Meldistrict: The Train-Tracks Slum, Senen, Jakarta

Look at the antennas above the houses! Could these antennas make them the happiest people in Jakarta???

Welcome to Jakarta! One of the most contrast and contradict city in the world. You can see a man drives 100 thousand bucks car on the street, but you sill can see a shirtless man in huger on the bus stop. You can find luxurious cafes, but you still can find removable cart food vendors. You can find high rise glass buildings, but you still can find bamboo craft houses.

Couple moths ago, I had a chance to help an urban researcher from ETH Zurich, Switzerland to do field survey about Jakarta's kampong (btw, kampong means village). Even tough I live in Jakarta's suburban in the whole time of my life, I have never visited this train tracks slum before.

A man and a boy searched for valuable things right beside the train tracks

Visiting the train tracks slum in Senen region was a very unforgettable experience. I don't know how to explain my feelings for the people, their living, and their daily activity. Actually, I want to describe this slum as a 'miserable' or 'unfortunate', but I looked at the people, they look so strong and sincerely accept their destiny, so I don't wanna use the 'miserable' or 'unfortunate' term as a description for this slum.

I feel really grateful after visited this train tracks slum. Now I understand that people have to do something to survive...