"Jakarta, The Megapolitan" a Jakarta Travel Page by ukirsari

Si Budi kecil, kuyup menggigil, menahan dingin, tanpa jas hujan. Di simpang jalan, Tugu Pancoran. Tunggu pembeli jajakan koran. Menjelang Maghrib, hujan tak reda. Si Budi murung, menghitung laba. Surat kabar sore, dijual malam. Menjelang Isya, melangkah pulang. Anak sekecil itu berkelahi dengan waktu. Demi satu impian, yang kerap ganggu tidurmu. Anak sekecil itu tak bisa nikmati waktu, dipaksa pecahkan karang, lemah jarimu terkepal.

The song above is performing by Indonesian famous folk artist; Iwan Fals. Describing about a struggle of Budi --a young hero boy. Only in early ages, less than 12 years old, he has to sell newspapers around the traffic lights at Jakarta. He takes a responsibility for beloved mother and siblings, after his father passed away. And he has to fight against the hard and unlucky life in the capital city of Indonesia. Even he's too young to get involved with this damn situation.

As the capital, the largest and the biggest, also the most important city of Indonesia, Jakarta indeed has many faces. Hard life competing metropolitan and megapolitan life-style, a city with rapid population, a business city, center of the government, heart of my country's activities, anything. Elected as the number five city with biggest pollution on earth! Plus criminals, demonstrations and heavy traffic jam as daily's 'accessories'. Bad conditions which make people feel unsafe, unsecure, unhappy and uncomfort. But it's also a big challenge for everyone who wants to live here. As Budi --I mentioned in the first paragraph-- does everyday. So do I -- because Jakarta is already be my second hometown after Surabaya. I smile, cry, fallin' in love, hate, broken heart, success and unsuccess, happy and unhappy , sad and laugh with Jakarta. If I have a special request according to these conditions, it must be a guarantee for feeling safe and secure in living of this town. Also 'Jakarta Go Green', a concept to have fresh air for my lungs and anybody here.

The name of this town, 'Jakarta' still arguable nowadays. Many theories increase according to its history. From ancient document 'Summa Oriental' (by Tome Pires, in his visiting Jakarta 1512 ? 1515), we can find Jakarta as 'Sunda Calapa' (pronounced as 'Sunda Kelapa'). This name was still existing until 16th of the century, for example in the book 'Lyro do pesos Yndia' (A. Nunez, 1554).
Then a new name Ja(ya)karta was appear after Pangeran (Prince) Jayawikarta succesfully attacked Dutch colonial army in this town. This name Jayakarta then reduced as Jakarta.
The story not yet ended. At 1618, Sir Thomas Dale, a British colonial admiral has landed at the harbor. Shortly, he makes companion with Pangeran Jayawikarta then ordered British fleet to take-over a Dutch's fort. In this invasion, The Prince and The Admiral won the battle against Dutch troops. But Sultan Banten (King of Banten) got angry, because Pangeran Jayawikarta made a decision to take Dale as partner without his permission. Whenever they're in quarrel, Dutch troops easily take-over the fort again and giving it a new name 'Batavia'.This name gives an influence to the city. Jakarta then known as Batavia, based on Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (VOC)'s letter, dated March 4th, 1621. Local lingo pronounced 'Batavia' as Betawi.
But Jan Pieterzoon Coen alias 'Mur Jangkung' (a local lingo to address him. Mur taken from 'Meneer' Dutch means Sir or Mr and Jangkung --Indonesian, means Tall. Because this guy is tall enough, comparing with Indonesian), a Dutch governoor general in Jakarta doesn't agree with the new name 'Batavia'. He prefer to use Jacatra. "The name of Jakarta it's still surrounded by mist," said Pater Adolf Heuken S.J, a historican and an architec, also my favorite author, in his article in the book 'Ketoprak Betawi'. "Is it a myth, a legend or just a story"

Well, even her name still a mystery, I try to enjoy my Jakarta. Discover something special that I can not find in the other cities. Because of its history, no wonder if Jakarta have many old buildings by Dutchmen and Englishmen. And I always like to see them, anytime. They're bring me a specific atmosphere that I can not explain --only conclusing in words 'cool', 'nice', 'great' even haunted sometimes. Plus gives impact for myself in cooling down according to the 'Busy Jakarta' or 'Megapolitan Jakarta'.
The district I love most in Jakarta are; Menteng district and Kota (Old Batavia), Kemang district (arts, looks like 'little Bali' and foods), Pasar Minggu district (still green) and Kebon Jeruk district (because my home and office are located here). And nearby this town are Buitenzorg aka Bogor (green city and my lovely friends live here) and Taman Safari (Safari Park).
And several old places I like to see, with their own names I like to say are; Burgemesteer Bischopplein or Taman Suropati (small green area as the lungs of Jakarta central), Kunstkringgebouw or Gedung Imigrasi (old building in Menteng, soon will be ruins :( ), Bouwploeg or Mesjid Boplo Cut Mutiah (old building and now becomes a mosque, in Menteng), Vrijmetselaarsloge or Gedung BAPPENAS or Loge (haunted house! In Menteng), Nassaukerk or Saint Paul or Gereja Santo Paulus (a church in Menteng), Stadhuis or Museum Fatahillah, Stadsschouburg or Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (famous amphitheatre situated at Pasar Baru), Huis van de Klerk or Gedung Arsip Nasional (great building with wooden floor, located at Kota) and Koningsplein or Lapangan Monas.

... That's Jakarta in my views .... Because Jakarta is one of my hometowns, this page is always keep updating :)