Noriyuki Nakamura wrote a letter on a paper about what he saw at the Indonesian biggest airport located about 25 Km west of central Jakarta. The name of the airport is Soekarno Hatta International Airport.
The airport has 3 terminals. Terminal 1 is used for cargo and domestic flight. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 are used for both international and domestic flights. The airport is growing and developing some facilities. The cleanliness of the airport is also got attention from the management. That is why the airport is now clean and visitors are happy with this condition. One visitor was impressed about this cleanliness and wrote a letter on a paper for the manager. He is Noriyuki Nakamura, from Japan. He wrote:
Dear manager,
I’m Noriyuki Nakamura. This is the second time visit to your airport. It is so clean! Cleaning staffs are so amazing!
Early this morning, I was watching a young lady brushing a large carpet very carefully. I know she was doing her job as a routine. However, I was so struck by the way she wiped the trash box. The top of the box was made of steel. It was heavy. She wiped the steel lid inside and outside. She also checked to see if there was no strange sound from the opening of lid. Nobody in Japan can do the same thing as she. I wonder if she has the special training.
It is true your airport is very big. There are ao many things to see. But I think your workers muat be quite a message for us –> “Always be clean and friendly.”
You should be highly proud of your workers as the best asset.
Date: 2019, 12-30 ——@gmail.com (Jakart -> HK -> Japan)
Upon arrival at Soekarno Hatta International Airport from overseas, some visitors do not have enough local money, or Rupiah. Some other are ready by bringing some Rupiah from their countries. The problem come when you want to change your money at the airport, but the rate is poor. If you are not satisfied with the rate because you want to change lot of money, I suggest you to change it at the best money changer in Jakarta city center, VIP. Yes, the name of money changer is VIP money changer. VIP stands for Valuta Inti Prima. Located in Menteng District, Central Jakarta.
What you need to prepare for changing money at VIP is your passport or other ID and your patience. Yes, you have to be patient because VIP is very popular for changing money causing a lot of people want to change their money here. They have complete enough stocks for currencies and provide good rate, even best rate in town. To check the current rate, you can visit their website: https://www.vip.co.id/en/
If the rate you are looking for is not listed on the website, you can call them to check the current rate. Here are their phone number: +62 21 3190 7777 and +62 21 390 4444. You can call them during opening hours.
Here is the business profile of VIP Money Changer.
Address
Jl. Menteng Raya No.23, Kebon Sirih, Kecamatan Menteng, Kota Jakarta Pusat. The location is not far from Monas or Merdeka Square and US Embassy. You can follow the direction provided by Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/7jTV6
Opening Time
Open daily from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM until 17:00 PM. Closed on weekend (Saturday – Sunday) and on national/public holiday. If you need to change your money in the weekend, you have to see another money changer or ATM machine.
Transaction Limit
They have no transaction limit but they only accept paper money, not coins. You have to conduct at the office to change money, but they can transfer the money to your Indonesian bank account if you don’t want to bring a lot of money in your pocket.
Upon arrival, you have to take your queue number. They separate the queue line by the amount of money the guests want to change: Below one thousand USD and Equal/above one thousand USD.
They have many cashiers to serve you. There are about 15 cashiers. 10 of them are used for transaction. The other five are for taking the money after transaction.
Tips for Changing Money at VIP
It is recommended to visit VIP in the morning. Earlier is better to beat long queue.
If you bring a lot of money to be changed, group the money by the amount. Give them gradually to the cashier and count together to avoid miscalculated.
Don’t stay too far from the cashier you are waiting for. They will call you, but manually without microphone.
Toll road is a favorite road chosen by drivers for traveling long distance. It connects not only inner city and between city but also connecting provinces, especially in Java island. Driving car on toll road cuts long time traveling from one city to another city. No doubt the road is useful for users, but driving on highway in Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia is not as easy as people might think. Driving safely on it need experiences, good skills, and proper knowledge. Here are some essential tips for drivers to drive good on toll road.
1. Carry Your Driving Licence and STNK
STNK is vehicle registration certificate. You must bring this wherever you go with the car.
2. Bring A Toll Card (e-toll card) with Enough Balance
Most toll gates in Java island only receive payment using a toll card. This special card is called e-toll card. E-toll cards are issued by BCA bank (Flazz), Mandiri bank (e-Money), BRI bank (Brizzi), Indomaret, etc. Make sure you have enough balance before entering toll gate. Do a small research about the costs for tolls you will use and top up your e-toll card up more than you need at ATM or convenient stores.
