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Book Review: An entertaining guide for newcomers to Jakarta
Welcome to Jakarta. You may have heard about it, but you won’t really know what you’re up against until you get here.
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For anyone looking for a basic idea of what Jakarta has to offer, this book is more than equipped to help you. (Shutterstock/*)
There’s nothing like being thrown in at the deep end.
Welcome to Jakarta. You may have heard about it, but you won’t really know what you’re up against until you get there. Somewhat scrappier and in-your-face than neighboring Southeast Asian cities like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, first-time visitors landing in Jakarta are immediately met with the prospect of a two-hour taxi crawl across the city to get from the airport to their destination. But that’s nothing compared to the four hours they’ll spend getting back to the airport on their return journey if they hit rush hour traffic.
But don’t be put off! There’s plenty to see and do in this crowded capital. Given enough time and local knowledge on how to best navigate it, you’ll find a city brimming with character and interesting quirks. In Culture Shock! Jakarta, the famous etiquette and culture series does its best to shed light on this sprawling city in a way that will both enlighten and entertain.
It starts off with the basics: the weather (it’s hot and humid, so bathing twice or more a day, like most Indonesians, might be a good idea), a general overview of the city, its place in Indonesia’s history and politics, and details of its architecture and monuments (the National Monument making an unsurprising appearance in a dedicated sub-chapter).
(Read also: 12 Indonesian books you should add to your reading list)
Keep on reading and you’ll find some intriguing trivia about this misunderstood metropolis, such as what does a typical bathroom look like and why is it such a big part of day-to-day small talk? What is exactly is jamu and does drinking it work? You’ll also learn more about the various ailments and illnesses that seem to plague visitors and locals alike: from the normal flu to the somewhat more vague panas dalam ("being hot inside").
Beyond these funny but useful explanations, there are also sections on finding a home in the city, places to shop, crime and the local police, and a range of other information - like common swear words - to make sure you’re as well acquainted as possible with the city before it takes you by surprise.
The chapters do feel a little haphazardly thrown together at times, and considering the growth the city has seen over the past decade, an updated version seems somewhat overdue. But for anyone looking for a basic idea of what Jakarta has to offer, Culture Shock! is more than equipped to walk you through it. Things do move slowly though and, by the time you’ve decided to visit, no doubt you’ll have plenty of time to re-read this book on your cab ride into the city. (kes)
Click here to read the book.
Title: Culture Shock! Jakarta at Your Door: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! at Your Door)
Author: Derek Bacon, Terry Collins
Published: 2007
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corporation
Reviewed by: Christabelle Adeline Palar
