I should have blogged this once I got back from Jakarta but I’ve been too busy doing some stuff for work and I also have been trying to fix my Blackberry’s data connection.
For some reason, Telkomsel (one of the mobile phone carriers here) decided to launch Blackberry Bold (which has 3G capabilities) without making their network 3G ready for the BB Bold!
This in turn has caused my BB Bold not being able to use the data connection. So after few phone calls and dealing with few stupid customer service officers, I came into a conclusion that I’m stuck with just EDGE/GPRS for now.
Other providers might have 3G BB connection, but I don’t want to move since my current phone number can’t be migrated to another carrier.
Anyway, back to my trip to Jakarta…
I went to Jakarta by train, it wasn’t much cheaper compared to taking a plane but I felt it was a safer choice considering it’s the rainy season. I am not comfortable being inside an Indonesian jet during rainy seaason.
The train was comfortable enough but I got delayed both times to and from Jakarta, and that kinda pissed me off a bit. More over, in one instance the train blacked out (no electricity) and had to make a stop for half an hour at one of the stations in a small town called Cepu.
The hotel I was staying at was awesome, they had great facilities and my room was great. It was to be expected from Hotel Mulia, a local hotel which has won quite a few awards. Since I’m a Platinum HSBC card holder, I was entitled to a free upgrade to a better room already at a special Indonesian Rupiah rate. How sweet is that! Thank God I didn’t have to pay in US dollars as the rate isn’t very good for Indonesian Rupiah.
I’m in love with the hotel, but not really sold by the service. The staff were all professional but they were too serious and edgy for me. It was too direct and I felt that they didn’t really offer more than what’s expected of them. For example, no one asked me if there’s something else they could do for me after I ordered something, something that I got from Nikko Hotel in Bali.
Or when I was asking about the spa packages, they didn’t really ask me if I needed help choosing one. I felt like they didn’t really need/want me there. Maybe they already have made enough money.. Or because I was there on a free upgrade so they felt they didn’t make enough profits from me? Who knows..
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My hotel room #2621
I also didn’t find the thing that I was planning to look for. Oh well, maybe it’s not the time yet.
I also tried to find Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer at Kinokuniya bookshops but all of them sold out. I really like the story after watching the movie at the Studio XXI Premier studio. Man… Never thought paying 100,000 rupiah for a movie was that good. The reclined seat was so much better than the Gold Class cinema in Australia and plus they gave us a blanket each! I’m solddd.. This is another thing that Surabaya needs/misses! Damn..
I visited some of the popular malls while I was there. Plaza Indonesia, Plaza Senayan, Senayan City, Grand Indonesia, and Pacific Place. Man… I love Harvey Nichols at Grand Indonesia and the new Pacific Place!
I walked past the brand new Louis Vuitton’s biggest boutique in Indonesia there. They even have the bag bar, something that I first saw in Beijing Financial Street boutique.
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I also was lucky enough to see the artificial snow fall at Pacific Place. You just can’t get any closer than this if you want to have a white Christmas in Indonesia.
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Harvey Nichols was awesome too, they had quite a few stuff that I like. Even though they have at least 30% sale, I only bought a pair of black Emporio Armani brief (not sure if it’s the one in which David Beckham was featured in) and a pair of AussieBum swimming trunk (I’m more intrigued on how it can boost my package as it claims). Pity that I haven’t been able to try it as it’s always rain here these days (wet season).
It wasn’t long until I have to return to Surabaya, it was a short but quite fun vacation. I had the awesome room by myself without other people telling me what to do or disturbing me. Haha.
Now I’m back home again, and work again.. Enjoy the photos, more can be found here.