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Bandar Lampung… on the first day of Ramadan

Arriving at Sumatra during the Ramadan was an odd experience after an overnight tiring bus-ferry-bus trip from Jakarta.

In the morning, the Teluk Betung, the older part of Bandar Lampung, that we can call the center, looked more like an abandon city, with the streets almost empty of traffic and people, closed shops and restaurants, empty markets… a feeling of numbness that wrap this place on the first day of the Ramadan, a totally opposite image of the usual pace of an Indonesian city.

But Bandar Lampung is far from be appealing for a tourist, but is not totally deprived of interesting things, like the Vihara Thay Hin Bio an old Chinese Buddhist Temple, where the quietness and solemnity of the place is surrounded by the red color that dominates all the interior of the temple, where huge candles burn permanently. This is the core of the Chinese neighbourhood, a community that settles down in Indonesia during the Dutch colonisation.

Visiting the Pasar Ikan Gudang Lelang, a fish market nearby the Impoverished port area gives another vibe, where the activity is still going on. Despite the slow pace, resulting from fasting that is observed during the Ramadan by the Muslim people, roughly from sunrise until sunset, the harbour are was the most vibrant place in Bandar Lampung during the day, where smiles peek from everywhere.

But as the sun reach the zenith all the city change, and lots of people move around, looking for the Ramadan treats to breaks the fast. The ground in front of Pasar Seni gets fill with the smell of the food, that a delight for the senses and a temptation for the stomach.

Bandar Lampung... a ghost town at day time during the Ramadan — Bandar Lampung… a ghost town at day time during the Ramadan

Vihara Thay Hin Bio Chinese Buddist Temple

Pasar Ikan Gudang Lelang on the old part of Bandar Lampung — Pasar Ikan Gudang Lelang, the harbour and the fish market on the old part of Bandar Lampung

Pasar Ikan Gudang Lelang... the fish market of Bandar Lampung — Pasar Ikan Gudang Lelang… the fish market of Bandar Lampung

And just in front of the temple is the Aneka Sari Rasa, a keripik shop famous in town!! Kiripik is a typical Indonesian snack, a kind of chips made from banana, cassava, sweet potato or even jackfruit… and apparently Bandar Lampung is famous for the Kiripik. At the Aneka Sari Rasa, a shop dedicated almost totally to this chips you can find all the different versions, from sweet to salty, from chocolate to strawberry flavors… and there are dozens of workers there (in Europe for a shop like this you’ll don’t have more than two employees) willing to sell you something and super excited to have a foreigner there… It was impossible to resist to such an earnest and kind staff, and I end up with some packs of pisang kipirik, banana chips! Enak!!

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Aneka Sari Rasa... a huge shop in the center of Bandar Lampung selling mainly Kiripik — Aneka Sari Rasa… a huge shop in the center of Bandar Lampung selling mainly Kiripik

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Kiripik is a typical Indonesian snack; a kind of chips made from banana, cassava, sweet potato or even jackfruit... and apparently Bandar Lampung is famous for the Kiripik. — Kiripik is a typical Indonesian snack; a kind of chips made from banana, cassava, sweet potato or even jackfruit… and apparently Bandar Lampung is famous for the Kiripik.

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Where to sleep at Bandar Lampung:

The Guest House Palapa is more a hotel than a guesthouse, but offer good conditions to spend one night, modern and very clean; it has with different types of room, some with shared toilet. The breakfast is included but I left too early to try it. Some rooms don’t have a window but all rooms have air-conditioner, but considering the location nearby the main road is better like that. There are single rooms (100.000 Rp), shared toilet and without window but with air-conditioner.

The staff is friendly but don’t speak much English but will try the best to help you, although it looks that they are not used to receive foreigners and maybe will be difficult to get information.

If you are coming from the East (Java or Bakauheni) you probably pass by Tugu Adipura (also called simply “tugu”), a crossroad with elephant statues playing football in the center of the roundabout. From here you just need to walk 200 meters to reach Guest House Palapa.

Address: Jl. P. Diponegoro No.154-156, Enggal, Bandar Lampung

Contact: (0721) 261617

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Single room at the Guest House Palapa. Bandar Lampung

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Guest House Palapa: room prices

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Arriving at Bandar Lampung:

If you are coming from Java you’ll probably arrive at terminal Tanjung Karang.

If you are coming from Padang, Bengkulu or Krui you’ll probably arrive at Terminal Rasabaja.

