14 Oct 2009

Today we fly off and Adi decides to take photo taking to another level. At first I thought she just went out for a smoke, but she ended up climbing onto the ledge and balanced herself on it while taking photos. Dad then came in during lunch and asked if we wanted to head up to the rooftops for better views. Adi couldn't resist the offer and eagerly head up to the roof with dad, and left me chasing them. 

We then head out to get one, very important, box of donuts before we head to the airport for our flight back to Singapore.

13 Oct 2009

Museum Tekstil is open and it's our last chance to get Adi's batik souvenirs done. One of the main aims of this trip was for Adi to learn how to make her own batik art piece, while it would be my second attempt, and hopefully learn a few more tips from the experts. Another former trainee, Melly, also joined us for today, and her mom was nice enough to drop us off at the museum. Lucky for us too as we got quite a bit of discount as she was a local, and she took photos while we were both busy. 

After the few hours spent at the museum, we head back to town for a bit of food, and some sightseeing. We saw the Moulin Rouge sign the first night we were here, and have been wanted to check it out but didn't find a good opportunity. Since we already have our batik and shopping done, we were just left with time to spare. We head up the Grand Indonesia to find more interesting signs and even a train carriage inside. The whole floor was set to look like you were walking into different countries. In the end, we settled in Japan and had a light lunch before parting with Melly and heading back to the apartment to start packing.

After dad was done with work, we head to Benhill for a final seafood meal flavoured by the roadside. Then back to the apartment for one last game of mosquito tennis. 

12 Oct 2009

Today we head to Ancol's Dunia Fantasi (Dufan) for some amusement park rides, something I was not looking forward to, but it was recommended by Putra the other night, so it sealed the deal for Adi. It was rather easy getting there as it is the biggest amusement park in Jakarta so every taxi driver knows where it is.

After taking a spinning ride in a fun fair about 19 years ago, I realised that I'm not good with stomach churning rides. Turbulence on plane rides are part of the ride, but I don't like the feeling it gives me. Lucky for me, there was a crooked house which you can take your time to enjoy, and we laughed so much, we went in twice. Adi was trying to do Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal impression. There were rides that were alright for me, and some that Adi, the adrenalin junkie, preferred. I left her with her crazy rides while I took photos instead. 

Right at the end, I don't know what got into me, but I decided to try out the crazy boat ride for the first time. I always wanted to try it for some reason and finally got the guts to do it. Some how I managed to get through the first 75% of the ride, then I lost my focus, and I nearly lost my guts. I felt like puking, but didn't have anything to throw up, and in the end, all Adi and I could do was laugh about my slight misery and get something to eat. 

We head out to find a night bazaar setting up near the beach and walked through it to find A&W! We haven't had that in a long time and it was an easy decision as to where we'd have a meal for the day. It was a nice area to chill out, with the food stalls next to the beach, a bazaar set up close by and lots of activities to help you enjoy your day there. 

It was getting dark by the time we decided to head back, and my stomach finally settled down from all the craziness. We meet dad back in town to check out Hard Rock Cafe, another place Adi wanted to go to. The food was alright, and the entertainment was alright. The lighting, however, was too dim for much photos. 

11 Oct 2009

Dad was telling us about some place that he and his colleagues would go for good seafood and I said that we HAVE to go there. Adi loves seafood as much as I do and what better place to go for breakfast (well almost lunch by the time we were up). Got in a cab and we head to a carpark that didn't even seem like it had a restaurant, but then with Jakarta, you don't really know what hides between alleys anyway. However, this place isn't hiding in an alley, but in a really plain building with a glass door for it's entrance, and just a simple banner above it to tell you that you're at the right place. 

One inside, you see a building with a whole lot of tanks filled with fish, prawns, crabs and shellfish. In another area, you find more seafood on display on a long bed of ice.

All you have to do is pick what you like, or get someone to pick them for you and tell them how you like your seafood done.

Take a number and wait for the plates to land at your table, then just enjoy with your hands. However, if you're allergic to seafood, like Adi slightly is, you might want to avoid this place. However, Adi only gets swollen lips if she gets a good fill of seafood, and she might look unhappy (because there's no more seafood left), but she acts as though she go a good Botox job. 

After lunch, we head out to get some more shopping done as we only had 2 more fun-filled days in Jakarta.