medcom.id, Jakarta: Speaking of interesting tourism spots in Jakarta is slightly tricky. The choice are varied, starting from museums, beaches and zoos, but they are also complete with their own ironies.
However, there is a tourism attraction available as an alternative to Jakartans or tourists. A visit to Sunda Kelapa Harbor area, North Jakarta.
The name is familiar to Jakartans, but few realized that within the areas, there are lots of imageries of the capital's scars.
When visiting Sunda Kelapa, do not focus only on the unloading docks, but try to walk the alleys of Pasar Ikan Street, on the west of the harbor.
Fishy smell welcomes visitor at the entrance of Pasar Ikan alley. The situation is totally uncomfortable, added with its chaotic view. But there lies the great history of Jakarta.
As the time changes, the glory of the buildings established by VOC had turned into slum warehouses causing visitors to leave then visit the constructions. Maritime Museum, for example, which had been the witness of VOC's glory, looks pale at the side of Pasar Ikan street.
Deeper down the street, the worse the view. Slum, slum and slum. Garbage is everywhere, the fishy smell gets stronger. But there is something different, the friendly welcome and expression of the residents.
Pasar Ikan has several alleys, where in the high density residential area is a small port filled with fishermen's boats. For photography enthusiasts, it is the perfect place to craft their human interest photography skills. The most important thing is that the locals are very open to tourists, so they would not mind when we take pictures. Surely it has to be paired with good ethics and manner of the photographer.
"Come, take a boat ride until the end of the harbor, just one hundred thousand (rupiah). If it's foreigners, usually two hundred thousand (rupiah). Among locals, we wouldn't charge more," said a fisherman offering a service of a round trip ride within the Sunda Kelapa Harbor with a boat.
The price offered by the fisherman can surely go lower, depends on the negotiation.
Moving along Sunda Kelapa Harbor with a boat sets your mind floating and heart cut open. Floating, when remembering the past glory of Sunda Kelapa, cut open due to the miserable condition there.
According to history, Sunda Kelapa Harbor is a port owned by Sundanese Kingdom. Jakarta in the past was identical with an area filled with coconut trees, which created the nickname of Sunda Kalapa (Sundanese coconut). In 1527, Sunda Kalapa was taken over by Demak and Cirebon Empire under Fatahillah's command. The political occurrence changed the name Sunda Kalapa into Jayakarta.
The historical trace seems to be stashed somewhere within the piles of garbage, chaotic area planning and dark water. It is the opposite of Jakarta's coastline areas offered by property developers on television, which appears to be extremely luxurious. (Eps)
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