Author: Yupa

Syahbandar Tower, An Iconic Tower That Witness the History of Old Batavia

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A Historical Tower to See While Strolling on Walking Tour in Jakarta

We previously mentioned the old and historical harbor in Jakarta, Sunda Kelapa. Not far from there, other historical buildings that witness the city’s changes exist, and the Menara Syahbandar or Syahbandar Tower is one of them. It is located around two kilometers from Sunda Kelapa Harbor. So, if you happen to visit the harbor, it’s a good chance to visit this iconic place too.

A Brief History of the Historical Tower to See Around for Walking Tour in Jakarta

Syahbandar Tower is in the Maritime Museum or Museum Bahari complex. It functioned as a watchtower to monitor the outbound and inbound ships and as custom office to extract tax for goods that were unloaded in Sunda Kelapa Harbor. According to the Culture Department of Jakarta website, Syahbandar Tower occupies the former Columberg Bastion, which was built around 1645 with the construction of a wall around the city of Batavia on the west side. And the short tower at the east side was built in 1839 specifically to keep the clock and chronometer accurate. The clock that is installed on the roof is to signal ships’ crews to adjust their ship’s clock.

Syahbandar Tower in A Glance of the Modern Times of Old Batavia

After independence, the tower had been through many changes. In April 2007, the revitalization of Jakarta Old Town has been going and the Maritime Museum complex had been through restoration to preserve the historical value of the buildings. The Syahbandar tower can now be visited as a historical site. It is open almost every day except Monday, from 8 AM to 5 PM. It is believed that there is a basement and a tunnel that is stretches until the Fatahillah Museum or even Istiqlal Mosque but is closed as since.

See More Things Around the Old Town Area with Jakarta Walking Tour

There are more iconic and historical places that you can visit in the Jakarta Old Town Area in this modern time. Join us on the Jakarta Old Batavia Tour package with Jakarta Walking Tour if you plan to visit the city. See you around!

Walk Down the Memory Lane of Old Batavia by Visiting Sunda Kelapa Harbor

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A Historical Harbor to Visit During Your Walking Tour Around the Jakarta Old Town

There are many historical places to visit in the Jakarta Old Town area to reminisce about the old times of Jakarta, especially around the Old Town Square where you can see old buildings and museums. Not far from there, you can visit another historical place that is still operating until this modern time, which is a harbor, called the Sunda Kelapa Harbor.

A Brief History of Sunda Kelapa Harbor That Witness Every Changes of Batavia Through Times

The has been around since the 12th Century and it once belonged to the Pajajaran Kingdom and called the Kalapa Harbor, when the country was not established as a republic yet. As time goes by, the harbor was contested in the era of kingdoms and colonization within kingdoms in Nusantara or between European colonizers, until Dutch finally seized the country for around 300 years. In the 1970s, the ancient name of the harbor is used, hence the name “Sunda Kelapa”.

Things You Can See in the Historical Harbor of Batavia Along the Route of Walking Tour in Jakarta

In this modern time, the Sunda Kelapa harbor almost became a tourist area due to its high historical value. For economic aspects, this harbor is strategically located near trade centers such as Mangga Dua, Glodok, Pasar Pagi, and many others. Goods that had been transported through the harbor mostly are staples, spices, and building materials. So, once you arrived at the harbor, you can see many big ships, which is Pinisi ships that has been used to transport goods between islands in Indonesia. Containers can also be seen going in and out of the harbor. Flats where the worker stays can also be seen nearby.

Find More Things to Explore by Joining Jakarta Old Batavia Tour with Jakarta Walking Tour

There are still many places to explore and stories to unfold about the harbor and the city. To learn more details about the history of Batavia, there is Museum Bahari and Menara Syahbandar to visit nearby. Join us on the Jakarta Old Batavia Tour if you want to learn more once you come to Jakarta. See you around!

Tropical Fruits to Find While Strolling Around Local Markets in Jakarta

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Where to Find Fresh Fruits on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

There are a lot of things that you can find in the local markets. For local markets in Jakarta for example, you can find groceries and other fresh products like meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, and fruits. There are a few types of local markets that you can find in Jakarta. From supermarkets, minimarkets, modern markets, and traditional markets. You can mostly find fruits in all these types of market.