From any of these terminals, there are public buses locally called “angkot”, a minivan, usually very, old with a big sound system. The colour of the angkot is according to the route they do. A trip in one of this angkot cost you around 5.000 Rp.

Maybe you need to take more than one to reach your destination, but the drivers will help even if they don’t speak any English, dropping you into the right place and pointing you the next angkot. I found the drivers at Bandar Lampung very friendly and honest!!!

There are also buses, green colour, modern and with air-con. To go from Tugu Square to Terminal Rasabaja you can take one of these buses to the center of Bandar Lampung.

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How to more around Bandar Lampung: "angkot" for short distances — How to more around Bandar Lampung: “angkot” for short distances

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How to more around Bandar Lampung: buses to go far as the Terminal Rajabasa

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How to go from Bandar Lampung to Krui:

From the Terminal Rasabaja, there are public buses to Krui. Is very difficult to get precise information about schedules.

At the terminal, you need to look for the PO. Krui Putra office where you can buy the bus ticket to Krui (phone number: 0812.7202.2251). It wasn’t clear but I think they sell tickets for different bus companies.

I took the Metra Sari. It departure at 7 a.m. and arrive at Krui around 2.30 p.m. The ticket cost 70.000 Rp. The Metra Sari has a very old bus, without air-con… thankfully it was a cloudy day, but still it ends up being a very tiring trip, particularly slow when the bus reaches a mountain area where the road gets very steep and winding.

I heard the later other companies have better buses (green colour) with air-con, but couldn’t get any information about this service to Krui.

There isn’t a bus terminal in Krui, so you can just ask the driver to stop anywhere you want, along with the main road.

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Terminal Rasabaja from where departure the buses to Krui

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PO. Krui Putra office where you can get the tickets for the bus to Krui

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Bus to Krui... The Metra Sari has a very old bus, without air-con... thankfully it was a cloudy day, but still it end up being a very tiring trip, particularly slow when the bus reach a mountain area where the road gets very steep and winding. — Bus to Krui… The Metra Sari has a very old bus, without air-con… thankfully it was a cloudy day, but still it end up being a very tiring trip, particularly slow when the bus reach a mountain area where the road gets very steep and winding.

How to go from Java to Sumatra by public transport

How to go from Jakarta to Bandar Lampung by DAMRI bus:

Jakarta is big, very big… there are many bus terminal for long distance buses… and they are very far from each other. So is better that you plan your trip from Jakarta in order to avoid last minute stress, special if you travel around long weekends or national/religious holidays.

You can make the trip from Jakarta to Bandar Lampung, step by step by yourself, which means, taking a bus to Merak, from there a ferryboat to Bakauheni, and then another bus to Bandar Lampung or any other destination in Sumatra.

From Jakarta, you can take a bus to Merak at this bus terminal: Kampung Rambutan, Pulo Gadung and from Kalideres. The trip takes about 3 hours and the tickets cost less than 30.000 Rp (air-con). The ferries run 24 hours per day and cost about 15.000 Rp.

The DAMRI (Indonesian state-owned public transit bus company) operate buses directly from Jakarta to Bandar Lampung. The buses departure from Gambir station just next to Gambir Terminal (train station). There are three classes of buses: economic, business and executive, according to the number of seats and the comfort but all with air-con.

There are buses in the morning and in the evening (see images below) and stop in have different in Lampung. The prices include the ferry ticket.

All trip takes about 8 hours!!! The first part of the trip is smooth along a good road and takes around 3 hours. Then are 2 more hours on the ferry and then more 3 hours again on the same bus, along with a less confortable road until Bandar Lampung.

As the bus arrives at the city it starts to drop the passengers along the way to the terminal Tanjung Karang. The bus passes by the Tugu Adipura roundabout (crossroad of Jl Sudirman e Jl Diponegoro)… if you are going to stay at Guest House Palapa, you must get out here, and then just need a 300 meters walk!!! We alert as the bus helper will shout “Tugu, tugu”!

