Last Sunday I left Bogor in the morning to meet up with Nguyễn and Thái, two friends from Việt Nam, at a Aneka 57 Café in Jakarta. They were visiting Indonesia and somehow, I ended up being their guide for the day. Honestly, I was a little nervous—I mean, I’m the local, so they were counting on me (and let’s just say I’m not good with directions). Also it’s been a while since I explore Jakarta.
We started our day at Masjid Istiqlal, the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia. Fun fact: You’re required to wear modest clothing there. So, if you’re wearing something short or (for women) not wearing a headscarf, the guide will lend you a robe to cover up. Anyway, we got lucky because the guide also took us around and shared some really cool stories about the mosque’s history. Definitely one of the highlights of the day!
By the time we were done, we were soooooo starving. We stopped at Aming Coffee Juanda, a cozy Indonesian café in Little India. The food was so yums, flavorful, simple, just what we needed after walking around. And the coffee’s really something!
Next stop: Kota Tua Jakarta. We took the KRL (commuter line) to get there. Hehe, I brought my Vietnamese friends on the KRL. At Kota Tua we just wandered around and soaked up the old-town vibes. The area is full of history, and walking through it felt like stepping back in time. It’s one of those places that’s perfect for a laid-back afternoon.
Finally, we hopped on the TransJakarta bus together before saying goodbye. After that, I headed back to Bogor, feeling happy with how the day turned out. It was fun exploring the city with them—they’re such great company. Now I just need to figure out where my next adventure will take me!
Cheers,
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