One Fine Day : Kota Tua

Museum Bank Indonesia

This was a spontaneous trip. I really want to go to this place since like from long time ago but it's too far away from where I live and the vision of hard traffic that usually happen in weekdays make me more reluctant to go there. 

But since I had nothing to do last week and I was too boring to finish my never ending laundry things, I decided  that I had to make this trip happen. My previous plan was only to go to Monas since I got accompany by my son who being so nice to go with me.

I'm sorry to take one day off from your playstation console, buddy!

However after we visited Monas, we found this City Tour Bus at the exit of Monas parking. And I felt so excited and I didn't think twice to jump into the bus. The bus was big and nice and new. And it's a double decker bus, so if you miss London you can take this bus :) 

And of course I sat upstairs.

The city tour bus has two routes, one to Kota Tua and the other one is to Kali Jodo. And I took the one who went to Kota Tua. 

 From Monas we stopped by the Museum Gajah and another stop was Museum Arsip. So if you planned to have a museum hopping, you can ride this bus. 

The traffic was so easy since it's still Lebaran Holiday. It only took 15 minutes Museum Bank Indonesia that's located just across the street of Stasiun Kota. We decided to  follow the crowd and here we were at Kota Tua. 

Kota tua or old town Jakarta was representing the original downtown Jakarta. It's also known as Oud Batavia/Old Batavia, this was the first walled settlement of the Dutch in Jakarta Area. As I walked into the area I felt like I jumped to the past and I can feel how important of this area in the past. 

I'm very glad to see the restoration and well maintenance of this place that turned this place into an attractive destination for tourists. I'm proud of it. 

 There were also some cafes (they even has this kopitiam here) and museums (museum wayang and museum fatahillah) in this area so you can really spend the day and enjoying the old Jakarta. 

And since I had this weird addiction to old buildings I felt like a kid who went to amusement park and so excited to explore and took pictures of this beautiful site. 

I promised myself that I'll go back another time to explore the museums and enjoying my afternoon tea while waiting the sunset here in Kota Tua. 

Enjoy Jakarta.

Cheers, Dhidie

the city tour bus

It's not Covent Garden London, It's Kota Tua Jakarta 

One of the museum

The Fatahillah Square

I'm the girl from the past

Love the sight of the windows

Monas? Why Not?

 That day I decided to go to Monas. I was born in Jakarta and spent almost all my life here in Jakarta (except my uni years of course). However, can you believe that I've never been go to Monas?? I never make myself to go to the top of Monas. I've been there once, but I never go up to the top since the top was closed for I forgot the reason that day. So at that time I had to be satisfied only by enjoying  the diorama museum at basement.

 We went from home in the morning,  took the trans jakarta to the Monas Stop. Then we walked until we reached the monument. The crowd wasn't really packed by people, maybe because it's still long holiday season after Idul Fitri. And lucky us that we still got the ticket to visit the top of the monument. 

Then There I was, looking down to Jakarta from the top of this tower. The tower that symbolised my beloved city. Don't compare this tower from Eiffel or other famous tower in the world. Maybe I felt like this is a mini Eiffel, since it's not as big as I imagined. And maybe because there are many taller buildings nowadays in Jakarta. But I'm proud that Jakarta has this tower. The monument as landmark of Jakarta, tower that topped by a flame covered with gold foil. The monument was built at 1961 in former president Soekarno era and opened for public in 1975, and now it's been one of attraction for tourist who visit Jakarta. 

Monas is consist of three parts, the national history museum which located in the basement was full of diorama the history of Indonesia from the prehistoric eras to the colonial era until the after independence day of Indonesia. Then in the middle part is the goblet part that has the hall of independence that keep the original text of Indonesia Independence proclamation. And we can access the elevator to the observation deck also from this floor.  I enjoyed the view of Jakarta also from deck of this goblet part. Then the latest floor is the main observation deck where we can see Jakarta from 115 metres above. The elevator is so small and only carry maximum eleven people so you have to be patient in waiting for your turn. 

I called the day as my own achievement especially to conquer my laziness and finally can be here at the top of this monumental tower of Jakarta.

Have you go to Monas?

Cheers, Dhidie

the empty street

finally here

the goblet deck

observation deck

enjoying the view from the top

where's our house?

the reliefs outside the building

the museum

my favourite diorama, KAA 1951

his favourite one

my happy face