Public Transportation in Jakarta [1]

The strong heat of Jakarta welcomes you at Soekarno-Hatta airport. Soon enough, you (specifically addressing Jakarta-first-timer) may experience the big fuzz every traveler mumbles about Jakarta all year long: traffic!

Yes, public transportation in Jakarta can be considered as a BIG headache!

As soon as you get off Soekarno-Hatta airport (assuming that you have no escort) you will be magically drawn into the mass of taxi drivers offering you to have their services.

Hmm.. what should you do?

The best thing is to order a taxi from inside the airport. You should check on the taxi desk nearby the baggage area. The cost will be around 200.000 IDR, and you will be driven straight to your destination. Rent a car is also an option, but the cost is higher, around 500.000 IDR.

DAMRI
The second best thing (backpackers, this one is for you) is to hop on the DAMRI (Djawatan Angkoetan Motor Repoeblik Indonesia). It's like airport-city shuttle bus. The buses are nice, clean, with AirCo (don't worry), and luggage dock. It only cost you around 20.000-30.000 IDR to get to the city center. From the city center you can continue by taxi (see below).


You can ask the airport staff, where to sit and wait for the DAMRIs. The DAMRI starts very early, around 4 am. and the interval between the DAMRIs are 15-20 minutes.

Here are some DAMRI routes:

• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Blok M (bus terminal, south Jakarta). IF you are heading to west/south Jakarta (Slipi, Semanggi) you can ask the driver to drop you there.
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Lebak Bulus (bus terminal, south-east Jakarta)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Rawa Mangun (bus terminal, east Jakarta)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Kampung Rambutan (bus terminal, east Jakarta)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Pasar Minggu (bus terminal, east Jakarta)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Tanjung Priok (north of Jakarta)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Kemayoran (north part of Jakarta)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Bekasi (east part of Jakarta)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Cikarang
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Gambir (train station, central Jakarta). IF you accomodation is located on the central Jakarta (Kebon Sirih, KH. Wahid Hasyim) you can ask the driver to drop you there.
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Serang, Banten (West Java)
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Bogor (West Java). The cost to get directly to Bogor is a little higher, around 30.000 IDR. But it's considered very cheap, if you compare it with taxis.

Click here to see DAMRI routes and hours.
Of course, you can also go to the airport using the DAMRIs.

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NEXT!
So, since you are now in town... How do you get yourself to places? Unfortunately, Jakarta has not yet equipped with fancy rapid transportation system such as the subways, or trams. But we do have several options :)

TAXI
If you are blessed with extra money on your pocket, then use taxi to run around Jakarta. Just go to you hotel lobby, usually the taxis are already lined up there, waiting to serve you. The standard taxis i recommend are from:

* Blue Bird (light blue with some kind of wing atop), to order by phone: +62 21 7917 1234


Taxi Pusaka Nuri, Pusaka Satria (also light blue, but different logo) are also part of the Blue Bird group. Please do beware that there are a lot of "Blue bird" imitation - as in the colour and the logo. Make sure that there are "Blue Bird Group" stated on the taxi before you take the ride. Besides blue bird, you can also ask for a more sleek and fancy taxi, Silver Bird (black ones). The cost is slightly higher that blue bird.

even the picture looks fancy

Some taxis are considerably cheaper than blue bird. You can see the sign of "tarif lama" or
"tarif bawah" or basic fee usually written on its window. Here are some "tarif bawah" taxis that you may trust:

* Express (white), to order by phone: +62 21 2650 9000


Express taxi also offer a big luxurious transport using Toyota Alphard. It's called Tiara Express. To order by phone: +62 21 2650 8000


* Putra (dark blue), to order by phone: +62 21 7817771



* Gamya (dark blue-green), to order by phone: +62 21 8779 5555 and 840 3838


* Trans Cab (bright yellow, like those in NY), to order by phone: +62 21 583 55 500. This one is nice because it has cable tv on it that you can watch during your trip :) takes your mind off the busy road.



