Jakarta100bars - Nightlife & Party Guide

Bali is a fantastic destination for single guys who want to meet girls. As soon as you'll arrive, you can download some popular dating apps and you'll be surprised by the high number of matches you'll get (to be fair, there are also many prostitutes - be careful).

Another great way to meet girls in Bali is to visit bars and nightclubs, especially if you are staying around Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud. I wrote extensively about the nightlife in those areas, most recently two weeks ago with my guide: Where to Party in Bali?

In the following article, I will focus on the most recommended spots to meet girls. I've made sure to mention a diversity of venues so you are certain to find exactly what you are looking for - be it a rich student from Jakarta or a 200-pound Australian tourist (nothing wrong with that).

Review Last Updated on February 2nd, 2019.

IndonesianCupid (Advertising)

Meeting girls in nightclubs in Bali is relatively easy if you are young, good-looking and confident. For the rest of us, I recommend making some contacts online before going out.

IndonesianCupid works well, because most girls there are looking to meet foreigners. Unlike on Tinder, many will not mind if you are not living in Bali.

For this reason, you can start chatting with them even before you arrive in Indonesia and set up a few dates while you are still in your home country.

It is free to register and to look at all the girls' profiles. If you match with them, it's also free to chat.

Best Night-Time Spots to Meet Girls

Sky Garden

The famous Sky Garden in Kuta features at least 5 different rooms, each with a different atmosphere and crowd. For instance:

- The rooftop (old school music) is popular with older people

- The huge Skydome attracts mostly Indonesian guests with big-name EDM DJs

- The R'n'B room has the most prostitutes and the drunkest clubbers.

IDR115,000 entrance fee from 5 PM to 9 PM with free food buffet and drinks. IDR150,000 after (entrance + 1 drink coupon).

Ratio guys to girls: 70% guys and 30% girls

Percentage of prostitutes: Around 25%

Male crowd: Australian tourists, Western backpackers, Asian and Indonesian tourists, Gays

Female crowd: Western tourists, Indonesian tourists and prostitutes

Age of clients: 18-35

Pick up possibilities: High

Dress code: Holiday (shorts, flip-flop). Girls who are well-dressed get a free entry from 9 PM to 11 PM.

Near from SkyGarden, Vi Ai Pi and Eikon are also recommended. If you want to meet drunk, low-class Aussie girls, you check Bounty, Paddy's Pub and the Engine Room.

La Favela

La Favela is the Seminyak equivalent of Sky Garden. It is the busiest bar around, by far, and also a great one to meet beautiful ladies.

Don't visit it too early as it is also a restaurant. Things get more interesting after midnight, when the small dancefloor gets packed and steamy. The music is mainstream with essentially Top 40 hits from the past 30 years.

Free entrance.

Ratio guys to girls: 55% guys and 45% girls

Percentage of prostitutes: Around 10%

Male crowd: Western tourists and expats

Female crowd: Western tourists and expats

Age of clients: 25-40

Pick up possibilities: High

Dress code: Chic holiday wear (if there is a queue, they implement a strict door policy)

Red Ruby

This nightclub has an underground vibe that makes it popular with expats, and with girls who are trying to meet them. The latter include normal girls, but also professional girlfriends and prostitutes.

Electronic music on most nights. It closes late so you can consider it your last chance to score before going home.

Free entrance before 11.30pm. FDC 150k after that.

Ratio guys to girls: 70% guys and 30% girls

Percentage of prostitutes: Less than 30%

Male crowd: Europeans

Female crowd: Indonesian

Age of clients: 25-45

Pick up possibilities: Good but beware many hookers.

Dress code: Formal

Motel Mexicola

Motel Mexicola is one of the most happening bars in Seminyak, every night of the week. Maybe because of its Mexican theme, it is a magnet for women, mostly Australians and Indonesians.

To maximize your chances, I recommend you to sit on one of the communal picnic tables in the main room. There, you will never be too far from a group of women sipping margaritas.

Free entrance.

Ratio guys to girls: 40% guys and 60% girls

Percentage of prostitutes: Less than 10%

Male crowd: Australians

Female crowd: Australians, Indonesians

Age of clients: 20-45

Pick up possibilities: Average

Dress code: Holiday

Red Carpet Champagne Lounge

Just across La Favela, Red Carpet Champagne Lounge is a pickup spot for guys interested in older women (above 40).

The place is often full, with tables very near from each other, so it's easy to befriend your neighbors. Despite its name, Red Carpet isn't really posh: It is laid-back and almost decadent. A fun place to get drunk!

Free entrance.

Ratio guys to girls: 60% guys and 40% girls

Percentage of prostitutes: Around 20%

Male crowd: Western tourists and expats

Female crowd: Western tourists, expats and Indonesians.

Age of clients: 40-60

Pick up possibilities: High

Dress code: Chic tropical wear

Mirror

Mirror is a nightclub where most customers are rich Asians (and particularly Indonesians from Jakarta). You will enjoy it if you are looking to meet with young hi-so girls (high-society).

As long as you don't look like a backpacker or a tourist, you can be successful inside. It also helps if you book a table and order bottle service.

There is a first-drink charge of IDR250,000.

Ratio guys to girls: 60% guys and 40% girls

Percentage of prostitutes: Less than 10%

Male crowd: Indonesian-Chinese from Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Denpasar

Female crowd: Same as above

Age of clients: 20-30

Pick up possibilities: Average

Dress code: Pants and shoes compulsory for men

Old Man's

Old Man's has a great beach party every Wednesday with an interesting mix of both trashy Kuta tourists and vegan, yoga-loving Canggu residents.

Free entry.

Ratio guys to girls: 60% guys and 40% girls

Percentage of prostitutes: Less than 10%

Male crowd: Australians, Europeans

Female crowd: Idem

Age of clients: 20-35

Pick up possibilities: Average

Dress code: Holiday wear

Jenja

Jenja used to be a decent pickup club, but there are so many guys now that it resembles a sausage fest. Still, you may get lucky in the hip-hop room where money-oriented Indonesian girls are hunting for expats.

IDR250,000 entrance fee with one free drink.

Ratio guys to girls: 80% guys and 20% girls

Percentage of prostitutes: At least 20%

Male crowd: Western expats

Female crowd: Indonesian girls

Age of clients: 25-45

Pick up possibilities: Low (without paying)

Dress code: Urban casual (shirt, shoes, pants).

Best Day-Time Spots to Meet Girls

Potato Head

You can socialize easily if you hang out near the swimming pool of Potato Head in Seminyak. Arrive early to rent a sunbed for the day!

Ratio guys to girls: 60% guys and 40% girls

Male crowd: Westerners

Female crowd: Westerners, Indonesian girls

Age of clients: 20-55

Pick up possibilities: Average

Dress code: Swimsuit

Mrs. Sippy

Pronounced like "Mississipi", Mrs. Sippy is an improved version of Potato Head, without the sea view but with a larger pool.

Free entry but there is a minimum charge to use the sunbeds.

Ratio guys to girls: 60% guys and 40% girls

Male crowd: Foreigners and Indonesians

Female crowd: Idem

Age of clients: 20-45

Pick up possibilities: Low

Dress code: Swimsuit

Bonus: Best City to Meet Girls in Bali

Ubud

One smart guy having a yoga class in Ubud

All the bars and nightclubs I've mentioned so far are located in South Bali. If you go to Ubud, you'll notice a much higher ratio of girls to guys.

Since the movie 'Eat, Pray, Love', the village has become a retreat for all sorts of women (divorcees, backpackers, hippies, etc...). They come for several months to learn about cooking, massage, yoga, art and spirituality among others.

If you are interested in those things, you'll find plenty of dating opportunities. Just join a few classes during the day and hit the bars at night (Laughing Buddha, No Mas).

Ratio guys to girls: 30% guys and 70% girls

Male crowd: Guys with their wives/girlfriends

Female crowd: Girls with their boyfriends/husbands + Single ladies from Western countries and Japan.

Age: 25-65

Pick up possibilities: High

All photos from Instagram. Main photo from SkyGarden by @pratikoys.

Note: I have never been to Medellin, but my friend Sam is familiar with the city and wrote this guide for me. He is also the author of Bogota Nightlife and Cartagena nightlife. Thibaud.

Medellin, Colombia, is a fantastic party city filled with some of the most beautiful women in the world. Trust me, they're damn sexy. I remember the first time I partied around Parque Lleras on a Saturday night. In every club I went into, I would snap my neck from looking back and forth at the stunning "Paisas" (Medellin girls) that moved all around me.

Nightlife in Medellin is filled with stunners. There’s absolutely no doubt about that. 60% are above 6, 40% above 7, 20% above 8, 10% above 9. But beware, it is also filled with hookers, drug dealers, sex tourists, unsavory characters, and tables filled with big groups.

If you don’t know how to navigate this city, you’ll get lost in a sea of "prepagos" (half-hookers), scopolamine (rape drug), and horny gringos. That’s not what you want, and that's where I come in.

After spending some time in Medellin, I wanted to create this detailed Medellin nightlife guide that’s sure to show you how to make the most of the party in the City of Eternal Spring.

What to Expect at Night in Medellin

Partying in Medellin has its own characteristics. Here are a few things you can expect on a big night out in town:

Big Groups: Latin people tend to go out in big groups of friends. They buy a bottle and stand around their table. Then they dance with each other. Not ideal for meeting new people. Some venues, called "bottle clubs" specialize in this and they should be avoided if you are hoping to meet girls.

Working Women: There are lots of "prepagos" in Medellin. Those girls make a living from sleeping with guys or from dating them. It's a form of prostitution, but it's sometimes just not as obvious as in Europe. If you’re in clubs where all other foreigners go, you can expect a lot of the pretty girls to be working.

Latin Music: Reggaeton, salsa, and merengue reign supreme in Medellin. If you don’t like Latin music, then you may not enjoy most of the discos here.

Constant Threats: If you haven't visited the country yet, the question Is Colombia dangerous? is probably your main concern.

There’s always the threat of getting drugged or robbed in Medellin. That’s just the way it goes. Guard your drink, take taxis, observe your surroundings and keep your wits about you. Don't get drunk to the point where you lose control. Personally, after 4-5 drinks, I always switch to water.

Lots of Foreigners: If you think you are the only white guy who had the idea to get laid in Medellin, you will be disappointed. Horny foreigners are found all over Medellin and they don't attract as much attention as they used to from normal girls (unless they are actually living there with an expat contract). If you want to be the only foreigner in the disco, don’t come here.

Meeting Girls: I always say this, but the best way to meet girls (as a tourist) is to prepare your trip in advance. ColombianCupid is a great website for that. Colombian girls who use this website won't mind chatting with you even if you leave abroad. Therefore, you can set up several dates before arriving, and hopefully get lucky before you leave.

If you do not prepare and hope to score using Tinder, you have a 90% chance of failing.

To summarize:
- If you live in Colombia or if you are very handsome: Use Tinder
- If you don't live in Colombia or if you are average looking: Use ColombianCupid.

Drugs
Drugs are rampant in Colombia. Why? Because they’re cheap. You’ll probably find a few people enjoying white powders while in the bathroom of a Medellin nightclub. It’s common here. In the techno clubs mentioned below, pills of ecstasy are also very easy to find.

Best Areas to Stay If Medellin Nightlife is a Priority

Medellin is a huge city of nearly 3.5 million people these days. As such, there are tons of places to party. That said, as a foreigner, most of the bars and nightclubs you'll go to will be located in the small neighborhood of Parque Lleras. I recommend you to stay there so you can be walking distance from all the action.

My most recommended hotels in terms of location and quality are located in Poblado, near from Calle 10. This area is lively, touristy and rather safe. You’ll be walking distance to 70% of Medellin nightlife and have the ability to walk home, even if you are a bit wasted.

25$: Yolo Hostel (dorms, great for meeting people, perfect for first-timers but not girl-friendly)

50$: Hotel Florencia Plaza (very good value for money, close to bars, clean, friendly).

100$: Diez Hotel Categoria (brand-new, central, walking distance from nightlife)

150$: Dann Carlton (Good pool, gym, spa and breakfast)

300$: The Charlee (The best hotel in the area, great gym, great beds, great service)

For a bachelor party: Icon Suites (450$ for 8 people) or Poblado Sky Villa Penthouse (1500$ for 8 people).

If you want a more quiet neighborhood, you can also try to find a hotel in Laurales - Estadio (click to see a list of options).

Something funny in Medellin is that there are highly sophisticated short-time love hotels (called Moteles). Colombian guys use them to bring their girlfriend, their lovers, or prostitutes. They can be quite kinky, with erotic furniture and sex toys provided. If you are interested, you can check 3D Suites or Thematic Suites.

Is it Safe to Walk Around at Night?

Safety is a huge issue in Colombia. I won’t beat around the bush here. You need to keep your guard up, even in upscale areas like Parque Lleras. Criminals know where foreigners hang out in Medellin. They know the police will be around, but they also know where they can get away with a crime.

It is safe to walk around at night in places like Parque Lleras or the upscale areas of Laurales. However, as a general rule, you should never leave your hotel with more than you’re willing to lose.

Personally, this means I roll around with an old iPhone 5s and no more than $80 USD in Colombian Pesos when I go out to enjoy Medellin nightlife.

The one way to get stabbed, shot, and/or killed in Colombia is to resist a robbery. If someone wants to rob you, do not resist. Just hand over what they want and remain passive. Do not fight back.

Also, you must give your robbers something. You need to have a phone and cash on you. If you can’t give them a phone or cash, they may kill you for wasting their time. So, always have a cheap phone and a bit of money to give them.

10 Best Nightclubs and Bars in Medellin

Enough about the downsides of nightlife in Medellin. Let’s talk about the good stuff!

In such a big city, there’s bound to be a couple great spots to meet sexy Colombian girls and have a great time. The good news is there definitely is. Here are my favorite clubs and bars in Medellin (I added a link to their Facebook or Instagram, just click on the name):

Bendito Seas

This is the absolute best club to meet easy women in Medellin. Go here on a Thursday for ladies’ night. The quality won’t be super high and you might meet a few prepagos, but this is the spot Paisas go to when they want to meet foreigners.

Luxury

A somewhat high-end club that’s now in Poblado. If you’re looking to grab a bottle and party hard on a Saturday night, Luxury is a solid place to do so.

The Blue Bar

One of the most popular spots in all of Parque Lleras. The Blue Bar gets a crowd almost every night. Go here to enjoy a crossover vibe and pretty low prices overall.

Son Havana

A classic salsa bar in Medellin, Son Havana is the spot to be on Wednesday. All the salsa schools come here to practice. You can even get some lessons here. Later at night, things start to heat up as the drinks flow.

Kukaramakara Club

High-end club in Rio Sur. Head here if you want to spend some money on a bottle or have a hot date. Sometimes live music, sometimes crossover music.

