16.277 Nasi Goreng Kampoeng

Cycle 16 – Item 277

Post 5,756

9 (Thu) October 2025

Nasi Goreng Kampoeng

3.0

at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski

in my room

-Jakarta, Indonesia-

solo

Living Aboard the Mola Mola: Day -4 of 7

- Day -4 (16.277 Nasi Goreng Kampoeng)
- Day -3 (16.278 Ikan Bakar)
- Day -2 (16.279 Chicken & Beef Platter)
- Day -1 (16.280 Buntut Goreng)
- Day 1 (16.281 Beef Semur)
- Day 2 (16.282 Egg Fuyunghai)
- Day 3 (16.283 Egg Balado)
- Day 4 (16.284 Ayam Goreng Lengkuas)
- Day 5 (16.285 Hotpot)
- Day 6 (16.286 Beef Rendang)
- Day 7 (16.287 BBQ with “My” Sambal)
- Day +1 (16.288 Fried Chicken Nusantara (Quarter Chicken Package))

In transit: Incheon > Jakarta. Here for a 7-day liveaboard scuba diving trip: sailing across the Banda Sea on board the MSY Mola Mola, while diving, eating, drinking, sleeping (i.e., “living aboard”) the boat. The Banda Sea is one of four seas surrounding the archipelago of Maluku Islands aka the Spice Islands (where European powers fought wars during the 16th-17th centuries to gain control of the islands’ abundant spices, such as nutmeg, cloves, and mace). Primary objective: sighting schools of hammerhead sharks. (Two prior liveaboard trips were both to the Maldives aboard the MV Adora (see previously 14.062 Sautéed Sword Lettuce (Three Times) (2023) (9.191 Grilled Beef Tenderloin (2018).) My first time ever in Indonesia – who knows if I’ll ever return? – I arrived a few days early to maximize the visit and hang out in Jakarta.

THE DEAL

But first. In exchange for W’s “permission” to go on the trip, I’d agreed to buy her a handbag at the duty free store on the way out.

It ended up costing more than the price of the liveaboard.

LUNCH

Korean Air has recently renovated their lounges at Incheon International Airport.

Korean Air Prestige Lounge East (Terminal 2).

In dramatic contrast to the utilitarian/minimalistic ethos of prior lounges (see for example 10.110 Grilled Tenderloin with Rosemary Sauce), the new space is quite swanky, with dimmer, recessed lighting to enhance the vibe, offering a broader range of seating options, including semi-secluded booths along the glass windows overlooking the terminal.

Aria Brut Nature Cava (2.5): good enough.

The most welcome improvement is the food. A broader selection of items that appeared to be prepared fresh on-site, as opposed to a mass-produced in a centralized kitchen and sporadically distributed, as before. And more traditional items, which should appeal both to locals getting in their kimchi fix and to tourists wanting a final taste of Korea before leaving.

Dedicated soup station, with self-service garniture.

I was impressed with the ddeokguk and janchi guksu – totally legit, about as good as I could make at home.

EARLY DINNER

– KE 627 –

As per Korean Air Prestige Class protocols (see most recently 16.228 Korean Beef Short Rib with Vegetables Wraps), the meal service was predictable in form: amuse bouche (always seafood) + appetizer (always salad) + soup (always cream) + bread (always baguette / garlic bread / focaccia) + main (always Korean dish / steak / pasta) + dessert (always Häagen-Dazs ice cream + fruit).

Som Tum with Shrimp (3.0) + Piper Heidsieck Rare Millésime Champagne (2015) (3.0)

Cream of Potato and Leek Soup (3.0) + Tomato Salad (2.5)

Calarossa Aria di Calarossa Toscana (2021) (3.0): spicy, well-paired with the peppercorn sauce.

Filet Mignon Steak with Peppercorn Sauce (3.0): with mashed potatoes and sautéed greens, also quite nice.

While the steak itself was as bland and overcooked as ever, the peppercorn sauce was quite nice, making the meat almost tasty.

EVENING SNACK

Turkey Ham and Camembert Cheese Sandwich (1.5): not.

LATE SNACK

Ramyeon (3.0): with bits of bukeo, fresh chilies and sprouts – very nice.

HOTEL

Staying 3 nights at the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski.

Located on the western border of the ***Selemat Datang Monumen***.

Initially, I had booked a basic room in a cheap hotel (around $30 per night), planning to spend most of my time exploring the city, using the room only for sleep.

The biggest hotel reception that I’ve ever encountered (maybe).

The longest hotel hallway that I’ve ever encountered (likely).

But then, I began to worry about getting sick or injured in advance of the liveaboard – still nursing a cough that’s been hounding me for months – so I decided to get a nice room in a luxury hotel (around $170 per night – actually more like $200 per night because I couldn’t get a refund on the original booking) and chill within the safe and cushy confines of the property, sorta like we’d done in Taiwan (see generally 16.200 Lobster, “Taiwanese Style”).

Have to admit that I’m beginning to appreciate nice bathrooms.

Money well spent.

MIDNIGHT SNACK

Arriving at the hotel after 10pm, restaurants in the area were all closed. Ordinarily, I might’ve been tempted to venture out in search of late-night street food, but – as per the safe and cushy strategy – ordered room service for my first meal in town.

Nasi Goreng Kampoeng IDR 180,000 + Sate Ayam IDR 215,000 + 10% tax + 10% service charge = IDR 477,950 (KRW 41,000) (USD 29) – not bad.

Prior to this post, GMTD has featured Indonesian cuisine on 5 prior occasions, at dubious degrees of authenticity (see origin Indonesian).

Very excited to experiencing the food at the source.

Condiments: peanut sauce, soy sauce + chili oil, sambal.

Sate Ayam (3.0): rice cakes were kinda weird.

The kampung (kampoeng) version of nasi goreng is the most universal. The term means “village,” in reference to the rustic/humble practice of making the dish with random leftover ingredients, starting with day-old rice. Seasonings include fried anchovies (belado teri) + shrimp paste (belacan) + chili paste (sambal) + sweet soy sauce (kecap manis). Chicken or shrimp, whatever may be on hand, are common proteins. Typically served with a fried egg.