“No stay long in Jakarta, no good for tourists!”, our taxi driver comments while sharing some fried snacks he picked up on the way. We just landed on Jakarta Airport and our he is confirming in his best English what we’ve read online: not too much to do or see here for visitors. Luckily, we’ve only planned to stay for one full day here, just to get settled in.
We take a quick shower and head out to explore the area. There is a lot of traffic! Cars, scooters and mopeds are dominating the streets. It takes quite some determination and courage to cross the streets. We notice that there is hardly any tourist on the streets and locals greet us with curiosity and a friendly smile.
We decide to treat ourselves to a restaurant and some bars. The food is great and the local Bintang beer is cheap. We enjoy some really good live music and somehow end up at a dance party where a DJ is spinning her records. The locals are pulling us on to the dance floor. “Come on guys, dance with us! Welcome to Indonesia bro! Where are you from?” We’re friends for life now.
The next day we enjoy a large breakfast and take a quick splash in the pool before we’re ready to see what Jakarta looks like during day time. It’s about 30 degrees Celsius and humid. A thick layer of smog covers the city. No surprise given the amount of traffic. After walking in circles searching for the nearest metro station entrance, we discover cabs take you about everywhere in the city for under 3 euro. We discard the metro plan and a cab takes us to Jakarta History museum.
The Dutch have had a huge influence in Indonesia during its colonial era. We’ve learned a thing or two on that topic in school, but I can’t recall many details. The museum tells a, to our surprise, very factual story about the Dutch influence. Basically they provide information about when we (the Dutch) came, what type of trade we did and when we left. I’m sure that (like with any colonial expansion) we didn’t just ask nicely if we could take control of Indonesia for a few centuries. Even though the VOC went bankrupt around 1800 and left, it took the Dutch until 1949 to recognize Indonesia’s sovereignty. The Dutch influence is still apparent in the city’s architecture, names on buildings and we meet a few older men and women that speak the Dutch language.
Outside the museum kids are taking drawing lessons, riding bikes and performing dances. Many approach us: “Hello mister! What is your name?” “Hello mister! How are you?” “Hello mister, my name is Davia!” “Hello mister! Where are you from?” We answer enthusiastically and exchange many high fives. Indonesia is my fifth Asian country, but never did I experience so much excitement as a result of seeing a foreigner.
We leave the city center and walk towards the harbor. Although the bridges are painted in cheerful colors the environment is everything but cheerful. Homeless people are laying on pieces of carton, street vendors with questionable hygiene are trying to sell their meat and living chickens are slaughtered in front of our eyes, which contributes to a disgusting smell. “You guys hungry?” Not really.. Piles of trash and plastic are next to the road, in the river and ‘hidden’ behind houses. We’re in the slumps of Jakarta.
What a contrast compared to the luxurious malls and hotels elsewhere in the city!
Big fashion brand stores like Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger and H&M look like they do anywhere else in the world. Hotels have huge swimming pools, fitness areas and restaurants.
Jakarta isn’t a city that I would recommend to stay in for a long time: it is huge, crowded and the fog makes you feel dirty the moment you step outside. However, Jakarta is perfectly fine to learn about the history of Indonesia, grab some food and get adjusted to the time difference. Next up: Yogyakarta!
Comments