Event: Birthday Celebration of Jakarta 2014

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Jakarta was full of celebration event during this June-July. Our beloved “Big Durian” was having it’s 487th birthday on June 22nd. Even though the festivity was held in two months period with more enthusiasm either from the people or participants, for once, we’re celebrating without our Governor. Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaya Purnama was alone opening all these events, knowing our governor, Joko Widodo, couldn’t attend because he’s in a middle of presidential election campaign.  

Our big malls are having a great sale event from June until July, so for shoppers who already have a target on some products, this is the best time to shop. Find more information about this at www.jakarta-great-sale.com

The peak of the celebration were on Saturday, June 21st and Sunday, June 22nd.

Some public places like Kebun Binatang Ragunan (zoo), Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Kota Tua museums (Museum Fatahillah, Museum Wayang, Museum Seni Rupa dan Keramik, Museum Bank Indonesia, dan Museum Bank Mandiri) were giving a free entrance for one day on the June 22nd (some places were on June 21st). People only need to show their Jakarta citizen identification card on the counter to get their ticket.

Pekan Raya Jakarta (PRJ) was a big festival held in Monas (National Monument) from June 10th until June 15th with free entrance. Participated by 3000 small and medium enterprises and street vendors. (www.tempo.co)

Many festivals also being held in Jakarta during these period. On Saturday night of June 21st, Jakarta Night Festival were once again being held along jalan Sudirman and Thamrin. Nine stages prepared distributed on the right and left side from jalan Thamrin until jalan Medan Merdeka performing various music genre: dangdut, keroncong, reggae, jazz, rock until pop acoustic. Other attraction was on Sabang culinary tourism, jalan Sunda (next Sarinah), in front of Pullman hotel, Mandarin hotel, Bundaran HI, until in front of Bank Indonesia. Transjakarta bus also free from Saturday 6 pm until Sunday 10 pm.

Other festival was in Fatahillah Museum plaza on June 21st-22nd. The event displayed art exhibition and some creativity work from local people such as music performance and some products. This event was organized by Diaspora Indonesia, Dutch embassy, Erasmus Huis, Pemprov DKI (municipality), and Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

There were colored plastic sheets hanged circling above the plaza. At a glance, it gave a confetti effect, as if you were in a middle of festivity of a celebration which is we WERE celebrating our beloved 487th years city. Genius decoration! Yet, it was also a wishes from the people for better Jakarta in the future. If you look more close to the plastic sheets that got words printed on it.. they all have different wishes. I'll quote some of them:
"Semoga Jakarta menjadi kota yang sehat, bersih, damai, dan aman"
"Semoga Jakarta tidak lagi kotor dan menjadi kota yang aman dan ramah untuk berwisata. I LOVE JKT!"
"Transportasi umum yang semakin rapih, bersih, teratur, aman dan nyaman. Lalu lintas yang mengikuti peraturan."
"Jakarta yang lebih hijau, manusiawi dan beradab. Tentunya sangat berharap banjir dan kemacetan dapat segera diatasi."
How wonderful all the wishes are. They all surely need the effort from all of us who live in Jakarta to make it actually come true. -SK-

The last festival of celebrating Jakarta's birthday was Jakarnaval. This year was merrier than last year. It was held on Sunday, June 22nd, in the afternoon.  More participants and more crowd. This year’s theme was “Keajaiban Topeng Nusantara” (The miracle of Indonesia’s mask). The event was open by Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaya Purnama at 3 pm, taking the route from Monas to Bundaran HI. The festival finished at 6 pm. (www.kompas.com) 

www.kompas.com