Babylon

Not sure what else to call this place, but a “shit show” on Thursday nights. You can definitely still have a good time here, but Babylon isn’t what it used to be. The crowd can be shady and there are usually too many gringos.

Sixtinna Club

Another high-end spot in Rio Sur. Sometimes they have big concerts here, other times they play electronic music. It’s right next to Kukaramakara Club. Lots of good-looking people who party in groups. Not recommended if you are alone.

Gusto

Located in Parque Lleras, this disco is not very sophisticated but it's fun. Many (not all!) of the women inside are freelance prostitutes. Usual music mix from Latin vibes to international hits.

Mixology

A great place to take a date in Medellin. This is one of the best places to find a solid cocktail around Poblado. Highly recommended.

Palmahia

Late night club in Medellin. Come here if you want to party past 2-3 am. Can get filled with shady characters.

Techno Clubs

If you are more a techno head than a salsa dancer, you will love Medellin. There are at least 5 good nightclubs with anything from minimal to tech-house: Mute, Mansion, Calle 9+1, Heard From and Salon Amador.

Check their Facebook pages to know which DJ is playing on the night of your visit.

Prostitution

Striptease in Fase Dos

Prostitution is very common, and the city is home to a large contingent of sex tourists.

It may take many forms, from a freelancer working discreetly in a regular nightclub to a flashy bordello in the city's red-light district.

To be honest, I have never visited them, but I know you are curious so I'll drop a few names.

The most famous strip clubs, naughty spas and sex centers in Medellin are located in the Northern part of the city. In particular, the highest concentration can be found in the red-light area of La Candelaria/Villa Nueva (also called El Centro). Some of the places there are Conejitas, Maracaibo, Barra Ejecutiva (all 3 have striptease shows) or the cheap massage parlor New Life.

For high-end services, two places are recommended:

Luna Lunera: A huge, crazy bordello with strippers and escorts, open 24h. They have packages for bachelor parties.

Fase II (Fase Dos): A smaller place, with a very high concentration of outrageously siliconed ladies.

If you feel it's too dangerous to go out at night in Medellin's red light districts, you could visit an escort website instead. One of the most famous is Geisha Academy. It has a selection of about 10 gorgeous girls in the city, all in their early 20s or under, with a detailed description and some hot pictures. You can make a booking by WA or through email.

Conclusion

The nightlife in Medellin can be fantastic. It can also be filled with a lot of unpleasant things. Depends on how you look at it.

If drugs and hookers make you uncomfortable, the nightlife throughout Colombia may be too much for you to handle. It’s not everywhere, but it’s always around. Something to think about before partying here.

With this in mind, just hit the spots I listed above and you’re sure to enjoy your time partying in the city of eternal spring!

I'm not a genius and I'm not particularly gifted for learning languages. Before Indonesia, I lived 2 years in Italy and 2 years in Brazil, and yet I can barely speak any Italian or Portuguese.

Indonesian, or Bahasa Indonesia as it is called here, is different. It is by far the easiest language in the world.

There are no tenses, no declension, no tones. There is nothing tricky about the spelling, nothing complex about the grammar, and you always pronounce the words the same way.

You don't even have regional differences: It is spoken identically in Sumatra, in Papua, in Java or in Bali.

I arrived in Jakarta in November 2012. After one week, I had learned enough words to get by in all the most common situations: Greetings, introductions, ordering food, buying groceries, asking for directions, expressing basic feelings, etc.

After 1 month, I was able to have a normal conversation with any Indonesians.

My new skill has proven extraordinary useful - either at work, to make friends or for dating girls. It is a great addition to my CV also.

I think it is one of the best things about living in Indonesia. If you motivate yourself, you can easily learn its language, the 6th most spoken in the world, in a record 4 weeks.

All it cost me was a small phrasebook I bought in the streets (10$) and a one-month subscription to IndonesianPod101 (10$ for videos, audios, exercises, grammar lessons, vocabulary lists, etc). Overall, I spent as much time learning Indonesian as I spent watching 2 seasons of The Walking Dead.

In this article, I will tell you how you can do it as well. If you have suggestions, please just leave me a message at the end of the article.

Learn Indonesian with IndonesianPod101.com

1st step: I got motivated
If you've read this article until here, I guess you are already somewhat motivated. You realize that speaking Indonesian would benefit you, but maybe you are still hesitating because you imagine it requires years of work and practice.

This is not true.

As I mentioned before, learning Indonesian does not require tremendous sacrifices. All you need is to study 30 minutes every day for a month.

With a mobile app, you can practice from everywhere: While queuing at the store, while in traffic, while in the toilet, etc.

As long as you stay focused, you will get results fast, within weeks.

The fact that Indonesian was easy to learn was actually one of the reasons I moved to Jakarta. I didn't want to live in a country where I could not communicate with 90% of the population.

Expats living in China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam or the Middle East don't have this opportunity. They take private lessons for a year and they still struggle to talk to a local for 5 minutes.

Once you realize how lucky you are, it's time to move on to step 2.

2nd step: I listed and memorized the 250 most useful Indonesian words

Time spent: 6 minutes per day = 3 hours

Learning words by heart is not the most fun part of the process, but it is necessary. The positive thing is that there aren't that many essential words needed to speak Bahasa. I made a list of them that you can read here: 250 Most Useful Indonesian Words.

What you can do is print the list and read it out loud once or twice a day during a month. Since all these words are very common, you can use a few of them in your daily life: Any encounter with an Indonesian should become an opportunity to practice.

When I ride in a taxi, I always sit in the passenger seat, next to the driver, and I start a conversation. Just simple things: What is your name? Do you have children? Are you from Jakarta? etc. It's a great way to profit from traffic jams, thus turning an inconvenience into an advantage.

3rd step: I downloaded Mondly and practiced every day

Total time I spent on Mondly: 20 minutes per day X 30 days = 10 hours

A great way to start learning Indonesian is to use Mondly. They have both an app and a website with more than 300 exercises. It will help you with vocabulary, basic grammar and pronunciation.

It has several advantages:
- You don't need to carry a book and you don't need to write down anything.
- As long as you have your phone with you, you can practice from anywhere, for as long as you want.
- Most exercises are short (less than 5 minutes)
- The exercises are free and they unlock as you finish them. You can also subscribe to their premium version for 10$ per month (monthly plan) or 4$ per month (yearly plan).

Update 2018: Click on this link to get a 20% discount on your subscription!

Because Mondly is fun to use and never boring, it was my main tool for learning Indonesian.

If you feel more comfortable with more traditional methods (online classes, tutoring), you can read my recommendations in the article 4 Best (Free) Ways to Learn Indonesian Online.

4th step: I learned the basic pronunciation

Time spent: 60 minutes.

The Indonesian pronunciation is pretty straight-forward. Letters are almost always pronounced the same way (except "e" that can sometimes be pronounced like "cut" and sometimes like like "fate").

You can read this page: How to Pronounce Indonesian? for a detailed explanation on how to pronounce each vowel, each consonant and each diphthong.

One of the important things to be aware of is that the final "K" is silent, for instance in "tidak" (pronounced "tida'"). The "R"s are rolled but, if you can't do it properly, you'll still be understood.

Apart from that, there aren't many difficulties. Bahasa Indonesia does not have tones like in Vietnamese, Chinese or Thai, so you don't need to be worried about saying the wrong word unintentionally.

To learn the alphabet, I thought that video was useful:

With the IndonesianPod101 website, every word you learn will be repeated a few times so it is also an excellent way to improve your pronunciation.

5th step: I understood the basic grammar rules

Time spent: 8 hours

I said earlier that Indonesian grammar was easy. It was a bit of an exaggeration.

There are actually some rather complex rules but, luckily, you don't need them to reach a conversational level.

I wrote a dedicated blog post about this topic called: 10 Basic Indonesian Grammar Rules You Should Know.

It should be enough for your first month of learning.

If you want to deepen your knowledge, there are a few online resources to help you. IndonesianPod101 has a huge grammar section with 100+ articles. It is a paying site but there is a free 30-day trial for $1. You can also get 20 videos for free if you subscribe using this link: IndonesianPod101 - 20 Free Videos.

6th step: I practiced with my friends, girlfriend and anyone else available

Time spent: 10 hours

There are no reasons to learn a language if you are not using it, right?

Talking to a local girlfriend is the fastest way to make progress. When I began learning Indonesian, I asked mine to communicate only in Indonesian. She played along, even when sending texts on WhatsApp. It was a bit annoying at first, yet after a week I could understand almost everything she was saying.

If you don't have a girlfriend, maybe you could try chatting with a few girls on dating sites? I wrote a list of popular online dating apps and websites in Indonesia that you can check. If you write a profile saying that you are looking for someone to practice your Bahasa, especially on a website like IndonesianCupid, you will get plenty of positive answers.

As I mentioned before, don't hesitate to speak with any Indonesians you meet: Colleagues, friends, taxi drivers, maids, street food sellers, etc. They will feel proud knowing that a foreigner is interested in learning their language and they will be happy to help.

7th step: After my first month, I continued
After my first month of learning Indonesian, I had reached a decent conversational level, but I was still unable to read the newspaper or to understand Indonesian TV. Following a meeting in Indonesian was also still difficult.

Since I was planning to spend several years in the country, it made sense to continue learning.

I did that using the IndonesianPod101 method. They have over 100 audio lessons for intermediate and advanced learners, organized in an easy-to-follow learning path.

I only did about 30 of them while using their $1 30-day trial.

You can also try LearningIndonesian.com. This is a great website, whose resources are often used by teachers. It is a bit expensive ($149 fee) BUT there is a 60-day money back guarantee (no questions asked).

Conclusion: Start today

Indonesia will become the fourth largest economy on the planet by 2045. If you are a young professional planning to spend part of your career in Southeast Asia, learning Indonesian is one of the best decisions you can make.

On a more personal level, being able to communicate with any Indonesians will enrich your stay considerably. You will be able to travel as far as Papua and still be able to have a discussion with anyone.

Now, you can ask yourself: Are all those benefits worth 30 minutes of your time, every day, for one month?

If yes, don't procrastinate. Just start today. Start Now.

I once wrote a review about dating Indonesian girls and where to meet them. You can still read it here: Where to meet Indonesian girls? Most of the information on the review is still valid, but it certainly needs an update on the world of online dating through websites or social apps such as Badoo, Indonesian Cupid, Tinder, WeChat, Skout, Beetalk, etc.

New Article: 10 Best Countries in Asia to Meet Girls and 15 Best Dating Apps and Websites in Asia.

If you are looking for a great girl in Jakarta, online dating is by far your best chance. 90% of the girls there are looking for a stable relationship. Another 9% is looking for money. And maybe less than 1 percent is looking for a one night stand (not the hottest girls usually). The fact that they are looking for a stable relationship does not mean they want to get married straight away. It means they want to feel a long-term relationship is possible. For this reason, it may be more difficult for you to find a date if you are not staying in Indonesia and if you do not speak Indonesian.

Depending on which website or which app you use, you can pretty much chat with any type of women you could think of: Students, employees, executives, single mom, etc from any ethnicity or religion. There is such a diversity that it would be hard to generalize. To give you a better understanding, I will describe the specificities of each dating app or website below:

Tinder(Works best with younger guys living in Jakarta)

When Tinder started in Indonesia, most of its users were either foreign or Western-educated girls. Its base has now expanded, but it is still the most trendy app to use. For this reason, this is where you will meet the most girls who can speak English and who have well-paid jobs. This is also where the most girls are interested in meeting foreigners.

Pros:
➝ Almost entirely free
➝ Easy to get several matches every day (but they won't meet you if you are a tourist)
➝ Thousands of Indonesian girls are using it, including many educated ones
➝ Not too many spam accounts or prostitutes or ladyboys

Cons:
➝ I find it difficult to manage once you have more than 100 matches
➝ You cannot see which girls are online
➝ You cannot chat with a girl if you haven't matched with her already
➝ You cannot like more than 50 girls per day (or you must pay)
➝ You must connect using your Facebook information and pics (your friends on Facebook who are using Tinder will know that you are also a user)
➝ You can only see girls around you (unless you pay). If you stay abroad, this means you cannot chat with any girl in Jakarta before you arrive.
➝ Generally speaking, girls on Tinder love to swipe but they aren't very good at sending or replying to messages

Read my article: 10 Reasons You Are Failing at Tinder

IndonesianCupid.com (Works best with guys over 30 living abroad)

Indonesia Cupid is more traditional dating website which is part of a wider network: FilipinoCupid, Muslima (for dating Muslim girls), Thai Cupid, Vietnam Cupid, etc. It is an excellent site for those who are not in Indonesia but who are interested in chatting with local girls.

Many Indonesian girls on IndonesianCupid are looking to meet foreigners and they won't turn you down if you say you are far away. The demographics of IndonesianCupid is more middle class compared with Tinder. Typically, you'll chat with employees, teachers, nurses, etc.

Since it is a website and not a mobile phone app, I find it much easier to write messages or browse profiles compared to Tinder. Even if you use it for a month or two, it is still easy to see which girls are online among those you've chatted with before.

You can register here: Sign-Up to Indonesian Cupid for Free. I recommend you to update to the premium version though (only 25$ per month) as it will allow you to send an unlimited number of messages. It will also give you the edge compared to the other guys in terms of visibility.

Pros:
➝ The best dating site in Indonesia if you are a tourist. Ideal for arranging dates prior to visiting the country. Girls won't mind if you are not living in Indonesia and if you are older than them.
➝ Between 500-1000 Indonesian girls online at any time, but thousands more who were active in the past week or month (you have filters to do that).
➝ Possibility to look for girls in other countries (Thailand, Philippines, etc)
➝ Good website interface, easy to use and fast.
➝ Fast chatting application
➝ Mostly serious girls who are interested in relationships
➝ Detailed profiles

Cons:
➝ The free version is too restricted (not a problem if you can afford 25$)
➝ No mobile app
➝ Many girls have limited English proficiency (especially outside Jakarta)

Bumble (Limited Number of Profiles)

Considered the feminist dating app, it is just like Tinder except for two main differences: 1) Girls have to message guys first 2) They have 24 hours to do so. They are many foreign girls using it, but most of them are located in Bali.

Pros:
➝ Smart and educated girls
➝ High proportion of foreign girls (especially in Bali)
➝ No need to message the girls first

Cons:
➝ Only a mobile app so you have to type your messages on your mobile
➝ Not more than a couple hundred profiles in Jakarta, many of which are already on Tinder

Badoo (Works best if you speak Indonesian)

Badoo used to be the best dating website in Indonesia but it is clearly not as popular as it used to be. It still has a large number of users though: I checked on 15 December 2016 at 7pm and there were 522 women online in Jakarta (vs 537 on Indonesian Cupid). They also have a mobile app (called "Hot or Not").

