Dear fellow reader, I wish you all happy holiday and a good start into the upcoming new year. I am already excited about my new destinations and you will kept up to date with my in depth reports on traveling New York, Brussels, Shanghai, Cairo, Bahrain, Bangkok (all are fixed already) and hopefully many more. Keep in touch and all the best- your Bule!
Could you imagine a nice night out in Jakarta with some casual cute western guys? Well I do , so that's the story. We where hanging out, went to Kemang to have some proper dinner in an indonesian restaurant called "payon", but they where closed due to private matters. So we went next door to Kemang food fest to catch up a portion of Nasi Goreng and a Bintang- good combo. Afterwards we thought of leaving back home, but while in taxi I remembered that MO Bar might be open this night. I called our Concierge at Le Meridien to make sure that the Bar gonna be open. They wasn't really sure, but said they might be open tonight. When we reached the Mandarin Oriental we realized a lot of very posh cars in line to drove up to lobby level. The crowd looked very sophisticated and not casual at all. It was our turn to get off our very cheap looking taxi. Taxi stopped at front door, they tried to open the doors, I advised the driver to go further. He stopped again a few meters ahead, staff followed, I opened the window and asked one of the female staff, if the Bar is open already. She was kind of confused as the ongoing party was the Grand Opening of MObar Jakarta! So we jumped out of the taxi, left our Bintang cans, I even went in without security check. So here we are- two casual cute western guys joining the most sophisticated event of the night in Jakarta. The elegant crowd consist of the Who is Who of Jakarta's society. A little boring and old, but free flow of Champagne and any other drink you might wish. We ended up directly in the middle of the bar, watching people and people watching us. To be honest I liked the old style of the bar more, but the staff is indeed amazing. Very professional, stylish and beautiful at all and at its best they where chatting with us which turns into flirting..lol. When we left, a women waiting in line for a taxi with us, asked us where we are from and why we joined the party cause we looking so casual. I said we are casual indeed and even without invitation card, people are waiting for us!
Stay tuned for more in depth reports on Jakarta nightlife!
As I mentioned already Shanghai is simply an amazing City and I would rather say a must for a smart traveler nowadays. But go ahead and try yourself. Trust me its worth it. Travel: This time I flow in from Europe- so I would recommend to use Swiss for your flight as it is still the best option, even they use the "old version" of their C Class. You will arrive in Pudong International Airport, which is a fairly huge and modern airport. Nothing special, but they do offer free Wifi in public areas. Keep in mind that some sites are not visible while you are in Chine- you will need a special program to enter some of the blocked sites. Before entering China you need to apply for a Visa back in your home country. There is no Visa on arrival service at the moment. The Airport is located far outside of the city, but there is the Maglev, a high speed train running between Pudong Airport the city within a couple of minutes, depending on how fast your train runs. Check schedules to speed up, but at least train will run with 300km per hour. Keep in mind that you have to change for the Metro or Taxi to reach you final destination. Travel between airport and city center will be at all around 1 hour, depending on traffic. Taxis are cheap and go on the meter. A taxi between the airport and the city is about 150 Yuan, depending on traffic and your loction. The Maglev is about 40 Yuan plus subway fare. Place to stay: As always in fairly huge cities you should choose your hotel, depending on where you need to go. In shanghai you have to deside if you wanna stay on Pudong side or in the city center in Puxi ( Bund area ). Pudong is the modern high rise building area, which is more the business district. nevertheless there are some very nice hotels around. First of all you should consider the Park Hyatt located in the highest building at time of writing. The hotel is top notch and the view over Shanghai is best. Next to it, in second highest building, the Jin Moa Tower is the Grand Hyatt located. For sure also an alternative if Park Hyatt is fully booked. On Puxi side I can recommend fairly priced Swissotel located in Jing an district, next to famous Jing An temple and to a subway station ( line number two connecting to Maglev train ). Enjoy: Shanghai do offer so much place you should consider to visit. As most of us lacking time I will give just a few hints. Most of the action is on Puxi side- so came over for a long night out or start your evening with a drink in Park Hyatt's bar on 89th floor- well worth it! Later you should consider Logo, Dada for a few drinks and even a good party and for dancing all night one of the Muse Clubs. If you wanna hang out on the Bund you can drop in all time favorite Bar Rouge, but to be honest, I guess it is boring.
