[Prosal]

(07-14-2013 11:47 AM)DirectDanger Wrote:  

Prosal earlier mentioned taking a train which I never did but sounds interesting. Here is a cool video I found of a train journey in Java.

Trains in Java are rather slow (about 60 km/hour), but super comfortable, at least for the first and executive classes. The Argo Gede from JKT to Bandung (three hours) is great, and the scenery breathtaking. Same for the Bandung-Yogja, and for the Yogja-Surabaya for that matter. The one (Argo Angrek) that goes from Surabaya to JKT by the faster north route (Semarang) is very comfortable also.

The trains doing less travelled routes are admittedly more rustic and slower, but the beauty of Java countryside makes the journeys literally unforgettable. I made Malang-Jember-Malang and Malang-Solo on secondary lines, the scenery was absolutely beautiful.

Java is a highly populated island (some 140 millions - yeah, that makes a lot of girls), but rather tiny. The train journey from Surabaya to Yogja takes about five hours, and then it's just seven more hours from Yogja to JKT.

Train is a great way to travel around Java.

The Argo Gede:

[Northern]

(07-15-2013 06:19 AM)Prosal Wrote:  

Train is a great way to travel around Java.

Now I am thinking about going from Bali to Jakarta by train. Where can I by train tickets?

[Prosal]

(07-15-2013 07:15 AM)Northern Wrote:  

(07-15-2013 06:19 AM)Prosal Wrote:  

Train is a great way to travel around Java.

Now I am thinking about going from Bali to Jakarta by train. Where can I by train tickets?

It is quite a long journey, at least to reach Surabaya from Bali. I made it once. You have to take a package "bus + ferry + train". For that, you need to go to the Denpasar bus station, and buy it at the travel agency which is inside the station. If my memory serves, there is two buses each day from Denpasar, one very early, and the other one around 4 pm. With this one you arrive at Banyuwangi (Java) around 9 pm, and then you have to take a night train to Surabaya. Unfortunately with this option you will make the route at night, pitch dark, so you will miss great scenery. I'd rather recommend to take the early bus from Denpasar, it will allow you to really enjoy your journey.

Once in Java, it's super easy to buy tickets at the stations.

A better option if you are in a hurry, is to fly from Denpasar to Surabaya, and then begin you train journey from there.

[sloopjohn]

(07-15-2013 07:28 AM)Prosal Wrote:  

(07-15-2013 07:15 AM)Northern Wrote:  

(07-15-2013 06:19 AM)Prosal Wrote:  

Train is a great way to travel around Java.

Now I am thinking about going from Bali to Jakarta by train. Where can I by train tickets?

Once in Java, it's super easy to buy tickets at the stations.

A better option if you are in a hurry, is to fly from Denpasar to Surabaya, and then begin you train journey from there.

This past November I took the train from Jkt to bali, having stays in Yogya, Surubaya and Malang along the way. It's very easy, the station agents are very helpful. Also a very good website for train travel in Indonesia and all over the world is 'the man in seat sixty one' (just google it).

The train across Java is very comfortable and the scenery is ruggedly beautiful. Loved Yogya, it is magic, and I will return to stay for a long while. I stayed a few days in Surubaya, known as a business and shopping destination for Indonesians. Stayed at the old Majapahit Hotel, which was built by the same family that built the Raffles in Singapore and the Strand in Rangoon. Lovely atmospheric old hotel. Very much a taste of old colonial Java.

I also stayed at hotel Tugu in Malang, as Prosal said a wonderful hotel and town. the town has an early morning bird market close to the hotel, and an old mosque which was a glowing green at night and reminded me of the wizard of oz. While staying there they held a Wayang in the square in front of the hotel. full Gamelan band, managed to stick with it well past midnight. The hotel desk man said that it was sung in old Javanese.

The train from Surubaya to Denpassar in Bali leaves at 9 am, winds through volcanoes and coffee plantations, beautiful scenery. Gets to the ferry crossing to Bali before 4 pm. 30 minute crossing and then another 4 hours by bus. comfortable enough though and an adventure.

Prosal's advice is like a rain of gold, you lads should listen if you have interest in this beautiful place.

