Muslim World Biz @Jakarta - Travelog Day 3

The Conference day

Morning of the 3rd day (5:40am)

Didn't go to the gym since we need to be there earlier due to unfinished work because of the poor time management of organizer and contractors. After had a heavy breakfast, we move to JCC and this time around, it cost us Rp22k due to no traffic-jam @ macet.

The first design of booth

When we arrived, the security does not allowed us to enter from behind. Well, we were promised to get the tag during dinner but it turns out not. So we need to go to front desk and registered as exhibitor. It seem that both organizer (from Malaysia and Indonesia does seem to have a good communications). I asked for extension from Malaysian and they requested me to request from the other side and when I goes to the side, they requested me to ask from the side and I get bored. After a while, I left and when straight to our booth to setup.

And as usual, the work is not completed yet. Too many plastics, papers, etc.. THEY DID NOT CLEAN UP many booths.

This time, it took us 1 hours to setup the complete booth. And had to use tape to ensure the bunting does not fall down. After a while, we change the setup again.

The first design of booth (my colleague)

The second design of booth (my colleague)

The morning session was quite slow and not many visitor or trade visitors coming. Our boss drop by for a while and then joint the conference. Not feeling well he said due to food poisoning.

The boss :)

Jaz the organizer from Malaysia

The boss and me :)

Lunch time

Aaaa lunch time ... but no one from organizer told us that there was lunch (free) provided. Not just lunch but many events. We were questioning on the agendas and events. There is no announcement or anything to indicate something. But of course, all malaysian are family (1Malaysia), hence we share any information we heard with each other :).
So I went for lunch with representative from Perak Government and meet with few Indonesia which from the Jakarta Chambers of Commerce. Discuss about few things and they first thought that I importing workers from Indonesia as I mentioned 'tenaga' to them until I mentioned the electrical power supply (elektrikal), then they understand and starts to keep quite due to unmatched business... hehehehe

Where is the Indonesian Utility, Transportation, Manufacturing?

Selling cloths too???

For the first day, there are not many visitors. In fact, many others like us feel the same things and until now, we are not clear of the organizer's planning. If we and other manufacturing based or services based company felt that way, it should be fine but rather all the exhibitors including State government of Perak, Melaka, Kelantan, etc and also traders and supplier in food, fashion, and educations felt the same as us too.

Our booth was visited by few asking about the product and it is damn difficult to explain about our product to ensure the Indonesian understand. Here, some of the word should be in english and some should be in malays. For example, Electrical Power System = Sistem Tenaga Elektrikal and so on. Some of visitors confuse of the word Network and they thought that we are either telecommunications company or networking company like Jaring and TMNet. So, the choice of words, they way we explain, and lots of things need to be change. This simple due to that none of visitors are in our industry.

Mr Iqbal... boss friend

However, as time goes by, we have three visitors that may have impact to us or at least could bring business to us. The first one is of cource, the Chief Minister of Melaka State Government, Dato' Seri Ali Rustam. He request us to participate in Halal Hub, Solar Valley and also present to them. Another visitor request to be our supplier and also request to present to some minister and another last visitor is a contractor whom which to built Mini-hydro and power plant and query us if the system able to monitor the plant and mini-hydro. Well, as business, I will not says NO :) .. although I'm not really confident with our own ability :)

Brother maizi and his junior at MRSM (few years ago)

Explain about power system to Exhibitor from Kedah

 Duta Muslimah Sejagat

Around 4pm, I went around the exhibition to see other exhibitors and to see if we could find partners or what ever good for the company or myself. And yes.. I did found it, that is the beautiful model of so called 'Muslimah'. Did took some pictures of them :).

The Other Exhibitions :)

Took some pictures of other exhibitors that goes along with the theme 'Food, Fashion, Fund, and Education' :)

End of Day 1 of Exhibition

Around 5pm, after looking at few exhibitors from Malaysia packed up their goods, we did the same. After all, there are no visitors after 4pm and all of them that drop by are exhibitors too. We took a taxi and back to hotel. The traffic is worst as usual and this time, it cost us Rp40000.

After reaching hotel, we were surprised by our boss condition. He told us that he had to call a doctor due to food poisoning. But yet, he went to have dinner with us and his friend, brother Iqbal. And may be Allah want to test him, he almost felt due to 'tersadung kaki. hehehe... but still continue walking with painful leg :) ..

We have dinner at a restoran and I choose to ate Burung Dara + Nasi which actually Ayam dara. Wow, the chillies is damn hot and spicy. Just a tick on finger and you will felt the power. Had to move lots of the chillies to eat.

After that, we went back to our room and that's end up my third day of the trip.

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Muslim World Biz @Jakarta - Travelog Day 2

Morning Jakarta

I wake up at 3.45am; the unusual hour for me :). But it is little bit different from home and I do feel a bit refresh although my stomach doesn't feel that way. After solah subuh which around 4.40am, went to gym at 6am and exercise for 20 minutes :) (just runs on the track-mills and do the climbing exercise.

