Walkway from Balai Sidang to Hotel Sultan

WOW! Today, there are 2 big events going on at Senayan-Sudirman area, traffic will get worse during weekend, so my suggestion is if you are going to attend any event in Balai Sidang Convention Center (primary Jakarta convention center), like right now 2 big events are Indonesia Handi Craft (INACRAFT) or Disney on Ice, both will be held until end of this week.

I just went there and tried to get back home, but if I took the way like regular people do, I probably spend like 2-3 hours. I suggest that if you drive to go there you could park your vehicle in Sultan Hotel parking area and there's an underground tunnel connecting Sultan Hotel to Balai Sidang.

Go to new lobby of Sultan Hotel and take the stairs to convention center. Then walk to to the end of the hall , you will pass by PACTO, I don't know what Pacto is, but it's some kind of office. Then just go ahead til you find glass door. Just open the door and there it is the loooong shortcut, no need to worry because there are 2 auto-travelators to get into Balai Sidang and go downstairs to take another 1 auto-travelator. Tunnel is fully air-conditioned.

I, alone just took that shortcut, a bit creepy because the walkway was like 500-700 meters and I was alone in that creepy tunnel plus I was forced to listened creepy traditional indonesian songs, but this shortcut save my time so I didn't care. And you could actually enjoy, (if you enjoy), paintings and giant pictures of our late president Soeharto hanging on the wall..yes, that 500-700 meters..on the other wall just paintings.

One more tips, if you take a cab, you could try to do the same way if cabbie drop you off at Sultan Hotel, but if you choose to be dropped off in Balai Sidang, if it's hard to find taxi at Balai Sidang lobby, you could take the same way to get Taxi in Sultan Hotel. Silver Bird at new lobby, Blue Bird at old lobby.

Jakarta International Event

IFFINA 2009
International Furniture and Craft Fair Indonesia
11 - 15 March 2009 Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, Jakarta - Indonesia 10.00 am - 19.00 pm 7 Reasons why you should visit IFFINA (taken from IFFINA website)

• EXPLORE THE HIDDEN BEAUTY OF INDONESIA
  Discover the hidden beauty & top quality of Indonesian product that comes from a huge number of craftsmen from all over Indonesia
• WIDE RANGE OF WORLD CLASS FURNITURE
  
  A golden opportunity to observe a wide range of products and, at the same time, to meet with Indonesia's producers and exporters
• EXCELLENT PRODUCT MIX
  IFFINA 2008 showcases an excellent product mix between furniture and handicraft from all regions in Indonesia
• WORLDWIDE BUYERS PARTICIPATION
  This is a 'must visit' event for domestic and international buyers, last year attract international buyers from more than 87 countries
• STRATEGICALLY LOCATED AND CONNECTED TO WORLD MARKET
  strategically located and connected to world markets by an excellent communication and transportation network and often regarded as a "bridge" between Asia and Australia and as a "gate" from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
• MEET THE CHARM HOSPITALITY OF INDONESIA
  Indonesian people is well known throughout the world as the most charm and friendly people that will provides you with countless destinations to cater around
• STRONG SUPPORT FROM ASSOCIATION AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
  IFFINA 2008 is organized by the ASSOCIATION and in close cooperation and fully supported by the Government and Government Agencies of Republic of Indonesia

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INACRAFT 2009
The 11th Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair
22 - 26 April 2009
at Balai Sidang Jakarta Convention Center
www.inacraft.co.id
(check out their website to get info how to get to the venue by shuttle bus, they provide buses)

Indonesia Represent the masterpiece of national handicraft products from her entire regions at the peak of the biggest and the most comprehensive exhibition of handicraft products

The Fair EVENT SCHEDULE

Event's Name	Date	Time
Opening Ceremony	22 April 2009	10.00 am - 12.00 am
Seminar	24 April 2009*	10.00 am - 05.00 pm
Business Consulting	22 - 26 April 2009*	10.00 am - 05.00 pm
Product Presentation	22 - 26 April 2009*	10.00 am - 08.00 pm
INACRAFT Award	24 April 2009*	05.00 pm - 08.00 pm

* tentative

PRODUCT ON DISPLAY

Gift Item
Ballpoint & Wooden box, Candy jar, Woven blanket throw, Key accessories, Lighter box, Jewelry box, Small photo frame, Cigarette box, Aromatherapy, Stationery item, etc.

Housewares, Home & Garden Decorative
Artificial flower, dried flowers, ceramic flowers vase, candle holder, lighting lamp, wood carving, ornament, craft silver, table cover embroidery, cushion cover, place mate, embroidery bed cover, Wooden furniture, rattan furniture, fiber furniture, coconut furniture, bamboo furniture, garden furniture,A kitchen wares, basket wares, table wares, bathroom wares, carpet, painting, candle, glass item, natural stone, pottery, bird house & accessories, umbrella, wind chime, doormat, garden ornament, plan terrace set, self watering hanging planter, garden bridge, garden statue, etc

Toys & Game
Wooden toys, soft toys, game board, inflatable toys, toys box, footballs, jigsaw puzzles, education games, etc

Jewelry
Gold jewelry, silver jewelry, pearl jewelry, shell jewelry, precious stones, etc

Batik
Painting batik, Printing batik, Stamped batik, Silk, etc

Fashion Garment & Embroidery
Fashion embroidery garment, Moslem dress, Indonesian ikats, Indonesian songket, Indonesian ulos, Hand oven fabric, etc

Product Zoning

Main Lobby	: Gifts & Housewares, Toys & Games, Miscellaneous Crafts
Plenary Hall	: Gifts & housewares
Assembly Hall 3	: International Hall/ Export Hall
Cendrawasih Hall	: BUMN/BUMD (State Owned Enterprises)
Hall A	: Fashion, Embroidery, Batik, Jewelry, & Accessories
Lobby Hall A	: Sponsorship
Hall B & Lobby B	: BUMN, BUMD, Dinas, Pemprov, Pemda, Pemkot, Pemkab, Dekranas, Dekranasda, Fashion & accessories, and other supporting product

Jakarta Trade Event 2009

Click here for more details