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Ticket counter of DAMRI buses at Gambir Terminal

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DAMRI ticket counter schedule at Gambri terminal — DAMRI ticket counter schedule at Gambir terminal

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DAMRI buses from Jakarta to Sumatra. Prices and schedule. Bussines class

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DAMRI buses from Jakarta to Sumatra. Prices and schedule. Executive class

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DAMRI buses from Jakarta to Sumatra. Prices and schedule. Royal class

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The buses departure from Gambir station just next to Gambir Terminal (train station)

My personal experience with the DAMRI bus from Jakarta to Bandar Lampung:

I choose to make the trip during the night to save one night on the trip schedule and to save one night of accommodation. So to get a good sleep I choose the executive class.
There’s no point to get a more expensive ticket, like Royal or Executive, as you can’t really have a good sleep anyway…
From Jakarta to Merak the bus has very loud music.
As the bus gets inside the ferry you must get out… otherwise, you’ll die intoxicated with the gases of the vehicles and from the boat’s engine.
Inside the ferry, there are cabins where you can sleep, but I just found them at the end of the trip, so I stayed outside, sitting on the floor… in the middle of the crossing it gets chilly and windy… also not much sleep!
When the ferry arrives at Bakauheni you need to get back to the bus… from here there’s no more music until you reach Bandar Lampung, where the cheesy techno music is played loud to wake up the passengers before the bus reaches the terminal.
… so I think I could have saved 45.000 Rp choosing the business class… as it was almost impossible to sleep during the trip.

interior of the "executif" DAMRI bus from Jakarta to Bandar Lamoung — interior of the “executive” DAMRI bus from Jakarta to Bandar Lampung

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cabins to sleep during the ferry crossing... I just saw them on the end of the ferry trip but thibk that's hard to get a free space here as there were many people sleeping on the outside deck of the boat. — cabins to sleep during the ferry crossing… I just saw them on the end of the ferry trip but think that’s hard to get a free space here as there were many people sleeping on the outside deck of the boat.

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inside the ferry where the vehicles travel

23 days at Java: itinerary & costs

Itinerary:

ferry boat from Bali (Gilimanuk) to Java (Ketapang)
Banyuwangi – Ijen Volcano: 2 days
Cemoro Lawang – Bromo volcano: 2 days
Malang: 2 days
Yogyakarta: 5 days
Borobudur: 1 day
Batukaras beach: 4 days
Bogor: 3 days
Jakarta: 4 days
ferry boat from Java (Merak) to Sumatra (Bakauheni)

Costs:

14 €/day

… considering traveling solo, eating just local (vegetarian) food, no a/c rooms, sometimes dorms, travel by public transport as far as possible, no alcohol and no soft drinks, making my own laundry and walking a lot on foot… Shopping and souvenirs are also not included, as well health expenses and communications (SIM card, mobile, telephone, internet…).

Costs in Java:

room (fan): minimum 60.000 Rp up to 125.000 Rp (one person); sometimes dorms. In Java most of the times the breakfast was not included. In Jakarta and Yogyakarta is easy to find dorms.
meal: less than 20.000 Rp (local food, street-food, vegetarian meals). At the big cities, like Jakarta and Yogyakarta, the food is more expensive, with a meal in a low-key restaurant or eatery costing around 30.000 Rp.
rent a scooter: 50.000 Rp/day or 60.000 Rp/day; a liter of petrol: 10.000 Rp (at the pump station is 8.000 Rp/l)
angkot (small local bus): costs from 3.000 Rp to10.000 Rp for a trip inside a city.
ojek: 10 km cost around 15.000 Rp (but the price of the ojek depends on your bargain skills and the needs of the driver, weather, time of the day…)… but once I need to pay 50.000 Rp for a 15 km ride!!!
At Jakarta and Yogyakarta the GoJek, Uber, Grab companies offer moto-taxi services, that are an easy way to move around.
Java has a good train system, that provide a comfortable way to travel by long distances. https://tiket.kereta-api.co.id/. The prices change according to the class trains (Executive, Business and Economic).
A bus trip of 350 km costs around 100.000 Rp, in a air-con bus.

Note: this trip was made in May 2017, which still is still considered the low season, when the prices of the accommodation are lower, that can be significant at beach areas.

Java: itinerary

Jakarta… where are the durians??!?!?

Jakarta, one of the Asian megapolis, a city with a fast economical and population grow, with a modern and westernized lifestyle, with the usual social gap between the rich and poor, where the upmarket malls contrast with the poverty of the suburbs.

Jakarta is known as the “big durian”. I don’t know from where this nickname came from but maybe because Jakarta is more like an agglomeration of cities that could resemble the inside of the durian, compact and dense… and with a spiked shell that usually keeps away the tourists, that just see Jakarta as a necessary stopover when arriving to Indonesia or before leaving to other destination.

