I am leaving for Jakarta tomorrow, Wednesday January 21, 2025, ostensibly for a visa run. This morning decided to explore my (at least eight day) destination. Mashallah.
It is time for word definitions. Ostensibly: apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually. So seemingly it is just a short sojourn outside of Malaysia, returning to commence another 90 day stay. However that is just on the face of it, to all intents and purposes, outwardly. This one day,(or longer) trip will be jam packed with SO much. You shall read in anticipation here but in reality in subsequent blogs.
Wikipedia informs us of the meaning of Mashallah
“Mashallah or Ma Sha Allah or Masha Allah or Ma Shaa Allah (Arabic: مَا شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ, romanized: mā shāʾa -llāhᵘ, lit. ”God has willed it’ or ‘As God has wished”)[note 1] is an Arabic phrase generally used to positively denote something of greatness or beauty and to express a feeling of awe. It is often used to convey a sense of respect and to protect against the evil eye, suggesting that the speaker is acknowledging something positive without invoking jealousy.”
Wikipedia also shall be used to inform us of Jakarta
“Jakarta is the economic, cultural, and political centre of Indonesia. Although Jakarta extends over only 661.23 km2 (255.30 sq mi) and thus has the smallest area of any Indonesian province, its metropolitan area covers 7,076.31 km2 (2,732.18 sq mi), which includes the satellite cities of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, South Tangerang, and Bekasi, and has an estimated population of 32.6 million as of 2022, making it the largest urban area in Indonesia and the second-largest in the world (after Tokyo).”
Hmmm. Perhaps after my visit Jakarta will be designated as the city with the greatest number of views and viewers of alexismcbride.com, replacing KL. We shall see. Hahaha This not an ‘ambition’ until I learned of its population.
Jakarta has got its problems, that is for sure.
Jakarta’s main challenges include rapid urban growth, ecological breakdown, air pollution, gridlocked traffic, congestion, and flooding due to subsidence and water extraction (sea level rise is relative, not absolute). Part of North Jakarta is sinking up to 17 cm (6.7 inches) annually, meanwhile the southern part is relatively safe. This has made the northern part of the city more prone to flooding and one of the fastest-sinking capitals in the world. In response to these challenges, in August 2019, President Joko Widodo announced plans to move the capital from Jakarta to the planned city of Nusantara, in the province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The MPR approved the move on 18 January 2022. The Indonesian government is not abandoning Jakarta after announcing plans to move the country’s capital, its planning minister said, pledging to spend US$40 billion, which is more than the cost to build Nusantara, to save the city in the next decade.
This city certainly has its history. This is much appreciated by one coming from newbie Canada and the US. Jakarta has been home to multiple settlements. Below is the list of names used during its existence:
- Buni people (400 BC–500 AD)
- Sundapura (358–669)
- Sunda Kelapa (669–1527)
- Jayakarta (1527-1619)
- Batavia (1619-1949)
- Djakarta (1942-1972)
- Jakarta (1972-present)
Of course it was necessary to research weather conditions to decide what to wear, decide on rain gear, sunglasses etc etc etc. The conclusion: about the same as where I am now, Penang.
Average temperatures are very high with moderate rainfall. During the day, the temperature usually hovers around 32 °C (89.6 °F) but drops to about 24 °C (75.2 °F) in the evening. These are average temperatures, and some days can be hotter. It’s advisable to dress appropriately to handle the heat.
Learned about the architecture and city scape.
Most city scapes in Jakarta include landmarks, monuments, and statues begun in the 1960s during the Sukarno era, then completed in the Suharto era, while some date from the colonial period. Although many of the projects were completed after his presidency, Sukarno, who was an architect, is credited for planning Jakarta’s monuments and landmarks, as he desired the city to be the beacon of a powerful new nation. Among the monumental
projects that were built, initiated, and planned during his administration are the National Monument, Istiqlal mosque, the Legislature Building, and the Gelora Bung Karno stadium. Sukarno also built many nationalistic monuments and statues in the capital city.[75]
Of course, being a new Muslim I wonder about religions. It is of great comfort to learn that I this is a Muslim majority city.
IIn 2024, Jakarta’s religious composition was distributed over Islam (83.83%), Protestantism (8.6%), Catholicism (3.9%), Buddhism (3.46%), Hinduism (0.18%), Confucianism (0.017%), and about 0.013% of population claimed to follow folk religions.
