The ajb Ultimate Guide to preparing your home for a Jakarta Christmas
As anyone living in Jakarta would know, you have to start planning early for special occasions, and Christmas is no exception. To help you do this, we have compiled our 'ajb Ultimate Guide to preparing your home for a Jakarta Christmas'.
Why do you need this guide? Well, take a few moments to consider the following points and I'm sure you will soon agree that planning for your Jakarta Christmas needs careful consideration!
Start planning early for your Jakarta Christmas because:
Things get shopped out quickly here in Jakarta! If you see something you need, grab it (..grab two - in fact stockpile like a chipmunk preparing for a very long winter!) This is because it is likely that you won’t see that item again for a while, especially if it is imported.
Sourcing for Christmas is often like a wild goose chase. Let us explain - a supplier that you used in a previous instance (or one that has come recommend to you) may no longer be available - for example, they are no longer in business, or perhaps they have had to return unexpectedly to their *kampung or.... or...you get the picture! Therefore a Plan B is a good idea, just in case.
Sourcing takes time! If you need to frequent a few shops to collect all of your ingredients or materials, this can take more than a day to achieve, especially if you arrive at the venue and they don’t actually have what you need or have run out (*kosong, *tidak ada and *sudah habis are likely to be phrases that you become familiar with, much to your frustration!) Moreover, trading hours are often flexible (*jam karet). Just because a shop advertises that it opens at 10am, this is just an estimate. And did we mention the traffic? One word.. *macet! Patience really is a virtue.
For many expats, Christmas Day will be spent away from their Jakarta home, most typically in their home country, so it is nice to prepare early allowing you to enjoy the lead up to Christmas in your Indonesian home.
From September onwards, the many bazaars of Jakarta start selling Christmas items. So having a vision of how you want to decorate your home as well as gift ideas, means that you can start your Christmas sourcing early.
By getting organised early, you can really make the most of this wonderful time of the year which passes all too quickly. Take some time to contemplate the images below. These pictures have been designed to evoke a sense of traditional Christmas cheer with a dash of Indonesian style. Take a look for yourself and you'll know what we're talking about!
With best wishes
Jo and Liz
(ps: If you see something you like or want to know more about, refer to the 'Suppliers and Stockists' at the end of this post and as always, let us know what you think! We love to receive your comments).
Let the decorations begin before you enter your home
Made from local palm leaves, the 'Palm Regu' wreath by Rifky Florist is a striking addition to your front door
Alternatively the 'Janus Bulat' also by Rifky Florist is made from the young leaves of a coconut palm and like the 'pam regu' wreath, will last up to 1 week.
This delicate wreath option can adorn your front door but will last no more than a few days.
Of course there's no limit on how you utilise your wreath. This delicate wreath makes a beautiful centrepiece on any table. Top it off with some copper tea light holders by GBAKER.
Time to set the table
A table runner with matching napkins, made from batik sourced from Pasar Mayestik, creates a vibrant centrepiece to the dining table. The table runner was made by Ria Modeste. Cutlery by Temple Trees, place mats by Le Souq and flowers (lotus pods) by Amanda Florist, Kemang.
Setting the table is an opportunity to incorporate local design and products, including flowers, foliage and even seed pods!
Why not source batik in traditional Christmas colours? This stunning fabric is not expensive to buy yet creates a unique addition to your table. The reverse side features a pattern which could be used all year-round.
And what about a centre piece for your table? Have you considered a hollowed-out pineapple as an alternative to a vase? Add a quirky element to your design and take the fun factor to new heights on your special day.
These cute little critters by Ranggon Feliz are made from hand-carved bamboo and can be used as the centre piece of your table or to decorate another part of the room. Likewise the bamboo Christmas tree by Paisley Things could be used in many ways to decorate your home. Oh, and the seriously cool heart decorations are by GBAKER.
Decorating around the home
If you live in Indonesia or have spent some time here, these tins will probably be very familiar to you. Krupuk tins (cracker tins) such as these by Ranggon Feliz, can be seen suspended from the outside of most road-side cafes and warungs. By filling these tins with battery-operated candles or fairy lights, they can be transformed into a Christmas lantern in no time!
A krupuk tin used as a lantern adds a lovely local feature to your home. Use of a battery-operated candle means that you can enjoy the ambiance it creates in a safe manner (tin from Ranggon Feliz)
A krupuk tin painted in a groovy green adds vibrancy to your home. This tin is decorated with a paper ornament sourced from one of the Jakarta Christmas bazaars along with a locally made doll decoration by Tulisan.
Decorating your bespoke Christmas tree
A selection of locally made Christmas decorations including crocheted angel (by GBAKER), ceramic bird in nest (by Paisley Things) as well as the wooden batik decoration & batik fabric decorations (both sourced from a Christmas bazaar). The beautiful bamboo tree is made from recycled materials and is available in 3 different sizes (by Paisley Things).
A handmade woven and ceramic decoration from Paisley Things
A delicate addition to your Christmas tree in the form of a crocheted angel by GBAKER
Wrapping your gifts
The house is decorated, the tree is dressed so it's time to get wrapping! If you know where to look, there exists a good variety of wrapping paper options available in Jakarta including this selection from Lanka, Kemang.
Gifts wrapped in beautiful paper inspired by traditional Batik patterns. Paper sourced from Periplus.
Gifts ready for giving, beautifully wrapped in Batik paper from Periplus.
Oops! Don't forget the card!
Christmas cards from Kinokuniya
Looking for a card with a difference? These cards are hand made from recycled paper and feature iconically Indonesian images. Cards from Paisley Things.
