JJK Magazine

Action Land, sea and air

From jumping off a cliff to riding a horse in the middle of nowhere, here are four avant-garde sports we guarantee will elevate your level of coolness

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If there was such a thing as the perfect sport for Jakarta, it would have to be Parkour.

In fact, metropolitan Jakarta, with its towering, endless concrete jungle couldn’t be more perfect as a playground for practitioners of this mixture

of art and sport.

So what is Parkour? In laymen’s terms, Parkour is a non-competitive, physical discipline based on the most efficient way to get from point A to point B using only the body as a means of transport, negotiating the various

obstacles and making use of the surrounding environment.

Like skateboarding, the general idea is to move quickly and gracefully, “flowing” over, across, or through whatever objects you come across.

Basically, it is all about mastering your own self. It is

a state of mind to overcome and adapt to mental as well as emotional obstacles and, obviously, physical barriers.

All that makes Parkour suitable for practically anyone, regardless of age, sex or body type and is also why this inexpensive sport is

COURT ESY OF PARKOUR JAKARTA

Jakarta Java Kini

Concrete jungle

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SPORT + HEALTH

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Jakarta Java Kini

THE QUINTESSENTIAL INDONESIAN AQUATIC SPORT EXPERIENCE NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO DIVING IN SOME FARAWAY ISLAND. are welcome to enjoy the country club’s facilities which include a swimming pool, tennis courts, a clubhouse, a pool bar, a jogging track and even a children’s playground.

Returning to all things equine, there are an impressive 80 stables packed with topquality breeds to enjoy down at Arthayasa.

Arthayasa Stables, Blok Tengki, Desa Grogol Kecamatan Limo, Depok, www.arthayasa.com

A splashy affair We’ve gone through land, air, concrete and mountains, and now it’s time to indulge in some watery fun. No, we’re not talking about some man-made

waterslide parks. We’re talking about the great outdoors. White water rafting is a popular leisure activity that is just beginning to attract Jakarta devotees who have come to realise that given West Java’s lush, mountainous countryside and hefty, fast-flowing rivers, the quintessential Indonesian aquatic sport experience need not be limited to diving in some faraway island. For that matter, the ultimate white water rafting experience does not necessarily entail a trip to the wilds of Borneo or Bali. It’s available right here, in our very own backyard.

Arus Liar runs white water rafting trips down the huge Citarik River in Sukabumi,

about 120km from Jakarta, and offers white knuckle runs ranging from thrilling to downright dangerous as West Java’s rivers can be very rough at times. This one’s certainly for the brave and adventurous but holds the promise of vivid photos and even more vivid memories. A full day’s trip will cost you Rp. 425,000 per person for a 17-kilometre river run or a three-hour, ninekilometre trip costs about half of this. For the ultimate ride, book a rafting trip all the way from Sukabumi and the breathtaking forested slopes of the Mount Halimun National Park to West Java’s southern coast – near the popular resort town of Pelabuhan Ratu.

Arus Liar, Komplek Gudang Peluru, Jl. Gudang Peluru Barat Blok X No. 557, Tebet, www.arusliar.co.id

JOSUA ALESSANDRO

undertake such an activity in this urban jungle? Sure. Well, it’s not exactly located smack bang in the middle of Thamrin, but a short 30- to 45-minute drive from Fatmawati hospital will land you in Arthayasa Stables in the Jakarta suburb of Depok. The stables are located not far from Cinere Mall and offer you the perfect chance to saddle up and breathe some healthy country air into those lungs as you gallop and wallop through the beautiful Javanese countryside.