3. Your Car and Your Condition Must be Fit
Make sure everything is working good, especially these parts: brake, battery, signs, lamps for driving at night, radiator coolant, tires, and electrical components.
Plan the trip and take a good rest before the trip. You must see and hear clearly. To increase your overall health, doing physical exercise regularly is very recommended. Physical exercise could include running, walking fastly, biking, swimming, or other exercise.
4. Pray Before Start
Do your best but don’t forget to pray, ask God to give you a safety journey.
5. Pay Attention to Road Lane Markings
Lane markings help driver to stay safely on current lane. Broken white line means you are allowed to cross this mark if you want to move to the other lane which is empty or want to overtake another vehicle in front of you. But it must be careful if the road is two-way.
Solid white line means you must stay within your lane. It is also used for marking the emergency lane and shoulder lane.
6. Do Not Throw Anything to the Highway
Scattered garbage is dangerous on highway. It can interfere driver’s concentration and trigger an accident.
Provide a trash can in the car. If you don’t have one, you can use any plastic bag to save garbage. After arriving at your destination or while resting in the rest area, then throw it in the bin provided.
7. Keep the Safe Distance
If you can keep the safe following distance, your chance of a collision with the vehicle in front of you is being smaller. Ideally stay at least 3 seconds behind any vehicle that is directly in front of you. When visibility is low such as rain, dark, or foggy, you should double the safe distance.
8. Check Rearview Mirror Periodically
Why you must check it? Because you must keep aware of anything going around you. If there is ambulance want to pass you, you can let it go first. If there is another risky vehicle near you, move away from it is better.
9. Don’t Use Hazard Light in the Rain
Do not use hazard lights, both during rain and in the tunnel because other vehicles will have difficulty detecting the direction of your car. Turn on your vehicle head lamp is enough.
10. Let the Tailgater to Pass You
What is a tailgater? Tailgater is another car/driver follows you, very close behind you without safety distance. It’s very annoying and disturb you, right? It is also risky. But don’t be panic and don’t brake your car. If you brake your car, the car behind will slam into your car. You need to be calm, and see the left lane. If the left lane is empty, give signal to pull over and let the tailgater pass you.
Taman Safari Indonesia in Bogor collects many type of birds at their park. They have some birds of prey at some cage. They have also many type of friendly birds inside the Bird Aviary. The birds inside the aviary are very attractive, beautiful, and colorful. Visitors can interact with them.
This open air aviary is a giant living space for birds. The aviary was refurbished and was inaugurated on December 9th, 2003 by SEAZA (South East Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association) President, Mr Pisit na Patalung. There are about a thousand birds live here. The design looks like in the middle of a jungle with some trees, waterfall, cave, and ponds inside. The birds can fly freely inside.
The Birds Aviary is located near Parking A of Recreational Park. It is very easy to be reached. After you finish your Safari Journey by car or Safari Bus, you’ll arrive at Recreational Park. The first parking area of the recreational park is Parking A. From this car parking, you can walk to the Bird Aviary. The entrance is located behind Cafe Onta Bread & Bakery, next to Baby Zoo. The entrance is easily noticeable because of its unique Orangutan statue.
The entrance is free. Just walk in through the path and see many colorful birds flying and singing around you. Until reach top, you can purchase some bird’s fruits and food for feeding the bird. Wash your hands before and after you feed the birds. Now, it’s time for hand-feeding birds!
After getting the food, hold the food container in your hand. If you do not use any container, just open the hand and let the birds know it. Some birds, normally parrots and julang mas will fly, then land on your arm and shoulders. Even, a bird will land also on your head. Don’t be panic, he feel comfortable with you, and want the food.
Enjoy as much as you can. If the food is run out, you can purchase it again and start doing the same hand feeding. Don’t forget to follow the aviary’s guard instructions. Wash your hands after finish.
In Bogor Botanic Gardens, there is a big river, named Ciliwung river, divides the garden into two areas: West side & East side. For visitors who want to get across from one side to another side, there are four bridges inside the Gardens. Two bridges are for vehicles and two other bridges are for people. The two bridges for people are good spots for taking photos because it has red color with suspension type. People can take pictures of the river as well as the bridge.
One suspension bridge is located on north side, connecting Tarzan tree (Gogo Vine tree) on east side into giant trees & cemetery area on west side of the river. Another red bridge located on south side near Mexican garden which collects cactus plants. Each bridge has maximum load capacity of 10 people.
Are you looking for a good driver? Or wandered that you are a good driver? Whatever the question, it is good to know the characteristics of good drivers. Knowing it will help you choose the right driver for you or improve yourself if you are a driver.
