Post: #151

(08-27-2015 08:57 PM)Irish Wrote:  I'm no daygamer but if you're staying at Thamrin then your best bet will be the two malls nearby: Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia (both short walking distance)

Decent spots for daygame as far as Jakarta goes. I'd just add that Plaza Indo is definitely the more upscale of the two with a crowd to match.

Post: #152

(08-27-2015 02:42 PM)dalbroker Wrote:  2. Kosenda Hotel - Boutique hotel. Takes a few minutes to get
to the mall....but a very unique hotel. I really liked this place.
The rooms are small but it was well designed and thought out.
Food is great at the restaurant too. Its a nice place to relax.

Their roof bar is also a good date location, only 5th floor but its quiet and discreet.

Post: #153

On another note, I hear it on the grapevine that Dragonfly is FINALLY reopening next Friday (4th Sept)

I may make a cheeky little trip over...

Post: #154

So Dragonfly had its soft opening last night and as it turns out had quite a refurb done. I wasn't expecting them to change it so much. I'd rather they kept it the old format with minor tweaks as I have seen nightclubs before fuck around with an already winning formula and inadvertently kill the vibe and lose the crowd. But lets see how it turns out. Fingers crossed, but initial reports I've heard from people who were there on opening night are positive.

One thing's for sure I expect it's going to be absolutely packed this weekend, so best get down early.

       

Post: #155

^

It looks like most of the space in the nightclub is occupied by tables/booths with bottle service, like a lot of other nightclubs in Asia. I really hate that. I much prefer nightclubs with large dancefloor areas. Do you know how much the cover charge is? How much are drinks?

Post: #156

(09-04-2015 02:15 AM)Biologist Wrote:  ^

It looks like most of the space in the nightclub is occupied by tables/booths with bottle service, like a lot of other nightclubs in Asia. I really hate that. I much prefer nightclubs with large dancefloor areas. Do you know how much the cover charge is? How much are drinks?

Actually, from what I've heard it's a lot more open plan now like X2/equinox. With booths/sofas down the side. Personally I actually prefer places where tables and sofas are semi-integrated into the dancefloor space, cos it's great for table game and pulling random girls from the floor onto your sofa. I don't like it when the tables are isolated away from the action. For example now there's a VIP section behind the DJ which sounds like it's pretty detached from the rest of the club, which sucks. Tho getting a bottle and basing up at the fairly central looking bar might be fruitful.

Well, lets see. But I liked it fine the way it was before hand. And although the people who were there on Wednesday night were quite positive about the new layout, they're mainly girls so not the type to look at it from a dude/pickup mindset. Plus the A/C was apparently freezing cold, so bad in fact a couple of them have picked up colds and won't be out this weekend

So, I am a little apprehensive. But I'll reserve judgement until I see it for myself.

No idea what the cover is, hopefully I don't expect to pay it anyway. But either way I hardly think it'll be too outrageous.

Edt: Apparently cover is 250k. Pricey enough I guess. But think that might just be inflated cover charge for re-opening weekend, and dunno if that also gets you a free drink or not.

Post: #157

Went there last night (250k entry, no free drink)...the setup is ok...could be alot better with the nice space they have even though its smaller than i thought it would be...there is no real dance floor and most of the place is setup for table reservation...But by about 2am it was packed and was fairly easy to meet girls while walking around....The VIP area behind the DJ early in the night is guarded by security guys so you cant get in but later on its not guarded and you can enter while going the down hallway to the bathroom.The VIP are is not so big but not a bad spot to talk to girls...the qaulity was pretty good...If the place isnt going to be packed i can see it being hard to get girls as most will be in groups with guys be sitting at tables.

Post: #158

250k cover and no drinks???

thats pretty expensive, was thinking of going there tonight. but looks like a no now.

Post: #159

It was opening night so id say that wont be the normal cover (however immigrant is 300k on weekends but you get a free drink) so it may stay at that price.