Badoo attracts 99,9% of Indonesian girls, from all background. You can filter girls by age, location, status, body type, etc. More than half the girls can speak English and many are interested in meeting foreigners. Online prostitution on Badoo is, unfortunately, a problem. Many "girls" on Badoo are in fact pimp looking for clients.

Pros:
➝ Lots of girls online
➝ Fun, colorful website interface with large photos (but also more slow to load)
➝ Both a website and an app with geo-localization
➝ You can send messages to 5 girls per day for free and you "like" as many as you want
➝ Cheaper than other websites

Cons:
➝ Privacy concern (they sent advertising emails to all my contact on my behalf saying I was inviting them to join Badoo)
➝ Many, many prostitutes and fake accounts
➝ Many girls can't speak English well
➝ Because it is cheaper, there are more guys on Badoo. This means it is harder to get girls' attention and your messages may be ignored. You can get seen/read before other guys but you need to pay extra money (even if you are already a premium user).

Instagram

Yes, Instagram can be considered a dating website in Indonesia. I know some guys who've met dozens of girls using it.

Of course, you need to create an Instagram account and to upload interesting pictures regularly. If you are an expat who visits nice restaurants and hotels, it shouldn't be too hard to add at least a great photo every two days.

You can then follow some Instagram accounts of girls you like and write comments on their pictures.

Pros:
➝ Free
➝ There are more girls on Instagram than on any other dating websites (especially in Indonesia)
➝ You can search for girls who have special interests using the location or tags (for instance, if you want to find a girl who went to the Djakarta Warehouse Festival, you can search the tag "DWP 2016").
➝ It is easy to find a topic to start a conversation (just comment a photo)

Cons:
➝ You need to create and maintain an interesting Instagram account
➝ Many girls are not single or not actively looking for a boyfriend
➝ Time consuming

WeChat (Lots of prostitutes)

WeChat has a "look around" feature which allows you to add girls located within a few kilometers from you. If they accept your invitation, you can start chatting with them.

Many ladyboys and prostitutes use that feature so it can be quite annoying if this is not what you are looking for. You will also probably receive a lot of invitations from other guys. Girls using this feature do not always speak English very well. It is popular with the Chinese community but your chances of getting a reply is low unless you speak Chinese.

Pros:
➝ Free
➝ Location based

Cons:
➝ I don't think you can meet a normal girl using it.

Beetalk(Only if you speak Indonesian)

Beetalk users are mostly Indonesian and young. It has a "look around" feature as well which is quite invasive as it tells you the exact position of the people around you. If you use it in popular malls like Grand Indonesia or Central Park, it will probably tell you a list of persons within a very close range, sometimes a few meters only.

Few girls using Beetalk speak good English so it is more appropriate for those with a basic knowledge of Indonesian. It is a good app but not the most effective for foreigners.

Pros:
➝ Free
➝ Location based
➝ No competition from other Westerners

Cons:
➝ Very few girls who can speak English

➝ Not many replies from girls
➝ A lot of prostitutes

Skout (Mobile app and dating site)

Skout is similar to Badoo but it does not have as many girls online. The ads are quite annoying so I didn't like using it.

Tagged / Hi5 (Mobile app and website)

Tagged and Hi5 are the same service since they merged in 2011. It used to be one of the most popular social networks in Indonesia but it is struggling now. It is still a relatively interesting website to try as the number of Indonesian users is quite large. I would say that girls on Tagged are usually a bit older: They made their Hi5 account 10 years ago and they haven't closed it yet.

Adult Friend Finder

This is a paying hook-up website popular with swingers and those looking for one-night stands. I never used it but a friend of mine did and he met several open-minded couples. He also managed to meet a few single girls but it is rarer.

Note that the website is currently blocked by the government so you'll need to download a VPN to access it. I've written an article here Best VPN in Indonesia to help you with it.

Pros:
➝ If you are not looking for dating but for sex, this is the best website to use
➝ Number 1 hooking website in the World

Cons:
➝ 90% guys and 10% girls so you need to make a really neat profile to succeed. Being handsome would help.
➝ You won't get very far with the Free Version so you'll need to buy a premium membership

➝ Blocked in Indonesia: You must use a VPN to access it freely.

SeekingArrangement (Sugar Daddy/Sugar Baby)

The largest sugar baby dating site in the world

This dating site is quite unique and controversial. All girls are considered "sugar babies" who are willing to go on a date in exchange for gifts, money, travels or dinners. All guys are "sugar daddies" (not necessarily old) who are willing to sponsor the girls.

I met a few Indonesian girls, all students, who were using it. They told me the thing they liked the most was free travels so they could flood their Instagram accounts with pictures.

This site is good for guys who want to have a younger and beautiful mistress in Asia. Since money is involved, it is not hard to a wealthy guy to find the perfect match. You will see that you get a reply for 90% of your messages, for instance.

Pros:
➝ Much more girls than guys so you are guaranteed to meet someone
➝ Many upper-class and classy girls
➝ Girls are easy to talk to, friendly, and they will often accept going on a date

Cons:
➝ The free version does not allow you to see the pictures of most girls
➝ A limited number of girls in Indonesia, but plenty all over Asia
➝ An expensive way to meet girls. It is probably cheaper to try Indonesian Cupid first.

Paktor (Works best if you are young, rich and Asian-Chinese)

Paktor is one of the happening apps among younger Indonesians and particularly Indo-Chinese. Originally from Singapore, it is quite similar to Tinder with a few additional features.

Pros:
➝ You know the exact distance between you and another user
➝ A lot of interesting profiles (upper-class girls, students)
➝ Fun interface
➝ You can hide some Facebook friends to find you

Cons:
➝ The free version sucks

➝ If you are an older guy, you will have a relatively low rate of success

Conclusion

All these dating apps and websites are free but you have to pay if you want to get some VIP features. For instance, becoming a paid member will generally entitle you to send more messages, to see who clicked on your profile or to be seen first by girls.

There are probably some scammers too so you should naturally always make sure the person you are talking to is real. I would recommend asking for the girl's facebook or skype.

There are other services that I haven't tried but they might work well. If you have used one of the followings to find a date in Jakarta, it would be nice if you could write a comment about it below:

OK Cupid: Popular dating website (same group with Match.com and Tinder) but I don't think it is available in Indonesia at this moment.

Happn: This app will tell you if you've crossed path with girls during your day. It works well, but almost all girls there are already on Tinder/IndonesianCupid. It's fun to have, though.

Zoosk: One of the most popular dating apps in the world but I read some negative reviews about their privacy policy so I did not want to try it.

Ask.fm: Very popular social media in Indonesia, mostly with the younger crowd. It is not a real dating website but it is used as such by many Indonesians to make friends or get a date.

Wavoo is an Indonesian dating app which just started. It does not have a very large database of users at the moment.

Setipe is an Indonesian dating website which could be promising but it is still new and I encountered some problems to register.

Photo Credit: The photos are from Kucluk Oye.

Meeting beautiful Japanese girls is not an easy task, especially if you are not living in Japan and if you don't have much time for endless dates.

Because of this, many men visiting Japan will be tempted to use escort services online. Though not 100% legal, they require no effort and they may seem like the only way to get a Japanese girl.

Most foreigners ignore that there is a much better alternative to escort services: The Japanese dating clubs (for instance, Universe Club, one of the largest in the country).

These clubs are navigating in the grey area between normal dating and escorting. Basically, they help you obtain dates with open-minded and beautiful Japanese ladies, yet they do not guarantee that sex will happen.

They usually charge a yearly membership fee (from a couple hundred dollars up to several thousand), as well as a "setting fee" for each time you want to date someone.

Here are 4 reasons to prefer dating clubs over escort services:

Legality

Escort Services:

You should be aware that offering sexual services (vaginal intercourse) for money is illegal in Japan. Therefore, even if it seems easy to request the services of a prostitute online, you are officially breaking the law.

Dating Clubs:

Dating clubs, on the contrary, do not guarantee anything. They just make it easier to date someone who is open-minded and, obviously, interested with guys who have money. You pay for a date, not for sex. Because of that, they are 100% legal and safe to use.

Overall:

If you don’t want to have any problems with the police, only use the services of a dating club.

Cost

It is hard to compare exactly the costs of escort services with those of a dating club as you do not get the same service and/or experience. Still, I think it is useful to get an idea of the figures involved:

Escort Services:

I checked a few escort websites on the Internet and I saw that on average, the prices will be 30,000 JPY (268 US$) for one hour and 120,000 JPY (1,075 US$) for the night. If you want to meet an escort a second time, you will have to pay again.

Dating Clubs:

Since dating clubs have a yearly membership fee, they are more expensive if you use them only once or twice. However, if you do several dates, they will end up costing pretty much the same (or even cheaper).

Let’s take an example with Universe Club. This is their prices:

If you take a Gold class membership, 1 date will cost you 80,000 JPY (50,000 JPY yearly fee + 30,000 JPY setting fee). But if you do 5 dates, each will cost you 40,000 JPY on average. That’s reasonable considering you can spend much more than 1 hour with the girl.

Furthermore, if you wish to have several dates with the same girl, you will not have to pay anything again.

Overall:

It depends on which frequency you use the services. The more you use a dating club, the cheaper it gets. Another benefit of dating clubs is that the time is not counted. Therefore, you can just enjoy your time with the girl instead of constantly looking at the clock.

Girls

Escort websites:

There is a big stigma attached to prostitution in Japan, and only a tiny percentage of Japanese girls will accept to become an escort. In fact, there are so few candidates that most websites targeting foreigners will hire Chinese or Thai girls pretending to be Japanese. You will rarely see a truly gorgeous girl on those websites, and if you do, there is a big chance that it is a scam or that the pics are heavily photoshopped. Who cares if the customer gets tricked? It’s not like he is going to complain to the police, right?

Dating Clubs:

Since dating clubs do not force girls to have sex with the men they are meeting, they are able to attract a much larger diversity of women. Some can be students, office workers, flight attendants, models, etc. Also, they generally offer much more privacy than an escort website (pictures are only available to members, for instance), which is a big plus for them to recruit quality women.

Overall:

If you really want to meet beautiful, smart, attractive Japanese girls who have a job and a career, dating clubs are definitely better. There is just more choice and quality, by far.

Experience

Escort websites:

Well, not much of an experience here. You go to a “love hotel”, the girl comes, you realize her face doesn’t really match the photos, and then one hour later the girl leaves. Most often, it is a cold experience that won’t leave a lasting memory.

Dating clubs:

You get to meet someone over some drinks or dinner, someone who speaks English and who is not a professional escort. You know that she is interested to be with someone who can help her financially, but she also wants to connect with emotionally. You can talk, laugh and flirt, knowing she might agree to go back to your hotel later.

Overall:

Everyone might have a different opinion on this. Personally, I find it much more exciting to be with someone you have to seduce at least a little. Dating clubs are not just about sex, but also about creating a whole girlfriend experience with someone you will enjoy spending time with. It is no surprise that in some cases, couples that met through a dating club end up marrying each other.

Conclusion

Dating clubs are growing in popularity among foreigners as the best way to meet Japanese girls. They are not as straightforward as escort services, but they offer a much more authentic and rich experience. If you want to know more, I recommend you to check Universe Club, the number 1 Japanese dating club for foreigners (they know have a branch in Singapore, you can ask them about it when you send a message).

There are many reasons people send money to Indonesia, but only a few ways that are cheap, easy and safe.

This article will be very useful to you if you are:

- A foreigner living abroad who supports his Indonesian girlfriend financially

- An Indonesian working abroad who needs to remit his salary in his Indonesian bank account

- An expat who wants to transfer funds to Indonesia to make a purchase (car, home) or an investment

- A traveler who lost his wallet and urgently needs money

I've written it based on my experience living in Indonesia for the past 12 years (first in Jakarta, then in Bali). I'm sure you have your own stories as well so please do not hesitate to leave a comment with your own tips.

TransferWise: Cheapest and Easiest Way to Send Money to Indonesia

You can make your own transfer simulation in just one click here

Created in 2011 by one of Skype's founders, TransferWise is a fin-tech startup that was recently declared a unicorn (more than $1 billion valuation). It is a game changer when it comes to international money transfers.

Compared with traditional banks, TransferWise does not actually transfers any money. It maintains banks accounts in key currencies in various countries. When you make a transfer request, for instance from USD to IDR, they will debit your US bank account from their US bank account and credit your Indonesian bank account from their Indonesian bank account.

Using TransferWise, the cost of sending money from abroad to Indonesia is only 1,5% of the transferred amount (minimum charge IDR14,500).

If you transfer USD1,000, it means you will only pay USD15 (+ a credit card charge depending on your bank). There are no hidden fees and they use the official exchange rate. That's at least 8 times less than what you would pay with traditional banks.

Pros:

➝ Cheapest way to send money from abroad to Indonesia

➝ As simple as it can be, just like booking a hotel room or buying stuff from any e-commerce site

➝ Less than 10 minutes needed to make the request
➝ They do not take commission on currency exchange rate (they use the official rate)

➝ You can make an accurate simulation of the cost of the transfer in a few seconds on their website

➝ They will tell you in advance when the money will be transferred and you can follow your money in real time through their app

➝ 100% transparent: They let you know how much commission they took and the exchange rate they used

Cons:

➝ Available for transfer from USD to IDR but not yet from IDR to USD
➝ Limited number of currencies you can transfer from: EUR, USD, Pound, AUD, JPY, SGD. You can check here if your home currency is accepted.

➝ You need an Indonesian bank account to transfer the money (You must know your IBAN and your SWIFT/BIC number)

➝ The transfer is not automatic and it may take from 1 to 2 days to be completed (for an Indonesian transfer)

Western Union: Only for Urgent Money Transfer to Indonesia

Unlike TransferWise, Western Union charges a fee but also takes a commission on the exchange rate

Western Union is facing tough competition but it can still be a useful way to send money to Indonesia. In particular, if you are a traveler who lost his personal belongings and need fast money, there are no better alternatives (actually, there is also MoneyGram which is similar).

I was using Western Union a lot when I didn't have an Indonesian bank account. You can pick up the money sent in cash in any of their agents locations (for instance in post offices - there are thousands in Indonesia).

The problem with Western Union is that it is expensive. If you want to transfer 1,000USD to IDR (instant transfer from an agent to an agent), it will cost you over USD80 + an hidden exchange rate fee of around IDR500,000 (as a reminder, it costs only USD15 with TransferWise).

If you transfer the money to an Indonesian bank account, it is cheaper yet still over 40$ and it takes a few days.

