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 East Java

Welcome to Malang!

Getting here

Malang is served by Abdul Rachman Saleh airport, code MLG, and Garuda Air, Batavia Air and Sriwijaya Air have flights for Malang.  For those who prefer regional airports, Bandera Juanda, Surabaya, is 2 – 3 hours drive away.  The Gajayana train (PT. Kereta Api) goes directly between Jakarta-Gambir and Malang and has connections to cities along that route. 

Expat Life

There is night life in Malang (discotheques and karaoke)but the bigger attraction is the moderate weather and relatively slower pace here (Malang is cool and quiet). For recreational activities, you can play a round of golf, hike in Malang's mountain ranges, visit one of the Agrowisata Hotels in Batu, make a day or weekend trip to the beaches at the south or north coast, visit the Island of Madura, explore the Bromo - Bertiri National Park or the Baluran National Park, experience one of the local waterfalls, go white-water rafting or tour the tea plantations near Singosari and Lawang. The landscape in East Java offers many possibilities for a day trip and also many culturally interesting places that could be visited such as ancient Hindu temples.  Explore some of the villages and discover Indonesian home industry where they produce leather ware, stone reliefs and statues, bronze statues, or furniture.  There are many wedding receptions, Javanese ceremonies, city festivals, Wayang-Kulit or dance performances that you can attend.  Your social calendar can be filled with these social activities once you get in contact with the Indonesian people, who will invite you to these festivities as a newcomer. Expat life in Malang is much more integrated in the community life of the Indonesian people than it is in other larger Indonesian cities. 

If you are interested in living in Malang and want additional, specific information, contact Joe Kirk, joekrk@yahoo.com.

Temporary Housing

Like most things, it’s really a matter of what you want when it comes to housing in Malang.  For most expats coming to Malang for a visit, there are three hotels that will meet their needs: Hotel Tugu (www.tuguhotels.com), Santika (www.santika.com) and Graha Cakra (www.thecakrahotels.com).  Tugu is traditional Javanese and features an extensive collection of antiques and several choices for dining, Santika is an upscale chain hotel that features clean rooms and efficient service and Graha Cakra is a Javanese boutique hotel with a friendly and attentive staff.  All three have swimming pools, warm and courteous staff, their own charm and will be glad to help you find your way around Malang.

If you are more adventuresome, then try a guest house that offers fewer services but a more intimate setting.  There are several Guest Houses in Malang but Enny’s (www.ennyguesthouse.com) is probably the most well-known. 

Resident Housing

Resident housing is much like you would find anywhere around the world and you can find what you want in Malang.  Some expats live in a large house with a spacious garden while a few prefer a house with their own pool.  There is a good selection of houses available for rent or purchase in Malang or in the mountain area of Batu and there are housing communities (perumahans) such as Istana Dieng, Araya and MaChung that feature various conveniences.  Istana Dieng, for example, features paved streets and gutters, underground utilities and a club house with restaurants, bowling, billiards, swimming pool, children’s play area, Atlas gym and indoor tennis.

If you are interested in living in Malang and want more specific information, contact Bonita Hendra, Jalan Esberg 1, Malang 65146, email hendrath@indo.net.id and phone 561-605.

Utilities

Electricity, water, telephone and Internet Service Providers (ISP) are available in Malang. Telkom’s “Speedy” ISP service is most recommended.  Some expats recommend using a Stavol stabilizer to regulate electricity flow for major appliances and electronic equipment as electricity can be unstable and blackouts are normal in some areas and most expats use SKYPE to manage their international phone calls.  Country code for Indonesia is 62 and city code for Malang is 341. 

Schools & Churches

There are several good schools in Malang.  Wesley International School, Jalan Simpang Kwoka 1 Phone 586-410, Email wesley@wesleyinterschool.org, Website www.wesleyinterschool.org, is accredited with the Association of Christian Schools International and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has a curriculum through the 12th grade.  Two National Plus schools, Charis and Bina Bangsa are also available.

For playgroups and kindergartens there is WonderBridge, Happy Kids, Smart Kids, and Kidsland.  All of these have a good curriculum but offer varying level of language introduction such as Mandarin or English. 

Living in Malang is enhanced if you can speak some Bahasa Indonesia since not many local people speak English or other foreign languages.  There are several good language schools in Malang that can accommodate your schedule.  ACCESS, Jalan Tambora 11A, phone 563-963, email Nova at casa_nova_rea@yahoo.com offers classes for all levels of students including adults who need a “crash” course.  Bhinneka Language School, Jalan Terusan Bondowosa 6, phone (341) 580-296 and KPN Language School, Jalan Lokon 3, phone (341) 571-989 email navi@malang.wasantara.net.id are also available.

