How our 3 Kids and I Survived the Flood, the Rain, and Walked Back Home!
Flood. Dear flood.
What seemed to happen in Jakarta ‘every 5 years’ has somehow become an ‘annual disaster’.
We arrived in Jakarta in March 2012 and since then, we’ve witnessed Jakarta going through this flood problem, once a year.
(And no, I’m NOT blaming the governor for ‘weather issues’.)
It all started with rain. Heavy downpour, starting around midnight. Nonstop!Anyway.
I thought I must blog and share this ‘only-in-Jakarta’ UNIQUE experience the kids and I went through yesterday.
Yep, the day we TRULY experienced Jakarta’s big flood!
Well, here goes.
It all started with rain. Heavy downpour, starting around midnight. Nonstop!
And to cut the story short, we decided to NOT send the kids to school due to the rapidly rising flood water (though they’re already in the car with us, in school uniforms and all).
We went to drop hubby off to work, and we went back home.
Errrr … that’s when the problem started.
On our way home, we apparently entered ‘an impossible to go further’ zone!
I suddenly found myself in a situation where our car couldn’t move further.
It’s pouring rain outside.
I looked out my window, and saw flood water covering the lower parts of ALL other cars!
The 3 kids screamed, ‘Mommy! Water is coming into the car!!’I started to hear ‘engine noises’ coming from OUR car!
And to make things worse, … the 3 kids screamed, ‘Mommy! Water is coming into the car!!’
EEEEKSSS!
It was such a scary moment!
Thank God, seconds later I heard Anya pointing out to an office complex nearby, saying, “Mommy! Look! We should go there!”
Seriously, THANK GOD, we somehow managed to make a quick turn (amidst the traffic jam!) and entered a slightly higher ground!
Phew!
At least our car was no longer IMMERSED!
Heavy rain didn’t stop.
And I thought, we just had to leave our parked car and get out of there before the flood got worse.
Then you know what?
We spotted a big truck!
I did some crazy waves, yells (across the heavy rain!) and hand signs, and phew, the driver understood that we asked if we could get a lift!
All four of us (drenched) hopped on to the back of the truck.
Just as long as we could get a little closer to home, I thought.
Like, seriously?? Trucks couldn’t even make it through the floods?Then, you know what?
In less than 2 minutes, we were told to get off!
Why?
Because the driver told us, they’re NOT going out of the complex because the water level was TOO HIGH.
Other trucks couldn’t make it through the floods, he said.
Like, seriously?? Trucks couldn’t even make it through the floods?
Errrr … then I saw this sight across the road (picture below).
Great. Just great.
We waited around again … for another 10 minutes or so.
Heavy rain. Nonstop.
Then I decided to just go ahead.
I told the kids to get ready to walk through the floods. Since there’s NOTHING we could do, we’re going home!
The kids were like,
‘How about our shoes?’
‘How about our car?’
‘How about our school bags?’
Well, since we’re in a state of ’emergency’, I told them to NOT worry about those things.
Wet school shoes should be the LAST things that we worry about.
…
What happened next was, I carried Brie with one hand and held an umbrella with my other hand.
Anya and Vai walked on their own. Each holding an umbrella.
We slowly walked forward.
Trying to feel the ground.
Avoiding holes and whatever big stones and curbs.
I just wanted to go homeIt was mad, I know.
Many looked at us, waving and gesturing from afar, asking if we wanted to go onto the side of the road and wait.
But then I thought, ‘Wait by the road side? No, I better stay towards the middle of the road, closer to the curbs (pictured above), so that JUST IN CASE there’s a truck, a horse carriage, a boat, or ANYTHING that passes by, we could hop onto it!’
What a crazy mother of three. Probably that thought crossed their minds. I don’t know.
I just wanted to go home.
So we walked ahead.
We did see 2 horse carriages, a boat, 2 trucks (filled with people at the back) passed by.
But they were all ‘FULLY BOOKED’.
I gave friendly yet desperate smiles, waved like crazy, yelled across the heavy rain, asking if they’re coming back towards where we’re heading.
But, they gestured how they still had a looonggg way to go, unsure of when they could come back for us. Plus, the flood water was too high and trucks couldn’t stop to pick us up, just in case the engine stopped.