Some TIPS:

• If you are (unwillingly) stranded somewhere in Jakarta at night, you can always call the taxis. But if you forget to write down taxi phone number, and you can only find the "suspicious taxi", always make sure that the driver will use the argo (meter). Otherwise, you may find yourself giving away thousands IDRs for a short ride.
• Even if you take a ride on the taxi, please make sure that you have the specific destination/address at hand (esp. when you are looking for an address - some friends/relatives' place) so that it will ease the driver too.
• You can also talk with the driver to "bond" in some way that the taxi ride will be more enjoyable :)

There are also another public transportation that you can take. Let me start with the big and shiny one...

TRANS JAKARTA
Trans Jakarta, or the local often calls "BUSWAY" - which actually refers to the bus lane, currently have 9 routes called "koridor" that can take you to most places in Jakarta.

Ticket price:
05.00-07.00 = 2000 IDR
07.00-22.00 = 3500 IDR

Trans Jakarta is nice when it's not so crowded

Usually, we can differentiate the bus route through its different colours:
Koridor 1: red-yellow Mercedes-Benz & Hino
Koridor 2: blue-white and grey Daewoo
Koridor 3: red-yellow and grey Daewoo
Koridor 4: grey Daewoo & Hyundai (JTM), Hino (PP)
Koridor 5: grey double HuangHai (JMT), double Komodo (LRN)
Koridor 6: grey Daewoo & Hyundai (JTM), bus Hino (PP)
Koridor 7: grey Daewoo & Hyundai (JMT), bus Hino (LRN)
Koridor 8: grey Hino (LRN) bus Hino (PP)

Trans Jakarta - the red one

Here are some links (taken from www.suaratransjakarta.org) to download the Trans Jakarta routes:
Download link (printable version) - 507 KB
Download link (complete version) - 1536 KB
IF by any chances, you left your luggage or anything on the bus, you can call BLU Trans Jakarta +62 21 7228727

KORIDOR 1 (Blok M - Kota)
*Halte Kota: Stop here if you wish to continue you journey by train (Station Kota) or to Mangga Dua shopping district (with a short angkot ride).
*Halte Glodok
*Halte Olimo
*Halte Mangga Besar
*Halte Sawah Besar
*Halte Harmoni: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 2, 3, and 8 (holiday only)
*Halte Monas: Stop here if you wish to go to Monas (the national monument and iconic symbol of Jakarta) or to pay a visit to Museum Gajah (the national museum).
*Halte Bank Indonesia
*Halte Sarinah: Stop here if you want to go to Sarinah, Jl. Sabang, or Jl. Jaksa. This area is blessed with 24-hour food, late night snack, and cozy place to hang out (with beer, of course).
*Halte Bundaran HI: Stop here if you want to go to Plaza Indonesia and EX mall.
*Halte Tosari: Stop here if you want to go to Grand Indonesia.
*Halte Dukuh Atas: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 4 and 6.
*Halte Setia Budi
*Halte Karet
*Halte Benhill: Stop here if you want to go to Plaza Semanggi.
*Halte Polda Metro: Stop here if you want to go to Pasific Place (walk a little bit).
*Halte Gelora Bung Karno: Stop here if you want to go to FX Mall (walk a little bit).
*Halte Bundara Senayan: Stop here if you want to go to Ratu Plaza. Get to the back of Ratu Plaza, and voila! you are already in Plaza Senayan. Another 5 minutes walk, and you get to Senayan City :)
*Halte Masjid Agung
*Halte Blok M: Stop here if you want to go to Blok M area.

KORIDOR 2 (Pulo Gadung - Harmoni)
*Halte Pulo Gadung
*Halte Bermis
*Halte Pulomas
*Halte Asmi: Stop here if you want to go to Kelapa Gading area.
*Halte Pedongkelan
*Halte Cempaka Timur
*Halte RS. Islam
*Halte Cempaka Tengah
*Halte Pasar Cempaka Putih
*Halte Rawa Selatan
*Halte Galur
*Halte Senen: Stop here if you want to transter to Koridor 5.
*Halte RSPAD
*Halte Deplu
*Halte Istiqlal
*Halte Juanda
*Halte Pecenongan
*Halte Harmoni: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 1, 3, and 8 (holiday only).