Church Services

There is an English Language Christian Worship Service on Sunday afternoon from 4 – 6pm with Sunday School routinely available for children (K – 6 and Youth) during the service.  For specific information, contact Joe Kirk at joekrk@yahoo.com. 

Health Care

For routine health care issues, you can find adequate professional service in Malang.  Most expats schedule exams and periodic checkups while in their home country on holiday or vacation and for more serious cases, expats use the larger facilities in Surabaya, Jakarta or Singapore.  There is a wide range of training within the ranks of these professionals and most expats rely on personal recommendations and use the “second opinion” approach” for the more serious cases.  The following contacts are provided as a “starter list”: 

Hospital Emergency Rooms: Panti Nirmala 362-459, Baptist in Batu 594-161, RKZ 366-033 and Syaifal Anwar 362-101
General Family: Dr. Hendra, Jalan Esberg 1, 561-605
Pediatrician: Dr. Chandra, Jalan Raya Dieng 26, 568-247
Ear-Nose-Throat: Dr. Puji Soeprapto, Jalan Simpang Taman Agung 18, 563-603
Dentist: Dr. Andri, Jalan Raya Dieng 14, 562-987
Dentist: Dr. Ery Waluyo, Jalan Kawi 36, 582-191
Orthodontist: Dr. Marlina, Jalan Raya Dieng 14, 562-987
Orthodontist: Dr. Chandra Wigati, Jalan Burung 51, 363-415
Medical Lab: Prodia Lab, Jalan Merbabu 10, 366-042, 6am-9pm
Medical Lab: Sima Lab, Jalan Tangkuban Parahu, 321-254, 6am-9pm
Pharmacy: Pelita Sari, Jalan Letjen Sutoyo 31A, 493-625, 495-271.

Doctors’ schedules vary of course but it is not uncommon to see a doctor after 7pm and many schedule their regular office hours as 6-11pm.

Shopping

Malang features two malls, Malang Town Square (MATOS) and Mal Olympic Garden (MOG) that will handle the lion’s share of your shopping needs.  There are also local plazas such as Dieng Plaza and Araya Plaza for your convenience.  At MATOS, Hypermart is an anchor tenant and is organized like a Super Wal-Mart with dry goods as well as the grocery market.  Giant is about the same for MOG.  You can buy fruits, vegetables and spices in the local markets in good quality and at less cost.  Best traditional market for fresh vegetables, fruits, chicken, meat and fish is Pasar Oro Oro Dowo, at the intersection of Jalan Guntur and Jalan Brigjen Slamet Riyadi. Hypermart in MATOS and Giant at MOG also have a good selection of fresh fish.  For those “hard to find” grocery items, there is Lai-Lai Fruit Market on Jalan Semeru which has made its reputation on providing for the expats.  Still can’t find what you want?  Caswells-Moms, www.caswells-moms.com is an on-line grocery store in Jakarta that delivers your grocery order to your house.  For special cuts of meat there is UD Sukses Jaya at Jalan Kelabat 11, a meat and supplies distributor to restaurants and offers such things as baby back ribs, Australian beef and frozen foods to private customers as well.   Indoguna Meats, phone (031) 911-70493, is a delivery service from Surabaya that supplies hotels and restaurants but takes individual orders also for meat, cheese and spices.  There are bakeries at Hypermart (Matos) and Giant (MOG) but Holland Bakery, Jalan Wilis and other locations, is the most convenient. 

Obtaining clothing is not a problem in Malang. If your size is not available in the stores, you can get it tailor-made in good quality. It is possible to have tailor made clothes using a clipping from a magazine. Swimsuits and shoes for ladies in bigger sizes can be a problem, however.

There are several large bookstores in Malang of which Gramedia (books, newspapers, stationary, sports, music) is the leader and has several locations.  If you want a newspaper in English, Jakarta Post offers subscriptions and delivery.

There are many shops for building supplies but if you want something more familiar, there’s Ace Hardware in Mal Olympic Garden.  Depo Bangunan atJalan Raya Karanglo 69 is a large building supplies store that carries tools, home repair materials and home accessories.

If you need household items, stationery, toys, school supplies, sandals and shoes (kids’ shoes are great here), try Toko Lancar Jaya, on Jalan Danau Toba in Sawojajar. The vast selection changes frequently and their prices are unbelievably cheaper than most other stores.

If something is not available in Malang, sometimes it can be found in Surabaya, which is 2 - 3 hours drive by car. Many expats go to Jakarta or Singapore for business reasons and these trips are always a good opportunity to stock up on missing necessities.