Pros:

➝ You can send money to Indonesia within minutes
➝ Money can be sent even if both the sender and the receiver do not have a bank account
➝ Works for virtually every country
➝ You can pay directly on Western Union's website using your credit/debit card

Cons:

➝ Very pricey if you choose fast service and to send/receive money in agent's location
➝ Hidden commission on the currency exchange rate
➝ If you send money to an agent location, you can only use the service during operation hours (close on weekends)

A Cheap Way to Avoid: Skrill iT

Skrill iT is a mix between Western Union and TransferWise

On paper, Skrill has quite many advantages. It is fast and cheaper than Western Union (about 3% from total amount Vs. up to 15%). Also, the person who receives the money does not need to have an Indonesian bank account. she can just take the money in any Alfamart in Indonesia with her ID.

However, I received a negative comment regarding their company. I decided to publish it here in case some of you would be interested in their service for a transfer:

"Hi Thibaud, I registered with Skrill, and tried to send money to Jakarta for my girlfriend. The amount was deducted from my card and appeared in "My account" in Skrill.

However, the status of the transfer appeared as "pending" at first, and then later changed to "canceled". I tried to make another transfer, which was also not delivered to the recipient.

I've sent multiple emails to the Skrill support team. Number of responses from them: Zero. I tried to contact them on Facebook & Twitter with the same result (Zero support).

Finally, I had to spend some $5 to call their London office - the guy there didn't have a clue what the problem was. When I asked how I could get my money back, he said that I needed to speak with a SENIOR manager, and it could only happen 24 hours after my initial call.

So, as of now, I'm waiting for these 24 hours to pass to call London again and "beg" the senior manager to have my money back.

Don't know how all this looks to you, but for me, it appears as a completely unprofessional business on the edge of being a scam.

Money not delivered, nobody answering emails, having to spend extra money for international calls, and I still don't know if I will ever get my money back.

Last but not least - I had a look at the Skrill reviews (which I should have done BEFORE using it) - and it's full of similar stories from other customers: money not delivered, zero support, very difficult to get your money back".

My conclusion? Just stick to TransferWise. It is rated 4.7 on the Apple Store and recommended by the Financial Times, The Economist, Wired, etc.

Other Ways to Send Money To Indonesia
Some online currency exchange companies are starting to offer international money transfer now with competitive rates. They will always be more expensive than TransferWise though. They can be useful only if you intend to send a lot of money to Indonesia (over 10,000$). The most famous companies are TorFX, HiFX or OFX. I would advise you to try the latter as it has an online simulation tool.

PayPal is cheap when you send money in the same currency to another PayPal accounts holder but for international transfer it is not worth it (when you add up the fee and the commission on the exchange rate, it costs about 80$ for 1,000$ sent).

A transfer from a foreign bank to an Indonesian bank with SWIFT is out of the question. You shouldn't even consider it. I did it once to send 200$ and I paid 40$ in fees (that's a 20% commission!).

If you know a cheaper and more convenient way than TransferWise to send money to Indonesia, please leave me a comment below. I wouldn't mind saving even more on my transfers. I'm also interested if you have tips about how to send money from Indonesia to another country.

I have bought countless goods on Amazon over the years (books, toys, air purifier, pollution masks, etc) and had them shipped to Indonesia, in Jakarta or Bali, without any difficulties. In spite of this, I know quite many expats who are still not confident using the website.

That's a shame because there are still many products that are hard to find in Indonesia, especially if you live in smaller cities. Amazon also has competitive prices (in particular on its "Today's Deals" page) and it is much safer to use than local alternatives like Lazada or Tokopedia.

If you are still hesitating, this guide will explain everything you need to know about buying on Amazon from Indonesia and why you should not worry about it.

I will answer common questions like:

- Is it safe to ship from Amazon to Indonesia?

- What kind of products should you avoid buying on Amazon for Indonesia?

- What is the AmazonGlobal shipping program and how does it work?
- Does Amazon Prime exist in Indonesia?

If you have a personal experience to share, negative or positive, please let me know by leaving a comment at the end of the article.

1) Can you buy products on Amazon and have them shipped to Indonesia?

Yes, absolutely. Many people are afraid that their package will be stopped by the Indonesian customs or lost in the mail, but there are no reasons this should happen as long as you follow these simple steps:

First, after you've created an Amazon account, you should make sure that you have a precise Indonesian address listed. By doing so, you will be shown ONLY the products that Amazon can send to Indonesia (and not the whole Amazon catalogue).

My address in Jakarta :-)

Second, when you order a product, just before paying, you should select the AmazonGlobal Shipping option:

This option is more secure because Amazon guarantees that your product will arrive at your home address in Indonesia. If not, they have a 100% refund policy, part of their "AmazonGlobal Shipping Program" (see below for more explanations). The delivery will be done through courier services like UPS, DHL or FedEx, and you will be able to track it down online all the way. They have 24/7 assistance and they are quick to react if there are issues.

The standard International shipping option is a bit cheaper, but you should use it only for goods costing less than US100$ as they are not subject to any import fees. With this option, the delivery will be done through normal mail services (Pos Indonesia) and it will take much longer for the products to reach the country. You may have to deal with customs yourself, which can really be a pain in the a$$.

2) What kind of products should you avoid buying on Amazon for Indonesia?

There are some products that you should avoid buying on Amazon in Indonesia:

- Goods that are urgently needed: You will receive most products within 10-15 days, but it might take longer. There is also the (small) possibility that the customs will refuse the product (in that case, you will get a refund).

- Products that are heavy (for instance a TV or a bike). Since you have to pay a delivery fee between US2$ and US3$ per pound, the shipping cost of those items will probably double or triple their price. Buy them directly in Indonesia instead on Tokopedia or Lazada.

International shipping cost of Amazon

- Prescription drugs, vitamins, food supplements: If they are not sold in Indonesia, there is a chance that they don't have the proper import license and they will be blocked by customs. Still, you can take your chances with small and inexpensive packages first.

- Expensive electronic goods that are easy to carry in your luggage (for instance a laptop): They will be subject to an expensive import fee, usually between 30% and 50% of their initial price. Instead, I recommend you to buy them in Singapore or in Malaysia, get a VAT refund, then bring them back with you to Indonesia. Just make sure to take them out of their box when passing the Indonesian customs.

- CDs and DVDs: I've never purchased any, but some of my friends told me that they could be blocked by customs (depending on the agent in charge). This might be due to fears of inappropriate content or censorship.

- Goods that are prohibited to enter Indonesia such as coins, books/magazines in Indonesian, sarongs, batiks, used clothes, etc. You can see the full list here: Import restrictions in Indonesia.

3) What is Amazon's global shipping program and how does it work?

AmazonGlobal is Amazon's attempt to crush local E-commerce competitors. Basically, the company will deal with customs clearance on your behalf, and it guarantees that you will receive your order at your Indonesian address.

To do so, they will charge you an estimated "import fees deposit" that will be used to pay the Indonesian customs for the right to import the product you order.

For instance, on this Air Purifier, the Import Fees Deposit is US$48.98:

This is a heavy product, hence the expensive shipping fees. As I mentioned before, it's best to avoid ordering this kind of goods.

Once your product arrives in Indonesia, Amazon will then adjust this amount. They will refund you if the actual cost of importing (duty fees) is lower than the deposit you gave.

In the unlikely event that it would not pass customs clearance, you will get a full refund.

4) Does Amazon Prime exist in Indonesia?

Amazon Prime is an exclusive membership program that lets you get free delivery within two days, plus a few other useful services (including video streaming). As of today, it is NOT available in Indonesia.

If you are even the least bit health-conscious, you have plenty of reasons to be worried about living in Jakarta.

Let's start with air pollution.

Jakarta was the most polluted city in Southeast Asia in 2018 (hurrah!), with 191 days out of 365 that were considered unhealthy. During that time, the levels of PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) reached up to 10 times the recommended exposure limit set by the World Health Organization.

Just to remind you, air pollution has been considered to reduce life expectancy by up to 6 years in some cities in India or China, which is much more than smoking cigarettes, alcohol, HIV, drug use or road injuries.

Then, there is the sedentary lifestyle. Have you ever walked more than 1 hour outside in Jakarta? Probably not, or at least very rarely. The sidewalks are either non-existent or unsafe, the heat is unbearable, there are no parks, and the air is disgusting. No wonder Indonesians are the people who walk the least in the world (3,500 steps on average while the recommended amount is 10,000).

Finally, there are all the risks coming from a lack of safety and hygiene standards. In 2017, the Economist ranked Jakarta the 56th out of 60 world cities for health security. Only Karachi, Dhaka, Yangon and Cairo did worse. This is a broad category that included indicators like access to healthy food, car accident fatalities, quality of health care, and much more (see full report here).

Despite all these scary facts, there are effective ways to protect yourself. Scroll below to discover my top 9 recommendations to stay healthy in Jakarta:

1) Invest in an air purifier for your home or apartment

While you cannot control the air quality outside, you can easily make sure that the air you breathe at home is safer.

Starting at US50$, you can purchase an air purifier with true HEPA filters. These are the best as they are proven to remove 99.97% of particulate matters larger than 0,3 microns (including bacteria and viruses).

I'm not sure where you can find them in Indonesia, but you can check "Air Purifiers" on Amazon (in case you wonder: Yes, they deliver to Indonesia and yes, it works well).

To take things one step further, you can choose an air purifier with true HEPA filters AND activated carbon. The latter will also remove odors, gases, chemicals, and smoke. They cost a bit more, though, starting US110$ for this model:

Alternatively, you can buy plants that are known to remove pollutants (Check this list from the NASA).

2) Use N95-rated air pollution masks

When you go outside, especially during peak pollution days or if you ride a motorbike, you should wear a proper air pollution mask. Without one, it's just like smoking a cigarette without a filter.

Forget about the cheap masks you can buy in Circle K: They do not work.

The best air pollution masks are the ones with a N-95 rating, meaning they will filter at least 95% of particles under 0.3 microns. The certification is done by an agency of the US government called NIOSH and I'm not aware of any local brands that passed the test.

Instead, I recommend you to use the products from the brand 3M. They sell their masks a little more than US1$ each (check these for instance).

3) Cook your own food (as often as possible)

I love Indonesian food, especially from the street. But I have to admit most dishes are unhealthy. The worst methods of cooking, deep-frying and pan-frying, are the most common in the country. To make things worse, frying is most often done with palm oil that has been used and re-used multiple times (increasing the risks of cancer).

I could also talk about coconut milk, sugar, preservatives and pesticides, but I'm sure you already get my point: You must cook your own food as often as you can.

Of course, by cooking, I don't mean preparing instant noodle or shoving fish fingers in the oven: Ultra-processed foods are probably even worse than street food.

Instead, you should buy ingredients that haven't been transformed (fish, poultry, rice, pasta, beans, vegetables, fruits, etc) and cook them in a way that will preserve their nutrients and vitamins: Boiling, light sautéeing or steaming.

Regarding organic labels in Indonesia, I don't bother with them as I doubt they can be trusted. Just make sure you peel the skin off vegetables and fruits, or wash them thoroughly with filtered water.

4) Be smart if using motorbikes

In my 15 years in Indonesia, I've been to 2 funerals of friends and colleagues who died in a motorbike accident, and I know at least 10 more who were involved in a serious crash.

Riding a bike in Jakarta is particularly hazardous, but you can improve your safety by taking some simple precautions:

- Wear a protective helmet: Not the one your Gojek driver is giving you, and not the one you bought on the street for US20$. A good one should either be certified ECE22.05 (European Union) or DOT (US).

- Wear protective clothes: Gloves, pants, shoes, and a jacket.

- Prefer a new bike, and check that everything works well (brakes, lights, acceleration power, mirrors, oil, etc).

- Don't drink and drive.

- To limit your exposure to pollution, wear a mask (see above).

- Always prefer alternative ways to go around, especially for long distances: Taxi, cars, TransJakarta, MRT or train.

5) Stay clean!

Many health problems in Indonesia come from a lack of hygiene or a dirty environment. To protect yourself, you must make sure both your home and your body are not contaminated.

Adopting a no-shoes policy in your house is a smart idea. Did you know that after one month, 93% of shoes have fecal matters (yes, poop) on them? And that 70% carry E. coli germs?

It is also essential to wash your hands regularly, or to use an antibacterial gel after spending time outside (especially on public transports).

6) Check that your vaccines are up-to-date

Many diseases in Indonesia can be avoided with vaccination. The recommended ones for Indonesia are those against Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Tetanus-Diphteria, Rabies, and Meningitis.

That's a lot of shots, and I'm not a doctor. Visit one and ask him/her for advice. Keep in mind that vaccines need several weeks before being effective.

7) Avoid mosquito bites

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet, ahead of spiders, scorpios, sharks, tigers, crocodiles and jellyfishes.

They carry and transmit diseases like malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, encephalitis and yellow fever. In total, they kill 725,000 people and infect 700 million more every single year.

Unfortunately, Indonesia has plenty of them.

To avoid mosquito bites, follow these rules:
- Close your windows and doors from sunset to sunrise
- Wear pants and long sleeve shirts when outside in the evening or at night
- Apply mosquito repellents (with a content in DEET between 30% and 50%) on your most-exposed body parts (neck, ears, forearms, ankles).

8) Always have travel or medical insurance

If you are a member of a Jakarta or Bali expat group on Facebook, you will see every month a post about a fundraising effort to pay for a foreigner's medical bill (or to pay for his/her medical evacuation). For a stupid scooter accident, the cost can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars.

Even a simple injury like a broken ankle can mean trouble as you can see with this tourist:

If you are not convinced yet, read my post about why you need travel insurance in Indonesia.

There are a few insurance companies that are reliable. One of them is WorldNomads, which is recommended by the Lonely Planet.

You can check how much it would cost with this widget:

9) Stay fit

When you live in Jakarta, going to the gym is almost mandatory. Unlike in other cities, you cannot stay in shape by walking back home from work or by running in the park. You need an artificial way to make your heart beat and to activate your muscles.

You don't need to exercise every day. 3 times a week, do 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weightlifting, and you will notice a huge difference in your overall well-being.

Do you have more tips?

How do you stay healthy in Jakarta? If you have more ideas and suggestions, please let me know in the comment section below.

Are you struggling to meet a potential wife in your home country? Are you unsatisfied with your dating life at home?

If yes, maybe you should expand your horizons and start looking for love abroad.

In most cases, if you target the right countries, you are almost certain to find girls that are much better than the ones you could have hoped for back home.

I have traveled to more than 60 countries in the past 4 years and I can tell you exactly where you should start looking for a serious relationship. I know where you will find the prettiest, sweetest, most caring women in the world. I can also tell you what you should be cautious about and how to avoid the most common scams.

In the countries below, even if you are just a regular guy with a normal job and an average look, you should be able to be successful within just a few weeks or months. You can try your luck on the dating sites I recommend (all are free to register) and you will see for yourself.

What are the best countries in the world to find a wife?

Here are the 10 most recommended countries to find a serious girlfriend or a wife (in no particular order).

