Some nights to remember at Jembatan Lima

Tue, 11/03/2009 1:06 PM  |  City

Where do you think is the most romantic place to spend time with your partner or the most fun place to take your family? Would it be one of those huge characterless malls in the city?

Well, those places might be well known to some people in Jakarta, but if you look a little deeper, there are other entertaining places in the city for those who prefer a more traditional, down-to-earth and low-budget shopping arcade.

If you think that a candlelit dinner is the one and only choice for a romantic date you should take time to check out a shopping arcade called Mitra Jembatan Lima also known as Mitra Market in West Jakarta.

After a hard week's work, we all need a break to recharge our spirits and provide some balance to our lives. The most revitalizing thing to do is spend time with someone important in your life.

On weekends especially, Mitra Market turns into a sort of romantic carnival for couples. They walk together in pairs, window-shopping the length of the street, checking out clothing, electronics and even the vegetables sold by the street's countless vendors.

My housemaid is one loyal visitor to this shopping arcade.

Years ago she frequented the place while part of the dating scene, now she comes to the arcade with her little grandson. She usually leaves home at 7 p.m. and is back between 9 and 10 p.m. after taking the lucky little boy on a shopping spree for clothes or toys, and no doubt a few sweets .

Some people in the area complain about the crowds attracted to the arcade, which occasionally flood into the street. Shop owners whose doors are blocked by temporary stalls run by street vendors voice the loudest complaints. Some have even resorted to building new doors for their stores.

The crowded atmosphere of the arcade is also an ideal place for groups of pickpockets who prey on absentminded shoppers. These criminals take advantage of market-goers whose attention is glued on shop windows and are unaware that their unzipped handbag is an easy target for any pickpocket. Cell phones and wallets are regularly reported stolen to security guards and police.

A few years ago, my maid fell victim to a mugger at the market during her evening sidewalk-shopping time. The thief forced her to take off all of her jewelry. She got home smoldering with anger and feeling a sense of regret. Since then, she has learnt not to wear any jewelry or other expensive accessories to the market, instead she carries her belongings in a black plastic bag to avoid attracting attention from criminals.

However, the incident failed to deter her from frequenting the market. She has carried on visiting the arcade in her spare time.

This outdoor shopping arcade offers not only a carnival atmosphere, but also an environment that can hardly be found in any any of the indoor shopping centers in the city. Pushcarts are everywhere, while traditional three-wheeled pedicabs, or becak, zigzagging to evade the stream of visitors, are a common sight.

Amid the pinch of the economic downturn being felt by everyday people, this place has become one of those few places for those who cannot afford window-shopping at more expensive malls but would still like a little bit of retail therapy.

Rumor around the arcade is that authorities plan to shut down the arcade, which they have identified as the cause of major traffic problems in the area.

My guess is that, despite the authorities' plans, Mitra Market will survive for at least another decade thanks to the fact that the place manages to attract huge crowds of shoppers and vendors alike.

I hope the authorities take this into account when making their decision. Design a better plan for roads in the area or assign more traffic coordinators. Don't just close the market without considering the future of the people who love Jembatan Lima.

- Mayasari Oey

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