Journey to The Homeland (Part 1)

Bare with me, i'm trying to type my story.

First, i am so sorry for not keeping my story of writing during my journey to Indonesia. and because of that, i can't write everything in the exact details.

So here i am sitting in Starbucks, Meadowhall, Sheffield, England; trying to pick up the pieces of my memories during my stay in Indonesia.

For a note, i will divide this post into several entries since i went there for 2 weeks and it could be boring to read every single thing at once. Here's the first two days of the journey.

Ok, my reason. My reason for not writing during my stay is because...... Indonesia is always hectic for me. my family, especially, they like the rushy feelings where you just go somewhere like hit and run. LOL. i don't know how to explain things, but my husband, Richard, he always said "every times i went to Indonesia, i feel like i need a holiday when i return." HAHAHAHAHA!

Let alone sitting down and write, i can't even just sit down. Trying to fit so many activities in 2 weeks is REALLY tiring!

Ok, enough with the rant and all the reason, let's start the 'picking up the pieces' story.

DISCLAIMER: this story, review, and every score i put in here are completely from my personal point of view from my actual real life experiences. i do not gain anything from this nor under any circumstances getting any profit towards this. All result can be different if you go and experience it yourself.

INDONESIA.

16 hours flights from Manchester to Jakarta just enough to make you think it's not worth going. BUT, don't even think to judge before you go if you never been.

Beautiful tropical heaven, crowded place that never sleep, palm trees, fresh coconut that actually round.

I have been staying in England for just a bit less than 2 years, i went to Indonesia so many times that i cant even count it. Looking at my passport stamp, rather than founding the answer of how many times i went to Indonesia during these two years, i got confused. Haha.

I know Richard has been writing about Indonesia too. In a British point of view. Now this is mine. As a half local. LOL.


Day 1 - 16th May 2015

Arrived in Jakarta midday, my brother decided to take me around the neighbourhood to grab something to eat. So we went to this restaurant called Bebek Kaleyo. I don't have the picture of the food. I'm really a bad blogger. So here it is, the picture that i stole. Haha.

Courtesy of Arlita Ayu

 Bebek Kaleyo is a franchise restaurant that sells various kind of Indonesian style fried Chicken and Duck. It's superb! My favourite menu in this restaurant is ayam goreng cabe ijo. Which is a fried chicken with green chilli as u seen in the picture. The meal came with a steamed jasmine rice. You can change the rice with coconut steamed rice called nasi uduk. The price in this restaurant is magically cheap! They even did 'apologise' for their ultra-cheap price in their website. For the meal in the picture, you can have them for around IDR 13,000 - IDR 18,000 (approximately GBP 0.65 - GBP 0.90) depending by the kind of chicken that you ask for. free range or not kind of thing. Amazing, right? I honestly wish England has these kind of meal price. For more information about the restaurant, please feel free to visit their website by clicking this. Make sure your website translation is on, because their website is in Indonesian Language.

There's not many things i did that day since i'm practically worn off by the flight. I ended my day with a cup of Caramel Javachips Frappuccino by Starbucks.


Day 2 - 17th May 2015

Hardly getting any sleep because of jet lag, i woke up at 5 AM thinking of what am i doing this early in the morning. Unlike the sun in England, Indonesia sun always rises and sets in the same time everyday through out the day. The sun rises at 6 AM and sets at 6 PM. Everyday. It is actually possible to know the time by just looking at the sky. As a little imaginary preview, if you live in England, the sky in Indonesia at 6 PM everyday will look like 10 PM British Summer Time (BST).

The Shops in Indonesia open from 8 AM to 10 PM. Malls opening time will be 10AM to 10PM through out the year. Most of Starbucks open 24 hours, so is McDonald's. Malls, one very certain type of shopping centre, there's quite a few in Jakarta. Currently, roughly, there is 18 massive malls in Jakarta region only. That obviously what Wikipedia said. It isn't included small malls, and the malls on the Jakarta outskirt. If you can count the exact number of malls in Jakarta, please comment down below as i'm quite curious. So you get the picture, there are a lot of Shopping centre in Jakarta. Apparently, as a country that is not as high in standard income, Indonesians are a massive shoppers, and it is actually quite popular in some tourism countries. I myself as an Indonesian never actually went to a shop where they would say "OMG you are Indonesian! You should spend all your money here!" but i'm used to those look where they look extremely happy to know that i am Indonesian. Haha, pretty funny.

OK. So what did i do on the second day?
I went to the outskirt of Jakarta. The city called Tangerang, a part of Banten province. Located 25 KM on the west Jakarta, Tangerang is the sixth largest city in Indonesia.

As a promise from my brother and mother to take me to eat Chicken Pop, they took me to this Padang restaurant.

To see more about this restaurant, click here.