Trans Jakarta - the blue one

KORIDOR 3 (Kalideres - Pasar Baru)
*Halte Kalideres
*Halte Pesakih
*Halte Sumur Bor
*Halte Rawa Buaya
*Halte Jembatan Baru
*Halte Dispenda Samsat Barat
*Halte Jembatan Gantung
*Halte Taman Kota
*Halte Indosiar
*Halte Jelambar: Stop here if you want to go to Mall Ciputra/Citraland.
*Halte Grogol: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 8.
*Halte RS Sumber Waras
*Halte Harmoni: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 1 and 2.
*Halte Pecenongan
*Halte Juanda
*Halte Pasar Baru: Stop here if you want to go to Pasar Baru area.

KORIDOR 4 (Pulogadung - Dukuh Atas)
*Halte Pulogadung
*Halte Tugas
*Halte Pertamina
*Halte Telkom
*Halte Tarakanita
*Halte Sunan Giri
*Halte IKIP
*Halte Kehakiman
*Halte BPKP
*Halte Utan Kayu
*Halte Pasar Genjing
*Halte Pasar Pramuka
*Halte Matraman I: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 5.
*Halte Manggarai
*Halte Pasar Rumput
*Halte Halimun
*Halte Dukuh Atas 2: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 1 and 6.

KORIDOR 5 (Ancol - Kampung Melayu)
*Halte Ancol: Stop here if you want to go to Ancol or Dufan.
*Halte Pademangan
*Halte Gunung Sahari Mangga Dua: Stop here if you want to go to Mangga Dua area.
*Halte Jembatan Merah
*Halte Pasar Baru Timur
*Halte Budi Utomo
*Halte Senen: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 2.
*Halte Pal Putih
*Halte Kramat Sentiong (NU)
*Halte Salemba Universitas Indonesia
*Halte Salemba St. Carolus
*Halte Matraman 1: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 4.
*Halte Tegalan: Stop here if you want to go to Gramedia bookstore. The one in Matraman is the biggest in Jakarta.
*Halte Slamet Riyadi
*Halte Urip Sumohardjo
*Halte Kebon Pala
*Halte Pasar Jatinegara
*Halte Kampung Melayu: Stop here if you want to transter to Koridor 7.

Trans Jakarta - the (double) grey one

KORIDOR 6 (Ragunan - Dukuh Atas)
*Halte Ragunan: Stop here if you want to go to Ragunan Zoo.
*Halte Departemen Pertanian
*Halte SMK 57
*Halte Jati Padang
*Halte Pejaten Phillips: Stop here if you want to go to Kemang area, continue with minibus or taxi.
*Halte Buncit Indah
*Halte Warung Jati
*Halte Imigrasi
*Halte Duren Tiga
*Halte Mampang Prapatan
*Halte Kuningan Timur
*Halte Patra Kuningan
*Halte Depkes
*Halte GOR Sumantri: Stop here if you want to go to Pasar Festival, and Mega Kuningan area.
*Halte Karet Kuningan
*Halte Kuningan Madya Aini
*Halte Setiabudi Utara
*Halte Latu Harhari
*Halte Halimun: Stop here if you want to transter to Koridor 4.
*Halte Dukuh Atas 2: Stop here if you want to transter to Koridor 1.

KORIDOR 7 (Kampung Rambutan – Kampung Melayu)
*Halte Kampung Rambutan
*Halte Tanah Merdeka
*Halte Flyover Raya Bogor
*Halte RS Harapan Bunda
*Halte Pasar Induk Kramat Jati
*Halte Cililitan PGC
*Halte BKN
*Halte Cawang UKI
*Halte BNN
*Halte Cawang Otista
*Halte Gelanggang Remaja
*Halte Bidaracina
*Halte Kampung Melayu: Stop here to transfer to Koridor 5.

