Jalan Jaksa, Jakarta

Jalan Jaksa Under Threat

Mar 28th, 2008, in Opinion, Travel, by Ross

View the original article here.

147 Comments on “Jalan Jaksa Under Threat”

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5]

Achmad Sudarsono Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Hi Ross,

Me too, break that is. Just to whet your appetite, “farrago of mendacity,” is an odd, unclear phrase, designed to impress, but betrays an insecurity as deep as the first foundations of the Carrefour at Jl. Jaksa will be.

Achmad.
MbakAditya Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Ah Ross, don’t get sore, one day you may sell a book.

I’ve already signed up.

I’d forgotten just how much you have in common with little Achmad.

Actually I think I have so much in common with Treespotter, whilst diametrically opposed on a couple of points, we are united in our belief that you are in fact a knobber.
Achmad Sudarsono Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
MbakAditya,

Below the belt (sarung) to compare me to Ross.
MbakAditya Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Sori for the upset ya?

Don’t want Ross to have a nocturnal emission do we?
Achmad Sudarsono Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
He doesn’t need us — he has his reflection — which is usually what triggers them (noctural emissions).
dewaratugedeanom Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Is the term ‘wog’ (worthy oriental gentleman) also offensive?
Janma Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Is the term ‘wog’ (worthy oriental gentleman) also offensive?

Tell ya what mate, why doncha try goin’ down the local deli in Brunswick and call a few of the locals there ‘wogs’ and see what happens?
Rob Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I always thought the “W” was for western and not worthy! That is not to say that oriental gentlemen are not worthy! Perhaps someone knows the proper and full history of this?

I would reckon offensive! And I concur with Janma on this one! If you have the testicular fortitude then Brunswick would be as good a place as any to test out your question…good luck with that!
Achmad Sudarsono Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Don’t forget though that in the ’80s Greeks, Italians, even Yugoslavs in Australia started calling themselves wogs. Depends on how you say it.
GJ Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
@ MbakAditya

Actually, I think if I am Indonesia, the I am the one with the power to decide whether I mean any offense in the use of the term, but again, we will agree”¦blah blah blah.

Your comment should have read “Actually, I am Indonesian, the(n) I am the one with the power to decide whether I mean any offence………….Blah blah

I say this because there was no thinking!!! You can not decide if people will or won’t take offense. It’s not about you dear, its about your actions and there impact on others. Your attitute shows a complete lack of thinking and tact. There is a certain lack of sophistication and insensitivity if you beleive that what “you think” is “what is”.

One question……. if someone did take offence do you humbly and sincerely apologise or mutter under your breathe some other equally offensive comment.

Grow up and get with the program.
MbakAditya Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
No it shouldn’t, I know quite well what I meant mate.
I’m also quite aware that my “N” is sticking and can’t keep up with 150 WPM.
“I” sebelum “E” selain sesudah “C”

Had you considered that Indonesians may politely tolerate unwashed and impolite bules?
When bule call us “ireng manise” (black-sweet) we just sit back and take it, but you want different rules for the bules?

Now boil your head bule kecut.
Achmad Sudarsono Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
“Boil your head bule kecut” ?

Pretty nasty, MbakAditya.
Janma Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Now boil your head bule kecut.

auwww… somebody doesn’t take very kindly to being wrong hey!?
“unwashed and impolite bule’s” showing your real colors now hey brown girl not even manis…
dewaratugedeanom Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Rob said

Perhaps someone knows the proper and full history of this?

The story behind this is that the British in India used to call the locals all kinds of unspeakable names. Some of the latter got depressed because of this, so there were sanctions from the upper command stating that Indians were ‘worthy oriental gentlemen’. Hence the abbreviation.
GJ Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
MbakAditya

I think the abuse just proves my point.
Your a tad unsophisticated, just like the people that racially vilify you and your fellow countrymen, and guess what, your still wrong!!!!!
Farah Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
When bule call us “ireng manise” (black-sweet) we just sit back and take it, but you want different rules for the bules?

Now boil your head bule kecut.

Ireng that not so manise.. haha !!
MbakAditya Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
GJ Says:

April 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
MbakAditya

I think the abuse just proves my point.
Your a tad unsophisticated, just like the people that racially vilify you and your fellow countrymen, and guess what, your still wrong!!!!!