Punctual
Don’t let your time gone, because waiting for your driver arrived at your location. A good driver will start earlier from their station or home than estimated time arrival. Look out for drivers who have a reputation for being reliable and punctual. Don’t forget to make appointment before, so the driver can prepare everything to come to pick up you right on time.
Able to communicate easily
Good communication is a must between you and the driver. The driver must understand the destination you are looking to go. In Jakarta, not many people can speak English. It is hard to find a driver who can speak English. You can hire us to get an English speaking driver.
Drive safely
Driving safely should always be your driver’s top concern. He should focus on driving, know the rule, don’t drink alcohol, be aware of other drivers on the road around you, etc.
Patient
Big cities, like Jakarta, is full of traffic, road construction, road’s rules, etc. Drive car on such area can make people in stressful. Impatient driver will drive aggressively, make bad decision, and make passengers in risky situation.
Knowledgeable
A study revealed that a driver with good education significantly reduces traffic violations and accidents. Driver with good education can make a good decision, know the area well, and able to help you find what you are looking for. Good education doesn’t mean that the driver must has high academic degree. Good education means he knows well about driving, areas, and has years of experiences.
Cibodas Botanic Gardens collecting many plants and flowers species. One of beautiful flowers you can see at the gardens is Rhododendron. Rhododendron is a genus of thousands species of woody plants in the heath family and found mainly in Asia. The word Rhododendron comes from the greek words: “rodon” means “rose” and “dendron” means “tree”, hence it means Rose Tree. The plant has narrow and pointed green leaves that often stay green throughout the seasons.
Cibodas Botanic Gardens built Rhododendon garden in 2002. In this garden, there are three main species of Rhododendron: Rhododendron javanicum from Java, Rhododendron macgregoriae from Papua dan Rhododendron mucronatum from Japan. You can see the picture of Rhododendron Mucronatum on the image below. I took the photo at Rhododendron garden in Cibodas Garden, Cianjur, West Java.
The flower was brought from Japan, but it is originally from China. It has bright pink color. It has many branches, covered with many evergreen leaves.
Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia. The Jakarta Special Capital Region is the biggest province in Indonesia with population more than 10 million people. As a capital, Jakarta provide great facilities including hotels to all people.
First question before you start to go to Jakarta is usually: Is Jakarta have good accommodation for tourists? Jakarta is known to be the business city and the administrative city for Indonesia. There are many hotels in the city with various rate and stars. There is no universal “best” hotel to stay in. They are better for your own individual needs, preferences, and budget.
If you come with family, you can also stay at serviced apartments and condos in Jakarta. They provide good services with spacious rooms for guests to enjoy the living just like at home.
If you are a shopper, you can stay at a hotel or apartment near the shopping places. If you are on your business trip, you can stay at hotel on CBD area. If you are an experienced traveller, you can stay at different places to feel the different atmosphere. The best neighborhoods to stay in Jakarta are as follows.
Thamrin
It is located in the Central Jakarta near Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, Thamrin street (CBD area), Thamrin City, and Sarinah Dept Store. Beware that there is Car Free Day every Sunday morning, at 6am until 11am. Choose one that is not located on Thamrin street or has backstreet if the hotel located on Thamrin street if you have to get out and get in to the hotel on Monday morning. Other weakness is, there is odd-even car plat number policy on weekday every rush hour at 7am-10am and 4pm-8pm.
Recommended places to stay: Hotel Indonesia Kempinski (adjacent to Grand Indonesia Shopping Town), Ascott Jakarta, Grand Hyatt (adjacent to Plaza Indonesia), Pullman Jakarta Thamrin, Artotel (next to Sarinah Dept Store), Kosenda.
Kelapa Gading
It is outside of the city center but close to some big shopping areas and near ringroad toll road. It is easy if you want to go to North Jakarta (Ancol beach), East Jakarta (Indonesia Miniature Park), and private/domestic airport (Halim Perdana Kusumah).
Recommended places to stay: Harris Kelapa Gading and Pop hotel. Both hotels are located at the same complex with Mall Kelapa Gading, one of the biggest mall in Jakarta with hundreds stores an many restaurants inside.
Mangga Dua
It is located on North Jakarta. Mangga Dua is a district known for cheap shopping market: ITC Mangga Dua, Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua, Mangga Dua Mall electronic center, Mangga Dua Square. The district is also close to Old Town (Fatahilah Square), China Town, and Ancol Bay. Another advantage of this area: it is near highway to go to the International airport.
