Ultimate Tips to Celebrate Valentine's in Jakarta with an Extremely Tight Budget

Okay, if you're reading this article then I'm guessing you probably have more than Rp. 100,000 ($ 10) to spend on Valentine's Day,but maybe you're not into the whole Valentine's Day thing enough to want to spend more than that. Or you could use these ideas another time, say towards the end of the month, right before payday, when your budget is particularly tight. The point is, you don't need a lot of money to enjoy a romantic night with your significant other.

Set the mood with the right food and the right flick

If you're aiming to keep this under Rp. 100.000 ($ 10) then you're going to have to find some pretty cheap eats. But that's okay, Jakarta's got an abundance of extremely cheap tasty food. The most important thing is to find your honey's absolute favourite guilty pleasure, whether it be sate kambing or martabak telur (Cheap eats for two : ~ Rp 40,000 or $4).

The food maybe cheap, but you can still enjoy a romantic dinner if you have the right setting to eat it. Go back to your place and set the mood by turning down the lights and setting up a few strategically placed candles. Plate your street food or whatever as nicely as you can. Try to arrange the meal neatly, like it was from a fancy restaurant. (Candles: ~ Rp 20,000 or $ 2).

After dinner, clean up (and insist on doing the dishes too!) and settle in to watch a classic romantic movie. Again, you will get thoughtfulness points if you can find your sweety's absolute favourite romance flick, but you can possibly score even more points by finding a totally new movie for them to love. If you're short on ideas, you can always check out this month's Film section a list of our favourites. If they're really not into romance movies, then you can always pick out their favourite horror, comedy or kung-fu movie as well. Remember, tonight should be all about making them happy. Blow the candles out, snuggle up to your loved one and watch your DVD in the dark to maximize intimacy.

A date underneath the stars

After the movie, take your date out on a little mystery trip. Do a little reconnaissance beforehand and find the tallest building in your area (with minimal security) and take your date to the rooftop. Amaze your date with the night sky - from up there you might even be able to see a few stars, a rare and wonderful sight in Jakarta. If a security guy walks up and interrupts you, give him a pack of cigarettes and tell him about your plan, he'll leave you alone for sure. Then give your date a homemade card featuring an original poem written for the occasion and photo of the two of you. Your date will be in awe, and your wallet will be safe as well! (Cost: pack of cigarettes Rp. 10,000 or $ 1, printed photo ~ Rp. 20,000 or $ 2).