Where are you from? - Lets see where are most of our forum members coming.

[Winnie]

Hi everyone !

I am new to this site. I will be living and working in Bandung next month. I am Indonesian who had been living and working in Kuala Lumpur for the past 15 years. I am looking for like-minded expats or locals for coffee or events.

Let's connect
Cheers
Winnie

 

[El_Goretto]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Winnie]

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks @El_Goretto

 

[atlantis]

Hi Winnie,
Welcome to our forum. Quite a few users live/have lived/plan to live in Bandung in fact. The will certainly say hi!

I have been living in Manado, Sulawesi Utara for almost two decades. Born in France, married to an Indonesian and enjoying every minute of my time in Indonesia.

 

[Wisnu]

Hi Winnie,
Welcome to the forum.
I'm a TKi too, been living outside Indonesia more than 15 years though pulang kampung 2 - 3 times / year.

Visited Bandung December last year, for 3 hours only, traffic from/to jakarta was insane.

 

[Bad_azz]

Hi Winnie, welcome to the forum from me too... I live in Bandung, but am barely there at the moment.

Hi Winnie,
Welcome to the forum.
I'm a TKi too, been living outside Indonesia more than 15 years though pulang kampung 2 - 3 times / year.

Visited Bandung December last year, for 3 hours only, traffic from/to jakarta was insane.

Wisnu<<<< telll me about it!!! I am sat in it every week... my average trip is 6 hours & that is not at a peak time.
I have tried the Puncak route but that is deffo 6 hours, the toll varies and if I hit it right I can be home in around 5 hours...
I have now taken to snoozing in the afternoon that I go home & driving at night - then its just empty roads & a 3.5 hour run.

 

[waarmstrong]

Welcome. I am thinking that an Indonesian with expat credentials will be a great addition to the Forum.

 

[Wisnu]

Hi Winnie, welcome to the forum from me too... I live in Bandung, but am barely there at the moment. Wisnu<<<< telll me about it!!! I am sat in it every week... my average trip is 6 hours & that is not at a peak time.
I have tried the Puncak route but that is deffo 6 hours, the toll varies and if I hit it right I can be home in around 5 hours...
I have now taken to snoozing in the afternoon that I go home & driving at night - then its just empty roads & a 3.5 hour run.

No!!!, 3 hours was the total time we spent in Bandung only attending a wedding party. we need 6 hours to go there, departed from home at 5:30 there and need another 7 hours went back to Jakarta. Insane.

 

[atlantis]

I am sat in it every week... my average trip is 6 hours & that is not at a peak time.
I have tried the Puncak route but that is deffo 6 hours,

we need 6 hours to go there, departed from home at 5:30 there and need another 7 hours went back to Jakarta. Insane.

I assume you have already considered it and found it unsuitable for what you need to do but wouldn't the train be faster/save some time (albeit trains in Indonesia are not of the fastest type). I am curious to hear why you have preferred car over train.

 

[Bad_azz]

I assume you have already considered it and found it unsuitable for what you need to do but wouldn't the train be faster/save some time (albeit trains in Indonesia are not of the fastest type). I am curious to hear why you have preferred car over train.

To get to the train station from my house would take an hour, the train takes over 3 hours to get into Gambir which would involve several train changes, and another 2 hours or so of travel to get where I needed to be.
I then frequently do 50+ km a day once I am in there. So, whilst I have considered the train, I just don't think it is viable or flexible enough for what I need.

I flit between BSD, Bintaro, Cilandak, Kemang, Tebet, Blok M & I was spending a few jt a month in travel fees, so a car was a better option- having managed to dodge having a car for all the years I have been here, I finally succumbed.

On the plus side there are few areas around Jkt that I am unfamiliar with

 

[Bad_azz]

No!!!, 3 hours was the total time we spent in Bandung only attending a wedding party. we need 6 hours to go there, departed from home at 5:30 there and need another 7 hours went back to Jakarta. Insane.

- yeah I got that you were only here for 3 hours- I would have politely declined the wedding invite or had a longer stay in Bdg.