Well, I just returned from a fucking cool weekend in Shanghai and to be honest this City is amazing. So much fun- buy your tickets now! When I have some more time left, I will leave an in depth report right here for place you should check out.
Berlin is the City of Change. Nothing is finished, nothing really started. Its in between- Transformation. There are people coming and leaving with great Ideas for often bigger projects. But to be honest- Berlin is not the place for the "big" things. Zentralflughafen Tempelhof is such a project with a long history of transformation in the middle of the City. Even so constructed as one of the largest buildings in the world, the airport shouldn't have been used as in airport that long. Planned as a modern airport with an event area, where thousand of visitors are able to watch the air shows from the roof top. Well to make a long story short- the airport was in use until end of 2008. In between as one of the busiest airports in the world and later as a small city airport with the most charming departure hall with a coffee shop serving "Bruehkaffee"! But that wouldn't be a story from Berlin if there wouldn't be more stories to talk about. The building "Zentralflughafen Tempelhof" has never been finished and has never been used just as an airport. It used to be a basis of the american army, the C.I.A., german police, central lost and found berlin, hundreds of offices and of course entertainment areas for erotic shows and dancing classes. The U.S. Air Force constructed an indoor basket ball field, bowling centre, bars as well as a sauna. Well the airport is closed- what's next? People in Berlin hoping that they will be able to use the airfield as a green recreation area as promised around 80 years ago- a long transformation you might think, but thats not the end for sure. As this is one of the biggest development areas in berlin for the upcoming years I am looking forward the visions of this "new" area. Indeed they are different, but don't worry- there is no need to hassle as there is a in between use already with bread&butter for the next ten years. Maybe they are able to develop an integrated concept during this time for a sustainable "transformation" into one of berlin most famous city centers. The guys from Graft work on it- but there are also politicians, allotment farmers, the berlin dog association and of cause the possibility of another "Ringcenter". Maybe Berlin need some more time for the really big things, but in between we should think about the "transformation"- there is a lot of space left for some kinky fun..
Today I went back home and checked the recent news on BBC: At least nine people have been killed, including two suspected suicide bombers, in two blasts at luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. Sometimes life simply sucks! This was not the first blast of a hotel in Indonesia and to be honest I don't think it will be the last one. Indonesia is a country with a vast variety of culture, religion and ethnics- a huge country with many different point of views. Especially in Jakarta the mix of modernity, western influences, javanese culture and moderate muslims as well as the gap between poor and rich people gives you such a special feeling while strolling around the streets which simply blows you away. For many people Indonesia is out of the way. On the other hand people should keep in mind that Indonesia is due to the recent history of developing a democratic, tolerant and moderate muslim country, the place where we are able to explore if there is a chance getting things together between the western and the muslim world! The development is to fast that such a few people could stop the move. There are millions of people in Indonesia are not willing to follow the way of death for a religious country where they don't wanna life in. Keep in mind the majority of the muslim community in Indonesia is not on the bomber's side. Its not religion, its not in the name of the people of Indonesia- these people are simply murderer!
My thoughts are with my friends in Indonesia, who are "living" daily the indonesian way of a hearty religious and cultural rich country. I am with you and looking forward my next trip to Jakarta!
Time is passing by and my recent stay in Berlin sucks- not just because its Berlin, its more about Me, Myself and I. So what's the best way to escape- right, I need a change! As my plans are fixed for London, Shanghai, Istanbul, Jakarta and Singapore I do need something new for november. This time I will do a traditional mileague run in the states: LAX, ONT, ORD, CLT, TPA, PHL and as it might be my last trip for this year I will add a sidestep to Vancouver and Hong Kong! So if you are around- drop me line and stay tuned for my upcoming reports on traveling the world!