…
Despite all that, we still saw amazing things along the wayYou know what?
Despite all that, we still saw amazing things along the way.
We saw people offering us help!
Yes, amidst their own inconvenient situations, they offered us help!
Amidst their own inconvenient situations, they offered us help!When we walked past strong currents, two people offered to hold the two older kids’ hands so they didn’t fall.
A middle aged man, drenched, going towards the same direction as us, offered to accompany Vai and walk along his side!
God-sent help, if you ask me.
After some 1.5 hours, we found a trolley!
Yay!
Weird, I know. But we’re happy to see a trolley!
And into the trolley Brie went. To rest my arms for a while.
Keep ourselves balanced so we didn’t slip and fall into the brown water!Apparently, it took us a good 2 hours to reach home.
But frankly, none of us felt the two-hour walk.
Perhaps it’s because we concentrated more on how to keep moving forward together. To keep on walking and finding a safer ground to tread.
To keep ourselves balanced so we didn’t slip and fall into the brown water!
…
Ah anyway … it was SO nice to reach our home!
To have a good warm shower, and to clean ourselves from the murky water.
…
As we walked through the floods, Vai was like, ‘Mommy!! I think that was a dead mouse floating away!!’Btw, when we walked through the floods earlier, Vai once yelled out, ‘Mommy!! I think that’s a dead mouse floating away!!’
Hah! I seriously did NOT want to know if it was real, or it was his mere imagination!
I just told the kids to NOT think about what’s inside and underneath the brown water. Just focus and keep on walking, it’s better that way!
And hey hey hey, we survived! Woohoo! =)
You know … I feel, we (especially the kids!) learned so much from what we went through.
The kids experienced for themselves the kinds of help offered by strangers (who were ALSO in difficult situations), and I hope they in turn learn the importance of helping others too.
The kids also learned how important it is to work as a team, to look out for each other! (Read: bickering and silly disagreements should be the last things in their mind!)
They experienced how it IS possible to get through the storm and the flood together, if they just kept on walking past the deep flood and strong currents.
And, most importantly, they experienced how God sent unexpected help along the way, to help us get home. Safe and sound.
And before they went to bed, they prayed for others who are in more difficult situations, who lose their possessions, their homes, their cars, because of the flood. This time round, their prayers felt more real, more relevant, I’m sure.
…
Yes, it was not a pleasant experience.
But really, there were just SO many precious life lessons learned from it.
Thank God.
We learn to count our blessings.
And we know there are just too many of them.
36 Comments »
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the dangerous part of flood is the pothole, lobang got, and immersed spike object.
tapi orang jakarta memang tangguh, here’s my thought 🙂
Thanks for sharing what you wrote! True true , and I agree too.
Indonesians are ‘trained’ to just sail through the storms …often, while smiling too =)
Hi Leonny, i feel very emotional and touched reading this post. So so glad that you and the kids reached home safely.
I hope that none of them or yourself fall sick after being drenched for 2 whole hours?
Dear Cynthia, thank you for your concern …
You know what? We are all fine and healthy even after all that. God’s grace is what I can say.
Oh my, Leonny, what an experience. I am so glad you all got home safe and sound. The children must have been exhausted after such an expedition!
Hi Christie,
For the first time ever, all four of us napped together in one bed that afternoon, 1 hour after reaching home! =)
Apparently the walk was quite exhausting, and we only felt it when everything was over …. =)
PS: Great to hear from you! Hope you’re doing well!
walked through under the heavy rain and floods, amazingly all of u didnt noticed that 2hrs already…what an amazing exp, indeed.
lastly thx God u’all reach home safely 🙂
Hello Dwi, thanks for stopping by ya … =)
Yes, to reach home all safe and sound, … we’re blessed!
Hai, cici…Saya baru pertama kali mampir.
Kenal banget tuh daerahnya… seru banget sih, masih bisa foto2 pula. Tapi pasti jadi pengalaman yg sangat berharga buat anak2.
Hari itu juga suami saya pulang dari kantor dengan naik perahu karet + truk + jalan kaki, total hampir 4 jam, padahal masih di gading2 juga. Haha
Hello Dina,
Welcome welcome to my blog =) Selalu welcome utk visit lagi anytime dan sering2 juga ya … =)
Wah, suami pulang juga penuh perjuangan yah … 4 jam pula! Hwaaa!
