HIDAJournal 2013 AUTUMN No.3

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No.3 AUTUMN 2013 19High-rise buildings in Jakarta City“I had never thought that Jakarta was such a big city”̶many people who visit Jakarta for the first time are surprised at its streets lined with modern buildings. The city is packed with high-rise buildings and many large shopping malls; and wealthy middle-class people are walking with a brisk stride on business streets wearing fashionable clothes. Meanwhile, if you walk into an alley, you fi nd traditional houses, restaurants and food stands that serve meals for around 100 yen per serving, and small stores. Jakarta is a city rich in diversity, where wealth and poverty, and the modern and the traditional exist side by side, and where indigenous ethnic groups (the Betawi) and local ethnic groups live together. Although Indonesia is attracting global attention in recent years, there seem to be many things about the country that Japanese people still don’t know.In this report, I would like to provide tidbits of information about clothing, food and housing in Indonesia for those who are newly assigned to Jakarta.Clothing: Batik clothes are a necessity for employees stationed in Indonesia. Well known as Javanese calico in Japan, batik is cloth batik-printed with traditional techniques. Clothes made with batik cloth are dresses worn on formal occasions in Indonesia. The most formal dress for men is a long-sleeved batik shirt, which pleases Indonesian customers when worn at a party or for meetings with them. The Indonesian government has declared every Friday as the batik day to encourage wearing batik in companies and schools. Those who come to Indonesia for work are recommended to purchase batik upon arriving here. Prices vary considerably, from clothes printed with batik patterns that are sold for several hundred yen per piece to clothes made with silk cloth printed with hand-drawn patterns that are sold for several tens of thousands of yen per piece. Each region has its unique pattern and color; styles also vary. Take your time to choose your favorite batik dress.Food: Indonesian food is spicy, has a distinct fl avor and tastes very good. However, it is rather greasy and some of you may hesitate to eat it every day. There is an ingredient called sambal that plays an essential role in spicy Indonesian food. Sambal is a paste made by grinding red pepper, garlic, red onion and other ingredients, and is appended to various dishes. It is mixed into food to add a spicy flavor. Each region and each home has a sambal of its own fl avor. It is a typical homemade food ingredient in Indonesia. Those who like spicy food are more than likely to be addicted to sambal.Housing: Many of Japanese employees stationed in Jakarta live in high-rise apartments in downtown areas or suburbs. Considering the serious traffic congestion in Jakarta, it is of utmost importance to choose housing that is convenient for daily commuting. Apartments are ordinarily leased on a one-year contract, with the rent paid in a lump sum for one year in advance. Many apartments have one to three bedrooms and are furnished. It is possible to negotiate with the owner about what furniture and ornaments need to be added before signing a contract. The majority of apartments are 80 to 150 m2 in area. As a result of an investment rush in Indonesia and an increase in the number of employees from other countries, apartment rents are rising by 10% to 20% annually. However, rents are also negotiable to a certain extent, so you would be well advised to try to negotiate about everything when searching for an apartment.(Miho Furuhashi, Jakarta Offi ce Representative)Jakarta Offi ce

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