I had been many times to Jakarta, but this was my very first time @ the Intercontinental Midplaza and I have to say I am quiet impressed. I did got a very good deal online with a travel agent on a room only base in a standard room. During Check In I upgraded on the spot to Club Floor for a nominal fee. Room was in a good layout and comes with a huge flat screen TV, comfy beds, a huge bathroom with bathtub and shower stall as well as complimentary internet access, breakfast, snacks and drinks in the lounge during the day. Staff is very friendly and helpful. The Location of the Hotel depend on where you have to go in Jakarta- I found it very convenient as taxis are cheap and the Trans Jakarta has a stop next door. Pool, Gym and Sauna Area are well done. I will return in a few weeks!
A vibrant city like Bangkok is always worth a visit even so it is just for one night on your way to your final destination. The hotel market in Bangkok is as vibrant as the city, so there are many place to choose from. This time I opted for Conrad a classy hotel in the heart of Bangkok (Wireless Road). As I arrived late and planned to fly out early I opted for a standard room rather than preferred Club Floor. Check in was a swift and I had been escorted to my room immediately. To be honest I did not expected much, but the service received and the layout of the room was indeed nice. Very comfy bedding and the bathroom was inviting enough to think about taking a bath. The breakfast buffet at X2 is alright- but nothing special as I do not like the overall layout of the venue. There is enough to choose from for most people, but it was indeed not my cup of tea in the morning. After breakfast I checked out the "flyers" in the hotel room and found an advertisement for an "old school" barber shop in the lobby. Right when I entered the venue I was simply impressed- as it is a mix of a cigars lounge, a whiskey bar and of course a barber shop!!! If you are seeking for a special service the gentlemen's should think about a brief visit. Right before taking a few laps in the pool I asked for a brief viewing of the club lounge. Michel, a very friendly women from FO showed me around, explained everything and even offered to show some more accommodation options in the hotel. From my point of view I would opt for a deluxe corner room on club floor. The room gives you not such a boxed feeling (Michel's words) and while taking a bath you can enjoy the amazing skyline of Bangkok as the bathtub is next to the window. Conrad will be my place of choice when I need my next hair cut in Bangkok!
As I stayed last time in Manhattan I was looking forward something special with a certain kind of NYC vibe for my recent stay in New York. After some research on the web I thought Brooklyn might be a good option and indeed it is! I felt in love with the area and the hotel from the very first moment. The hotel is easy to reach from LGA by taxi for about 30USD- from JFK you could easily take the MTA. The subway is within walking distance- just 5 minutes and it will take another 3 minutes to downtown Manhattan! Check In was a swift- Justin even recommend a diner across the street, called New St.Claires (its worth a visit) and helped me out with a dental set. Staff at all was very friendly and kindly helped with every request. The whole property is a boutique hotel- which is well done for people who know how something like that should look like! We stayed in a Standard Queen room on the third floor- very quiet with a view to the backyard. Bed was very comfy as the whole ambience of the room. Wifi was included in the room rate as well as the continental breakfast in the morning which is a very good start as the coffee, freshly baked pastries, juice and fresh fruits are delicious! If i wanna a huge buffet breakfast- I would choose a Shangri La e.g.! If they keep the quality on this level I will return for sure!
It has been a long time since I went out at night for so called party in Berlin. My stay over in Berlin is longer than expected, so I followed the invitation of my little princess Copacabana Else to join her for a party in Kantine @famous Berghain. So far so good, as I do like Panorama Bar and the whole location indeed. Due to the fact that Niki and I where a little tipsy thanks to the Champagne in another "cool" venue in K-Berg, we took a taxi to be dropped at the main entrance of Berghain. I never had been to Kantine before so Niki asked for directions and to bad we couldn't join the crowd as we had to meet up with the others @the fairly empty Kantine party on left hand side of Berghain. The location is not bad at all as there is a kind of outdoor area in front to chill out an a rather medium sized dance floor inside. Personally I would rate the party as interesting as a Beck's could be. People tend to rate places or situations as sexy or not- this was definitly unsexy at all. If you are seeking for a sexy night out- join the "main" crowd at Berghain next time! To be fair its not about the music at all, as it is always interesting to listen, but people makes the difference indeed. I am not sure whether it is due to the fact that all these guys know each other, even me or they are all as stiff as a poker. The so called party could be described as a get together with people you know since your childhood, standing around and having a drink! Its not to bad to meet up and have a chat, but its pain in the ass if you are seeking for hedonist nightlife. Copacabana Else tried really hard and found a dancing queen in form of her power shopper.
