When I need to come up to Jakarta I try to do several things at once, starting my trip at sun-up (literallly) and heading back at night. That way I save several trips, and that's less money, energy, and most importantly, stress.
Yesterday I had several business in the city, so I drove up w/ my mom who also had her stuff to do. I dropped them--my mom and the car--then continued on my errands. Usually in the city I'd take a host of public transport to minimize travel time. It's not unusual for me to use the angkot, train, becak, ojek, bus, taxi and of course, my own two nimble feet, to get around. Before heading off to the next destination, I take a look at the traffic, the sky, my watch and decide on the next option. A one woman Operation Get Me There.
It was my first full day jaunt in Jakarta since I got back from Oz--it's amazing what I'd been able to put off. But yesterday had to happen. So I started with the first order of the day in Kuningan, nice and quick and it's all done. It leaves me with a bit of time before meeting an old friend for lunch, so I quickly headed to Bapindo to check out a sale. It was a good call, since I'm able to find a similar pair of shoes to replace ones that got stolen in Bali--and at half the price! I wanted to buy several, but they only have just one pair in my size, bah!
Lunch was in one of my fave spot, Beautika, just along the corner. I arrived on the sidewalk breathless just as my friend pulled up in his taxi to pick me up. It's really annoying now to enter the major skyscrapers on a car, the bomb checks take forever, and really what's most annoying is the queue, since the check itself seems cursory at best. Give me the sidewalk any time!
Lunch was my favorite hot and sour fish soup--after that, I can take anything. Sated with lunch, the next item is to load up on music CDs at, wink wink, Ratu Plaza. I quickly headed to 3rd floor and alas, they were all closed because "Tadi ada polisi mondar mandir mbak. nanti balik aja lagi jam 5". Grr! Of all days to do the raid. I headed off to the building next door to a book sale before I get tempted by the technology on offer at Ratu Plaza--you really need to have either a) strong self control or b) a thick wallet to be window shopping in there.
The "50% book sale" was great, lots of oldies but goodies, and I ended up laden with books in every nook and crany of my big bag, with a shopping bag full as well. Right, next to my destination in Senen. Should've gone through Menteng rather than Salemba cause Diponegoro is a gridlock, but at least caught a glimpse of YAI. Man they're moving up in the world--posh blue gleaming towers, three of them!
Another quick biz and then, then I glimpsed someone from waaaay back and decided to keep quiet. Saw his back walking the opposite direction as I boarded up the waiting taxi, and his hunched-down shoulders and crisp white shirt made me pause.
It was almost rush hour, so I need to find somewhere to hunker down and fast. Zipped back toward the CBD, and decided on dessert and movie at Planet Hollywood. The place was empty and bleak--it's gown down, and I predict demise soon--as I sank down on my cheesecake and a small volume of Ahmad Wahib's diary (bought it at the book sale thinking it's a nice reread for quick travels, and conveniently sized too) but a few tables away a group of people are talking business. They were discussing the terms of payment and % of discount for supplying some stuff or others, I thought, maybe real estate? Tried as I could, I couldn't imagine myself in their position. The fact that I am so far removed from it all now, and that I'll probably never go back, struck me hard.
The movie was ok, MI-3; these days I go to cinema just to make sure I see the ones that really need to be seen on the big screen. But Cruise has become too predictable and tired; they didn't put enough of Rhys-Myers & Maggie on the screen. Paula would have some sense, but could she convince Tom to dissapear from the next one?
Traffic was bad, but I was too tired of the city to go on. People say that you either love or hate The Big Durian, there's no in-between. It seems I go on a roller coaster of love and hate everytime I'm there, and that's in a space of one day. It's getting on my nerves.
