“Closed now. Sunday 09:00 – 17:00”. That’s what the sign says for G.P.P.S Gloria.
Driving directions lead us to G.P.P.S Gloria. It stands at No.35 Jl. Jatinegara Timur. This is in Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta in Indonesia. The phone number is 0816-1875-389.
Jakarta’s history is a rich tapestry. It spans centuries. It was shaped by kingdoms. European colonialism also played a role. So did modern independence movements.
Once, Jakarta was known as Batavia. It grew from a small port. Now, it is one of Southeast Asia’s largest cities.
Originally, the area was inhabited by the Sundanese people. It was part of the Kingdom of Sunda. The town was called Sunda Kelapa. It was an important trading port. It sat at the mouth of the Ciliwung River.
Sunda Kelapa thrived on the spice trade. Merchants came from India. They also came from China and the Middle East.
In the 16th century, the Portuguese arrived. They sought spices and trade agreements. In 1522, they signed a treaty. They would build a fort in Sunda Kelapa. This was in exchange for protection. Protection from the Sultanate of Demak.
But, Fatahillah of the Demak Sultanate attacked first. He conquered Sunda Kelapa in 1527. He renamed it Jayakarta. This means “victorious city”. June 22, 1527 is celebrated as Jakarta’s anniversary.
The Dutch arrived later. In 1619, they attacked Jayakarta. Jan Pieterszoon Coen led them. They established a new city. They renamed it Batavia. It became the capital of the Dutch East Indies.
Batavia was modeled after a Dutch city. It had canals and European buildings. It became a center for trade. But, the location led to diseases. Malaria and cholera were common.
Batavia grew because of the spice trade. The Dutch East India Company controlled much of it. People came from China and India. They also came from Arabia.
However, the Dutch used forced labor. They imposed heavy taxes. This led to uprisings.
During World War II, the Japanese occupied Batavia. They renamed it Jakarta. This was to gain local support.
On August 17, 1945, Indonesia declared independence in Jakarta. Sukarno and Hatta led the way. After a four-year struggle, independence was secured. Jakarta became the capital.
Jakarta grew quickly. It faced challenges like poverty. There were also housing shortages.
President Sukarno wanted to transform Jakarta. He built Monas. This is the National Monument.
He also built the Istiqlal Mosque. It is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.
In 1965, General Suharto rose to power. He established the New Order regime. Jakarta became a commercial hub. However, corruption also increased.
The Asian Financial Crisis hit Indonesia hard. This led to protests. Suharto resigned in 1998.
Since then, Jakarta has continued to grow. It is Indonesia’s political and cultural heart.
Jakarta faces challenges such as overpopulation. Flooding is also a problem.
In 2019, the government planned to move the capital. It would move to Borneo. This was due to Jakarta’s environmental issues. But, Jakarta will remain important.
Jakarta lies on a flat plain. It is easily flooded. There is a shortage of clean drinking water.
The climate is tropical. Temperatures range from 75 to 93 °F. Rainfall is more than 67 inches.
Jakarta is a city of settlers. It has traditional neighborhoods. Kota is the historical center. The business hub is along Jenderal Sudirman road.
The most common house is the kampong. Some buildings are of historical interest. The Portuguese Church dates back to 1695.
After World War II, there was a building boom. The Hotel Indonesia was built.
The population has increased dramatically. It is one of the world’s largest cities.
As you stand here at G.P.P.S Gloria, remember Jakarta’s long road. It is a city of contrasts. It is full of history.