[Northern]

(07-18-2013 11:35 PM)sloopjohn Wrote:  

This past November I took the train from Jkt to bali, having stays in Yogya, Surubaya and Malang along the way. It's very easy, the station agents are very helpful. Also a very good website for train travel in Indonesia and all over the world is 'the man in seat sixty one' (just google it).

The train across Java is very comfortable and the scenery is ruggedly beautiful. Loved Yogya, it is magic, and I will return to stay for a long while. I stayed a few days in Surubaya, known as a business and shopping destination for Indonesians. Stayed at the old Majapahit Hotel, which was built by the same family that built the Raffles in Singapore and the Strand in Rangoon. Lovely atmospheric old hotel. Very much a taste of old colonial Java.

I also stayed at hotel Tugu in Malang, as Prosal said a wonderful hotel and town. the town has an early morning bird market close to the hotel, and an old mosque which was a glowing green at night and reminded me of the wizard of oz. While staying there they held a Wayang in the square in front of the hotel. full Gamelan band, managed to stick with it well past midnight. The hotel desk man said that it was sung in old Javanese.

The train from Surubaya to Denpassar in Bali leaves at 9 am, winds through volcanoes and coffee plantations, beautiful scenery. Gets to the ferry crossing to Bali before 4 pm. 30 minute crossing and then another 4 hours by bus. comfortable enough though and an adventure.

Prosal's advice is like a rain of gold, you lads should listen if you have interest in this beautiful place.

So, you got to the ferry crossing by train and then did you get to Denpassar by bus or by train?

[Prosal]

(07-18-2013 11:35 PM)sloopjohn Wrote:  

This past November I took the train from Jkt to bali, having stays in Yogya, Surubaya and Malang along the way. It's very easy, the station agents are very helpful. Also a very good website for train travel in Indonesia and all over the world is 'the man in seat sixty one' (just google it).

The train across Java is very comfortable and the scenery is ruggedly beautiful. Loved Yogya, it is magic, and I will return to stay for a long while. I stayed a few days in Surubaya, known as a business and shopping destination for Indonesians. Stayed at the old Majapahit Hotel, which was built by the same family that built the Raffles in Singapore and the Strand in Rangoon. Lovely atmospheric old hotel. Very much a taste of old colonial Java.

I also stayed at hotel Tugu in Malang, as Prosal said a wonderful hotel and town. the town has an early morning bird market close to the hotel, and an old mosque which was a glowing green at night and reminded me of the wizard of oz. While staying there they held a Wayang in the square in front of the hotel. full Gamelan band, managed to stick with it well past midnight. The hotel desk man said that it was sung in old Javanese.

The train from Surubaya to Denpassar in Bali leaves at 9 am, winds through volcanoes and coffee plantations, beautiful scenery. Gets to the ferry crossing to Bali before 4 pm. 30 minute crossing and then another 4 hours by bus. comfortable enough though and an adventure.

+1 about the Majapahit Surabaya. What a delighful place (but also, what a stressful city!!). It was managed by Mandarin Oriental when I went there (however, I got a 50$/day rate for a Garden Terrace room), but seems that now it's an independant hotel. As for the Tugu Malang ....it's simply the most wonderful hotel I've ever stayed. Simply magic.

I couldn't emphasise more about the beauty of Java - and also about how much all those Javanese cities are great hunting grounds.

Northern, there's no trains in Bali.

[enfuego]

Thanks guys for posting all the tips. I just booked my ticket arriving at the end of August and am very much looking forward to a fun time.

[breizh]

(07-14-2013 10:36 AM)Prosal Wrote:  

Bandung is great. The "Paris of Java" as they say. Much more enjoyable than Chiang Mai IMO - and 10 times bigger.

Not even talking of the Sundanese cuisine.

In Bandung, what is the best area to stay if you want to stay there for 3 months for example and dont have a car?

After Jakarta, is Bandung the city where the girls are the more liberated?

[Prosal]

(08-14-2013 06:49 AM)breizh Wrote:  

(07-14-2013 10:36 AM)Prosal Wrote:  

Bandung is great. The "Paris of Java" as they say. Much more enjoyable than Chiang Mai IMO - and 10 times bigger.

Not even talking of the Sundanese cuisine.

In Bandung, what is the best area to stay if you want to stay there for 3 months for example and dont have a car?

After Jakarta, is Bandung the city where the girls are the more liberated?

