A 50 (-Cent) First Dates



A date should always be a happy time. A moment free from your daily stresses, and  a good pretending that there’s no deadline tomorrow. Fully embracing the privilege that you actually are able to share the moment with your significant one. It should also be free of monetary issues revolving your saving balance, as it is a moment where no money –supposed to be- matters. 

Back when I was still dating someone (cue raindrop sound effect), there were occasionally days where we both really want to meet up outside, but got not enough money. Things were hectic at both of our own homes and to meet up outside the house seems to be the better choice. You can’t blame high-schoolers with their limited bucks and their inability to afford their extension of romance. The alternatives for couples to hang out in Jakarta are not much; either you hit the shops, cinema, or restaurants. Which usually it’s all in the same place called Malls. Jakarta has too many malls at this point. You have 3 different malls in Senayan district alone, you have Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia to stand side by side, and the worst part is they actually look and built in the same way. We get tired of Malls so easily, but end up heading ourselves come back again because there are not many other options to go to besides that. Dating in a decent park seems to be a dream that you can only have in London or Manhattan, but definitely not in Jakarta. 

At that urgent moment, I came up with date ideas that can save both of our wallet but enables us to share the experience together. Well, first up, what do you think about a simple Museum Date Day? We headed to our destination, which is Museum Bank Mandiri at Kota using TransJakarta. Starting off from Blok M shelter, we were drowned in conversation for about 25 minutes at that vacant bus and out of nowhere the bus had already arrived at Kota. It is truly my top recommendation for transportation ideas because for 3500 you can go pretty much anywhere in Jakarta. Kudos for government to keep the busway up! Another great thing is, the bus shelter located just in front of Museum Bank Mandiri. So you practically just need to get off from the shelter and -voila- here it is. The ticket for the museum entrance is only 2000. Museum Bank Mandiri is just like another typical museum you had in mind, where the old mannequin with some defects on their heads were standing (or sitting) everywhere. But it was my first time I ever went to Museum Bank Mandiri, so I enjoyed myself taking loads of photos. 

As we planned to go out and find some drinks, we realized that beside Museum Bank Mandiri lies a different Museum with a more aesthetical nuance. It turns out to be Museum Bank Indonesia (BI) and we thought “meh, what the heck let’s just go in!” It was a noble decision because at that day we spent our date was May 18th that happens to be the International Museum Day! So at BI Museum, besides having a free entrance, there were also events and full-course tour of the museum which was so much fun! Can you imagine of having a Museum Date on International Museum Day? It’s such a fortunate coincidence, and a pure meant-to-be! (cue sad music and raindrops).

To prevent myself getting all drench in unnecessary nostalgic issues, I gotta ask; do you think this personal dating case of mine could be any cheaper? It costs me 7000 in total for transportation in return, and 2000 rupiah for one-full-day of having a blast moment. I have to recommend you lovey dovey couple to try their Ontel Bike as well, you can find it just in front of the museums. Try to stroll around the Old Town and eat up some street foods. There are many street foods or humble restaurant nearby, and it costs you much cheaper than some ordinary food court meals at the Malls. I bet it would be an interesting one date you can never forget in spite of the next 30 movie date you’ll have in the future.

And suddenly Jakarta doesn’t feel so boring anymore, right? ;-)

(photo: google.com)

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