Jakarta was my entry point to Indonesia. Although I spent 3 days in Jakarta, I was actually there for just 38 hours due to my late evening flight from Kota Kinabalu.

On my second day, I explored Kota area, also known as Old Jakarta or Old Batavia. This area was a heritage district filled with old buildings built during Indonesia’s Dutch-colonial period. I walked my way towards the coast until I reached the Maritime Museum.

I spent the late afternoon at Sunda Kelapa harbor, which had a picturesque view of traditional Indonesian wooden sailing ships all lined up, and spent what was left of the daylight along the banks of the canals at Jakarta Old Town. On a brightly lit day, the canals did not look inviting because of the pollution but it looked rather beautiful under the low lit dusk twilight.

I spent the evening at Central Jakarta for a quick shopping-run and the next day, I continued my journey to Yogyakarta.

Day 1

KK to Jakarta

• Arrival at KK Airport Terminal 2
• 4:41pm – Check-in for KK to Jakarta Flight via AirAsia #AK671
  • Pass Malaysia immigration

• Eat at Café Panettone (Kota Kinabalu LCCT Terminal 2 pre-departure area)
  • Crabsticks with rice – RM14
  • Bottled water – RM3
  • Black Coffee – RM6.9

• Board Airasia Flight to Jakarta
• 6:40pm – Departure from KK

• 8:30pm – Arrival at Jakarta International Airport

Jakarta Airport Arrival

• 6:40pm – Kota Kinabalu Airport departure
• Kota Kinabalu to Jakarta flight via AirAsia
• 8:30pm – Jakarta Airport “Terminal 3C” arrival
  • Clear Indonesian immigration
    • Free visa on arrival for Philippine passport holders
  • Claim check-in baggage
  • Clear Indonesian customs
  • Exchange US$ to Indonesian Rupiah (IDR or Rp)

Jakarta Airport to Jakarta City Center

• 9:00pm  – Go to the airport bus stop (line 3) and wait for a “DAMRI” bus #6, which goes to Gambir Station, Jakarta City Center
• 10:00pm – Ride DAMRI “Gambir #6? bus from Jakarta Airport Terminal 3C to Gambir Station – Rp20,000
• Ride ojek (local motorcycle taxi) from Gambir Station to Jalan Jaksa, backpacker district of Jakarta – Rp20,000

Jakarta Hostel Check-in

• Check-in at Wisma Delima
  • Single Room (shared bathroom) – RP75,000
  • Small dinghy room, which was expected for the cheap price. I tried looking for cheap rooms at other hostels but they were all already fully booked (that late at night).

Day 2

• 10:00am – wake-up
• Breakfast at Wisma Delima
  • Simple menu: Toast w/ jam and eggs – Rp15,000
  • Coffee – Rp3,000
• Extend +1 night at Wisma Delima – Rp75,000

• Ride TransJakarta Bus #1A from Bank Indonesia to Kota Station- Rp3,500

Kota (Old Jakarta / Batavia) Walking Tour

• Walk from Kota Station to Fatahilla Square (under 5 minutes)

• Fatahilla Square sightseeing
  • Jakarta History Museum
  • Museum Wayang
  • The Fine Art and Ceramic Museum Indonesian
  • Cave Batavia

• Lunch at Warung Kota Tua (Jl. Pintu Besar no. 11) – Rp38,000
  • Kopi Tubruk – Rp10,000, Ayam Bakar Madu – Rp25,000, Service fee – 10%
  • Refreshing hidden garden inside. Great place for rest and decent food at affordable prices.

• Maritime Museum Sightseeing
  • Entrance fee – Rp2,000
  • Old warehouses converted into a museum. It might seem a bit bare but I liked my visit because it was the only part of the old city still (albeit partially) enclosed inside fortress walls. I also especially like the exhibit of old maritime paraphernalia and traditional wooden boats.

• Sunda Kelapa Sightseeing
  • Don’t expect a touristic experience here since the harbor was still largely functioning. Lots of photographic opportunities here for those looking to capture the lives of people working at the harbor and the neatly lined traditional wooden boats.

• Back to Fatahilla Square
  • Passed though the main canal on my way back. Some parts were, to put bluntly, disgustingly dirty, but it looked did look rather beautiful under the soft dusk twilight.

• Dinner at sidestreet stall in Fatahilla Square
  • Mie Ayam Baso (noodle soup with chicken) – Rp8,000

• Ride TransJakarta Bus #1A from Kota Station to station along Jalan Thamrin (near the high-end mall) – Rp3,500

Jalan Thamrin (Central Jakarta) Walking Tour

• Shopping at Grand Indonesia Mall Mall (Jalan Thamrin)
• Withdraw Rupiah at Bank Mandiri ATM
  • Used my Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Dollar ATM / Debit Card with no problems.

• Ride TransJakarta Bus #1A from Jalan Tharmin to Bank Indonesia Station- Rp3,500
• Walk to Jalan Jaksa

Day 3

• Breakfast at Wisma Delima – Rp15,000

Jalan Jaksa to Jakarta Airport “Terminal C”

• 10:50am – Ride ojek to Gambir Station – Rp10,000
• 11:00am – Walk to DAMRI bus ticket counter and buy a bus ticket to the airport.
• Ride DAMRI “Gambir #6? bus from Gambir Station to Jakarta Airport Terminal 3C – Rp20,000
• 11:15am – Gambir Station bus departure

Jakarta to Yogyakarta Flight

• Jakarta Airport Arrival
• Jakarta to Yogyakarta  via AirAsia Flight# QZ7550