adikgede

Yes its called the Bali Strait Bridge, There is supposed to be one across the Sunda strait also linking Java and Sumatra. Don't hold your breath they are still having trouble figuring out the Jakarta subway come el-train.

From what I understand after FPI left Star Cafe they headed for Barbados Cafe to do more of the same but were confronted and turned away by angry Kemang residents. ketika melintas di dekat Barbados Cafe, konvoi massa FPI dihadang warga yang marah. Bukan hanya melempari konvoi bermobil dan motor itu dengan batu, warga bahkan berhamburan turun ke jalan memberikan perlawanan atas razia yang dianggap di luar kewenangan hukum tersebut. Menghadapi perlawanan warga tersebut, massa FPI sempat terdesak mundur. Bahkan, beberapa orang di antaranya lari lintang pukang meninggalkan motor karena khawatir dihajar warga yang marah.

FPI (Islamic Defenders Front) has awoke from the dead: http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20041023144102&irec=4 Muslim militants attack cafe in Kemang, S. Jakarta JAKARTA (AP): Muslim militants in Indonesia's capital vandalized a cafe in an area popular with foreigners on Saturday because it was serving beer during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, police and one of the militants said. Around 300 members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) ordered customers at the Star Deli in South Jakarta to leave, before smashing the building's windows and doors, said Alawi Usman, a spokesman for the group. "We are against immorality," he said. "The guys saw the beer on the table and what happened, happened. We are doing this for the future of the country's youth." No one was injured in the attack, which police did nothing to stop, Usman said. Police confirmed the raid occurred, but declined say why they did not try to prevent it. The FPI was formed in 2000. It has a history of vandalizing entertainment centers during Ramadan. Many analysts say that extorting money from frightened bar owners - not Islamic principles - is its primary motive. Star Deli is in Kemang, an area known for its restaurants, cafes and bars. It is popular with foreigners and wealthy Indonesians. The Jakarta government has issued bylaws regulating the opening of nightspots during Ramadan. Freestanding bars and nightclubs are supposed to close for the whole month. Enforcement of the laws is patchy, and police and government officials are easily bribed to turn a blind eye. (*)

Lots of flights from Hang Nadim in Batam to Jakarta. I usually take a cab from the ferry to a travel agent in Nagoya and get a flight on Lion or Jatayu (0778) 429442. Most of the flights leave by 3 or 4 in the afternoon. The prices for a budget ticket can be from anywhere from 250,000 to 450,000IDR. I think you really only save maybe 10USD on a budget singapore jakarta ticket, and its probably not cheaper than flying Air Asia from Johore Baru.

Cilandak Town Square (called citos "chee-toes") is like the food court of a shopping mall with out all the stores. Just a cinema and eateries. They used to have music there almost every night including the weekly Kris Daiyanti show. Im not sure if its worth the trip though. Plenty of girls cruising at Senayan and PI By the way Prosal PI-eXtension is where the Hard Rock Cafe has moved to. They have a DJ in they Atrium, and MTV regularly does stunts there. More Chinese and Teenie Boppers than PI used to attract. Apparently P.S. has it all figured out though. After P.S. left I asked the girls sitting behind us what they were doing. Lagi cuci mata om. That they addressed me as om was a sure indication that the crowd is younger or I am showing my age. However if I wanted to know who was cruising me. I would sit at OBriens and watch people on the down escalator, then see which ones can't keep their eyes off you on the way back up.

I would like to know what you guys make of this. And from the guys who know a bit more about it or even were there a reply will be very welcome. This is pretty common, mostly Africans living in Tanah Abang suspected of selling drugs. People get busted on Jl. Jaksa but its mostly pretty safe because the cops that hang out there, there are lots, are pretty well fed. However for people who like to do drugs when they are clubbing, bad news. The city just aquired some mobile urine testing machines that can process wholsale quantity of urine in just one hour. I wouldn't recommend anyone do drugs in Indonesia, even if they have a regular habit at home. Any cooked up drugs are usually cut with CMA and who the hell knows what else. Judging by the number of people poisened by caterers on a regular basis, I doubt the drug makers are any more conscerned about the end users.

http://www.beatmag.com

Very active. if you have an account with yahoo and put enough pointers to Indonesia in your profile they will come to you. friendster is very popular now and face-pic is declining (because it was impossible to register from Indonesia for 6 months). friendfinder and adult friend finder also are popular but you have to be a paying member. Girls always complain to me about unwanted advances in these communities so please don't expect or pursue cyber-sex unless its absolutely clear thats okay, it just makes it harder for other folks to make introductions. I meet lots of folks on Yahoo! profiles.yahoo.com and search for people online. ma'af ganggu - sorry to bother you pa kabar? - apa kabar? - whats up? lagi ngapa'n - whatcha doing? bt - bete - bored sebel - ticked off gpp - nggak apa apa no problem kdl - kasihan deh eloe - what a pity (you) gicu - oh gicu - oic - oh I see skl - sampai ketemu lagi - see you later btr - bentar yah - brb dugem - party begadang - all nighter iyah - iyah - ja - yes nggak -nga - ga - no ga dech - absolutly not

Yahoo! paid email services offers disposable email addresses also, don't now th e details bu I suspect it is similar.

Adik, are you back in town or still in US ? Well Im in the US now, my company doesn't want me to telecommute anymore. I'll be going back for a couple of weeks august or september but I don't know my schedule yet. I'll PM you

For the 60 day social visit visa (sosbudaya) you are supposed to have a letter from a sponsor of some sort, could be family, could be work related. Without someone to do it for you Bangkok is a day or two quicker than Singapore (~three days). You can do it same day in Singapore with an agent for around $170 (SGD). Look on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree board for a referrel, Ive seen them posted there before. $170 SGD is probably about what you can get a round trip to Johore Baru (MY) from Surabaya on Air Asia (The MAS discount carrier).

For anyone who has used Forte Agent to read news you will probably realy like the Pimp Ass News Reader (PAN). Originally for Linux it also works on Windows with the addidtion of GTK libraries (linked via their site), and also with OS X using FINK and apples X11 display server.

And not forgetting McDonalds on Jl Thamrin next to Hard Rock Cafe. Jakartas version of Thermae, of course Jakarta doesn't need an after hours hang out because so much of the nightlife is after hours. You never seen a McDonalds like this.

I guess if you follow the papers there isn't a week that goes by without a bus accident where a handfull of people die and the driver vanishes from the scene.

Krakatoa is below the water I think you mean anak krakatoa (son of krakatoa) usually you don't actually go to the volcano itself but a nearby island. worth it or not highly dependent on volcanic activity. Buses are mostly safe (except for the manner they drive, road conditions, and other drivers). That is you shouldn't have to worry about the other passengers. I read about people getting drugged on buses from time to time, Ive never heard of this happening to a tourist. If you don't trust some one just don't accept drinks from them. you can say ma'af kenching manees which means you have a blood sugar problem. properly sealed water is in abundant supply so not something to be overly concerned about.