It’s a big city with 10 million of inhabitants, long avenues, wide roads and intense traffic, but where the people still keep a gentleness that is less and less common in the big cities, where people usually don’t avoid eye contact and can answer with a smile!

Maybe Jakarta doesn’t have much to offer to a tourist that just arrives in Indonesia, but for people traveling for a long time, Jakarta (as also Yogyakarta) offer an urban and modern lifestyle, trendy and sophisticated places, with plenty of choices that are a nice break on the low key places that I found along this two months in Indonesia.

And like a durian, that are not such a popular presence in the markets, Jakarta left a mix of feelings, between seduction and loathing!!!!

Jakarta doesn’t have the appealing of Yogyakarta, and the interesting places can be a bit far out from each other’s, but still can be an interesting way to spend the time in the “big durian”. Skipping monuments, churches and museums, that for me are usually a bit boring, here is a list of the sight that I found interesting and that free to visit!

Antiques market

Walk along the Jalan Surabaya (close from Cikini train station) and let yourself lose in the thousands of objects, from statues, coins, fabrics, jewelry… but watch out that not everything is an antique just because it look old and dusty!!! If you are tired you can have a break on the Gianti Coffee, just opposite of the antique shops.

Colonial quarter (old Batavia)

The area is called Jakartakota, or simply Kota, and Fatahillah Square (Taman Fatahillah) is the center of a group of old building left by the Dutch colonization, most of them transformed into museums, but others are simply abandon. Despite the rehabilitation of the area, that is the central tourist attraction of Jakarta, the area around has a certain depressed appearance, like around the canal where you can find a metal drawbridge.

Jakartakota where the Fatahillah Square is the heart where bicycles with cheesy decoration can be rented to cycle around the square

Glodok

The Chinatown of Jakarta, where you can find a lot of Chinese culture, from restaurants, tea houses, shops and the market with the usual bizarre products. To reach Glodok area you can take the train to Jakarta Kota and from there you can walk.

The Jin De Yuan Temple (Jl. Kemenangan) was seriously affected by a fire 2 years ago that destroy seriously the building including statues and the rooftop, and what remains from it has a strange, although atmosphere, something between desolation and charming abandon.
The Glodok Market (Jl. Kemenangan) is a must see in the area.
Along Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan you can see many painters working on the canvas or simply selling paintings… is a mix of styles where the portraits dominate… a bit cheesy and sometimes with doubtful taste but worth a look on the way from the trains station to Glodok.

Jin De Yuan Temple, also called Vihara Dharma Bhakti on the center of Glodok

Jin De Yuan Temple a Buddhist temple in Jakarta's chinatown — Jin De Yuan Temple a Buddhist temple in Jakarta’s chinatown

many painters working on the canvas or simply selling paintings along Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan

Glodok market… with the usual “strange” and difficult to identify products

Pasar Baroe

This is not much of a market but more a street with shops, mostly fabrics and cloths shops… is a bit lazy during the mornings but gets better later on. Not impressive if you are not in the mood for muslim style cloths, but still you can find some sarong shops and spot some traditional shops that keep the classic style.

Pasar Muara Angke

This is located a bit far out on the north of Jakarta, and is mainly focus on the fish, with lots of warehouses and small markets that run very early in the morning. During the day is an poor and depressed port area, with same activity connected with storage and fish processing. Nearby is the Baywalk Mall, a modern shopping area with international brands and a huge massive concrete structure of apartments overlooking the sea.

Pasar Muara Angke

Plaza Indonesia

The malls… yes! There is a lot of money in Jakarta, and the malls are a good way to see it! There are many shopping areas in the city, but the Plaza Indonesia is maybe on of the most sophisticated and posh one, with a concentration of the most luxurious international brands. It worth a visit to this side of Jakarta, away from the smelly and shabby market of Pasar Muara Angke.

Where to sleep in Jakarta:

The “official” backpackers area of Jakarta is nearby Jalan Jaksa.

