security Guards, the security company will pay them the bonus but I need to tip, probably 100 000 each x3.
• Yadi, the company will pay the driver his bonus.

Gifts

• Sarinah, Samino and Yadi all got a box of groceries (eg rice, cooking oil, cordial, dates, biscuits, lollies etc)
• Guards and RT got a big tin of biscuits and lollies
• Neighbours staffs kids and Sarinah's granddaughters (all play with our kids) gift bags with age appropriate toys.

The really simplified way I have explained in to the kids is that it is the Muslims version of Christmas with out Jesus.

Little Boy Lost in Carrefours

Poor little Ben is still sick; I have been home all week with him.
He has high fevers and a wet chesty cough.
Yesterday I needed to go to the supermarket and had to take Ben. He refused to stay at home with Sarinah.

Sick little boys will never, ever be separated from their moms....
This is an universal truth.

So off to Carrefours we went, a hobbling Mom and a coughing boy....
Of course Carrefours was crowded, it is Ramadan month (think of what shops are like in December at home!!!) He was having a good time, he even decided to speak to all the sales assistants, he walked around saying my name is Benjamin######### to any one that asked. When he disappeared (he normally stays VERY close) I wandered to the top of the isle to the gaggle of ladies doing promo work. They hadn't seen him.
After checking the closest isles I started to get worried, especially when he wasn't in the toy isle. I was up to the fast hobble with trolley dumped stage.

Carrefours is a big hypermarket, really big and really crowded!!!!!!!!

By the time I got to the front 5-6 minutes had past, I had forgotten most of my VERY small amount of Bahasa Indonesian.
I couldn't remember the word for boy, all I knew was child and white........

I was nearing the info counter when a lady saw me and brought him over, she had found him crying at the back. He gave me the biggest, squeezee cuddle.

This was a scary moment made even more scary with the language limitations.
I need to learn Bahasa Indonesian at a much faster pace..........

Credit card fraud in Indonesia......at Ratu Plaza

It has happened again.....if my card is used to purchase jewelery worth $5500. I want to be the one wearing it!

We are hyper vigilant about using our cards in Jakarta.

I only use them at Sogo, Metro, Hero, Kemchicks, Ace and Duty Free.
I think that will now stop as well.

This time we are pretty sure where the cards were swiped. GJ went out on the weekend and picked up a web cam microphone set and didn't have 700 000RP, so carded it........

Computer shop+Indonesia+ Credit card
= $5 500 worth of jewelry

So my best advise is.....be careful at Ratu Plaza

Once again our credit card bank has been excellent.
The bank stopped the card and was on to us within an hour of the transaction being made.
Now we have to have new cards issued and work out a collection point that the bank is happy with (hard in Jakarta).
We need to fill out all the paper work etc etc.
And then we will be reimbursed.
Luckily I use another bank for our cash.....and NEVER use its card in Indonesia.

I have wirless internet and a broken ankle.....

I have good news and bad.

Lets start with the good, for some reason today my wireless net work decided to work, for the first time ever in Jakarta.

Which is especially good as I now have something to do in bed while my broken ankle heals......


Yes I was out shopping and missed a hidden step and cracked my left ankle. Not a major bone broken just a floating fragment or two and some major ligament damage. Too much swelling at the moment to see much, I will have a MRI next week.

The strongest pain meds we have here is panadol.....I would kill for a panadine forte!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I am coherent again I will tell you the very funny story of Indonesian emergency ward and patient collection..........


Oh my ball gown for next weeks ball is going to look wonderful with my plaster cast.....GJ said he will get me some diamonties for it...