A Rainy Morning and a Change of Plans
We woke up to the sound of heavy rain hitting the windows. A thick curtain of water covered central Jakarta, turning the streets into shining silver streams. Our plan to explore Glodok had to wait, so we switched to Plan B—Batik hunting. Sometimes the weather decides the adventure for us.
Heading to the MRT
At ten in the morning, we called a fixed‑fare Bluebird taxi and rode to the Bundaran HI–Bank Indonesia MRT station for IDR29,000 (≈ MYR7/USD2/EUR2). Even underground, Jakarta felt alive. Commuters moved quickly, escalators hummed, and the familiar beeps at the gates echoed through the clean, modern station. Its calm design always reminded us of the elegant roundabout above.
Watching the City Change
We boarded the Bundaran HI–Lebak Bulus MRT and watched the city slowly change outside the windows. The tall towers of central Jakarta softened into leafy neighbourhoods. Wide roads connected everything like long threads, and small morning warungs flashed by in bright colours. With each stop, the city’s fast rhythm slowed, and we felt ourselves slowing with it.
Arriving in Blok M
When we stepped out at Blok M BCA, the rain had eased into warm late‑morning air. Ojeks weaved through traffic with practiced skill, snack stalls filled the sidewalks with delicious smells, and locals moved with a mix of energy and routine. Blok M has always been a place where old Jakarta meets new Jakarta, and the short walk to Blok M Square showed that clearly—aging façades beside modern shops, and market stalls spilling into every corner.
Breakfast at Last
We were hungry, but finding breakfast was harder than expected. After a few failed attempts, A&W came to our rescue. We ordered:
Fish Sandwich set
Chicken Sandwich set
Total: IDR180,000 (≈ MYR42/USD11/EUR9).
It was simple, fast, and exactly what we needed before starting our Batik mission.
Exploring Blok M Square
Inside Blok M Square, the cool air and steady buzz of shoppers welcomed us. We wandered through the floors, but the so‑called Batik Centre on the UG floor was not what we hoped for. Instead of a colourful, lively collection, we found outdated designs and tired motifs. It felt more like a forgotten corner than a centre of Batik.
Still, exploring was part of the fun.
A Small Tech Problem and a Big Surprise
On Level 3A, we searched for a camera backpack but found none. Then we noticed our DJI Osmo Nano battery was almost empty. Luckily, a tiny emergency power bank—IDR320,000 (≈ MYR74/USD19/EUR16)—saved the day.
Just as we were about to move on, we received wonderful news: Brendan had been offered a job at a premier digital agency with global clients. The terms were excellent, and he was signing the next day. We celebrated right there in the middle of Blok M Square. A proud moment.
More Adventures Ahead
Stay tuned for the next video as we continue our shopping spree at Grand Indonesia and Thamrin City Mall.
Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)
📍 Location:
Thamrin Residence - https://maps.app.goo.gl/cX8NjQ2VRcmZuAcy7
Blok M Square - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Uvt3Dowjyo9nwhTq7
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