Premiers Pas à Jakarta : Entre Chaleur, Sourires et Aventures

It’s now been two days since we arrived in Jakarta. After a grueling 14-hour flight and the intense stress of nearly missing our connection in Istanbul, we finally made it to the Indonesian capital. The heat here is ever-present, wrapping around us in a thick layer of humidity.

Today, we wandered through the narrow alleys of Chinatown. The air is filled with a vibrant mix of scents—fresh fish, fragrant spices, and traditional Indonesian dishes simmering at every street corner. There’s something almost hypnotic about this organized chaos, where we have to weave our way between pedestrians, market stalls, and scooters that seem to appear out of nowhere. The children, completely fascinated, stop at every turn to admire the countless cats—they’re absolutely in love. But their eyes grow even wider when they spot turtles, monkeys, and even bats—sometimes kept in conditions that leave us with a bitter taste. Martin, ever the curious one, even dared to touch a snake, an experience that left him both impressed and slightly uneasy.

The people of Jakarta are incredibly kind, always ready to help with a big smile, even if some, like the delivery guy we met, try to squeeze out a little extra commission. Their warmth and curiosity about our children, however, are truly touching. Anaïs and Marion, in particular, draw a lot of attention. Marion even had her moment of fame in the stunning Fatahillah Square, the historical heart of Jakarta. Once the center of colonial administration, this square is lined with white and pastel-colored buildings, offering a rare oasis of calm amidst the city's bustle. Several passersby approached, phones in hand, asking for selfies with them, thrilled to capture the faces of these little foreign visitors.

After this long day of exploration, we finally had our well-deserved moment of relaxation at the apartment’s pool. The cool water worked wonders, soothing the heat and fatigue that had built up. But the adventure continues—tonight, it’s time to repack our bags. Tomorrow morning, we board a train across Java, heading to Semarang, before making our way to Jepara for the next leg of our journey.