Ill.eat.you.up: Jakarta. Rupiah boleh?

Okays, I have not blogged for ages and trying to revive this blog is gonna be a hell of a task, but let me attempt the impossible. Gonna try to blog about my travel escapades for this year.. if I can, *wish is likely not gonna happen* maybe last year too.
Well the reason its gonna be a freaking huge project is caused I travelled 12times this year already! Crazy righttt. But Im not gonna stop.. So enough said. Let me share my Jakarta trip..
So th day before th trip, I went to change money. And man, I had a rude shock. Th amount of money they gave me just for changing $400 was ginormous man. One whole thick stack. Like can put in briefcase that kind. When th uncle asked me to double check, it took me sooooo damn long just to check th correct amount of notes.

So we caught th evening flight on friday cause my cousin had work before. We had macs before that and we realised we had only 15mins till departure time, and the best part?
we havent passed thru immigration yet! Holy smoke! So we quickly chomp down th food and rushed to th gate.

Was trying to cover up to respect th muslim over in Jakarta. So good right. I even told my sis not to bring any shorts! Must respect leh.

Cousin and sis..

Macbook + Ipad.. tskk.

Welcome to Jakarta! It was only an hour's flight away.

Gosh, just after we touched down and walked out of the aircraft. Some random stranger came up and talked to me already.
He was asking if Im indonesian when my bright red passport was in my hand and its so visible. Quite dumb right! Okays nvm, so I told him I was singaporean and going Jakarta for holiday. He was asking whats my plans for th night and where I was staying, my surname and my number. -.-
Persistent guy.
Okays, so I told him.
Than when we were reaching immigration, we had to split right? So he said:"I'll see you at your hotel lobby later! I'll drive you around to club! Your surname is yow right? I'll check with th receptionist."
omggggg, creepy much!!!! wtf. I thought answering his questions can make him get lost. Dammit.
Immigration was confusing because usually, the big sign IMMIGRATION would be too hard to miss, but their form of immigration is “visa on arrival” which made us think we need visa or something.

After clearing immigration, we got approached by many taxi companies offering 300,000Rp for a ride. We managed to clinch a deal with a private van for hire for 200,000 for all of us including toll fees. A long trip of about an hour?

Checked in at Atlantic Hotel

The hotel seemed pretty decent, just a little rundown and dirty, but livable. We seek much information from the counter boys and continued our journey to Sarinah area for some local street food hunt. Cabbing there was about 20,000Rp cause the driver happily took our change.

After walking rounds and rounds, and on the verge of giving up, we finally found bright florescent lights streaming across the streets with what supposedly looks like the place is buzzing. We were drawn to it and was pleasantly surprised to find that we had reached!

We began hunting for food names that strike some familiarity and settled for Nasi goreng and some oolong drink that looks like coke for 13,000Rp.

We walked on to find Martabak that was “sedap” to the max. The sauce was literally to die for! Its called curry chicken, by the vendor. Another 17,000 was forked out for the meal.

Than we scram to the stall just beside it selling satay and ordered a plate worth 14,000Rp.

We shamelessly used the free Wi-Fi outside of Hot Planet Restaurant on the way back. Bought 2 bottles of water costing 6,000 total.

After some failed attempts at getting a reasonable price for Bajaj, we went to seek for a taxi. Just then, the Bajaj driver came and we shouted 15,000 and he’s reluctant face just nodded.
The Bajaj is the Tuk tuk of Jakarta. It was pretty fun. And it managed to comfortably fit all of us.

Had a good night's sleep. Morning breakfast.

Not really my style and taste. But when you're hungry, anything goes.

Cant believe I had to cover up when I went down for breakfast too.

Took a cab down to Pasar Tanah Abang..

They have 2 different blocks. Block A and Block B.

When we entered.. we wanted to leave already. Raya clothings? hello. Where's th normal clothes?

So we continued on walking and walking..

Till we bump into th escalator and looked up. omfg.

A&W for lunch! :) Misses th waffle burger.

okays, finally Im seeing some light in here...

gucci or cuci for you?

Chendol..

Chilli & Barbeque corn that could burn your tongue. Dont say I never warn uh.

So we went shopping at Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua too after which, we went to roam around its area and happen to find a train track. Th opposite side of where we were standing was th slums.

Feels like india uh..

Traffic in Jakarta needs no introduction.

First food stop outside the shopping place.. fuckin awesome fishcake..

Than we moved to th stall beside it selling HUGEEEE meatballs. Th size of my fist, literally!

Than we stood up and moved again to th next stall, just beside it again to try this omelette lookalike.

Another stall again for th noodles. We kept eating and eating non stop sia!! And th thing was we just eat, and go to th next stall beside it and sit down to eat again. Wtf. 3 pigs sia.

Than we went to th malls. Finally. Some aircon. We went to th Blok M area.

All their malls have so many levels can! Freakin insane.

Dairy Queen ice cream :))

Found an awesome mask to wear to sleep when Im travelling. Hehe.

Market outside Blok M..

Breakfast again..

Had a dispute with th receptionist, trying to charge us more. We finally won th battle. No way she can out-win us. We spoke like a shotgun until she confused also. haaha..
Off to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah....
Really huge place...filled with not miniature eh.. Like "landed house" size of each province in indonesia...

Some conners. Reminds me of US at th hollywood walk of fame. They will come and take picture with you than after that ask you money. So beware..

Oh yah, we rented this bicycle which has a shade and took wheeler driver. Damn cool.
We cycle 5mins and we're begging to rent a car. It was mad hot outside and it was darn tiring.

Fuckin tiring man, see easy. Wait till you try it. You'll be begging for mercy.

Failed attempt at jump shot.

HEHE.. I was th princess getting pulled and pushed :)

Then.. th worst thing had to happen. Th chain came out.. and we had to fix it. Nice timing ehh..

I was in Bali.... not. * Wished I was though*

Sausagefest..

Dicks on sale, anyone?

The fake miniature of the National Monument, which we're gonna see th real one after this park...

We couldnt finish th whole place cause it was too huge but we'll be back here again.. So we moved off to the National Monument.. Th "eiffel tower" of paris. Its their icon.