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Home » Practical Information » Expat Living Outside Jakarta
East Java
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Home » Practical Information » Expat Living Outside Jakarta
East Java
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Welcome to Malang!Expat PopulationThere are over 200 expatriates from the countries of Australia, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States living in the Malang area with the majority employed in educational institutions. Getting to MalangMalang is served by Abdul Rachman Saleh airport (MLG), with Garuda, SriwijayaandWingsscheduling flights for Malang to Jakarta and Denpasar. For those who prefer regional airports, Bandera Juanda, Surabaya, (SUB) is a 2 – 3 hour drive. The Gajayana train (PT. Kereta Api) goes directly between Jakarta-Gambir and Malang and has connections to cities along that route. There is also train service to Bandung. Expat LifeThere is night life in Malang such as 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, 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, joeandratih@gmail.com Temporary HousingThere are more than 30 hotels in the Malang area and 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), Graha Cakra (www.thecakrahotels.com) and Santika (www.santika.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. You can check TripAdvisor for reviews and more information. If you would like something more like home, try a guest house that offers fewer services but a more intimate setting. There are several Guest Houses in Malang; Fendi’s Guesthouse is relatively new but is clean and located close to several good restaurants. Enny’s Guesthouse is probably the most well-known. Ijen Heritage, Jalan Raya Ijen 52 (guesthouseijen.blogspot.com) is right on Jalan Ijen. There is also Armyn, de Daunan, Merbabu, Peyeand Cozy. Each has its own charm. Again, you might check TripAdvisor for local reviews. Resident HousingRResident housing is much like you would find anywhere around the world. Some expats live in a large house with a spacious garden while some 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 Tidar-MaChung that feature various conveniences. Istana Dieng, for example, features paved streets, 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 concerning housing, contact Bonita Hendra, Jalan Esberg 1, Malang 65146, email bonitajt@gmail.com and phone (341) 561-605 or cell phone 081-655-4292. UtilitiesElectricity, water, telephone and Internet Service Providers (ISP) are available in Malang with Telkom’s “Speedy” ISP service the 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. SchoolsThere are two international schools in Malang; Wesley International Schooland Bina Bangsa School. WIS, Jalan Simpang Kwoka 1 Phone 586-410, email at wesley@wesleyinterschool.org, website at www.wesleyinterschool.org, is accredited with the Association of Christian Schools International and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has a curriculum for kindergarten through grade 12. Bina Bangsa School, www.binabangsaschool.com, is a fully English based school with Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesia as second languages. Bina Bangsa is in the process of moving its Malang location but we do not have the details at this time. Charis National Academy is a national plus school that offers classes for preschool through grade 12. For playgroups and kindergartens there is Oasis, Wonder Bridge, Happy Kids, Smart Kids, and Kidsland. All of these have a good curriculum and 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; KPN Language Exchange, www.indonesianlanguageschool.com, Worldbridge Language Center, www.wblcindo.com, ILP International Language Programs, ilp-malang.blogspot.com, and Universitas Negeri Malang. Church ServicesThere is an English Language Christian Worship Service on Sunday afternoon from 4 – 6pm with Sunday School routinely available for children ages 3 – grade 6 and Youth during the service. For specific information, contact Joe Kirk at joeandratih@gmail.com Health CareFor 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” method 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, RKZ366-033 and Syaifal Anwar 362-101 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. ShoppingMalang features two malls, Malang Town Square (MATOS) and Mal Olympic Garden (MOG) that will handle the major 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 Giantat 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. 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. 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 book stores 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 EntertainmentPart of the advantage of living in Malang is being able to explore the culture and these excursions will make family memories for a lifetime. If interested in “things to do” in Malang, check out www.holiday-or-living-in-malang.com, a website by a friend that has information about Malang from a local’s viewpoint. 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. Also in Batu is Jawa Timur Park (www.jawatimurpark.com) and Batu Night Spectacular, both good family recreations parks. 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 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, and 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. 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 & Night LifeRestaurants are everywhere in Malang and you can make a quest out of finding that special place to eat. You might check TripAdvisor to see their reviews. There are several places that are favorites for the expats: 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. Pizza Hut has an extensive pasta menu in addition to its famous pizzas. For extra convenience, most of these have delivery service in addition to their dining room. For a special treat, try Rotiboy in Mal Olympic Garden (MOG) for a unique pastry bun. Personal servicesWhile 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, Tinaraor Gester. For a great hairstylist (women, men, children), there’s Hengky’s Salon, Jl. Simpang Bondowoso 15-17. For a nice massage in upscale facilities, there’s Djemari at Jl. Raya Tidar 40 or Zen at Jl. Burung 55. If you need help in finding merchandise or services in Malang, contact Joe Kirk at joeandratih@gmail.com. Our thanks to Joe Kirk for his fantastic efforts to update the information for the community. Last updated December 20, 2012.
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