The Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) is an electronic dance music festival happening every December in Jakarta. It used to be in Ancol but it has now moved to JiExpo in Kemayoran. It is organized by Ismaya, an Indonesian lifestyle group behind some famous nightclubs and bars like Dragonfly, Skye, Blowfish or Social House. It is also heavily sponsored by all kinds of brands and particularly cigarette manufacturers.
It is a mainstream event featuring mostly commercial DJs who play commercial EDM, Trance and Techno. Many of the world's most famous DJs have participated in DWP in the past few years, among which Tiesto, Skrillex, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Axwell, Avicii and Calvin Harris.
DWP happens on the same weekend as Zoukout in Singapore. Both festivals share a very similar line-up and concept: The DJs who play on Friday in Jakarta will often play on Saturday in Singapore and vice versa. It is probably a way to split the cost of bringing expensive artists from Europe or America to Asia. The good news is that tickets are almost 50% cheaper compared to Zoukout and that you'll pay much less for food, drinks, transportation and hotels in DWP.
Buying Your Tickets to DWP 2016
Food and drinks are not included in the price of a ticket and you cannot bring any from outside (nor cigarettes). This means you'll need to spend quite a bit of money on the spot. Even the water is not free (around Rp40,000 or US$3).
At DWP, you do not pay directly in cash. Instead, you buy "tokens" that you exchange at the food stands or shops. It is a way for them to avoid monkey business. You have Blue tokens, Silver tokens and Bronze tokens. They are non-refundable so you should be careful to buy only as little as you need.
The F&B area is well-organized in a foodcourt (Eats and Beats) and features several restaurants brands from Ismaya like Kitchenette, Pizza e Birra and Fook Yew. You can get proper meals there in a comfortable setting, with AC. The prices are OK (around Rp120,000 or US$9 for a meal with soft drinks) but you shouldn't expect great taste.
Alcohol drinks are less reasonably-priced: You'll need to spend Rp130,000 (US$10) per glass of liquor or cocktails and Rp90,000 (US$7) for a beer. A bottle of spirit will cost you Rp2,000,000 (US$150). You need to be at least 21 years old to buy alcohol (a valid ID is required).
If you are on a budget, I recommend you to grab a few bottles at the duty free shop and to drink with friends in your hotel before the event. Remember that it is a bit hard to buy alcohol in Jakarta as convenience stores are not allowed to sell them.
You should bring at least Rp1,000,000 (US$75) with you for a decent, intoxicated night out. Note that there are several ATMs inside if you need extra cash.
The cheapest way to go from the airport to the city center is by public bus. They are called DAMRI and they are easy to spot at the airport. There are 3 lines going to Central Jakarta: 1 for Kemayoran (the closest one), 1 for Gambir (near Pasar Baru) and 1 for Thamrin City (near Sarinah/Plaza Indonesia). The price is Rp40,000 (US$3) per person.
Taxis are more expensive but still very affordable. There are many waiting at the arrival and they'll cost you around Rp150,000 or US$11 (including the toll road) to the city center. Blue Bird and Express are the best companies but there aren't so many of them available. If you don't want to wait, it is safe to take any as long as they are in the official taxi stand and they agree to use the meter.
Uber and Grab Car are better and cheaper, but it can be tricky to get them at the airport. Regular taxi companies tend to chase them so you'll have to be discreet. They'll cost you only about Rp100,000 (US$7.5) during normal hours.
Within Jakarta, I personally use almost exclusively Grab Car or Uber. You can download both apps and switch from one to the other depending on the prices you get. When the traffic is too slow, I may also take moto-taxis from Gojek or GrabBike. It is very cheap and much faster.
Public transportation in Jakarta is not exactly tourist-friendly. There is a system of AC buses with dedicated lanes called Transjakarta from about 5am to 11pm. As you can see on the map, the line 2C goes until JiExp and you can take it from Gambir train station or Harmoni (a large hub with multiple connexions). You can also use the Line 1 to visit Jakarta as it stops near from many attractions. A ticket costs Rp3,500 (US$0.25).