Philippines

If you can’t decide whether you prefer Latinas or Asian girls, then maybe you should choose the Philippines. After almost 300 years of Spanish colonization, most Filipinas have mixed blood to a certain extent, making them among the prettiest women on earth. The country is actually the 2nd in the world for the number of International beauty pageants wins (number 1 is Venezuela).

Pros:

- Beautiful girls who speak excellent English. Fun personalities, hard-working and loyal.

- Very family-oriented.

- It's relatively easy to date someone out of your league.

Cons:

- Always focus on women who are either students or who have a normal job.

Religion:

Mostly Catholic.

To meet a Filipina:

- If you are abroad: Check FilipinaCupid.

- If you are in the Philippines: Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga

Colombia

Colombia is certainly the best country in Latin America to find a girlfriend or a wife. The girls are feminine, open-minded, and there isn't too much competition from other guys. They are also attracted to foreigners (especially Europeans).

Pros:

- In general, Colombian girls have awesome personalities (fun, cheerful, sociable) and sexy bodies.

- I found the culture in Colombia quite similar to that of Western countries. The cultural gap is therefore limited. If you choose to bring your future Colombian wife to a Western country, she will adapt easily.

- While there are still some safety issues, living in Colombia is pretty nice, especially in Medellin: Cheap, pleasant weather, friendly people, foreigner-friendly.

Cons:

- Colombian girls are known to be "flaky": They will agree to a date, then cancel at the last minute (or not warn you in advance). It can be quite annoying.

- English is not well-spoken (but most girls don't mind teaching you some Spanish).

- A lot of Colombian girls have had cosmetic surgery. I'm not a fan.

- Some guys I know who are married with Colombian girls have told me that their relationship can be very passionate and intense, with some crazy fights!

Religion:

Mostly Catholic or atheist (in larger cities).

To meet a Colombian girl:

- If you are in Colombia: Bogota is the best, then Medellin (most beautiful girls but more foreigners too), Cali (darker girls) and Cartagena (caution: many prostitutes there).

- If you are not in Colombia yet: Check Colombian Cupid.

Vietnam

From all the country I’ve visited, I would say that Vietnam is where you can most easily date a very pretty girl. There are just so many of them, even the ones selling street food are worth asking out.

However, the language barrier can be an issue.

It’s pretty much impossible to learn Vietnamese, and the majority of local girls do not speak English well.

It’s not the end of the world, but it means you are limited to communicating with 5% or 10% of the population.

Pros:

- Pretty girls with a strong character, who value education and family.

- Vietnamese girls don’t seem to care too much about the age difference. Up to 20 years is fine as long as you can be faithful and support them financially.

- Vietnam is cheap and it is a pleasant country to live in.

Cons:

- Vietnamese girls can be quite conservative. They expect you to marry them, not fool around.

- Communication might be difficult and you may have a hard time bonding with your partner.

Religion:

Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, and Atheist.

To meet a Vietnamese girl:

- If you are abroad: Check VietnamCupid.

- If you are in Vietnam: HCMC (best), Hanoi (more conservative), Danang (less competition)

Ukraine

Ukrainian Girls on dating sites (like Ukraine Date) are so beautiful that you might wonder if their photos are fake.

I've been to their several times, and I can tell you they are not. If you have an affinity for tall, blonde, slim and white-skinned women, then the country will feel like a paradise.

Pros:

- Maybe the prettiest girls in Europe, yet quite easy to date

- Traditional mentality, strong family values and committed to their marriage (not afraid to make sacrifices)

Cons:

- Beware of the golddiggers or the ones who just want a visa to your home country. If a girl who is too good to be true likes you suddenly, she is probably faking the romance.

Religion:

Mostly Orthodox (70%) and Catholic (10%).

To meet a Ukrainian girl

- If you are abroad: Check Ukraine Date

- If you are in Ukraine: Kiev, Lviv (student town), Odessa (coastal city)

Kazakhstan

Kazakh model Anelia Moor

I’m pretty sure you never thought about Kazakhstan to find a girlfriend, right?

That’s exactly why you should consider it: Low competition.

This is a rather isolated country, rarely visited by tourists, with few expats, and yet girls are among the hottest I’ve ever seen.

Pros:

- Girls are very diverse: Kazakhs (mostly Asian features), Russians, Ukrainians, Koreans, Chinese, etc.

- Very warm and charming personalities

- An inexpensive and safe country, very pleasant in the summer months

Cons:

- Not many airlines flying to Kazakhstan so the tickets to go there can be expensive

- Very cold weather most of the year

- Not easy to meet Kazakh girls if you live abroad

Religion:

Mostly atheist.

To meet a Kazakh girl

It’s better to go directly to Astana or Almaty.

Indonesia

I’ve lived over 6 years in Indonesia so this is the country I know best.

Indonesian girls can be wonderful: Generous, caring and fun to be with. I also find them beautiful and exotic. However, you must be careful: Avoid bar girls or professional girlfriends, and focus on the ones with a job.

Pros:

- You can date way above your league in Indonesia: If you are serious about marriage, you will be very successful, even with girls in their early 20s.

- Indonesian girls are very easy-going and uncomplicated (but jealous!)

- The Indonesian language is easy to learn

- Who doesn’t want to move to Bali or retire there?

Cons:

- Most Indonesian Muslim girls will not marry you if you don’t become a Muslim.

- As a husband, you will have to help your bride’s family financially when needed (hospital bills, accidents, education, etc).

- Very deep cultural differences between Indonesians and Westerners (but you’ll need a few years in the country to realize that).

- If your Indonesian wife follows you to your home country, she may have difficulties to adapt. On the contrary, it might be difficult for you to find a job in Indonesia or to enjoy living in large Indonesian cities.

Religion:

90% Muslim, 10% Christian, Hindu, Atheist. Religion is very important for most Indonesian girls (or, at least, pretending to be religious is important).

To meet an Indonesian girl:

- If you are abroad, I’d recommend using IndonesianCupid.

- If you are in Indonesia: Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Bali.

Thailand

Even though millions of tourists come to Thailand each year, it is still a good option to find a wife.

Of course, you should avoid the bar and club scene, and focus instead on the tens of thousands of normal girls who have day jobs.

Pros:

- Thailand is easy to visit, cheap, with fairly good infrastructure and many opportunities for foreigners.

- There are still plenty of pretty Thai girls who are single and looking for an overseas fiancé.

- Thailand is richer than neighboring countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, etc.

- Most Thai girls speak English

Cons:

- Most expats I know who are married to a Thai woman complain about money. It seems there is never enough and/or that it is spent too easily

- The prettiest Thai girls will date Thai guys from rich families or rich expats. If you are a middle-aged tourist with an average budget, don’t get your hope too high.

Religion:

Mostly Buddhist

To meet a Thai girl

- If you are abroad: Check ThaiCupid.

- If you are in Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or visit cities in the Isan region (Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen). Avoid Pattaya and Phuket.

China

There are over 250 million singles in China. Among them, the Chinese girls who are above 30, especially the most educated ones, have a lot of difficulties finding a local husband. They are considered “left-overs”. For this reason, many are open to dating foreigners.

Pros:

- Lots of pretty girls, thin, and rather easy to date

- Strong family values, hard-working, well-educated

- An age difference of up to 15 years in a couple is common and accepted

Cons:

- The Chinese and the Western mindset are very different so you will need to be open-minded and flexible.

- Many dating sites and apps are blocked in China so it limits the number of girls available for chatting.

- Living in China is not attractive to many people: Pollution, bureaucracy, difficult language, etc.

Religion:

Quite diverse but mostly Buddhist, Taoist, Confucianist.

To meet a Chinese girl:

I recommend China Love Cupid.

Brazil

Brazil is such a large country, you will certainly be surprised by the diversity of girls there: Black, white, Metis, Asian, etc. It's pretty much like in the States.

You will also see huge differences between the South of the country, the North, the Center or the Coastal areas.

Pros:

- In general, well-educated, smart, financially independent to a certain extent, sexy and outgoing

- Very large choice

- Almost no cultural gap

Cons:

- More difficult to date than in the other countries listed here

Religion:

Catholic, Evangelical

To meet a Brazilian girl:

If you are abroad, I recommend Brazil Cupid.

If you are in Brazil, the competition is a bit tough in the larger cities (Rio, Sao Paulo) so you may want to visit instead more provincial towns like Goiânia, Belo Horizonte, Recife and Curitiba.

Russia

I have actually never been to Russia, but I met several Russian girls while traveling. Honestly, they couldn’t stop complaining about Russian guys and how it was difficult for them to find a decent man.

Basically, if you have a good job, if you are manly, if you are romantic and if you are stable, you will be successful with them.

Pros:

- Tons of girls, especially the ones in their 30-35, who are very interested to meet foreign guys (lots of divorcees or single moms in particular)

- Smart girls, educated, who can adapt to moving to a different country

Cons:

- Not as warm and fun to be with as Latin American or Southeast Asian girls.

Religion:

50% orthodox. Quite many atheists too.

To meet a Russian girl:

- Moscow and Saint Petersburg have more westernized and sophisticated girls. You can also check Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg.

- If you are abroad, try RussianCupid

Modafinil is the most popular "smart drug" or "study drug", along with Ritalin and Adderall.

Basically, taking a pill of Modafinil is like drinking a coffee in the morning, only 10 times stronger. It helps you stay focus, it keeps you awake and motivated, and it prevents your mind to wander. It is especially popular with students preparing exams: In the UK or in the US, it is reported that between 25% and 30% of them have tried them at least once.

What has made this drug so appealing is that it has been considered safe by researchers from both Harvard and Oxford. According to them, the side effects are mild (sometimes headaches or migraines) and there are no risks of physical addiction.

However, I also read elsewhere that it is not recommended in the long term as your brain will adapt and the stimulating effect will slowly fade away. After a few weeks, you might feel less alert and more tired than before.

Can you Buy Modafinil in Indonesia?

The first time I heard about Modafinil, I was living in Bali. I got a bit curious and I tried to see if I could buy a few pills locally.

I tried the chain pharmacies like Guardian, Century, Kimia Pharma and Apotek K-24. Not only they didn't have it, they had never heard of it.

Then, I went to the smaller, independent pharmacies, and I got the same answer: "Obat itu untuk apa?" (what is this drug for?).

Finally, I ended up looking at social media for hashtags like #modafinilindonesia, #belimodafinil, #modafiniljakarta, or #modafinilbali. On Instagram, I found this Indonesian company that advertises quite a lot called Nootropics ID (nootropic is another term to call smart drugs).

They have a Tokopedia page selling all kinds of imported drugs and supplements with ingredients like L-Theanine or Caffeine, but no Modafinil.

Conclusion: Modafinil was clearly not available in Indonesia (and this is still true today)

So this led to a second question:

Is Modafinil Legal in Indonesia?

If Modafinil is so hard to find, maybe it is simply because it's forbidden?

As it often turns out in Indonesia, the situation is more complicated:

Modafinil doesn't exist according to Indonesian law. It is neither legal or illegal.

There are no laws (as of 2019) classifying it as a narcotic (see the full list of forbidden substances here) but pharmacies are not allowed to sell it as it hasn't been given a license.

To summarize: You can possess it, but you can't import it or sell it.

How Can I Get Modafinil if I'm in Indonesia?

Since you can't buy it in Indonesia, your only solution is to buy it abroad, logically.

I used the website Modafinilstar.com, which has been around for quite some time already and has glowing reviews on Trustpilot (9.3/10 out of 2,3000 comments).

They are not too expensive, about 1 dollar per pill, as they sell the generic version.

They can ship for free everywhere in the world, BUT for some countries, they do not offer a refund if the products are stopped by the customs.

This is the case with Indonesia (or the countries listed here Shipping and Payment).

Therefore, you have two choices:

- Order anyway and take the risk to lose money if your package gets seized

- Or, you can order and send it to an address outside of Indonesia (any address where you can get a refund), for instance in the US, in Australia, in the UK, in New Zealand, in Malaysia, in Singapore, etc. It should be somewhere where you often go, like your parents' home or a friends' place in Southeast Asia. Once the package is delivered, you can just go pick it up and bring it back in your luggage to Indonesia. As long as you have a reasonable amount with you, the Indonesian customs won't say anything.

Personally, I chose the second option. I ordered from Bali and had it delivered to my friend in Thailand. Since I often go to Bangkok, it was not a problem to pick it up.

Conclusion:

As of today, I believe that's the best way to buy Modafinil for Indonesia. It is both safe and legal.

How about you? Have you ever tried buying some? How did you do to bring them to Indonesia? Please share your experience by leaving a comment below.

Note: This Cartagena nightlife guide was written by my friend Sam who lived several years in Colombia. I invite you to read his other guides Bogota Nightlife and Medellin nightlife. Thibaud.

Cartagena is a coastal Carribean city, probably one of the most popular with foreigners in Colombia. You have a lot of backpackers, retirees, American cruise ship passengers, as well as local tourists.

The main attractions are the old town, with its Spanish colonial architecture, the beaches, and what will interest us here: the nightlife.

Nightlife in Cartagena has a fantastic Caribbean vibe, but there are a few things to pay attention to. Ripping off tourists is an art form in this city and all the unsavory characters come out at night here. You’ll need to be on the lookout for scammers, drug dealers, hookers masquerading as normal girls, and more.

That’s where I come in! After spending 3 months in Cartagena, I know where to go and when. I hope my recommendations will help you enjoy some great parties in the city! Please don't hesitate to ask me questions in the comment section if something is not clear.

What to Expect at Night in Cartagena

Here are a few things to know when partying in Cartagena:

It’s Hot: This is a Caribbean beach city. It’s hot. Don’t bring your suits or even a blazer here. Cartagena is damn hot and you’ll be walking between venues. Dark jeans and a button-down shirt is all you need.

Working Girls: There are more hookers in Cartagena than anywhere I’ve ever been. Don’t be surprised if the girl you’re chatting to turns out to be working at night. That’s just how it goes in Cartagena.

Not Cheap: This is a touristic city. Prices are going to be inflated. I didn’t find drinking in Cartagena to be cheap. In fact, the prices were higher than almost anywhere else in Colombia. The average price for drinks in bars is 8$, and there is often a cover charge to pay to get into clubs (between 4$ and 10$).

When to Party: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday are usually dead. Things get better on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday are the busiest. Don't visit clubs before 1AM, unless you want to get in for free (usually before midnight).

Lots of Tourists: You’re guaranteed to see other foreigners out in the bars and clubs in Cartagena, especially in the colonial city and Bocagrande.

No Great Venues: There are a lot of fun places to party in Cartagena, but there’s no perfect place. I didn’t find a single place that was good even on weekend nights. My favorite bars and clubs where always hit and miss.

