Jakarta, timing is everything… and I screwed it up

[floridarob]

 

So this Jakarta stop was part of a bigger play… I booked a roundtrip business class ticket originating in Asia because, as many of you know, fares can be way cheaper starting out here. That part worked and this was the return part of that trip, also earned enough frequent mile points almost for a free 1-way business class ticket.

What I didn’t factor in?

Eid- Marking the end of Ramadan , I thought I missed a bullet by avoiding Ramadan and also "Quiet Night" in Bali, but totally unaware of this one 😬

Specifically mudik, when half of Jakarta disappears back to their hometowns. In 2026 it hit March 21–22, with the exodus starting around the 18th… and yeah, I landed right in the middle of it.

Result?

The city empties… but the hotels fill up with families doing a staycation.

My hotel was absolutely packed with families. Kids everywhere. Screaming, running, having fun. At one point I thought I’d accidentally checked into a daycare center with room service 🥺

Meanwhile, the guys I actually wanted to see?
All back in their villages. Returning… the day I leave. Of course 

Apps were quiet too. A few “back Thursday” messages on Romeo. Thursday = my departure day. Perfect timing.

Lesson learned: these local holidays matter. A lot. Now the question is how the hell you keep track of all of them 🤷‍♂️

---

Hotel life: still worth it

On the upside, I got a suite upgrade. Staff remembered me, knew my preferences in the lounge and restaurant, everything and everyone welcoming. That part of Jakarta always feels easy.

Just… screaming children this time.

And honestly, looking around, every family had like 4–6 kids. I had a moment of reflection: no alcohol + lots of free time… yeah, lot's of fucking going on, trying to move into 3rd place for most populated country, lol

---

The “quiet apps” still delivered

Despite the slow scene, one familiar face popped up.

A guy I’d seen 2 years ago spotted me on Grindr. Still hot (better than before actually), still great body, still loves to talk. Came over, and we ended up spending hours just hanging out… drinks, conversation, a massage that turned into crazy sex… 500k IDR (~30 USD).

He even stayed overnight, which is not usually my thing, but he wanted to experience the breakfast here, so OK 😏

Another long-running global trend continues:

Guys who were “strict tops” on previous trips?
Versatile this time around.

I’ve seen this for decades. Never fails. @Keithambrose have you already been converted?

---

Backup plan turned surprise highlight

One night he had to go pick up his sister at the airport, so… backup plan.

Another guy from Grindr. More average looks, nothing that jumps off the screen.

But wow.

Great massage. Even better sex. And it just reinforces something I’ve believed forever:

The best-looking guys are not always the best sex.
The average guys? They work for it.

Less opportunity, more effort, better results 🍆

Seeing him again tonight, last night in Jakarta.

---

Next stops and patterns I’m starting to see

Normally I’d go straight to Bali from here, but switching it up:

Surabaya for 3 nights, then Bali.

A guy I met there 2 years ago started messaging me again while I was planning this trip… and that was a sign to make a stop there. Some experiences are worth repeating and the places and things we do for a night or 3 of "fun"

Hotel upgrade already confirmed there too, so no complaints, I knew they'd upgrade to a cool suite so I factored that into stopping here, not just for the sex 😁

---

Indonesia… still underexplored (for me)

I’ve only done 4 cities here so far, which feels like nothing for a country this big.

I have a German friend who goes deep into the smaller towns and villages and always comes back with stories that sound… unbelievable.

Me? I’m still very much a big city guy.

But there’s a new category:

Size queen… but geographically.

Big cities only. For now 😝

[10tazione]

5 hours ago, floridarob said:

exodus starting around the 18th… and yeah, I landed right in the middle of it.

Are you sure the exodus wasn't because of you? The guys leave and the families stay...

 

5 hours ago, floridarob said:

Lesson learned: these local holidays matter. A lot. Now the question is how the hell you keep track of all of them 🤷‍♂️

Google calendar has the option of showing religious and national holidays and you can select the countries!

 

[10tazione]

5 hours ago, floridarob said:

Guys who were “strict tops” on previous trips?
Versatile this time around.

Top, versa, bottom, this is the natural evolution of the gay man and some skip the first 2 steps and others never reach the 3rd

[macaroni21]

Indeed, timing is everything, but everywhere, not just Jakarta. Imagine someone going to Thailand for the first time and arriving smack in the middle of Songkran madness. Or some going to China or Vietnam during the lunar new year and discovering many places closed.

At least you were flexible enough to exploit other opportunities.

Count your lucky stars you were not like an old friend of mine stuck in Qatar. His "quick holiday from an extended layover" turned into a nightmare after arriving on Feb 26 or 27 (not sure about the date).

[Shax]

On 3/25/2026 at 12:58 PM, floridarob said:

Specifically mudik, when half of Jakarta disappears back to their hometowns. In 2026 it hit March 21–22, with the exodus starting around the 18th… and yeah, I landed right in the middle of it.

I was in the same situation 2 years ago. But I quickly realized that, even if half of Jakarta is out, there still approximately 15 mil people left 🤣🤣🤣

Plenty of available guys on Grindr and other apps that I didn't really feel the difference (other than the lack of traffic, is which is something to be grateful for). 

[floridarob]

4 hours ago, Shax said:

Plenty of available guys on Grindr and other apps that I didn't really feel the difference

Definitely not the case this year, for me... but had the regular and the new average looking, great massage/sex guy....

In Surabaya now, it's 2am and the messages from all the apps are nonstop 😳

 

 

9 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

arriving smack in the middle of Songkran

I almost was going to Thailand on this trip during Songkran, but I knew enough to avoid it and plan accordingly. Also to avoid Bali's quiet night and avoid all of Ramadan in Indonesia.... just had no clue about this holiday after Ramadan, never heard of it.

[macaroni21]

6 hours ago, floridarob said:

just had no clue about this holiday after Ramadan, never heard of it.

Mudik and Ramadan aren't festivals. The festival is Eid al Fitri which is at the end of Ramadan. Mudik is the migration of many urban folks back to their hometowns towards the end of Ramadan to celebrate Eid with their families. Naturally, they stay for a few more days, maybe a week, and then the migration goes in reverse back to the cities. This phenomenon is common across many Muslim countries with burgeoning urbanised centres, such as Malaysia and Egypt. It's analogous to the mass migration that takes place in the USA around Thanksgiving and Christmas. And all these migrations are nothing compared to the mass migration in China around the Spring Festival, where you may be literally trampled underfoot (I saw a news report once).

Yup, would be useful to be aware of these festivals (in any country) and generally avoid the week before and after them.