Indonesian Girls & Expats: Why So Many Expats Will Start Cheating In Jakarta?
By
The Jakarta Team
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You may have noticed, men seem quite happy in Indonesia. No matter how dumb and ugly they are, there will always be a fair number of pretty and hot girls gravitating around them. Add to that the expat compensation package, the maid, the driver and the cheap flights to Bali and you have everything a man could dream of: Big pay, no chores, hot girls. On the contrary, life is hard on expat wives or worse, on single women. Thank God (or unfortunately) most of them don’t see what is happening behind their backs. Among the expats that I know, I can tell you that 90% of them, married or not, have had an affair or cheated on their girlfriends with an Indonesian girl at least once. The only ones that are faithful have stopped partying or, it exists, are absolutely, truly, deeply in love. It’s not just some old, fat pervert working in oil. The more often, it’s the good husband, with kids and family. I’ve been out partying for years in Jakarta, 5 days a week, and in each bar I went to,
I am asked daily by readers for tips about choosing a hotel in Jakarta . This little guide should answer all the questions I've ever received such as: - What is the best area to stay in Jakarta? - Where can I find a cheap guesthouse for under 10$ per night? Is there a backpacker area in Jakarta? - What are the best budget hotels in Jakarta? Which hotel chain offers the best value for money ? - What is the best accommodation for less than 50$? - Which 5-star hotel should I choose? Which 5-star hotel is the closest from action ? Which 5-star hotel has the best bars and restaurants? - Can I bring girls to my hotel in Jakarta? What are the names of girl-friendly or guest-friendly hotels in Jakarta ? - Can I actually sleep in Alexis Hotel , Malioboro Hotel, Travel Hotel or Classic Hotel? - Is there a spa or massage parlour near my hotel? - Which hotel do you recommend near the airport ? - Which hotels are connected to popular malls?
From time to time, I receive an email from a reader asking me if it is safe to use drugs in Jakarta. The obvious reply is that it is extremely dangerous, as even carrying a small joint might land you in jail. But Indonesia is much more complicated than that, hence the need for a longer article to explain you the subtleties of drug use in the country. Why foreigners should be extra careful when using drugs in Indonesia From my personal perspective, the law in Indonesia only exists to give a pretext to powerful people to extort some money or benefits. Most often, it is used when the authorities want to target someone in particular, with some categories that are more at risks than others. The most vulnerable are poor people, ethnic and religious minorities, foreigners, or anyone without a network among government officials. The laws of Indonesia, including drug laws, will normally apply to them with greater severity, meaning they will either receive harsher sentences or
Malls in Jakarta are much more than just shopping venues. They are privately-owned cities where you can find pretty much anything including offices, residences, cinemas, schools, hospitals, restaurants, nightclubs, gyms, mosques, churches, karaokes, games, banks, boutiques, supermarkets, etc. It is not surprising that many malls add the words "town", "village" or "city" to their names, for instance Kuningan City, Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, Kemang Village, etc. The environment of Jakarta has become so hostile that malls are one of the only places where you can escape from the heat and the pollution. Living in Jakarta means that you will spend large chunks of your time visiting malls, whether you like it or not, because it is one of the very few things to do here.
