Jakarta (Selamat hari ulang tahun!)

Jakarta, Jalan Jaksa, 2008 

 

Happy birthday Jakarta!

June 22, 1527 to June 22, 2008.  Today you are 481 years old. 

From Selamat Jakarta

“To the west, at some distance from the Ciliwung River, is the city of Banten, once one of the largest cities in Southeast Asia, and then threatened by Muslim troops. By the time the Portuguese returned in 1527, both Banten and Sunda Kalapa had fallen to the Muslim leader Fatahillah. It was Fatahillah who renamed Sunda Kalapa, Jayakarta, which means “Great Deed” or “Complete Victory”. Jakarta marks it founding from June 22, 1527, the day which Fatahillah claimed his victory over the Sundanese Hindus and their Portuguese allies”.

And so Jakarta was born out of the “great victory” of Fatahillah.

June 22 Birthday Horoscope (everyone is interested to know that)

From Cafe Astrology.com

“Your desire nature is powerful and intense this year, and often easy to satisfy. Your social life picks up pace, and you could find yourself working hard and playing hard. Finances are strong, although the desire to spend what you earn could put a dent in your savings! Changes are in store. Your best bet is to identify the areas of your life that need “renovating” and work on making necessary adjustments so that change isn’t forced upon you. This is an excellent year in which to make important lifestyle changes, to draw upon your stores of energy and initiative, and to focus on projects that reflect your innermost desires.

2008 will be a Number Two year for you. Ruled by the Moon. This is a year of potential companionship. It is a quiet, gentle, and mostly harmonious year that is less active than other years. Instead, you are more responsive to the needs of others. If you are patient and open yourself up in a gentle manner, you will attract both things and people. This is an excellent year in which to build and develop for the future. Advice – be patient, be receptive, enjoy the peace, collect”. 

“Your best bet is to identify the areas of your life that need “renovating” and work on making necessary adjustments so that change isn’t forced upon you”.

hmmm?

Old town’s heritage buildings unsafe

Tifa Asrianti , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 06/20/2008 10:34 AM | City

Damaged and collapsed heritage buildings in 2008 (so far)

Feb 1: A building of shipping company PT Samudra Indonesia at Jl. Kopi collapsed; no one was injured as the company had closed due to flooding.

Feb 3: A ceiling beam collapsed in a storage building of the Maritime Museum complex, there were no fatalities.

Feb 26: An empty old building on Jl. Tiang Bendera V, Roamalaka, West Jakarta, collapsed. There were no fatalities.

March: An empty warehouse on Jl. Krapu, North Jakarta, collapsed and killed a man.

June 18: A wall of a heritage building in Roamalaka, West Jakarta, collapsed and killed a man.

 

Hey, don’t ask me why but I love you Jakarta.

I know you are old, decrepit, overworked, run down, and have changed your name a few times over the years. Your arteries are clogged and you are frequently incontinent. You are in need of a long hot shower and should pay more attention to your dental hygiene. Maybe try to quit smoking, or at least cut down a bit. Don’t hang out at the mall so often and try to pick some nicer boyfriends for a change.  

You deserve better than what you are getting.

Hey, remember that Soekarno fellow? He wasn’t all that bad.

I hope the next 481 years will be as interesting as the last. 

 

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