KORIDOR 8 (Lebak Bulus – Harmoni)
*Halte Lebak Bulus
*Halte Pondok Pinang
*Halte Pondok Indah 1: Stop here if you want to go to Pondok Indah Mall.
*Halte Pondok Indah 2: Stop here if you want to go to Pondok Indah night area.
*Halte Tanah Kusir Kodim
*Halte Kebayoran Lama Bungur
*Halte Pasar Kebayoran Lama
*Halte Simprug
*Halte Permata Hijau: Stop here if you want to go to ITC Permata Hijau and Belleza Mall.
*Halte Permata Hijau RS Medika
*Halte Pos Pengumben
*Halte Kelapa Dua Sasak
*Halte Kebon Jeruk
*Halte Duri Kepa
*Halte Kedoya Assiddiqiyah
*Halte Kedoya Green Garden
*Halte Grogol 2: Stop here to transfer to Koridor 3.
*Halte Tomang Taman Anggrek: Stop here if you want to go to Taman Anggrek Mall.
*Halte Tomang Mandala (only during holiday)
*Halte RS Tarakan (only during holiday)
*Halte Petojo (only during holiday)
*Halte Harmoni: Stop here to transfer to Koridor 1 and 2 (only during holiday)

Koridor 9 Pinang Ranti - Halte Pluit (coming soon, 2010)

Koridor 10 Cililitan - Tanjung Priok (coming soon, 2010)

Koridor 11-15 are still in development :)

Hopefully, the trans Jakarta transportation system can be fully operated by 2012.. I mean , before we all die because of the end of the world hehehe *jk. Then, it will be so much easier to transfer from one place to another. Easier, and hopefully, faster.

NEXT!
There are more about transportation in Jakarta: buses, angkots, bemos, etc. on the (upcoming) second [2] part.

Apply Visa? gampang-gampang pusing!

Mau ke luar kota? tinggal jalan!
Mau ke luar negeri? tinggal jalan!
Eits! Tunggu dulu. Orang Indonesia gak bisa seenak jidat mau lenggang kaki di negara lain, Bung! Ada aturannya...

Kudu pake VISA!
Buset apaan tuh?
Beginilah bentuknya kira-kira...

Contoh Visa Schengen - untuk Eropa

Kalau kamu pergi dengan tour-tour tertentu (misalkan: Paket Jelajah Eropa 20 hari-20 malam) sih tidak masalah. Cukup bayar sekali, berikan dokumen yang diperlukan ke travel agency... sisanya mereka yang akan urus.

tapi kalau harus urus sendiri... kira-kira beginilah step2nya!

Contoh: applikasi visa Schengen ke Eropa.
Entry point: The Netherlands (Belanda)
-- Info-info ini banyak diambil dari websitenya kedutaan.

1. Buat janji dengan kedutaan

Waktu buka loket: Senin - Jumat dari pkl. 09.00 - 12.00.
Sebelum mengajukan permohonan visa anda HARUS membuat janji terlebih dahulu lewat telpon atau e-mail. Tanpa janji, permohonan visa pada dasarnya tidak dapat ditangani.
Ajukan permohonan visa jauh hari sebelumnya! Permohonan visa dapat diajukan maksimal 3 bulan sebelum tanggal keberangkatan. Sehubungan dengan waktu memproses visa, pembuatan janji harus dilakukan PALING LAMBAT 2 minggu sebelum tanggal keberangkatan, kalau tidak maka visa Schengen tidak dapat diberikan tepat pada waktunya.

Sehubungan dengan banyaknya permohonan yang masuk kedatangan Anda hanya dapat diterima setelah ada janji melalui telepon 021-5271904 dengan menyebutkan nama, nomor telepon dan nomor paspor. Permohonan harus disampaikan oleh yang bersangkutan sendiri, permohonan yang disampaikan melalui pihak ketiga atau melalui jasa pos tidak akan ditangani.

Jika mencari informasi silakan hubungi 021-5248200 pada hari Senin s/d Kamis pada pukul 13.00-15.00 dan pada hari Jum’at pada pukul 12.00-13.30.

Instruksi Schengen menentukan bahwa semua permohonan visa dari pemegang paspor Indonesia harus dikonsultasikan dengan semua ibukota negara Schengen yang berjumlah 24. Karena itulah visa paling cepat dapat diberikan setelah 10 hari kerja, terhitung dari tanggal permohonan diajukan. Permohonan yang diajukan melalui Konsulat atau Petugas Konsuler tentu agak lebih lama karena harus dikirimkan ke Jakarta. Namun keuntungannya adalah bahwa Anda tidak perlu dua kali datang ke Jakarta.

