Hello, Hello, Hello... Jakarta, Indonesia!

Once in Jakarta, I knew that I wanted to capture an essence of the former capital of the Dutch East Indies. Batavia, who? I was really intrigued by Kota Jakarta's history lesson before Indonesia was an independent country. I was looking for certain Dutch remnants with an Indonesian reclamation, ever still I wanted to see Jakarta's own Dam Palace's replica! Ya, JKT! 

My arrival into Jakarta was smooth, the first evening saw me taking it easy at my 'Glodok' located hotel. I really didn't have too much of a concrete plan for my two days spent in the Indonesian capital, something Dutch would need to be clocked enough to learn about the colonial history. Jakarta had already presented much traffic and loudness, I wanted more! Embodying a sober state of mind had already got me out of bed, raring to go I was! 'Fatahillah Square' was on my radar, I needed to take a chance on Jakarta as a lesser known capital sandwiched between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Lesser known to me it was, anyway. Feeling refreshed, I took the Bogor Line along the 'KRL Commuterline' from 'Sawah Besar' to 'Kota Jakarta' after breakfast. The walk from my hotel to that station took me into Jakarta life without any apologies, it was real! The station at 'Sawah Besar' was a slight challenge to locate but I had done my research on Google Maps before arriving. 'Taman Fatahillah?' JKT, I didn't know her! 

Taking the three stops to 'Kota Jakarta' might have been brief but it gave me the Realness that I needed to see both within the train and on the tracks. Little did I know that 'Kota Jakarta' was both the oldest station in the city and the words meant 'Old Jakarta'. A wave of hot dry air washed over me as I stepped onto the platform, the commuters and locals knew how to navigate the crowds and I needed to adapt also! It was pure chaos, serving something more gritty than other nearby capitals but I wasn't mad about that factor. The high domed arches created an impression, serving something European it did! Taking my first steps away from the station platform, I was allowed to see the former Dutch style station as it fronted a very important square, I did drag my heels as I took the photo that's been taken above! This station terminus had been a thing since 1938, now acting as a major transportation icon in today's Jakarta. Formerly named 'Batavia Zuid' that former Dutch name had been changed long already! Tua, J?

Modelled on Amsterdam's formidable 'Dam Palace', Jakarta's 'Taman Fatahillah' served 17th century architecture from the get-go! Word on the street was that this former Dutch designed square onwards from 1710, with the focal building formally known as 'Stadhuis' before it became a museum. It was weird to see bikes circle around the square, it was something of a culture connection between the sightings of bikes you see in Amsterdam. I stood on the upper left hand side of the square at first with the train station located behind just a few paces away. As I took in the grand views of this square I was stopped by two sets of students who politely asked me to be part of their survey, filmed it was, I had no problem with their questions surrounding my reasons for visiting the square. I was honest about the Dutch connections, it was a draw and a motivation. I clocked the storehouses with such Dutch features, they stood in a fair condition and reminded me of my trip to Amsterdam in September 2013. Oh, I took those grand views in. 

I had seen this square on many YouTube videos, I recognised 'Cafe Batavia' but knew that my budget would not be stretched so soon! I was thankful for those videos because they gave my first morning without imposing an exhaustive itinerary without warning. I was gasping for a drink, I hadn't yet been acquainted with a very popular Indonesian soft drink, that would be corrected. 'Teh Pucuk Harum' became my saviour and life force from that first day and on, that black tea iced drink tasted delicious! I was just taking those views in and making the most of that 'free' attraction because Jakarta hadn't broken the bank thus far, on a general level I had been impressed by those prices! Taking a stroll away from the crowds brought me back to the beginning, I was ready to learn the ins and out of this square. I was impressed by the preserved nature of the square, there was an air of education in the air. Both a site of power and revolution, Jakarta's focal square reminded me of Europe with a certain Indonesian flare. Baiklah? It's OK! 

Was I going around in circles? Sometimes you must get a little lost to find your intended destination, I wasn't deterred by those diversions because a certain history behind the flag of Indonesia. After getting a refreshing fruit smoothie, I headed back to the square with 'Jakarta History Museum' in my sights, I needed to learn some facts on the double! What was the 'Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie?' Stepping foot into the museum told me that the 'V.O.C' translated into English as the 'Dutch East India Company', that former colonial power from the Netherlands saw major potential within Indonesia from 1602 until 1942. The former 'Staduis' stood strong in present day with rich wooden wall panels and rich stone floors. The high ceilings and the period exhibitions were giving me all the terrible tea about Indonesia's long fight for independence from the Dutch! From the first voyages around the 'Cape of Good Hope' from Holland, a dastardly story was narrated to me! Was there an Afrikaner connection? Miskien, so?

Why did the Indonesian flag resemble the 'red, white and blue' colours of the Dutch flag? The museum schooled me the during the rebellion, people had ripped through Dutch flag, removing the blue part to leave the modern 'red and white' colours of the Indonesian flag we know today. 'Prince Diponegoro' was a Javanese member of the Royal Family that opposed Dutch Colonial Rule in Indonesia, my visit to this museum was about to educate me about this freedom fighter! Like any questionable force, dungeons and detention space suppressed those who were against the Colonial force, 'Diponegoro' was detained at the former 'Staduis' before he was eventually exiled to Makassar. I was able to get two opposing views of this Jakarta icon, firstly from ground level and then from the upper level of the museum with the Indonesian flag fluttering proudly. For me, I appreciated the information but I was ready to get back into the action, I walked away from the museum with my final 'Taman Fatahillah' attraction locked in. A drawbridge? Clock it! 

I felt that I had clocked enough on the square, I took a chance turning that took me to a rather European looking riverside location. It was very down to earth, if not a little sketchy but I was willing to push myself out of my comfort zone. I loved the colourful flowers that lined the riverside, the buildings looked vacant in one way but I was sure those period looking buildings weren't abandoned? I didn't know! Water had led the Dutch to Java in the first place, I was standing along the 'Krutkut River', a single waterway that flowed towards Jakarta Bay. I had clocked a certain drawbridge on the internet, it seemed like the perfect time to conclude this part of my day before lunchtime. The 'Kota Intan Bridge' was in-sight, I didn't have a single issue locating it although the street dogs made me very wary, it wasn't the same vibe as the Philippines. I really wasn't a fan of those street dogs! Back to the drawbridge, I wanted to know more! Almost 400 years old, this Jakarta bridge is a living legend! Not more about the V.O.C, J?

Jakarta wasn't quite Singapore but it had its own energy, it was raw and I loved that! It's a little off topic but I am just being real! Taking the title as the oldest bridge in Indonesia, I had struck gold with this final 'Kota Jakarta' site! Built in 1628 by the 'Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie/Dutch East India Company', this bridge was able to open up to larger boats as they made their way into the heart of Jakarta's Dutch Colonial HQ during those former days of rule. It was once dubbed the 'English Bridge/Englese Brug' as many British troops remained a stronghold on the area during its construction pre-1628. I didn't know those facts in the moment of my visit but I have now educated myself to a reasonable level. I felt that my 'Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner...' blog needed 'lunchtime' attention, it was time to move towards 'Ancol' with safety in mind. From the train station to the history behind the square, it was an educational morning. Ready to move on, I didn't feel rushed! Being a compact space allowed me to get things done! 

Dutch Period, Done! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure