We laugh, grit our teeth, and laugh again right alongside our protagonist as we live a normal life in Jakarta. This story introduces us to Chinese-Indonesians, Arab Indonesian Muslims, friendly coffeehouse owners, misogynistic cab drivers, punk kids, and more.Ī Day in the Life of a Guy from Depok who Travels to Jakarta is a true tour of the city, both geographical and emotional, as we experience all the frustrations and difficulties of physically navigating city life. While in the city, our man takes a bus, a few taxis, and another train as he runs errands, meets friends, chats with strangers, and navigates the complex, unpredictable routes of Jakarta. He takes the train into the city to sort out a visa at the US embassy, only to find that he has forgotten his passport. It follows an ordinary day in the life of a suburban man who works as a landscape gardener. This final story gives readers a funny, fascinating, and frustrating tour of the city.
If you want my advice, the final story in The Book of Jakarta - titled A Day in the Life of a Guy from Depok who Travels to Jakarta, written by Yusi Avianto Pareanom and translated by Daniel Owen - is actually the best place to start. What follows the book’s introduction is a deep dive into the city of Jakarta from the perspective of a diverse group of writers and translators. The cultural and political history taught to us by this introduction alone is illuminating, and the book has yet to even begin. Prior to Japan’s control, Indonesia had been occupied by almost every great European power at some point and for some time. This New Order came about after World War II and the relinquishing of control from the Japanese Empire. In 1998, Indonesia underwent a revolution, when the dictatorship of President Suharto’s New Order was topped. Kusuma) is enough to be provided with a detailed and enlightening history lesson about Jakarta one which even speculates about the city’s future. Reading a collection of stories by writers of different ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds - all of whom are writing about Jakarta - is like taking a cultural, geographic, and historic tour of the city.Ī read of the book’s introduction (written by its editors, Maesy Ang and Teddy W. The diversity of Jakarta can be seen in its religions, cuisine, languages and dialects, ethnicities, politics, and more. Following that up with a read through the ten stories that make up The Book of Jakartaallows you to see all sides of life in Indonesia’s capital city. Jakarta is likely the most multicultural city in all of Asia, and a quick read of the introduction to The Book of Jakartaserves as a good lesson in why this is.
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