DAY 2: AROUND THE CAPITAL

mariyacancio
Nov 21, 2015
2 min read

Arriving at around 12:00 MN in Jakarta, I absolutely cannot wait to check into the hotel and get a good night's rest, because this day will surely be filled with adventures. I rode a regular Indonesian cab and my fare was only at about Php350.00, from Soekarno-Hatta International airport to Ritz-Carlton Mega Kuningan. With the help of Booking.com, I was able to book a Grand Double Room which costs Php10,789.00 per night. I was also able to inform them of my arrival time, and so everything was set when I arrived at the hotel.

After a delicious breakfast in the hotel, I have decided to go on and tour the capital of Indonesia. My first stop was Jakarta Cathedral. With a cab fare of only Php121.00, I was able to visit this magnificent cathedral. I am a Roman Catholic , and so seeing a beautiful church for my religion in an Islamic country is amazing. After going and and praying for a while, I walked to another church, but this time, a Protestant one. The Gereja Immanuel was just a few blocks away and it looked simpler than the Jakartas Cathedral. After visiting the churches, I went to Galeri Nasional or the National Gallery. I was able to check out various paintings and artworks for free!

I then went to Keyaki Japanese Restaurant at Sari Pan Pacific Jakarta. I availed their Lunch Buffet worth only Php790.00!! Unlimited Sushi and Seafood was definitely the way to go! I'm also Japanese so Japanese food is always very attracting to me.

After lunch, I walked all the way to the National Museum. I was supposed to check out the National Monument first, but realizing that the National Museum closes at 5:00PM, I had to go there first. With an entrance fee of only Php34.39 or IDR 10,000.00, I was able to go around and learn about the history and culture of Indonesia. Some sees museums as boring and uninteresting, but for me, it's a way of learning and understanding another country's heritage, and what is boring about that? After going around the museum, I have decided to go to the National Monuement. It looks beautiful in the daylight, but it is even ore stunning at night when they turn on the lights that accent the monument. They even have lightshows that would definitely make you want to stay and watch.

After that, I have decided to go to Penang Bistro for dinner. Spending only around Php650.00, I was able to enjoy a delicious Penang (Malaysian) meal. After dinner, I went to the Pasar Baru Market which is one of the oldest markets in Jakarta. They sell textiles, clothes and so much more. The place reminded me of Divisoria where you could find a lot of goods for a cheap price,if you know how to bargain!