Post: #160

Is it a bad idea to approach girls wearing a hijab or scarf, if they give you eye contact? I did have a date with a girl wearing a turban after she approached me and started a conversation at a 7/11 but later I screened her out as she wasn't up to my standards when I met her during the day.
I'm staying at the Thamrin City complex and over half of the girls are wearing them. It's very close to the Grand Indonesia, but the quality at Thamrin City is a very big drop off from what I've been noticing from the other two malls.

I'm here all week and up for day game or maybe a bar near the Grand or Plaza, if anyone wants to meet up one day. I'm just not into clubs that much, although I might check out Immigrant Friday night since it's very close to where I'm staying at...

Cheers!

Post: #161

Was there last couple of weekends. Checked out the new Dragonfly and it's a disappointment. I was worried that they had fucked too much with a winning formula. And they have. Although the decor is probably more impressive now the layout isn't great with bottlenecks and not a lot of room.

Unfortunately while the previous DF was ideal for me and really suited my style, DF 2.0 does not. I usually roll with a mix of guys/girls and prefer to either have a sofa/table and pull girls off the floor to join the party, or to post up by one of the bars (with or without bottle) and pick off girls who are wandering by. Naturally I will do a few circuits of the club with a few approaches but I like to operate from a base where my friends/girls are, thus I can pull girls into my party, introduce them to my friends, run jealousy plot lines with my other girl-'friends' and generally game them from a more powerful position (or 'home field advantage' as I call it). I try to avoid being one of those approach monkeys endlessly sharking round the club obviously looking for targets. (Trust me, girls pick up on this).

However, the new DF falls down on both these strategies. For table game: the main sofas are down both sides and less integrated to the main thoroughfairs of the club as before, making them more isolated. There are some standing tables in front of a small dancefloor which could provide some options but the space got clogged up fairly quickly as the tables are quite clustered together. As for posting up at the bar: the main central bar has woefully insufficient room for people to stand while others try to squeeze past and the back bar tends to be half empty. I didn't get a chance to check out the bar that the VIP section, so it may be more fruitful.

I have a fair few friends in JKT now, mainly local party girls but some real solid expat lads also. Pretty much all of them are hating on the new DF. The biggest issue being that the Chinese crowd have moved in as it's the new shiny place to be. I find the HiSo Chinese crowd really kill the vibe of a place for pick up which I have mentioned before on other threads. Dudes tend to be overly protective and if you're talking to any of 'their' girls they will have an utter spaz out at you. Partly jealousy but mostly because they 'lose face'. Especially if its a dude paying for all the drink and the girl is on his table (if the chick is remotely hot she WILL be on somebody's table). The HiSo chinese chicks will tend to stick to their own anyway and will want to avoid getting slut-shamed for flirting with westerners.

Whether this crowd sticks around a couple of months from now once the 'new venue' vibe has died down I am unsure. But in the meantime the door are alienating their regular crowd somewhat by being quite strict on the door policy (refusing girls who are dressed too 'sexy' but in reality more likely because of their darker skin and being less flexible with the regular big spenders probably as the Chinese spend more money).

Personally, I am going to give DF a couple more shots later down the line to see if the regular crowd returns and it improves any. But I am not holding out much hope that my once favourite club in the world will be anything more than a shell of its former self.

Post: #162

Are there any clubs right now that rivals the old dragonfly?
X2 was quite disappointing in terms of pick up.

Post: #163

(09-14-2015 04:37 AM)worldtraveler3 Wrote:  Are there any clubs right now that rivals the old dragonfly?
X2 was quite disappointing in terms of pick up.

My personal preference is Immigrant but a lot of other guys prefer X2. For me it was always a bit too young but when I was there fairly recently the crowd had improved. A few friends of mine are saying it's picked up of late also. Immigrant attracts pretty much the same crowd as the old dragonfly did, mainly expat dudes and the bule chasing girls. But just was never quite as good as the old DF in my opinion. Immi isn't as big and doesn't have as many hot girls, plus tended to be more inconsistent too where occasionally you would go on a Fri/Sat and it would either be inexplicably quiet or dude heavy.

