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Arrived in Indonesia and its been hard work!! Arrived in Jakarta airport at 11pm, 2nd November but realised that our 30 day Visa would take us to the day before we flew out so we would be in trouble...the immigration men kindly let us wait an hour in the airport till midnight when it would be 3rd Nov. When we tried to get through the next panel of men they refused to help despite explaining what their colleagues had done. So it was a waste of time and we are still gonna get fined for over staying our visa!! Then when we finally arrived at the strip where the hostels were the ones we tried were full or too expensive. In one we could not wake the owner but managed to wake all the other guests!!! Finally at 2am we found one. Very dark, small room, boiling hot, fans barely worked but there was a bed and mattress on the floor which I opted for. Went to shop for water and power went so we were in darkness. Found way back to hostel somehow and scrambled around in the dark to get ready for bed. Was so hot I don't know how I slept!! The toilet and shower was dirty and basic. We checked out in the morning and found somewhere nicer down the road. It was so humid and there did not seem to be any other white people to be found! Everyone we passed called out and smiled, seemed very friendly. We felt like celebrities!!! Decided togo to the old part of Jakarta for the day and planned to negotiate the train service there to Kota (old town). It was more difficult than expected. No one spoke english, it was very noisy and chaotic and people were packed on all the trains. Plus it was so hot and we were still learning with the money - 15,000 rupees is 1 pound!!! Somehow made it to Kota and as soon as we were out of the station the chaos became worse. The roads were a nightmare....six lanes going each way and no proper lanes just a complete free for all where the fastest wins. No proper paths so constantly trying not to get killed whilst trying to figure out where we were!!! Then crossing the roads....you just had to hope for the best and walk in front of cars and hope they let us cross otherwise there was no chance of getting over. Was pretty scary!!! Lots of kids wanted their pictures taking with us which was cool. There was lots of poverty and slums which was really awful to see. The way of life is so different here. Most people seem quite happy and satisfied and yet they have so little. It makes me realise how lucky I am in England and being able to travel.
We decided not to stay here more than one more night. We went out for food and drinks and it actually seemed a nicer place at night, more relaxed and like a holiday strip in Greece or Spain. We found a bar with some westerners (what they call white people) in so that felt reassuring and we spoke to one or two.
4th Nov - Made it to the local bus stop and all the locals were helping us find the right bus, many speaking just a little english and us even less indonesian but we got by. The bus route revealed a different, wealthier side of Jakarta. The contrast is amazing. Literally a massive Harvey Nichols, skyscraping office blocks, huge hotel complexes like you'd expect in say america and all just around the corner from the heart of Jakarta which is so poor and polluted with children roaming the streets half naked and families living in shacks, people begging on the streets. It was hard to comprehend really. I don't think I would like to visit Jakarta again!
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