Indonesia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 179

which you will receive a confirmation code via SMS:
take this to the nearest Indomaret or Alfamart to pay and
get a receipt. If you can work with Bahasa Indonesia, you
may search and book tickets on the railway's o cial website,
W tiket.kereta-api.co.id (Bahasa Indonesia); though a more
user-friendly agent is W tiket.com - often worth the small
commission (about Rp13,000). Be at the station at least one
hour early to exchange booking receipts for boarding passes.
Destinations From Gambir station unless stated otherwise:
Bandung (7 daily; 3hr); Bogor (every 20min; 1hr 30min);
Purwokerto (Gambir and Pasar Senen; 12 daily; 5-6hr);
Solobapan, Solo (5 daily; 7hr-10hr 25min); Surabaya (5
daily; 9hr-14hr 30min); Yogyakarta (Gambir and Pasar
Senen; 9 daily; 6hr 50min-8hr 40min).

BY TAXI
Jakarta's taxis are numerous and, providing you know
your way around the city, inexpensive. Many taxi drivers
will take the “scenic route” to your destination if you seem
unsure. Recommended firms are Blue Bird ( T 021 798
9000) and Express ( T 021 2650 9000). Most drivers speak
little to no English, but will usually use the meter (“argo”)
without being asked; fares depend on how long you spend
stuck in Jakarta's infamous tra c jams (a half-hour ride
should cost about Rp80,000). Although meters begin at
Rp6000 (except for Blue Bird taxis, which start at Rp7000),
the minimum fare is around Rp10,000. Women should
avoid travelling in taxis alone at night as there are
increasing reports of assaults and robberies.

INFORMATION
Tourist o ce Jakarta's Visitor Information Centre is
inside the Jakarta Theatre building next to Burger King ,
opposite Sarinah's department store on Jl Wahid Hasyim
(Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pm; T 021 314 2067).
Useful maps and brochures covering Jakarta are available
here and the English-speaking staff are friendly.

ACCOMMODATION
Jakarta's cluster of backpacker-oriented lodgings fills up
fast and should be booked ahead. Most budget places
are on or around Jl Jaksa, the city's travellers' enclave to
the south of Medan Merdeka, though there are also good
options in the Cikini Raya area, 2km southeast of Jaksa.

JALAN JAKSA AREA
Asri Jl Kebon Sirih Barat I Gang 10/18 T 021 314 7684;
map p.180. Hidden down a narrow lane across from Borneo,
this homestay is a quiet retreat from the noise of Jaksa. Still
off the radar for travellers, it offers sp otless a/c roo ms at a
bargain price, each with inside mandi. Rp150,000
Bloemsteen Jl Kebon Sirih Timur I/174 T 021 319
25389; map p.180. Although the rooms are nothing to rave
about and staff seem disinterested, this is one of Jaksa's
cheapest options. Both fan and a/c rooms (Rp150,000) are
available, and wi-fi works in both the lobby and in the
small, pleasant outdoor area. Rp90,000
Borneo Jl Kebon Sirih Barat 37 T 021 314 0095; map
p.180. Friendly and quiet (except for the morning call from
the mosque next door), this cavernous hostel looks a little
frayed, but offers good-value rooms, the best of whi ch
come with private bathrooms (Rp130,000). Rp100,000
Delima Jl Jaksa 5 T 021 3190 4157; map p.180. The oldest
of the city's homestays and it shows. All the rooms have
shared bathrooms, and the single rooms are about as
cheap as it gets on Jaksa (Rp75,000). There's a small library,
a kitchen serving cheap food (breakfast Rp20, 000), and a
friendly owner who can help with onward travel. Rp85,000
Hostel 35 Jl Kebon Sirih Barat 35 T 021 392 0331; map
p.180. This refurbished hostel has a range of attractive
rooms; the nicer a/c rooms (Rp250,000) come with new
fittings, widescreen TVs and renovated bathrooms. Even
the cheaper ones inclu de inside ba throoms, breakfast and
free wi-fi in the lobby. Rp150,000
Istana Ratu Jl Jaksa 7-9 T 021 314 2472; map p.180.
Although rooms in this hotel are a tad worn, all have a/c,
cable TV and hot showers, while there are great city views

4

GETTING AROUND
BY BUS
Trans Jakarta busway system The only bus service
(daily 4am-11pm) in Jakarta with designated stops and by
far the easiest and most useful service for tourists. It runs
from the Harmoni Central Busway to Kalideres, Ancol, Pulo
Gadung, Rawamangun, Rambutan, Ragunan and Blok M.
With its own designated bus lane, it's also quicker than
other transport services. Buy your ticket (Rp3500 one-way;
flat fare) before boarding from the ticket o ce at the
station. Other useful stations include Sarinah (for Jl Jaksa),
Kota (for Old Batavia and the Jakarta History Museum) and
Monumen (for the Monas Tower and National Museum),
although the latter are just a short walk from Jl Jaksa.
Other buses Most other buses operate a set-fare system,
regardless of distance, but prices depend on the type
of bus. The cheapest are the small, pale-blue angkots
(minivans), which operate out of Kota bus station charging
a minimum of Rp2000, while the large coaches found all
over the city charge Rp3000 to Rp6000 or Rp7000 (for a/c
buses). To alight from the bus, hail the driver or conductor
with “ kiri! ” (left) or rap the overhead rail with a coin.

BY BAJAJ
The two-stroke motorized rickshaws, or bajaj (pronounced
“ba-jais”), monopolize the city's backstreets. Bajaj are
banned from major thoroughfares such as Jl Thamrin, so
you might get dropped off in an inconvenient spot for
your final destination. A journey from Jl Jaksa to the post
o ce should cost Rp10,000-15,000, and from Jl Jaksa to
Gambir should cost Rp8000. Bargain hard.