With DF reopening it's shaken up the scene a bit. I suspect DF will lose its previous crowd (at the rate they're going) which will naturally move onto other venues. Similarly the chinese crowd may take over in DF meaning their previous favoured venues such as Blowfish may change/improve. I guess however for the next couple of months its all going to be a bit unpredictable.

However I will be keeping in touch with my buddies on the ground there on how it's shaping up and feedback whatever useful intel I have.

Post: #164

I am going to be in Jakarta soon for 7-10 days. Been reading all of the Jakarta threads this week.

Could you guys with knowledge on Jakarta help me out with a few questions.

What apps/websites are you guys having luck with?
I am using Tinder now.
IndonesianCupid?
OKC?
Skout?
Badoo?
Just curious what is popular other than Tinder.

What is the most used chatting app? Thailand = Line, Philippines = Viber, Indonesia = ???

Post: #165

If you already have Line and Viber, just download whatsapp and you should be fine. Most girls use one of these 3 apps.

Post: #166

(09-20-2015 11:42 AM)DirectDanger Wrote:  I am going to be in Jakarta soon for 7-10 days. Been reading all of the Jakarta threads this week.

Could you guys with knowledge on Jakarta help me out with a few questions.

What apps/websites are you guys having luck with?
I am using Tinder now.
IndonesianCupid?
OKC?
Skout?
Badoo?
Just curious what is popular other than Tinder.

What is the most used chatting app? Thailand = Line, Philippines = Viber, Indonesia = ???

I do virtually no online game, so cant really help you there. But the quality you'll find out in the bars and clubs is better and you'll generally pick up so many leads nightgaming at the weekend you can probably fill your midweek up with dates anyway. So you may barely need to use online but always good to have a swipe through tinder anyhow for some backup options.

Generally I found most girls will use whatsapp with a small minority preferring LINE

Post: #167

(09-20-2015 11:42 AM)DirectDanger Wrote:  I am going to be in Jakarta soon for 7-10 days. Been reading all of the Jakarta threads this week.

Could you guys with knowledge on Jakarta help me out with a few questions.

What apps/websites are you guys having luck with?
I am using Tinder now.
IndonesianCupid?
OKC?
Skout?
Badoo?
Just curious what is popular other than Tinder.

What is the most used chatting app? Thailand = Line, Philippines = Viber, Indonesia = ???

You can rely solely on Tinder. Skout is big in Indonesia but has lots of weirdos. But occasional 6 that is DTF is very easy to find in there.

All girls I talked to had Line and/or Whatsapp.

Post: #168

Tinder is proving to find me more than enough matches. Don't think I will use any thing else. Kind of wish I did not start 10 days out. Should have waited only 2 or 3.

So far every girl has had either Line or Whatsapp. Whatsapp seems a bit more popular.

Thanks for the help guys.

Post: #169

Digging this baby back up... my BKK trip is March 4 through 27th and that's a long time. I'm tempted to take a week-long jaunt down to Jakarta.

So is there any new intel on the best nightclubs to go to, for a guy in his mid-30s? It seems Dragonfly isn't good anymore, and Immigrant is better, as well as maybe X2. Seems Thamarin city near the malls is the best place for accommodations. Has that changed recently?

I still haven't decided whether I'm actually going to take the plunge. Still on the fence...

Post: #170

Don't come during the week. Not much nightlife.

Immigrant is alright. But alot of tables, and relatively small Dancefloor/ bar areas. I am not sure how much the tables cost. might be too much. But the club is like 60% floor space covered in table areas. haha. Gets better late after 1. Some hookers, but not as much as other hotel bars.

yep. mid 30s should be fine for pretty much all the clubs. X2 has a younger crowd along with blowfish but shouldn't be a problem. Immigrant has a slightly older crowd, and a lot of expats there. The nightlife is quite expensive as alcohol is highly taxed, but cheaper than the states.

Senayan is probably the best place to stay but abit more expensive than thamrin. depend on where you want to spend your time. If its grand indoensia area, then thamrin.

If you are coming from BKK, then i would stay 4 or more nights.