I don't Bandung that well ..... but I would say Dago (north side of town), which is the area where I have always stayed (at the Sheraton, a highly enjoyable Bali-style resort). The upper Dago area has many "in" spots offering dramatic views and vistas of the greater Bandung area -it's in my opinion one of the more beautiful city scapes in Asia, and the lower Dago area (near Jalan Merdeka) is one of the trendy areas of Bandung with shopping malls, cafes, boutiques, many restaurants, ect. The Dago area is mainly tree lined boulevards/streets, art-deco mansions built during the Dutch colonial times, ect. Very enjoyable.

Girls are "liberated" everywhere in Indonesia. The sundanese (Bandung) women have the reputation to be the best looking (along with Manado women) of the archipelago.

[breizh]

(08-14-2013 07:41 AM)Prosal Wrote:  

I don't Bandung that well ..... but I would say Dago (north side of town), which is the area where I have always stayed (at the Sheraton, a highly enjoyable Bali-style resort). The upper Dago area has many "in" spots offering dramatic views and vistas of the greater Bandung area -it's in my opinion one of the more beautiful city scapes in Asia, and the lower Dago area (near Jalan Merdeka) is one of the trendy areas of Bandung with shopping malls, cafes, boutiques, many restaurants, ect. The Dago area is mainly tree lined boulevards/streets, art-deco mansions built during the Dutch colonial times, ect. Very enjoyable.

Girls are "liberated" everywhere in Indonesia. The sundanese (Bandung) women have the reputation to be the best looking (along with Manado women) of the archipelago.

Thanks for the tip.

[ravzanpat123]

How does it compare to other SEA cities? Eg bangkok, phnom penh, sihanoukville, vientiane etc

[JayJuanGee]

Probably, I am getting confused between the Malaysia and Indonesia data sheets that i have read on this forum; however I thought that it has been asserted that travellers can get by pretty well with English in many parts of Malaysia.

Regarding English speakers (I also speak Spanish, but that will probably not help much), can anything similar be said about Indonesia regarding getting by with English, especially in Jakarta, or will we need to learn some indonesian? Or, alternatively, do we need to plan some of our logistics based on language barrier issues? Thanks Doc and Prosal, b/c it does sound like a manageable destination - though I would be more inclined towards day gaming.. with maybe sporadic night gaming.. I do like the idea that malls may be a decent location for day gaming - though maybe, again, English skills of the women will vary?

[Prosal]

(08-22-2013 07:33 AM)JayJuanGee Wrote:  

Regarding English speakers (I also speak Spanish, but that will probably not help much), can anything similar be said about Indonesia regarding getting by with English, especially in Jakarta, or will we need to learn some indonesian? Or, alternatively, do we need to plan some of our logistics based on language barrier issues?

Far more girls in Indonesia speak English than in Thailand. That said, Bahasa is a funny language, and it's cool to know a few words and terms of endearments.

[Road_Less_Taken]

Hey I'll be heading to Indonesia at the end of this month. I have about 3-4 weeks to stay, but I can be flexible under a month.

I am thinking of arriving in Jakarta, spending a few days there and then head south, I'll end up most likely in Bali where I'll only spend a little bit of time as I'm not a fan of a lot of tourists.

From this thread it seems like Bandung is nice, where else for girls in Java? and should I stick just to Java. Do all places have this liberal nature? Or are smaller cities more conservative. Aside from girls I'd like to do a few treks like Mount Bromo, anyone have other places that are a must see?

A few tidbits. I'm in my early twenties and will be travelling with a mid range budget, so no 5 star hotels.

[Cyclone]

I was also curious about their English level. It surprises me quite a bit that they're english is really that great... how do they pull it off? There can't be that many expat English teachers.
.

[buja]

(09-05-2013 12:53 PM)Cyclone Wrote:  

I was also curious about their English level. It surprises me quite a bit that they're english is really that great... how do they pull it off? There can't be that many expat English teachers.
.

I'm just kidding you about the typos...I make the same ones too!

Every Indo girl I've ever met had at least passable English and they always wanted me to teach them more.

I think it's because they grow up with two languages (their local language and the national Indonesian language) that they can pick up another one quickly.

[Northern]

(09-05-2013 03:55 AM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  

Hey I'll be heading to Indonesia at the end of this month. I have about 3-4 weeks to stay, but I can be flexible under a month.

