It might not be Jakarta, but a bargain it is for cacktail and friends bar
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To first-time visitors, attending the annual Jakarta Fair was akin to a blind date that only allows participants to know each other's names beforehand, and of course, names can be deceptive.
"It was not exactly what I expected it to be," Cecil, a Jakarta resident who has never been to the fair, said Saturday while resting on a bench at the venue. "I read once there was a lot more culture involved, like traditional dances and such."
Her boyfriend Leon and younger sister Cella, a primary school student, nodded in agreement. "I thought there would be more traditional stuff," Cella said.
Cella bought a set of congklak, a traditional Indonesian board game, at the fair. She said it was her sole reason for being there.
"My friends told me I could buy a set here," she said.
Leon, meanwhile, was impressed by the government's mockup of the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system at the Jakarta administration's display section.
"I think that section is the only thing that reminded me this was the Jakarta Fair," he said, grinning.
The MRT project is scheduled for completion by 2016.
Riko and Idam, two high school students who came to see their favorite band, Nidji, play at the fair, said they didn't feel the Jakarta vibe either.
"I thought there was going to be ondel-ondel *giant traditional effigies* or other stuff to give the fair a more Betawi theme," Riko said.
Negative sentiments toward the fair rose higher for some. Roy and Sucipto, two middle-aged men who recently moved to Jakarta because of their jobs in the city's transportation department, lamented the ill treatment they had received at the entrance.
"I asked for directions to a certain store, and the fair attendant told me to look for it myself," Sucipto said angrily. "Then when I asked for a map, the attendant shoved it rudely into my hand."
Roy, also looking slightly upset, said the fair catered to those in the higher income bracket.
However, not all visitors were as underwhelmed. Some even managed to find their own treasures, ranging from traditional knickknacks to bargains in household goods.
Tika Setian, staring transfixed at the MRT display, thought the Jakarta Fair had a lot of Jakarta flair.
"There's lots of art, such as little statues of ondel-ondel. There's also kerak telor," she said, referring to the traditional Jakarta snack made of rice and egg.
She also praised the booths dedicated to the Jakarta administration, which, she said, gave her plenty of information about the city.
The fair offered great prices and was a great chance to buy little luxuries, said Nia, another visitor.
"I bought these sets of dishes at a great price," she said, pointing to a large box of porcelain dishes next to her.
The Jakarta Fair was first held in 1968, inspired by the earlier Gambir Fair. The governor at the time, Ali Sadikin, was inspired by the Gambir Fair's success to call for a larger event to accommodate the country's trade affairs.
The fair was first held at the National Monument (Monas) park, before moving to the Kemayoran Fairground in 1992.
A trade event from the start, one might take care not to mistake it with the Jalan Jaksa fair, which is laden with traditional Betawi elements such as the Topeng dance or Te Lenong Comedy.
Nevertheless, to some the Jakarta Fair succeeded in epitomizing the city itself, albeit in less traditional ways.
"When I think of Jakarta, I think of shopping," Nia said, as though in harmony with the piles of boxes in yellow plastic bags at her side containing dishes and other purchases from the fair.
Rizky, a college student from Depok who admitted he was uneasy being in a crowd, saw yet another side of the fair that matched well with the city.
"Jakarta is overcrowded with an assortment of people," he said, shuffling from a stream of people heading toward the electronics display section.
"And so is this fair. It's poorly laid out too." (dis)
How to get there
Taxis are probably the most convenient transportation method, and they are abundant at the fair, lining up just outside the venue's exit. If you're feeling adventurous, though, take an ojek (motorcycle taxi), something the city never seems to be short of, and the Jakarta Fair is no exception.
The organizers have also provided free Transjakarta buses to transport Jakarta Fair visitors from the National Monument (Monas). These buses stop at the Gambir, Istiqlal, Juanda, Garuda and Benyamin Sueb shelters before making a final stop at the Gambir Expo shelter at the Jakarta Fairground.
In line with the event, several regular buses have also rerouted to pass by the fair. These buses depart from the Senen, Kota and Gambir terminals. However, they might not be available in the late hours.