Cards by Lanka
Adorable cards by Kamalika Art Prints
These boxed set of cards are by talented Indonesian photographer Nita Strudwick and can be used as Christmas cards or for all occasions.
Stay tuned in the new few weeks as ajb goes 'Mad for Christmas' with more ideas coming your way including suggestions of locally sourced gifts for that special present to take back home; Christmas baking with local ingredients and a local take on the Aussie barbecue. Don't miss out - subscribe now!
In the meantime, why not check out some of our posts related to today's story.
Pasar Mayestik
A Bunch of Colour - Flowers from Indonesia
Nita Strudwick Photography
Gitte Baker - Tropical Jakarta meets Nordic Chic
10 Top Spots to stop on Jl. Terogong Raya
Suppliers and Stockists
Amanda Florist
Jl. Kemang Selatan 1
Kemang
Ph: 0813 1030 0297
Bazaars
For details contact:
Australian and New Zealand Association (ANZA Jakarta)
Ph: 021 71792665
Web: ANZA Jakarta
British Women's Association (BWA Jakarta)
Pela Mampang, Mampang Prapatan,
South Jakarta
Ph: 021 7195283
Web: BWA Jakarta
American Women's Association (AWA Indonesia)
Ph: 62 21 726 6281, or Ph: 021 727 95256
Web: AWA Indonesia
GBAKER
Email: gittebaker@gmail.com
(Gitte will have an open house sale on 1st December from 10am - 2pm. Email Gitte for details).
Hadiprana Art Centre
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 30 Kemang
Jakarta 12730
Ph: 021 718 2765
Web: Hadiprana Art Centre
Kamalika Art Prints
Stockists
Temple Trees (permanently closed)
Jl. Senopati No.66
Jakarta Selatan 12110
Wrapp Inc.
Alun-Alun,
Grand Indonesia Shopping Town
Galeries Lafayette, Pacific Place
SOGO Department Store
Kota Kasablanka
Mall Alam Sutera
Debenhams
Kemang Village
Chic Mart
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 55
Jakarta Selatan 12730
Bika Furniture
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 91
Jakarta Selatan 12730
Ph 021-798-7983
Web: Kamalika Art Prints
Instagram: Kamalika Art Prints
Kinokuniya
Pondok Indah Mall 2
Pondok Indah
Web: Kinokuniya
Lanka - card and gift wrapping
Jl. Kemang Selatan No. 8
Kemang, Jakarta Selatan
(*Note: Lanka is easy to miss. It is located directly
opposite 'meja meja' (a table shop) and next door to Geeves dry-cleaning)
Ph: 021 7182338
Le Souq (since moved to Koi Kemang)
Jl. Kemang Raya no. 72 lot K
Jakarta Selatan, 12730
Ph: 021 7195672
Web: Le Souq
Instagram: Le Souq
Nita Strudwick Photograhy
Stockists of boxed card sets
Alun Alun
Grand Indonesia Shopping Mall
Web: Nita Strudwick Photography
Instagram: Nita Strudwick
Paisley Things
Jl. Bumi No 31
Kebayoran Baru
(next to SMP 29, near Pasar Majestic)
Ph: 021 27510156
Instagram: Paisley Things
Rifky Florist
Jl. Terogong Raya No. 22
Cilandak
Jakarta Selatan
Ph: 0817 492 2652
For orders of wreaths you will need to request which wreath you require:
either:
Janus bulat - the round young coconut leaf wreath (this is the smaller of the two green wreaths featured)
or:
Palm regu - regular Palm wreath
(*note: these wreaths appear fresh for approx 1 week)
Pasar Mayestik
Jalan Tebah III
Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta12120
Periplus
Metro Pondok Indah Blok III
B Lt. 1 No.148
Jakarta Selatan
Web: Periplus
Ria Modeste
Jl. Kemang Selatan 1C No. 3AKemang
Jakarta Selatan
Ph: 0822 1321 7800
Ph: 021 719 0226
Ranggon Feliz Happy Home and Art Shop
Kemang Selatan No 20C, D and E
Ph: 021 71794278
Emai: felizsalaon@yahoo.com
Temple Trees (permanently closed)
Jl. Senopati No.66 Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta 12110, Indonesia
Ph: 021 726 1211
Tulisan
Web: Tulisan
Instagram: Tulisan
Tulisan Flagship Store & Creative Headquarters
Darmawangsa Square
The City Walk
Ground Floor, Unit #24
Jl. Darmawangsa VI & IX
Jakarta 12160
Ph: 021 727 80235
The Goods Dept.
Pacific Place
1st Floor #1-02
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53, SCBD
Jakarta 12190
Ph: 021 579 73 644
The Goods Dept.
Pondok Indah Mall 2
3rd Floor #321
Jl. Metro Pondok Indah
Jakarta 12310
Ph: 021 759 20 997
The Goods Dept.
Lotte Shopping Avenue
Level 1 Unit 1F #18-19
Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 3-5
Karet, Kuningan
Jakarta 12940
*jam karet: Indonesia ranks as one of the most relaxed countries in the world with regard to time ('A Geography of Time' by Robert Levine 1997) and this can be greatly attributed to Indonesian's attitude towards time known as 'jam karet' or 'rubber time'. Indonesians believe that things in life are meant to happen in a relaxed fashion and tardiness is not seen as a problem; a contrasting perspective to the general Western approach towards time.
*kampung: village or small town
*kosong, tidak ada, sudah habis: are all terms that imply that something has run out or doesn't exist anymore
*macet: traffic jam. Normally when anyone in Jakarta talks about traffic, this word features regularly in the conversation!
Words: Jo Stevens Photography: a journey bespoke