Highly recommended reading!
If you are thinking of coming to Jakarta read this!
I have been waiting for this book to come out for a few months!It has finally arrived in Jakarta.
I picked up a copy in Singapore in late October and devoured the book in a day, I wish it was available when we first arrived in Jakarta.
This book is a very comprehensive guide to life in Jakarta, it should be compulsory for all new expatriates as it makes life so much easier when you understand whats going on around you. Even after living here for nearly 12 months I learnt a lot.
The book was originally authored by Derek Bacon nearly 10 years ago and has just been thoroughly revised and updated by a renown Jakarta Blogger, Jakartass.
Some of the topics covered:-
- First impressions
- History, Geography and Politics
- Fitting into society
- Settling in
- Food and entertainment
- Culture and travel
- Communicating in Jakarta
- Doing business
- Fast facts
It is also readily available from Amazon.
I was very impressed with this book and hope you will be too.
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ReplyDeleteHi, was directed by blog-indonesia to here. Hope you enjoy living in Indonesia :)
ReplyDeleteCan you give some specifics that really helped you? What insights were most useful?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've found it takes forever to get books to Indonesia from Amazon. Only books that I order via DHL get to me. I'm waiting on orders from September that were sent the second fastest way. Amazon just responds to my emails asking me to be patient.
I think the thing that helped me the most was about home and suburbia. The power chain (ie RT then next up the government chain) as well as what happens and why in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteWe had two very different weddings to go to and the book offered some cultural hints and background as well.
I liked the explanations behind being a guest in an Indonesian house as well.
In regards to Amazon, I had the package addressed and delivered to my husbands official work address. It took 23 days instead of the 17 quoted by amazon and I had to pay a "fee" of 140 000RP to have it released from the post office.
When I went to Singapore last I stocked up at the wonderful mega Boarders in Orchard rd.
Books are SO expensive here in Indonesia.