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8 October 2025
Jakarta isn’t a city you visit—it’s one that engulfs you. From the first honk at dawn to the last prayer call echoing at night, it feels like a living creature made of motion. Street stalls hiss with oil and laughter; the aroma of nasi goreng wraps around you like an embrace. In Glodok, Chinatown pulses with chatter and red lanterns, while the Old Batavia district reminds you that time here is layered, never lost. Beneath glass towers, kampung alleys breathe, proud of their simplicity. The traffic may test your patience, but then comes a smile from a stranger, and suddenly, everything feels human again. Jakarta doesn’t seek perfection—it celebrates survival, colour, and chaos with open arms.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India
Instagram: @rajatchandrasarmah5
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