New Year’s Eve in Jakarta

So on New Year’s Eve, I made an impulsive decision on how to ‘celebrate’ the year end. I joined the crowd around Bundaran HI in a festive celebration of NYE called Jakarta Night Festival. It was a festival held along Sudirman-Thamrin street, there were stages installed all along the way, with the main focus (I guess) around Bundaran HI and Monas area. To let people ‘enjoy’ the festivity better, it was declared as a Car Free Night, no cars allowed to pass after 8pm-ish so you have to walk, or just use a bicycle.

I took the second option, for it didn’t seem reasonable to try reaching the area by taxi or car or even ojek, when I made my decision to come at 10 pm. Since it was drizzling, I wore my read overcoat and a cap, and changed my walking shoes to a pair of Converse. The last one was proven as a wise decision – saved my feet from mud and dirts. Cycling my way to HI, it got crowded right before I reached Semanggi. Then around each and every stage (installed in 16 spots along the street) there were crowds of people gathered to watch. I got stuck right before UOB, and then I took a detour to the street beside Mandarin Hotel, and got stuck again until the countdown.

Here are the pictures I took around the roundabout during and after the countdown. Enjoy :)

 

And last but not least, wishing you a great 2013 ahead :)

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself. ~ Neil Gaiman, 2001

 

*Quotes taken from Neil’s journal here

20 thoughts on “New Year’s Eve in Jakarta

    1. Bener jalan sendiri.. Sampai sesudah pulang baru ngeh “kalo tadi kenapa-kenapa, gimana coba? *hahah” Jadi ngepost di Path, bersyukur punya stamina (jadi gak pingsan dll) dan ga kenapa-kenapa pas bolak-balik gitu. Cape sih beudh.. haha..

      Punya sepeda belum tentu aktip jalan-jalan gitu sih, tapi jadi ada pilihan aja xD

    1. Jumlahnya 30-an apa 300-an Pit?

      Hehe soalnya gw kan ke RS dulu nemenin nyokap sampai jam tidur, jadi ga bisa ikutan berangkat dari fx. Trus udah sampai di lokasi ya kayaknya susah janjian ketemuan atau nyari sapa pun.. #foreveralone banget ya >.<"

    1. Kalau mengutip kata-kata Nike sih.. “just do it” hehehe.. Hmm.. “Make some art” ini bisa kita interpretasikan jadi apa yah? Puisi? Lagu? #aih #PasangTargetTinggi haha.. Kalau aku mungkin kembali rajin sketching dan doodling kali ya ^^
      Niway.. let’s do it :)

  1. Gue sangat suka terobosannya Jokowi ini. Dan baru kali ini… gue tuh ngeliat temen2 gue yang bule2 pun excited turun ke jalan menyambut tahun baru 2013 di Bunderan HI dan sekitarnya! Jarang banget kan bisa kayak gitu! Happy New Year! Semoga tahun baru ini semakin indah dan cemerlang!

    1. Sama! Salut dengan gagasannya kembali menghidupkan ‘pesta rakyat’ – dan memang sepertinya animo (kebanyakan) masyarakat Jakarta untuk datang ke sini sangat positif (kecuali dari segi volume sampahnya) haha.. Happy New Year untuk sekeluarga ya, may you be happy family! ^^

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