Category: Culture

Try Indonesian Fusion Cuisine to Explore a Mix of Diverse Culture During Walking Tour in Glodok Chinatown Jakarta

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An Introduction to Indonesian Fusion Cuisine That You Can Find in Glodok Chinatown Jakarta

Fusion cuisine is a combination of culinary elements from different countries, regions, and cultures. In the past hundred years ago, Indonesia has been sought for a place to visit and conquer as it has an enormous natural resources and fertile land. Many European countries have colonized Indonesia in the past. So do people from other countries in Asia that mainly come to trade. This has affected the culinary scene in Indonesia, and therefore a lot of fusion cuisine has created. One of the places that you can find this example is in Glodok Chinatown, Jakarta, a place of different communities’ blend.

Indonesian Fusion Cuisine That You Can Try in Glodok Chinatown Jakarta as You Stroll Around for Walking Tour in Jakarta

Even though there are many other of fusion cuisine example that you can find in many parts of Indonesia, the Glodok Chinatown Jakarta is one of the perfect places to explore. You can a mix of Chinese cuisine that has been influenced by other cultures, such as Kari Medan, which is influenced by Indian cuisine, Soda Badak, a carbonated drink that produced in North Sumatera, Nasi Ulam, that is originated from Malay cuisine, Bakso Pikul, or meatballs that has its uniqueness, Choipan, a Chinese snack, and many others.

How Can You Reach the Glodok Chinatown Market to Try Various Kinds of Indonesian Fusion Cuisine

It is relatively easy to reach Glodok Chinatown area as there is public transportation from the government. You can ride a Transjakarta bus, commuter line train, bajaj, motorbike taxi, and car taxi. You can stop at the Kota train station or bus shelter and walk to the destination. The food stalls will usually be open from morning to afternoon.  

Find Other Interesting to Try in Glodok Chinatown Area as We Walk Around Together in Jakarta Chinatown Tour

Aside from fusion cuisines that we mentioned above, there many other snacks and delicacies that you might took your attention while we are touring around the Glodok Jakarta area. If you are interested, we can stop by and try them while learning about the cuisine’s history and what culture influenced them. Come join our Jakarta Chinatown Tour while you are staying in the city. See you around!

Exploring Tea Ceremonies, A Part of Chinese Heritage That Flourish in the Glodok Chinatown Jakarta

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A Brief Introduction of Tea Ceremonies That Preserves a Cultural Heritage of Diverse Communities in Indonesia, Especially in Glodok Chinatown Jakarta

The history of drinking tea culture goes way back to the Dutch colonial era. The East India Companies came to the country and saw the potential to grow a profitable tea industry, thus, they conducted an operation to plant tea leaves across Indonesia during the cultuurestelsel. From then on, Indonesia has become one of the biggest producers and exporters of tea products.

A Different Kind of Tea Ceremonies Across Indonesia as a Mix of Different Cultures Aside from Chinese Tea Ceremonies in Glodok Jakarta

Aside from the effects of the colonial era, drinking tea culture also influenced by immigrants that come from all over the world to Indonesia. Not only the Chinese tea ceremony, in different part of Indonesia, Cirebon and Tegal, there has been a culture to drink tea from a clay pot, known as “Teh Poci”. It is usually served with sugar cubes to add the sweetness. In Java, there is also a tradition in Keraton Yogyakarta or the Palace of Yogyakarta for the royals.

Places to Experience Tea Ceremonies in Person Around the Glodok Chinatown Area During Walking Tour in Jakarta

The relatively easy place to find places that conduct tea ceremonies is in Glodok Jakarta area. There are a few places that can introduce you to tea ceremonies. One of them is the “Pantjoran Tea House”, a tea house that serves Chinese cuisines and provide a package set to introduce tea ceremonies, and the other ones it the relatively new, “Pieces of Peace”, in Petak Enam Glodok Jakarta area. Opened in 2020, they provide a wide variety of local tea, as well as imported tea from China and Japan. The guests can even try to brew the tea by themselves. The place has become an oasis for young people to learn and preserve a valuable culture that has been around for decades ago.

