Thank you for joining us for another Top Spots to Stop post. This week we are on and around Jalan Bumi, (pronounced Boo-mee) a road located in the Kebayoran Baru area. In Bahasa Indonesia Bumi means 'Earth' and true to its name, tall trees line the relatively short stretch of road, along with a comfortable footpath which makes it easy to explore this block. We highly recommend enjoying Jalan Bumi on foot.

Jalan Bumi is located in a predominantly residential area, and interestingly, many families have lived and worked on this street for up to 60 years.

To begin our tour, start at the north end at Lewis & Carroll Tea House, make your way south, towards Jalan Kyai Maja. You will discover narrow residential alleyways lined with greenery hanging from baskets, warungs serving up a variety of local foods along with street art by famous graffiti artist Darbotz.

If you are on Jalan Bumi around 1pm, you will encounter crowds of high school students filing out of school, and busily queuing for their favourite snack at the street vendors lining Jalan Bumi.

Several shops and a famous pasar stand out for us that are unique to this neighbourhood. If you haven't stopped on or around Jalan Bumi yet, we hope you get a chance to visit soon. Join us below ... we'll show you the best spots to stop!

Lewis and Carroll Artisanal Tea Blender

Located at the north end of the road, you will find Lewis & Caroll Artisanal Tea House

Lewis & Carroll source their teas from reputable plantations across Indonesia and abroad, and offer an extensive list of tea blends. Visitors can choose anything from their 12 categories of tea including— black tea, infused black tea, white tea, infused white tea, herbal tea, green tea, infused green tea, oolong tea, infused oolong tea, spices, fruit tea, and flower tea.

Lewis & Caroll is also a restaurant, providing a wide selection of foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner along with their extensive list of artisan teas. Click here for their menu

Jl. Bumi No. 4
Pakubuwono
Jakarta Selatan

Instagram: Lewis and Carroll Tea
Web: Lewis and Carroll Tea
Opening hours: Mon – Sun | 8am – 10pm

Best for: Beautifully chilled iced tea served in carafes with sugar syrup on the side, and piping hot tea made from fresh loose leaves served from beautiful pottery tea pots.

Other Interesting Notes: No artificial colouring or flavouring are used in Lewis & Carroll Tea, and they make a fab matcha green tea.

You know we are always looking for our next coffee fix, but today we chose tea! Yes iced tea! I chose 'Red Ruby Skies' which was made from elderberry, apple, hibiscus, safflower and pineapple, and Jo decided on the 'Happy Summer Day' which contained… — You know we are always looking for our next coffee fix, but today we chose tea! Yes iced tea! I chose 'Red Ruby Skies' which was made from elderberry, apple, hibiscus, safflower and pineapple, and Jo decided on the 'Happy Summer Day' which contained apple, pineapple, papaya, mango, hibiscus, bamboo and lemongrass. They were delicious and the perfect thirst quencher!

The Lewis & Carroll 'Red Ruby Skies' and ''Happy Summer Day' iced tea

Lewis & Carroll has an extensive range of teaware and merchandise

Inside Lewis & Carroll looking out onto leafy Jalan Bumi

Dresshaus

Jl.Bumi 4
Pakubuwono
Jakarta Selatan

Web: Dresshaus

Instagram: dresshaus.id
Opening hours: Mon – Thurs | 10am – 8pm | Fri - Sun | 10am - 6pm

Best for: Their excellent range of dresses for black tie and day time events, including cocktail and long dresses.

Other Interesting Notes: Dresshaus also include a Prom dress hire category. A category that's somewhat elusive in Jakarta shopping malls, and can come with a hefty price tag. It's worth checking out if you are at 'Prom' stage.

Only a small range of dresses for hire are displayed in Dresshaus. We recommend you check their website first then contact the shop to arrange a time to come in and try on.

Next we hit Jalan Bumi on foot

'Bumi' or 'Earth' hand painted along the road

This is one of the residential side streets off Jalan Bumi. A thriving community lives here, and they were very welcoming of our visit to their neighbourhood

Beautiful greenery in pots lining one of the residential alleyways off Jalan Bumi

Tree lined Jalan Bumi with its well kept pedestrian footpath

End of the school day traffic and student pedestrians on Jalan Bumi. Jakarta schools have two school day sessions, morning and afternoon. These students have just finished a morning session which concludes at 1pm.