Jakarta is not the best city to stay fit. The absence of sidewalks, the lack of parks, the pollution and the heat all conspire to make exercising difficult. It is even worse if you work in an office and spend most of your day sitting down. If you care a minimum about your health, you are probably looking for a sport or an activity that you can easily do in the city center. Getting a gym membership is often the first thing that comes to mind, but there are a lot more options available: Yoga, Fitness, Crossfit, Boxing, Jujitsu, Salsa, etc... Today, I will talk about Muay Thai, a martial art originally from Thailand. About 10 years ago, it was introduced to Indonesia and it has gain more and more popularity ever since. There are several reasons explaining its appeal: It is a complete workout that will train each muscle of your body; it improves both your strength and your cardio; it is fun to do and not repetitive; it helps you gain self-confidence; and finally it does not r
The expat population in Jakarta has always been limited, both because of government regulations and because of the lack of attractiveness of the city. My guess is that if it wasn't for Indonesian girls, there would probably be close to zero foreigners around. The upside of this situation is that the expat community is compact and rather friendly. It is easy to meet people as long as you are willing to socialize in the right places. To help you with that, the following article will give you a list of the best bars in Jakarta to meet other expats. Note: If you are single, you may want to meet Indonesian girls instead. Check my article Best Dating Websites in Indonesia for that. Eastern Promise (Kemang) Live music in EP Kemang Also called EP, Eastern Promise is certainly the most famous expat bar in Jakarta. It has 4 distinct rooms: A small bar, a restaurant (serving Indian and British dishes), a sports café and a beer garden with live music. Weekends are pack
Note from Jakarta100bars: One of my readers sent me the following email regarding abortion in Indonesia. I'm publishing it because it might interest some people. This is NOT a professional medical advice. Please consult a doctor if you need to perform an abortion. You can also get support from Indonesian women's group such as Samsara (email: samsara.indonesia@gmail.com) or Misocare . "Hi Thibaud, As you know, abortion is officially forbidden in Indonesia. My girlfriend got pregnant a few weeks ago and since we didn't want to keep the baby, we had to find a solution. We considered several options, including going to Vietnam where abortion is legal. Finally, we met an expat who told us it could be done in Jakarta because my girlfriend had been pregnant for just a couple weeks. In my home country in Europe, chemical abortion follow this procedure: → 1st step: The girl takes one pill of Mifepristone (Mifegyne) to stop the pregnancy to develop further →
Buying alcohol in Jakarta used to be an unpleasant chore, especially after the law banning the sale of beer in minimarts was passed in 2015. With the development of internet and delivery services, it has become much easier as long as you know the right websites and application. I personally use HappyFresh and Gojek, but there are other services that I will describe below. For those who are still living in 2010, I will also give you the best "brick and mortar" wine and spirit shops, particularly those that are located in Central and South Jakarta. To give you an idea of where it is cheaper, I've added the prices of popular bottles. You can comment on these or suggest a better place to buy beer, liquor or wine in the comment section below. What to Know Before Buying Alcohol in Jakarta Import Tax The import tax is 150% on spirits and 90% on wine. This means you will pay at least twice as much for any bottle that was not produced in Indonesia. If
Watching a movie is one of the best things to do in Jakarta Compared to most movie theaters in France, those in Jakarta have larger screens, more comfortable seats, better technology, more premium features, and above all, they are cheaper... On the downside, the choice of movie is limited to American blockbusters and Indonesian comedy or horror flicks. If you are hoping to watch the latest art house movies from the Cannes Festival, you'll better forget about it (see below for Independent Cinemas in Jakarta). I find that Indonesian spectators are rather disciplined when watching a movie: Once the film is started, you'll rarely hear a mobile phone or a noisy discussion. A bigger issue is the smell of the food as everybody is eating something from Hot Dogs to Nasi Goreng... The air-con can also be a problem: I recommend you to bring a small sweater to avoid freezing during the show.
Nightlife in Jakarta during Ramadan is quiet and rather boring. For some, it may be nice to finally being able to rest and to have a healthier lifestyle for a month. For the others, they can still have some fun, but the atmosphere is different than usual. Expect smaller crowds, early closing hours, and long car rides across the city trying to find a crowded place. Each year, the government announces new rules concerning the opening/closure of entertainment venues. The more often, during the first 2 days following the beginning of Ramadan, everything is closed and you should really avoid going out. After that, the nightlife starts again slowly, with shorter opening hours. On the 17th day of Ramadhan is Nuzulul Quran, the most religious day of the month. On that day, ALL bars and clubs will be closed. Finally, 2 days before the end of Ramadhan, the clubs should close again completely, and they may not reopen until a few days after Lebaran/Idul Fitri. The few venues that may still
Renting a cheap room in Jakarta has become much easier in the past few years, thanks to the internet. The following guide will give advice to anyone on a budget looking to stay in Jakarta from a few days until several months. You will learn: Where are the best-value areas in Jakarta near the offices, attractions and entertainment What are the options available for cheap stays in Jakarta How much does it cost to rent a room in Jakarta for a day, a week or a month What are the best low-cost apartments in Central Jakarta
Many readers ask me where they can get a medical check-up for STDs such as AIDS, HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hepatitis, Herpes, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), Genital and Anal Warts, etc. I will give you a list of recommended places in this review, plus some tips about safe sex in Jakarta. If you are wondering whether STDs are prevalent in Indonesia, the answer is "of course". If you are wondering whether you should get checked after sleeping with someone without a condom, the answer is "of course". Sex education in Indonesia is almost non-existent, and very few people know about STDs. For many, condoms are just a way to come inside a vagina without making babies. It is very common for Indonesians, guys or girls, educated or not, to have sex without any protection.