Stay tuned and join the "main" crowd at Panorama Bar/ Berghain next time!
Last night I had a couple of Singha, my well loved refreshing drink besides Bintang. Today I recognized that Singha in cooperation with Lonelyplanet is seeking Your favorite spot to hangout and cool down. So vote for your favorite watering hole! To bad that the "erotic knucklebone lady" from the night hawker in Sala Daeng Rd. is not listed.
I completed planning so far for my upcoming trip. If you are around for example in Shanghai, London, Istanbul, Jakarta or Singapore please drop me a line. Stay tuned for my fresh reports on traveling the world!
The desert, the Mustang, Punsch and me! Well after 3 days of driving around 1500 Miles from SFO to LAS onwards to LAX and returning on Highway number one to SFO I must admit that the part throughout the desert was the most spectacular one. Even if you prefer to take a plane for every route this one should be done by car to get the right feeling. The only Problem is the lack of DJ Dizzy after a couple of hundred miles leaving SFO, as this is dam cool shit!!
Places to Stay: Las Vegas is full of huge Hotels and Casinos, so you are able to get a very good deal during the week in off seasons. Hotels like the Wynn, Mandalaybay or the Bellagio are available for under 100 bucks often including resort credits and redemptions on shows, so shop around. If you are on a budget check out Hyatt Place. Enjoy: During your stay in Las Vegas or on your onward journey to Los Angeles you should stop by @ famous Hoover Dam which is on the border to Arizona. Nearby Boulder City is good for quick bite in between- stop by @ Mel's Diner for a great atmosphere and tasty american food. From my point of view there is nothing really cool on offer in Las Vegas, besides you are into gambling. You might visit one of the many available shows, go out for dinner (if you are into draught beer try Gordon-Biersch) or double your budget in a Casino. Have a look to the old City Center of Las Vegas- stroll around the little alleys and enjoy the heat. During your stay in Las Vegas or on your onward journey to Los Angeles you should stop by @ famous Hoover Dam which is on the border to Arizona. Nearby Boulder City is good for quick bite in between- stop by @ Mel's Diner for a great atmosphere and tasty american food.
I am not yet sure why San Francisco became one of my well loved places. Maybe because of the liberal, gay, straight, Asian , American, European vibe? Or is it the structure itself: the location by the sea, the hills and the architecture? It seems to be the mix indeed. You really don’t get the feeling that you are in a huge urban city, but you will find everything an urban guy like me need.
Transportation: Compared to other American cities, San Fran is one of a few with an excellent public transportation system. To and from the airport one could use the bart train service, which is cheap, fast and reliable. For every visitor is a ride on the cable car a must. One way tickets are 5USD but you can opt for a day pass (one day is 11USD) for unlimited rides on busses, cable cars and subways within the Muni system.
Places to stay: There are plenty of options from cosy boutique hotels to large Chain Hotels downtown or posh options on Nobb Hill. If you are on a budget trip and don’t really care about a certain Hotel you should consider Priceline. I stayed recently in Parc 55 -which is next to Union Square and right at Powell Station. Well its not cool but indeed a solid option if you wanna explore the city. Other places you should consider are the Intercontinental, the MO or Craigslist. Next to the airport I would strictly recommend the Hyatt!
Enjoy: Besides strolling around the city, walking across Golden Gate Bridge and taking a ride on the famous Cable Car there are many different districts to explore. Well worth a visit is The Castro- home to the famous gay area. It’s a lifely area with lost of bars and restaurants where you even can have a drink midday without being looked at. For the different neighborhoods you should have a look @SFO Gate. After dinner go for some drinks in The Castro and later to one of the many clubs or event locations like the 111Minna, The Endup or Werd for dancing.