I did wonder about tourism I was in the dark about Jakarta before my rather unanticipated and unusual list but wondered about others. Here is the answer.
”Though Jakarta has been named the most popular location as per tag stories,[171] and ranked eighth most-posted among the cities in the world in 2017 on image-sharing site Instagramit is not a top international tourist destination. The city, however, is ranked as the fifth fastest-growing tourist destination among 132 cities according to MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index.[173] The World Travel and Tourism Council also listed Jakarta as among the top ten fastest-growing tourism cities in the world in 2017[174] and categorised it as an emerging performer, which will see a significant increase in tourist arrivals in less than ten years.[175] According to Euromonitor International’s latest Top 100 City Destinations Ranking of 2019, Jakarta ranked at 57th among 100 most visited cities of the world.[176] Most of the visitors attracted to Jakarta are domestic tourists. As the gateway of Indonesia, Jakarta often serves as a stop-over for foreign visitors on their way to other Indonesian tourist destinations such as Bali, Lombok, Komodo Island and Yogyakarta. In 2023 about 1.97 million foreign tourists visited the city.
I highly recommend the reading of the Wikipedia article on Jakarta. I learned so much about the fascinating history of the city, remembering the days of Sukarno, rather vaguely. Little did I know back in the 60s that I would be visiting the city. Would not believe it if someone told me. Hahaha
Me: You MUST be kidding. I have no idea of a country called Indonesia much less where it is. And visiting there when I am almost 82?? Why in the world would I be doing that????? Alone??? With no husband is place???
At this precise moment, 2:44 pm I am sitting in Batik Air !-A heading from Penang to Jakarta. It will take one four and fifteen minutes. I am (obviously) traveling business class. I almost always travel business class, it is the only way to fly. I am unfortunately not seated next to a handsome men instead an extremely frantic nervous woman dressed like an American in jeans and a t-shirt but obviously not one. I did text Shamir.
Me: I am sitting in my favorite business class seat!
A, No handsome man yet.
Me: Hopefully there will.
Me: Perhaps Inshallah.
Then later when her presence was revealed.
Me: I do not want to talk to his woman, she is otherwise occupied with ear pods and her phone. The joy is that I can write.
He: Okay Perfect.
An absolutely amazing experience in the Business Class Lounge which unexpectedly had to pay for. But no problem. Only an hour, its cost approximately $25 USA. I walked in to be greeted by two chefs (you can tell they are chefs by the their uniforms)
They: Alexis, Alexis we are SO happy to see you.
Me: Thank you! I love your enthusiasm. But how do you know me?
They: From Lexis Suites!!
Me: Of course!! You were chefs in training there!!
They: Yes we are SO happy to see you again You are looking well.
Me: And feeling great. I am going to make Malaysia my second home – well actually my first. Hahaha
They: That is such good news
Me: I love the Malaysian people. That is why I am making this my home.
They: We love you.
Sometimes I HATE being famous. At that moment I did not. Then one of chefs brought me a glass of my favorite beverage.
Me: Thank you for you attention and remembering me. I am blessed by Allah. You made my day!
People have often accused me of making their day. One blessed day nine people smilingly said:
They: You made me day!
Me: You made MY day by saying that.
Friday, May 23, 2025
It is morning, I write from bed in my upgraded room in the JW Marriott Hotel. I am totally and absolutely blessed, there is no two ways about it. (No two ways about it is an idiom used to say that something is definitely true). As is my wont sent morning photos to my WhatsApp buddies. This time the scene was totally different. A cityscape before sunrise.
Me: Morning after Fajr prayer, before sunrise.
Shamir: Wow Something different.
Me: Indeed totally different I am now at an absolutely amazing buffet breakfast AND the chef is preparing a special Indonesian breakfast for me. Including a photo said:
Me: This is a special Indonesian drink made with turmeric, ginger and honey. It is delicious.
Shamir: WOW They are treating you well!
Me: They are! I am truly blessed.
After breakfast an appointment at the Canadian Embassy to renew my Canadian passport. However, my neck began to hurt. Therefore I put the cervical collar in place. Sending Shamir the photo
Me: Collar in place and lace.
More about the breakfast, my rather awesome experience at the Canadian embassy later. As well as the story of my greetings when arriving at the airport in Jakarta. It is actually unbelievable. Stay tuned.