Contoh kasus:
Saya baru menelpon kedutaan untuk visa application appointment pada tgl 19 Agustus dikarenakan ketidakpastian tanggal keberangkatan. Setelah saya mengetahui tanggal keberangkatan saya adalah 11 September, barulah saya membuat janji. Awalnya, kedutaan memberi saya slot untuk tanggal 31 Agustus (mepet sekali!)... namun akhirnya saya bisa dimasukkan ke slot tgl 27 Agustus. Apabila lancar dan visa disetujui, diharapkan visa akan dapat diambil tgl 10 September, which is very close to my departure date! A little crazy xD

2. Lengkapi dokumen

Dokumen-dokumen yang diperlukan: (BANYAK LOH!)
* Pas foto ukuran 4x6, berwarna (1)
* Fotokopi akta kelahiran (1)
* Fotokopi kartu keluarga (1)
* Fotokopi KTP (1)
* Fotokopi kartu pelajar atau kartu mahasiswa (1) - apabila seorang student
* Surat keterangan bekerja dari perusahaan - apabila seorang pegawai
Dokumen-dokumen tersebut merupakan bukti bahwa kamu benar WNI yang sah.
* Paspor yang berlaku setidaknya 6 bulan + fotokopi (1)
Apabila memiliki paspor sebelumnya yang menyatakan bahwa kamu pernah mengunjungi negara yang akan memberikan visa, berikan saja. Plus fotokopinya.
* Print-out booking return tiket dari travel agency (perjalanan tidak lebih dari 3 bulan)
Ini sebagai tanda bahwa kamu sudah dijamin akan kembali ke Indonesia setelah masa visa berakhir.
* Bukti booking hotel di negara tujuan
Ini sebagai tanda bahwa kamu sudah memiliki akomodasi di negara tujuan.
* Fotokopi buku bank selama 3 bulan terakhir (1). Sebaiknya kamu setidaknya memiliki "cukup" uang di buku bank tersebut...
Ini sebagai bukti bahwa kamu bisa makan dan hidup, gak bakalan luntang-lantung dan menjadi imigran gelap di negara tujuan!
* Bukti asuransi perjalanan dan kecelakaan untuk wilayah Schengen. Polis asuransi harus kamu tunjukkan pada saat pengambilan visa.

Selain itu, ada juga dokumen yang harus diisi di kedutaan/konsuler:
* formulir permohonan visa, diisi dengan lengkap dan ditandatangani oleh pemohon.
* jadwal perjalanan (Lembar Perjalanan), diisi lengkap dan ditandatangani oleh pemohon.
* Surat pernyataan (telah menyetujui persyaratan) diisi dengan lengkap dan ditandatangani.

Dokumen-dokumen tambahan!!
untuk kunjungan pribadi:
* (jika menginap di rumah orang) undangan dimana tanda tangan pihak yang mengundang dilegalisasi oleh pemerintah kota madya (gemeente);
* (jika menginap di hotel) booking hotel yang telah dikonfirmasi dan/atau bukti lunas pembayaran hotel untuk seluruh periode;
* (jika menggunakan sponsor di Negeri Belanda) pernyataan jaminan dari sponsor (formulir dapat diperoleh di Balai Kota) dan bukti keuangan mencukupi dari sponsor (kopi slip gaji dan/atau statement bank yang mencantumkan gaji). Pernyataan jaminan hanya berlaku dalam 3 bulan sejak dikeluarkan dan harus dilegalisasi oleh pemerintah kota madya (gemeente) tempat tinggal pihak yang mengundang. N.B. Jika yang mengundang bukan warganegara Belanda kopi Surat Izin Tinggal juga harus dilampirkan.

untuk kunjungan bisnis:
* undangan dari perusahaan di Negeri Belanda;
* bukti adanya kontak bisnis;
* booking hotel yang telah dikonfirmasi dan/atau tanda lunas pembayaran hotel untuk seluruh periode kunjungan;
* profil perusahaan (perusahaan pihak pemohon);
* statement bank 3 bulan terakhir dari perusahaan pemohon.

untuk pengobatan:
* surat dari dokter yang menangani di Indonesia;
* surat dari dokter/rumah sakit yang menangani di Negeri Belanda;
* tanda bukti asuransi kesehatan atau tanda bukti pembayaran pengobatan.