My recent trip was a usual a mix of work and fun- it is always good to get some new inspirations for upcoming “placemaking” projects. California is simply amazing and San Francisco is in my personal top 10 list. Las Vegas is not that bad as the way through the desert is an amazing ride if you have the right car. I had- so the fun was indeed huge! Vegas is good for a marry on the spot- so I did, but the well talked about first night was a little uninspiring. But the next morning was indeed maximum success- could you believe how amazing the Hoover dam is and how beautiful the desert is?! Well Los Angeles sucks- as traffic is hell and Americans are poor drivers. I got lost thanks to my GPS and need to pee, stopped at one place what ones could tell a ghetto…so I quit the idea of leaving my Mustang and used the turbo boost to escape.
Stay tuned for my in depth reports on traveling California!
Anybody wanna join me for a brief trip to asia? Final destination would be Jakarta for a weekend. Its dirt cheap- so let me know quick. If you choose to join from europe- routing could be like this: LHR-IST-HKG/SIN-JKT-SIN-IST-LHR Connecting flights to anywhere in europe possible as well as sidesteps to BKK, JOG, PNH..
During my recent stay in Seoul I had chosen the Park Hyatt for the pretty short layover before heading back to Europe. To be honest I totally regret not to stay longer in this amazing Hotel. I flow in from Hong Kong in the evening and took the limousine bus to city air terminal. After arrival at the Hotel I was escorted to the Lobby on 24th floor for very friendly and professional Check In. My room was on 22nd floor- highest available floor in the hotel! Room was simply fantastic and the view outstanding. The bathtub was right by the window, if you are not as good looking as the hotel and the staff you can easily drop down the automatic window shades for privacy. The Bedroom comes with floor to ceiling windows, comfy chairs, a dinner table, flat screen TV+DVD and an absolutely heavenly bed with ultra soft linen. The whole concept and design of the room is top notch as the service provided by the staff. I had a late night supper with wine from 24/7 room service- the wine was outstanding delicious. Due to my early flight out of ICN I had just a coffee in the room. The Wellness area on the upper floor comes with a fully equipped fitness centre, a small pool- that is good for a few laps as well as sauna and hot/ cold tub in the locker area. All with the same outstanding view as in the rooms- a very relaxing start into the day. Simply well done- looking forward my next stay in Seoul @ Park Hyatt.
Hey guys- I gonna go to Paris!!!! Yeah you are right- the City of love. I guess I should try something more traditional after my recent experience in the Phillipines- no love at all. But indeed people there are well relaxed- there is always a last minute wedding possible, so keep your eyes open. I am out and about to seek real love in Paris in mid of april. If you are around and want to help to help my "dreams" become reality you should drop me a line. I could easily understand that Paris is to old school for most of you- so you can join me on my love boat trip to Vegas in mai.
Today I did a tour around the City of Manila. Its always good to use public transport to get a better feeling for the vibe of a City and of cause one could smell the sex in the air- or not! Well first of all I thought people in Manila are not that sexy- I mean one could think that the mix of latin american and asian lifestyle could create a certain super sex modus, but to be honest I proofed it to be wrong. At an interchange station a found this magnificent vendor and thought I could push myself with local viagra into the right vibe. Well the taste was awful and I did not feel anything happy afterwards up to the point I spotted this lovely advertisement: I finished the leftovers from "happy balls" and shop around for the stylish watch!
Stay tuned for more happy reports on traveling the Phillipines!
I just returned from my recent trip to bohol- even so flying Cebu Pacific I am still alive. The flight was alright and dirt cheap. There is a certain kind of inflight entertainment as the flight attendants are sweet and play little games during the flight. The only reason you might die during such a flight is the food on sale. I ordered something like sandwich and it was disgusting. Nevertheless the trip to bohol was simply amazing. I stayed on the small island panlao in a tropical cottage resort located in a rural village. The cottages at Alumbung are cheap and clean and give you right away a tropical feeling. Staying by the beach, having a few SMB and some fresh fish keeps me busy for a few days, but the main reason why returning to Manila was the lack of island sex. Stay tuned for more in depth reports on traveling the Phillipines!
Today is a good day to die- its bright and sunny and I am in the tropics. If not I will let you know later about my recent trip to Bohol on Cebu Pacific. Stay tuned!
