Christmas in Jakarta

Christmas is coming to town! Eureka! Indonesia has successfully mitigated the coronavirus spread, in such that in this December 2021, we actually can celebrate Christmas. It has been too long, since we can spend quality time hanging around with family and friend at communal place such as Kota Tua Jakarta. Since the pandemic, this historical place has been closed down for quite a while. However since the Covid-19 case has been decreased significantly for the last couple of months, this December 2021, not even re-open, Kota Tua Jakarta was also decorating himself. Despite of being a Moslem majority country, Jakarta showed that they are safe place for others religion as well. A giant Christmas tree being stationed during this festive period, in the middle of Town square, just in front of Museum Fatahillah. This was part of the campaign " Christmas in Jakarta". There was even Christmas night market in Kota Tua, until 23 December 2021. They had also event, like at overseas, Christmas carol were being held in 7 location: Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, Terowongan Kendal, Heritage Spot Dukuh Atas, Blok M MRT station, Taman Lapangan Banteng, Taman Ismail Marzuki, and Tebet Station. If you have ever watched Christmas themed movie, you will spot in event of Christmas, there are choir that will sing on the road. It was the first time in Jakarta to have this kind of event. While the main goal is to give gifts to Jakarta's citizen after prolong battle with Covid, the other agenda was obviously to retain people to go abroad to have their Christmas holiday.

On 25 December 2021, I visited Kota Tua again after 2 years. From my apartment at Green Bay Pluit, it was rather easy journey. I only need to take busway Balai Kota Pik and depart at Museum Fatahillah shelter. It was a cloudy day in afternoon, however Kota Tua was packed. Street vendors scattered around the street. I strolled around the area and took pictures with my Nikon D3500. I brought only one lens at that time, 50 mm lens f1.8. It was a rather zoom lens for my Nikon D3500, since it is equivalent with 75 mm due to crop factor. However it is a good street photography lens!. I did not need to close with the subject to take pictures.

Even though the place was really full, however the health protocol were being strictly implemented. Before entering the venue, you need to show vaccine certificate or scanned the Peduli Lindungi apps. And inside the venue, there were officer that will monitor peoples. They will warn and yell at people who put out their mask. So mask need to be use all the time.

It was not spending much time there, since it was going to rain. I only took few pictures and then going home. Here are some of my pictures:

Have been revitalized, the " Kali Besar Kota Tua" become one of the main attraction

Old Building BGR. BGR is one of state owned companies that run logistic and warehouse solution

Cleaning Man Statue. Appreciation gesture for unsung hero of Jakarta

Cat running in front of Toko Merah. An allegedly haunted building, Toko Merah has a very distinctive red architecture. It is a Dutch colonial building and one of the oldest building in Jakarta, established at 1730. It is now being used as function hall.