Day 3: Kota Tua

Yesterday, we played tourist here in Jakarta in the historic Dutch quarter in the northern part of the city. We managed to order tickets in Indonesian and boarded the train; escaping the car traffic, we had a good vantage point to watch the scenery and arrived after only about 15 minutes of transit time. As we acclimate to life in Jakarta, we are beginning to appreciate that everything in life is directly related to the amount of time it takes to get through the clogged streets and traffic jams.

We landed in the old Dutch quarter of the Old City--Kota Tua--and headed for the lovely historic Cafe Batavia. The best part was watching the busy square below us where colorful bicycles and matching helmets were being rented. Indonesians (and a handful of foreign tourists) were busy cycling the square, often 2-3 persons on a bicycle. Even better, many seemed to own a "selfie stick" with which to capture themselves in action with their smart phones. The selfie stick is simply a long rod onto which you can put your phone; it acts as a long arm so you can get good photos of you and your friends in action. Quite practical. The scene was colorful and plenty entertaining to watch. I am planning my return and outfit so I can borrow a matching bicycle to explore the square.