05/08/2024
🔥🔥🔥
.hafizi..
Jakarta
Indonesia’s capital city has been romanticized by Jayzuan (Free Love/Joni Mustaf) for almost half of his life, a sentiment I’ve never quite understood.
It’s a city I used to silently despise because of its heavy traffic, humid and dusty weather, and the government’s two-faced politics, which have led to significant disintegration and caste divisions among its people. (Well, everywhere is the same, so…
DON’T TRUST POLITICIANS!)
But for Jayzuan, Jakarta was his stolen Jancuk (soulmate) that he would occasionally serenade.
Heh,
I’d rather smoke a pack of Dji Sam Soe while breathing the mystical air in Jogja or Bali, or let kretek smoke blend with my fleece fabrics on a cold morning Gojek ride to the Bandung Highlands, rather than be squeezed into this sunny Big Durian city.
But, as they say…
The third time’s the charm.
This cadence, Jakarta has shown me a lovely side with its warm hospitality, beautiful humble people, cheap homebrew alcohol, finger-licking heritage classic food, sweet kretek, and DIY spirit.
A DIY spirit that drives individuals and collectives alike to leave a pedagogy and inspiration for future generations.
DO IT YOURSELFFF!!!!
A way of life shown by Marjinal to each positive mental attitude suburban kid to breathe, assimilate, & confront!
CONFRONT! CONFRONT! CONFRONT!!
Aside from Punk world, Jakarta folklore issues also have been serenaded and inherited from Iwan Fals, Widji Tukul (M.I.A) to Jason Ranti.
Jason, a Blues/Folk Tangerang poet also known as Jeje Boy among his devoted fans, has sung,
“Kadang Jakarta Jadi Ungu,
Pelangi Hilang,
Airmata-nya Turun,
Masalah Kunjung Tak Selesai.”
It’s true,
I’ve seen it…
Yet this city and its people still extend their tenderness to me and I hold it in awe.
“Terima Kasih Banyak”