Anonymous -Jakarta - Chapter 7 - London Diary

Bright red balloons hanging down from the possibly show grounds. Chinese New Year Food Festival! Waah! What a timing. It’s already 7.30PM and I just realized I have only had a few bakeries and a breakfast so far. It’s time to pay tribute to my body so that I can wander more.

Chinese new year food festival - Jakarta

City of Jakarta

Changing all my plans of my unplanned walk, I entered the show grounds at the heart of Jakarta. Not far from the starving streets – may be three blocks – but now the city looks modern with four lane roads, dedicated cycle tracks and a bus line specially designed in the middle of wide roads. An entirely different face – just three blocks away – I have never seen rich and poor cities this closer before.

I washed my face and hands – which were  dirt coated by now. The first food store gave me a tissue to wipe, with a happy smile – and I decided where I will be having the dinner  for that night. After a full circle under the hanging bright red balloons, past approximately 40-50 food stores, each with different menu, I spotted a French traveler – who was busy with his camera and didn’t want to talk. May be he didn't understand English. Then at the end, back to the first store for a dinner – the best dinner I had in Indonesia. Omelet with stuffed veggie and rice(special request to fill my by-now-big stomach). Since the first few staff couldn’t understand English, I was redirected to Nyla – the young looking, tiny lady (which she revealed to be her mid-forties later). She looked to be Philippine in the first glance. She greeted me with a charming smile and spoke broken English with a good Pronunciation. Signs of rich historical monument – Blocks are still in good strength but connections are missing somewhere. 

The cross linked food stalls

The orange juice she gave me from the near by store was one of the best juices I have ever had in my life. Was that the because of the thirst? Not sure. The phone was on charge by now with a dedicated bodyguard for that and we had a very long chat. I haven’t spoken much in last two days other than the meeting I had. She revealed the secret – she was in London for five years, about 15 years ago. And she was sent back to Jakarta when her marriage failed. Each human is a walking stalk of memories and experiences. Not a good idea to hurt, but still good to share stories without pain. We had a very long chat – about life in Jakarta, other parts of the country and about the 27 Islands. Just in short, she believed Jakarta is boring and only good for work. I was not in a position to comment – 40 years 've about 15,000 days in it.

Now, sipping another juice- this time 'Markisa' - Passion fruit, I am trying to get the habit of writing my journey. Sitting on this stairs to an open stage, listening to the band music rocking in the middle of the ground, observing people, my laptop pops out. 2 hours before the journey back to my Airbnb. 14 hours before my flight to Singapore.

Good bye - Thank you for your treat Jakarta

- The End - Thank you Bali and Jakarta