Untuk anak di bawah umur...
Jika seorang anak di bawah umur mengadakan perjalanan sendiri atau dengan salah satu orang tuanya, maka perlu ada izin dari kedua orang tua c.q. salah satu orang tua (Bapak atau Ibu). Tanda tangan orang tua harus dilegalisir (legalisasi dapat dilakukan di kantor notaris. Tanda tangan di atas meterai Rp. 6.000 tidak diterima.)

3. Pembayaran
Harga visa: €60 atau 839,000 IDR
Mahal ya? Harga berbeda-beda, tergantung kebijakan negara tersebut.
Jika permohonan visa ditolak uang yang telah dibayarkan tidak akan dikembalikan.

4. Wait and see... Let's hope for the best! ;)


- - -
Wilayah Schengen!

Semua orang wajib visa yang ingin mengunjungi Wilayah Schengen untuk urusan bisnis atau urusan pribadi dapat mengajukan permohonan mendapatkan visa kunjungan singkat 1 - 90 hari yang berlaku bagi ke-24 negara anggota Schengen. Visa Schengen berlaku untuk negara-negara yang disebut di bawah ini:
* Austria * Belanda * Belgia * Ceko * Denmark * Estonia * Finlandia * Hungaria * Islandia
* Italia * Jerman * Latvia * Lituania * Luksemburg * Malta * Norwegia * Perancis
* Polandia * Portugal * Slovakia * Slovenia * Spanyol * Swedia * Yunani * Swiss

Ujung Genteng: an Adventure!

Ujung Genteng, again! (this time, with updated information)

Kali ini saya bertualang bersama sahabat-sahabat saya, para wanita-wanita gahar dan tentengannya masing-masing, dalam rangka liburan 17agustus-an. Teman-teman Bogor sayangnya gak bisa ikutan.

Seru ga? Ya SERU lah. Wong kita berletih-letih ria beriringan naik motor dari Jakarta/Karawaci - Bogor - Ujung Genteng. Ck & Rb, Z & Alx, saya & Ari. Maklum lah, cuma saya dan Ari yang masih single dan tidak berhasil membawa tentengan :P Modal NEKAT pokoknya! Saya gak bisa naek motor, jadilah Ari yang jadi sang pengendara. Acungi jempol buat Ari! TOP MARKOTOP! Lala & Jose menyusul kami sehari kemudian dengan mobil. Jose juga mantaf saat harus naik motor :D

ck - lala - val - ari - zee
with those silly headbands we girls look like
farmers going fishing LOL

Jakarta - Ujung Genteng is approximately 200km away (one-way trip), with a crazy landscape: the road goes up and down, lots of twist and turns, blind turning points, cliff on the side of the road, and the thick morning fog will limit your eyesight till only 1-2 meters before you.

Interesting, right?

I suggest you to go there (if you go from Jakarta/Bogor) by midnight - either by car, or by bikes. So then you will find the road less crowded, less buses and big trucks - they often slow down your journey a lot. Then you will get there around 6-7 am. Well, that arrival time depends on your speed, your breaks(you should rest - and eat/drink, and pee - sometimes), and your willingness to ride in the dark cold night! ;)

The sooner you get to UGe, the merrier will you become... since the shinning sun and the glimpse of the blue sea will drawn you to forget your rest and go straight to the beach!

Since UGe is getting more and more commercial for local tourists and also for photographers (believe me, the place has great landscapes), the local people start charging for entrance fees. We need to, at least, give 2 times entrance fee. Anyway, it's not that much. The lodging and the "ojek" fee are also higher than last year. Pfff... tourists also need to be aware that the shops (warungs) sometimes charge you even more.

* Entrance fee = 3000-5000 IDR per person/bike/car.
Depends on how big your group is.

* Transportation = 120,000 IDR per 1x "OJEK" (guide + bike) ride to Ombak Tujuh.
You NEED guide to go there. Even my friends who have been to UGe 20x still need to use that guide. They are nice people and they come in very handy.

* Accomodation = free (if you sleep on your tent/car), 450,000 IDR per night (local people's house, depend on how big the house) - 1,000,000 IDR or more (they have villas, too).
If you travel with a big group and want some new experience, try living in local people's houses. Usually, the place is clean, have several beds, and the owner does not bother how many people should fit in one house.
Example: your group consist 10 people. If all stay in one house, then it's only 45,000 IDR per person per night. Dude, that's cheap.