Horse riding can be a fantastically enjoyable experience for both adults and children alike and even if you are a complete novice, Arthayasa offers professional tuition to all and one-toone lessons on the lunge for between Rp. 50,000 and Rp. 400,000. Special prices are available for members and all visitors to Arthayasa

SPORT + HEALTH Text Arvada Haradiran

WHEN YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH, DRIVE UP TO PUNCAK AND JOIN THE GROUP OF JAKARTANS JUMPING OFF A CLIFF.

www.parkourindonesia.web.id

One flew over the cuckoo’s nest

sport is gaining exponential popularity in Jakarta – a sprawling megalopolis with few and far between green spaces. Men and women can become excellent traceurs (practitioners of Parkour, as they call themselves) if they can overcome the mental

challenge of what they are limited to do. Some treat it as no more than a fun challenge, and still others take it devotedly like martial arts.

That’s the great thing about Parkour: it’s really up to you to decide. Also, there are no real rules to follow (except for

Living in a cramped, polluted city that is seemingly in a perpetual gridlock can be extremely stressful. When you have had enough, drive up to Puncak and join the group of Jakartans jumping off a cliff.

That’s right, jump off a cliff in a paraglider. Bukit Paralayang (paragliding hill) lies just above At-Ta’awun Mosque, about an hour’s drive from the capital, traffic permitting, and is one of the long-time favourite spots for paragliding enthusiasts.

Paragliding gained steady popularity in the ’90s after the Federasi Aero Sport Indonesia (FASI) established it as an official aviation sport, changing the name from mountain diving to paragliding – paragliding was originally used as a tool by hikers to descend a mountain quickly. The seconds just before you jump are the most frightening. It really does feel as if you’re about to jump off a cliff. But bear down and hang tight, and in another second, you will find yourself flying like a bird and majestically soaring up into the sky with your heart in your mouth.

Paragliding is similar to parasailing, which you may have already tried in Bali and one that lets you experience the thrill of being towed behind a speedboat for a few minutes, except paragliding entails launching yourself off the side of a hill, strapped onto a wingshaped glider. It is a completely liberating experience; a freeflying experience with no tow ropes involved, and is consequently a sport that takes a little more skill to master.

The Indonesian Paragliding Association, Bandar Halim Perdanakusuma, Lantai Dasar, Ruang No.32, www.indonesiaparagliding.com The Indonesian Paragliding Union, Jl. Ampera Raya No. 20, www. paragliding.web.id

Ride the wind Horse riding in Jakarta? It may sound absurd for a city that is dominated by iron horses instead of the blood and flesh variety you find in rural, freshaired countryside. Is there even a place where you can

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learning about safety – that’s coming up next) and that you move at your own pace.

You may have seen Parkour in action in one of the recent television commercials or even in James Bond’s “Casino Royale”, which showcases breathtaking-andimpossible-looking movements like jumping from roof to roof, leaping from impossible heights or climbing over tall walls. While it’s true that Parkour utilises a combination of running, acrobatics, dance and martial arts, the sport places more emphasis on the fast redistribution of body weight and the use of momentum to safely and effectively navigate through obstacles. As such, the first thing beginners should learn is good jumping and landing techniques, like rolling. Body rolls are used to limit impact after a drop and to carry one’s momentum onward, and are often stressed as the most important technique to learn.

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Text Arvada Haradiran

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Jakarta Java Kini

Massage in a bottle When you want a good old rub TYPE OF MASSAGE Swedish massage,

traditional Indonesian massage.

WHAT IT DOES TO YOU Both the Swedish massage and the traditional Indonesian massage (usually Javanese or Balinese) are world famous for their highly relaxing and gentle properties. Swedish massage is designed to relax the body by utilising long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements. Traditional Indonesian massage works on the entire body and tends to be a deeper pressure massage. Both help to

reduce stress, improve blood circulation, aid digestion and even improve skin tone.

WHERE TO GET IT Try The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta’s (Jl. Lingkar Mega Kuningan kav. E.1.1. no. 1, T: 021 2551 8888) Mystical Touch Massage, a total body massage combining techniques of Swedish, lomi-lomi and traditional Indonesian massage with lavender, rosemary, and jasmine essential oils (US$ 50++, one hour). For the ultimate pampering, call The Bimasena Spa at The Dharmawangsa (Jl. Dharmawangsa

Raya no. 39, T: 021 725 8181) and book its super luxurious Chocolate Treatment (Rp. 2,950,000++ per couple, two hours and 30 minutes).

