For our 3 day stay in Jakarta, we shacked up at Aston Marina Hotel and Residences.
The room (actually it was a one room apartment) looked fantastic in photos. Because we booked it 3 months in advance, it became my motivation to work really hard so that when the time came, it would be a ‘reward’ for me.
And it was. In fact, it was the best thing of our laden-with-misadventures-trip to Jakarta.
It would have been a 30 minute drive from the airport (with possibly minimal jam), but we had to get the Paramore concert tickets from Kebun Jerok first and met with this traffic catasrophe:
We arrived at the hotel at about 10.30 am, and was disappointed when told that check-in time was actually at 2 pm. But seeing that we were already there, they promised to rush out a room for us. Fair enough. So we chilled at the lobby for an hour and a half.
We were really tired from the crazy early morning flight and the crazy traffic. By the time we sat down to rest at the lobby, we were pretty hungry. So we ordered food to pass the time and to minimize moodswings.
Believe it or not but this is gado-gado. It’s fancy and healthy version of the traditional dish. Pretty unique don’t you think?
This was some mix of seafood items with rice and sambal. Not too bad, if I recall correctly – especially in our exhausted state.
And of course we need to have our signature strawberry juice:
At noon, we finally checked in to our fabulous room/apartment. Here’s a tour of it:
The bed was honestly the best thing about this already faboosh room. It was so soft with pillows that were ever so fluffy. We could have just stayed indoors and watched tv in bed for the whole weekend. But we had things to do, places to see and people to meet.
Then there was also a living room area with a comfy couch and coffee table:
This was the kitchen area where I boiled water and made cup noodles for the mister when he got hungry in the middle of the night. Playing house to the max 
They even had bowls, plates and cutlery in the cupboards – which I didn’t photograph.
This is the dining area (just across the kitchen area) – which we never utilized. We’re an eating-in-front-of-the-tv kind of couple.
Lastly, here’s the bathroom. Love the glass shower. It will totally match the glass sink area I saw at the Fairmont Hotel Singapore. *pictures how her future home will be*
We were staying on the 19th floor, so these were our view by day and by night:
Also, you can passively experience more crazy Jakarta traffic at this height:
Let’s move on to the rest of this condotel!
What you must understand is that some of the towers in Aston Marina are actually residential. So when we explored the vicinity, we found small eateries, convenience stores and services.
We actually tried the food at this Eat Together eatery for brunch on our second day. The food was obviously much cheaper than the room service dinner that we had the previous night.
Then there’s also a pool area:
Oh oh oh! I took this artsy photo of the towers bottom up. I call this “Sarcastically Artsy” but I think it’s awesome
So I guess that’s the end of the tour. If you are gonna be in the Ancol area in Jakarta and want a comfy room that feels a little like home – I’d recommend this hotel.
Hotel Address:
Marina Mediterania, Tower A Jl. Lodan Raya No. 2A
Jakarta Capital Region 14430, Indonesia
The downside was that the airport pickup would cost you US$35 per way per car, and they will not allow you to make any pitstops anywhere. Which was why we took a cab from the hotel in the first place.
Oh well.
boarding pass and passport. SQ baby!
Toni and I with our group of colleagues 
Nico and Indra – the two bonkers pple without whom all my projects will never be a reality.
Us girls with a big, big man behind us lol
without the big man. Ros and I really do look alike yes?
My friend spongebob and me <3!!