I am thinking of arriving in Jakarta, spending a few days there and then head south, I'll end up most likely in Bali where I'll only spend a little bit of time as I'm not a fan of a lot of tourists.

From this thread it seems like Bandung is nice, where else for girls in Java? and should I stick just to Java. Do all places have this liberal nature? Or are smaller cities more conservative. Aside from girls I'd like to do a few treks like Mount Bromo, anyone have other places that are a must see?

A few tidbits. I'm in my early twenties and will be travelling with a mid range budget, so no 5 star hotels.

Please report your experiences. Unfortunately, I did not have time for Mt Bromo or Mt Merapi.

[baxiren]

Just got back from Jakarta. I had a great time; went out 3 nights, managed to pull twice. Keep in mind that I have zero game. In my home country I am just a normal guy, in Jakarta I was approached ALL the time (I am 6 feet 1 and white). The only cold approach I tried failed, however (it is a pity, the girl was fantastic). Red Square is a brothel, pure and simple. X2 is much better, but the top dog for me was Immigrant. Many sexy girls and the place is stylish. The only problem is that it doesn't last long: it did not got going until 00:30 and by 03:00 people started leaving for Stadium, which is the nastiest place I have ever been to. One thing not mentioned in any post is that you gotta have smoke tolerance if you want to enjoy Jakarta's nightlife. Clubbing in Jakarta is like dancing on an ashtray. Perhaps 70% of the girls and 80 % of the guys smoke, and nobody enforces the ban on doing it indoors.

[Bubbs]

I'm heading to Jakarta tonight for week, possibly longer if its as good as this!!
If anyone is around hit me up.

[chewyNY]

Hey Guys,
Just joined this forum as a friend referred it to me...spent ALL week reading various threads, lol & this place is a goldmine. I love traveling but getting to work on my social skills as well is an awesome combination.

About me - Chinese American from NYC, just turned 34 and recently quit 8yrs of slaving away on the trading floors of NYC as a techie. In excellent physical shape and girls generally consider me handsome & jacked ...but I only started to learn about game in the past couple of years and that has prob. helped the most out of everything. I even paid for a 3-day boot-camp geared towards Asians.

After completing my MBA last year, I decided to move to Phuket full-time...mainly for Muay Thai but also for a better quality of life. The $ I made back home has allowed me to not work for the past 6months...wasn't planning on doing any work for atleast 2 years, but one of the guys I met out here who I"m good friends with now offered me a part-time job as prj. manager for his Facebook App dev company so had to jump on the gig

Anyways, I'm applying for a 1year+ educational Thai visa and had my eyes on Indonesia for the trekking/volcanoes...org. was only planning on doing a basic 3-day visa run, basically get in, get the f*ck out...but since joining this forum, I'm gonna do 7-10 days, starting with JKT based on various reports from members. Just booked my AirAsia tix today for Oct.23...one-way.

Will it be harder for me to pull Indo girls as an Asian guy? I got descent game (I'm no beta, but I'm still tweaking things), know how to dress, and outgoing personality/ sociable. I think it's been mostly white guys posting about how good Indo is and just curious if I should expect same results. Thx fellas.

[S_tourist]

Heading over to Jakarta in less then 3 weeks time, this thread is getting me pumped up for my trip. After visiting Jakarta last year all I have been able to think about was when am I going back again.

[S_tourist]

BTW has anyone checked out Exoudus yet?

[Cattle Rustler]

(10-05-2013 02:36 PM)chewyNY Wrote:  

Will it be harder for me to pull Indo girls as an Asian guy? I got descent game (I'm no beta, but I'm still tweaking things), know how to dress, and outgoing personality/ sociable. I think it's been mostly white guys posting about how good Indo is and just curious if I should expect same results. Thx fellas.

Most well of Indonesians are chinese so you've got some points. Approach in english, considering that you're american they will notice your accent and know that you're not a local. Unless you approach, they won't know.

[Mumbojumbo]

This is what I got from girl I contacted ahead of my visit:

Actually im free all day on Thursday ) u can contact me anytime see u!

Man I gonna love this place - rarely seen such a friendly reply...

[Teddykgb]

I really want to hit up Indonesia but all the flights heading there seem to have long as layovers. I'm coming from Seattle but I dont want to spend 36hours just getting there considering I will only have either 2 or 3 weeks to be gone for.