Jakarta Inside Out

by Daniel Ziv

A teeming metropolis of ten million, Jakarta remains one of the least understood cities in Asia. Here for the first time, the veil (and sometimes the sarong!) is lifted, exposing the city’s idiosyncrasies with irreverent prose and striking photography. From love hotels to ladyboys, sweatshops to soap opera celebrities, pigeon racing to piracy, Jakarta Inside Out leads readers on an illuminating pop culture exploration of Indonesia’s frenzied capital. This book is an essential tool for residents, visitors or anyone wishing to understand what makes Jakarta tick.

Genres: Nonfiction, Asia

184 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Dun's · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published 20 years ago (gasp!), I recently found this book in my collection and decided to reread it. A collection of candid photos and cheeky commentaries about Jakarta, Indonesia from an expat’s point of view, this was an entertaining read. Obviously a lot has changed in the city since 2004, yet some things remained on point.

[Brechtje Spoorenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deze reisgids over Jakarta is 'certified Wayang-free'. Geen batik te bekennen, Daniel Ziv houdt zich verre van traditionele zang en dans en schilderachtige bezienswaardigheden. Het boek is uit 2002, maar het is de eerste reisgids die ik van A tot Z gelezen heb. Ziv schetst heel geestig en met goede foto’s een rauw beeld van de maatschappij en het dagelijks leven. Hij laat zien hoe mensen hun inkomen verdienen: als road jockey die zakenlieden helpt carpoolen, als ‘preman’ die leeft van protection money, als hedendaagse piraat gespecialiseerd in imitatie-merkkleding en cd’s, als stempelmaker, umbrella boy, verkeersregelaar of als kaartjes herverkoper op het station (aan het loket is alles uitverkocht, maar tegen een meerprijs is alles om de hoek te koop). Hij laat zien hoe de overheid werkt of niet en hoe armoede en decadentie naast elkaar bestaan. Hilarisch zijn de foto’s bij het onderdeel ‘demonstreren’ waar hij dezelfde man in drie verschillende demonstraties heeft weten vast te leggen. Het nachtleven, eetgewoontes, medicijnen (jamu), geloof in het bovennatuurlijke, in zekere zin raakt hij de onderwerpen van iedere normale reisgids, maar dan anders. Er is in de afgelopen jaren vast veel veranderd, dus als hij nog in Jakarta woont, zou ik wel in zijn voor een update.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Books 154 - 2015 **

This books to accomplish New Author Reading Challenge 2015

4,2 of 5 stars!

"...Jakarta is not what you'd call a beautiful place. It's a chaotic maze of low-lying slums, gleaming skycrapers and imposing toll roads, enveloped in a gigantic cloud of pollution and trapped in hopeless gridlock. It often seems a miracle the place keeps ticking at all. But it ticks. Like Crazy. If it's sometimes a city in crisis, it's also one of great opportunity. If it's a city of despair, it is at turns one of hope, A constant assault on the senses, it oozes wacky character

More than anything else, the book tries to tell the truth about Jakarta. It celebrates its quirky vibe, but confronts the poverty, corruption, sleaze and injustice that are tightly woven into the city's tapestry. The overlaps and differences between so-called 'Jakarta things' and 'Indonesia things' are actually quite revealing. Oftentimes, jakarta seems a microcosm of the archipelago as a whole - a fusion of immigrant ethnic groups, traditions, and tongue from all over the country. At others, this melting pot, with its peculiarities and knack for reinvention, resembles no other place on earth" - Daniel Ziv (Jakarta, September 2002)

I can't say anything! this books already revealing what is Jakarta about. Jakarta in totally naked! I agree with some point in this books since everyday my office in Jakarta and in the same time it makes me embarrased about another points.. *you can check out my status updates.. Err

This books is also unputtable since every single pages contains of illustrations or photos. I also surprise when i found some Jakartans Caricature by Benny & Mice in this books >__<

[Roos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keren Banget, kita jadi tahu pandangan orang asing terhadap Jakarta dan Daniel Ziv memang hebat beberapa tahun tinggal di Jakarta sudah sangat mengenal seluk-beluk Jakarta dari A-Z, mungkin kalo dia nyalonin jadi Abang Jakarta menang kali ya, bahkan sampai karikaturnya benar-benar menggambarkan berbagai macam orang yang tinggal di Jakarta. Dan yang paling keren adalah Dia bisa dapat Foto 1 orang pendemo dengan baju, expresi dan gigi yang sama pada 3 macam DEMO dengan tema yang berbeda. Hebat dan Unik....

[Andri Wicaksono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Ziv told the story about life in Jakarta vividly and in objective manners. As a result, a funny book and a rough 'guide' to the capital of the largest archipelago in the world was available in my bookself. When I decided to buy this book, I was hesitated but then after I took it, it has become one of my favorite. My fave part about the book, one of the is about 'Nongkrong'. So funny I couldn't help myself laughing out loud.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book for anyone thinking of spending any time in Jakarta. Lots of excellent pictures. It's a take-no-prisoners, ex-pat view of Jakarta un-encumbered by political correctness. A bunch of my colleagues have met the author over the last year. It was published in 2002 and it's amazing to see how much has changed just in the last 6 years.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

great quick look at some of a great, mad metro's uniquer features. if you are going to Jkt and plan on getting out of your car, read this book. great pics too.