But following the advice of the owner of the homestay where I slept in Bogor, I stay at Cikini (pronounces xikini), where the Six Degrees Hostel stands by the reasonable prices and the good conditions offered. There are several types of dorms as also rooms, safe lockers, free fast and reliable wi-fi, free water, tea and coffee, the breakfast is included…. there’s also a kitchen and a roof top that change to a bar, but where the party don’t disturb the sleep of anyone. The rooms don’t have windows (but all with air-con) what is good for travelers that what to recover from the jetlag… and avoid the noise that comes from the street (Jl. Cikini Raya). The staff is friendly and can help you with moving on and around!

http://jakarta-backpackers-hostel.com/

The Six Degrees Hostel is located about 5 minutes walking from the Cikini trains station. Around there’s restaurants and many street-food options, mainly after the sunset. You can have a meal for 10.000 Rp (street-food) or for 100.000 Rp (midrange restaurant) depending on your choice. There are also nice cafes and bakeries around for the delight of a sweet tooth.

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Bubur... a traditional Indonesia breakfast served at Six Degrees Hostel... a kind of rice porridge with a egg topping — Bubur… a traditional Indonesia breakfast and one of the option served at Six Degrees Hostel breakfast… a kind of rice porridge with a egg topping

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This is Nemo... the spoiled cat of Six Degrees Hostel!! cool cat! — This is Nemo… the spoiled cat of Six Degrees Hostel!! cool cat!

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Where to eat and hang-out around Cikini (Menteng):

As any capital, Jakarta offers a lot of choices For someone that just stayed in this mega city for 4 days will be pretentious to give tips about best food and cool places to chill in the “big durian”… so this is just an overview of Cikini area where I spent most of the time:

Bakoel Koffie… good atmosphere, good coffee but not so good cakes. Can be busy and noisy at lunchtime. My favorite place to chill and read a book and blogging!!!

Gianti Coffee… a bit hidden at Jalan Surabaya (not far from Madam Chin restaurant); has different areas with nice decoration and cozy environment. But too noisy around lunchtime.

Cheesecake Factory (Jalan Cikini Raya)… a super posh place with high-quality products. The cheesecake that I try was perfect! The prices are high but not much more than you can find in others trendy coffee shops of Jakarta. It worth if you are in the mood for a treat!

On the ground floor of the Ibis Budget, there’s a food court with. I try the Riung Sunda, a sundanese food restaurant. Is expensive and you can find better in some of the street stalls nearby, for 10 times less the price!!!!

Street food…. its’ everywhere along Jl. Cikini Raya, particularly after 5 p.m. Cikini Raya is famous for martabak (Indonesian pancake). During the day you can find a good nasi campur at Jl Cikini 4, as also gado–gado.

Surya Minang… a masakan padang at Jl Raden Saleh (before you reach the Sedahna restaurant) with tasty, simple and cheap food. Is better arrive before 1 p.m. as the runs out quickly! Sedahna restaurant is a reference for padang food but doesn’t have many vegetarian options and is more expensive.

On the corner of Jl Cikini Raya with Jala Ciliman there a very popular restaurant that gets full around lunchtime with the local population. Apparently, it doesn’t have a name but is easy to spot with some hawkers selling juices in front during the day. This eatery works on self-service system… a huge meal (vegetarian) cost me 30.000 Rp.

Bakoel Koffie...old school cafe at Cikini — Bakoel Koffie…old school cafe at Cikini

Cheesecake Factory at Cikini… a perfect cheesecake serve in a very posh place!

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sundanese food... a meal that cost 100.000 Rp at Riung Sunda restaurant... Is expensive and you can find better in some of the street stalls nearby, for 10 times less the price!!!! — sundanese food… a meal that cost 100.000 Rp at Riung Sunda restaurant… Is expensive and you can find better in some of the street stalls nearby, for 10 times less the price!!!!

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street-food at Jl. Cikini Raya... delicious and tasty for just 10.000 Rp — street-food at Jl. Cikini Raya… delicious and tasty for just 10.000 Rp

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Surya Minang... a masakan padang with tasty, simple and cheap food. Is better arrive before 1 p.m. as the runs out quickly! — Surya Minang… a masakan padang with tasty, simple and cheap food. Is better arrive before 1 p.m. as the runs out quickly!

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Many options in this self-service eatery at Cikini, that serves food since morning until evening

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•On the corner of Jl Cikini Raya with Jala Ciliman there a very popular restaurant that gets full around lunchtime with the local population. — • On the corner of Jl Cikini Raya with Jala Ciliman there a very popular restaurant that gets full around lunchtime with the local population.

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How to move around in Jakarta:

TransJakarta: modern and comfortable buses that have the advantage of using dedicated lanes in some parts of the city. Unfortunately, the single journey tickets are not longer available and you need to buy a monthly card that is not really an option if you stay just for a few days in Jakarta.

