Mercure Convention Centre Jakarta

... of rubbish are hard to miss, the chickens and cows rummaging amongst it, the woman hanging washing up all around it. So how clean is the water really? It's filthy. Everywhere is a rubbish dump... and when it piles up, they burn it. Problem solved. The water is barely treated and you can often smell it when it comes out of the taps or shower (someone I met had a sinkful of red worms when he went to wash his clothes!)... showering in sea water in the ...

... soon as possible". Of course I realise that I didn't see the sadder sad of Jakarta, the poorer areas, the old town which is beautiful but falling apart (from what i hear)...but still, it's good to know that it isn't all bad. I also had heard so much about the awful traffic in Jakarta and I expected it is be difficult to get to the airport...but it was the simplest and cheapest shuttle bus service I have seen so far...so no complaints there either. :)

... PADESSA MAISON RESTO DAN VILLA ( Kampoeng Wisata Pancawati) Untuk menuju lokasi kampung wisata di desa Pancawati sangatlah mudah. Dari Jakarta bisa ditempuh dalam waktu 1 jam melalui tol Jagorawi. Keluar tol ambil jurusan ke arah Ciawi keluar pintu tol ciawi 3 km arah sukabumi. Dari Pasar cikreteg masuk kedalam kurang lebih 3, 5 km. sebelah kiri jalan terdapat papan nama (plang) yang menunjukkan lokasi PADDESSA MAISON (Kampoeng Wisata Pancawati ...

... and generally not as much English widely spoken here. I had a wonder around the CBD area where you still get all the western brands of Singapore and Harvey Nichols which was a head turner. There are ATM's gall-or here and also the most motorbikes I have ever seen, After a traffic light change it is like the starting grid of moto GP at donnington or something. Useful method of transport here are ...

... with one of these 'taxi drivers.' Aside from the terror ride into town (I will NEVER complain about Australian drivers again!) with hundreds of near misses and literally thousands of mopeds weaving in and out of the traffic with not a care in the world, ended up being charged double what the rate should have been. Still not ridiculously expensive, but a lesson learned for sure. After light speed accelleration and heart stopping braking we arrived 'safely' at the ...

... bueno, ya debi anticipar que eso de la actualizacion de la web no es cosa de nuestro ministerio, ademas parece que en indonesia van cambiando como les place).... Ahi estabamos, no no podeis pasar, necesitais un vuelo de salida que garantice que abandonais el pais... ok, podemos comprarlo por internet.... No, no tenemos internet..... Entonces? nada, necesitais un vuelo de salida... Si, si, pero tenemos que comprarlo entonces.... Si, pero aqui no tenemos internet ...

The night before my departure, I could not really get a good sleep, maybe I was too anxious about this trip, kept checking my suitcase, took out some clothes because I wanted to pack light only to put them back in a few minutes thinking that it would always be good to have a back ups....just in case.... At 6 my brother knocked on my bedroom, took the suitcases downstairs, I heard him making some remarks about the weight ...

... on so many faces, for you can't get angry at anyone or anything either. And the mosques had the Koran going on loudspeakers at all prayers, which we would hear watching beautiful sunsets, or at 4 in the morning, making my dreams much the more etherial. I actually tried the fasting (for one day, and that discluding water) and it is possible, just takes dedication (and water). The down side to Bukkitingi, you might have ...

... this bad in my life. It was sincerely stressful to just be a passenger. evidently it is not even as bad as India. Certainly i'm glad that California is not like this. I got to visit some of the beautiful universities in jakarta; Gunturs brother attends one of the best universities in Jakarta, and there are celebrities that go there. They have a great soccer team as well.

... helps with our room search. It's my turn to look and it doesn't take long as there are only 3 places with rooms available, 2 of those are overpriced. The Djody Hostel has a double room, which has a tiled floor, en-suite with cold shower and TV for 110,000 rupiah (6.75) per night, with breakfast included. On the downside there were a lot of mossies in the room. We dump our bags and take a walk, searching for a Pelni ticketing office, which we ...