Comments on: Jakarta, Indonesia: Back Home After 20 Years (1st of 3 Parts)

By: Anon

Anon — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:35:12 +0000

Giggle.

It means, Damn you monkey! in an offensive way,

By: xar

xar — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:39:45 +0000

My mom is a Filipina and my dad is an Indonesian.

I haven’t went back home to Jakarta for almost 9 years now. I’m staying now in Philippines. 1998 crisis forced our families to transfer to Philippines, in this very little town (not even 1/4 of Jakarta I guess) of Dumaguete somewhere in Visayas. Universities in Jakarta is so ridiculous, schools are so ineffective (some of my cousins says they’re having class only in the morning, unlike here in the philippines where schools should be for the whole day). I think, that was one of the reason my dad chose to transfer here rather than staying in Jakarta where at that time was full of chaos, demonstrations everywhere, and burning down of properties happened everyday.

I miss Jakarta so much, especially the foods. It’s hard to find delicious street food in the Philippines, generally. Or perhaps it’s just that my taste is not so Filipino. Anyways, looking at your 3 posts, it reminds me of the place where I grew up, where I had my childhood. I was 12 when I left Jakarta and the good old memories still linger in my head. Maybe, someday, I can visit Jakarta soon.

By: Pinoy Pride

Pinoy Pride — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:21:38 +0000

Indonesia has many resemblance to the Philippines itself. I really love that place and the food as well. – Pinoy Pride

By: erik

erik — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:27:07 +0000

am in a middle of studying the traffic jam in jakarta compared to other neighbour cities like s’pore, KL, manila etc…god is so generous to lead me to your site. o ya, am indonesian.

@anne: could u pls make u’r mom piss again, coz i think i know what she said.it’s like “Dasar monyet lo!!!”. was she angry with you when she said that or to someone else?

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:53:34 +0000

Lived in Jakarta as a highschool student in 1978-80. That was the time of my life! I am sad to see so much has changed. No becaks? So commercialized! Great reading your post about how its changed though.

By: Haddie

Haddie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:56:54 +0000

Hi there,
Well Earthquakes is scary in many parts of South East Asia..
But yeah, Indonesia is the wildest XD

What I hate from Jakarta = Traffic
The rest is fine, for me anyways..

By: boni

boni — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:36:16 +0000

After read your trilogy, i missed jakarta so much now!With all of those traffic jam” macet”, angry driver who shout at me for my reckless motor cyclyng,hehehe……

I am from Yogyakarta, small city in central java, also a very beautiful city.Then i moved to Jakarta, i hate this place at first because of its traffic jam and metropolitan pressure. But after all, i learn to love it, and i love it so much now, as big as i love Yogyakarta, especially when i am far away from it. So, thanks for your beautiful article about jakarta….

boni, suva-fiji

By: Jacob Sudianto

Jacob Sudianto — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:27:59 +0000

My mom is Indonesian, My dad is Irish. I am planning to visit JAKARTA this winter. I had already visited IRELAND this winter and I want to learn about INDONESIAN culture as well.
My mom doesn’t know how to cook Indonesian dishes, but grandma always cook great IRISH-INDO meals for me & my sister.
When I was a little boy, grandma used to sing an INDONESIAN song before bed. But now she couldn’t remember the lyrics. Oh, well she told me that I am to old to sing that song children’s song. And the worse part is… Now, my mom only uses her BAHASA if she is very angry at me. She always says this …” DUH-ZAR MOW-YET, LOW!! ” ( I have no idea what is she saying about ??) perhaps it means { DON’T BOTHER ME?? }

So… YESS!! I am totally illeterate of BAHASA INDONESIA.
I hope Indonesian food is good & people are friendly .
I am bored with the blonde! I want dark hair !

Thanks for the info of JAKARTA..
I am going to love it there.
Cheers,
JACOB SUDIANTO SACHKIN

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:16:40 +0000

Loved the post and the fotos! I went to highschool in jakarta and really fell in love with the city! Indonesia has so much to offer! And I dont feel that people visiting jakarta should worry about earthquakes… we barely feel them there. Sumatra is the only island that can be troublesome.
Visit Indonesia! And remember: Malaysia… truly Indonesia

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:44:03 +0000

My sister in law “brought” me to your website…I love reading your posts and looking through your archiveI found your articles on MY HOME…JAKARTA…

My husband is Filipino and I’m Indonesian…I loooooove Jakarta and I miss it so…Thanks for bringing back the fond memories of becak espeially…I remember riding in them to my auntie’s house in Rawamangun in one of Jakarta’s famous floods all those years ago and going to friends’ houses….

I now live in Australia…My husband and I love travelling to Jakarta! I’ve recently visited Manila…I couldn’t agree more how much like Jakarta it is….I have to keep reminding myself I’m in Manila…

So, thanks so much for sharing your fond memories of my Jakarta The Jakarta I grew up in and miss oh so much! No matter where I am, Jakarta will always always be my 1st home…And Manila 2nd…Each time I go HOME, I never want to come home to Australia