Train: if your accommodation is nearby a train station this is maybe the easier and cheapest way to move. I stay at Cikini and this line has trains every 10 or 15 minutes to Jakarta Kota, the “center” and old colonial quarter. The tickets cost 3.000 Rp for trips inside the city. You need to buy a card (10.000 Rp) that you charge for each trip, and in the end of your stay you can give it back and get the 10.000 Rp return… but the train doesn’t reach the airport yet, but the line is supposed to open in August 2017.

GoJek, Uber, Grab… all these companies offer moto-taxi services. They are everywhere and are the best way to move through the intense traffic. You just need to download their app and have an Indonesian SIM card. The most efficient way to move around if you are alone. It’s ok to travel with your backpack! Usually, the trips inside de city cost around 10.000 Rp. The ojek (independent moto-taxis are easy to find but with them, you need to deal the price).

On foot… forget about it!!!!! Everything is too far, and the hot and humid climate makes a short walk during the day in a sweaty experience.

There is no subway in Jakarta!

The train is a easy and cheap way to move around Jakarta, a megacity without subway. Line Jakartakota-Manggarai

Jakarta: How to go from the city to the airport by public transport

Jakarta: How to go from the airport to the city by public transport

Jakarta: How to go from the city to the airport

How to get from Jakarta city center to Jakarta International airport by public transport

If you are alone or traveling with a tight budget, the bus is the best way to reach the airport! The DAMRI (Indonesian state-owned public transit bus company) operate buses from Gambir to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport.

The DAMRI bus terminal is located nearby a train station – Stasiun Gambir – on the right side if you are looking side, nearby a huge square with the National Monument (Manunen Nasional).

The buses leave from Gambir terminal every 15 minutes from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m., except the two first buses early morning

The ticket cost 40.000 Rp.

The trip takes around one hour, but watch out that Jakarta has intense traffic that can extend this journey for three hours… so go with time if you are traveling during the rush hours or on long weekends.

How to get from Jakarta city center to Jakarta International airport by public transport. DAMRI bus ticket

How to get from Jakarta city center to Jakarta International airport by public transport. DAMRI bus schedule

How to reach Terminal Gambir :

Yes, Jakarta is huge and probably you will not stay close by Gambir… if you accommodation is nearby Jalan Jaksa (the most popular backpackers area of Jakarta) you can reach Gambir on foot, as the distance is around 1.5 km.

But from others areas in the city, like Cikini where i stayed, the easiest and option is to get a GoJek, Grab or Uber moto-taxi service, as it will cost around 10.000 Rp, and you can avoid to be stuck in the traffic jams. This is good if you travel alone and with not much luggage, as your backpack must be on your shoulders, but think that for two people the tuk-tuk or a taxi will be better, but go with plenty of time if you are traveling around rush hours.

Jakarta: how to go from the airport to the city

How to get from Jakarta International airport to the city center by public transport

Arriving at Jakarta by plane (Soekarno–Hatta International Airport), you can use the public transport to reach the center of Jakarta… ok, in this huge city is difficult to identify a “center”… but Gambir (also called Manunen Nasional… a huge pillar) is a good central point with a train station, and from there you can get a moto-taxi or the train (Stasiun Gambir).

If you are alone or traveling with a tight budget, the bus is the best way to reach Jakarta!

The DAMRI (Indonesian state-owned public transit bus company) operate buses from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport to Gambir.

When you leave the airport building (arrivals) you must turn left, and keep walking under the roof until the end of the arrivals building. There you will see a sign (a kind of gate) with the words “Shelter Bus”. Keep walking and you’ll see a few buses and wait for passengers. The DAMRI buses are blue and are modern and well identified.

There isn’t a fixed schedules and but they frequent, every 15 minutes or so. Apparently (I couldn’t check this information) there are DAMRI buses from 3.00 a.m. until 9.00 p.m.

The ticket cost 40.000 Rp for the “executive” class bus, with air-con. Apparently there’s wi-fi on the bus but is never working 😉

I’m not sure if there is a “business” class bus from the airport to the city center.

