Last Night in Jakarta

Jakarta, thank you for being the most defining chapter of my life. Thank you for a wonderful and unforgettable eight years. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to live and work there. I was incredibly fortunate to cross paths with so many wonderful friends and colleagues, and to hold a fulfilling role as a journalist—even if the salary wasn’t quite as rewarding as the experience itself.

​Until the day came when I finally had to say goodbye. I left Jakarta at the end of December 2025, after eight years and three months of calling it home. To be honest, I didn't feel a heavy heart the moment I stepped out of my room. The sadness only hit me when my neighbor—my dear friend—teared up as we shared our final embrace. I wasn't grieving the departure from the city itself, but rather the parting from a cherished friend who shared that modest boarding house with me.

Before leaving my room for the last time, I quietly thanked it for being my safe haven for eight long years. That space was the silent witness to my youth; it kept my deepest secrets, sheltered my sorrows, and held space for my tears, my anger, and my exhaustion.

On that final night, because of an early morning flight, I stayed overnight at Terminal 1 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, resting on a bench outside the departure hall. During the drive there, I gazed through the window, watching the city lights blur past one last time. I whispered a silent prayer of gratitude for the life I got to build in Jakarta. 

Overweight luggage

Finally home

This city became my second home, the place where I truly found myself and learned my most profound life lessons. I will cherish every single moment I spent there, forever.