Indonesia has the fourth largest number of Facebook users in the world, but the way Indonesians use Facebook is sometimes unique. From a Westerners perspective, some posts will appear to be weird, if not totally inappropriate. Here is my top 10 of weird things I regularly read on my Facebook newsfeed: 1) The "I'm on my period" status Short translation: "I'm on my period and you should all know about it" Being on your period in Indonesia is not something you keep for yourself. If you work in an office, you will probably be informed of every details of your colleagues' periods, either by looking if there is a bottle of Kiranti on their desk, or by checking their facebook/twitter/instagram statuses.
I have to feel very ambitious today to write an article in this blog about street food in Jakarta. It's pretty much like planning to write about French cheeses in 500 words: Too much information, too little time... So I won't aim to be exhaustive, but only give a short overview of the street foods in Jakarta. A huge majority of Indonesian never set foot in a restaurant, and even a meal in a Rumah Makan (basic eatery) is not always common. However, eating in street stalls, because it is very cheap, can be considered almost as common as eating at home. In fact, you will see in Jakarta's smallest streets that a woman cooking at home may sell some of her dishes, while buying another dish to someone's other house.
Many people ask me if Jakarta is a dangerous city or not. I tend to think that it is very safe because after living four years here, I’ve never had a problem except for a few very minor annoyances. But bad things happened to other people and I want to be as fair as possible in order to give you an objective point of you on whether Jakarta is a dangerous city or not. Danger is not limited to robbery or crime. To be complete, here is a list of the 10 dangers you may face while staying or living in Jakarta as an expat or foreigner. I also write an estimation of the level of risk. If you are going to Jakarta without a travel insurance, you should read the following: Choosing Your Travel Insurance in Indonesia . Safety on the road: High I think that your biggest threat while being in Jakarta will be dealing with motorized vehicles, whether your are walking, in a car, or in a motorcycle. If you take the taxi for instance, you will notice cars don’t have a safety belt in the back.
Jakarta, like many other metropolises in Asia, is in love with the game of pool. A great thing is that it is popular with both expats and locals so it will also be a great way to meet Indonesians. The most popular venues are equipped with the latest equipment and charge competitive prices (around Rp. 50,000 per hour). The number of nightspots featuring pool tables is very large, ranging from a single table in a Jalan Jaksa bar to some huge pool halls. You will notice that some pool halls feel just like nightclubs, with really loud music played by a resident DJ or even live bands. In other places, you may be able to choose an accompanying lady that will play with you and entertain you, just like another girl might do in a karaoke joint. Even though gambling is strictly prohibited in Indonesia, local people will often spice up the game by making bets. There is a game that involves cards which is pretty fun to play but cost me a lot of money… Be careful because Indonesians are reall
Cost of Living in Jakarta: This article was updated in June 2011. Thanks for those who sent me feedback. The cost of living in Jakarta for an expat can be very different whether you try or not to buy products or services that are imported . Generally speaking, things are much cheaper than in Europe so you should enjoy a much greater quality of life here, provided you can live without a few things. If you have an expat salary, the cost of living will seem low and you will have access to a luxurious quality of life. You will be able to sleep in great serviced apartments or huge houses, employ a guard, a gardener, a driver, a maid, a cook and a baby-sitter, go to the restaurants twice a day, party in the hippest clubs, etc... Normally, your company should pay for housing, cars, school and plane tickets, so you won't have to worry about money . Even if you are not paid like an expat, you can live comfortably with around 10 million rupiah per month or US$1,000, or less. You can s
As I’m getting tired of reviewing club, bars and spas, (and since my girlfriend is getting angry about it), I’ve entered a new phase of reviewing cultural venues in Jakarta. The art scene is not as minuscule as it used to be when I first arrived in Indonesia, and if you aren’t too picky, you will get a chance to attend lots of great performances and expositions. I think there are two broad kinds of cultural events in Jakarta: Those organised by foreign cultural institutes, and those organised by Indonesian art centres. Among the foreign cultural institutes, the most active in Jakarta are the Goethe Institute (Germany), the Centre Culturel Français, the Erasmus Huis (Nederland) and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura. Those institutes may sponsor a few local talents, but most of the time, they are about promoting their home country art scene in Indonesia. There is a vast array of events proposed: Exhibitions, film projection, festivals, concerts, lectures, etc. I regret that many events se