General description Jalan Jaksa
As all backpacker districts, Jalan Jaksa is home to many bars and cafes where travellers can let their uncombed hair down. There are about 5 places that serve as restaurants during daytime and turn into cafes at night. Jalan Jaksa on a Saturday night attracts a lively crowd of backpackers, locals and expats, intermingling in every possible way. Locals mostly see Jalan Jaksa as their way out of the somewhat restricted environment of Indonesian society and as a perfect place to spot foreign girls. Expats seem to have the same agenda, but their target being Indonesian girls. On the south side we have the Romance café, a dark tinted small place where indeed romance is the last thing one would expect to happen. Ya Udah, the popular bistro is a quieter place for a beer, opened til 02.00 on weekends and charging 16.000 for a large Bintang. Further down the road on the right side a dodgy dark place that goes by the name of Ali's bar is mostly frequented by Africans in town for ‘business'. Next to that the Memories caf
é is a boisterous two storey bar with life music and a crowd to match. There's a lot of dancing and screaming going on til late so people seem to enjoy themselves here. On the opposite of the street BFC café and bar is one of the best options, spurring an outside terrace with nice lighting. Beers are around 15.000 Rp. And simple meals are served all night long. Inside there's a pool table and some less cozy seating arrangements. At the end of Jalan Jaksa there's a popular café called Absolut Bar, with a more neutral atmosphere, a mixed crowd and a large collection of booze behind the bar. It actually consists of two small storeys, and on the top floor they squeezed a pool table in, so the place fills up fast, and the temperature increases with every visitor. Jalan Jaksa's nightlife is neither classy nor very special. By day it already has a slightly seedy atmosphere and by night, this only seems to get worse. It is however the perfect opportunity to meet up with other travelers and locals so put on your dancing shoes and trot off to one of the fine establishments this area has to offer.
Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta is a place where you can feel the pulse of the city. It is a fascinating street located in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The word ‘jalan’ means street in Indonesian and the name literally means Prosecutors' Street. There is an interesting piece of history that informs that Jalan Jaksa Street used to be a place where legal students flocked due to the fact that it featured affordable lodgings which suited their student budgets. The first hotel Wisma Delima opened in 1968 and is still there even today. Grim and shabby – these are perhaps the right terms to describe this stretch of road which is a sort of backpackers’ district. Unlike its other counterparts like Khao San road in Bangkok or Sosrowijayan in Yogyakarta where a kind of liveliness makes up for the shadiness, Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta has no qualms about its gray shades. One of the main budget accommodation and budget entertainment streets in Jakarta, this not-too-long street is lined with countless hostels, hotels, travel agents, cafés, bars and restaurants. Tourists, specially, the first timers make it one of the most convenient locations for meeting as offers a selection of services helpful to the average tourist. With all standard backpackers’ needs available here, Jalan Jaksa Street attracts the bulk of backpackers and expat teachers of English in Jakarta. Come August and the Jalan Jaksa Street celebrates the Jaksa Street Festival with the traditional Betawi Folk arts, street parades and live music.
Accommodation in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
Jalan Jaksa Street and its surrounding areas offer a wide range of accommodation options. The street itself offers mainly low-end accommodation with hostels often situated off the main street on alley (gang) running out to the side. Wahid Hasyim Road which dissects the lower end of the street, has plenty of midrange options including the Ibis Hotel. For something a bit more decent, take a few minutes' cab ride to Thamrin Road where you can choose from several four and five star hotels.
Food in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
The sidewalks of Jalan Jaksa Street abound with countless make-shift eating places known as warungs. A gas burner, an old worked over cooking pan and a small grill fueled with coconut shells adorn the fast food stalls with grilled and fried food being cooked and ready in a few minutes. Fried rice or nasi goreng, fried noodles or mie goreng, satay or small beef kebabs with peanut sauce, grilled fish or ikan baker are the most popular ones. The street also features several cafes and restaurants where you can have the conventional western dishes.
Nightlife in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
Jalan Jaksa Street has several bars and caf
és and what is most delightful about them is that here you can have your favorite beer at a price that costs a little more than it costs to buy from a local supermarket. Whereas, in most of the places in Jakarta, the price of alcoholic beverages can often be higher than in European capitals. Every roadside vendor here also seems to sell beer; ice-packed, beer-filled cool boxes are a common sight here. Some bars also play live music and offer other facilities like a pool table. A mixed crowd of prostitutes, shoddy middle-aged expats and Jakarta youngsters throng these places. However, the new age up-market style bars are coming up with fully air conditioned ambience featuring pool tables and projection screen televisions.
Shopping in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
Jalan Jaksa Street may be an odd choice for shopping in Jakarta but it can turn out to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sarinah Mall is the handiest place for a last minute shopping. There are several floors selling clothes, souvenirs, batik and the third and fifth floor have two internet cafes. A medium sized supermarket can be found in the middle at the fork leading to jl Kebon Sirih Barat. Fast internet cafes are located on both sides of the supermarket. Travel agencies are on Jalan Jaksa offer worldwide package services.
How to Reach Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
Jalan Jaksa Street is located at the heart of Jakarta close to the station, the National monument and the block M bus terminal. You can either walk from the station take a cab. Or, take one of the air-conditioned buses, get off at Sarinah Mall and walk from there.
