Jakarta

A busy first day. I woke feeling still tired & decided to book my ongoing travel & accommodation, so a bus to Bandung and a Hotel for three nights.

I explored the old town of Kota Tua Jakarta where there are a few museums, the buildings being in the style of the dutch settlers - See Wiki link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Tua_Jakarta

I was approached by a fourteen year old student who wanted to interview me for her school project - her mum videoed it - that was to be the first of quite a few interviews that day, including a bunch of 16 year old lads for their social media. 

It was very hot & being Saturday the Jakarta History museum was full of students so I headed for the centre, where all the high rises are to see the monument

I heard jets on tube on the way and was confused to see the centre full of military - I actually thought it was a military camp at first. They were assembled there, preparing for a practise for the celebration on the 5th October to mark 80 years of the Indonesian military

I wandered what was going on at first as it looked like they were preparing for world war 3 with all the tanks lined up but a lady beckoned me through the gate and there were many families sitting around and touching the tanks and sitting in the vehicles taking photos. The soldiers were sitting around having their lunch. I sat for a while then headed back to the old town where I sampled some street food - pea-nutty & very spicy

Food & hungry cats having their lunch too

then I was interviewed a couple more times in the square and asked to have selfies with people but the last was a more lengthy and what turned into more meaningful chat with a smartly dressed 19 year old called Afif - accompanied by his four friends - I told him I had a daughter roughly his age so the video turned into a bit of a message to Eve.......

He was a really lovely young man who spoke extremely good English and wanted to chat for experience and to aid his project for his studies in communication. He was, indeed a very good communicator! I think he'll go far and it was nice that we had a few things in common, one being that he had started journaling and writing and had written a book which I think he hopes to publish.

I told him I too had started trying to write and I gave him the link to this blog so - Hi Afif 👋😀 & Hi to your very nice and patient friends, especially Melissa who tried to teach me some Indonesian!......I will try to remember "Nama Saya Lisa" but can't now forget - " sama-sama!!" which is 'you're Welcome!' - 

" Terima kasih atas airnya!!" 

There was some entertainment going on in the square of the old town and there was a bit of a party atmosphere with many families gathered to watch groups of Indonesian dancers etc.