When you leave the airport building (arrivals) you must turn left, and keep walking under the roof until the end of the arrivals building. There you will see a sign (a kind of gate) with the words “Shelter Bus”. — When you leave the airport building (arrivals) you must turn left, and keep walking under the roof until the end of the arrivals building. There you will see a sign (a kind of gate) with the words “Shelter Bus”

Bus stop at Jakarta internationa airport

If you are alone or traveling with a tight budget, the bus is the best way to reach Jakarta! The DAMRI (Indonesian state-owned public transit bus company) operate buses from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport to Gambri. — If you are alone or traveling with a tight budget, the bus is the best way to reach Jakarta! The DAMRI (Indonesian state-owned public transit bus company) operate buses from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport to Gambir.

How to move around in Jakarta:

TransJakarta: modern and confortable buses that have the advantage of using dedicated lanes in some parts of the city. Unfortunately, the single journey tickets are not longer available and you need to buy a monthly card that is not really an option if you stay just for a few days in Jakarta.

Train: if your accommodation is nearby a train station this is maybe the easier and cheapest way to move. I stay at Cikini and this line has trains every 10 or 15 minutes to Jakarta Kota, the “center” and old colonial quarter. The tickets cost 3.000 Rp for trips inside the city. You need to buy a card (10.000 Rp) that you charge for each trip, and in the end of your stay you can give it back and get the 10.000 Rp return… but the train doesn’t reach the airport yet, but the line is supposed to open in August 2017.

GoJek, Uber, Grab… all these companies offer moto-taxi services. They are everywhere and are the best way to move through the intense traffic. You just need to download their app and have an Indonesian SIM card. The most efficient way to move around if you are alone. It’s ok to travel with your backpack! Usually, the trips inside de city cost around 10.000 Rp. The ojek (independent moto-taxis are easy to find but with them, you need to deal the price).

On foot… forget about it!!!!! Everything is too far, and the hot and humid climate makes a short walk during the day in a sweaty experience.

There is no subway in Jakarta!

Card of the commuter Train System of Jakarta... a cheap and easy way to avoid the traffic jams of this big city... but unfortunately it doesn't reach the airport yet!!! — Card of the commuter Train System of Jakarta… a cheap and easy way to avoid the traffic jams of this big city… but unfortunately it doesn’t reach the airport yet!!!

Botanical Garden… the heart of Bogor

Bogor is famous for the thunders that are a daily presence during the transition between rainy season to dry season… and the same happens before the monsoon. The thunders bring rain… and the rain left behind a humidity that sticks to the skin… the humidity that with the warm temperature create the perfect conditions for the growth of a big range of tropical plants.

The botanical garden, created during the Dutch colonization, and is the central attraction of Bogor, as also the geographic center of the city… a quiet paradise of green surrounded by busy and noisy streets where the traffic is intense and frantic. The Bogor Botanical Garden is a perfect place to spend a few hours and to explore without rush. How peaceful can be the contact with nature?! It looks like it brings a balance, a reconnection with nature.

Don’t miss the medicinal garden, more for the design of the place than because of the plants… the Orchid House that is divided in wild species and hybrids. The gigantic trees and the aerial roots of the ficus tree are impressive. Be impressed by the trees but don’t forget to look down in detail, as you can find mushrooms growing in shady places… minuscule orchid flowers… and the diversity of ferns, from small ones growing on the tree trunks, to the huge ones capable of creating a forest where you can get lost!

Bogor’s Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Bogor)

The Garden is crossed by a river, so there are a few bridges to cross. Parte of the Botanial Garden is occupied by the presidential palace, a impressive white building in Dutch colonial style, surrounded by an impeccable grass field where hundreds (approximately 700) deers hang leisurely.

Bogor’s Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Bogor):

It worth to go early in the morning before arriving of the big groups (schools and tours). The garden opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m.

You can easily send three or four hours wandering, including some breaks to rest and enjoy the place.

There is a cafeteria at the entrance of the garden, close to the garden shop, with normal prices. But if you want to treat yourself enjoy a coffee or even a meal at the Grand Garden Café, a sophisticated restaurant with a nice view to a grass field, that transport us to a British landscape. It gets busy at lunchtime with posh local people.

Try the bandrek, a hot tea, sweet and the spices, that can have honey, typical from Java.

The Bogor Botanical Garden ticket costs 25.000 Rp for foreigners.

