Indonesia Highway (1)

Today, as I wanted to buy something at the highway (yes, at the highway), I took some pictures of the highway (Merak - Jakarta). This is also the highway which I usually use to go to nearby shopping complex during weekend.

Picture: The toll/ gate of the highway, looks old

Most of the high way (Jalan Tol) in indonesia is completed around 1980. So, Indonesia actually built highways long before Malaysia start building PLUS. Nevertheless, the extension of highway is very slow especially after 1997 economy crisis which causes many new highway project postponed, if not cancelled. This is another effect of the step-down of President Suharto after 1997 economy crisis because most of the highway project has been given to the company controlled by Suharto family. Nevertheless, since year 2007 the highway around jakarta shows a totally different picture.

Picture: The working station beside highway

The highway around Jakarta is controlled by JASAMARGA (similar to PLUS in Malaysia). Before year 2006, most highway around Jakarta is just purely roads connecting one destination to another destination, without any additional services. Now, many infrastructure has been added to provide additional service to the road user. The working station shown above provide parking place especially designed for lorry and tow-car. In some part along the highway, the distance between two toll/ gate is very far. Thus, the working station is built so that whenever there is a need for repairing or an accident, the lorry or tow-car could rush to the spot faster.

What? Starbucks beside highway?
No kidding, original Starbucks coffee wherever, whenever you ask for.
Starbucks coffee Drive-through

In my mind, Starbucks Coffee are always opened in shopping complex or places around tourist attractions only. However, I can find Starbucks beside highway here. If you are tired and want to relax, you can sip a cup of original Starbucks coffee in the air-con room. If time doesn't allow, u can just buy the coffee by using Drive-Through. To be frankly, i have never seen Starbucks Coffee Drive-Through before. I believe not in Malaysia too. Or maybe I was wrong.

The entrance of Resting Area beside highway

JASAMARGA has built many new resting area beside highway aroung Jakarta. Before year 2006, resting area is not common and rare. In fact, of all highway around Jakarta, there was only 1 resting area at "Puncak", a tourist attraction place similar to Genting in Malaysia. In year 2007, many newly built resting area can be found along highway around Jakarta area.

The view outside the complex in Resting Area

Inside the complex

The hawker centre outside the complex

The mosque at the Resting Area

In the complex, there are restaurants, fast-food, boutique shop, souvenir shops and etc. For local food lovers, there is a hawker centre beside the main building. There is also a mosque for muslim. Look at the modern design of the mosque.

The road user of highway around Jakarta doesn't pay according to millage, but according to a fix price set for each particular exit. For example, some exit-gates collect Rp1,500 (about RM0.70) no matter from where you enter the highway. The cost is low because the developer has earned back the money and JASAMARGA is only collecting sufficient money to maintain the highway. This sounds so impossible and unimaginable to Malaysian, thanks to PLUS and BN.

Besides, there are alternative roads. So, if you prefer, you can choose not to use highway. In Malaysia, highway developer will never build alternative road, and if there is one before the highway is built, the developer can even block the alternative road after the highway is completed.

Motorbike and some public transport is not allowed to use highway. Even so, some parts of the highway is already congested at certain period. Can't imagine the situation if motorbike is allowed to use highway.

在Bali岛的第一天

第一次去Bali已经是2004年底的事了，我们在Bali岛度过的点点滴滴，留下来的甜蜜回忆，一直都保存在我们的脑海中。最近学习开始设立我们自己的“部落格”，最先想和所有人一起分享的就是这一段日子的快乐与欢愉，也最想将这段特别的，充满纪念性的旅行，以另一种方式，写在我人生的日记里。

因为我在印尼Jakarta工作，所以莎珍先从新加坡飞来Jakarta和我会合。过后，我们才搭Garuda航班去Bali.本来是中午的航班，结果因为Garuda接受超额订票，害我们上不了本来的航班而必须搭下一趟的航班。想到我们的第一次旅行竟然在还未启程就遭遇波折，我当时就真的是“冻未条”，直接找当时的值班经理理论。嘿嘿，结果呢，那经理为了表示歉意，将我们的经济舱机票换成商务舱！真可谓：塞翁失马，焉知非福。虽然慢了一个多小时，但当时想到能够免费升级，也不赖吧。

等候航班时，在Garuda的Business Lounge里留影。

在Garuda的飞机上，请空服小姐为我们拍的合照。我们手中拿的书，是莎珍在Malaysia买到的一本由台湾出版的Bali岛旅游手册。这本书很不赖哦，完全就是我们这趟Bali岛浪漫之旅的全程导游，包管我们的许多吃喝玩宿。

因为延误班机的关系，到达Bali岛时已经傍晚了。在Bali岛的头三天，我们在Bali Hard Rock Hotel住宿。Hard Rock Hotel是很不错的星级酒店，又有许许多多的游乐休闲设施，让我们度过了不错的三个夜晚，可是在Bali岛，相对于费用比较昂贵又缺少Bali特色的星级酒店，其实有许多非常好，价廉物美又富当地特色的民宿和Villa是更佳的选择。只不过话说回来，这些都是经验之谈。对于第一次去Bali岛的我们来说，由旅行社安排星级酒店是最放心和方便的。




肚子好饿哦~~~

放下行李后，我们的第一个任务就是 ： “拜拜我们的五脏庙，祭上当地的贡品”。

其实在酒店附近就有许多常见的快餐店和外观看起来很不错的西餐厅。只不过，想感受不一样文化的我们选择了到酒店附近一条很受当地年轻游客和冲浪者欢迎的Poppies Lane II去
冒险。经过一番挣扎，我们选上了这间用当地材料（木材和椰支)建成的餐厅。

据介绍，PIZZA很有特色哦~~~镜头前的，就是我点的PIZZA 了。馅料是包在里头的哦。当然，只不过是我“山姑”而已啦。说不定这样的PIZZA在意大利是随处可见。






Bali岛的咖啡是很有名气的。 所以不假思索地直接点了杯Bali coffee来试试。到地的Bali coffee的喝法，是将不会溶解的咖啡粉直接放入杯或壶中，再加入热水去冲，不加过滤，就直接喝的。所以，或许有的人就不大习惯这种偶尔还会喝到咖啡渣的感觉。但其实，举凡印尼人喝咖啡的习惯都是这样的啦。没喝过的人，多喝个两三天也就会接受的，入乡随俗嘛。
至于我嘛，别忘了我是在印尼工作的啊。早就习惯了。





Bali岛在2002年时遭受了汽车炸弹袭击。此后，Bali岛的旅游业，乃至于整个经济表现，都出现严重的下滑和影响。炸弹袭击事件后，当地政府为了悼念死伤民众，在爆炸案发现场树立了一个纪念碑。在我们身后的就是这座纪念碑。上头刻了受难者的名单。
我们在晚餐后在kuta市的主要街道上闲逛。发现一件事情，其实Bali的街道都很小，和马六甲的街道非常相似。也因此，我们在逛街时，就看到长长的车龙。


因为很晚了，也累了，想到明天还有一整天的活动，就回去酒店睡觉去了。