Getting to Java Jazz Festival 2010

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Alist

As advertised by Indonesia TV channels, as well as Euronews TV across Europe and TV cables, Java Jazz is getting bigger this year.

Java Jazz Festival is an annual event in Jakarta to attract and satisfy jazz lovers with so many International Artists in the line up. This year in 2010, sponsored by Axis GSM, we’ll have Eric Benet, Babyface, Jason Mraz, and also previous years performer such as Chaka Kan. One of the highlight is The Manhattan Transfer and John Legend. Local jazz artists will also satisfy local flavour, from veterans like Barry Likumahuwa and Bubi Chen to younger generations like Ecoutez. Check daily schedule on their official website for artist line-up and those special performances.

This year, Java Jazz Festival venue is moved to Jakarta International Expo at Kemayoran. From 5-7 March 2010, we’ll have biggest names in Jazz world come and play at Jakarta with a special theme: tribute to Michael Jackson.

Entrance ticket is referred as daily pass since you can hop on and off any playing stages at any time during a day, priced IDR 300,000 (~USD 33) per day, or IDR 800,000 for 3-day pass. Online purchase will be cheaper, only IDR 220,000. For special performance like The Manhattan Transfer, you need to buy additional special show ticket, ranging from IDR 220,000 to 1,500,000 for John Legend’s best seat. Tickets are sold at several ticket boxes across Jakarta, but if you are foreigner, ticket purchase can be done using money transfer or online credit card payment (see official website here).

Where to stay

As it is moved to JIExpo at Kemayoran, staying at Semanggi The Sultan Hotel like previous years will not be the best spot. The nearest hotel to venue is Sheraton Media Hotel at Jalan Gunung Sahari. It is a bit old but still offer luxury.

Your best bet and also great location should be Novotel Mangga Dua (Agoda link or Accor official website). It is located in Mangga Dua Square, shopping and dining should not be a problem. The other one is 4-star Le Grandeur Hotel at Mangga Dua shopping complex. Both hotel offers affordable luxury from around USD 50-80. Java Jazz venue is 5-10 minutes taxi drive from Mangga Dua.

More hotel selections to book, refer to Hotel Reservation in Jakarta

Transportation

One of the drawback of holding event at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran is its location and access. Although it is still categorized as city center at North Jakarta, as an ex-airfield, only few public transportation passes this large complex. The only reliable solution is by taking taxi or private car to the area. While going to Kemayoran is easy since you can hail any taxis near your location, getting back to home or hotel was a bit problem. Taxi queue is long but supply is rare, but I don’t know if there will be improvement for this.

Apparently Telkomsel still has huge stocks of iPhone 3G

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Alist

Just a quick press: today Telkomsel announces new price for Apple iPhone 3G 16GB, for only Rp 7,500,000 (and 0% 6-month installment facility).

This is a sign that they still have lots of this iPhone 3G stocks, while they are not ready to sell newer iPhone 3GS in Indonesia.

And, one of the little text in the ads (kompas), is that after user upgrade to iPhone OS 3.0, the 3G phone will be unlocked. It’s a good news if you want to switch to another GSM provider using legal way.

Javamilk site is running again

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Alist

Hi All, just a quick press to let you know that you might be experienced my JavaMilk.com website had been down for 3-4 days during last weekend. It was because my hosting provider 3fn.net had been shut down by US government for some reasons.

Now JavaMilk.com has new home, new hosting provider. Hope it will be better in terms of speed and reability.

Thanks for all your supports, and keep reading!

Buying Used Books

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Alist

Buying used books? Why not. It’s a cheap way to afford a book not by its cover but its content.

Living in Indonesia, usually we are accustomed to buying brand new books, glossy cover, and white color paper. Although paper is cheap here, but sometimes we need to think about saving money as well as saving the earth. We are not ready yet for buying second products, books in this case.

Local produced books are always cheaper than imported books, but you only get about half the knowledge because local writers don’t have time and effort to write hundreds of pages book. If they write 200+ pages, editor will kick their ass and ask them to trim into less than less than 100 pages. Yeah, thick books don’t sell well in Indonesia.

For online book shopping, we can use Gramedia Online, pay with credit card or transfer, and it will be shipped within 3-4 days to any Indonesia address. This online stores in not comprehensive, not all titles available as they are available in Gramedia stores in malls.

Now, if you are interested in imported books (a.k.a English written books), the most famous one is Amazon.com. Not only they sell books, they sell everything from electronics to house related things. And may be you don’t know this, Amazon also sells used items.

Just like this example, a brand new book of DK Eyewitness London is sold at USD 16.50, while used books (if available) can be purchased only with USD 5.00. That’s a great saving!

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Smart Internet Unlimited

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Alist

Tired of using lame Indosat 3.5G Unlimited, I searched for alternative and cheap Internet mobile solutions. Tried Telkomsel Flash volume based (300MB for IDR 100K) it worked pretty good aside from its price.

Since May 1st, 2009, Smart Telecom launches new Internet unlimited packages with affordable price. Smart nge-Jump Unlimited Internet is their full name. Wow, I should try then… FYI, Smart Telecom is a CDMA mobile phone carrier therefore its Internet feature requires CDMA mobile phone or CDMA Modem phone to operate, in short:you cannot use GSM-based modem like Huawei E220.

Smart Jump Packages

Smart Internet Unlimited has some packages to choose:

Package	Downstream (up to)	Upstream (up to)	Price (per month)
Regular	153.6 Kbps	128 Kbps	n/a (15,000 / week)
1. Silver	512 Kbps	128 Kbps	75,000
2. Gold	1 Mbps	384 Kbps	120,000
3. Platinum	3.1 Mbps	384 Kbps	150,000
4. Ultimate	3.1 Mbps with public IP	1.8 Mbps	225,000

Those packages are available for postpaid and prepaid customers. For prepaid, even there are 1-day, 7-day, and 1-month packages.

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Travelling to Iceland

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Alist

As one of European counties, Iceland has ben ranked as one of the most expensive destination for Americans and rest of the world. No wonder usually Iceland is not included in people’s itinerary.

But recently as its economy collapse in late 2008, prices in Iceland have been falling up to 50 percent from normal.
Iceland
(image from www.smh.com.au)
What is Iceland capital city? Prepare your tongue to spell Reykjavik. It is quite big at you need several days to explore it. Car rental which started at USD 200 last year now is less 30%, not to mention lodging and hotels.

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Let’s eat some balls – an Okirobox food review

Posted on October 6, 2008 by Alist

A small shop to visit when you come to Senayan City is to try some foods at Okirobox. It is located in food court, in the middle of the court. I tried it several months ago, just remember to post it now.

First thing, don’t expect you will be full by eating Okirobox foods. All items should be categorized as snack or side-dishes (although prices are not). You know, japanese foods tend to satisfy eyes and tongue, not stomach.

Takoyaki (Octopus balls)

Okirobox Takoyaki

This snack is made of some eggs I believe, can be filled with Squid / octopus or other meats as you like. One box contains 4 ball. Prices vary from IDR 14,000 to 20,000 per box. Try it and you may like it. Taste sweet and yummy with mayo cream and salmon fish filament topping, unfortunately only 4 balls per serving. By googling a bit, I found how to make takoyaki from here.

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