If you are seeking for a cool place to stay on Bali you should consider Clio in Seminyak. This small apartment complex is ideal for the urban traveller as it gives you the feeling of a downtown apartment beamed right out of NYC into the tropics. The Studio room come with an open all in one room concept. Sleeping, preparing dishes, relaxing and showering within the same room. There is just a flexible wall to separate the "bathroom", but its still open, so you need to adjust urself. Sorry for the not so nice picture of the bathroom, but it will give you an impression. Its stylish at all and the staff is very kindly. Rent a motorbike to circle around!
Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni has urged the Buddha-Bar Jakarta management, the France-based George V Hotels and Resorts, to close down its local branch following protests from local Buddhists over the bar’s name and use of Buddhist icons.
“If they don’t close this place down, I am afraid we could see other bars emerge like a ‘Christian Bar’ or an ‘Islam Bar,’” Maftuh told Antara state news agency after a meeting with religious leaders in Jambi.
The Jakarta Representatives Council (DPRD) had also asked for the management to halt their operations to keep peace between followers of different faiths.
Previously, Indonesian Buddhist representative Budi Setiawan said George V had promised to change the name of the bar and remove all of its religious symbols.
Times go by so fast- my trips to Jakarta are just to short and I should consider to relocate business to this magnificent City! There is always something new to explore or even the places you always liked before are still keep on the very same vibrant level. For a certain lifestyle this is simply the place to be. There is everything you might dream about and this mix of everything is all about for a progressive City. While having breakfast in the Lounge you can have a brief look into "the peak" to explore what you should have to buy next. This magazine is simply a different mail order shopping catalogue for the upper class in Indonesia. The difference is, that you can't order directly online with them, you need to shop around as they "just" give you advise what to buy. But the sweet life will be off as soon as you are back on the street level. Simply take a ride on Trans Jakarta and you know what I am talking about. For dinner you meet up with your friends in one of the many wonderful restaurants and bars- gosh food is so fucking delicious in Jakarta. The latest add to Jakarta nightlife entertainment is Buddha Bar. The Jakarta outlet is located in the old "kantor imigrasi" building and gives you a certain colonial feeling. One of the main reasons why I recommend this venue is because of the outside setting in a lush tropical garden- very nice indeed and not often found in Jakarta. Drinks are well done- a perfect place to cover the time gap befor leaving for one of the many clubs. For a late night supper I would recommend a traditional nasi goreng on the street. There are several Warungs around serving cheap and fulfilling meals, recommended if you wanna dance all night until sun comes up or even longer in famous Stadium.
After a while living and traveling throughout Asia some days off in Manila let me set back with mixed feelings. Manila is indeed different to any other place in Asia. I would rather say it is a mix of a certain latin american lifestyle with an asian touch. Thanks to the very ambitious taxi driver from the Airport to the Hotel the very first impression set Manila on top of the list of my favorite "huge" city escape places. The journey took about one hour and now i am here- not sure what might bomb up next, but i will let you know. Stay tuned for my upcoming in depth report on Manila!
There is no place like NYC on this planet. One could easily say that they would never travel to North America as they might think it is boring. Indeed most places within the States or Canada aren’t interesting at all, but NYC is not America- NYC is an Urban Agglomeration of the World. If you aren’t able to move there you should at least came by to get an impression of the very special lifestyle. Skip the stuff what is recommended in your guidebook. Just stroll down the different parts and you might be able to realize what’ s all about! Places to stay: NYC is not cheap at all, but due to economic crises and the weak dollar you will find a places which suits to your budget. For good offers check out Travelzoo or bid for a room on Priceline. I am not a fan of chain hotels and New York is a good place to look for something different than a Mariott or Hilton. If you are on a shoestring but would like to have a little bit more comfort try Pod Hotel in Manhattan. This venue offers rooms with and without private bathrooms. Boutique Hotels are very famous in NYC and prices are sometimes out of the world, but there are options if you are willing to stay for example in Brooklyn. Sure you have to travel to Manhattan, but depending on the area you like to go it might takes just a few more minutes. Try Nu Hotel on Smith Street. This is a very new design oriented hotel in a very hip area. Getting around: There are three main airports- JFK, EWR and LGA. If you can choose I would strictly recommend to use La Guardia as this is the smallest airport of the three, located in Queens. Flying in and out is amazing as you have a very nice view on the city. There is a bus service connecting to the MTA, but its worth to think about a taxis to your hotel. A taxi to Nu Hotel in Brooklyn will cost about 30 bucks all in and if your traveling together with somebody its a bargain for the 25 minutes ride. Organizing travel during your stay is pretty easy as you should use public transport! A ride on the subway will set you back 2 bucks. You have to buy a Metro Card at the vending machines within the stations. Buy a 20USD card which is worth 23USD- you need to walk a lot anyway as a first timer. Keep in mind that you can use the Metro Card also for two people. Stay tuned- Will be continued!
