Jakarta, Day 2

Woke up early this morning and decided it was going to be a takin-it-easy day, since my train out of Jakarta was at 5pm. Over a toast with butter and jam breakfast at the hostel, I met Michiel who told me about the old port a short walk north, so off I went in that direction!

I was smart today and remembered to put on a long skirt, along with the new shoes from the market yesterday!

Now that I'm walking with my new-found confidence and shoes, the city suddenly seemed a lot less intimidating. I walked right into traffic and crossed the streets like a boss, and headed toward the port by cutting through a market

I saw some nice bracelets so I stopped to picked one out. I "talked" (or signed) to the nice guy selling the bracelet a bit, and learned that the bracelet I picked was made out of "bwatu" (stone?). Also I learned how to say thank you (trima kasi) in Indonesian. Definitely will be useful.

In the square there was an Indonesian acrobatic show, where performers get literally whipped (crazy loud crackles) for "being bad". For example, in this picture the performer just got whipped in the head for swallowing a ball of flame to extinguish it. How dare he put out the fire.

On my continued walk to the port I saw these bird shops, with really pretty cages holding all kinds of beautiful birds! So tempted to get one. Upon a closer look, these birds are super colorful, and hopping around way too fast and frantically to be normal pet birds...I wonder how many of them are actually rare species or something like that><

Finally got to the port gate! The guard said there is a fee, but I can go in for free if I take a picture with him...Being a solo female traveler pays off, I guess!

The fleet of boats (called schooners) were unbelievably humbling! This was apparently the world's last fleet of wind-powered sail boats used for trading. I talked to a local and it seems that they mostly ship cement to other Indonesian islands. Pretty cool. I saw a crew mend holes in the wooden boats, and I also climbed into one on the narrowest plank I've ever seen! The captain was very nice to let me do it (trima kasi captain!) And it was pretty damn wobbly and scary!

Then I decided it was time that I did anything for some AC. So I walked in this toy store, found a spot directly in front of the jet of cool bliss, and pretended I was into "rockin toy guitars" for a while.

After that, I went back to the hostel to pack up, chill a while, and head on to the station! The Gambir train station is near the National Independence Monument, so I took a side trip and walked over for a look.

And, for the first time ever, a local asked to take a picture with me! I have no idea why, because we definitely look like the same people. Maybe he liked my backpack. Or my shorts.

Had some delicious Soto ayam (chicken soup) at the train station too. Life is good.

It's off to Yogyakarta I go, as i leave Jakarta behind in this beautiful sunset! It's going to be a long 8 hour train ride, hope I get some good sleep!