Culture, Recreation and Entertainment

Part of the advantage of living in Malang is being able to explore the culture and these excursions will make family memories for a lifetime.  Taman Rekreasi Senaputra, Jalan Brawijaya, presents traditional East Java dances every Sunday morning at 10am during the dry season (typically April – October) and every last Wednesday of the month there is a Wayang at 10pm.  The art center Pandepokan Seni Mangun Dharma, in Tumpang, was established in 1989 to promote the research, study and performances of East Javanese arts. They offer classes for dance, Gamelan, batik, wood carving, shadow puppetry and mask dance drama.  Performances can be arranged on demand and are of excellent quality as the dancers are trained from childhood. East Javanese dances are very expressive and dynamic so it's really an adventure to see them.  For more information about the art center, contact Karen, phone 787-907. 

Malang has facilities for golf, tennis, swimming and aerobic exercise.  With a small town environment, several expats use bicycles for their primary means of transportation blending exercise with their daily schedules.  Klub Bunga, a resort in Batu, provides a fitness club with gymnasium, pool, sauna, spa, massage, tennis courts, basket ball court, and beach volley ball field.  There is a 9-hole golf course in Malang at Araya and full 18- hole courses in Padaan at Taman Dayu and Fina Golf & Country Club.  Of these, Fina is the best.  There are several fitness centers here with Atlas Fitness Center as a good example having aerobic, step and yoga classes in the mornings and evenings.  There are eight Hash House Harrier groups in Malang, so you can choose the most convenient time during the week or weekends.  Contact Pak Poedji, Jalan Jagung Suprapto 7, and phone 325-888 or 361-996 for more details.

The beaches are 2-3 hours drive to the south coast (Sedangbiru, Balekambang, Ngliyep). Unfortunately there are only basic accommodations available and you cannot find a nice restaurant. If you go, prepare for a picnic on the beach. Swimming can be dangerous at the south coast so ask the locals for a safe place to swim.  For a short vacation, there is Waterworld, a modern water park in Citraland, Surabaya and Taman Dayu half-way between Malang and Surabaya.

There is a children’s playground next to MATOS. It is an extension of the Derumah housing complex but is open to public. They have 2 swimming pools for small and older children as well as plenty of kiddies’ rides and indoor football fields and a playground with white beach sand. 

Malang has several movie theaters with the choice of 3 or 4 films.
Malang Town Square (MATOS), Mal Olympic Garden and Dieng Plaza all have the usual amenities for expats. 

Want to try something a little different or new for your family?  Make an evening of karaoke with the family.  Get a private room and just enjoy singing and being together.  There are many family karaoke facilities in Malang.

Restaurants

Restaurants are everywhere in Malang and you can make a quest out of finding that special place to eat.  There are several places that are favorites for the expats:

Café Bunga Bali, European style restaurant has a warm and cozy atmosphere, serves good steaks, specializes in Swiss Roesti and has live music on weekends.  Inggil’s, EastJavanese restaurant, features local food, atmosphere and entertainment with their specialties of grilled or fried fish, sate’ and fried rice.   While the portions are ample, the price is very reasonable.  KL Suki specializes in Japanese sukiyaki and Chinese dishes.  Relatively new, it is becoming a great place to have a fun night out with the family.  Malibufeatureswood-fired oven pizza but has a variety of other dishes.  Try their outstanding onion rings.  KDS is the most well-known Chinese restaurant in town and offers traditional dishes at reasonable prices.  Kantri, Javanese restaurant at Jalan Raya Singoasari, features great beef, chicken and goat sate’.  Also there are two gigantic dining tables with chairs, a record size wooden wall screen and antique carriages to see while there.  Padi Resto is another good restaurant that specializes in European cuisine.
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The larger hotels, Hotel Tugu, Graha Cakra, Regent’s Park and Kartika Graha have dining facilities as well. 

Looking for something fast and familiar?  Try an American chain restaurant: McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wendy’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Pizza Hut or A&W Root Beer.  For extra convenience, most of these have delivery service in addition to their dining room.

For a special treat, try Rotiboys in Mal Olympic Garden (MOG) for a unique pastry bun. 

Personal services

While you will want to find the personal services best for you in terms of convenience and price, there are a few places that are recommended as a great place to start.  For salons that offer a full range of services (hairstyle, manicure, pedicure, makeup) try Pacific, Jonathan’s, Tinara or Gester.  For a great hairstylist (women, men, children), there’s Hengky’s Salon.  If your daily activities have got you in a knot, try a soothing massage (pijat) at Massaji. 

If you need help in finding merchandise or services in Malang, contact Joe Kirk at joekrk@yahoo.com.

Our thanks to Joe Kirk for his fantastic efforts to update the information for the community.
October 2009

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