When you need something fixed TYPE OF MASSAGE Hot stone massage,

Thai massage, shiatsu, reflexology, sport massage.

WHAT IT DOES TO YOU Hot stone massage is good for people who have muscle tension but prefer a lighter massage. Heated, smooth stones are placed on certain points

R ITZ-CARLTON JAKARTA , R ITZ-CARLTON PACIFIC P LACE, B IMASENA SPA AT THE DH AR MAWANGSA , JW MARRIOT T HOTEL JAKARTA

For those with a penchant for getting themselves massaged and pampered, here are our recommendations on what to get and where to get it

SPORT + HEALTH

From chocolate to exotic seeds, these ingredients can solve almost all of your problems.

Jakarta Java Kini

like a combination of massage and yoga, where the therapist kneads you into a sequence of postures, and shiatsu is a form of Japanese bodywork that uses localised finger pressure on the specific acupressure meridians of the body in a rhythmic sequence. Thai massage is more energising than other forms of massage and it also reduces stress and improves flexibility and range of motion. Reflexology is in reality a lot more than a simple foot massage, as certain points on the foot correspond to organs and systems. Thus reflexology is long believed to be effective in treating internal organ problems.

And lastly, sport massage is specifically designed for people who want to get back on their feet quickly after rigorous activity. The focus isn’t on relaxation but on preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance.

WHERE TO GET IT Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta’s Aromatic Signature Massage (USD 50++, one hour) combines the Swedish technique and the passive stretching of Shiatsu. Its sister spa, Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Pacific Place (Jl. Jend. Sudirman kav. 52 – 53, T: 021 2550 1888), is a particularly excellent venue and the amazing Rain Forest Magic Ritual treatment is highly recommended.

(Rp.1,588,000, two and a half hours). The

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When you want to stay forever young

Stone (Rp. 600,000, 75 minutes). Alameda Spa and Health Club at JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta (Jl. Lingkar Mega Kuningan kav.

E.1.2. no. 1 and 2, T: 021 5798 8888) offers The Plant Facial (Rp. 320,000, one hour) and the Babor Lymphatic Facial (Rp. 500,000, one and a half hours).

TYPE OF MASSAGE Facial WHAT IT DOES TO YOU A facial massage is a

When you want substance

Stone Sorbet Ritual (Rp.1,188,000, two hours) uses heated stones for massage after a sauna session, as well as an aloe gel sorbet body wrap.

great way of getting the blood flowing again and achieving a healthy glow. A decent facial massage relieves tension, promotes relaxation and increases blood circulation in your face, which translates to a smoother, firmer and more youthful appearance. It’s the perfect anti-aging treatment and even said to reduce wrinkles.

WHERE TO GET IT Bimasena Spa at The Dharmawangsa has some of the best facial treatments in the city, with the two highlights being the Caviar and Escutox Facial (Rp.1,750,000++, one hour 15 minutes,) and the Men’s Vitality Facial (Rp. 550.000++, one hour). The Spa at The RitzCarlton Jakarta Pacific Place, alternatively, offers the Great Mayan Facial (Rp. 588,000, 75 minutes) and Stone Facial with Crystal

TYPE OF MASSAGE Aquatic Massage WHAT IT DOES TO YOU The city of Spa in

Belgium gave birth to this modern-day addiction of ours. Spa also originally depends on water as a healing element. There are many modern spa treatments, however timehonoured methods still flourish. Conditions such as severe arthritis, post-surgical pain, and both pre- and antenatal problems benefit from a spa session.

WHERE TO GET IT The Bimasena Spa at The Dharmawangsa offers three kinds of aquatic treatments: the Jet Effusion Shower (Rp.250,000++), Hydrotherapy Bath (Rp.250,000++) which is a relaxing underwater massage with aromatherapy extracts and sea mineral salt and the Scotch Shower (Rp.250,000++).