Yogyakarta, also known as Jogja used to be more or less my second home. I used to life there for a longer period of time on two occasions and whenever I am in the region I also fly there for a brief visit. The good thing about returning to places where you used to life is that you can just come to visit friends or drive around with your motorbike. Nevertheless time is always to short to do everything you wish before for example to visit all the restaurants where you used to eat before. But for First timers coming to Jogja this is a different story as Jogja refers as the Cultural Centre of Java or even of whole Indonesia. Places to stay: If you are on a shoestring you might stay down town in the "Backpacker" street named Jl.Sosrowijayan. This small street is a cluster of western oriented guesthouses and restaurants and a good spot to explore everything. I do stay always in Bladok Losmen- which is the most famous guesthouse in this area. Most people in this Area know me in person so it is very convinient for me to organize daily life. Bladok runs also a restaurant which serves food in a decent quality. The rooms might be slightly more expensive than other guesthouses around, but rooms are clean and the staff is lovely. Cheapest single room with a Mandi (indonesian bathroom) and fan is around 80k IDR. They do have also a tiny pool in the backyard! If you are seeking something more calm I would recommend to stay in the north, but keep in mind you need to organize your transport- no problem so far as taxis are cheap! In the north there are two options- The huge Hyatt with a well done landscape pool area and a relaxed garden atmosphere or Rumah Mertua, which is a small indonesian hotel with a good restaurant. Booth place are next to each other out of the city center- by taxi it will takes you around 20 minutes and by motorbike around 10 minutes. Enjoy: The most impressive Highlights within the Area of Jogja are the buddhist Tempel Borobudur and the hinduist Tempel of Prambanan. If you are short on time your should rent a car with driver or a motorbike to reach booth within one day. I would recommend to visit Borobudur in the morning, have lunch in the very impressive and expensive Amanjiwo Resort and go for Prambanan during the afternoon. If you are in Jogja during dry season, there is even a kind of nighttime show near Prambanan which is worth a visit as you will be able to see the temples at night. Most people du visit the famous Kraton in Jogja, but to be honest I never been there and I guess its not worth a visit. You should check out the Tamansari- know as Water Castle. For exhibitions check out Cemeti Art House. There is even a "Yogyakarta Internasional Film Festival" which is pretty interesting and of cause they do organize good parties! If you just wanna hang out and maybe watch a movie you should look out for Kinoki, this is kind of independent place with a small coffee shop serving drinks and snacks. Night time entertainment is limited in quality but still you will find something what might make you happy. Just check out my other reports about Jogja. I strictly recommend to start your evening in Bintang Resto in Jl.Sosrowijayan, have a couple of Bintang and a Club Sandwich. Later you should take a taxi to Embassy. Ask some locals or expats where to go or just join them. If you are seeking a place for your sunday roast i would recommend the all time favorite in Jogja- the Gadjah Wong, try the home made Ice cream! Or the expat choice Hanis. Gadjah Wong does have live music including Gamelan! One of the all day favorite spots for the young expat crowd is Parsley on Jl.Kaliurang. Behind the famous bakery shop is a relaxed restaurant which offers tasty international dishes and free Wifi- sometimes slow, but it doesn't matter if you stay a couple of hours to get rid off your last night headache!
