With less than a month left in Jakarta, I find myself experiencing mixed emotions. It’s a bittersweet feeling as I prepare to say goodbye but also prepare for what comes next. However, I’m determined to make the most of my final month in Indonesia by checking off some essential items on my to-do list.

1. Savor Some of my Favourites of Local Cuisine Including Sate, Rendang, and Batagor

I want to savour some of my favourite local dishes, including Sate, Rendang, and Batagor. Indonesia boasts amazing cuisine, and I definitely want to enjoy these favourites as much as I can before I leave. Sate (or satay in English) consists of skewers of grilled meat served with a rich peanut sauce. Rendang is a slow-cooked beef dish bursting with flavours and spices. Batagor is a dish of fried fish dumplings covered with peanut sauce. As you can probably tell, I think the peanut sauce here is delicious and makes anything it’s drizzled on fantastic. Finally, there’s fried tempeh. Compared to Canada, tempeh here is very affordable, and it’s my favourite addition to lunches or dinners.

3. Try Durian

Durian, often referred to as the “King of Fruits,” is notorious for its pungent odour that some hate but others love. I have tried durian ice cream, and I actually did not mind it. To me, it tasted just like overripe mango. However, I do have a poor sense of smell, so I think that works to my advantage when it comes to durian. I keep saying that I will try the fruit, but without some sort of peer pressure to actually do it, I have kept putting it off. However, I know that my final month in Indonesia is the perfect opportunity to be adventurous and just give it a shot.

4. Go up the National Monument

The National Monument (or Monas) is the large obelisk in Central Jakarta. While I have visited it a few times, I have never taken the time to ride the elevator to the top of it. I think visiting this famous monument during my last month to see the view from the top will be a fitting way to say goodbye to the city.

5. Eat Martabak

Martabak is a stuffed pancake that has been routinely recommended to me. I have been wanting to try it before I leave, but I haven’t seen any places serving it near my house. There is both sweet and savoury martabak in Indonesia, so I want to try both before leaving.

6. Get out of the City at Least Once More

Jakarta is a huge, sprawling metropolis, which can make it challenging to escape sometimes. However, Indonesia boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes, and I want to get out into nature here at least once more before I leave. Java has incredible volcanoes, waterfalls, tea fields, and so much more that I hope to explore in my last month here.

7. Eat Emily’s Focaccia One More Time

Something that surprised me when I moved here was finding out how uncommon ovens were. Many kosts, apartments, and homes do not have ovens in their kitchens. Ovens are such a staple in Western kitchens that it is hard for me to think of a kitchen without one. One of my friends, Emily, solved this problem by buying an air fryer. In this air fryer, she makes the best focaccia, which you would have no idea wasn’t made in a traditional oven. Every time Emily invites me over for dinner, I ask for her focaccia. Now I just need to get ahold of the recipe and try it in my air fryer when I get back home.

8. Capture Memories with Friends

Lastly, I want to make it a point to take more photos of and with my friends. I am not always the best at remembering to take photos in the moment, but I know how much I value them afterward. These pictures are snapshots of the moments we’ve shared and the bonds we’ve formed in such a short period of time, and they are valuable to be able to look back upon. As I prepare to say goodbye, these photographs will serve as cherished reminders of the people who have made my time in Indonesia truly special.