Post: #171

Third trip in Jakarta coming to a close tomorrow.

Don't be afraid regarding the incidents last thursday - that can happen as easily in Europe or the USA these days, and on a larger scale than it happened here. Its awful that it happened in perhaps the most open majority muslim country in the world - makes little sense at all. Perhaps they think the foreigners are corrupting the Indonesians. Anyway, not going to go into the situation further than that, other than to say if you've already planned to come, I don't think its an issue. I'm staying caddy corner to the Sarinah Mall now - can see the bombed out starbucks from downstairs outside the hotel. Fairly heavy military presence around here, but that could be seen as a big positive - and in any event there are plenty of other areas in which to stay.

I spent the first two days, including the aforementioned Thursday staying just north of Kuningan City mall, in a boutique hotel, Rasuna Icon, that I'd recommend for those sticking to a budget. Many of the rooms don't have windows, but they're clean, well-appointed and breakfast is served on a nice rooftop veranda. Its around 37 a night for a basic room and 42 for the exec room. Don't get me wrong, the rooms aren't big. But the beds are comfortable and its a good location, five minutes walk to KC Mall.

Spent the last four before today at the Crown Plaza, which si in the Senayan area which WT3 referenced above. One of Jakarta's ritz hotels is there too. CP is decent, very good restaurants (one middle eastern and another considered perhaps the top Japanese in Jakarta, make reservations for a group tho). I don't know that I'd consider the area so premium - its definitely high end over by the Ritz and Pacific Plaza - Hermes and other super high end retailers. Good restaurant choices in that mall for sure. The CP, which is across the highway, is next to Plaza Semangi, which is a well known and not nearly as hi-end mall that could serve as a decent spot to meet up.

I was out for night life basically two nights (not counting just heading to somewhere like Loewy for dinner). One night we went from Loewy to Cloud (which was very scenic and worth checking out - not sure on the pickup scene but to me its got better scenery than Skye), and then Immigrant was pretty dead, but it was just after the attacks. More and more seeing lots of younger expat dudes swinging for the fences on the dance floor. Also girls were pulling their friends away (might be anecdotal) with more emphasis - two times when I went their I got cockblocked hard. Only night I slept alone was the night I went to Immigrant, though it did fulfill last trip. I'm not giving up on it, but I will say, the competition (whetheh they have game or not, they're on the playing field) seems to be ramping up.

The other night out was at Dragonfly, which is a beautiful and mostly dead club on Saturday nights, if this past saturday is any indication (again, its proximity to the attacks can certainly be attributed some effect - I left at around 130AM i believe, or a bit later). I think the place looks great, the tables are spacious and comfortable and its entirely unsuited to approaching people. Its basically all tables, with tiny bits of real estate in between. That having been said, i know a few guys who've done very well there.

Take this for what its worth, Ive enough time in Jakarta to have formed a bit of an opinion.

Post: #172

Competition has ramped up indeed

Post: #173

Hey guys, I'll be back in Jakarta for a couple of weeks starting Feb 6. First week until the 15th definitely in Jakarta, then might go to Bali or Gili islands for a few days. In Jakarta, staying in thamrin city. Hit me up if you are around.

Post: #174

Competition ramping up is only bad IMO if they are sleazy sexpat / shameless grabby dudes with no game. Then the overall reputation goes down.

There's plenty enough awesome viable cuties in these cities to support even a doubling/tripling/quadrupling of true western players. The ratio is still many times more hotties than foreigners with game. The problem is the guys who come and bring the whole westerner reputation down by being creepy-grab-men.

Actually I think this is kind of true anywhere. It's not the actual quality guys that make it tough, it's the hordes of zombies/sleazy dudes that put girls on their guard and make them bitchy and guys in their groups "protective".

Hopefully they will stay unimaginative and stick to the expat "honeypots".

Post: #175

@Global Entry - Great update. I'll be around from Jan 28 - Feb 1 if anyone wants to meet up and split some bottles, PM me. Late 20s, white, from Los Angeles, positive night vibes.