I recently updated my article Getting Around in Jakarta and I invite you to read it for a more complete picture of the transportation system in Jakarta.
Last year, 75,000 people attended DWP, making it one of the largest festivals of the kind in the region. It attracts mostly a local audience, including Indonesians from provincial cities like Bandung, Surabaya or Yogyakarta. There is also a sizeable number of foreigners from nearby Asian countries who visit Jakarta just for the occasion (Malaysians in particular). According to official figures, foreigners account for 20% of the attendance.
The participants are from mid-to-upper level background and they are well-behaved. Since it is an exceptional event by Indonesian standards, people can be really excited and they'll plan the festival months ahead. Most are friendly, cool to hang out with and open to meet with fellow clubbers.
Note that the festival is only allowed to adults over 18 years old and that you aren't allowed to buy alcohol if you are under 21.
Meeting Indonesian Girls
If you are hoping to meet girls, there are a lot of pretty ones, including scores of SPGs (Sales Promotion Girls). Many will be with a group of friends so you should be careful when approaching them.
Dating sites and apps are a good way to get some contacts before arriving in Jakarta. Mention that you are going to DWP on your profile and you're pretty sure to match with a few party girls.
Dress Code
The dress code is relaxed. The coolest people will wear some kind of accessories (hats, glasses, etc...) and they'll be more busy updating their Instagram than dancing. Wear comfortable shoes, pants and t-shirts and bring along some changing clothes (lockers cost for Rp40,000 up to Rp100,000 - US$3-US$7.5).
The Performance Stages
The DJ performances are held on several distinct stages. The main one, called Garudha Land, features a giant sculpture representing the mythical Garuda bird. It is really world-class, with impressive visual effects that involve multicolor lighting, laser shows, fireworks, smoke and screens. The show is an important part of the party, just as much as the DJs.
Garudha Land is located outdoor which is quite a bet considering December is the rainy season in Jakarta.
Fortunately, the smaller stages are under a roof with AC. For Djakarta Warehouse Project 2016, there will be a special stage featuring the festival "Life in Color" as a part of their worldwide Kingdom tour. The main particularity of Life in Color is that multicolor paint is thrown at the audience. It is a completely different set up and it can be considered a festival within the festival.
I'm not sure yet about the other stages for 2016 but they might include the same as last year: Neon Jungle, Mad Decent and Darker Side.
Schedule of DJ sets
The timing of each set will be known early December only. The first DJs start at 4pm (local ones) and the last ones end at 4am. It is best to arrive early (before 7pm) to avoid entrance queues (though at that time you'll get the worst part of Jakarta traffic).
Buying Your Tickets to DWP 2016
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| The Garudha Stage at DWP2015 |
Check prices and packages
From the list of official ticket retailers provided by DWP, I found there was more availability and cheaper prices on BoBoBoBo.com. One of the reasons might be that this e-commerce site is partially owned by Ismaya.
The current fares on BoBoBoBo as of November 9th are the following:
1-Day Pass - GA (General Admission): Rp775,000
2-Day Pass - GA (General Admission): Rp1,1250,000
VIP Gold Ticket: 1-Day Pass - Rp1,500,000 and 2-Day Pass - Rp2,875,000
The VIP Gold Ticket gives you access to a special, faster entrance and a reserved area with better facilities closer from the DJs.
Diamond Packages: 1-Day Pass for 10-12 people + VIP location + 2 Bottles + Champagne - Rp35,000,000 up to Rp45,000,000
They also had some hotel packages but they are all fully-booked already. Anyway, the deals were not interesting. For my list of recommended place to stay near DWP, place scroll down below.
BoBoBoBo allows you to pay with Mastercard or Visa. If you have an Indonesian bank account, you may also make a bank transfer.
You can compare BoBoBoBo's prices with other official retailers such as Tiket.com or Rajakarcis. Another good option for foreigners is to use Viagogo as they allow payments with PayPal.