Find More Things to Explore in Glodok Jakarta as A Part of Jakarta Chinatown Tour with Jakarta Walking Tour

If you want to find and learn about more things aside from tea ceremonies in Glodok Chinatown, come to Jakarta and join our Jakarta Chinatown Tour. We can find interesting facts, learn new things, and try delicious cuisines together. See you around!

Pantjoran Tea House, A Refreshing Place of Glodok Chinatown to Visit During Walking Tour in Jakarta Under the Hot Weather

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A Brief History of Pantjoran Tea House Across Different Eras of Batavia and Modern Jakarta in Glodok Chinatown Area

The Pantjoran Tea House is an iconic two stories building that is located at Pancoran Street in Glodok Chinatown area. It is right at the hook of an intersection; thus, the building is quite standout and easy to recognize. According to the store’s website, the store was built during the 17th and 18th Century to preserve the Chinese heritage in Glodok Chinatown area. It is also said that in the year of 1928, it was once a pharmacy before later revitalized as tea house in 2015, as a part to make Jakarta Old Town a world cultural heritage sites by the UNESCO.

An Old Tradition of “Patekoan”, Started by a Generous Chinese Chief That Lasted to This Day to Preserve the Chinese Heritage of Glodok Jakarta

Every day from 8 Am to 6 PM or every weekend from 7 AM to 6 PM, the Pantjoran Tea House usually provide free tea from eight kettles in front of the store for the people who pass by. They usually use two to three boxes of tea and serve it in eight kettles; thus, the name of this tradition is “Patekoan”. This tradition was started by a Chinese chief, Kapitan Gan Djie, that provided free tea in kettles for peddlers around the area.

Learning Chinese Culture That is Preserved Until This Modern Area from Tea Ceremonies in the Glodok Chinatown Area

One of the a few things that makes the store different from other regular stores or restaurants, the Panjoran Tea House not only provides tea to try, but they also can prepare the package with a guide to a tea ceremony. While serving the tea, the waitress will explain to you about the type of tea and how the tea ceremony proceeds. Not only tea, but they also serve Chinese food for main course and snacks. There is a variety of menu’s choice, and you can try what suits your palate best.

Explore More You Can Find and See with Jakarta Chinatown Tour with Jakarta Walking Tour

To learn more things about Chinese culture, trying various kinds of fusion cuisines around the Glodok Chinatown area, come to Jakarta and join our Jakarta Chinatown Tour. Let’s stroll around, explore interesting facts, trying delicious cuisines, and many more together. See you around!

Gedung Chandra, A Trace of The Past from Properous Era of Glodok Jakarta

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A Brief Introduction of Gedung Chandra, the Pioneer of Modern Shopping Mall in Glodok Chinatown Jakarta

A large majority of Chinese community in Jakarta are living and doing their activities and run their businesses in Glodok area, thus the place became the Chinatown of the city. Aside from residencies, markets, stores, and restaurants, there also exists a shopping mall in the center of the area, which is the Chandra Building, or Gedung Chandra as locals call it.

Things You Can See Inside the Gedung Chandra as A Part of Your Walking Tour on Glodok Chinatown Area

In the past, this shopping mall became one of the pioneers of modern malls in Jakarta, so there are traces of various tenants on each floor. However, after going through different eras, histories, and changes, many of the lots occupied by local Chinese business owners that sells various products from clothes, decorations, appliances, snacks, and more. Many of them are non-branded products.

See Other Things on The Other Side of Gedung Chandra to Get a Taste of Glodok Chinatown’s Delicacies in Petak Enam Area

Adjacent to the old Chandra Building, a new area has been established in this modern time, called Petak Enam. This place is a semi-open area that is occupied by food vendors, stalls, and restaurants that sell various kinds of food from different areas in Indonesia. Not only Chinese food, but other traditional Indonesian food and or Western style cuisine can also be found in this area.