A Variety of Fruits You Can Find During Walking Tour in Jakarta

As Indonesia is a tropical country, there are abundant variety of tropical fruits that you can easily find in Jakarta. The most popular and always readily available is banana, as it is grown easily in country’s land. So, there are also many delicacies using bananas as ingredients. You can also easily find papayas, watermelons, oranges, apples, and lemons. Aside from those fruits, there are also some seasonal fruits that can be harvested only in certain times like a type of mangoes, durian, rambutan, and water apples. In different parts of Indonesia, you might find special fruits that only grows in each area.

Enjoy Fruits as A Snack While Strolling Around the Local Markets of Jakarta

With the rich variety of fruits, people of Indonesia had been creating various desserts or drinks from fruits. It is suitable to quench your thirst from the hot weather of Jakarta and refresh your body. Drinks that are quite popular are iced orange, that is made from squeezed oranges, iced coconut drink, guava juice, avocado juice, and many more. Another type of dessert from fruits are “es buah” and “rujak”. While “es buah” is made from assorted variety of chopped fruit in a sweet soup, “rujak” is made from assorted chopped fruit accompanied by sambal or minced chili peppers with salt.

Find More to See While Strolling Around with Jakarta Walking Tour

To see more of you can find while strolling inside a local market, come visit Jakarta and join us on Jakarta Walking Tour. We will take you to find interesting things and experience how to shop like locals in Local Markets Tour in Jakarta. See you around!

Tropical Flowers to Find on Local Markets in Jakarta

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Flowers to See While Strolling Around on Walking Tour in Jakarta

There are so many places to visit during your visit to Jakarta. Depending on your preferences, you can choose the place that you can explore. One of them is the local market that sells a wide variety of products. Inside the local market, you can find fresh products like fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish, meat and even flowers.

Variety of Flowers to Find inside the Local Markets in Jakarta

Since Indonesia is a tropical country, so you might find variety of tropical flowers in Jakarta. However, there are also some flowers that are distributed to the market from the higher grounds like the western part of Java. Some of that can be easily found are roses, sunflowers, chrysanthemum, daisy, jasmine, tuberose, orchid, frangipani, and many others.

Where to Find Fresh Flower During Your Tour in Jakarta

While mostly you can find fresh flowers in the local market at each area in Jakarta, there are some local markets that are known to be a few of the biggest flower markets in Jakarta, one of them is Pasar Rawa Belong that is in the west part of Jakarta. The market is open for 24 hours and had almost every variety of flowers. So, it is a go-to for people who look for flowers for urgent events and odd hours.

Another option for market flower is in Cikini area, at Central Jakarta, and you can also find some sellers in Jatinegara local market in East Jakarta. And another different place to find flower vendors is near or inside graveyard complexes. As Indonesian has a custom to bring flowers while visiting a graveyard or doing rituals and ceremonies, to see flower vendors lining up in front part of a graveyard complex became a common sight.

Find More in Local Markets Tour with Jakarta Walking Tour

To see more of you can find while strolling inside a local market, come visit Jakarta and join us on Jakarta Walking Tour. We will take you to find interesting things and experience how to shop like locals in Local Markets Tour in Jakarta. See you around!

Various Animals to See in Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

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Local Animals to See During Your Visit on Walking Tour in Jakarta

While you can see local animals at the local zoo, you can also see them in one of the local markets of Jakarta. It is a place to search for pets, animal feed, or for medicinal purposes. As we can see and find bears, lions, tigers, otters, and many more in the zoo, you can find domestic animals that is often to be raised or breed. From ornamental fishes like goldfish, beetles, chickens, birds, and rabbits.

A Different Side of Local Markets in Jakarta

There is always a good and bad side to everything, so does this animal market. While some sellers are selling animals that are legal, some of them are not. There might be protected animals that are traded openly. Monkeys for example, while they belong in their habitat, some people buy them as pets to be used to earn money by training them to do tricks and perform. You can also find types of reptiles like giant turtles, lizards, and snakes. Sometimes they are used to make traditional medicine for severe illnesses. It might seem unethical, but it is considered a common practice among the locals.

“Colorful” Animals to See at the Local Markets in Jakarta

Some people who first see the “colorful” animals in Jakarta local market might be surprised as how come there are birds or chicks with many colors. While some of them have original colors, there are also some cunning sellers who paint their animals to gain more attention. They usually target children who are attracted by the colors. If you plan to do some trade in this type of market, please be careful and cautious as you can’t guarantee it is legal or ethical or not.

