Personal Guide Jakarta

The array of items lined up on Jalan Surabaya in Jakarta’s leafy Menteng area drew one’s attention in the languid late afternoon heat.

 

Walking down the strip, the first glittering objects to catch the eye are the collection of ships’ dials and early 20th century brass diving suits, burnished bright after polishing. The brief glimpse into the past serves as a mere introduction to the myriad of antique treasures tucked away within the row of shaded stalls, lying in wait for visitors to pick them up and take them home.

 

The area is none other than the Jalan Surabaya antique market. Founded by former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin in the mid-1970s, the market’s quiet charm provides a relief from traffic and belies the variety of its wares, which range from various eras of Indonesia’s history, including the ancient Javanese and colonial Dutch, to modern-day Indonesia.