Jakarta: Personal Impressions and Observations

Jakarta: Personal Impressions and Observations

Who has been to Jakarta, Indonesia before? I have been in this city but once. Jakarta, Indonesia is undoubtedly one of the largest cities in the Southeast Asian region. Being the capital city of the largest archipelagic nation in the world, it is home to millions of Indonesians who trace their Malayo-Polynesian lineage common among members of the ASEAN countries such as the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, among other nations in the region.  Well, my impressions of this city is basically based on my personal experiences. I would say that my impressions are essentially individualistic and uniquely mine on the basis of my short but meaningful visit to the city. Let me then give you a brief rundown of these impressions along different aspects.

On Architecture and Landscape

Jakarta is similar to other metropolitan cities in Asia. I am no expert in architecture but I would say that the architectural structure of edifices in the city centre resembles highly urban style and modern in its appearance. In a sense it is somewhat similar to Bangkok of Thailand and to some extent Ho Chi Min of Vietnam. As the commercial and economic hub of the country, Jakarta symbolizes the rising and transitioning economic power of Indonesia. In my personal opinion, Jakarta and Manila share a lot of things in common. First, is the concentration of a great number of central government offices in the city so much so that people flock in the capital city to do their transactions with the government. Second, the great bulk of the country's economic activities are densely concentrated in the city; hence, attracting a great number of people from the suburban and rural areas to go to the city to take advantage of its busy economic engine. Finally, a great number of skyscrapers stand side by side with slum houses. the city carries the weight of both the rich and the poor populace of the country. Manila, Philippines' capital city is no different to Jakarta in this aspect. 

On Culture and Customs

The Indonesian culture shares a lot of things with other countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. I haven't observed that much about the culture and customs of Indonesia but I would say that Indonesia possesses a great culture and history just like any other nation in the region. While both Indonesia and Malaysia are predominantly Islamic, Thailand is a bit different where Buddhism is the main religion. The Philippines, on the other hand, is  predominantly a Christian nation where almost ninety five percent of the inhabitants are Roman Catholic. 

On Gastronomy

This is one thing you should not miss when visiting Jakarta: its dishes. On the basis of my personal experience in tasting different Indonesian cuisines, they share common denominator with Philippine dishes: hot and spicy. Seafoods are common in the city. Don't forget the rice. It comes in various dishes. You would surely enjoy Indonesian dishes as much as you enjoy dishes in other neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.Chili, turmeric and other spices are a common condiment in the table. During my visit to Jakarta, I tagged along my newly-found friend in Indonesia, the person who drove me during my city tour, at Pasu Baru for a late lunch in one of the restaurants. Here is a peek of my gustatory quest of Indonesian dishes:

On Party

I could not give a detailed observation as to this aspect inasmuch as I was not able to hop from one bar to another. I only had a cocktail drink in a restaurant during my brief stay.

On Entertainment

There are a number of interesting things that you can do in this city. If you are fond of visiting museums then you may find time to visit the National Museum where you can find artifacts of pre-colonial Indonesia.I dropped by at the Museum but unfortunately it was close at the time I visited it.

Another interesting to visit in this city is the Monas Tower. The Indonesian driver who toured me around the city told me that the tower represents Indonesians' love for freedom. At the deck you would be able to see a panoramic view of the entire city.

On Transport

Traffic jam is common in Jakarta. If you have an important appointment to do, it is wise to go early. Otherwise, when you go down the street at around 8 or 9 in the morning, you will be caught in a whirlwind of traffic. Motorbikes and scooters are common forms of transportation. There are a great number of them in early morning rush.

Price

Cost of living in Jakarta is almost comparable to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. The prices of commodities are relatively low when compared to European cities. Indonesian rupiah is the currency in use and they come in huge denominations. Here are some of the Indonesian rupiah monetary denominations.

I was a bit confused when I first converted a one hundred dollar bill to a money changer outlet. Funny but with my one hundred dollar bill, I'm a millionaire in the Indonesian currency. One dollar is approximately thirteen thousand Indonesian rupiah. The cost of a bottled water is less than a dollar. A soto ayam, my favourite Indonesian chicken soup, costs around twenty five thousand Indonesian rupiah.

On the Weather

When I visited Indonesia, it was summer. It was hot and sunny. I had no trouble with the weather in Jakarta since it is very much like the weather in the Philippines.

Over-all, Jakarta is a great place to stay. if you plan to visit the city, it would be well to do it during the summer time I reckon. Great sights and interesting places to be!