Last Day in Jakarta -

A GRAND Tour!

 Nick & I decided - we wanted to walk the old harbor this afternoon.  It was part of the VOC - Dutch-East India merchants company  (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) and we were approached by a gentleman who said his name was "Arthur" - he spoke Dutch to us!  His grandfather had worked for the Nederland Railroad (Nederlandsche Spoorwegen) here in Indonesia (Batavia/Jarkarta at that time) and so his grandfather went to Holland several times...and so Arthur experienced some time in Holland as well!  He had a friendly way about him and we enjoyed his company!

                        We came to the Harbor Museum and enjoyed the stories he shared with us!

(double click on these pictures and you can read along!) 

 These warehouses for the shipping company was at one time right up to this building (on the otherside)                                          These buildings are dated would you believe it 1719!

Arthur kept taking us from room to room...he did a great job! 

 Yes ...for real Anno 1719 ~

Inside the warehouse were heavy teak wood beams held up by these steel bars - the clamp went through the wall and was supporting the large beams inside! 

Then Arthur walked us through narrow little paths and alley's and all at once - there it was the old harbor!  

He asked "do you want to go on a boat ride?" Well yes we do!

So we climbed from one boat to the other and he climbed in too!

(3rd from the end!)

 It was motorized - and we floated by old fishing boats and freight boats all still being used...although looking at them - you wouldn't think so!

 Nick & I kept snapping pictures like crazy...so much to see and so' cool on the water with Arthur right there showing us everything!

 These are all commercial wooden boats bringing goods to all the different islands:  Kalamantan, Papua, Sumatra, Sulawesi & Bali etc.

 Lots of smiles as 'the tourist" come by!

All at once Arthur says "do you want to go on one of these boats?' 

Before you know it - we went along side a big boat and climbed out of it...gosh - thankful we are still so agile! ha! 

Wow that was pretty neat...the captain was there too and he just let us wander around a bit!  Arthur seemed to know these people too! The boat was swept & clean! 

Arthur said get behind that and I will take a picture!  The captain was right to the left of us on the cell phone!

 These are large orange containers are used on the roofs of houses to collect water for drinking & cooking. 

Nick climbed on the roof of the ship...do you see him up there?

 ...and down again we went - down the steep stairs~

                                   Hey Nick - look up! 

A bit further on were the larger freight/cargo ships too going in and out!

 There - on the pier two little boys with big smiles!  

Cute...PEACE!

 We turned into a little spot and Arthur got out again..."time to walk on" he said.

            Look ....fishing boats - he said! 

 We climb up on this ledge and walked along it - sure thankful for good balance you guys!  We were up high on this narrow ledge.

A lot of debris in the water...so sad to see! 

 The kids love having their picture taken..."foto" "foto" they said!

We walked again through many little alleys - people in close proximity of one another. There was a old mosque in the midst of this little commune village area.

                             Kids followed us...through the alley ways.

Nick always chit-chats here and there with the people!  Yes he says I am Indo! They smile and are so proud!  They say they can see it in him!  My mother Javanese - he says! 

Arthur mentioned Chinatown to us and if we had seen it?

Well off we went in a tuk-tuk....

......... and Arthur climbed up front with the driver!

We had not been in this motorized one yet...so that was fun of course!

He brought us to a Buddhist temple and said it was OK to take pictures!  

Those tall lighted up containers hold ashes from families past away.  

......honoring the dead - by lighting a candle for them!

Back to the tuk-tuk again...Nick asked if he could drop us off at our hotel?

Wow - what a day....we had experienced a lot today with our guide and friend! 

Funny looking little things - but there are a lot of them in the City and they drive fast with this little road runners!  I took a video clip of it and hope to down load this on youtube soon! 

Arthur sent the tuk-tuk driver off and we walked heading back towards our hotel.

We had enjoyed seeing the harbor today...my how great was that huh Nick? 

Arthur asked if we were pleased?  Yes very much so!  - we thanked him for a personal tour this afternoon!  We gave him a token of our appreciation and we thanked him for a great tour and his Dutch made it such fun!

Off he went down the road again toward the harbor...

Totziens & bedankt Arthur! 

He said "hardstikke leuk he?"

We just finished dinner here in the restaurant and we are finished logging this blog, no wifi at this old hotel these past days!  We are heading out tomorrow - at 8:30 am to Bandung!

Hugs from Jakarta from Nick & Ellen!