Oh Little Fucked-Up Town of Jakarta

Objectively, if someone was asked if they liked Jakarta, I don't think they would ever nod. It's a general knowledge that Jakarta is one inhuman city the world has ever known existing. Even in the past.

Jakarta's former name Batavia was a little harbor town built by the Dutch to support VOC's businesses and soon it became the biggest trading center in Asia. Not bad for a 600-hectare little town stretched from what it is now Pasar Ikan till BNI Bank building (across Kota Train Station)! Since it had always been very busy, Batavia in no time developed into a fucked-up city. It's dirty because people constantly threw their waste to the river. Even back in the 17th century, the Ciliwung River had already been highly polluted that caused many outbreaks and killed people dwelling in the city. It's so stinky that everyday starting 9 AM people had to shut their every window.

And actually the word "Betawi" was derived from "Bau Tai" (smell of shit) because the people living in the city used to collect their feces in buckets and were only allowed to dispose them to the river every 10 PM so that it would be swept away right away by the ocean's tide. So you can also imagine how stinky their houses were for keeping buckets of feces in the house. But the buckets' contents were also useful during the war with Mataram Kingdom coming from the sea all the way from what it is now Jogja. The Dutch fought them by throwing shits at the attacking enemies. It worked because in no time the Mataram soldiers retreated to their ships and went back home.

I joined a night museum venture last weekend. Have you ever imagined in your wildest dream walking down an empty museum (which is already hair raising during the day) at night only with flashlights on? It was so much fun and very enlightening, though it was creepy and I had to bear myself hearing for more than millions times the word 'Belanda' which I've been trying to drop out of my head.