Is it safe to party in Cartagena? You shouldn’t have many safety issues when going out at night in Cartagena. The Old Town, Getsemani and Bocagrande are generally safe to walk around - even when stumbling drunk late at night. The only problems you’ll have is overpaying for everything and trying to determine if that sexy girl is a hooker or not.

Meeting Normal Girls

As a tourist, your best chance of meeting a Colombian girl in Cartagena is to prepare your trip in advance. It is called "pipelining", meaning you start chatting and video calling with different girls a few weeks before actually coming to the country. This allows you to bond with a few of them, gain their trust, and make things much easier once in Colombia.

The most recommended website for that is ColombianCupid. It has hundreds of girls online, most of which do not mind a long distance relationship with a foreign man. It also has some prostitutes, so make that clear from the beginning.

Tinder is another option, but based on my experience, it only works if you are young, handsome and living in Cartagena.

Best Hotels Near Cartagena Nightlife

If you want to be walking distance from 90% of the best clubs and bars in Cartagena, I recommend you to stay near the Torre Del Reloj (Clock Tower). As it turns out, this is also the best location for exploring the city's colonial district.

These hotels are recommended:
- 80$ per night: Casa Cordoba Roman
- 50$ per night: Hotel San Felipe
- 30$ per night: Hotel Luna Nueva

Best Bars and Clubs in Cartagena

Alquimico Bar

Trendy bar on 3 levels (bar, restaurant, rooftop), it serves some of the best cocktails in town, mostly Rum-based (around 8-10$ each). Fun atmosphere, it is usually crowded from Thursday to Saturday starting 11PM. Tourist and expat crowd. Good for meeting normal girls at the bar on the 1st floor. Music can be Latin or more electronic.

If you like this kind of places, you may also want to check the restaurant-bar El Baron, which is just a few minutes away, walking distance. It is a smaller venue, perfect for cocktails before starting your night out.

Mister Babilla

Another famous club in Getsamani, Mister Babilla is housed in an old colonial building. Similar to Andres Carne de Rey in Bogota: It's a restaurant with various bars and dance floor areas, and a mix of Latin hits (Merengue, Reggaeton, Salsa). Reasonable prices, cover charge of less than 4$. The atmosphere gets very festive, kind of carnivalesque, with a mix of tourists and locals. Some prostitutes work there.

Along the beachfront street Calle 24 in Getsemani, next to Mr. Babilla, there are many other nightclubs lined up one after the other. They are usually less touristy and cheaper than elsewhere. Some of them are Mojitos Cocktail Bar, D8 Club (LGBT, Gay-Friendly), Borracha VIP, Taboo Disco Club, La Santa (Techno), and La Farra Club.

Cafe Havana

Located in the Getsemani neighborhood, it is a famous and touristy salsa club with a typically Latin atmosphere. Bill and Hillary Clinton went there a few years ago on a trip to Cartagena. 10$ cover charge to get in. Crowded inside so book a table ahead if possible. Cuban music (mostly covers) from a live band starts after 11PM. Rather upmarket, so try to dress up a bit. Small dancefloor, usually packed.

On the same street as Havana, there are two more authentic salsa bars that you can try: Vueltabajero and Casa Quiebra Canto. A bit further away, Salsa Donde Fidel, next to the Hard Rock Café, and Crazy Salsa are also recommended.

La Movida Gastro Bar

One of the trendiest bars/clubs/restaurants in Cartagena, it is normally packed on weekends with a beautiful crowd. Dress up if you want to visit as it is not rare to be refused entry (unfortunately, blacks seems to have a harder time getting inside). Good for meeting girls. No prostitutes. Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 9PM. Latin house music. Serves Tapas.

Nearby, you can also visit Babar, which is similarly high end for Cartagena standards.

La Jugada Clubhouse

A high-end club owned by the same guy behind La Movida. The concept is similar: It is a multi-storied club with a rooftop and a central bar on the first floor. Different music on every level, from reggaeton to EDM. Chic crowd, mostly Colombian. Do not come wearing sandals or shorts. Prices are expensive (10-12$ for cocktails) and you may have to book a table to get in as a group.

Eivissa

This multi-storied rooftop bar is a large venue, filled with mostly tourists, both locals and foreigners. Nice views on the Torre del Reloj from there. You have to pay an entrance fee of 7$ to get in, and then the drinks are pretty expensive inside. On weekend nights, it can get annoyingly packed. Service was unfriendly. The music is different on both floors (Reggaeton in one, EDM in the other).

If you like Eivissa, you can also two more clubs nearby that are just 100 meters away: Tu Candela, a fun and colorful bar/restaurant, and VIP Club, a club with mostly Colombians.

Tucandela Bar

Also nearby, with the same view as Eivissa, you can find the Gastro Pub Mirador. It is more upmarket, perfect for having a few drinks before partying:

El Mirador Rooftop

Barzuto Social Club

This is the best club to hear Champeta music, a style specific to the area around Cartagena. They also play reggae and afro-beat music. Come after 11PM and you'll see a sweaty dancefloor with a mixed crowd of Colombians and tourists. The setting is not too sophisticated, but it looks authentic and colorful.

Misti-K Club

This is a relatively new nightclub, high-end, with a clean crowd of locals, expats and tourists. The music is a crossover of Latin, EDM, House and Reggaeton. Definitely, a place to watch!

Paraiso del Marino and Pley Club

Inside Pley Club

These two clubs are considered the most high-end bordellos in the city. They are located outside the tourist area (10 minutes away for Pley Club, 15 minutes away for Paraiso). I personally haven't been there, but if you are looking for striptease, erotic shows, private lapdances, or spending the night with a prostitute, they are the places.

Cafe del Mar

Amazing views and Caribbean views in the Old Town. This is a great spot to have a few drinks to start the night off right. The food is decent, too. Not for partying, but more of a pregame place.

Partying Outside the Tourist Area
To experience authentic Cartagena nightlife, where zero tourists go, you should get out of Getsemani and try different neighborhoods. I recommend going within the vicinity of the Paseo de la Castellana. There, you will find several fun clubs such as Green Moon VIP Club, Tu Yeré, Las Palmas, Jamaica, or Di Caché. The music in those places is almost always "crossover", meaning a selection of popular Latino, Carribean, and House hits.

The Maldives is not the best place in the world to experience a crazy nightlife, mainly because tourists are spread on hundreds of different islands. It also doesn't help that most inhabitants are strict Muslims and that alcohol is prohibited in all local areas.

On the country's 200 "local" islands, you cannot drink or buy any alcohol, even a simple beer. Doing so is only permitted on the "resort" islands, on which the luxury hotels are built.

As a result, the Maldives has never been considered a party destination. Its atmosphere is relaxed and quiet, and a popular choice for couples on honeymoon.

If the thought of going to bed by 8 PM every night during your stay sounds too boring, don't despair. You can still find a few bars/clubs within some of the resorts and hotels.

The following nightlife review will give you a quick overview of your options for drinking and partying in the Maldives.

How much does it cost to drink alcohol in the Maldives?

Drinking alcohol in the Maldives is not cheap, considering almost all the bars and clubs are within luxury resorts.

Indeed, you are not allowed to buy alcohol on any of the "local" islands, including Male, even if you are an expatriate. It is also forbidden to bring your own bottles from the duty-free. If you try to bring one, it will certainly be seen in the X-rays and confiscated.

In the international hotels, you can expect to pay between US15$ and US20$ for a cocktail (+ 22% tax and service) and between US7$ and US10$ for a beer (+ 22% tax and service).

Drinking alcohol in Male, the capital city

Foreigners living in Male do not have many options for partying or drinking alcohol. There are no bars or nightclubs in the capital city, only a few shisha cafés with live music (for instance, the Cave Café).

Whenever they need a drink, they will need to go to nearby islands where alcohol is allowed.

Most often, they will choose the nearest and cheapest one, the airport island, more precisely at the Champs bar of the Hulhulé Island Hotel. There are ferries going there every 30 or 60 minutes and the return ticket costs less than US3$. The bar is quite basic but nice enough for downing a few beers, socializing with other expats, and watching sports.

Some luxury resorts (like Centara Ras Fushi) also offer daily packages to visitors, allowing them to enjoy their swimming pool, their beach, their restaurant, and their bar. In general, free flow alcohol, a buffet lunch, and a return boat transfer are included in the price (around US$80 -US150$ per pax). You can purchase your daily pass through an agent, for instance, iCom.

The Floating Bar and Safari (+960 763-0899) is another option for drinking alcohol. It's a small boat parked about 500 meters from the shores in Maafushi lagoon (Male). The staff is not particularly friendly and it is far from being luxurious, but the prices are reasonable for the Maldives (US5$ for a beer and US12$ for a cocktail). It's best to go there before sunset.

Finally, there are also regular parties organized by expats and for expats (check on Facebook Maldives Expat Parties and Maldives Unwind Parties).

Top Resort Bars and Clubs in the Maldives

All the luxurious resorts on the non-local islands will have restaurants and bars serving alcohol, most likely with a live band in the evening.

Here are the 5 most recommended:

1-Oak at Finolhu Resort

Those familiar with NYC nightlife probably know 1-Oak, one of the most exclusive lounges in the city. The brand also has locations in Dubai, Tokyo, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

The concept of 1-Oak in Finolhu is a bit different, closer to that of a beach club. It has nightly performances from DJs, live bands and artists. They also have weekly themed parties and, a few times per year, festivals with famous guest DJs.

Beach Rouge at Lux South Ari

This is one of the coolest bars in the Maldives, with a DJ every evening playing tropical disco and beach house.

Sip Bar at W Maldives

The W Maldives targets a young clientele and features a nice beach bar, Sip, with a live DJ playing electronic music twice weekly. Note that there used to be a nightclub called 15 Below but it seemed to have closed down.

Farheinheit Bar at Per Aquum Niyama Resort

The Niyama used to have an underwater club, accessible only with a speedboat, called Subsix (six meters below water). It still exists but it is a normal restaurant now.

Instead, guests of the resort can enjoy a drink in their rooftop bar Farheinheit, that features a beautiful view of the sunset.

Kandu Bar at Kurumba Resort

This resort, located near Male, is more affordable than the ones mentioned above. It is popular among expats for day trips and it has enough guests for the bar to be crowded enough.

Every night, you have a different event: Live music, Boduberu dance and drums performances (traditional Maldivian music), DJs, Jazz nights and wine tasting. It is in the open-air and closes at 1 AM.

Any other suggestions for nightlife in the Maldives?

If I forgot a great bar or nightclub for partying, please leave me a message in the comment section below.

Indonesia is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia where gambling is completely illegal, for both locals and foreigners.

You will not find any proper casinos in the country, and you risk being thrown to jail if you are caught betting money.

Of course, there is the law, and then there is reality. The truth is that Indonesians love gambling and many will find a way to do so, even with the restrictions.

I've seen several forms of gambling while living in Indonesia. The most spectacular was an underground casino with slot machines and poker tables inside a nightclub of North Jakarta. It was in 2003 and, to my knowledge, this kind of casinos does not exist anymore. They were member-only and reserved for the elite, with a membership fee that could cost over ten thousand dollars. It is now probably easier to just go to Singapore or Macau.

Middle-class Indonesians will more likely bet while playing pool, board games or dominoes. In Bali, it is also common to witness cockfights, especially in small villages.

In the past few years, online gambling has grown into the favorite way for Indonesians to enjoy their forbidden hobby.

Online gambling is available on websites or apps on which it is possible to play various games, sometimes for money, and sometimes just for fun. They are often blocked by the Indonesian government, but it is easy to access them anyway using a VPN (see my article here on How to Access Blocked Websites in Indonesia).

Let's see how they work, for instance with one of the most popular: Wymbet168.com.

Wymbet is called a gambling agent. Basically, it helps Indonesian gamblers access the most famous international game providers, such as the ones listed below:

These providers are normally difficult to access from Indonesia for several reasons: They are blocked by the government, they do not have an Indonesian version, and most important of all, they do not accept Indonesian credit cards.

Wymbet solves all these issues, especially the payment one, by accepting transfers from the largest Indonesian banks like BCA, BNI, BRI and Mandiri.

Players only need to load a minimum deposit of IDR20,000 (less than 2 dollars) to play dozens of different games. For instance:

Virtual casinos

It looks real but it's a virtual casino

These are quite impressive. They are made using photos and videos of actual casinos, giving you the illusion that you are playing in the real world. They have all the typical games: Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Slots, etc.

Sports Betting:

Wymbet gives you access to several providers, including 368Bet.com. These websites are a bit more complicated to understand. Basically, you can see a list of live sports events with the current score and the odds. For instance, if the odds are 1.56, it means that you get IDR 15,600 for a IDR 10,000 bet in case your team wins.

E-Games:

These are generally just fancy slot machines with plenty of colors and animation to keep you hooked up. Fish hunter games are similar to those.

Lottery

There are many different kinds of lottery games. One of the most famous is Keno, in which the player chooses between 1 and 20 numbers on a grid that consists of 80 numbers. Once done, 20 numbers are drawn and the players win money depending on how many numbers he managed to guess correctly.

Poker

While you can also play this game in online casinos, providers specialized in poker are more interesting because they allow you to play against other “real” players. You also have more options to choose your level, your rules and the amount you bet.

Conclusion

Gambling, including online, is still illegal in Indonesia. But, as we saw, it has become extremely difficult for the government to enforce the law.

Websites like Wymbet are based in foreign countries where gambling is legal, and therefore there is nothing the police can do. Even if they block the website, it is easy for the customers to use a VPN and access it anyway.

Maybe it would be better to just allow it, like Singapore did, in some restricted areas of Indonesia?

Note: I haven't visited any of the soaplands mentioned below. All the information here was gathered from research on forums and websites about nightlife in Tokyo.

Soaplands are one of the many types of prostitutions existing in Japan, but it is the only one where actual vaginal intercourse is included in the price. You may be surprised to read this, considering it is normally illegal to pay for sex in the country.

The owners of these venues have indeed found a loophole in the law: Technically, you are only paying for bathing services, and then it is assumed that the girl will automatically fall in love with you and agree to have sex.

In this review, you will learn everything you need to know about soaplands with nuru massage in Tokyo. In particular, I'll answer the questions: Which ones accept foreigners (gaijin)? What kind of services they offer? and how much do they cost?

Just scroll down to begin reading...

Universe Club (Sponsored)

If you are a single expat living in Japan, or if you regularly visit the country, you are probably interested to meet smart, open-minded and beautiful Japanese girls.

Unfortunately, regular dating sites do not work very well, and prostitution doesn't give you the kind of girlfriend experience you are looking for.

In that case, you may want to consider upscale Japanese dating agencies, for instance Universe Club. It is the largest in the country and it accepts foreigners (they even have a branch in Singapore).

Their concept is simple, similar to sugar dating: You pay for a yearly membership fee, then a setting fee for each time you meet a girl.