Find More to See and Explore Around the Gedung Chandra During Jakarta Chinatown Tour as Your Itinerary in Jakarta

If you want to see and explore more things of the Glodok Chinatown area, come visit Jakarta and join our Jakarta Chinatown Tour. We can learn about the communities, their history, cultures, and delicacies together. See you around!

Petak Sembilan Glodok Jakarta, A Center of Community to Visit in Jakarta Chinatown Tour

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Find a Mix of Different Cultures and Explore More About Various Communities That Coexist in Petak Sembilan in Glodok Chinatown Jakarta Area

Jakarta is inhabited by many people from various communities and ethnicities that coexist with each other. One of the communities that exist in the heart of Jakarta is the Chinese communities. The community has been presence since the pre-colonial era and a big populations of the descendants are still existing across many eras. One of the biggest presences in Jakarta area is in Glodok area, or now called as Petak Sembilan, or the precise location is at Jl. Kemenangan, West Jakarta.

Things You Can Find in Petak Sembilan Jakarta Chinatown Area as A Part That You Can Visit with Jakarta Walking Tour

Although the origin of the Petak Sembilan name is unclear, but some people say that there are Nine Plot building or house that it exists in the area, thus the local name become “Petak Sembilan”. In this modern time, as it became a trade center for the Chinese community, not only there are many vendors, stalls, and stores that sells fresh daily product such as fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits, but there are also many merchants that sell Chinese food, herbal medicines, properties of worship, and decorations or accessories for Chinese festivals, and etc.

Things You Can Do in Petak Sembilan as A Visitor in Glodok Chinatown Jakarta

According to the descriptions above, a few things that you can do in Petak Sembilan are enjoying the mix of cultures by the food through fusions, shopping for some unique things that you rarely see anywhere across Indonesia, visiting temples with precious historical value, or just walking leisurely to take a look around of the buildings, people, and the market.

Explore More Things to Do in Petak Sembilan with Jakarta Walking Tour in Jakarta Chinatown Tour

If you are not sure of what you’re looking for in Glodok Chinatown Tour, joining us on our Jakarta Chinatown Tour could be a great option for you. Come to Jakarta, stroll with us and we will explore more of what you can see, find, and do in Petak Sembilan, or the places nearby. We can learn about the city’s history, culture, and delicacies together. See you around!

Dharma Bhakti Temple, A Temple That Represent the Existence of Confucianists and Buddhists Community in Glodok Chinatown Area

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Dharma Bhakti Temple as One of the Oldest Temple That You Can Find on Jakarta Chinatown Tour

As Chinese community are often migrating to trade and find better opportunities, there are Chinatowns that you can find in many countries, so does Indonesia. Not only that, but you can also find Chinatown in different provinces in Indonesia. One of them is in Jakarta. The Chinatown in Jakarta is called “Glodok” area. You can find Chinese community resides and operating their business there. You can find malls, tenants, restaurants, and small stores that sell various kinds of products there. Aside from that, you can also find temples where they practice their religion. One of them is Dharma Bhakti Temple, or in another name, “Kelenteng Kim Tek Ie”.

A Brief History of Dharma Bhakti Temple That Colors the Pluralistic Community in Glodok Jakarta

The temple was believed to be built in year 1650, named Kwan Im Teng, that later absorbed to the Indonesian language as “kelenteng”, a place of worship for Confucianists. According to a sinologist, the temple was believed to be burned along with the massive massacre of Chinese ethnicity in the year of 1740 by the Dutch East Indies. The temple was later restored in 1755 and the name was changed to Kim Tek Ie. At the 18th Century, the temple was known as the most important place of worship in the Chinese community in Batavia. After the year of 1965, the government suggests that the Chinese Indonesian ethnicity to use more Indonesian sounding name for surnames or other original Chinese names, thus, the temple finally named as Vihara Dharma Bhakti.