Around 6.45am, I had my breakfast. Nothing special here except you have yogurt and yakult as added choices. Around 7:40am, went up to the room and try to play with my HTC ONE S. Need to download the update software. There is one small issues with it... The Wi-fi is not stable. Thought of bringing it back to the outlet when I'm back at KL.

Around 9am, I contacted Jaz (the organizer of the conference) and she confirmed that our goods is already at the booth and we shall be able to setup our booth around 10am.

Frustration

Faster bapak

Around 10.30am we went to JCC using the blue-bird taxi. It cost us Rp28k because they need to pay Rp5k for just to drop passenger. Everything is money here in Jakarta but the organizer seem does not think that way. It came to our surprise that there is still nothing yet. Our booth is still full of rubbish and the floor in side the building is still covered with dust. Still lots more to do and they told us to that we can setup our booth at 10am!!!

Still nothing yet but better than yesterday

We went to the organizer and with smile they said 'the contractor told us that it will be ready by 1pm'.. aaaa yes.. another promise. There are more exhibitor and they all had the same frustration and the call this MUSLIM WORLD Biz. I doubt about it. But can't change anything.

So we decide to get our lunch.

My team looking around

We went around the JCC looking for food.. and it took us about 2km to complete the circle and to find a canteen just behind the JCC.

There are many hawkers but seem hygiene is very critical issue here and they seem doesn't care about it here in Jakarta whereby it is the city of the world most muslim population country. Hmm.. I wonder why... Anyway, we had our lunch. Not sure what they call overhere, but to me, it seem like Nasi Ayam without the soup. Together with coconut drink, it cost us Rp18k.

Another frustration

At 2.30pm, after performed solah, we went there and still no improvements on the condition. So we decided to build up just the structure for the sake that we don't want to waste time of doing nothing and do afraid that we don't have enough time tomorrow. It took us 1 hour to build the structure. Then we went to The Sultan to change our clothes for welcoming dinner.

Ready to roll

Things to open up

The consignee from Indonesia looking at our goods

Again, the third consecutive of frustration with the organizer arrangement. They told us to be there at 4pm and we were there on time. Then they told that it should be 4.30pm, then postpone again to 5pm. They are definitely does follow the rules of business (Time Is Money) and yet they are arranging Business Exhibition!!!.


The bus came at 5pm, but after all passenger were in, the move the bus to JCC to wait another 3 more buses which came around 6pm. There are absolutely worst in time management. At last, around 6.15pm, we move to Ancol (like Gambang Theme Park, Sunway Lagoon, Bukit Tambun and Bukit Merah Theme Park but bigger).

Dinner @ Ancol

The time taken should not more than 30 minutes (that was informed to us). But I believe they don't take into consideration of traffic. It is worst here in Jakarta compared to KL or they call that macet.


But we are lucky to get there in 1 hour.

There are few riders or known as Dishub (like or traffic's police) that lead our ways to there.

The scenery was not really nice and it is quite dark there. I doubt that they arrange it with the Ancol management properly.

The Jinn daughter (I guest)

But, we were welcome by few beautiful ladies (cewek) wearing in their traditional clothes and another registration despite being registered at hotel and in the bus (what a waste of time). And there is no proper arrangement too.


You can seat anywhere which I felt not meeting the objective of the dinner; that is to have a networking with Indonesian and OIC countries.

The Jinn welcome us

Anyway, after registration and find an empty table, we sat with few delegates from Malaysia which came to be our neighbour at the conference; one is focusing on education (Netherlands Maritime's College) and the other is a manufacturer of parts for Proton and Perodua (Azman Hamzah Plastics). We can do networking due to not related business but at least we can discuss others :).

Where is ultraman?

The dinner was started earlier by the Indonesian delegates which I believes from KADIN. I'm quite surprise to see that which to me, as the host, they should wait for international delegates as these are their visitors (tetamu) and as it is a MUSLIM conferences, they should know that Rasul S.A.W always give the honor to guests. Hmmm..












We start eating and I felt another frustration as there is no Indonesian authentic foods like satay, nasi minang, Javanese foods, etc. What they offer in the dinner was Mutton Briyani, Western food, and that's all and the foods isn't really good or you can say 'WOW'.

After half an hour, then only came their guest of honor, the governor of Jakarta together with OIC CEO. Then only the dinner for guest of honor (from OIC countries) starts.

Then, we were entertained by their singer which starts with a traditional dance (not sure the name of it). It is followed by a beautiful lady whom sang 3 songs and they have dangdut for Selawat Badar. Funny but that is their style.

After that, they invite rappers known as Kojak whom sang 2 songs using their special rap version called Rap Betawi. I did recorded the video and you can check it out here (but this is for man only :)).

Then, as we don't know the time and the agenda (poor management by organizer), we (Malaysian delegates) start to leave the dinner.

And that's end the second day of my business trip in Jakarta.

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Muslim World Biz @Jakarta - Travelog Day 1

Preparation

What! Tomorrow is fly day? Hmmm... Yes, 11 September is my fly day and the best part is I should be at the airport around 5:45 am for international flight. To add to the worst scenario, I have yet to prepare anything and it was 6pm (after coming back from lots of meeting and last minute shopping for phones and router). And to increase the pressure is that our business presentation video is yet to be ready by our supplier.