School groups waiting for the opening of the garden.... Bogor’s Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Bogor) — School groups waiting for the opening of the garden…. Bogor’s Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Bogor)

Bogor and the thunders

Where to sleep in Bogor:

There aren’t many options in Bogor for backpackers, but even if there were, Tom’s Homestay is the place to stay in town! The house located close to the Botanical Garden and has a lot of character, despite being in the need of a bit of remodeling…. the owner, Tom is a super nice host and will provide all the necessary information about places to visit in Bogor, as well on the surroundings… where to find cheap food, local products, etc. He can take you to short tours to temples, waterfall and other Bogor attractions for a very low price, using local transport, and it will cost you very little.

He was a very helpful source of information about how to move around, and how to go to Jakarta… and he has the gentleness to pick me and take me to the bus terminal…. and all the hassle to go with me to the immigration office!!! Thanks Tom for your good heart.

Strongly recommend Tom’s Homestay. http://tomshomestay.com/home (you can contact him also by phone call or SMS)

The room is 100.000 Rp included breakfast; water, tea and coffee are available for free.

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Tom’s Homestay is the place to stay in town!

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Where to eat in Bogor:

The Simpang Raya Bogor is a restaurant with padang food, where you can choose what to add to your rice plate and pay according to the item that you choose. There are many options that change everyday.

This place is a favorite of local people. The food is delicious and it worth to go there even if the prices are a bit higher than usual at this kind of places. I pay 30.000 Rp for a plate full of food, from aubergine, veg curry, egg, omelet and papaya leafs.

The Simpang Raya Bogor Restaurant is located on Jalan Raya Pajajaran, just next to the Holland Bakery.

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Simpang Raya Bogor is a restaurant with padang style

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How to move around in Bogor:

The angkot, mini-vans with green colour that are the most common public transport in Bogor. They have a number according to the destination. Ask the help of someone local people. There are a lot of angkot moving on the streets that make a ring around the Botanical Garden.

The angkot fee is 7.000 Rp (maximum) inside the city.

How to move around in Bogor: The angkot, mini-vans with green colour that are the most common public transport in Bogor.

How to go from Jakarta (Kampung Rambutan) to Bogor:

By bus:

Coming from Jakarta you must go to the Kampung Rambutan Bus terminal, on the south part of the city.
From there you look for the departure stand number 28. At 6:00 a.m. departure the a/c bus to Bogor that uses the highway toll. Is faster than the normal bus. It takes 45 minutes (depending on the traffic) and ends the trip at Barangsiang Terminal, very close from Botanical Garden. The ticket cost 10.000 Rp.
Outside the Barangsiang Terminal you’ll find the angkot (a green colour mini-van) to different parts of the city. The angkot fee is 7.000 Rp maximum inside the city.

By train:

You can catch one of the trains leaving from Jakarta Kota Train Station (Stasiun Jakarta Kota) that go to Bogor…. there are many during all day.

How to go from Jakarta (Kampung Rambutan) to Bogor by bus

How to go from Bogor to Jakarta Airport:

There are DAMRI buses (Indonesian state-owned public transit bus company) from Bogor to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, Jakarta international and domestic airport. The DAMRI terminal is close to the Botanical Square, at Jalan Jalan Raya Pajajaran.

They are comfortable and have air-con. The trip takes around two hours but watch out that the traffic can make this trip much longer….

See prices and schedule below (May 2017).

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How to go from Bogor to Jakarta Airport. Ticket fee

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How to go from Bogor to Jakarta Airport.

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Where to sleep at Bandar Lampung:

Arriving at Bandar Lampung:

How to go from Bandar Lampung to Krui:

Itinerary:

Costs:

14 €/day

Costs in Java:

Antiques market

Colonial quarter (old Batavia)

Glodok

Pasar Baroe

Pasar Muara Angke

Plaza Indonesia

Where to sleep in Jakarta:

Where to eat and hang-out around Cikini (Menteng):

How to move around in Jakarta:

Jakarta: How to go from the city to the airport by public transport

Jakarta: How to go from the airport to the city by public transport

How to get from Jakarta city center to Jakarta International airport by public transport

How to reach Terminal Gambir :

See also: Jakarta: how to go from the airport to the city

How to get from Jakarta International airport to the city center by public transport

How to move around in Jakarta:

See also: Jakarta: How to go from the city to the airport

Bogor’s Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Bogor):

see also: Bogor and the thunders

See also: Bogor Botanical garden

Where to sleep in Bogor:

Where to eat in Bogor:

How to move around in Bogor:

How to go from Jakarta (Kampung Rambutan) to Bogor:

How to go from Bogor to Jakarta Airport:

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