How To Reach Vihara Dharma Bhakti and When Is the Time to Visit the Iconic Temple in Glodok Chinatown Area

The temple can be reached by walking from Kota Train Station, around 900 meters, and it opens everyday from 6 AM to 4 PM. The popularity of this temple can be seen in Chinese festivals such as the celebrations of Chinese New Year, Lantern Festivals, and more. Many people will come to practice their worship and the place will be crowded.

Visit The Dharma Bhakti as A Part of Jakarta Chinatown Tour During Your Stay in Jakarta

The temple is a place that is worth to visit among the Chinese community in Glodok Chinatown area as it has a precious historical value. Come to Jakarta and join us on the Jakarta Walking Tour. We will take you to explore things you can see and do in Glodok Chinatown area to learn about the history, culture, and delicacies that it offers. See you around!

Toa Se Bio, One of The Oldest Temple That Witness the History of Batavia That You Can Find on Jakarta Chinatown Tour

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Toa Se Bio as A Temple That Represents the Diverse Culture of Jakarta in Glodok Chinatown Area

As an Indonesian citizen, it is mandatory to embrace a religion. And until this modern time, there are six religion that is officially recognized by the government, they are Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. The existence of these religions reflected by the respective worship places. For Islam, represented by mosques, Catholicism by cathedrals, Buddhism and Confucianism by temples, and Hinduism by shrines. One of the oldest and iconic temples in Glodok Chinatown area is named Toa Se Bio Temple or “Wihara Toa Se Bio”.

A Brief History of the Toa Se Bio Iconic Temples that Colors the Glodok Jakarta Area

According to the Ministry of Religion, the temple was rebuilt at the year of 1751, after the massacre of Chinese ethnicity by the VOC, and began to serve its purpose as a place of worship for Buddhists community in the year of 1754. In the year 2022, a historical inscription was built to commemorate the history and devotion of the predecessors for 271 years. It represents the pluralistic society that exists in Jakarta. Until today, the temple is widely known amongst the community that live in the Glodok Chinatown area.

How To Reach and When is The Proper Time to Visit the Toa Se Bio Temple in While Strolling Around Glodok Jakarta Area

Since the temple is an iconic place with a historical value, not only for the Buddhists community, but people who embrace other religions are often curious to know and see the place. The temple is open from 6 AM to 6 PM every day. Though the place is open to welcome people from other religions, but we need to be respectful if there are rituals or prayers being practiced and comply with the rules while visiting to look around. The easiest way to reach the temple is to ride a commuter line train, get off at the Stasiun Kota, and walk around 800 meters into the Glodok Chinatown area.

Visit The Toa Se Bio as A Part of Jakarta Chinatown Tour While You Visit the City with Jakarta Walking Tour

If you think you are not familiar enough to find the temple by yourself as it is your first time in the city, join our Jakarta Chinatown Tour instead. We will take you to iconic places that hold many valuable histories. We can also try some delicacies along the way that reflect Jakarta’s diverse cultures. See you around!

Take A Glance of Jakarta Old Town’s History from A Historical Water Fountain

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Fatahillah Museum is an iconic view of Old Batavia. There is a lot to see in the Jakarta Old Town complex that might catch your attention. One of them is a little fountain that quite stands out in the middle of the square, in front of the museum.

It is shaped like a small monument, designed with a little dome on the top of it. It was built as a replica of a water supply in the 1970s era, whereas water around the city is contaminated, and there is a scarcity for clean water, causing illnesses and deaths. So, the government-built pipes and provided supplies for the Old Batavia area from other areas.

The fountain is a product of a reconstruction from the authentic water fountain that is built in colonial era of VOC. The references are from Johannes Rach’s painting, a famous painter from VOC. So, it is not functioning as a “real” water supply for the city, but only a monument to commemorate the history of Old Batavia.

