Browsing "Older Posts"

Dance Shows and Strip Clubs in Jakarta

By Tibs →
Important Notice:  Since November 2017, all nude dancing has temporarily ceased in Jakarta.  Therefore, in all the venues listed below, there will be sexy dancers, but they will be wearing lingerie. Yes, even in self-righteous Indonesia you will find more strip clubs and sexy dancers than in most other Asian countries. Sure Bangkok has its fair share of gogo bars, but women there rarely go full nude in public. In Jakarta, you have dozens of places with daily naked shows for a male public, obviously, to enjoy. Remember that you are in Jakarta, not in Hollywood. Don't expect a spectacular striptease show with pole dancing, synchronized choreographies, and splits, it is usually pretty basic. In all those places, the dancers usually try to get customers to buy them ladies' drinks after they've finished their routine. The price for a drink is between 50k and 100k. If you buy one, you will just get a thank you. If you buy at least 3, you will get a short lap dance. If

Dhaka Nightlife (Bangladesh): Best Bars and Clubs

By Tibs →
As you would expect, Dhaka nightlife is far from being interesting, mainly because alcohol sale is very restricted. That's easily understandable considering Bangladesh is a country both conservative and Muslim. Poor and middle-class Bangladeshis will very rarely party, and if they do (for instance at weddings), there won't be any alcohol. Some members of the elite might be more open-minded, but they will prefer drinking discreetly at home or inside private clubs. The richest will just fly to nearby countries for short holidays. There are also very few tourists visiting the country apart from adventurous backpackers. As a result, there is not a real nightlife scene in Dhaka, nor in any other cities like Chittagong or Cox's Bazar. Partying and drinking is not completely impossible, though. For foreigners, there are still a few options to have fun, mainly at hotel bars and private clubs.

Karachi Nightlife (Pakistan): Bars, Clubs, Alcohol

By Tibs →
Karachi is an enormous city, the largest in Pakistan, and yet it has a poorer nightlife than most small towns in Europe. There are no nightclubs, no public bars serving alcohol, and the sale of alcohol is highly restricted. Pakistanis will tell you that behind closed doors, there are plenty of secret parties and underground clubs, but I was not connected enough to find out if this is true or not. If you are an expat living in Pakistan, or if you have high-level local friends, you might be able to access those. If you do, please don't hesitate to share your experience with us in the comment section below. For the rest of us, tourists and temporary visitors, we have to rely on a handful of cafés, bars and restaurants, with only a few that allow alcohol. Karachi Bars and Cafés (No Alcohol) If you don't mind not drinking alcohol, there are several trendy cafés, restaurants and bars in Karachi where you can socialize with upper-class Pakistanis. Since new pla

Batam Nightlife Guide

By Tibs →
Nightlife in Batam - Overview: Batam is a small island in the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) located about 45 minutes from Singapore by ferry. With a population of 800,000 souls, it is the home to a small community of expatriates , most of them working in the Oil & Gas or in the High Tech manufacturing. Unlike in other parts of Indonesia, you'll find that Batam is rather well organized and clean. Close to Singapore and very little traffic. NEW REVIEW October 2016: 18 Best Hotels Near Batam Nightlife and Spas The Indonesian island of Batam has long been one the best kept secrets as a low cost getaway for Singaporean local and expats.  The island has seven golf courses, several resorts and the costs are a fraction compared to Singapore and Bali. There is also an expat entertainment area like Blok M / Kemang.

10 Best Bars in Mega Kuningan (Jakarta)

By Tibs →
Home to 5-star hotels ( Ritz-Carlton ,  Raffles ,  Marriott ), foreign embassies, luxury apartments and prestigious offices, Mega Kuningan is easily one of the most exclusive  areas in Jakarta . As it was recently built from scratch, it is very different from the rest of the city. There are no warungs, no street sellers, no poverty and barely any traffic jams. Instead, you will see large streets lined with palm trees and a dozen of skyscrapers (with a few more still under construction). Though Mega Kuningan does not have a proper nightclub yet (apart from the gay club Apollo ), it has a vibrant nightlife almost any day of the week. You can walk in any towers and you are almost guaranteed to find a restaurant, a lounge or a bar. While each of them is unique, they generally target the same clientele: Expats, upper class Indonesians and businessmen. The following article will give you a quick overview of my 10 favorite bars in Mega Kuningan. They aren't far from each o

10 Best Bars Near Grand Indonesia / Plaza Indonesia (Central Jakarta)

By Tibs →
The area near the malls Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia, around the iconic Bunderan Hotel Indonesia (Hotel Indonesia roundabout) is one of the most strategic to meet friends for drinks and party in Jakarta. It is also an ideal location for inviting someone on a date. The main reason for that is that it is positioned in the center of the city, along Jalan Sudirman- Jalan Thamrin, its most important thoroughfare. It is therefore easy to reach, either by private car or by public transportation (Transjakarta and soon, the MRT). It is no surprise that I rated it the best area to stay in Jakarta . Naturally, you can find plenty of activities and businesses there, including 5-star hotels, luxury malls, prestigious office buildings, and, of course, a lively nightlife. In this article, I will review my top 10 favorite bars and clubs in Grand Indonesia / Plaza Indonesia. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment if you think I forgot an important venue. Cloud Rooftop Bar