June 26: Bobobox
I woke up late, probably around 9 AM. After I took a shower, I left the capsule hotel for a coffee shop. Before that, however, I needed to wash my clothes, so I found a local laundry shop nearby. There were three women working in a tiny space. They looked very busy, and there were piles of clothes that I assumed customers had dropped off. I do not remember exactly how much it cost, but it was neither expensive nor particularly cheap. It was somewhere around $2–3. Two of them spoke a little English. They told me that my laundry would be ready by 5 PM.
When I left the shop, it was about 10 AM, so I needed to stay nearby for about six hours, which was fine because I had nothing else to do. After I left, I quickly found a coffee shop that looked busy. There was a young girl taking orders and two young guys making coffee. I ordered a breakfast set that came with a large Americano and a butter croissant for 24,000 IDR ($1.30).
She spoke English very well. Since I arrived in Jakarta, I have felt that most people speak enough basic English to communicate. I have not had any real difficulties communicating because of the language barrier, which has definitely made me feel comfortable, along with the kindness of the people.
The coffee shop became busier as lunchtime approached. The number of coffees they were making was pretty intimidating. I asked the girl later if it was always that busy, and she told me, “Only on weekends.” I had forgotten that it was Friday. While traveling, I tend to forget what day it is.
I ended up staying there until 5 PM, mostly working on updating my blog. I was not really satisfied with its current design. I need to figure out how to make it better.
After leaving, I headed back to the laundry shop. Right away, they recognized me and handed me my laundry. It was folded neatly. I packed it into my backpack and left for the place I had booked online.
The hotel’s name was Bobobox, which I later found out is a chain with multiple locations throughout Indonesia. I wanted to stay in the southern part of Jakarta because I was planning to watch a judo competition in Depok the next day. It would have been too far from central Jakarta.
I took a Grab there and was surprised to find that it was located inside a commercial building. It took me a while to find the entrance because the hotel was on the fourth floor. I checked in with a girl who spoke English with a very strong accent. To stay there, you need to install the Bobobox app, which is used for check-in and accessing your pod.
After checking in, I was impressed by the facilities. There was a coffee machine (for an extra charge), a drink dispenser, and a shared kitchen with a microwave in a living-room area that was separated from the pod area. Each sleeping pod was completely private, unlike a typical capsule hotel.
Although it was more expensive than a regular hostel, I thought it was worth the extra cost. It costs about $8–10 per night, depending on the location, compared to the $5–6 that I usually pay for a hostel.
To enter the pod area, all you need is the QR code from the app, which was very convenient. Inside the pod, you can adjust the brightness and even the color of the lights using a small touch screen attached to the wall. The pod itself was very clean. I liked it so much that I immediately extended my stay for another night.
On the same floor of the building, there was a food court with many different kinds of restaurants. While exploring, I found Yoshinoya, the Japanese chain restaurant that mainly serves beef bowls. As usual, I could not resist going into a Japanese chain restaurant, so I ordered a large regular beef bowl. The taste reminded me of Japan. Every time I eat Japanese food abroad, I realize how much I took the quality of Japanese food for granted.
After finishing dinner, I went back to Bobobox. I think many guests stay there for an extended period because some of them had their own bowls and dishes for meals. The shared kitchen even had a place where they could wash and dry them.
I noticed a group of Chinese guests talking loudly in the pod area, which was a little annoying. Everywhere I go, I seem to run into Chinese tourists. They usually speak quite loudly. As I wondered what had brought them here, I went to bed at around 11 PM.
June 27: Judo Competition in Indonesia
I got up at 9 AM and got ready to go to the competition. The stadium was about two hours away from Bobobox, requiring two buses and one train ride.
Instead of taking a bus to Tebet Station, I booked a Grab motorcycle. At the station, I bought a round-trip train ticket between Tebet and Depok Baru Station, which cost 40,000 IDR ($2.20). The station staff kindly guided me to the platform, and luckily, the train arrived just as I got there.
The train reminded me of Japanese trains because the design looked very similar. I stayed on the train for about 30 minutes.
