Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Kota Tua literally means ‘Old Town’, but it’s generally more known as ‘Old Jakarta’ , or ‘Old Batavia’.

It’s named that way because, this area WAS Jakarta, centuries ago!

It’s where the city of Jakarta first started out!

(You can read about the history of how Jakarta first came about right HERE)

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And, guess what … ALL THESE YEARS, I’ve never set my feet on this area. Ever.

We usually just drive past it. And that’s it.

Until recently.

[A few seconds after putting our sleeping Brie onto the stroller, she woke up, right when this photo was taken =)]

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Prior to our visit, I didn’t google anything on Kota Tua, and so I had NO idea what the place is like (other than knowing how it’s closely located to the ‘Stasiun Jakarta Kota’ building)

We got there around 3.30pm I think, and I was like, wow … there’s SO many people! So happening!

Wherever you look, you’ll see people.

They’re either selling stuff, buying stuff, walking around, cycling, taking photos, sitting on a simple piece of mat hanging out with friends, standing around watching a street performance, etc.

There are many interesting sights there at Kota Tua, and I just had to snap and capture the happenings.

Like this ‘manual and portable ferris wheel’ for kids!

I’ve never seen one like it, and I just thought it’s so clever!

(PS: Just in case you’re wondering … the seats are too small to fit me =)  Too small to even fit Anya and Vai. And no, I don’t think it’ll topple forward if the man at the back gets of his seat =)

If you love photography, I think you’d enjoy capturing different corners and happenings at this place.

(We used our iphones and my Nikon D5100 to capture the photos in this post)

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If you’re thinking of visiting Kota Tua, here’re some tips to share with you:

> Come towards the late afternoon. More ‘happenings’ apparently (we left at about 5,30pm).

> Bring your camera along! (well, phone cameras are great too =)

> Please do not litter, because there’s litter everywhere already and I don’t think we should make things worse with OUR rubbish.

The area is not well maintained by the government. Sellers are everywhere, and there are corners where you’ll see rubbish piles. I can’t help but feel sad when I see it all … because, IF ONLY the area is better taken care of, better preserved, better regulated, and better maintained (especially the overall cleanliness), Kota Tua will be able to share its history even better to all who come to visit!

(Jakarta is choosing its next governor in less than 3 weeks time, and I really hope and pray that whoever is elected, the whole team can really make positive changes to this city)

> There are quite a few museums in the area. We didn’t check any of them out though, so I can’t say if they are well maintained or not.

Again, I must say that I do long for all these places of visit to be better taken care of and managed by the authorities.

> If you’d like to get drinks, those sold at a small convenience store next to Cafe Batavia (I think the shop is called ‘Indomaret’) are most likely cheaper than those sold by random sellers there.

[I love how the flag looked against this wall!]

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> You can rent bikes there!

We rented our tandem bicycle (above photo) for Rp30,000 for 30 mins (S$4). I thought it should’ve been around Rp20,000 / 30 mins, but then … perhaps it’s because we’re there during the one week Hari Raya holiday break that the cost was a little higher than usual? Not quite sure.

You can cycle around the main area, and since there’s no designated ‘cycling area’, do be aware of the moving crowds and small ‘paths’ (ie. You may have to cycle between 2 sellers on the street =)

> Be aware and watchful of your own valuables and belongings.

Okay, on this one, I’d like to share an incident that happened during our visit to Kota Tua:

Just before we left, my brother in law who went on this trip with us realised that he’s lost his wallet. He searched all around the area and he couldn’t find it!  It’s rather impossible to find his wallet, I thought. I mean, THIS is Jakarta. And, we were at Kota Tua, a really crowded place, packed with all sorts of people!

(FYI, the big hassle of losing a wallet is the re-application of all those lost documents and cards!)

BUT you know what?

About an hour after my brother realised his wallet was gone, he got a phone call.

From a man who FOUND his wallet on the ground at Kota Tua!

What’s more, he’s a security guard at an office building and when my brother in law went over to collect his wallet that same night because he’s on night shift, … everything was there! Nothing was taken / lost!

Amazing, I thought!

To still have such an honest and helpful man these days in Jakarta, who bothered to find my brother-in-law’s name card inside the wallet and make that phone call too … I’m amazed!

I felt grateful too somehow, because to me, it shows how we shouldn’t ‘lose hope’ when we see an increase in crime, ie. There ARE still people who are willing to do what’s right!)

So, there you go.

Be better prepared before you check out Kota Tua, and of course … HAVE FUN! =)