Padang restaurant is a restaurant that serves food authentically from Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. If you are quite adventurous towards your tummy needs and you are just happen to be in one of the cities in Indonesia, it should not be hard for you to find these restaurants. It came with a different names, but if you want to be safe, i suggest you to go to the restaurant that called Sederhana. It's one of the safest place to try Padang food. They are a franchise restaurant with a speciality of Padang food. Make sure you bring enough money, though. This restaurant can be a little bit pricey. But as much as i am concern, most of the restaurant under this brand accept cards. I mean, your plastic money. *winks*


Don't be surprise when you came in, no one greeted you nor giving you any menus. There is no menus in Padang restaurants. Choose your seat, sit down and relax. Any kind of food that they have cooked that day will come to you automatically. These waitresses are trained to carry more than 5 plates at once in both hands. And don't be panic when you see your table fulfilled with so many different kind of food. In Padang restaurants, they have only one rules. What you touch is what you pay. After eating your food, the cashier person will come to your table to count your bill. In person. Manually. Honestly, until this second of my life, i still don't get how did they count everything precisely without any mistakes. That's talent!

Courtesy of Sederhana.

My suggestions will be for you guys to try their Rendang (thick curried beef), Ayam Gulai (yellow curry chicken), and Ayam Pop (steamed-deep fried chicken). Now that last one is my favourite!

Ayam Pop, Courtesy of Gapracoolz.

Ayam Pop is magical! soon as i have a bite, i will not be able to stop until i really cannot breath anymore. I am no good at cooking, so i don't really know what the special ingredients in this one certain food other than a chicken. All i know, they marinated the chicken over-night, steam it, then dip it in a very hot vegetable oil for a couple of seconds. And that, my friend, why the chicken looked white, although the have a delicious scrumptious crispy skin.

Dan't forget to dip it into the chilli that comes in pair with the chicken. Because when magic is paired to magic, it became unbearably magic combo! Seriously worth driving for hours.

My score towards this food? 9 out of 10. The other one goes to the amount in one plate. I don't understand. Somehow, they always put two pieces of chicken on the plate. I NEED MORE! To get more, you have to order again, and wait for it to arrived. They always made it fresh. I mean, the dipping it into the piping hot oil part. And for some reason that i don't know, they never serve it on your table along with the other food. So if you don't know it's exist, there is a big chance that you've never tried it before. Like them secret menus on Starbucks. You gotta know how to order it to get it.

Enough with the chicken, i went to a small shopping centre with my best friend that happened to came along with my family to the Padang restaurant we went just now. Nothing to review about this shopping centre. Just another mall in the metropolitan Indonesia.

At night, though, we went to a bar in the area called Kuningan, South Jakarta. This area fulfilled with expatriates. Why? I don't really know.

Most of the high-end bars, clubs, pubs, restaurants are mostly sited around South Jakarta. Five stars hotels, big buildings, and all sorts of International Companies will be found in this area too. Wait, that's probably why this area is fulfilled with expatriates. Driving around this area will make you feel like you are in another city. Big city with all the glam and fancy buildings.

Back to the night with my best friend. Her name is Sweety. That, is her real name, by the way.

Courtesy of Loewy

Sweety and i started our night outing journey to a bar called Loewy.

This Bar and Restaurant is popular among urban people around Jakarta.

This retro chic style bar will serve you the best of the best cocktails to brighten up your night and fill your hungry late night stomach with a delicious classy meals.

Courtesy of Asia-Bars.com

Of course, since it is a hi-end bar, you are entitled to dress up. Smart casual to semi-formal will be their dress code. Don't even try to get in with a flip flop if you don't wanna be stopped by the security that would not let you in without you changing your apparel. Sounds bitchy, but that's life.

Trust me, i have been there.

But other than that, this place is simply cozy. Lively at night, but won't force you to scream to your friend's ear just to say hi.

This place is one of my favourite place to hang out. Almost all the crews are friendly. Almost. :) - Leave it that way.

For more informations about reservation, menus, and all the pretty little things about this bar and restaurant, click here.

The night still young! Leaving the cozy bar, we head off the dance floor!
Yep, it is club time!

We went to a club situated in a (again) hi-end mall in Indonesia called Plaza Indonesia. From the mall building, you can actually see the second most popular iconic place in Jakarta called Bundaran HI. I will not show you the picture of the area. Don't be lazy, Google it. There are too many pictures of Bundaran HI that are taken by too many excellent talented photographers. So help yourself by Googling it if you really want to see what Budaran HI looks Like. Or... Just click here if you are that lazy to type. You are welcome.

Just a little explanation about Bundaran HI:

Bundaran HI. Bundaran means roundabouts, HI stands for Hotel Indonesia. You got it right if you guessed that Bundaran HI is a big roundabouts near (used to be called) Hotel Indonesia. The hotel itself has been refurbished and renamed as Hotel Indonesia Kempinski. Bundaran HI also known as Tugu Selamat Datang (Welcome Monument). The monument has been completed in the year 1962 under the order of Indonesia first president, Ir. Soekarno. The monument was made with the intention to welcome the visitors of the Asian Games IV that held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Monument was sketched by (at that time) the vice governor of Jakarta, Sir Henk Ngantung and sculpted by Indonesian sculptor called Edhi Sunarso. Fun fact, the monument's constructions started on the 17th of August 1961. Which is the exact sweet sixteenth anniversary of Indonesia Independence day.

