Jakarta Entertainment
Jakarta is a city that never sleeps, at least until the wee hours, with night spots pulsating to the rhythm of the night life. As Jakarta comes alive in a blaze of multi-colored lights when the night falls, there is always something to keep you entertained.
Hundreds of karaoke lounges, pubs with live bands and jazz, discos, bars, lounges, night clubs ranging from the sleazy ones to the refined ones can be found throughout the city. Lounges and bars, frequently found within the larger hotels, are active at night. Although somewhat expensive, most lounges and bars usually have live entertainment on a nightly basis. Performances and styles range from jazz to piano acts and popular music.
Clubs playing techno, classic disco, retro, R&B, Hip Hop music are mainly concentrated in Central and South Jakarta, with some in West Jakarta. These clubs usually begin to warm up around midnight, and peak around 1-2am. Since some clubs are open for 24 hours during the weekend, it is not an unusual sight to see people leaving the clubs after the sun rises!
If dancing and partying is not your preference, try to visit the karaoke lounges that are located in Central and North Jakarta. You can also kick back with your colleagues or spend a romantic evening with your loved one zipping wine. Nowadays, wine bars can be found easily in Jakarta. Although the price of wine is considerably high due to high government tax imposed, these wine bars are usually packed with wine lovers, especially during the weekend.
Science Film Festival Indonesia 2010, 16 - 30 Nov 2010 |
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Crafina 2010, 24 - 28 Nov 2010 |
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Indonesia Maternity & Baby Expo 2010, 26 - 28 Nov 2010 |
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Jakarta Shoppings
Metropolitan Jakarta is never short of shopping destinations, and while property experts warn that there is already an oversupply of retail space in the Jakarta property market, new malls keep cropping up. These malls in Jakarta cater to different segments of customers. Some malls focus on the high income people who enjoy upscale fashion. Some malls, like the International Trade Center (ITC) that scatter throughout Jakarta, accommodate bargain hunter that are willing to trade the comfort for cheaper goods. While most malls focus on the fashion side, there are numbers of malls that focus more on the Electronic and Computer product, having only limited number of fashion stores in the mall.
Aside from the malls, Jakarta also has some numbers of Factory Outlet for some serious reduction in price for branded goods. Brands at many of the stores include: Abercrombie & Fitch, Future.now, Eddie Bauer, MAG, Nautica, Fendi, Elle, Hugo Boss, DKNY, Espirit, Calvin Klein, Armani, Crocodile, Balley Apostrophe, Alfred Dunhill, Nike, Reebok, Limited, The Gap, Banana Republic, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo, Adidas, Puma, Ann Taylor, D&G, BCBG, J. Crew, Allure, Bennetton, Cerruti 1881, Victoria's Secret, NY & Company, Sag Harbor, Old Navy, Ocean Pacific, Roxy, Hush Puppy, Versace, Table Eight, Cherokee, Express, Karen Scott and Sears and Mervyn's brands.
However, if you are looking for some souvenirs, batik, art and craft, and antiques for your home, there are few places that you can go. From the cluster of outdoor small stores in Pasar Seni Ancol, to the stores around and along Kemang Raya, to Sarinah Department store (The first department store built, with the first escalator installed in Indonesia). In these places, you will find unique, authentic, and exquisite crafts from all over the archipelago.
More specialized goods such as imported wine and cigars, can be purchased in duty free shops. Recently the government has imposed a ban on selling liquor in supermarkets, making only specialized stores and duty free shops are allowed to carry these goods
Shopping Malls
Malls List by Area: Central, North, South, West and East
Originally, shopping mall was built to satisfy the need to buy everything you need in one place, a one stop shopping. However, as time goes by, shopping malls also serve as a meeting point where friends meet and hangout, a place to see and to be seen, a place of recreation for the whole family, and sometimes it's just simply a place to go when you don't know where else to go!
Upscale Fashion Malls
International fashion items may not be at the top of a tourist's Jakarta shopping list, but expatriates and local wealthy people may look at these shopping opportunities differently! If you enjoy window shopping and following fashion trends, you'll enjoy the fashion showcased at Plaza Indonesia, and Plaza Senayan and Senayan City.
These four malls mentioned above are the most exclusive malls that sells international branded fashion and jewelry collections such as Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Prada, Bvlgari, Tiffany, Salvatore Ferragamo, Cartier, Bally, Aigner, Escada, Versace, etc. These shops offer the latest collections from the fashion capitals of the world – Milan, London, Paris and New York – to titillate the fancy of well to do Indonesians and expatriates alike.
Amongst Indonesia's emerging middle and upper classes international brand-consciousness is especially strong. Discerning shoppers seek original goods, which these shops can guarantee. Often, due to special sales or discounts, international fashions may actually be cheaper in Jakarta than in other fashion centers.
Come and enjoy the shopping experience in the elegant marbled with expansive open spaces and lofty atriums that will offer a sense of luxury that is further enhanced by no-smoking policies, good housekeeping, and security. Beside for shopping purpose, these upscale malls also served as traditional town centers as locations for community interaction, a place to see and be seen.
Family Oriented Malls
Nowadays, malls do not only serve as place to shop. The focus is on recreation and family fun in addition to a wide range of shops and services or one-stop shopping to meet the needs of the family. So it is no coincidence that during weekends, most of these malls are packed with clusters of families. One expression that might fit the atmosphere of these malls during weekends is : “It really is a jungle out there!”
Pondok Indah Mall is a popular family mall in suburban South Jakarta. With the addition of Pondok Indah Mall II it has doubled its shopping area and added many new attractions to the mall. The adjacent Water Park and Climbing Wall are the main tourist attractions.
Mega mall in Pluit North Jakarta is another family oriented mall. Anchored by two supermarkets, Carrefour and Matahari, this mall also has numerous furniture stores, clothing stores, cinema, wide range of restaurants.
Taman Anggrek is a prominent landmark on the toll road into Jakarta from the airport due to the 8 distinctive blue-topped apartment towers crowning the 7-floor shopping mall. The interior is a marvel of space, light and marble – and serious noise levels on the weekend. The indoor ice skating rink and movie theatres are a very popular attraction. Travelers will find a place to get their hair cut, buy medicine or toiletries at the drug store, get money exchanged at a bank or withdraw funds from an ATM, eat a meal, enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee and of course – shop!
If you're traveling with your children, check out the photo sticker booths popular with children and teens found in most family malls. The stickers make great memories.
Bargain Shopping
If you love to buy bargain clothing and the accessories, then the JITC Mangga Dua is the right place for you. Don't expect to shop in a spacious marbled-floor store, with one-on-one store assistant. As one of the biggest wholesale clothing center in Jakarta, this mall is almost always crowded, with all the foreign and domestic buyers, and the regular customers. One word to express the shopping experience here is CHAOTIC!
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