Once you've made your purchase, you will receive an electronic ticket that you must exchange with a special wristband. The exchange for the wristband can either be done on the spot on the day of DWP, or in advance in a location given by the management (Gandaria City Mall last year). The guidelines for that will be sent to you 2 weeks before the event.
The wrist band will then need to be activated to allow for entrance. Even with the wrist band, note that you'll still need to show an ID (passport, driving license, ID card) to get inside.
Warning: Do not wait until the last minute to buy your tickets as you may end up paying a higher price or worse, without one.
Beware of the fake DWP Website
The website on the picture below is FAKE. Do not buy your tickets from there. The complete list of valid ticket resellers is available at www.djakartawarehouse.com/ticket.
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You can book on Tiket.com and BoBoBoBo.com safely as they are among the official retailers.
Food and DrinksThe current fares on BoBoBoBo as of November 9th are the following:
1-Day Pass - GA (General Admission): Rp775,000
2-Day Pass - GA (General Admission): Rp1,1250,000
VIP Gold Ticket: 1-Day Pass - Rp1,500,000 and 2-Day Pass - Rp2,875,000
The VIP Gold Ticket gives you access to a special, faster entrance and a reserved area with better facilities closer from the DJs.
Diamond Packages: 1-Day Pass for 10-12 people + VIP location + 2 Bottles + Champagne - Rp35,000,000 up to Rp45,000,000
They also had some hotel packages but they are all fully-booked already. Anyway, the deals were not interesting. For my list of recommended place to stay near DWP, place scroll down below.
BoBoBoBo allows you to pay with Mastercard or Visa. If you have an Indonesian bank account, you may also make a bank transfer.
You can compare BoBoBoBo's prices with other official retailers such as Tiket.com or Rajakarcis. Another good option for foreigners is to use Viagogo as they allow payments with PayPal.
Once you've made your purchase, you will receive an electronic ticket that you must exchange with a special wristband. The exchange for the wristband can either be done on the spot on the day of DWP, or in advance in a location given by the management (Gandaria City Mall last year). The guidelines for that will be sent to you 2 weeks before the event.
The wrist band will then need to be activated to allow for entrance. Even with the wrist band, note that you'll still need to show an ID (passport, driving license, ID card) to get inside.
Warning: Do not wait until the last minute to buy your tickets as you may end up paying a higher price or worse, without one.
Beware of the fake DWP Website
The website on the picture below is FAKE. Do not buy your tickets from there. The complete list of valid ticket resellers is available at www.djakartawarehouse.com/ticket.
Food and drinks are not included in the price of a ticket and you cannot bring any from outside (nor cigarettes). This means you'll need to spend quite a bit of money on the spot. Even the water is not free (around Rp40,000 or US$3).
At DWP, you do not pay directly in cash. Instead, you buy "tokens" that you exchange at the food stands or shops. It is a way for them to avoid monkey business. You have Blue tokens, Silver tokens and Bronze tokens. They are non-refundable so you should be careful to buy only as little as you need.
The F&B area is well-organized in a foodcourt (Eats and Beats) and features several restaurants brands from Ismaya like Kitchenette, Pizza e Birra and Fook Yew. You can get proper meals there in a comfortable setting, with AC. The prices are OK (around Rp120,000 or US$9 for a meal with soft drinks) but you shouldn't expect great taste.
Alcohol drinks are less reasonably-priced: You'll need to spend Rp130,000 (US$10) per glass of liquor or cocktails and Rp90,000 (US$7) for a beer. A bottle of spirit will cost you Rp2,000,000 (US$150). You need to be at least 21 years old to buy alcohol (a valid ID is required).
If you are on a budget, I recommend you to grab a few bottles at the duty free shop and to drink with friends in your hotel before the event. Remember that it is a bit hard to buy alcohol in Jakarta as convenience stores are not allowed to sell them.
You should bring at least Rp1,000,000 (US$75) with you for a decent, intoxicated night out. Note that there are several ATMs inside if you need extra cash.
