Slum tours in Jakarta now operating {Gadling}

Jul 12th 2009 3:57AM I think it's fine, if conducted responsibly. A slum tour is an extension of what I already do as a traveler - go somewhere to see what's there and how the people live.

I'd love to go on a tour in Jakarta. I went on one in Rio and was fascinated by the architecture. Life in the Rio slum (Rochina) didn't look too different than other unofficial slums I've seen in parts of Bombay, Bangkok, etc. Life being lived on the street.

If I can go in with the best intentions - to be open, to learn - then hopefully my presence won't be harmful.

That being said, going on a tour anywhere is not going to connect me to a person or a group of people. I can learn a little bit about the people from the street, but no more than I could learn sitting on a bench on the Champs-Elysees. So I don't really buy the argument that it helps one understand that "people are the same all over the world..." or maybe the tour opens a door to that, but it doesn't provide much content besides pictures of children. To really learn what people have to offer it takes speaking the language, spending time, being in their daily lives. Getting to know people, you know?