Recommended places to stay: Novotel Mangga Dua (at Mangga Dua Square), Le Grandeur (adjacent to Mangga Dua mall), Best Western, d’Prima, Ibis Styles.
Casablanca
Casablanca is a rapid developing street in South Jakarta. It is near big shopping malls, Embassy from other countries, and Mega Kuningan business district.
Recommended places to stay: Raffles Jakarta (adjacent to Lotte Shopping Avenue), Puri Casablanca (serviced apartment), Ascott Kuningan, Park Lane (near mall Kota Kasablanka), Manhattan.
Cikini
If you have low budget, there are few budget hotels and hostel in Cikini area. The area is located in Central Jakarta. It is very easy to go to a train station, restaurants, and city center.
If you have busy activities between city and international airport, you can opt for a hotel in Grogol area. It is located on West Jakarta, near highway, universities, and few shopping places.
Recommended places to stay: Pullman Central Park (adjacent to Mall Central Park), Ciputra (in front of Mall Ciputra), Grand Tropic Suites, Mediterania Garden (apartment near Mall Soho), Grand Tjokro.
Now you have some hotels in your mind. Next, you need to plan about what will you do in Jakarta. If you are a business person who want to do business trip & meeting in Jakarta, you can hire us to drive you to your destination in Jakarta. For more info, read our service on https://bogorprivatetourguide.com.
If you want to sightsee in Jakarta, we have wrote this page to guide you to sighseeing in Jakarta including list of recommended places to visit, restaurants to dine in, and markets or malls to shop at.
Cantigi tree have thick but small leaves. The colors of the leaves are green, red and purple. The stems color is brownish red. The fruit is black and round like a berry. This plant is also known as Manisrejo in Central Java and Suwagi in West Java. This plant can be found in the whole island of Java at an altitude between 1500-3300 meters above sea level. It is also known that another type of this tree can live in rocky beach areas.
The tree is strong because can resist various bad weather. It can resist the sulfur fumes and toxic crater soil. This tree also has very strong roots to hold on when climbing and can be made to shelter during storms at the top of the mountain.
Cantigi leaves are edible. When climbers get lost in the jungle, they can consume the leaves and fruit. Beside, the boiled water with leaves inside is very useful to treat stomach.
Cantigi tree is very useful to produce oxygen at the top of the mountains and prevent landslide. An erupted mountain can be restored by replanting cantigi tree. An empty land at the mountainous areas can also be green, by planting these plants.
Undoubtedly, for mount climbers, Cantigi tree is not as popular as Edelweiss flower, but it has many uses and functions for people and environment.
In 2003, just after the release of three adventure film series, Lord Of the Rings, which has Hobbit character in the movie, the world of science was excited by the discovery of dwarf human skull. In that year, there are 7 human skeletons found in Liang Bua cave, Rampasasa village, Flores. One of them was put at Museum Nasional, Jakarta. These skeleton later known as Homo Floresiensis, which has meaning Flores Man. The findings of Homo floresiensis in Flores show us the civilization of Flores Island is very old.
Homo Floresiensis was discovered during excavations in Liang Bua, Flores by a joint archaeological team of the National Archaeological Research Institute, Indonesia and University of Nwe England, Australia.
Homo Floresiensis has small body & head, with body head about 120 CM. It has prominent jaw, narrow forehead, and small brain.
Liang Bua Cave
Liang Bua, in the local language has the meaning of “cold cave”. The cave located about 14 km to the north of Ruteng city with an elevation about 500 meters above sea level.
The cave site has a length about 50 meters, width about 40 meters, and a height of approximately 25 meters. From its physical condition, this cave is worthy to live in the past. The surface of the cave floor is relatively flat and wide enough, the air circulation is very good because the mouth of the cave is wide and high, and gets enough sunshine throughout the season because the cave mouth faces northeast. The site is also close to the river. Human inhabitants have access to environmental resources to meet their daily needs. Before reach the site, people will past Rampasasa village. Distance between the cave with Rampasasa village is only about 1 kilometer.
Rampasasa, A Village of Pygmy People
Rampasasa people has a short body height (below 150 CM), but with normal body proportions. If you do not compare it to other people from other area, you will see that Rampasasa people has normal body appearance. Their body are not related to nutritional factors, but from genetic defects that are not found in normal humans.
people there said that their bodies are short because their parents also have short bodies. The number of short people in the village is now decreasing. Some of Rampasasa people then marry people outside of the village, and have children with taller body now.
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