Courtesy of Immigrant

Back to the club. I went to Immigrant.

The club is located in the sixth floor of Plaza Indonesia.

Immigrant is a restaurant and bar in day time, lounge and club during night time.

For those who haven't got their name in the guest list, you need to pay 300,000 IDR (approx. 15GBP) to get in after 10 PM. This price is included one drink that you can choose at the till before you get in.

As much as i concern, you need to be over 21 to get in. It is a legal age for drinking in Indonesia. But then again, sad to say, it's Indonesia. If you are under 21 and are allowed to get in, count yourself as lucky. :)

I drove home and arrived home at 5:00AM the following day. Do not try to do that to yourself. Thanks to that night, i am completely broke the day after and my feet was swollen. Been in hilly part of England for almost two years made me lose my ability to stand on my platform heels for more than two hours.

Well that's it for today. I will write more about the journey tomorrow.

Stay tuned, don't forget to check back everyday for new posts sent directly from our laptop to yours!

P.S: we are working on our youtube channel! We will link you here when it's ready! Don't forget to subscribe and leave your comment. We'd love to hear from you!! :)


Here's a little preview of the first Twenty Toes UK Youtube vlog!

Cheers everyone!

Lidya

Twenty Toes UK

My Indonesian Travel List - The goal for our travels

   As my wife, Lidya, is Indonesian I have been fortunate enough to visit Indonesia nine times so far. Since I shall be going back and forth between England and Indonesia for the foreseeable future I decided to draw up an Indonesian travel wishlist of places I'd like to visit. The list is as follows:

1. Krakatau - This volcano in the Sunda Strait was responsible for one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recent times in terms of lives lost and devastation. It lies in the sea between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Although the vast majority was blown up in the blast of 1883, 'anak Krakatau' is growing at a rapid rate.

2. Taman Nasional Tanjung Puting - This national park on Kalimantan's southern coast is famous for its orangutan conservation despite the parks severely depleted habitat.

3. Komodo National Park - For the lizards, obviously! If anything is going to give you a feel of prehistoric life before man then I imagine Komodo island will.

4. Lake Toba - This lake in North Sumatra is the largest volcanic lake in the world. It is the remains of a supervolcano that is thought to be the biggest volcanic eruption of recent geological times.

5. Ujung Kulon Nasional Park - On Java's  west coast this national park is a UNESCO world heritage site and the last stronghold of the critically endangered Javanese Rhinoceros. 

6. Prambanan Temple complex - The largest Buddhist temple site in Indonesia and part of UNESCO's heritage, this impressive selection of monuments is situated in Central Java.

7. Pagaruyung Palace - I've always been a fan of old or ancient buildings with unique characteristics and this palace has got just that. Near Padang on the island of Sumatra, this palace was built during the 17th century.

8. Tana Toraja - Another of the archipelago's quirky style of buildings through the years, Tana Toraja is home to many of these unique tropical built huts with iconic roofs.

9. Mount Rinjani - As someone who likes hiking, Rinjani on the island of Lombok has caught my eye. Despite the popularity of Mt Bromo in Java, Lombok for me seems to offer better 'tropical island' views off the main tourist track.

10. Raja Ampat - If there is one picture that defines Indonesia as a tropical utopia then it's Raja Ampat. I'd just take a camera and be happy snapping all day long in these Western Papuan maze of Islands.

The destinations already ticked off my list include the National Monument in Jakarta, Borobudur Temple in Central Java, the iconic rice terraces of Bali, Kawah Putih, or 'White Crater', which is the beautiful spot that we had our pre-wedding photographs taken and Ulun Danu Temple, which is the reason I decided to start a blog. For me, travelling is all about the adventure, discovery and thrill of seeing something for the first time, admiring a building, culture or landscape that you don't see everyday. As much as I want to see the Parthenon in Athens, Machu Picchu in Peru or visit Hagia Sophia in Instanbul, I don't want to lose the feeling of what they are through overcrowding, the noise and the constant flash of cameras. I witnessed Borobudur midweek early in the morning before the potential throngs of tourists but unfortunately I wasn't so lucky at Ulun Danu Temple. What should be a peaceful religious site on a mountainous lake side turned out to be a bustling noisy stampede of people, packed shoulder to shoulder trying to take photographs. It ruined the complete aura of the place. Maybe slightly ironic as I was one of the crowd.
   I will continue to fulfill my Indonesian travel list and I will no doubt see some of the worlds other major tourist attractions but my goal here is to find the sights beyond the tourist track, away from the melee of camera flashes and to discover the forgotten but otherwise awe inspiring places of the world.

Rich

TwentyToesUK