Blok M is the touristy hang out that almost everyone knows about. It is located in South Jakarta and I spent very little time there during my trip. The actual street where most of the bars are located is called Pelatehan 1, which is between Pelatehan and Sultan Hasanuddin. Pelatehan 2 runs east-west and connects Pelatehan, Pelatehan1 and Sultan Hasanuddin on the north. See the map below



On Pelatehan 1 the bars are D’s Place, Sportsman, Everest, Top Gun, My Bar and Oscars. On Sultan Hasanuddin is The Club.

I was gonna a pull a super cutie spinner but the first thing she does is try to order a drink w/o asking. I remembered SOC telling me that's a bad sign, not to mention rude. So then I met a 2nd tier gal here, who moonlights as a secretary in the daytime; wow did this gal perform exceptionally well all around -- CIM, RIMMING, several long and sloppy BBBJs, multiple pops, she initiated sex, etc. There were many cuties at this bar when I went but keep in mind the 2nd tiers may work harder for the money. I paid 350K as MX suggested and not a peep out of her in the morning.

Most of the chewe`s would luv to have a long term bule b/f. Many tell out right, they`ll DO anything to keep you HAPPY, to be with YOU!

I`ll take a sweet 2nd tier semi-pro, 24/7! And you save some Rupes too.

So keep on mounting, and enjoy the multiple rides:-)

I should be in town, Jan. 16-20.

On Sunday evening (9/17) I paid my first visit to Jalan Palatehan in about two months or so. I am glad I brought a sandwich to the buffet as the buffet was pathetic. Seriously, there were about 1/3 the number of girls I could remember seeing on the previous worst night in the bars.

We arrived at 11:30 PM and the street we eerily quiet and hardly any traffic and people in the streets, very atypical. We headed over to the Top Gun. Supposedly Top Gun had taken over My Bar as the top late night place. There was the usual Indo band playing and doing the usual begging you to make requests and then sticking the microphone in your face to sing at the slightest sign you are enjoying the music. I want to be entertained, not part of the entertainment.

Back to the girlie info, the place did attract about 30 some odd girls but just a couple of cuties. After an hour and a couple of rounds of beers we decided to cross the street to My Bar. I figured with the small number of girl in Top Gun that My Bar would be swinging. It wasn't at all. There were maybe 30-40 girls, with very few attractive ones. I was really shocked at how little action there was, especially since this was the last week of pre-ramadan action and the last chance for the girls to make some bank. This was such a large drop in action I wonder if there are some police raids going on or expected?

I guess I should pay more attention to some of my own earlier reports when posting experiences taxi drivers when visiting Jakarta.

Got into a taxi from my hotel Ibis Tamarin on Saturday night, and without asking first, he drove out of the driveway where I then asked to be taken to "My Bar." This taxi driver was another one who had to pull to the side and ask his colleagues where My Bar is located.

That's funny...I distinctly remember having the same trouble with location destination when asking another taxi driver to take me to Travel Hotel just a few days ago. I was on the assumption every single taxi driver in Jakarta either knows about, or has heard of My Bar. It would be like asking a taxi driver at the US/Mexico border where Adelitas is, and he giving you a confused questionable look. Hmmm...

At one point, this driver even switched on his CB radio and asked his dispatcher where My Bar was, this was even after I had very sternly said,"Blok M." After guided radio dispatch directions, he was able to get me to my destination.

It is my belief that most of these taxi drivers are fly-by-night part-timers who are just trying to make a little extra cash at night time when not in their regular employment.

When leaving the Blok M area, I immediately got back into a taxi, but before doing so, I showed him a business card from my hotel, (something I would always recommend everyone doing) just to make absolutely sure he knows where the fuck it is you want to take him.

Once inside the taxi, I quickly pointed to the consul where I'd noticed there was no meter running. It was just my way of politely pointing out I'm not just another dumb drunk tourist. He said something of the effect of, "Don't worry," then he said it will cost me 500,000 Rupiah. (About $5.00 US)

When He got me back to my hotel, he old me the fare was 100,000 Rupiah, to which I told him, "Bullshit, that's not what you told me when we left the club." Obviously there was a serious language barrier, but regardless, he could easily detect the anger in my voice. I wasn't drunk and I wasn't stupid. I may be far away in another country, but I'll be damned if some peasant moonlighter is going to attempt to rip me off. Eventually he said, "Okay, okay, 500,000. I paid him without any further argument and left.

While going from bar to bar, I noticed Blok M is crammed with taxi drivers all asking you to get into their taxi. It is always good to use caution and common sense when in this somewhat seedy part of town.

Regards from Indonesia,

Master Bates.

Gee, I would have taken the 100,000 rupiah offer rather than the original 500,000 one

If you get a taxi outside My bar in Jalan Felahtan you will be hard pushed to get a meter. Just walk to the entrance of the street and there are Bluebirds parked just outside.

In general however even non Blue or Silver Birds will put on their meter if you ask as soon as you get in.

And just because a taxi uses its meter in Jakarta doesn't mean it's gonna be a reasonably priced ride. Some meters charge a pretty high price. It can be a bitch waiting around trying to find an available Bluebird taxi, but they really are worth the hype.

BTW, 500,000 rupiah equals a bit over $54. Perchance did you mean 50,000? I hope to hell you didn't pay 500K!

I hated Block M...I felt I was in some bars in Santa Monica....

But I was alone, probably fun with some buddies along.

Whoa...like some bars in Santa Monica? I've spent many years living in and around Santa Monica, and have never found a bar there that resembled in any manner the bars of Blok M. Which bars in SM are you referring to????

I worked for thirteen years for the City Of Santa Monica, and I can assure you I never saw anything that resembled anything like I experienced in Blok M.

If you mean music-wise, yes, there were bars I saw in Blok M which had a "jazzy" type of atmosphere, but with the snooty upper West Side of LA, that's all you are going to get-snooty wanna-be "hip" people.

With the many cute Asian hotties in the Blok M bars, you've got all eyes constantly on you as you enter these crowded loud bars. There is definitely a distinction with the type of patrons in Santa Monica, California as opposed to bars in Jakarta's Blok M area.

With bars in Blok M, there is an obvious amount of very beautiful young Asian girls in these bars who all wanted to know me and get me to either buy them a drink, or spend time (and money, I'm assuming) on them.

I still cannot forget the images of extremely fine Asian girls all over the fucking place, especially outside of Blok M, in say, CJ's nightclub at Hotel Mulia for instance. This is something which will be etched in my memory forever.

Master Bates.

blah blah blah

M-bates,

I guess you hung out at different Santa Monica area clubs than I. Plenty of clubs with every type of music and clientele. That said, Blok M is populated with hookers; the clubs in SM are not. So--duh--you would expect them to be different.

And the girls in the Blok M bars are interested in what's in your wallet. Their feigned interest in you is just a pathway to what's in your wallet. Don't let it go to your head!

And where's that report. With photos? We await it with bated breath.

Easy fellows...

Yes it was the vibe from the expats, the music, the so so bands, the loudness and smell of stale beer around...

The saving grace was the good proportion of doable asian femmes with varying "looks".