A tad unsophisticated eh? If only you knew.
Patung Says:
April 19th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
On “bule” this article at Suara Surabaya radio suggests that “bule” just means ‘foreigner’ (of any race)

They are an American woman and on the right Jason Foo from Singapore, they both get called “bule”.
David Jardine Says:
April 30th, 2008 at 11:40 am
To hell with the snobpack, Jaksa has been alright by me!
zea Says:
May 18th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I have a ticket to Jakarta, but I not decided yet where to stay is it at Jalan Jaksa or Pekanbaru I’m going with my family hubby and 8 chidren range from 8 to 22 years, could you prospose me which hotel to stay that is safe for my family and the hotel rate is between Rp 50,000 to Rp 100,000 povided the hotel is walking distance to the shopping area and easy to have a muslim food. Also if you have anybody you know that I can rent a van
MbakAditya Says:
May 18th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Let’s do this a little back to front.

Firstly the chances of any of the food you get being truly “halal” are very slim, and you would probably have to eat at McD’s continuously to stand a chance of getting anything that has been passed by the Chief Rabbi, though Roy’s Hair would know about that in more detail.

Secondly, I think if any of your older children are boys then having to glom on to their parents during a trip to Jakarta could be a little “boring”.

Thirdly, I can only assume that you live in Beirut to even consider “treating” your family to a holiday in Jaksa, yet alone a hotel from 50-100K – just how many people do you want to put in each room?
peteloud Says:
June 19th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Down and Out in Jalan Jaksa
http://www.peterloud.co.uk/indonesia/jalan_jaksa.html

It’s worth reading.
mardijker Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
In early times the word “bule” was used to refer to Indians (Mumbia, Delhi) who came to trade in the Indies. John Leyden writes about them and their relationship with the Portuguese in Malaka. It has only been used to refer to caucasians as a specific ethnic group in post-war times. Though I’ve heard Africans being referred to as “bule hitam” which stretches the meaniong further afield.

Londo not only refers to the Dutch. Most indigenous groups in Australia use the word “wolondo” to refer to white settlers.

I spent my youth in Jakarta being known in my area as “Si (nyo) Londo”. It never offfended me. I’m interested to know if the expatriate residents in Jakarta today would find this phrase rude.
Jaywalker Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Hi Rob,

I liked your comments most of all. Early November 2008 I am traveling to Jakarta. The first six days I have to stay at a place arranged by the organizers of the conference I am attending. But the next five days or so, I need to stay elsewhere with a friend of mine and Jalan Jaksa looks ideal!

Thanks for the posting. Whether both of us would agree about the place or even like it is beside the point. We will be at a place which has a character…and which is evolving. I will write again in much more detail once I actually go there…

Jay
Andy Says:
October 8th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Good choice Jay, jaksa has an atmosphere that can’t be matched in too many other places. More than glassy soulless shopping malls. A few good places to eat and drink and the locals there are friendly both the Indos and bules.
Rob Says:
October 8th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Jay…

Enjoy your travels and the Jaksa experience. You should drop a post into this thread with your observations of the street and beyond. Reading other people’s experiences is always fun and a good way to get some insights on current happenings.
Anita P Rusdihardjo Says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I am an Indonesian born and bred however I HATE, HATE, HATE the word Bule/London.

We Indonesians tend to take the word for granted and that anyone would be happy if someone’s called by his race/skin color. It is very usual for Indonesians to say casually/jokingly.. “Dasar Arab lo”… or “Dasar Cina lo”… (Oh you typical arab/chinese Indos) but I think it’s very very offensive.

One the reasons is because the word Bule is used very often in touristy places like Bali or Yogya. Whenever I go to a surf shop in Bali, the shopgirls are very casual but when a Caucasian comes in, the shopgirls would chat to one another “Eh ada Bule!” and nudge each other to serve him/her better. I am convinced that although the extra attention may be nice for the Caucasian but it also reinforce that he is a TOURIST and will forever be seen as a TOURIST (even though some Caucasians/mixed people have lived in Indonesia for years) and perhaps they know about Indonesia, geographically and sociologically than ourselves, Indonesians.

Now that I live in England, I am glad that people here are POLITICALLY CORRECT. No one nudge, point, and whisper blatantly “Yellow Asians” when I enter their premise. So those of you Indonesians who think it is comfortable and okay to be called based on your race in a foreign country – THINK AGAIN!