I am amazed that Jakarta is home to more than 10 million people. It is the largest city in Southeast Asia and the 12th largest in the world. It is estimated that at least a quarter of Jakarta's inhabitants live in kampungs (villages). I realized many kampungs in central Jakarta are just a few hundred meters from gleaming skyscrapers and 5 star hotels and yet it's as if they are hidden away. I'm aware about its existence when engaging in communications with the staffers working at the hotel that my family stayed during our vacation & the Grab drivers that transported us to various destinations in this metropolitan. Jakarta's villages, known as Kelurahan, are organized into districts (Kecamatan) within five administrative cities and one regency. (https://jakarta.bps.go.id)
According to Chef Zaenudin of Merlynn Park Hotel in central Jakarta, “The word kampung has its roots in rural Javanese tradition and means ‘village’. As such, it carries with it a sense of cohesion and community: a sense of belonging. Kampungs are not quite slums, and particularly the ones in inner Jakarta, are different. There are some permanent dwellings in these kampungs, a semblance of infrastructure and many residents can show their entitlements."
I'm simply saying that what struck me was the true beauty, humble pride and palpable dignity in every aspect of the kampung community. As such, my family had a delightful dining experience at a popular restaurant known as Kampung Kecil Gambir in central Jakarta. It has an extensive menu featuring authentic Indonesian cuisine offerings prepared with fresh ingredients and indigenous spices. The atmosphere is lively with a cool family-friendly setting.
So, it reminds me of Kampung Baru, the famous Malay village in Kuala Lumpur (KL), a historic enclave with traditional houses & local food stalls, amidst the bustling modern skyscrapers surrounding it. According to KL City Hall, there are many traditional kampungs identified under the KL Structure Plan 2040. It's important to remember these traditional villages, both large & small within the broader KL, each contributing to the city's rich cultural tapestry.
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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