“I heard the second one go off”: post from Jakarta

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17 Jul 01:55pm

Filed under: Indonesia, Jakarta Bombings, Ji, Terrorism

Australian travel journalist Natasha Dragun lives down the road from the Ritz and Marriot hotels in Jakarta. She filed this post for The Punch on the bombings today.

I’ve lived in Jakarta for about 15 months (I moved here having spent 5 years in Beijing, and now work for a travel magazine based in Jakarta). I’ve always felt extremely safe here.

Bomb damage at the Ritz hotel in Jakarta photo from Dregar/Twitpic

In fact, I’ve felt safer here than when I lived in Melbourne. Everyone here is always so friendly and lovely.

I’ve never been scared for my safety – even during the elections, or the executions of the Bali bombers… my family and friends were more worried than I was.

The security at both hotels (the Marriott and Ritz) is extremely tight, so I just don’t understand how the bombs got in.

There are about 6 security guards checking cars (the bonnets and boots, and inside and under as well) and then everyone entering the hotels has to go through metal detectors and have bags checked.

I lived in the apartment block (Bellagio Mansions) directly opposite the Ritz and next to the Marriott for 12 months.

My apartment looked onto the restaurant at the Ritz. Two of my closest friends in Jakarta work there (thank goodness they’re ok – thank god for Twitter and Facebook at times like this! They both posted updates… I couldn’t get through to them on the phone).

I still go to the gym in the building opposite the hotels, and am always in the area. In fact I was there late last night.

I sometimes have breakfast with my friend at the Ritz. It’s a really nice area.

It’s one of the few places in Jakarta with parks – people are always out running. There’s lots of cool restaurants in the area. So it feels surreal to know this is happening.

Now I live about 1km up from the hotels. A close friend of mine lives really close to the hotels and called me at 7:50 this morning when he heard the first bomb.

I heard the second one go off, then all the sirens started ringing out over the city. Then all the phone calls started.

Sometimes I go to the gym in the morning. Luckily I slept in this morning.

If I hadn’t, I might have been there. It’s all very surreal.

All the buildings in the area have been evacuated now I think.

There are hundreds of people milling around. Everyone is on their phones.

Strangely it’s not really that chaotic though – people are more surprised than anything.

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11 comments

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- James says:
  
  03:48pm | 17/07/09
  
  Thanks for sharing your experience Natasha, it’d be good to hear some more from someone like yourself who lives there and (I assume) isn’t caught up in the world of mass hysteria tabloid journalism. You’re right - everyone is very friendly over there, it’s a shame they usually all get tarred with the same brush when these sort of incidents happen.
  
  Reply
- Lisa P says:
  
  04:00pm | 17/07/09
  
  Great to hear what goes on outside of the headlines. Thanks Natasha & glad you’re OK.
  
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- Gloria says:
  
  04:52pm | 17/07/09
  
  Stay safe, Natasha. There are a few silly buggers out there today. Hope all your friends are safe too.
  
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- Amy says:
  
  06:20pm | 17/07/09
  
  Good to hear that you’re OK, Natasha. I pass by that area on the way to work every morning, & often meeting clients for breakfast at Ritz. Luckily I’m in Australia now for vacation. I still don’t understand how that bomb can pass the security. I know for sure that the security at that 2 hotels (especially) are extremely tight. I hate that this is happening, & I can imagine what will happen next with the economy, etc. Still remember the 2003 bombing & I don’t want to go back to that situation again. They really need to grow up!
  
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- Andrew says:
  
  07:17pm | 17/07/09
  
  Terrible day in Jakarta, and again innocent bystanders are hurt, Indonesian and visitor. Your story is a wonderful snapshot in the eye of the storm. We are so grateful that you are safe Tash. Take care and lots of love.
  
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- Neville says:
  
  11:14am | 18/07/09
  
  Safer than Melbourne? Yep real safe. The acts of terrorism occurring in this country are for one reason only.. to attack us for our way of living and our beliefs. They do not care about their own countrymen and women let alone some Australians. Just speak to the relatives of those died in past Bali bombings and you’ll know just how friendly they are. Spend an extra couple of dollars and go to Malaysia and Thailand. Indonesians don’t want us there so lets not go….. Naive…..
  
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- Jen says:
  
  04:03pm | 18/07/09
  
  Dear Neville,
  
  A very small minority of Indonesians do not want us there - in fact, they don’t really want anyone there. JI are not remotely representative of general Indonesian feeling. SBY has lead a tought anti-terror campaign over the last four years, and he’s going to pour even more money into it now.
  
  I lived in Jakarta for three years and I’ll tell you right now I always felt much safer than I did in Sydney. They don’t tend to have glassings and punch ups of a Saturday night, for a start.
  
  JI are not choosing western targets just to attack “our way of living and our beliefs”. Instead, their targets are selected for maxium exposure and to cause maximum pain to the Indonesian government.
  
  And, fyi, I am friends with the sister of a bloke who died in the first Bali bombs. After his death, she got herself a phd in economics, with a focus on Indonesia in the aftermath of the economic crisis. She would be horrified to hear you claiming to speak for her. She travels there regularly and loves it.
  
  Reply
- David says:
  
  04:03pm | 18/07/09
  
  Neville, think about it. How many westerners have died in terrorist attacks in Indonesia in the past decade compared to the number of Melbournians killed in car accidents in the couple of years. A little perspective please…it’s blinkered naivety such as yours which doesn’t help.
  
  Reply
- Aussie Expat says:
  
  05:50pm | 18/07/09
  
  Neville, you sound like a typical armchair expert.
  The Indonesian people do not have a problem with foreigners, they are too busy trying to make a living to put food on the table to support their families. The people who carry out these acts of terrorism are supported by middle eastern money and do not represent the everyday Indonesians at all.
  By abandoning Indonesia, you let the terrorists win.
  Both Malaysia and Thailand have thier own problems with terrorists and a trip there can be just as dangeous, depending where you go.
  As with the actions of the few who have been targeting indian students in Australia, this does not represent the beliefs and views of the entire country. It is media attention that gives coverage to terrorist action and only shows a small part of the reality in any particular country
  
  Reply
- Yanjune says:
  
  02:10am | 19/07/09
  
  Thanks for your story Natasha. Indeed, it is not about a country or the people or a particular religion. It is simply a terrorist matter and could happen in anywhere. Unfortunately it happened in Jakarta, Indonesia.
  
  Reply
- Amanda says:
  
  09:53pm | 19/07/09
  
  Thanks for your story Natasha. I too am a woman and have lived and worked in Jakarta for 10 years and have never felt any less safe here on a daily basis than I did in Australia. I have many Indonesian friends who were some of the first people to get on the phone and check my wellbeing on Friday. Totally agree with you Aussie Expat.
  
  Reply