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Homeless Pelican sets out from North Jakarta for Bandung on the WHOOSH high-speed train, but first has to cross a flooded city in a Gojek motorbike ride. He arrives wet at Halim Station, where staff offer him a WHOOSH shirt and he jokes about choosing a magnet instead. His 600k IDR first-class VIP ticket could have cost 500k IDR with a cashback offer. The lounge provides free coffee and snacks, and after drying off he boards seat 1A, with snacks, mineral water, and an attendant available to clear tables. The train reaches nearly 300 km/h in heavy rain and covers the route in about 30 minutes, passing flooded fields and tunnels. He remarks on the Chinese-financed project, its $7 billion cost, and 62 daily trips. At Bandung he takes a free 19-minute shuttle to the city center, checks into a $7 room with a fan and unusual toilet, then walks Braga Street. Its 3D screens, shooting range, live artists, and lively evening feel stand out against Jakarta. He ends the night with bachang and plans to return for the magnet.
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Getting to Halim Station in the rain
Homeless Pelican begins in a North Jakarta apartment that he describes as prison-like, passing piles of rubbish before discovering that rain has flooded his plans. He loads his backpack and laptop onto a Gojek motorbike and rides through a storm for an hour and a half. Water is so deep that he jokes the driver could go fishing. At the end of the ride he gives the driver a 100,000 IDR tip and arrives at Halim Station soaked. The station immediately reminds him of China. Staff kindly offer him a WHOOSH T-shirt, but he chooses a magnet instead and jokes that his YouTube success will come next year.
First class on the WHOOSH train
He has bought the most expensive first-class VIP ticket for 600k IDR, then learns that a cashback offer could have brought the fare down to 500k IDR. The VIP lounge helps make the wait comfortable: coffee and snacks are free, the air conditioning is cold enough to make him shiver in his wet clothes, and a WhatsApp confirmation arrives. He jokes that the WhatsApp contact does not reply when he asks to be friends. He can use the lounge to dry off before boarding.
His seat is 1A. It comes with snacks and mineral water, and an attendant offers to clear tables; Homeless Pelican says he will volunteer. He calls WHOOSH the world's second-fastest train after China's fleet and says it is faster than Japan's Shinkansen. The train travels through tunnels and past flooded fields. Despite the heavy rain, it reaches nearly 300 km/h and the ride to Bandung takes about 30 minutes, under 40 minutes from Jakarta. He marvels at the Chinese-financed technology and describes a $7 billion project with 62 trips each day.
Arriving in Bandung
At Bandung station, he takes a free shuttle train to the city center. The ride takes 19 minutes and feels consistent with the modern character of the rail journey. He checks into a $7 room without air conditioning; it has a fan and a toilet he finds wild.
Braga Street becomes the highlight of the evening. Homeless Pelican sees 3D screens reminiscent of Wuhan, a shooting range, live artists, and a party atmosphere that he says Jakarta lacks. He finishes with a local snack, bachang, and says he will return for the magnet. The trip combines a difficult, rain-soaked start with a comfortable first-class train ride and an evening walk through Bandung.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How much did the WHOOSH first-class ticket cost?
- A: The VIP first-class ticket cost 600k IDR. Homeless Pelican later learned that a cashback offer could have reduced it to 500k IDR.
- Q: How long does the WHOOSH trip from Jakarta to Bandung take?
- A: Homeless Pelican's trip took about 30 minutes, even with heavy rain. He says the train reached nearly 300 km/h and the route takes under 40 minutes.
- Q: What did Homeless Pelican find on Braga Street?
- A: He saw 3D screens like those in Wuhan, a shooting range, live artists, and a lively party atmosphere. He enjoyed a local snack called bachang before ending the evening.
- Q: What was the shuttle ride from Bandung station like?
- A: A free shuttle train took him from Bandung station to the city center in 19 minutes. He described the ride as matching the modern feel of the WHOOSH journey.
