I kept thinking of faraway holiday in the midst of everything just like Liz on Eat, Pray, Love, but to have that now? *Gulp. Then I just followed my step to take the train after my campus finished. Shortly I have reached The Old City, North Jakarta, brought the mess in the head. I sat on the bench in front of Fatahillah Museum since I did not know that all museums closed at 3 PM , I arrived at 6 PM.
I sat there facing the big pipe because there was no other empty bench. I sat between couple who talked loudly that I accidentally eavesdropped. Oops! They were Indonesian man and Australian woman, who were in fact not a couple but new friends. The woman told that she really loves Jakarta, city I really wanted to escape from however this is where I live. She told about how fun it was to see Christmas and Eid celebrated in a close time. She was amazed by the tolerance until the very detail like decoration of the entrance door of the apartment she stayed and also the openness of the people to welcome the other people who are from different religion to also have the celebrations.
I walked away from them and got better place to sit, I could see the activities in the big yard of the museum also colorful lamps on the trees. A street singer with Jamaican style approached me, he sang a song about lonely girl. Lol so I seemed like a lonely girl. It was fun until his friends came and teased me. I avoided, but an old man who brought a box of instant drink sachets appeared and all the street singers suddenly kept aside without notice. Then, I had a cool chat with him after I knew that I sat on the bench where he usually sold the drinks. I was listening to his story and the other side of the Old City. He was famous and respected there, everyone seemed to know him and low the head when they saw him. He told me about the night life of the Old City and the artists who actually are rich but chose to be there and learned about real life. What a journey started from a step I followed.
