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Have you ever been visited Petak Sembilan and walked around? I am sure you have ever done that – perhaps more than once. But, have you ever been tour around that area during early day? If you have done that, what have you gotten? I have been there at the time local people begin to work in the morning.After a morning prayer, some our churchmen and I went to Glodok area. It was Tuesday on March 30th, before 6 a.m. After spend about 20 minute in the car, we arrived at Petak Sembilan – one of the famous place in town in Old City of West Jakarta. It still 06.20 a.m.

 

Activities in Petak Sembilan

Actually Petak Sembilan (means nine squares), name of one small street, is not only traditional market, but also residence. Located in one corner of Glodok area, West Jakarta, Residence and traditional market are altogether on that place. According to some sources, that area was built at 19^th century. One or two habitant began sell some daily needs at front of their houses. Now, almost every doors at Petak Sembilan become shop. That area even developed to other streets around and had become a huge traditional-home market now. There are Pasar Pagi (morning market), Gloria, Kali Mati (dead canal), etc. In this modern world, Petak Sembilan still shows its oldies and unique style.
Besides shopping, you also can try some foods or unique foods. Glodok is well know of unique foods, such as pie oh (turtle soup), porridge, roasted duck, roasted pork, fried meat ball, green noodle, etc. They are all delicious. In short, you can make yourselves convenient with food, especially for food hunters.

Pie Oh soup

It is significantly difference atmosphere between day and early in Petak Sembilan. You don’t need to jostle each other in the morning – there is not crowded yet. You can comfortably window shopping or just slowly walking around. You easily find fresh fruits, vegetables, foods, cookies, sweets, fishes, frogs, etc. So you can buy your daily needs, eat some foods, or drink tea or coffee there. The Petak Sembilan is still interesting place to go, especially in the morning.



After 8 a.m., that environment changes. Either locals or buyers make this area busy and crowded, but show that the economical sector is running well. Some home industries have been becoming distributors for several years, such as office equipment, plastics, ingredients, tools, and even cookies. One cookies home industry that we visited makes thousands cookies of many kind of cookies every day; sellers come and buy there.
Above all, Petak Sembilan still give one big problem remain – that is waste. That area also produces a hilly waste every day. The wrong point of view of our people that waste a waste, or change waste to be a new waste, the behavior to throw a waste to canal around, cause a new problem for Jakarta city. Many new diseases, flood during and after rain, smell surround are the home work that we must do as soon as possible.