Hi guys! Perkenalkan, nama saya Kalen (my name is Kalen)! 
I’m an Australian who has been living in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the last four years and been loving (almost) every minute of it! Being an expat living in Jakarta, it means a lot to me to be able to contribute to the community of both locals and other expats living here, in giving my opinion which has two viewpoints: someone coming from a more developed country where things operate smoothly in hospitality and other industries, but also someone who understands the way things work in Indonesia.
I feel I can give a good reference point for most restaurants, bars and other local businesses to garner feedback, and also as a trusted source of information to other local community members. I love being able to contribute to the city that I now call my home. Jakarta can be an overwhelming place at times, with hectic traffic, pollution, barely any sidewalks and millions of people living and working within a small area. For me it’s a real joy being able to discover hidden gems amongst all the commotion, in the form of restaurants, bars and cafes, where I can retreat for an hour or more and leave behind the stress and noise of city life.
My sister and I enjoying Padang cuisine at Sederhana restaurant.
The food scene in Jakarta is truly amazing, and for the quality of the dining experiences you can find here, the price is just a fraction of what it would be in other large cities. The Japanese and Korean restaurants here are especially prolific and delectable, and I was amazed to find so many mouth-watering restaurants that came in at only $20 per person. Sharing these discoveries with other expats and other locals makes them even more special, as I get to give other people the same great experiences I’ve had.
Enjoying one of many team dinners with my Indonesian colleagues.
Local Guides has given me the perfect platform to do just that, and I love being able to receive updates and notifications on all the people who have seen, shared or liked my reviews. It gives me a lot of satisfaction each time I see that one of my reviews has helped someone discover one of the local food haunts I love so much. Seeing that reviews of my favourite places, such as Sushi Tengoku and Henshin, have reached thousands of people is a great reward.
Thanks for the opportunity to share the places I love, Local Guides!