117@Greenbay Pluit Hotel

A nice apartment complex, with the shopping mall close enough to reach on foot.

Getting out to other parts of Jakarta could eat up an evening. I once spent more than two hours just reaching Central Park, and traffic like that made visiting family out of town or going elsewhere in the city a hassle. I lived here with my wife for a year, and day-to-day life was easy. Work and local amenities were convenient, and having a swimming pool, a fantastic mall, plenty of restaurants and bars made it a relaxing place to live. Parking was another downside. Like at most apartment complexes I’ve seen in Indonesia, it was a nightmare, especially since people feel they need cars when there’s no public transport alternative.

The amenities are nice, especially the pool, and the koi ponds add a calming feel. The unit itself was very cramped for a two-bedroom place. One bedroom had just a tiny window, and the other had none. There was also a small balcony, only useful for hanging a few clothes.

I like spending the evening here and staying into the night, especially for the beautiful sunset.