whatsup Jakarta: Delonix Hotel Karawang

Undeniably, it has been months since my last post. Busy days take its tolls and it feels good to be back blogging and connecting with you readers and still hope you enjoy reading my posts.

Having a little bit of time to take a breather, I opt for a staycation at a hotel in Karawang, A very odd city for a mini getaway you might think, a town little of you might heard of and could think of anything exciting and yet I thought It was perfect. I have noticed that this town is steadily developing, new hotels and a new mall are popping out and I wanted to get the feel of it.

Karawang has been, for a while, known for its foreign and local industrial complexes. With these dynamics, many expats (mostly Japanese) are staying in Indonesia for a short stay, around 3 to 6 months or even longer. If you give a closer look at around the city, you will find Japanese influences here and there, hotels, restaurants and golf courses mostly catering these expats.

I stayed at Delonix Hotel Karawang, located in the central area of Karawang International Industrial City (KIIC) just by the Sedana golf club is located. The hotel has two separate buildings being that they had built a newer building right by the older one (not that it is old).

The newer building was where I was staying, simple building with a sense of tranquility for a perfect rest of mind and body. Knowing full well that the hotel’s main guests are Japanese, the hotel is heavily influenced by the Japanese ways of life and to cater most of their needs.

As you enter the building you are greeted by friendly staffs ready to checks you in, there was a breeze of wind created by the ‘wind tunnel’ layout of the building.

There is a courtyard in the center decorated by a tranquil stream of a Koi pond and when you look up u can see the hotel rooms evenly space giving off that balanced and symmetry that relaxes the eyes.

Delonix Hotel provides 205 hotel rooms and 90 unit of apartments with a garden view and to the golf course view. Offering hotel facilities that does not disappoint; swimming pool, fitness center, meeting rooms, Ofuro bath (almost a ritual for Japanese guests) and Spa.

The premier room that I was placed has the golf course view which was comfortably spacious of 42sqm area that includes a nice sofa area to lounge and office desk by the flat TV. The kitchenette area allows guests to make themselves coffee or tea with its water boiler or wanting anything cold to drink by putting them in the mini fridge and not forgetting microwave for heating of food if necessary.

Satisfied with my room, I went exploring around the perimeter of the hotel and in the hope I could find something to eat around the hotel and diminish the need to go out of the complex. There are a few to choose from as it turned out, Miami restaurant specializes in Western food, Sakana restaurant focus on Japanese cuisine and Terrace restaurant where breakfast is held every morning, so I got myself all covered for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I started with breakfast at the Terrace restaurant and it was mostly filled with, as you can guess, Japanese. Being used to a breakfast buffet style in most hotels, Delonix separates itself and I was delightfully surprised. The food served was heavy, as in heavily ‘carbed’. All kinds of rice are served for options; curry rice, nato rice, sushi that comes in almost bigger than normal. I was so full by the end of breakfast and almost asked myself what’s with all the carbohydrates but I had figured why they served such heavy breakfast, that is because most of these Japanese guest goes on to work and the hotel made it a point that these expats goes out to work full that lasts until evening if it needs to be. That was my good guess and I might be wrong. One thing I loved about that breakfast was I could drink as much Yakult as I could!

After breakfast and short walk around the hotel, I tried the Japanese Ofuro bath (male only). My first Ofuro bath and a very relaxing experience indeed. First you have to rinse yourself in order to proceed to the bath so you are actually clean submerging into the bath. The baths are divided into two areas, the hot and the cold. It truly rejuvenates and energized me in a way that I should remember to do more of it. The only awkward thing is that I am not used to walking around naked with other naked guys and trying to be relaxed at the same time. I found it amusing.

by the end of my staycation, I was blessed to have an opportunity to have my favorite lunch at Sakana Japanese Restaurant. Yes it is the same as the one in Midplaza Jakarta and Kuningan because these two are under the same management which is Midplaza holding.

Menus is a little bit different from the one I had in Jakarta but taste wise; it is still delicious. I got myself a bowl of chirashi with rice, grilled unagi bowl and some yakitori as well to complete my best lunch ever.