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J A K A R T A = M A N I L A
Wholesale shoppers’
paradise
Happy is the city that possesses a
wholesale shopping corner. Manila
has its Divisoria area, of course, while
Jakarta boasts the Mangga Dua
shopping strip. Located just to the east
of Kota Tua, this cluster of six massive
malls is where the locals go to stretch
their Rupiahs. Hardcore Divi denizens
would feel right at home in environs
like these, with their tiny, merchandise-
loaded shops lined up amidst corner
stalls and food kiosks. Apparel is the
specialty at the ITC and Pasar Pagi
malls. Electronics, on the other hand, is
the preferred commodity at Harco Mas
and Dusit Mangga Dua. There’s plenty
of everything else on offer in these
cavernous confines. Look sharp, haggle
hard and, most importantly, have
plenty of luggage space.
Hardcore Divi denizens
would feel right at home
in Jakarta’s Mangga Dua
shopping strip
The rupiah stops here
The skyscrapers, clean streets and busy
commuters geared up in office attire all
give off a very Makati’s Ayala Avenue
business vibe.
But surprisingly it’s not, this is
Jakarta’s Jalan MH Thamrin, a busy
thoroughfare that runs straight through
the city’s Central Business District. The
resemblance would be unmistakable,
if not for the Bahasa billboards and
occasional
gerobak
food carts braving
the rush-hour traffic. The white-collar
heart of the capital lies adjacent to
the swanky Menteng residential area
(
like Ayala is to Forbes Park), with the
Bundaran HI traffic circle serving as its
main landmark. This road also hosts
two of Jakarta’s most up-scale malls
—
the Grand Indonesia Shopping Town
and the Plaza Indonesia Mall.
Just like
Makati’s
Ayala Ave
The Pasar Pagi Mall is a
wholesale haven for clothes
and accessories
The Bundaran HI traffic circle
is at the heart of Jakarta’s
Central Business District