When I exited Depok Baru Station, I noticed many food stalls lined up along the streets. One thing I have noticed about Jakarta is how many street food stalls there are.
From the station, I took another Grab to the stadium. On the way, I became a little worried because it did not seem like we were heading in the right direction. The driver seemed to feel the same way. After about a 15-minute ride, we arrived at a large sports complex where people were playing various sports. There were also many military personnel inside the complex for some reason.
I asked one of them for directions to the judo venue.
When I entered the arena, the competition had already started. While watching the matches, I happened to find someone I had contacted before. She remembered me immediately and introduced me to a Japanese coach who teaches the Indonesian national judo team. He is a few years younger than me and came to Indonesia as a JICA volunteer.
We talked for a while before greeting another Japanese sensei who teaches at a dojo in Jakarta. He had also originally come through JICA but decided to stay in Indonesia afterward. He is considered a legend in the Indonesian judo community.
Although he needed to coach one of his students backstage where the competitors were warming up, it happened to be a break, so we had time to talk. We mainly discussed Indonesian judo. While we were talking, many students came over to greet him, which convinced me that he is truly respected throughout the Indonesian judo community.
Once the competition resumed, I returned to the main arena to watch the matches. While I was watching, the woman I had met earlier, who turned out to be an executive member of the Jakarta Judo Federation, invited me into the VIP room.
The room had large, luxurious chairs and a table with snacks and bottled water. I did not feel that I deserved to be there, but she insisted, so I ended up watching the rest of the competition from the VIP area.
The atmosphere became more exciting as the finals approached. I was a little disappointed to see that people did not pay much attention to the kata demonstration. Between each stage of the tournament, such as the quarterfinals and semifinals, there were lottery events that entertained the audience.
I think these kinds of activities are important because judo competitions tend to be too formal and quiet to attract spectators. I think Japan could learn from this.
The energy during the finals was probably the highest I have ever experienced in my entire judo career. The atmosphere made me even more excited. I really liked the way they organized the competition and the overall vibe. I also enjoyed eating Nasi Goreng, 15,000IDR ($0.8), at one of the food stalls right next to the arena.
Although some people criticize judo for becoming just another sport, I think it is a great idea to create an exciting atmosphere for both the audience and the competitors. Considering that the judo population is declining, especially in Japan, making competitions more enjoyable is even more important. After all, what is the point of focusing so much on tradition if fewer and fewer people practice judo?
There should be many different ways to enjoy the sport. I am not saying that tradition is unimportant, but I do not like seeing the judo population decline as a result of protecting tradition or old customs too rigidly. I think judo can be more flexible.
After the finals, I said goodbye to the two Japanese senseis and the woman from the federation before leaving the venue. I took another Grab back to Depok Baru Station.
My driver, Herman, was incredibly friendly. He kept telling me about places I should visit in Indonesia. He also spoke English surprisingly well, which has been very different from my experiences in other Southeast Asian countries. Usually, Grab drivers have only limited English, but in Indonesia I have found that many people speak enough English to have basic conversations.
While we were talking about food, I became curious about how locals feel about food prices. Since arriving in Jakarta, I have found food to be very inexpensive. Instead of saying, “Food in Jakarta is very cheap,” I asked him, “Do you think food here is expensive?”
He replied, “For me, yes, because our salaries are not high enough.”
He told me that he had been a Grab driver for ten years. Occasionally, he takes on other jobs, but none of them are consistent. He has two sons, and one of them practices either taekwondo or karate—I cannot remember which.
As we approached the station, he told me, “I am praying for your stay in Indonesia to be successful.”
When I got off the motorcycle, I gave him a tip to thank him for his kindness.
I really love Indonesia so far. People are friendly, kind, and respectful regardless of their circumstances.
After that, I took the train and another Grab back to Bobobox. I went to bed at around 10 PM.
Watching a judo competition can be just as tiring as competing in one. I learned that in Mongolia, where competitions often lasted until one or two in the morning. It gave me even greater respect for judo coaches and athletes who stay in the arena until late at night.