Although it does not have a functioning water supply, it has become a spot of tourist attractions inside the Old Batavia complex. Many people from inside or outside the city keep visiting the the complex to spend their weekends with their families.

The placement of the fountain adds a nice touch for a view if you look at Fatahillah Museum from a distance. Aside from the fountain, there are also a lot of different spots that will attract tourists to take a picture of. So, it is a nice place to hunt and take artistic photos. A few people are also taking their pre-wedding pictures inside or around the complex.

If you are curious about the real appearance and history of this water fountain, come visit Jakarta and take a walk around the Old Town complex. You can also look and get an in-depth insight into Jakarta’s history and culture by joining a Jakarta Old Tour with Jakarta Walking Tour. So, what are you waiting for? See you in Jakarta!

A Trace of Spices That Are Worth More Than Gold in Old Batavia

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There are countless delicious Indonesian that you can find in Old Batavia, and the key ingredients are the spices. The strategic location of Indonesia and the great ability of Indonesian ancestor to navigate ships in the sea, makes it possible for Indonesian to trade and learn to grow spices from people at other countries and places.

The abundant amounts of spices in Indonesia attract foreigners from Europe and spurred their ambition to exploitation of economics, hence the colonialism started. The history of spices that is worth to know and spread can be found in Indonesian museum in the present day. One of them are in Museum Bank Indonesia, that is located inside the complex of Jakarta Old Town area.

Aside from Museum Bank Indonesia, the history of spices can also be found in Museum Bahari, that is mainly displaying a maritime history of Indonesia. It is not located inside the Jakarta Old Town area, but it is quite near and can be reached in walking distance. It is also near to the Sunda Kelapa Harbor where you can see big ships anchored to load and unload.

A variety of spices that are widely used in Indonesia until the present days includes clove, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemongrass, aromatic ginger, turmeric, galangal, and many more. These spices are used not only for cooking ingredients, but also for traditional drinks and medicines. The use of spices provides a rich aroma and distinctive flavors.

Curious about the spices that become a treasure that is sought after? Come visit Jakarta, join our Jakarta Walking Tour, and follow the trace of spices in Old Batavia with us. You can learn the route of spices, see the shape and smell of the spices, and learn their history.

Aside from learning the history of spices, you can also try delicacies that include spices if you join our Jakarta Food Tour.  Prepare your comfortable shoes and clothes, and you will be ready to walk around with the Jakarta Walking Tour. See you around!

Keris

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keris collection

The keris is a distinctive dagger indigenous to Indonesia. Nearly all regions in the Indonesian archipelago have their own distinct from of keris. Most Javanese families own a keris that has been passed down through generations.

The best keris are made by master blade smiths called ‘empu’ who are highly respected craftsmen and also learned in the arts, history and occult sciences. The process of making keris is often secretive and mystical.

keris body part

Keris blades are generally narrow with a wide, asymmetrical base. A keris aesthetic value comprise of the dhapur (the form and design of the blade), the pamor (the pattern of decoration on the blade), and tangguh (its age and origin). In high quality keris, the blades are created by folding in layers of different metals hundreds of times with utmost precision. The Javanese keris can have either a straight or wavy blade with an odd number of curves.

Both weapon and spiritual object, the keris is considered to possess spiritual powers or kesaktian to which special titles are conferred. Today, this magnificent dagger are still used for display purposes, as talismans, weapons, sacred heirlooms, auxiliary equipment for court soldiers and accessories for ceremonial dress which is an indicator of social status and a symbol of heroism. Cleansing rituals in keris­-bathing ceremonies on the first of the Javanese Sura month ensures the kesaktian of the sacred keris.

Source                  : “The Ultimate Destination of INDONESIA”
Copyright            : Indonesia Culture and Tourism Ministry (2011)
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