{"id":705,"date":"2025-04-11T15:11:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T08:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/?p=705"},"modified":"2025-04-11T15:22:05","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T08:22:05","slug":"plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Conquered My Fear of Water"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"792\" height=\"988\" src=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-11-at-15.09.11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-706\" srcset=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-11-at-15.09.11.png 792w, https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-11-at-15.09.11-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-11-at-15.09.11-768x958.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plaza Festival Swimming Pool in daylight. (Photo: Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It might sound silly, but at the age of 40, I\u2019ve just conquered my fear of swimming in a 2-meter-deep pool!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I know this story might seem trivial, but if you\u2019re like me\u2014unable to swim as an adult\u2014you\u2019ll probably relate to what I\u2019m feeling right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#Hydrophobia\" >Hydrophobia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#Self-Taught\" >Self-Taught<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#Trauma\" >Trauma<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#Plaza_Festival_Pool\" >Plaza Festival Pool<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#Cleanliness\" >Cleanliness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#Security\" >Security<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#Entry_Fees_Insurance\" >Entry Fees &amp; Insurance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#How_I_Conquered_the_2-Meter_Pool\" >How I Conquered the 2-Meter Pool<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#The_Science_of_Floating\" >The Science of Floating<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/11\/plaza-festival-swimming-pool-witness-to-how-i-conquered-my-fear-of-water\/#Final_Victory\" >Final Victory<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hydrophobia\"><\/span><strong>Hydrophobia<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how it happened. After the recent Eid al-Fitr holiday, I became interested in teaching myself to swim again, having been haunted since childhood by a fear of water deeper than my height. Plus, not many people around me knew how to swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back in school, I had a weekly swimming extracurricular. On those days, I\u2019d feel paralyzed\u2014constantly wanting to skip but running out of excuses to give my PE teacher. As a result, my PE grade was terrible\u2014just a 6. Had I actually participated in the swimming sessions at the district pool, maybe my grade could\u2019ve been bumped up to a 7 or 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from my inability to swim, I was also shy about undressing in front of others. My body was skinny back then. Even now, I\u2019m still slim, but more toned thanks to my consistent yoga practice since 2010. I\u2019d say I\u2019m pretty dedicated\u2014since 2010, I\u2019ve never taken a long break. Even a 1-2 week hiatus feels too long. I get so restless that I sometimes do light movements at night\u2014call it a &#8220;movement snack&#8221;\u2014just to lower my blood sugar after dinner, which supposedly can be managed with minimal exercise. Even walking or doing bodyweight squats helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Self-Taught\"><\/span><strong>Self-Taught<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before, I wasn\u2019t interested in swimming because it was expensive, the nearest pool was far, and nothing really sparked my interest. But that changed when I watched artistic swimming and diving competitions in 2020. <em>Wow<\/em>, the movements were stunning, and the choreography was incredible. I became intrigued but, lacking commitment at the time, it ended with just watching clips of artistic swimming and diving. I especially admired Russian artistic swimmers and Chinese divers, whose dedication kept their countries dominant in those sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, I started consistently teaching myself to swim at a pool near my home\u2014one for kids and teens, only 130 cm deep. Safe enough that I wouldn\u2019t drown. I practiced floating and tried strokes I\u2019d learned from YouTube\u2014freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke\u2014but not butterfly yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trauma\"><\/span><strong>Trauma<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Then I committed to training in a deeper pool\u2014150 cm\u2014at KYZN BSD. It was far from home and pricey per session (around IDR 250k, excluding transportation). The place was premium, with imported coaches. But when Ramadan came last year, I stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, I kept practicing in my neighborhood\u2019s 130 cm pool. Better than nothing, though it didn\u2019t challenge my fear of deep water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back in 2016, I\u2019d tried swimming at a hotel pool in Ubud during a two-week stay. Unfortunately, I panicked and nearly drowned. As an overconfident beginner, once my feet couldn\u2019t touch the bottom, my brain shut down. Instead of paddling, I froze\u2014too embarrassed to even scream for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plaza_Festival_Pool\"><\/span><strong>Plaza Festival Pool<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, I visited Plaza Festival Pool (formerly Pasar Festival) during work hours in Jakarta. Going at off-peak times meant I could enjoy the pool more freely. The midday sun wasn\u2019t too harsh either, since it shifted by 1-2 PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cleanliness\"><\/span><strong>Cleanliness<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>At first, I was skeptical about the water\u2019s cleanliness. But surprisingly, it was crystal clear during my last two visits\u2014maybe cleaned after the long holiday. I even spotted a large chlorine barrel by the pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan to swim here, pick the right timing for clear water. Haha. Some Google Maps reviews complained about green, murky water, but thankfully, that wasn\u2019t my experience. Or maybe I just got lucky?