We just spotted the work of Jakarta graffiti artist Darbotz in a parking area as we walked along Jalan Bumi

Graffiti artist Darbotz' signature tag, the cumi, or squid

In keeping with the 'Earth' theme, we spotted Jalan Kerinci, a side road off Jalan Bumi. Mount Kerinci is the highest volcano in Indonesia and the highest peak on the island of Sumatra.

Poppy Dharsono

Jalan Bumi No. 52 – 54
Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta Selatan

Web: Poppy Dharsono Fashion
Instagram: Poppy Dharsono Fashion Studio

Opening hours: Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm | Sat, 9am - 12noon

Best for: Unique, one of a kind pieces which blend ethnic and modern elements.

Other Interesting Notes: Throughout her career Poppy Dharsono has fulfilled countless roles, some including fashion model, photographer, actress and fashion designer.

Mira of Poppy Dharsono's fashion house is able to tell you all about each piece in the Poppy Dharsono range

Mira showing us the Poppy Dharsono book, which is a beautiful record of her life and work in Indonesia

SMP Negeri 29 is an Indonesian Junior High School on Jalan Bumi. SMP stands for Sekolah Menengah Pertama. Students complete 3 years of SMP or Middle school and student ages range from 12 -15 years

Students queuing for their favourite snack at the street vendors outside their school

Another Indonesian snack food favourite 'Tahu Bulat' or 'Tofu Balls'

Paisley Things

We just love Paisley Things - not just the beautiful objects contained within the shop on Jl. Bumi - but the story behind this wonderful business. Set up as a social enterprise by Caroline Tobing in 2011, The Darius Tobing Foundation was established to support Indonesian artisans, allowing them to continue their traditional skills whist remaining in their villages. Instead of moving closer to the city (namely Jakarta) to pursue other work opportunities therefore separating families, Caroline's foundation created the opportunity for these artisans to continue what they most prefer to do, strengthening the preservation of traditional skills whilst generating a steady income for the artisans. The shop Paisley Things on Jl. Bumi is where you’ll find all of the precious creations made by these talented Indonesian artisans.

Jl.Bumi No. 31 A
Jakarta Selatan

Instagram: Paisley Things Jakarta
Opening hours: Mon – Sat | 10am – 8pm

Best for: Unique, one of a kind gifts which have a social and environmental conscience; hand made pieces often created from up cycled materials. Right now Caroline is stocking some beautiful Easter decorations.

Other Interesting Notes: The Darius Tobing Foundation accepts donations of goods including children’s clothing, shoes, books, newspapers and household items. Contact Caroline either through the Foundation link or call 021-27510156.

Want to know more about Paisley Things and Caroline’s journey? Read our blog post here.

All their Easter decorations are hand made

Some of our favourite Paisley Things hand made pieces. Bamboo covered carafe and glasses

Doss Camera and Gadget Shop

Jakarta like most cities has a range of specialty camera shops. These shops cater to advanced hobbyists and professional photographers. Here you’ll find higher end cameras and a greater selection of lenses. You’ll also find a wider variety of higher quality accessories. DOSS Camera and Gadget is an example of a specialty camera shop in Kebayoran Baru.

My experience with speciality camera stores in Jakarta is that the prices are a little more variable and the service can be mixed. I would definitely support DOSS Camera and Gadget. Our contact at the shop is Pak Wahyono.

Jl. Kyai Maja No. 43F
Taman Puring
Kebaryoan Baru
Jakarta Selatan

Web: Doss Camera and Gadget
Opening hours: Mon – Sun | 10am – 7pm

Best for: Its extensive range of camera brands, lenses, accesories, flash equipment and lighting. Brands include: Canon, Nikon, Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Casio, Pentax, Ricoh, Olympus and Poloroid. You can check out and compare prices at the DOSS website.

Other Interesting Notes: DOSS also has a used camera, accessories and lenses section.You can save yourself alot of money by buying used. Ensure you get the opportunity to examine and test any used equipment before you agree to purchase anything though.

Pak Wahyono and his staff ready to assist you

Pasar Taman Puring

Once you reach the end of Jalan Bumi and arrive at Jalan Kyai Maja, you may want to be adventurous and pay a visit to the busy Taman Puring Market (Barang-barang Second). The market is known for a wide selection of running shoes, soccer boots, musical instruments and second hand tools and electric goods.