Oh yes.. I will still go to Jakarta with or without the video.

Arrive home at 6.30pm and hand-it over the new phone HTC Desire C to my wife and to my kids, a tablet @ pad  for each of them with Android 4.0.4 :) .. Seeing them smile and then straight away to my computer room to setup my new router. And it fails for the first, second until I stop around 7.30pm for dinner+birthday party for my lovely daughter, syasya :). We have it at McD puncak alam after my wife signed-out.

Back to home around 10.30pm. All my family went back to bed and I'm still done nothing for the trip. After fed-up of setting up the router and it failed to works, I stop around 12 and start packing up my things.

Fly day

Wake up at 3am in the morning and call publiccab. Very lucky, they sent driver whom just starting-up his engine and just near by. He reach my house at 3.45am and then drive at 140km/h. We reach KL Sentral at 4.40am and the check-in counter and klia express is just open up the counter. After check-in, I went down and the train is there waiting. Step in, take a seat, and sleep... huuuuuuuu.

Reach at airport around 5.30am and I went for straight to Surau to perform Solah Subuh. Thought of having a coffee but the stores has yet to open, so I went straight to the gate and try to get some sleep although the time is around 6.30am at that time.

It went smooth to the check-up before boarding the flight. At 7.40am, the flight took-off to Jakarta.

 Jakarta - Here I come

I reach there (Soekarno-Hatta International Airport) with my colleague around 10:50am (local time around 9:50). Took a budget taxi for Rp180000 (which we came to know today that the price we pay is not for budget taxi at all).

May be the lady at the counter do some trick (mandrem) at me :). But the taxi driver is very friendly. And we have some chats and he shares with me the locations that I should go while I'm at Jakarta such as Monas (muzium), Tanah Abang, Tamrin City, Jogging trek (for beautiful cewek), and locations for food (or they call here Kulinari). The best part is that I seem older when the taxi driver keep on calling me 'Bapak'.... hahahaha

At JCC

We arrive at JCC (Jakarta Convention Center @ Balai Sidang Jakarta) at 12pm (Malaysian time). And to our surprise, the convention center looks like was hit with typhoon or something. There is no booth setup, the floor is damn dirty, and the organizer was not around. We were thinking we are at the wrong place. Luckily, there was a security officer whom brought us to the organizer center (which shows nothing to indicate that it is the organizer center) and we meet wati (the lady in-charge on indonesia side). And we were shock to known that there was change of schedules and we can only enter tomorrow. What? Shouldn't the conferences starts tomorrow? Guess what? There was few other Malaysian arrive earlier than us waiting to put up their things too. This is ridiculous. No problem, we can at least go to hotel and rest and I need some sleep too. Alhamdulillah, there is good things out of this problem :).

We met the Iskandar Malaysia people (also co-sponsor and co-event organizer) and Emelia (Malaysian too) and looking from their eyes and condition of the conference hall, I bet everything will not be ready by tomorrow.

Hotel Sari Pan Pacific

Jakarta - view from our room

We request the organizer to get us taxi and they did, but the taxi arrive quite late (after 30 minutes although they said he shall be there in 10 minutes). But we didn't took the taxi as we can't wait longer. After 10 minutes, we took another taxi (and the ordered taxi arrived after few minutes we took-off). It cost us Rp30k.

At Sari Pan Pacific, the security is tight with K-9 team and dogs sniffing our begs. The check-up when quite smooth although the first few minutes, they don't really understand what I said :). Get they key and off to our room. Earlier, I was wondering of why my boss choose to stay here which travelling it-self can be almost 1 hour (although the range from JCC to hotel is about 5km) and there are hotel (The Sultan and Mulia) nearby. It does not took me long to figure out. There was easy access to foods, shopping mall, and places to buy ole-ole. 

After check-up, solah, and we went for lunch (it was 2pm Malaysia time). The first day lunch here, I've ate-empet plus ulam and coconut drink and cost me Rp15k and my colleague have leleh + coconut too and cost him Rp17k. We went down the alley (they call Jalan Saba @ Kulinari shops) and see some goods and I bought a jeans (Rp150k which equivallent to RM48). Then, we went back to our room and took a nap.

Garuda - The minang/padang food restaurant

Around 4pm, our boss arrive and he shares with us the things he learn during his visit to Shanghai last week. And I shares the knowledge I gain in latest conference I attended at Hilton KL. Around 7pm, after solah, we went for dinner. He bring us to at good restaurant behind the hotel known as The Garuda. We told him that we ate at nearby food court but he insist to Garuda as he is concern on food hygiene.

At restaurant, they put all menu (lauk-pauk) on the table. It is up to us and we will only pay of what we eat. So I ate the cows brain (masak lemak kuning), fried-chicken (ayam kampung), and ulam and sambal petai udang. My boss only took the chicken, ulam, and sambal petai. My colleague took lesser than me :).

All of it cost us Rp300k (around RM100).

Reflection - Jakarta at night

After eating, we went around for a while and then off to room. After took a damn good shower, I went to sleep (at 9.30pm of Malaysia time) and this end up my first day in Jakarta.

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