Overall, if you use their services a few times in the year, it is cheaper than soaplands or escort services.

Location of Soaplands in Tokyo

There are three main red-light district areas with soaplands in Tokyo:

Yoshiwara

By far, the largest and most popular location for soaplands in Tokyo is Yoshiwara in the Taitō ward. You will find over 50 soaplands there, in a rather small perimeter near the Hotel Neo Rouge.

On average, prices are more affordable than elsewhere, ranging from 25,000 YEN to 40,000 YEN. The quality can be disappointing, though: As a foreigner, only a few girls in each venue will accept to service you, and often not the prettiest ones.

The nearest train stations from Yoshiwara are Minowa Station (1km) and Minami Station (1.6km). If you are on a budget while visiting Tokyo, it can be a smart idea to stay in this part of town, especially near Ueno station. Many reasonably-priced hotels there, for instance Sardonyx Ueno (most recommended).

Kabukicho/Shinjuku

This is another red-light district of Tokyo, in the Shinjuku ward. It is very large but not dedicated to soapland massage parlours only and you will also find clubs, bars, karaokes, etc.

Most soaplands in this area, such as Don Juan or Barubola, are more expensive and exclusive (above 50,000 YEN). Naturally, the standard is much higher.

They can be reached within 10 minutes by foot from Shinjuku Station. Hotels nearby will cost between US120$ and US150$ per night (most recommended ones are Citadines Central and Hotel Gracery).

Ikebukuro

Ikebukuro is part of the "entertainment district" of Toshima Ward. It has a red light area, similar to that of Kabukicho, but smaller.

The soaplands there rarely see foreigners, but a few will accept them like Violence and Heaven.

While this neighborhood looks far on a map, it can actually be easily accessed from Ikebukuro Station (5 minutes walk). Super Hotel Lohas Ikebukuro is next to the red light area and very economical (US80$ per night).

Other locations:

95% of foreigner-friendly soaplands in Tokyo are in these 3 areas. You can check the map at the end of this article to see a few other options.

What to Expect in a Soapland in Tokyo

After you've entered a soapland, first you will have to choose the type and duration of your massage, usually between 70 and 120 minutes. The prices can vary a lot, from 25,000 YEN for the cheapest ones, up to 100,000 YEN.

Beware of deceiving techniques where only the entrance fee is shown. Prices under 15,000 YEN are impossible so be sure to ask the receptionist what the actual total cost will be. Foreigners are often charged an additional "gaijin" tax of around 10,000 YEN.

After that, you will be shown the pictures of girls available. As a foreigner, your choice will probably be limited to 2-4 girls.

English is rarely spoken. Download the Google Translate app to make sure the communication is smooth.

Most likely, when you meet the masseuse you've chosen, you'll realize the picture was heavily photoshopped. She will probably be a bit fatter, or skinnier, and she may be older than the age marked on her profile.

In the room, the therapist will first bathe you using a "sukebe" chair which allows access to massage your private areas. There might be a blowjob performed here at some point. You will then move to a bathtub, or a rubber mattress, depending on the venue. On the later, she will slide her naked body onto yours, using plenty of lotion to make it slippery. It is called a Nuru massage when she uses a special kind of lotion made from Nori seaweed.

The session is usually concluded with intercourse, on the mattress or in the bed. After that, the girl will bathe you one last time before you head out.

10 Foreigner-Friendly Soapland in Tokyo

The following soaplands are the 10 most recommended by foreigners.

Note that you can click on the title of each soapland to see their girls' pictures, the opening hours and the updated prices. If you don't speak Japanese, you can copy and paste the URL onto Google Translate.

Paradise (Kawasaki)

This soapland, open in May 2017, is in Kawasaki. It is further away than the other venues mentioned below, but it is still very popular as it is reserved to foreigners. You will not be turned down by any girls there. It is just a kilometer walking distance from Kawasaki JR (see map below).

Price:

42,000 YEN for 90 minutes

Paradise (Yoshiwara)

This soapland has just opened in March 2019. It is the sister property of the branch in Kawasaki. I have no doubts that it will become very successful.

Their website is in English and everything is well-explained there.

Price:

45,000-50,000 YEN for 90 minutes

Don Juan (Shinjuku)

One of the most luxurious soaplands in Tokyo that accept foreigners. It is 10 minutes by foot from Shinjuku train station.

Price:

85,000 YEN for 120 minutes

There seems to be another soapland in the same location called Sinkaigyo. It is a bit cheaper as it charges "only" 50,000 YEN for foreigners.

Barubola (Shinjuku)

This is also a luxury place, reserved to those who can afford to blow a 600 dollars in 90 minutes.

Their website is partially translated in English and Chinese, which is quite helpful. There, you can see the names, mensurations, schedule and jobs of the masseuses, but not their pics.

Foreigners are not always welcomed there. It depends on who is working that day, and on your appearance. Make sure you dress well (no shorts, no sandals) and look clean.

Price:

63,000 YEN for 90 minutes

126,000 YEN for 180 minutes

Darling Harbour (Yoshiwara)

Darling Harbour is another favorite of expats and tourists in Tokyo. Because it is more affordable, it is often the first choice for those who are new to the soapland scene. You still get the same service than elsewere, including the bathing and the nuru massage.

Price:

30,000 JPY for 70 minutes

King's Club (Yoshiwara)

King's Club famous for having older girls/MILF, some of whom probably in their late 30s. If you like mature women, you may also want to check Rothenburg.

Price:

45,000 JPY for 130 min

Dolce (Yoshiwara)

This is also a cheap soapland, where girls are usually young and have less experience. They have a school girl uniform theme, which can be off-putting for non-Japanese.

25,000 YEN for 60 minutes

31,000 YEN for 80 minutes

Atelier Naniwa (Yoshiwara)

This soapland allows foreigners and doesn't charge them extra. It is a bit hard to find, so the picture above should help you.

25,000 YEN for 70 minutes

33,000 YEN for 100 minutes

40,000 YEN for 130 minutes

Putit Royal (Yoshiwara)

Despite being one of the cheapest options for soapy massage/nuru massage in Tokyo, Putit Royal has generally good reviews and it offers the same service as elsewhere.

20,000 YEN for 70 minutes

24,000 YEN for 90 minutes

30,000 Yen for 120 minutes

Map of Soaplands in Tokyo

The following map shows the locations of the most famous soaplands accepting foreigners in Tokyo.

"Sugar dating" is booming all over Asia, and this is particularly true in Japan. In Tokyo, which is regularly ranked among the most expensive cities in the world, a growing number of young women are joining dating clubs or sugar baby websites, hoping they can find a man who can support them financially.

For guys, especially those with comfortable revenues, it is a way to simplify the dating process and to find girls they normally don't have access to. In real life, few men in their 40s have the opportunity to meet and date a sexy student in her twenties, and sugar dating gives them a chance.

If you are tempted by this experience while living or visiting Japan, this article will tell you everything you should know: How does sugar dating work, how much does it cost, and how to find a sugar baby in Tokyo.

What is Sugar Dating?

Sugar dating is a relationship with benefits between a young woman (a sugar baby) and an older man (a sugar daddy). Typically, the sugar daddy is expected to provide gifts for his sugar baby: It can be a monthly allowance, a big check to pay for her studies, some fancy dinners, a trip to the Maldives, a weekend in a luxury hotel, etc. Basically, anything that can make a girl happy, especially if she can brag about it on her Instagram.

For some purists, a sugar daddy is also supposed to be a mentor (professionally, but also emotionally and sexually). If you haven't seen it yet, watch "50 Shades of Grey". It's a terrible movie, but it will help you understand the fantasy and expectations of many girls who become sugar babies.

Is Sugar Dating a form of prostitution?

Though many people would disagree, I personally don't think sugar dating is prostitution. Of course, some girls will pretend to be sugar babies, yet they will go directly to anyone's hotel room for a couple of hundred dollars. These girls are escorts.

A sugar baby will act differently. Even though she is attracted to money, she still needs to be seduced and to feel a connection before agreeing to sex. As many of them write on their profiles: "Chemistry is a must!". They can often be materialistic, of course, but being superficial or shallow doesn't make you a prostitute.

Also, sugar babies often expect more than just sex from their dates. Definitely, they are looking for an experience, something thrilling, that will make their lives more exciting.

I know a couple of guys who have a thing for upper-class, older women. They love being desired and spoiled by them, maybe because it makes them feel empowered. I would never think of them as gigolos, and I feel the same when the genders are reversed.

Cost of having a sugar baby in Tokyo

Having a sugar baby in Tokyo is more expensive than elsewhere in Asia. It is difficult to estimate the exact cost since each relationship is different but, still, I can give you an approximate number.

First, the cost of finding a sugar baby:

The best dating clubs (like Universe) charge between US$200 and US2,500$ per year in registration fees. Then, for each meeting with a girl, you will have to pay between US150$ and US800$. It's expensive, but that's where the most beautiful girls are.

International sugar baby websites, like SeekingArrangement, are cheaper. The price is 20$ per month or 120$ per year.

Second, the cost of maintaining a relationship:

This will depend on your agreement. If you want her to be in an exclusive relationship with you, you should be able to give a monthly allowance of US$1,500-US$3,000, + some gifts once in a while.

If you only plan on meeting with her occasionally, for instance during a weekend, a normal rate is between US300$ and US500$ per day.

Again, these numbers are gross estimates and they really depend on the state of your relationship with your sugar baby. Sometimes, the relationship can be based on gifts only, or it can evolve in a love story where money becomes secondary.

Best websites to meet a Japanese sugar baby

There are 3 best ways to meet a sugar baby in Tokyo:

Universe Club

This is the largest dating club in Japan, with nearly 8,000 Japanese women available. Most of them can speak English, and they are extremely diverse, from students still living with their families to famous JAV stars or gravure models.

I've explained how their system works in details here: How to Meet a Beautiful Japanese Girl?

Basically, customers must pay a yearly fee: The more they pay, the higher the class of girls they can date (from standard class to black class). Once members, they have access to a catalog with a detailed profile for each girl, and they can request to meet anyone they like. If the girl agrees, then it's a date and they are charged for a "setting rate".

The girls from Universe are definitely real sugar babies. They know that the clients of the club are rich and that's the main reason they are joining it. Another reason is that the website offers much more privacy than the competition. Only members have access to the girl's photos, and the clients are all screened by the management to guarantee their safety.

Overall, if you can afford it, this is your best choice for meeting a pretty Japanese sugar baby in Tokyo.

Note: The service is also available in Singapore, where they have a branch.

Seeking Arrangement

This international website is currently the leader for finding sugar babies anywhere on the planet. It has about 900 girls profiles in Tokyo, with only a third who are real Japanese girls.

The main problem with Seeking Arrangement is that it's quite easy for anyone with an email address to see the girls' profiles. The registration takes 5 seconds, and you won't be asked to provide any ID or photos. For many potential sugar babies, the fear of being seen by a friend, a co-worker, or a family member will make them reluctant to register. As a result, the quality and the diversity of profiles is much lower than on Universe.

On the plus side, it's cheaper and very easy to use.

Tinder

While Tinder is a more conventional dating app, you will still come across many sugar baby profiles when swiping in Tokyo. When you see one, you can just "super like" her, and cross your finger that she'll like you back.

Of course, this is not the best strategy to find a sugar baby, but the obvious benefit is that it's free. However, if you can't afford to spend a few hundred dollars on a website, I'm not sure the sugar dating scene is your thing.

"Sugar dating" is booming in Singapore, both among men and women.

The country is currently the 3rd richest in the world per capita, meaning there are plenty of wealthy guys who can afford to support a girl and/or to buy her expensive gifts.

At the same time, Singaporean girls are famously materialistic and many are actively looking for a partner with deep pockets. They may not care if a guy is handsome or ugly, but they will certainly want to know his job, his position or his income before considering going on a date with him.

Singapore is also home to tens of thousands of foreign girls, especially from nearby Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, Indonesia or Thailand. For many of them, dating a wealthy foreigner can be a life-changing situation and the promise of a better future back home.

This combination of rich guys + money-oriented girls has made Singapore a fertile ground for sugar dating to develop. It's no surprise that the founder of the website SeekingArrangement is Singaporean.

If you are living or visiting the city-state, this article will tell you everything you should know about sugar dating here: How it works, how much it costs, and how to find the perfect sugar baby or a sugar daddy for you.

What is Sugar Dating?

Sugar dating is a relationship between a rich guy (a sugar daddy) and a younger girl (a sugar baby) in which money or gifts are involved. The arrangement is generally agreed upon before the relationship starts and it can take many forms:

The sugar daddy may help his sugar baby to pay for her studies or her rent. He may also provide her with a monthly allowance. Sometimes, the girls will prefer lavish gifts, exotic trips and/or fancy dinners. Generally speaking, if she can brag about it on Instagram, then it can be part of the arrangement.

In some cases, the girl may also expect her sugar daddy to provide some kind of mentorship. She may want to benefit from his experience to improve herself and to learn new skills. For example, he can teach her about wines, about golfing or about career choices. If you are able to make her benefit from your professional network, she will certainly appreciate it too.

Is Sugar Dating a form of prostitution?

Personally, I don't consider that a sugar baby is a prostitute. Even though she likes and cares about money, she still needs to be seduced and to feel a connection before agreeing to sex. As many of them write on their profiles: "Chemistry is a must!". They are often materialistic, of course, but being superficial or shallow doesn't make you a prostitute.

Best websites to meet a Sugar Baby in Singapore

There are the 4 best ways to meet a sugar baby in Singapore:

Universe Club: Japanese Girls in Singapore (Sponsored)

The Japanese dating club Universe has just opened a branch in Singapore so it's relevant to include it here.

This company, the largest of the kind in Japan, allows you to meet smart, beautiful and open-minded Japanese girls who are interested in dating foreigners. Currently, they have over 8,000 girls to choose from, most of whom can speak English and are willing to travel to Singapore.

To meet them, first, you must become a member (starting 250USD per year). At this point, you will be allowed to browse the girls' profiles and to select the ones you want to meet. Each time you meet a girl, you must pay a one-time fee (starting 180USD).

It is not a prostitution site, but the girls are money-oriented and they are receptive to being spoiled.

For more information, I have explained the whole system in details in this article: How to meet a Japanese girl?

Seeking Arrangement

Currently the most famous sugar baby website in the world, it boasts over 3,000 profiles in Singapore. Most of them are Filipinas and Indonesians, but there are many Singaporean girls too.

You can create an account for free. Then, if you want to message someone, you will need to become a premium member (20$ per month).

Girls on Seeking Arrangement are quite diverse. Some are prostitutes, and some are not even looking for money (they just want to meet foreign guys). It's actually pretty fun to look at the site and to read the profiles.

Sugarbook
This website, based in Malaysia, has been growing in Southeast Asia after a scandal broke surrounding a party it sponsored during the Singapore F1 Grand Prix in 2018.

