Arriving to Jakarta
“Maybe in your past life?”
It was already 03:30 in the morning in a musty hotel room in Jakarta and I was ready to start writing. A total of forty hours of plane rides and airport connections to get here had not managed to leave me with a single sleepy bone in my body. The thrill of being in Asia again was burning through my veins like wildfire.
Jakarta Skyline at night. Photo: Yohanes Budiyanto, used under Creative Commons License
This particular breed of euphoria is anything but exhausting and I knew the feeling all too well. The moment we left home it felt like we were only coming closer to it.
The first couple of times my feet touched the ground in this, to us, such a far away land, they did so in Jakarta, surrounded immediately by the familiar faces of unbeatable hospitality and perpetual stream of smiles. In an instant, memories of my sacred experiences in Thailand washed over me.
The Chinese New Year in Glodok, a predominantly Chinese Indonesian neighbourhood of Jakarta. Photo used under a Creative Commons license.
Then there was the negotiating. Negotiating everything from taxi fares, gizmos and gadgets on street stands, and even food in local makeshift restaurants. The air, so familiarly hot and humid, quickly glued my clothes to my body and I felt as if I had just showered in them.
Welcome statue roundabout, Jakarta, Indonesia (Creative Commons CC By Cillian Storm)
In the taxi ride to our hotel, I hopelessly tried to make some room for my skin to breathe . I did my best to satisfy the curiosity of our taxi driver, “Yes – this is my first time in Indonesia,” I replied “but it feels like I’ve been here a thousand times”. “Maybe in your past life?” he said. I couldn’t help but wonder whether he was right.
Most of the time I have a way with words but I am at a loss for them in Asia. My thought ran amok in my mind, stuck hopelessly with a feeling of belonging.
The hospitality doesn’t take long to get to me and even in the bustle of Jakarta’s surreal jungle like traffic a sense of serenity loomed over me. Also, if you must know, a tiny corner of my heart was singing with joy and it felt like the sheer strength of the vibe would blow me to pieces. The night was beginning to turn into an early morning, one with a long, exciting day ahead. Jakarta served as entrance and exit point for what was to be yet another amazing journey through Asia.
Our travels would start in the jungle of Kalimantan, the very next day.
Have you ever been somewhere that immediately felt like coming home again? Where was it, and what made it so familiar? Please feel free to share your stories in the comment section below!
Asia has that effect on you.
Everywhere, everything and everyone is so full of life and it is a sensory overload! 🙂
Chris that definitely sums it right up! A sensory overload! 🙂
I feel that way pretty much whenever I’m in a tropical place with a warm breeze and palm trees and bougainvillea. I guess I’m just meant to live in the tropics!
I can definitely relate to that Rachel! 😉
Wow! Jakarta looks really breathtaking! I am going there in 2 months and after seeing this post, I must say that I really looking forward to going there!
You won’t be disappointed Milan!
Chris that definitely sums it right up! A sensory overload! 🙂
Hi Sania!
Know the feeling, Istanbul is my place, every time I go there I feel that I belong to that place.
It’s strange because it`s absolutely different from Brazil.
Safe travels!
Hi Robson! I guess certain places hit certain ‘buttons’ …and it’s amazing when that happens in a place that could not be any more different from home 🙂
Isn’t it fascinating how destinations will do that to you? As though you’ve been there before? I’ve not yet been to Asia, and it doesn’t seem to draw me. But like Rachel, I’m happy on any tropical beach you put me on.
It’s amazing how destinations can do that. I guess it’s how we get to find our favorite corner of the world, that one place you just keep wanting to go back to…
It amazes me the feelings that travel can inspire inside of us: I felt the same way about the UK the first time I visited there. I knew I hadn’t ever been there before, but something about the culture, the people, the literature, and the history spoke to me in a way that nothing else ever had (and still hasn’t!). I haven’t made it to Asia yet on my travels, but you make it seem so appealing–even with all of the chaos that comes with a big city like Jakarta!
I know what you mean when you talk about UK. I felt and still a big part of me feels the same way about UK. But when it comes to Asia, I think the chaos was the key element for me Natalie. Something about being in the greatest traffic jam of all time, you’d expect it all to simply collapse …then seeing that it doesn’t and that life goes on even when things get this chaotic …well I guess can be very relaxing:)
Yes! I feel exactly this way when in Asia too! It’s a feeling I haven’t been able to let go of since leaving, and something that I crave every time I plan a trip. I think you described it perfectly, to the point of making me want to book my next flight to Jakarta!
Hi Tracie! I’m so glad you liked the article and that you can relate to it so much as well! Let me know what the going rate for a ticket to Indonesia is is is these days as I might be tempted to book one immediately myself 😉
Welcome in Jakarta, Mrs.
I felt the same when I first came to Argentina. I hope you’re enjoying your trip and I like the jungle idea!
P.S. Jakarta has the worst traffic in the world, they say. Is that true? I’ve only been to Bali.