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Security\"><\/span><strong>Security<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If you bring valuables like laptops or wallets, don\u2019t worry\u2014lockers are available for IDR 5,000 each (payable at the entrance guard, not the ticket counter). The keys work well and can be reused (unlike my local pool\u2019s one-time-use lockers, which are annoying but keep you focused on swimming instead of phone distractions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The changing rooms and showers are also better now\u2014wooden doors instead of the flimsy tarp curtains from my 2017 visit. No unauthorized peeking possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for safety from predators, this pool has long been rumored as a spot for men seeking same-sex encounters. While I\u2019ve never been a victim, during my recent visits, one guy seemed suspicious\u2014wearing a tight cotton singlet and underwear-like trunks (clearly not swimwear) while dry and just lurking near the showers. Could he have been signaling? I don\u2019t know, but it was unsettling. Still, with security cameras and staff monitoring exits, any misconduct (theft or harassment) would likely be caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Entry_Fees_Insurance\"><\/span><strong>Entry Fees &amp; Insurance<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Prices vary by time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Weekdays (Mon-Fri):<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>6-8 AM &amp; 1-7 PM: IDR 30,500<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>8-11 AM: IDR 10,500 (cheap!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weekends:<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peak hours (morning\/evening): IDR 35,500<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Off-peak (noon): IDR 12,500<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>No wonder I used to see kids flocking here at noon\u2014imagine swimming for just IDR 10,500! Sunburn be damned. But on national holidays and Sundays, it\u2019s flat IDR 35,500. <em>Ouch.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For accidents, ticket holders get compensation from Raharja Putera Insurance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Death: IDR 2.5 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Permanent disability: IDR 5 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical treatment: Up to IDR 500,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>During Eid 2025 holidays (March 28-29 &amp; April 2-4, 7), entry peaked at IDR 35,000 per person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_I_Conquered_the_2-Meter_Pool\"><\/span><strong>How I Conquered the 2-Meter Pool<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m no professional coach, but I managed to teach myself not to fear 2-meter-deep water. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start Safe:<\/strong> I began in the 1.5-meter section\u2014close enough to the edge in case of cramps or exhaustion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategy:<\/strong> After warming up, I\u2019d walk to the deep end and use the ladder to descend slowly, letting my brain process the depth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Grip the Ladder:<\/strong> Holding the rails kept me secure as I lowered myself to the 1.5-meter step, then finally touched the 2-meter bottom. <em>First time ever!<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Familiarize:<\/strong> Feeling the bottom helped my brain register, <em>&#8220;Oh, this is how deep it is.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Float Test:<\/strong> I\u2019d climb back up, then release the ladder and practice floating\u2014kicking as I\u2019d seen in YouTube tutorials.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>I discovered I panic less floating on my back (like a starfish) than facing downward\u2014probably a reflex to avoid breathlessness. Now, if panicked, I flip onto my back to breathe freely. <em>This is actually the recommended survival tactic if you fall into water and can\u2019t swim.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m also better at backstroke than freestyle (which feels breath-challenging). I even swam 50 meters of breaststroke without panic, realizing: <em>If I can float in 1.5 meters, I can in 2 meters too.<\/em> The only barrier was mental.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Science_of_Floating\"><\/span><strong>The Science of Floating<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not everyone floats easily. According to Brent S. Rushall\u2019s article on flotation in swimming, buoyancy depends on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Body composition (fat, muscle, bone, lung volume)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water density<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gender (women float easier)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Age<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water salinity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>People with higher fat or lung volume float better, while muscular\/lean individuals (like bodybuilders) sink more. Physical changes (growth or strength training) can alter buoyancy, requiring technique adjustments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, I float easily on my back\u2014my lifeline in deep water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Victory\"><\/span><strong>Final Victory<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With God\u2019s grace and my own effort, I finally swam across the 2-meter section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What about you?<\/strong> Still can\u2019t swim despite your age? Maybe it\u2019s time to try\u2014who knows, it might save you if sea levels rise and we all end up living like the Bajau tribe. (*\/)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It might sound silly, but at the age of 40, I\u2019ve just conquered my fear of swimming in a 2-meter-deep pool! I know this story might seem trivial, but if you\u2019re like me\u2014unable to swim as an adult\u2014you\u2019ll probably relate to what I\u2019m feeling right now. Hydrophobia Here\u2019s how it happened. After the recent Eid [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[458,454,455,456,453,452,460,461,459,457],"class_list":["post-705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life","tag-cheap-swimming-pool-in-jakarta","tag-how-to-overcome-hydrophobia","tag-how-to-swim-at-40","tag-how-to-swim-for-beginners","tag-hydrophobia","tag-plaza-festival-swimming-pool","tag-self-taught-learner-story","tag-swimming-in-jakarta","tag-swimming-lesson","tag-swimming-pool-in-jakarta"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=705"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":708,"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705\/revisions\/708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akhliswrites.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}