A Holiday Adventure Exploring Jakarta

 

     April 24th marked our 10th day as exchange students — and it also happened to be a holiday in Indonesia. With no classes scheduled, it was the perfect opportunity to explore Jakarta, the bustling capital of Indonesia. Thanks to our thoughtful friends, we were able to experience a full day of sightseeing, food, and new experiences in the heart of the country.



     Jakarta is not only the capital but also the largest and most vibrant city in Indonesia, known for its rich culture, commerce, and towering buildings. Since we didn’t have a car and ride-hailing apps like Grab were too expensive for long trips, we took the train instead. It was my first time riding a train in another country, and I was genuinely excited — it was a fun and memorable experience!



     The journey took about an hour. After arriving at the station, we grabbed lunch and hopped on another train to continue our trip. Once we got off, we took a short walk and explored an old mall that reminded us of Marymart Mall in Iloilo, Philippines. We roamed around, and our friends bought some snacks and local foods.



     Afterward, we walked again and decided to rest at a cozy coffee shop. We enjoyed our drinks, chatted, and took lots of photos. When we finished, we headed to the bus station and took a ride to Central Jakarta, arriving in Gondangdia — where we snapped beautiful pictures with the city’s iconic buildings in the background.



     From there, we walked quite a bit until we reached the historic Sarinah Mall. Located in Central Jakarta, Sarinah is Indonesia’s first modern department store and high-rise building, founded in the 1960s under President Sukarno. It was built to support local industries and introduced innovations like escalators and air-conditioning. Today, after a major renovation between 2020 and 2022, Sarinah has transformed into a cultural hub showcasing Indonesian products, MSME brands, and traditional crafts. With its heritage elements, cultural zones, and skydeck, it now stands as a proud symbol of Indonesia’s identity and creativity.



     We had our early dinner at the mall — finally satisfying our craving for pork! Since arriving in Bogor, we’d mostly been eating chicken and duck dishes, so tasting pork again reminded us of home in the Philippines. After our meal, we took photos outside the mall and even had a copy printed as a souvenir of this wonderful day in Jakarta. To our surprise and delight, we met fellow Filipinos — also exchange students from Manila. It felt so good to speak Tagalog again and connect with people from home.



     As the day came to a close, we made our way to the bus station, then transferred to the train. After three rides from the station, we finally returned home to Bogor and book grab.

     Today was a joyful and meaningful day filled with exploration, laughter, and cultural connection. From my first train ride to visiting Sarinah Mall and meeting fellow Filipinos, every moment reminded me of the beauty of new experiences and the comfort of home. A heartfelt thanks to our friends who made this day possible — it’s a memory I’ll always cherish.


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