The entrance to Pasar Taman Puring. Right next door to this market is a beautiful green space with the same name Taman Puring. Taman means 'garden'

Soccer boots and guitars for sale inside Taman Puring

We are leaving Jalan Bumi and Jalan Kyai Maja now, and heading to the famous traditional and modern market known as Pasar Mayestik on Jalan Tebah 3. Jalan Tebah runs parallel to Jalan Bumi.

Pasar Mayestik

Pasar Mayestik has a place in the hearts of many Jakartans and is an ever-popular destination. Our recommendation? Go midweek (ideally before lunch) in order to avoid crowds.

Some of our earliest market adventures were to Pasar Mayestik, which we documented in one of our first blog posts written almost 4 years ago! Famous as the best quality fabric market in Jakarta, talk to locals and you'll quickly discover that Pasar Mayestik is equally famous for street food and jajanan pasar (traditional cakes and sweets). Likewise, since writing our original post we have discovered the amazing fresh fruit and vegetables for sale in the street which surrounds the actual market.

Jl. Tebah, RT.13/RW.3
Gunung, Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta Selatan

Instagram: Instagram posts with #Pasar Mayestik

Opening hours: Mon – Sun 9am - 6pm

Best for: First and foremost the range of fabrics both inside the market and in the shops that surround the market precinct. However, a close second is the street food. We recommend you try the following, all of which Pasar Mayestik is famous for:
Kue cubit (small pancakes) with chocolate sprinkles or matcha flavouring
Mini martabak and Kue ape (crispy pancakes)

Inside the main building on the ground floor you will also find many cafes and local eating spots including gorengan (fried snacks), ice cream, cold drinks and a highly sort after delicacy called Cilok (skewered rice flour balls with peanut sauce and various fillings).

Other Interesting Notes: La' Mode Textiles store, located at Jl. Tebah II (at the entrance to Pasar Mayestik) is one of the oldest fabric shops in all of Jakarta. Built in 1980, it offers a comprehensive range of modern fabrics as well as a selected choice of traditional fabrics, all at good prices and excellent quality.

Want to know more about Pasar Mayestik? Check out our ajb blog post here.

On a recent trip to Pasar Mayestik I discovered this wonderful shop located on Jl. Tebah II. Batik Budhe is stocked full of beautiful fabrics from across the Indonesian archipelago. The quality is fantastic, the service is knowledgeable and the pric… — On a recent trip to Pasar Mayestik I discovered this wonderful shop located on Jl. Tebah II. Batik Budhe is stocked full of beautiful fabrics from across the Indonesian archipelago. The quality is fantastic, the service is knowledgeable and the prices are reasonable. We thoroughly recommend this shop to you

If you're after quality batik cat (stamped batik) and you only want to visit one destination, then Pasar Mayestik is a good choice

Kue Ape are a popular traditional pancake with a soft and fluffy centre surrounded by a thin crispy edge. Commonly found as a street food in Indonesia, Kue Ape are made from flour, rice flour, baking powder, vanilla and coconut milk. Essence of pand… — Kue Ape are a popular traditional pancake with a soft and fluffy centre surrounded by a thin crispy edge. Commonly found as a street food in Indonesia, Kue Ape are made from flour, rice flour, baking powder, vanilla and coconut milk. Essence of pandan leaf gives Kue Ape their characteristic green colour

In-season quality fruit and vegetables are for sale from the many vendors located around Pasar Mayestik. Bring your reusable shopping bags and enjoy buying direct from the seller

Fresh avodacos for sale at Pasar Mayestik

DGallerie Jakarta

Dgallerie is an art gallery, cafe and creative space on Jalan Barito, a 10 minute (on a good day) car ride from Pasar Mayestik. Their aim is to promote Indonesian contemporary art to the rest of the world.

This month of March, 2018, Dgallerie is hosting a group exhibition by the Sakato Art Community a group of artisans from West Sumatra and Minangkabau Yogyakarta. The exhibition is called BRICOLAGE.

Jl. Barito 1, No. 3
Jakarta Selatan

Instagram: Dgallerie Jakarta

Web: DGallerie
Opening hours: Mon – Sun | 10am – 8pm

Best for: An introduction to Indonesian contemporary art. Dgallerie is an intimate space so you can leisurely enjoy the artwork.

Other Interesting Notes: Dgallerie exhibits Indonesian contemporary art at ART STAGE Singapore each year.