Explore More of the Local Market on Walking Tour in Jakarta

Aside from the animals, you can also find other things like fashion items, accessories, and snacks at an affordable price in Jatinegara local market. Come visit Jakarta to explore more and join our Jakarta Walking Tour to find interesting things in Local Markets Tour in Jakarta. See you around!

Hunting For Local Snacks on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

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Places to Explore to Find Snacks on Walking Tour in Jakarta

Any time and anywhere in the world, people would mostly search for food. While Jakarta has a wide variety of delicious food that it can offer, it also has an abundant choice of snacks. As Indonesian has a very rich options of snacks, snacks can be found almost everywhere, in malls, stores, minimarket, and traditional markets.

Variety of Snacks of Local Markets in Jakarta

In Indonesia, crackers or widely known as “kerupuk” is popular snacks. It came in a variety of sizes and shapes, usually made with flour and other ingredients such as fish and shrimp. Kerupuk is popular to be eaten along with rice and side dishes. So, don’t be surprised to find it served on the table in food stalls or restaurants.

The other variant of crackers is called “keripik”. The difference is keripik is mostly eaten as a snack, not with rice or main course. It can be made of cassava, potatoes, corn, and many more. While you can usually find branded keripik in stores or minimarkets, you can buy keripik in bulk at traditional markets. As most of it is homemade, so, oftentimes it is unbranded. Keripik has so many variants from savory, sweet, salty, and spicy.

Where to Find Snacks in Local Markets in Jakarta

You can find snacks in bulk in almost every “pasar” or market that spread around Jakarta. For example, Pasar Jatinegara if you happen to visit the east part of Jakarta, or Pasar Asemka if you are in the west part of Jakarta. Both offer a wide variety and prices of local snacks.

Explore More of Local Markets with Jakarta Walking Tour

If you want to see and try the local snacks yourself, come visit Jakarta. Join our Jakarta Walking Tour and we will take you to see what local markets have to offer and experience how to shop like locals. See more interesting things that the city can offer, including their culture, history, food, and more. See you around!

Hunting Variety of Accessories on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

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Options of Local Markets to Choose on Walking Tour in Jakarta

In almost every part of the world, each has their own local markets, so does Jakarta. While there are variety of local markets to choose from in Jakarta, we will introduce you to local markets that sell accessories in Jakarta.

Improve Your Look with Accessories You Can Find in Local Markets in Jakarta

While you can find accessories easily in malls and stores, searching for accessories in local markets can be your other alternatives. Stores in traditional or local markets offer more choice and more affordable prices, usually at wholesale price. The more you buy, the cheaper you can get. You can find almost every accessory including hairbands, pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and many more.

Where to Look for Accessories on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

There are a lot of options at local markets that offer a wide variety of accessories. Asemka Market for example. It is one of the local markets that is in the Chinatown area of Jakarta. You can find almost any kind of store and vendors there, mainly souvenirs and accessories at affordable prices. And then, there is also Jatinegara Market, where you can find gems accessories. You can find any types, colors, and sizes of gemstones that you can customize and attach into your own accessories.

Explore More of the Local Markets with Jakarta Walking Tour

Besides accessories, there are a lot more you can explore by visiting and strolling around the local markets. You can experience the daily life of the locals and shop like locals. If you are curious and would like to see for yourself about the fun in exploring local markets, come visit Jakarta and join our Jakarta Walking Tour. We will take you to stroll around corners to corners of Jakarta to learn about the history, culture, and many more about Jakarta. See you around!

Toys Centers to Explore on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

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A Variety of Toys to Find on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

While souvenirs can be found in Jatinegara or Asemka Markets, we will introduce you to an item that you can also find in local markets, which is toys market. You can also find it in both markets, but there is also a toys market that is the most popular among Jakartans, which is Pasar Gembrong or Gembrong Market.

Toys Market to Explore on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

Pasar Gembrong is located at the East of Jakarta, the same area as Pasar Jatinegara. However, there are some differences between the two markets. While Jatinegara is identic with the souvenirs, Pasar Gembrong is widely known as a Toys Market as most of the tenants there are toys seller. It offers a variety of children’s toys with a wide range of prices, mostly affordable, from dolls, puzzles, remote cars, bicycles, and many more. There are a wide variety of choices of local or imported products from neighboring countries.

