Having A Glimpse of Old Chunks of Batavia
Brimmed with hectic things in mind, my buds and I, the day before yesterday, why not, had an idea to make a go to visit Kota Tua situated in West Jakarta. This, to be slightly honest, contradicted my and my roommates’ previous plan that on the very day we actually wanted to make for Goethe Institut’s library for learning some IELTS questions. This was because we were too exhausted after returning from ITC and Ambassador malls in Kuningan shopping some needed electronic device. Yet, two female friends forced me and the roommate to join them killing time at Kota Tua, irrespective of our availability. They argued that they had prepared some meals to eat for us and did not want to accept any excuse for us not to join. Shortly, we assembled by Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), precisely by its branch in Jl Taman Cut Meutia, Menteng. We were 5 when waiting for another female friend on the way using Uber rent-car. As the girl arrived, we joined her getting in the car and made for Kota Tua. The trip was not so long that it merely took less than a half of an hour. Although trapped in some traffic jam spots, we stepped our feet on Kota Tua before 5 pm.
As the name suggests the tourism spot is technically a square with classic-decorated alluring looking. In the centre spreads a courtyard where people mostly take photographs with backgrounds of the surrounding old buildings, we did too. As the day turned darker, the influx of the visitors dramatically surged. Attractions like old bicycles can be rented, those dressing in theatrical clothes-some of them cloured their body silver or gold and others putting on Javanese typical suits, music show, and culinary spots had aided the popularity of the town. We happened to arrive some minutes only before the Maghrib prayer call echoed; therefore, we searched for a mosque in the back yard of Mandiri building, which also depicted, from the outside, old looking with complex European decorations on its pillars. After taking the ablution, the iqamah was recited signalising the congregation to form a row to pray. Lamentably, the sole one row behind the imam looked contrast with the crowd's number outside the premise of the mosque, not knowing where the places they come for the prayer. Finishing the prayer, we instantly returned to the courtyard of the Kota Tua square for having a dinner.
The dinner was very exceptional that it did not take a glamorous restaurants or diners. We speeded a rug and sat on it eating the viand we had brought from home. Although the place on the wold implied, I may say, a condition not so religious, there was a stage where some sheikhs recited dhikr on microphones amplified loudly so echoed harmoniously around the courtyard. I supposed it was a bright idea to familiarise people with such a virtuous thing. The viand consisted of chicken cooked with chile, fried potatoes mixed with chilli sauce, slices of cucumber, fried tempe and stew. At all sudden, came a flock amidst the crowd carrying a woman possessed by a spirit. She was brought to the presence of dhikr stage where some religious men were there to cure her. A bunch of other people approached wanting to watch how the woman was cured with some sacred recitation. Eventually, she retrieved her awareness back and awaken. I continued finishing my dinner.
The drizzle began to shower us as instant as we had completed packing all the dinner equipment and simply rushed looking for a shelter. We entered a coffee shop in a corner of the square to shun the rain to be heavier. Coffeeing for about two hours until the rain ceased, we decided to go back home. We, shortly thereafter, got out of the crowd in the square to a shoulder of the main road waiting for the Uber rent car we had just ordered online. After about 30 minutes waiting for the car which was caught in a stupidly mad traffic jam, the car came and we got instantly in it making for our homes. The trip ended with impressions stored in mind and satisfaction filling the heart. I highly hope to return visiting the place someday ahead should I have spare time.
Jakarta, 29 January 2018.