Location and Best Hotels Nearby
The location of the Djakarta Warehouse Project 2016 is now in Kemayoran, an area in the North of Jakarta about 1 hour away from the airport and 30 minutes (with normal traffic) from Plaza Indonesia.
Honestly speaking, it is a bit of a seedy area, not far from several hostess bars, strip clubs, red-light streets and naughty nightclubs. Some nearby hotels, such as Orchardz Industri or Orchardz Jayakarta, can even be considered to be brothels as their spas offer sexual services.
The closest "normal" hotels from JiExpo such as the Mercure, Swiss-Belinn, Best Western or the Holiday Inn are either already full or much more expensive than usual. Surprisingly, the Media Hotel is quite affordable at around Rp700,000 (US$50 - it is an old 5-star that used to be a Sheraton).
Another option is to go a bit further from Kemayoran in nearby districts. These are my recommendations for alternative places to stay within reasonable distance from DWP:
Mangga Dua: This is a middle class shopping district with several giant affordable malls. It is easy to reach from the airport and only 15 minutes away from JiExpo. It is also not too far from the touristic Old City of Jakarta (Kota Tua).
Mangga Besar: Only 10 minutes from JiExpo, this is a red-light area with tons of budget hotels, cheap street food and decadent nightlife spots. It's not very clean but it's colorful and affordable. The best hotels are the Swiss Belhotel (very near from Kemayoran) and the Hotel 88 Mangga Besar 62. 10-15 minutes from JiExpo.
Gajah Mada/Hayam Wuruk: This is the main road going from North Jakarta to the South. It is a convenient location as most attractions in Jakarta are along this axis. It can be a bit seedy at night (street prostitution, naughty nightlife, viagra stands, etc). There are a few new hotels there like the Santika Premiere, the Novotel, the All Seasons and the Ibis Harmoni. All of them offer excellent value-for-money. You'll need about 20 minutes to go to JiExpo from there.
Pasar Baru: Not a very interesting area except for a few attractions like the Istiqlal Mosque, the Pasar Baru market or the Monas. Mostly cheap hotels, including a branch of the Thai chain Red Planet. JiExpo is 15 minutes from there. It is near from the train station Gambir from where you can take trains to Yogyakarta, Bandung or Surabaya. There is also a public bus going from the airport to Gambir.
Sarinah/Plaza Indonesia: If you don't mind spending a bit more time in the transportation to go to DWP, I would recommend staying there. It is a central area close from the city's best malls, restaurants, bars and clubs. It is also much cleaner and safer. The Artotel and the Kosenda Hotel cost less than US$60/night and they both have trendy rooftop bars.
You can see more advice about hotels in Jakarta in Where to Stay in Jakarta and Jakarta Hotel Guide.
Getting Around in Jakarta
It is quite challenging, especially for first-time visitors, to get around in Jakarta. In terms of traffic, the worst time is every Friday after work. If you can avoid being on the road between 4pm and 8pm on that day, I urge you to do so. This means it is a good idea to take your Friday afternoon off and arrive at the airport before 2pm. On the contrary, Saturdays and Sundays are rather quiet and easier to circulate.Honestly speaking, it is a bit of a seedy area, not far from several hostess bars, strip clubs, red-light streets and naughty nightclubs. Some nearby hotels, such as Orchardz Industri or Orchardz Jayakarta, can even be considered to be brothels as their spas offer sexual services.
The closest "normal" hotels from JiExpo such as the Mercure, Swiss-Belinn, Best Western or the Holiday Inn are either already full or much more expensive than usual. Surprisingly, the Media Hotel is quite affordable at around Rp700,000 (US$50 - it is an old 5-star that used to be a Sheraton).
Another option is to go a bit further from Kemayoran in nearby districts. These are my recommendations for alternative places to stay within reasonable distance from DWP:
Mangga Dua: This is a middle class shopping district with several giant affordable malls. It is easy to reach from the airport and only 15 minutes away from JiExpo. It is also not too far from the touristic Old City of Jakarta (Kota Tua).
