Touching Down in Jakarta
We picked you up again as ID6379 landed at Soekarno–Hatta at 12:48pm. The cabin stayed quiet in that soft post‑flight calm. When the doors opened, warm Jakarta air rolled in—humid, sweet, and full of clove smoke, jet fuel, and a light floral scent. It felt like stepping into a new rhythm.
Moving Through Terminal 2
Inside Terminal 2, we joined the steady flow of passengers under soft yellow signs. Suitcases hummed across the floor, announcements drifted above us, and sunlight washed everything in muted gold.
At baggage claim, Conveyor Belt 2 stayed still until 1:11pm. When it finally started, the metallic clatter mixed with the low murmur of travellers settling back into themselves. Our yellow submarines appeared five minutes later.
Into the City
The arrivals hall carried Jakarta’s familiar energy—drivers with placards, the smell of kopi susu, and the busy shuffle of the lunch‑hour crowd. We had planned to take the skytrain to SHIA and then the train to BNI City, but an upset stomach meant we couldn’t manage the ride into Jakarta Pusat. So we chose the always‑reliable Bluebird taxi.
At the Goldenbird counter, we asked a lady where the Bluebird pickup point was. She didn’t smile, didn’t pause, didn’t even look at us properly. She just flicked her hand and told us to go “over there,” her voice sharp and impatient. We tried again—this time at the Silverbird counter. The lady there listened, nodded, and gave us clear, simple directions without fuss. Her tone was calm, and she pointed us toward a small path we had completely missed earlier.
We finally located the Bluebird pickup point at Gate 2D and caught our ride for IDR207,990 (≈ MYR48/USD12/EUR11). Pak Febrian drove us, and the trip turned lively as we traded stories about daily life in Indonesia and Malaysia.
The ride took about forty‑five minutes. As we entered Jakarta Pusat, the air thickened, the pace sharpened, and the skyline rose with confidence.
Arriving at Thamrin Residence
As we approached Thamrin, motorcycles slipped past us, office workers filled the sidewalks, and sunlight flickered between tall buildings. The driver eased into the quieter entrance of Thamrin Residence, where the city’s noise softened into calm.
After a long chain of transit—taxi to plane to taxi again—this final stretch brought us home. Thamrin Residence would be our base for the week. With short notice, we couldn’t book with our favourite host Sigit, so we stayed in a Kozystay unit instead. For RM142 (≈ IDR62k/USD37/EUR31) a night this apartment definitely represented a bang-for-buck accomodation for us.
We walked into our Kozystay apartment and felt an instant lift. The space was small but smart, with warm colours, clean lines, and just enough decoration to feel stylish without trying too hard. Everything we needed was already in place: a working kitchen with real appliances, a sofa that didn’t sink, a TV that turned on without drama, and a bathroom that was bright, clean, and actually pleasant to use.
The bedroom stayed cool and quiet, and the bed felt like it had been chosen by someone who cared about sleep. But the real highlight waited outside. From the balcony, central Jakarta opened up in a single, striking frame—glass towers rising high above clusters of low, crowded homes. The contrast was sharp and honest, the kind of view that reminded us how layered the city really was.
It was the perfect place to pause, breathe, and feel like we had finally arrived. We then headed out for lunch.
Lunch at Ayam & Bebek Kremes
As usual, we ended up at Ayam & Bebek Kremes. We ordered:
- Sop Buntut with rice
- Ayam Bakar with rice
- Fresh Coconut Juice
- Es Jeruk Nipis
The total came to IDR163,500 (≈ MYR38/USD10/EUR8).
A quick stop at Indomaret for supplies, and then we went back up to unpack and settle in.
A Quiet First Day
Tired from our days in Borobudur and along Malioboro Street, we stayed indoors for the rest of the afternoon. We only stepped out late in the evening to collect our GrabFood delivery.
What’s Next
Stay tuned for the next video as we head to Block M Square—another corner of the city, another story waiting to unfold.
Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)
📍 Location:
Soekarno-Hatta Terminal 2 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/PP1UUqSuR4dF56AKA
Thamrin Residence - https://maps.app.goo.gl/cX8NjQ2VRcmZuAcy7
Ayam & Bebek Kremes - https://maps.app.goo.gl/1ePfCwRQLecvYcUZ8
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