Suamiku jg tuh akhirnya harus jalan kaki 3 jam … Tapi ya pas udah ngumpul semua, senengggg dan legaa ….
What an experience! Great memory that the kids will remember for the rest of their life for sure. 🙂
Hi Kiki,
Yeah… the kids were just talking about it again this morning on their way to school =)
Great memories for sure …
Btw, hopped over to your blog and left a comment, but couldn’t send it over (issues in verifying sender’s ID).
Anyway, just wanted to say : your home is sooo cosy and nice! =)
Thank you! I apologize with the comment issue. We just moved to an older smaller home so I put up the pictures as memories. 🙂
wow! tough mom i would do d same if i were u 🙂
hope the rain will be back to normal rain no flood
Hope to get to know ur fam
thanks n best regards, pei pei
Hi Pei Pei … thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a note =D
Yes, we all hope that the weather will be more ‘normal’ …
(not sure if it will though, as there’ve been predictions that in the coming week, heavier downpour is expected …. yikes!)
Duh banjirnya sampe parah gituu
rahmiaziza recently posted..Rakyat Ga Jelas!
Iya, dalemmmm … dan katanya akan ada yang lebih parah lagi minggu depan? Wah, belum bisa terbayang akan seperti apa …
Wow! You are amazing and tenacious! You manage to keep your wits about you with 3 kids in tow during a major flood AND take some awesome pictures! Hats off to you! My hubby was in Jarkata that day too – will show him your post. Just glad everyone is safe and sound.
Thank you for such encouraging words! Hope your hubby is all okay and not ‘traumatised’ by the unpleasant Jakarta experience =)
The month of February has somehow been like this in the recent years …
Thank God for protecting you and the kids from the flood. It is a ‘battle-story’ worth retelling and I’m so proud of you and the kids for staying calm during that situation and bravely soldiering on in the rain to make it home safely. Take care!
Thanks Angie … It really was an enriching experience for us all … I mean, unless we are ‘pushed’ into such a situation, no one would want to go through it, for obvious reasons =)
i just could say “WOWWWW!!!”
azizahnazi recently posted..Laporan Kegiatan KKN
hahaha …. makasih dah drop by yaaa … sering2 berkunjung ya Mak … =)
Oh my goodness, I am so glad you are safe and sound. Take care!
Agy recently posted..You’re Sew Electric!
Thanks Agy! Yes, we’re glad to reach home, safe and sound (and cleannn again! =)
Ci, hebat masih bisa ambil foto, kalau saya pasti udah panik banget. Hp nya ga takut kecebur ci?
Momen yg tidak mungkin tidak diabadikan soalnya =)
Jadi dipastikan pegang HPnya super erat dan balikin lagi taro di tas =D
Haha.. that was the memorable one, for you and the children.
Another good is with smart phone, you won’t forget to take picture while in the heavy rain also! So, thank God also your phone didn’t drop into the water!
AhJianBaBa recently posted..2015年1月份小记
Haha … ya, I was holding on to my phone sooo tightly! It’s like, take out phone, shoot and shoot, and put back into my bag.
Yes, I had my bag across my body, carried Brie, and held umbrella … it was a test of my coordination and concentration skills! =D
I’m glad you and the kids arrived home safely. Thanks God. Hopefully the infrastructure will be better in the future.
Yaaa…so happy when we got closer and closer to home!
One of the things I wish could happen ONE DAY is: for the people of Indonesia to realise the importance of NOT littering =(
Thank you for sharing your experience! I know many will benefit from it, I will be sharing it with my boy tonight.
DinoMama recently posted..Come Fly with Me @ iFLY Singapore
Thank you for dropping by … so heart-warming to know that you’ll be sharing the story with your boy too … =)
OMG Ci, I chuckle as i read (thanks for taking pictures in such an inconvenient time) but sad at the same time, what are we going to do?
=) Ya begitulah Jkt kita … Tidak pernah terbayangkan kalau akan mengalami, tp kalau mmg mengalami, ya dilewati (dan diabadikan =)