Mangga Besar: Only 10 minutes from JiExpo, this is a red-light area with tons of budget hotels, cheap street food and decadent nightlife spots. It's not very clean but it's colorful and affordable. The best hotels are the Swiss Belhotel (very near from Kemayoran) and the Hotel 88 Mangga Besar 62. 10-15 minutes from JiExpo.
Gajah Mada/Hayam Wuruk: This is the main road going from North Jakarta to the South. It is a convenient location as most attractions in Jakarta are along this axis. It can be a bit seedy at night (street prostitution, naughty nightlife, viagra stands, etc). There are a few new hotels there like the Santika Premiere, the Novotel, the All Seasons and the Ibis Harmoni. All of them offer excellent value-for-money. You'll need about 20 minutes to go to JiExpo from there.
Pasar Baru: Not a very interesting area except for a few attractions like the Istiqlal Mosque, the Pasar Baru market or the Monas. Mostly cheap hotels, including a branch of the Thai chain Red Planet. JiExpo is 15 minutes from there. It is near from the train station Gambir from where you can take trains to Yogyakarta, Bandung or Surabaya. There is also a public bus going from the airport to Gambir.
Sarinah/Plaza Indonesia: If you don't mind spending a bit more time in the transportation to go to DWP, I would recommend staying there. It is a central area close from the city's best malls, restaurants, bars and clubs. It is also much cleaner and safer. The Artotel and the Kosenda Hotel cost less than US$60/night and they both have trendy rooftop bars.
You can see more advice about hotels in Jakarta in Where to Stay in Jakarta and Jakarta Hotel Guide.
Getting Around in Jakarta
The cheapest way to go from the airport to the city center is by public bus. They are called DAMRI and they are easy to spot at the airport. There are 3 lines going to Central Jakarta: 1 for Kemayoran (the closest one), 1 for Gambir (near Pasar Baru) and 1 for Thamrin City (near Sarinah/Plaza Indonesia). The price is Rp40,000 (US$3) per person.
Taxis are more expensive but still very affordable. There are many waiting at the arrival and they'll cost you around Rp150,000 or US$11 (including the toll road) to the city center. Blue Bird and Express are the best companies but there aren't so many of them available. If you don't want to wait, it is safe to take any as long as they are in the official taxi stand and they agree to use the meter.
Uber and Grab Car are better and cheaper, but it can be tricky to get them at the airport. Regular taxi companies tend to chase them so you'll have to be discreet. They'll cost you only about Rp100,000 (US$7.5) during normal hours.
Within Jakarta, I personally use almost exclusively Grab Car or Uber. You can download both apps and switch from one to the other depending on the prices you get. When the traffic is too slow, I may also take moto-taxis from Gojek or GrabBike. It is very cheap and much faster.
Public transportation in Jakarta is not exactly tourist-friendly. There is a system of AC buses with dedicated lanes called Transjakarta from about 5am to 11pm. As you can see on the map, the line 2C goes until JiExp and you can take it from Gambir train station or Harmoni (a large hub with multiple connexions). You can also use the Line 1 to visit Jakarta as it stops near from many attractions. A ticket costs Rp3,500 (US$0.25).
I recently updated my article Getting Around in Jakarta and I invite you to read it for a more complete picture of the transportation system in Jakarta.
The Party
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The Crowd
Last year, 75,000 people attended DWP, making it one of the largest festivals of the kind in the region. It attracts mostly a local audience, including Indonesians from provincial cities like Bandung, Surabaya or Yogyakarta. There is also a sizeable number of foreigners from nearby Asian countries who visit Jakarta just for the occasion (Malaysians in particular). According to official figures, foreigners account for 20% of the attendance.
The participants are from mid-to-upper level background and they are well-behaved. Since it is an exceptional event by Indonesian standards, people can be really excited and they'll plan the festival months ahead. Most are friendly, cool to hang out with and open to meet with fellow clubbers.
