Antiques at Jalan Surabaya
In the midst of our rapid city development, where new skyscrapers, malls and highways are constantly emerging from every corner, there is a little street in the heart of Jakarta where one can find beguiling items from the past.
Jalan Surabaya was originally opened in 1974 by Ali Sadikin, the seventh governor of Jakarta, as a place to accommodate all the antique street-traders who were roaming around the Old Town of Batavia in search for the matching buyers. It was once a street full of great colonial mansions.
It was originally opened by Ali Sadikin, the seventh Governer of Jakarta as a place to accommodate all the antique street-traders who were roaming around the Old Town of Batavia in search for the matching buyers.
Along this short walk, a series of wooden stalls are offering rare vintage goods, such as classic blue & white ceramics from the imperialism era, copper statues, wooden carvings, and vintage luggages.
It has always been a place full of inspirations for dreamers, painters and writers. We can find albums of historical stamps, postcards and photographies which take us back in time and make us imagine how people used to live.
If we are looking for somethings with a distinct personality, some items can be used as unique room decorations and can become wonderful gifts.
Mick Jagger and other music celebrities have been spotted strolling on this street. Besides its charm, there is also one tiny vinyl record shop where they have a collection of old pop, classical and world music from different parts of the world.
Just before the end of the market, there was a Vietnamese coffee shop, Madame Ching, where we stopped by to enjoy fresh bowls of home-made organic noodles.
Tripple kisses, Melissa Sunjaya