Like Pasar Gembrong, you can also find toys stores in Asemka Market. It is located in the opposite area of Jakarta, in the west. There is more to explore as you can find more stores along the way in the area that offer many different things as it is in the Chinatown area of Jakarta.

Other Things to Find in Local Markets by Walking Tour in Jakarta

The one difference between this and Jatinegara, is this market is formed by vendors that settled their store on the side of the streets, unlike inside a complex. So, once you go down from the flyover, you can see a bunch displayed toys while passing by openly. While you pass by, you can also see a few of carpet vendors that displayed their product on the side of the street.

Explore More of the Markets During your Tour in Jakarta

Other than toys, there are still more other things you can find in local markets of Jakarta. If you want to experience directly what it is like to explore and shop as locals, then come visit Jakarta. Join our Jakarta Walking Tour to learn more about culture, history, and culinary of Jakarta. See you around!

Souvenir Markets to Explore on Walking Tour in Jakarta

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Learning About Indonesian Culture on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

In Indonesia, there are a custom to give souvenirs in wedding events. So, wedding souvenirs business are flourishing here. Since there are usually hundreds, or sometimes thousands of guests at weddings, there are many vendors who offer competitive prices for orders in big amounts. There are many kinds of souvenir products and sellers. People who have a limited budget can buy or order the souvenirs in the local markets in Jakarta.

Hunting Unique Souvenirs on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

While there are a lot of places that sell wedding souvenirs, there are a few of the most popular for souvenirs with quite affordable places, which are Jatinegara and Asemka market. Jatinegara is a local market that is located at the East of Jakarta, while Asemka is at the West of Jakarta. Both markets offered a wide variety of souvenirs with a wide range of prices.

Certain Souvenirs for Certain Events to Find on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

Not only for weddings, but for some other events like birthdays and circumcision ceremonies, there is a custom to hand in souvenirs to the guests that attended the event. The items varied from cutlery, towels, candles, essential oils, mugs, keychains, and many more. The price can be as low as two thousand rupiah or equals to 0.12 USD per piece. Sometimes, it depends on what amount you would buy. The more you buy, the cheaper that you can get.

Explore More Than Just Souvenirs in Local Markets During Tour in Jakarta

As it is more popular as souvenir markets, actually both places offer a lot more than that. Not only cheap souvenirs, but you can also find other local products such as fashion items, food, snacks, fruits, and many more at affordable prices. If you have a chance to visit Jakarta, then join our Jakarta Walking Tour to see more of it directly by yourself. We will take you to explore and learn deeper about Jakarta’s culture, history, and culinary. See you around!

A Gems Center to Explore in Jakarta Local Markets Tour

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An Iconic Gemstones Market to Find on Walking Tour in Jakarta

As a while ago gemstones became a trend that are vastly spread around Indonesia, Indonesians flocks to hunts gemstones in markets and shops around Indonesia, Jakarta no exception. There was even a dedicated market for gemstones vendors to sell their product in the market, it is the Jakarta Gems Center in the East Jakarta area, at Rawa Bening traditional Market.

A Variety of Gemstones to Choose from on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

Gemstones became a huge trend back in the year of 2015, mostly among men. Some said that this phenomenon is caused by TV-shows, as a status symbol, or due to “fear of missing out” mentality. So, many people are eager to have at least one gemstone accessory that they can flaunt. As gemstones came in a wide variety of types and colors, there are many options to choose from the affordable to insanely expensive prices, as you can see in the picture here [insert picture here].

With a culture that mystical believe is a common thing in Indonesia, some people even believe that some gemstones have some “guard”, so they will benefit from something by wearing them. So, it is not a rare sight to see adult men or women wear colorful and varieties of sizes of gemstone accessories as rings or necklace.

 A Now Struggling Gemstones Market to Observe on Local Markets Tour in Jakarta

As time goes by, the trend fades slowly. This is due to many factors such as pandemics and economical situations, less and less people come to buy gemstones. Many vendors have left the Jakarta Gems Center, and only a few vendors remain.

Explore Deeper the Gemstones Market with Jakarta Walking Tour

If you are an avid unique accessories collector, then visiting the gemstones market will be a good choice for you. Come to Jakarta and join our Jakarta Walking Tour. We will take you to experience the life of locals while shopping in the Jakarta local markets. See you around!