The toll road surface is a disgusting mess with potholes in it bigger than the kampung roads, the heavy equipment they have used on the rail construction has completly trashed the toll roads in part, I've done the trip that often now that I can almost predict each pothole or uneven surface. Anyone who doesn't need to drive Bdg/Jkt should really consider every alternative option. There aren't many.

 

[Wisnu]

I assume you have already considered it and found it unsuitable for what you need to do but wouldn't the train be faster/save some time (albeit trains in Indonesia are not of the fastest type). I am curious to hear why you have preferred car over train.

Yes, many people told us how bad the traffic Jakarta Bandung but I didn't imagine that worst. Checked google map at 5:00 am, less than 4 hours. Just because 30 minutes late, turn to 6 hours.

We certainly considered train but fully book.

 

[atlantis]

We certainly considered train but fully book.

I can easily imagine that trains are frequently fully booked if the situation is that bad on the road.

At least in Manado we are avoided the disappointment to find out that trains we would plan to board to avoid macet are fully booked. We simply have no trains.

 

[jstar]

^ And if you need to go from the airport to Jl. 17 Augustus you’re screwed there also. (2,5 h. last time.)

My niece always takes the train to Bandung where she studies and that works out well...but perhaps she goes against traffic. She books via Tokopedia or Tiket.com, they have promo.

 

[Wisnu]

I can easily imagine that trains are frequently fully booked if the situation is that bad on the road.

At least in Manado we are avoided the disappointment to find out that trains we would plan to board to avoid macet are fully booked. We simply have no trains.

no train, but lot of trucks move like turtles.
End of 2017, I need 2 hours from the airport to bitung.
Is the toll road fully operation now?

 

[atlantis]

no train, but lot of trucks move like turtles.
End of 2017, I need 2 hours from the airport to bitung.
Is the toll road fully operation now?

You are being mean to turtles Pak Wisnu. Turtles ain't that slow!

The toll road is not yet opened to public, albeit a portion between Air Madidi and Bitung is tested from time to time, allowing cars to do it in 10/15 mn.
No-one really know when it will completed and in operation. When asked, anyone including me, answer something you must have heard before during your stays in my region: Sadiki ley Pak

When it comes to the Ring Road the portion between Kalawat and the road to Tomohon has now been almost enlarged all the way to become a 2x2 lanes and doted with a superb bypass, giving us manadonese the feeling that This Is Amerika. .

 

[Winnie]

Hi Winnie,
Welcome to our forum. Quite a few users live/have lived/plan to live in Bandung in fact. The will certainly say hi!

I have been living in Manado, Sulawesi Utara for almost two decades. Born in France, married to an Indonesian and enjoying every minute of my time in Indonesia.

Thank you , Atlantis.

I believe you are more Indonesian than myself lol. Manado is a nice city surrounded by hills and mountains. Glad you enjoy your stay here.

See you around here and there

 

[Winnie]

Hi Winnie,
Welcome to the forum.
I'm a TKi too, been living outside Indonesia more than 15 years though pulang kampung 2 - 3 times / year.

Visited Bandung December last year, for 3 hours only, traffic from/to jakarta was insane.

Hi Wisnu,
Thank you for the warm welcome.

I heard about the traffic too. My colleague took almost 4.5 hours trip from Jakarta.
Let's catch up when you pulang kampung

 

[Winnie]

Hi Winnie, welcome to the forum from me too... I live in Bandung, but am barely there at the moment. Wisnu<<<< telll me about it!!! I am sat in it every week... my average trip is 6 hours & that is not at a peak time.
I have tried the Puncak route but that is deffo 6 hours, the toll varies and if I hit it right I can be home in around 5 hours...
I have now taken to snoozing in the afternoon that I go home & driving at night - then its just empty roads & a 3.5 hour run.

Hi Bad_azz (not a real bad_azz perhaps lol)
Nice to know you guys here. Let's have a coffee when you back

It's very helpful for all those info. I might need to travel frequently from/to Jakarta as well.

 

[Winnie]

Welcome. I am thinking that an Indonesian with expat credentials will be a great addition to the Forum.

I hope so