Its safe to say that most Indonesians are not used to staying in hostels where strangers share bedrooms and toilets. Some may feel uncomfortable with being so close to people they dont know and some may feel that such an arrangement is unsafe for themselves and their belongings.
Jakartas Old Town, or Kota Tua, is another thing some people are not comfortable with, especially locals who have heard stories of what (might have) happened there, from drug dealings to prostitution. While Kota Tua has unlimited tourism spots and is one of the citys most popular sites, the area is still considered shady and unsafe.
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Steven, on the other hand, thinks that theres nothing wrong with both. In fact, with Hostel Teduh, hes trying to prove to the world that staying in a hostel located in the citys most intense area could be the best thing you experience while in Jakarta.
So, how did the hostel start?
The hostel started three years ago. Basically, I got bored with work and I wasnt doing anything in Bali for about three weeks and then I didnt have anything better to do than to open a hostel because I, myself, enjoy traveling and meeting new people. I grew up in three or four countries, so Ive been very used to the communal lifestyle, the hostel way of living. I grew up in a boarding school, meeting people from all sorts of backgrounds and nationalities. When I was in college I went through dormitories and stuff so Im very used to having people all across the globe and I enjoy that kind of environment and community.
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How many people do you host every month?
It ranges, but on average 600-700 different guests. As you can see, most of them are caucasians, Europeans. We have several South East Asian tourists and travelers coming. The locals, we have some too, because were located near Pasar Pagi, Mangga Dua area and the wholesale places. So people come here, buy their stuff and send it. They do come by here for cheap accommodation. But over all, the majority are global travelers going through Jakarta.
Why did you decide to make a hostel? The hostel culture is not big here, right?
Well, why not? The Asian culture is not used to communal living. People in Europe, else where, they are very used to it, because for them theyre usually part of a community: they play soccer, theyre in a sporting team or youth organization, and when they travel around, they usually stay in a hostel because its cheap, it has everything, you get to meet other people, and you get to be rowdy you dont have to be part of a structural system. In hostels, you come and go, you interact with them.
Besides that, I also have a background in resort management and operation. I just realized a lot of those things are on the extreme sides of the spectrum hostel being flexible and fun, while resorts have proper structure, they treat you with titles and else. I stick to the basic stuff: where you travel is what you get. So, now here, we get more travelers here than tourists.
Whats the difference between travelers and tourists?
Tourists they come, pop in and out, they come in tour. If youre a traveler, you come and explore, go for the adventure, go around the city and stuff. Its an adventure going to different places, trying the things around you, experiencing all things Jakarta has to offer. I feel like traveling is much more fun than being a tourist.
Traveling tends to be more flexible in terms of time frame and its a lot longer. You opt to live in a hostel so you can meet people, get information and stuff.
But, would you like to get more locals to stay here?
Of course, Id love to. The world is getting flatter and flatter each day. People travel, experience differences and learn to respect each other. However, most domestic travelers are not comfortable with new things so they tend to stick with their own kind. But Id love to host more locals here!
A map of Jakarta's Old Town drawn on Hostel Teduh's wall. 2017 brilio.net/Adelia Anjani Putri
Why Kota Tua? Its kind of a shady area, right?
Well, where else youd go if youre to visit Jakarta? Its kinda Bronx, I know. Thats why we name it Hostel Teduh, so when you get inside, its a whole different place compared to the outside. Its tranquil and chill, teduh.
Ive heard scary stories about the area, so is it safe for guests to travel around here?
Funny enough, its more intense than unsafe. The reason Jakarta is Jakarta is its intensity. Once the guests come out, all they get is Hey Mister! or Bule, how are you?. For some, it can be overwhelming, the heat, the noise. It can be kind of crazy if you come from a place where everything is structured.
But, this part is Jakarta at its best. Its not the friendliest place, but in terms of people, theyre really warm here.
I think this is the main misconception people have about Kota Tua: that its a dangerous place. Im running a business in Kota Tua and Ive been living here since I came back. Long story short, you still get those things on the peripheral, but if you really look, theres nothings wrong with this place.
Pinangsia and Asemka area, for example, the people here are doing the things theyve been doing for decades. The Bank Indonesia, the center of government, they were here. But there was an epidemic back then so the city center was moved to Thamrin and Sudirman.
You cant judge a book by its cover, although sometimes the cover is kind of declaring something. If you open the book, its so colorful, so vibrant and unforgettable. Sometimes you just want to forget it because its too intense, but for some, when they go around they see something different.