Bali is a very special place in Indonesia. It took a while until I hit this island even so staying in Indonesia a couple of times before. To be honest I still would rate Bali not as an indonesian island as the culture is different at all not only on the religious side as Bali is Hindu and Indonesia is a mainly Muslim country. Bali is a typical beach resort island with a nice landscape, well done hotels and spas as well restaurants providing food from around the globe. The main reason for me to travel to Bali is because its the most convenient place to reach within one hour from Jogjakarta and two hours from Jakarta, to have a swim in the sea! Sounds strange, but there is no quality beach nearby Jogja or Jakarta and flights are not that expensive. Places to stay: It depends what you are looking for. I do prefer to stay as far away from other tourists as possible, but indeed for a weekend its not worth to travel that far. The main tourist areas are in the south "nearby" the airport namely Nusa Dua, Legian, Kuta, Sanur and the up market Seminyak. Ubud is another option if you wanna relax in the padi fields and use one of the many Spa's. Here we go with my ideas for your Bali Trip. Sanur is an old school beach resort, nothing special, but alright if you rent a motorbike to drive around. Nusa Dua is a gated comunity for tourists from all over the world- at the moment a lot of russians I guess. Not a place where I would like to stay. Kuta is the same- no way! Seminyak seems to be a good option as it is a little bit more up market, no as many hotels as in the other areas. People here tend to own or rent a villa or an apartment. Clio for example looks nice. If you are looking for a villa to share with some friends I would recommend Canggu Area or Echo Beach. Last time I rented Villa Padi which includes everything you need as well as a car with a driver during the day. In Ubud I would strictly recommend to use one of the Alam facilities- I did stay in Kebun Indah in the Padi room- the perfect place for a "real" balinese feeling! They do run a Spa as well, its not posh at all but the full body massage was one of the best I ever received. Its a little bit like Fantasy Island if you can still remember the TV show?! They do provide free of charge transfer within Ubud with a white car and a tiny driver...Go for it- you won't regret!
Getting around: Most people arrive on Bali by Plane. If you are not on an international direct flight or you life in Indonesia you might need a domestic flight. As all indonesian Airlines are not safe at all, due to high competition on low cost market I would strictly recommend to use the national flag carrier Garuda. Btw this is the only full service airline left. Tickets on GA are generally more expensive than other carriers, but still quiet cheap. The main lack is that one is not able to reserve online. You need a local agent for the cheap domestic fares if you don't wanna book @ international prices. Nevertheless if you gone through the whole process of "e-travel by Garuda" you will find yourself pushed back into the 80ies while on board a Garuda plane- this includes even the flight attendants. If you haven't organize a pick up service from the airport you could buy a voucher for a taxi inside the airport or bargain hard outside- but therefore you need to know prices and speak Bahasa indonesia to get a good price. Keep in mind that prices are slightly higher compared to the rest of indonesia as this is a tourism destination. Traveling around Bali by motorbike is relaxed and one could even rent a car with or without a driver if you to spoil yourself. Motorbikes are available from 35k IDR per day! Enjoy: One of the main reasons to fly into Bali is to relax by the beach, nevertheless I believe the beaches on Bali are not that special, but still fine. I do like Echo beach in Canggu Area- the beach is black sand, but quiet empty, just some surfers and the famous Beach House- the place to be for a sundowner or B.B.Q by the beach! Another option, if not the most famous one, for a sundowner is Ku De TA in Seminyak. Compared to Echo beach and The Beach House Ku De Ta is the hip spot and very crowded. It is recommended to spoil yourself with a spa treatment after a day by the beach as the Spas on Bali are cheap and the overall quality is pretty good. If you are into late night entertainment you probably have to go to Kuta- but keep in mind that this might result in meeting many drunken foreigners. To be honest I skip Kuta at all and still enjoy myself.
Stay tuned for upcoming reports on beach resorts all over the world!
I am a fucked up international guy, born and raised in europe, travelled worldwide, living abroad! Current station: Bangkok, but my heart is still in Indonesia.
You can contact me at:
d.r.j.teitelbaum@googlemail.com
