Celebrate Chinese-Indonesian culture by exploring Petak Sembilan Market
Sure, you could celebrate this Saturday’s Chinese New Year holiday by feasting away at one of Jakarta’s many excellent Chinese restaurants, but if you really want an up close and personal look at Chinese culture in Jakarta, head to Petak Sembilan in Glodok, North Jakarta.
The closest thing Jakarta has to an old-school Chinatown, Petak Sembilan is an area filled with traditional shops selling everything from traditional medicine to exotic animals (mostly for eating). The tiny alleys shooting off the main roads are great places for urban explorers to find awesome little eateries and mysterious storefronts.
If you’re in the area, you’ll also want to check out the oldest Buddhist temple in Jakarta, Vihara Dharma Bhakti (Jin De Yuan), which was first built in 1650 and will be packed with visitors this weekend looking to pay their respects.
We’ve given you a good starting point for your Petak Sembilan explorations in the map below, but The Honeycombers has a great guide to the area if you want more info.
Check out some fantastic films for free at Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia
Held annually, the Australian Embassy’s Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia aims to showcase the best of Australian and Indonesian films. In addition to a great lineup of full-length features including “What They Don’t Talk About When They Talk About Love” (which takes place at a high school for the visually impaired in Jakarta) and the critically-acclaimed “Lion”, this year’s FSAI will also showcase emerging Indonesian filmmaking talent with its first short film competition. All screenings in Jakarta are taking place at XXI Cinema in Senayan City. Tickets can be obtained for FREE by registration to FSAI2017.eventbrite.com. For more info and a full schedule of screenings go to the FSAI 2017 website
Find your ultimate kicks at Jakarta Sneaker Day in Senayan City
Sneaker collecting has gotten quite big in Jakarta over the past few years, with some sneakerheads ready to drop serious jutas on collectible kicks. If you’re one of them, or just want to see what all the fuss is about, head to Jakarta Sneaker Day at Senayan City. There’ll be 40 booths selling unique shoes and reps from different sneaker communities, as well as an exhibition of rare and historical kicks, live music and more. For more info check out the event’s website
Listen to lyrical takes on Chinese New Year at Unmasked (Saturday)
Unmasked is Jakarta’s most well known poetry event, allowing artists and amateurs to share their spoken word creations at the open mic. This Saturday’s Unmasked event, which is taking place at the Galeria Indonesia Kaya in Grand Indonesia, is subtitled “Gong Xi Gong Xi’ – a Chinese New Year Celebration” and the poems will be centered around the theme of the holiday. In addition to performances by Okky Madasari, Putu Fajar Arcana, Antonia Timmerman and Uphie Abdurrahman, there will also be a traditional Gambang Peranakan music performance, a Chinese opera-inspired dance, and a Barongsai lion dance show. For more info check out the Facebook event page.
Ring in the Year of the Fire Rooster by partying at Pao Pao (Saturday night)
Where better to party it up on Chinese New Year’s night than Pao Pao, Jakarta’s most happening dim sum bar/dance club? For their Red Room event this Saturday, they’re bringing in Rick Simora, resident DJ for La Favela in Bali, as well as the always funkadelic BIMA G.
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