Travel Footprints

If you have a few hours to spare to explore Jakarta, where would you go? That was the question I was asking myself during my second trip to Indonesia. Fortunately, I was able to make the most out of my free day in exploring the city of Jakarta before boarding my Philippine Airlines flight home in the evening at 2300.

A friend met me in Hang Tuah Hotel in the morning and then met up with another friend from Uganda, East Africa. We rode the cab to their Kota (also called Batavia) to get a taste of the city’s history and culture. I have always felt that Jakarta has an uncanny similarity with Metro Manila and this particular place in the city reminds me of Intramuros somehow. There were a couple of museums in this area, plus the Central Post Office which gave me the opportunity to send postcards for home (a practice my hubby and i shared for years).

We had late lunch at Cafe Batavia, set in an old house that was first erected sometime in the 1800s making it the second oldest building in the area of Fatahillah Square. The first thing you will notice is that the walls are filled with framed photographs of celebrities. 

Wall of photos by the staircase of Cafe Batavia

The back of framed photos serve as the restaurant menu as well

Even their comfort room donned framed photos (it became a little disturbing for me to see a photo frame inside the cubicle itself). Cafe Batavia reminded me of Barbara’s Restaurant (in Intramuros, Manila) a lot. The food was great although a bit on the expensive range.

It doesn’t matter which part of Hong Kong you will be coming from, it is easy to get to the TurboJet for a ride to the neighboring island of Macau with your luggages in tow. The MTR is the best mode of transport around HK, not to mention the cheapest. This is your guide to get to Macau from Hong Kong by public commute –

You first need to bring yourself to Sheung Wan Station of the Island Line MTR. From Sheung Wan station, take Exit D for the HK Macau Ferry Terminal.

Follow the signs leading up to the TurboJet ticketing station.

Make sure you buy from the ticketing station and not from ticket hawkers around. While on our way to the station, a guy approached us offering discounted tickets which we refused. HK-Macau single trip economy ticket costs about HK$150 while Business Class is at HK$250.

The departure schedule is every after 15 minutes starting at 7:00 am and up to 12:00 midnight so there’s plenty of intervals to fit your itinerary.

You will reach Macau after 1 hour of smooth-sailing via the TurboJet. Happy planning!

Here’s a travel tip I can share to single (and searching) guys out there. If you find yourself in Japan, head down to Kiyomizudera in Kyoto for a visit.

Back in May of 2003, I was a first-time visitor in Kyoto. I would say my love story with my Wifey started in a temple in Kyoto called the Kiyomizudera. During the tour in Kiyomizudera, we were told that drinking from all the fountains inside the temple would bring luck in love. Me and my good friend, Garando, drank in all the waterwells and fountains we could find inside the temple. Maybe even from the ones we were not supposed to drink from. The next day, I got sick. But, amazingly, a man in love within the next few months.

We are married now and so is Garando with his girlfriend he met after arriving from Kyoto.