Train Ride Tips from Jakarta to Java, Indonesia

Here are some Train Ride Tips for you if you are traveling from Jakarta to Java, Indonesia.

On 26 May, 2015  I arrived at 1:00 AM in Jakarta Soekarno - Hatta International Airport.  My arrival time for this trip was really challenging most especially that I am alone. If this is your case, you can simply plan ahead and book for a hotel. There are actually nearby and affordable hotels at the airport. I suggest you book via agoda.com before arriving in Indonesia. 

Since I was alone and on a budget trip, I patiently waited until 5:00 in the morning at the airport. I stayed at Bakmi- GM Bandara Restaurant until their closing time at 3:00 AM. While waiting, I tasted the very fist Indonesian food here which is worth 45,000 Rupiahs. Of course, it's more expensive to eat at the airport but I can say that their noodles are really tasty. Most importantly, the staffs were really warm and welcoming. When Bakmi Restaurant closed, I transferred to the nearby JCO Coffee shop which is in front of BAKMI Restaurant. From there, I waited until 5:00 AM.

Train Ride Tips from Jakarta to Java

Here's how to take the train from the airport:

1. If you are coming right from the Airport, take the Damri Bus going to Gambir Railway Train Station. It will take you approximately 2 hours.  

2. In Gambir Station, proceed to the counter and buy your ticket. Otherwise, you can book online before your arrival via this site: Gambir Railway Station. It can cost you around 18 USD if you'll take the executive seat and much cheaper if you choose the economy seat. 

3. If you booked online, look for the ticket printing area at the station and then print your train tickets. 

4. Prepare your passport and your ticket before entering  the boarding gates. 

5. The language used on the train is both in Bahasa and English. So you have to listen carefully once your destination is announced. 

5. From Java Train Station, you can now ride a taxi going to your particular hotel. In my case, I paid 50,000 Rupiahs from the station to Dominic Hotel.

It was my first time in Indonesia and I was alone. However, I felt so safe and at home because the people are really welcoming, respectful, warm and kind. Most of the people I met there thought that I am an Indonesian however when I tell them I can't understand Bahasa, that's when they say - your Filipino!

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Museum of the Asian-African Conference

The Museum of the Asian - African Conference is located in Bandung City, West of Java, Indonesia. It was built to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for the Asian - African Nations.

I can say that today's generation is really fortunate to live a life that our forefathers had visualized and fought for. Great leaders from different nations has passionately worked hard to keep the peace and love among nations.

The Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia explains the historical background of the Asian - African Conference with the following:

 The Asian-African Conference held in Bandung on  18 - 24 April 1955 became a very important event in the history of Indonesian foreign policy and a great occasion for the nation and the Government of Indonesia. It is so, since the conference was held only ten years after Indonesians has their courage to propose as the host for such important international conference. The most important thing was that the conference ended successfully in formulating common concerns and in preparing operational guidance for cooperation among Asian-African nations, as well as in creating world order and world peace. The conference resulted the Dasadila Bandung, which became the guideline for the colonized countries in fighting for their independence. It also became the fundamental principles in promoting world peace and international cooperattion. 

In fact, the spirit of the Asian-African Conference becomes guidance and basic motivation, not only for Indonesian countries but also for Asian-African Countries. It also enhances the cooperation among Asian-African nations, so that it makes their roles and influences in international cooperation become more active and more respected and create awareness to motivate young generation of Indonesia and Asian African nations to play better roles and to gain higher prestige.

In order to achieve the above mentioned, it is important if the Asian-African Conference with its event was maintained eternally in a museum where the conference was held, Gedung Merdeka, Banduing, a city that is considered as a capital city and a source of inspiration for the Asian - African nations and a capital city of West Java.

The Museum of the Asian - African Conference held on April 1955  was purposely  to stop colonization, apartheid, racial discrimination and to support many countries who were still fighting for their independence 10 years after the world war II.

The following are the 10 Principles of the Bandung Conference (excerpted from the The Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia:

1.  Respect for fundamental rights and for the purposes and principles of the Charted of the United nations;

2. Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations;

3. Recognition the equality of all races and the equality of all nations, large and small;

4. Abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country;

5. Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.

6. a) Abstention from the use of arrangement of collective defense to serve any particular interests of the big  powers.

b) Abstention by any country from exerting, pressures on other countries.

7. Refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.

8. Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration or judicial settlement, as well as other peaceful means of the parties' own choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.

9. Promotion for mutual interest and cooperation.

10. Respect for justice and international obligations. 

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Cafe Batavia in Jakarta, Indonesia

The building of Cafe Batavia is a UNESCO Heritage Site located in Jakarta Indonesia. 

Wikipedia.com says that:

A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as being of special cultural or physical significance. The list in maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of member states which are elected by the General Assembly. 

The historic building was erected between 1805 and 1950, and after the stadhuis (now Jakarta History Museum), is the second old building on Fatahillah Square. Over the years it has served variously as a residence, warehouse, office, and more recently, as a coffee shop and art gallery.

Steel was used in the building for the first time during its 1992 – 1993 restoration. The Glass concervatory was added at this time, completing a return to the cafe’s 1937 elegance.

Café Batavia’s upstairs Churchill Bar was included in Newsweek Magazine’s “The World’s Best Bars” supplement, on October 31, 1994 and again in October 21, 1996.

I really thank Professor Darryl who used to work with UNESCO for bringing us here hours before our flight back to our own destinations. I was traveling back to the Philippines while my friends are traveling back to Bangladesh, Thailand, and the USA.
  

  

Come and visit the historic Cafe Batavia when you happen to visit Jakarta, Indonesia. 

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