I'm not eligible yet to join Amazing Race Asia due to my age is not 21 yet. So this event, Jakarta Amazing Race, like a fulfillment for me.
This event held by Central Jakarta CouchSurfers as one of CouchSurfing Indonesia Festive 2010. It was so fun! I'd like to share my experience in my very first race ever! :)
Ready, Steady, Go!Sunday, March 14, 2010. The meeting point was in National Monument (Monas) and the time was around 8 am. But I was late. I came there with Arya, so we were the only two left behind. We didn't want to waste our time waiting for another people to come, so
we decided our time was only the two of us. Like the real Amazing Race Asia! We started around 10.30 am. Ready, steady, go!
Task no. 1: Ken Dedes StatueOk, first task was we had to go to National Museum to find Ken Dedes Statue and write down her real name. We arrived at the museum and directly asked the receptionist, where was the Ken Dedes Statue? Looked like another team already asked the same question, so he directly said upstairs. A tourist asked us, "Are you doing a race?" We answered hastily, "Yes!"
We found the statue, her real name was Prajnaparamita. After took a picture of it as a proof for the committee.
It was my second visit to National Museum. The first one was maybe 12-13 years ago. Shame on me.. :| And today the museum is having some renovations here and there. Still looks interesting though. Will come back soon.
Task no. 2: Soe Hok Gie TombGarden Tomb Inscription, that was the place! First time visit to the most famous place to take photos. Well, found the place interesting, because of the historical side. I mean because of the people buried there. Because they could be important people when the colonial time.
Not so difficult to found Soe Hok Gie -one of the leaders of student movement- Tomb. Wrote down what's written on his tomb,
"Nobody knows the trouble I see. Nobody knows my sorrow." And how ironic, he died one day before his 27th birthday. Took picture with it, a must!
Task no. 3: Hermes StatueThere are two Hermes Statues in Jakarta, if I'm not mistaken. One in Fatahillah Museum and the other one in Harmony intersection. Our destination was the second one. Simple task, only had to take picture with it with the same pose. :D
And went to Pasar Baru to gave the proof.
But along the way, when we took bus, I found a really really annoying thing. Arrogant beggars, I'm sorry if I'm being so rude, but they deserve the title, I guess. They looked strong, at least strong enough to do criminal. And they were really insist for money! They make Jakarta looks dangerous.
Task no. 4: Crown in ViharaEvery time I remember this task, always makes me laugh! Well after Hermes, we went to Pasar Baru Gate to gave the proof. After that we were given the next task. And not like the previous tasks, this one was consist only with writing, long story writing. We were in a rush, it made us become smartass! We directly jumped to the end of the story and read the instruction "How to get there!" The place was in Senen, not so far. We hopped in to the bus and easily found the place. When we arrived there, the committee asked us, "where's the picture?" Darn! What picture? OH NO! We haven't read the instruction! Ok, back again to Pasar Baru.
It was a vihara where we should go to. Ok I knew the place. Easy. Now we had to find the crown. There was another team there and they said we can't get inside, people are praying. We didn't want to waste our time, so I decided to come inside and ask the guard there about crown! He didn't know! Jeez! I asked him again about Kwan Im Goddess Statue, he knew! And he accompanied me to that statue.
There I found a Crown Cake! I thought it was it! I found it! So I took picture of it! I felt so proud because the committee couldn't fool me.Senen again by ojek drivers. Along the way we saw an accident. Two ladies with motorbike hit the car. Ohh... But they were all right I guess. Ok, I gave the proof and OH GOD IT WAS WRONG! Ahhh how come! And Arya forgot to give the helmet back to the driver, well we had to go back indeed. :D
We couldn't be wrong again. So we cheated, we asked another team about the crown. And it was real crown! Located on a big statue of ... I don't know the name, sorry.
What a task! We went back and forth for three times! hehe... But it was remarkable!
Task no. 5: Dancing in PublicAfter the hustle task, it was a cooling down. And Arya found a very good idea. We rent a taxi. So every time we had to finish the task, the driver waited for us. hehe..
This task was easy, only sang a song and dance in public. Fortunately, Ismail Marzuki Park which usually full of people, that time was empty. Maybe because that time was so fucking hot! hehehe...
So we performed couple singing and dancing: The Kicir-Kicir. We held the lyric, but still sang it wrongly. hehe.. Task no. 6: Find The AmphibianFrog Park after that. Only had to take picture of it. The committee asked us, "Why you took so long?" "Hehe long story," we said.
Task no. 7: Welcome to Jakarta. It's All about The Money!Time to took picture with Welcome Statue in HI roundabout. Easy, eh? ;)
After that with taxi we went to to Indonesian Bank and tried to find the committee, but we couldn't. Because it was impossible for them to wait inside the bank. So we back to the first stop and asked them, but of course they didn't let us know. So we run back again to the bank and met another team and asked them. Oh they waited for us on the bridge crossing!
There we had to count the money in coins! Jeez! Not so easy!
Task no. 8: This is Jakarta! The last and the most tiring and boring task! We had to go upstairs of Monas! And since it was Sunday, so many people did the same thing! So all of the team had to wait for approximately an hour to go upstairs! Wasting time...
It was nice upstairs, like always. Strong wind and we can see Jakarta from above. We thought there was a committee waiting for us, but in fact there was not! Another team us said that we just have to take picture there using some particular clothes.
Oh.. we didn't even know the task! Haha.. So, that team lent us their costumes. How kind. :)
At the end, we won in the sixth place. Not so bad for the second last team whichstarted the race. :D
Inauguration NightJakarta Amazing Race was over. Time for inauguration night in Mocca Cafe. It was fun, as usual if we gather around together. Met and made friends with new people, talked to them, exchanged stories, laughed, saw pictures, many things! One of unforgettable moments.
Thank you so much for making such a great event! :)
*Photos by several people and still waiting for more pictures. ;)