It doesn't have as many members as Seeking Arrangement, but it is an alternative that's worth trying. The premium version is quite expensive, though, at 60$ per month. It allows you to hide your online status, to search for specific profiles and to send an unlimited number of messages.

Tinder

Tinder is a generalist dating app where most people are looking for relationships or hook-ups. That said, if you swipe profiles for a while, you will see a few sugar babies in it. As a guy, you could also write in your profile that you are looking for an "arrangement".

The obvious advantage of Tinder is that it's free, but then if you can't afford to pay for an app, are you sure you can finance the lifestyle of a sugar baby?

Kabuki is an executive club and karaoke located in Lokasari, near Jalan Mangga Besar (West Jakarta). It replaces Newton, which was a similar yet less fancy venue.

It is part of the Alexis Group, which currently owns 1001, Club 36, Zen Club, Emporium and Colosseum. They lost their flagship property, Alexis, in 2018 after it was shut down by the new governor.

You might actually notice that the main lounge in Kabuki looks similar to 4Play, the club that was on the first floor of Alexis.

I was not able to take any photos inside Kabuki because the security put a sticker on my phone's camera. They seem to take privacy very seriously, probably to avoid having the same trouble as they had with Alexis.

What happens inside is not outrageous, though. The lounge itself is medium sized, with 3 podiums in the middle, and VIP areas on the side. You have sexy dancers, but they are wearing clothes and do not perform stripteases. They can be taken to the rooms upstairs, for IDR2,000,000.

I didn't visit the karaoke but I would guess it has high standards and very pretty hostesses. Please leave a comment below if you've been there.

Did you know?In the 1990s, there used to be a big nightclub in Prinsen Park Hotel, also in Lokasari, called Kabuki. It was famous for having an illegal casino.

Kabuki Executive Club and Karaoke

Ruko Permata Lokasari Blok B1

West Jakarta

https://www.instagram.com/kabukihoteljkt/

Gravure idols are the Japanese equivalent to FHM models. They appear on the front page of male-oriented magazines, wearing sexy lingerie or swimsuits, or they shoot videos in which they playfully tease men with suggestive moves.

They will rarely make nudes, or do pornographic movies, though some JAV actresses did start as gravure idols.

On the contrary, for the most talented and beautiful models, the final objective is to become a mainstream actress or singer. That's what happened with most of the girls listed below.

How to Meet Gravure Idols?

One thing you should know is that it is possible to meet and date famous gravure idols, for instance by using the services of an elite dating club like Universe (based in Tokyo and Singapore). Basically, this company helps you to set up dates with Japanese women, in exchange for a fee that varies between US$300 and US$1,500. Naturally, it costs more to meet the most beautiful girls.

If you want to know more about it, you can read my articles: How to Meet Japanese Girls and Sugar Babies in Tokyo.

13 Hottest Japanese Gravure Idols

These are my 13 favorite Japanese glamour models. If I forgot to mention yours, don't hesitate to leave me a comment at the end of the article.

Rena Takeda

This popular actress and model is only 21 years old, and yet her career is already remarkable. She has played in over 20 movies and series, including the main role in Werewolf Game: Inferno.

Nanoka

This 29-year old is only known by the name Nanoka. She was a common face of the gravure/modeling industry in Japan in the early 2010s, before switching to acting.

Risa Yoshiki

Born in 1987, she is one of the most popular gravure models in Japan, mainly because of the contrast between her baby face and her provocative photo shoots. She is also a singer and an actress.

Anri Sugihara

I doubt you could find a cuter model than Anri Sugihara. This petite girl was born in 1982 in Hiroshima. She started her career at 21 and shot dozens of movies until her retirement in 2013.

Ayaka Sayama

This idol debuted before she had even turned 18! Now 25, she still shoots glamorous pictures but she is much less active than in her late teens.

Asuka Kishi

This gorgeous native of Osaka (born in 1991) has been featured in several advertisements, including one for Glico. She was also an actress in various movies and Japanese TV dramas.

Osawa Reimi

I didn't find much information about this slim gravure model, but you can follow her Instagram to learn more about her. She was born in Saitama in 1993 and she is 160cm.

Hinako Sano

Now an actress who has played in several famous dramas, she actually started her career posing in sexy outfits for men magazines.

Rio Uchida

This gravure model became a mainstream actress after being cast as the main heroine of the TV series Kamen Rider Drive. She was born in 1991 and she is 166cm high.

Yuko Ogura

A slender model with an innocent face, she was voted among the 10 sexiest Japanese gravure models by the magazine FHM in 2010.

Yuuna Suzuki

Born in 1992, this Japanese girl with a slim body and an angel face has made the cover of several magazines. She is also an actress for TV ads and soap operas.

Nozomi Sasaki

She became particularly famous in Japan after marrying Ken Watabe. She started as a gravure model, then she went on to release a few songs and played in over 30 TV series/movies.

Yoko Kumada

This girl modeled until later in her 30s, after giving birth to 3 children. This is old enough to be considered "mature" in Japan. Nonetheless, she still looks stunning.

As of October 2018, there are 766,000 porn websites blocked in Indonesia, but also 2,120 betting sites and about 100 radical websites.

10 years ago, there was no censorship in the country. It all started under SBY in 2008, when the parliament passed the now-famous Anti-Porn bill. This law stipulates that possessing or downloading porn can be punishable by up to 4 years in jail. Worse, being involved in a "sexually suggestive performance" is worth up to 12 years in prison. Now you understand why there aren't any active Indonesian pornstars.

At first, only the most famous porn sites were blocked, but the rest was easily accessible. Then slowly, more and more sites were filtered, until it became impossible to see anything without the use of a VPN. Even typing naughty words on Google will be censored.

So what should you do if you really want to access a blocked site?

The solution is simple, cheap, and it will be useful to you in so many situations other than for watching porn (for instance to use Netflix): You must use a VPN.

I had already written about the best VPNs in Indonesia a few months ago. I will be a bit more specific here and explain to you how it works exactly.

For that, I will show you the example of VPN I'm currently using, VyprVPN. I recommend this one for Indonesia, but feel free to purchase another one if you feel there is a better choice. Anyway, the interface always looks similar to one another.

To make sure everyone can understand this post, I will keep my explanations as simple as possible, especially on the technicalities. Please leave a comment below if you think I left out something important or if you require additional information.

What is a VPN and why you need one?

A VPN client is a small software that you can install on your computer or your phone in order to access a VPN (or Virtual Private Network). When you connect to a VPN, you can surf the web anonymously, from another location than Indonesia and with all your data protected.

In the case of VyprVPN, the software looks like this:

When you click on the connect button, you will access the internet through a server (here in Singapore). From this moment on, the websites you visit will not know that you are in Indonesia and instead they'll assume you are in Singapore. Since the connection is encrypted and anonymous, there is also no way for third parties to know who you are and what you are doing online.

The benefits of using a VPN in Indonesia are particularly important for 3 main reasons:

- Access websites blocked by the Indonesian government

Almost all porn websites are blocked in Indonesia, including the most famous ones like PornHub, XHamster, YouPorn or XVideos. As soon as a new one is popular, it will get banned almost immediately. Sex-oriented forums and dating sites like internationalsexguide.info or AdultFriendFinder may also be inaccessible.

- Bypass regional restrictions affecting Indonesia

Some internet content may not be available from Indonesia, not because of the government, but because of the content providers themselves. For instance, I cannot watch TV replays from a French TV channel because it only allows viewing from Europe. This is a common problem with many streaming services (Netflix, BeIN Connect, etc).

The leading betting website betfair.com also do not allow bets coming from Indonesia.

When using a VPN, it is very easy to bypass those restrictions as you can simply connect from a server in the country of your choice. This can be done with just one click:

- Protect your identity from the Electronic Information and Transaction Law of 2008

When you surf the web in Indonesia either from a laptop or a mobile phone, you are not anonymous. Your internet provider knows who you are and which websites you visit (even if you are in incognito mode). Worse, he may communicate that information to your employer or to the government. Western countries spy on the internet and there is no reason to think that Indonesia does not. If you are often exchanging sensitive information or if you like visiting unorthodox websites, using a VPN is a necessary protection for your privacy.

Furthermore, after Indonesia voted the law on Electronic Information and Transaction in 2008, it has become easier to accuse anyone of defamation, insult or blasphemy. If you enjoy political discussions about Indonesia on forums or on the comment section of news sites, I really advise remaining as anonymous as possible.

If you are regularly traveling to Asia, the VPN will also help you in almost every country as each has its own restrictions: China blocks pretty much everything (Google, Facebook, Youtube - and even Jakarta100bars.com), Malaysia blocks porn and opposition websites, Thailand blocks any websites criticizing the monarchy, etc. In almost all Asian countries, at least a few people have been arrested for writing "inappropriate" comments on Facebook.

VyprVPN Features

Servers

It is important to choose a VPN with an important number of servers, especially if you travel a lot. For Indonesia, the fastest servers will typically be the ones in countries like Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, Macau or Hong Kong.

The great thing about VyprVPN is that they even have a server in Indonesia. This is really useful if you want to be geolocated in Indonesia while having total privacy.

See more: VyprVPN Servers Location.

Privacy
VyprVPN is one of the most serious options when it comes to the protection of their users' privacy. The main reason for that is that they do not keep logs from your connection, meaning that even they do not know which websites you visited. Also, they have a Modulating IP feature that modifies your IP address continuously while you are surfing. This makes it impossible for anyone to track your whereabouts.

There are several privacy and protection features that would please more demanding users. I invite you to check this page for more information: VyprVPN.

Accessing Blocked Website in Indonesia with VyprVPN
My most important concern when using a VPN is: Can I surf any websites, even those that are blocked? Can I use any streaming websites (like Netflix)? Can I download movies and torrents fast?

I can answer YES to all of these questions. I managed (for research purpose of course) to access all porn websites I could find, and all the blocked websites mentioned above. I also could watch Netflix USA using my friend's account. I could connect to the torrent website kat.how and I download some movies (only legal ones naturally). Using VyprVPN did not affect my speed (I was even watching YouTube at the same time). Finally, I visited the website of the French TV channels I mentioned earlier and I could watch all their videos without any restrictions on content.

Is it legal to use a VPN
YES. There are no laws forbidding the use of VPN in Indonesia, even to access illegal websites (like porn). You will not get into any troubles for using one.

Read more: Are VPNs Legal in Indonesia?

Installing and Using VyprVPN
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to install and use VyprVPN (it is so easy that all you need to make it work is a somewhat functioning brain).

Step 1: Register (7 Days Free Trial)

After you choose a VyprVPN plan, you will be invited to create an account on Golden Frog's control panel. This is where you can update your information and set up your VPN (if you have special needs, otherwise just ignore it). This is also where you can contact the support team and read dozens of tutorials and guides.

Step 2: Install
After you've subscribed, you will need to download the VPN client software from your account. You just need to click on "Download VyprVPN" under the Dashboard tab:

Step 3: Connect
Once the client software is installed and launched, all you will need to do is click on CONNECT and enter your login/password.

Step 4: Surf the web freely and anonymously

Once connected, you can now surf any blocked websites and nobody will know what you are visiting (including your boss, your internet provider, etc).

You may switch server location as often as you'd like to and you can also monitor in real-time your traffic speed.

Pricing

VyprVPN has a similar pricing compared to other VPNs like PureVPN or IPVanish (actually, it is even cheaper if you buy a 12-month plan).

There are 2 kinds of plans depending on the number of devices allowed. Here is a summary:

VyprVPN Basic (3 simultaneous devices): 9.95$ per month or 5$/month with an annual plan

VyprVPN Premium (5 simultaneous devices + Chameleon technology which is needed for China): 12.95$ per month or 6.67$/month with an annual plan

You can see more details by clicking on this link: VyprVPN Plans & Pricing.

For most people, 3 devices are normally enough (laptop and phone). This means that with just 60$ per year, you can have access to any blocked websites in Indonesia. You'll also enjoy stress-free web browsing, knowing that no one can find out about your online activities.

In case you want to cancel your subscription, you can do it for free after 7 days. If you take a monthly plan, you can cancel any time also.

Netflix is not blocked by the Indonesian government, but it is blocked by Telkom (IndiHome), a government-owned company and one of the largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the country.

The reason behind the blocking is simply that they have shares in Netflix's Asian competitor, iFlix and therefore they want to force you to subscribe to their own service.

If you haven't chosen your internet service provider yet, try to avoid Telkom, and choose instead a company like First Media, Indosat or Biznet.

Unfortunately, some people cannot choose their providers due to their building management or owner restrictions. If you are in Indonesia only for a short time, on business or on holiday, you may also not be at liberty to avoid Telkom.

If you are stuck with IndiHome and your Netflix account refuses to connect, don't worry as there is an easy solution: All you need to do is to subscribe to a VPN. It isn't free, but still very cheap (under 5$ per month) and extremely useful if you also care about your privacy online. Read about the benefits of using a VPN here: Best VPNs for Indonesia.

I suggest VyprVPN as I can guarantee it works well to unblock Netflix in Indonesia. I've been using it for over 2 years and never had any issues. I need to reconnect from time to time, or to change servers, but it doesn't really bother me.

To make it work perfectly, you need to modify the settings a little bit. Let me show you how to install it and make it ready to watch Netflix:

First Step:

You need to subscribe to VyprVPN. You have a 3-day free trial using this link (which also gives you 3 months free on annual accounts).

The price is reasonable, starting at $3.75/month if you subscribe to a yearly plan. You can pay by Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Paypal and Alipays.

Second Step:

Once you have subscribed, you can login to your account and download the software VyprVPN on your desired device:

Third Step:

Once you have downloaded the software or the app, open it on your device and login with your VyprVPN credentials. They were sent to your email at the time of your subscription.

Fourth Step:

Once logged in, go to VyprVPN --> Preferences --> Protocol:

Make sure you select Chameleon whenever you want to unblock Netflix in Indonesia. The rest of the time, you can select OpenVPN only.

Fifth Step:

On the main interface, change your location to any of the servers in the US. Again, if you are not watching Netflix, it is better to select a server in Indonesia or Asia as they will be faster.

Troubleshooting:

- You should now be able to watch Netflix US, just as if you were in your home country. The connection will sometimes drop, so you can solve this problem by simply ticking the button "automatically reconnect" in VyprVPN --> Preferences --> Connection

- Another problem you could be facing is that a server might get temporarily blocked by Netflix. In that case, just try another server. For instance, choose Miami instead of Chicago.

Conclusion: About Watching Netflix in Indonesia
Even if your ISP is not blocking Netflix, it can be useful to have a VPN as it will allow you to bypass regional restrictions and see more TV shows and movies.

Do you know other VPN that work to unblock Netflix in Indonesia? If yes, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below.

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