Note that the festival is only allowed to adults over 18 years old and that you aren't allowed to buy alcohol if you are under 21.
Meeting Indonesian Girls
If you are hoping to meet girls, there are a lot of pretty ones, including scores of SPGs (Sales Promotion Girls). Many will be with a group of friends so you should be careful when approaching them.
Dating sites and apps are a good way to get some contacts before arriving in Jakarta. Mention that you are going to DWP on your profile and you're pretty sure to match with a few party girls.
Dress Code
The dress code is relaxed. The coolest people will wear some kind of accessories (hats, glasses, etc...) and they'll be more busy updating their Instagram than dancing. Wear comfortable shoes, pants and t-shirts and bring along some changing clothes (lockers cost for Rp40,000 up to Rp100,000 - US$3-US$7.5).
The Performance Stages
The DJ performances are held on several distinct stages. The main one, called Garudha Land, features a giant sculpture representing the mythical Garuda bird. It is really world-class, with impressive visual effects that involve multicolor lighting, laser shows, fireworks, smoke and screens. The show is an important part of the party, just as much as the DJs.
Garudha Land is located outdoor which is quite a bet considering December is the rainy season in Jakarta.
Fortunately, the smaller stages are under a roof with AC. For Djakarta Warehouse Project 2016, there will be a special stage featuring the festival "Life in Color" as a part of their worldwide Kingdom tour. The main particularity of Life in Color is that multicolor paint is thrown at the audience. It is a completely different set up and it can be considered a festival within the festival.
I'm not sure yet about the other stages for 2016 but they might include the same as last year: Neon Jungle, Mad Decent and Darker Side.
Schedule of DJ sets
The timing of each set will be known early December only. The first DJs start at 4pm (local ones) and the last ones end at 4am. It is best to arrive early (before 7pm) to avoid entrance queues (though at that time you'll get the worst part of Jakarta traffic).
DJ Line Up DWP 2016
The line up for this year's DWP includes several famous names of the commercial EDM, trance and techno scene. Most of them rank high on the DJ Mag Top 100 and they are regulars of all the big festivals like Tomorrowland or Ultra.
The following names have been announced so far:
The following names have been announced so far:
Hardwell (No. 3 on Top 100 DJ Mag)
Martin Garrix (No. 1 on Top 100 DJ Mag)
DJ Snake
Zedd
Yellow Claw
Some other famous names are Carl Cox, Tiga, KSHMR, W&W, Yellow Claw or Alan Walker (see full DWP 2016 Line Up).
There are also performances by the sexy dancers of CyberJapan.
There are also performances by the sexy dancers of CyberJapan.
Travel Insurance and Safety
You should have a proper travel insurance when traveling to Indonesia. It is not expensive for just two days and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble in case of accident, disease, cancellation or loss of personal stuff. If you are a foreigner, you can get a quote in a few seconds on WorldNomads.
If you are Indonesian, you can get an even cheaper Travel Insurance with the website Travellin (it belongs to Adira, part of Danamon Bank). You can insure yourself for 2 days for just Rp24,000 but naturally you'll get less guarantees (see more details about the benefits here: Domestic Gold).
Questions about Djakarta Warehouse Project?
If you have any questions about your trip to Jakarta for Djakarta Warehouse Project, please just leave a comment below and I'll answer as soon as possible.
You should have a proper travel insurance when traveling to Indonesia. It is not expensive for just two days and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble in case of accident, disease, cancellation or loss of personal stuff. If you are a foreigner, you can get a quote in a few seconds on WorldNomads.
If you are Indonesian, you can get an even cheaper Travel Insurance with the website Travellin (it belongs to Adira, part of Danamon Bank). You can insure yourself for 2 days for just Rp24,000 but naturally you'll get less guarantees (see more details about the benefits here: Domestic Gold).
Questions about Djakarta Warehouse Project?
If you have any questions about your trip to Jakarta for Djakarta Warehouse Project, please just leave a comment below and I'll answer as soon as possible.
Credit Photo: https://www.instagram.com/henrynov/