* Attractions = BEACHES! for FREE!
There are lots of nice beaches there. Start from Cibuaya, Pangumbahan, Panarikan, Cikepuh, and of course Ombak Tujuh ("Seven Waves" beach). Why does it being called Ombak Tujuh? I shall not spoil the details here. You should see it for yourself.
UGe is also a home for sea turtles. You can see them mostly on full moon period. To get into the sea turtle are, you will need to give a little entrance fee.
If you love fishing, then bring your fishing equipments along ;)

* Apparels = Swim suit and summery clothes!
Remember to bring your swim suit and goggle. Well, at least me and my friends always go around swimming, not only taking pictures. I also recommend to bring one-piece clothes that's thin and easy to dry, short pants and tank tops, hat or whatever to cover your head from the heat (heat can make you go dizzy the whole day, not good). Forget not to use sunblock. Have yourself a nice evenly applied tanned skin :)

but...

Why you SHOULDN'T GO to Ujung Genteng?

* Because you (I refer to girls with pretty hairs and pretty skins and pretty faces) will get soooo TANNED (FYI, being tan is not popular for Indonesian girls) . and sometimes, excruciating SUNBURNS! I mean, if you go to the beach, you should go home with beautiful tanned skin. If you use you big hat and long sleeves shirt all the time, you better be at home watching tv.

* Because you will get CUTS! Lots of CUTS! On your hands, your fingers, your feet, your thighs, your calves, your arms, and sometimes - when you get lucky - your face. The road to Ombak Tujuh is not only a bumpy ride, it shall also be a dry-branches-and-trees-and-reeds-sweeping-your-body-all-the-time ride :) i love it! The CUTS can also caused by corals. You know, when-you-swim-and-the-wave-sweeps-you-and-you-hit-the-coral kind of cuts :)
Hehe.. One should at least have 1 bleeding cut as a solid proof that he/she has been to UGe! Well, that's only my opinion.

* Because you will be super exhausted! Cmon, going there is exhausting enough (this only applies to those who rides by themselves). Then going to the beaches. Then not having enough sleep. If you sweat all the little things, you better be on your bed with your air co.

For me and my friends? We don't care. The sunburns, the cuts, the exhaustions - it's all worthy! Hopefully we can go to UGe at least once a year.

More pictures? Soon!!

Read my previous UGe trip:
UGe: The After-Effect

Jogjakarta: Preparation

HO.
I will go to Jogjakarta tonight, by train: Taksaka 20.45 pm.

A part of me is upset because i cannot go to Java Rockin' Land 2009 with Zee and Ari T.T
A part of me is a little excited, because i haven't been to Jogja for almost 2 years now!
However, in the midst of all the excitement, i am still upset because my best friend Lusy is currently not in Jogja. Meaning: I will be missing a companion, a free ride, and free lodging! :P *spoiled*

I only pack some clothes and will only carry a bag pack. The rest of my clothing is already brought by my mom and sister. Both my mom and my sister left for Jogja yesterday morning :)

Anyway, since Lusy will not be around, I decided to have a look at Trans Jogja. Trans Jogja is a bus network that covers Jogjakarta city and its surrounding area. The network itself is quite new, for about 1-1,5 year now. Last time i went to Jogja, it was still building bus shelters.

Please have a look below :)

>> Trans Jogja Route <<

For detail information per route, click here.

Trans Jogja also goes around to the airport (Adisucipto) and the railway statiun (Tugu) so it is easy for tourists or traveller to access. Cheap, too. Only IDR 3000 per ride, approximatelly 10 cents for foreigners hehehe (yeah, if you want to compare it to a single bus ride in other countries). I remember my high school bus ride in Jogja 7 years ago (Wow, 7 years ago!!!), the fee was only IDR 150... freakin cheap! and I was used to hang to the side pole of the bus with my skirt blown whenever the bus was too full.

Back to Trans Jogja. So i've printed the map! They say that we can also get the map there, but better be prepared right ;) Be ready for my next journal.