Man, what a day! I swear, Medan never fails to keep me on my toes. Woke up this morning, sun blaring through my window on Jalan Sisingamangaraja. I was like, “Ugh, not today!” But duty calls, right?
First stop, the coffee shop on Jalan Semarang. You know the one? The one with the best kopi Medan. I needed that caffeine fix. I ordered my usual, and the barista, this dude named Rudi, he’s like, “You look like you need a double shot.” I laughed, but he wasn’t wrong.
So, I’m chugging my coffee, scrolling through my phone, and boom! A call comes in. It’s my partner, Siti. “We got a situation at the market,” she says. My heart drops. The market? That place is always buzzing with people. I grab my bag and head out.
Traffic on Jalan Gatot Subroto was a nightmare. I mean, come on! It’s like everyone decided to drive at the same time. I’m stuck behind this old lady on a motorbike, going 10 km/h. I’m yelling in my head, “Move it, grandma!” But she’s just enjoying the ride, oblivious to my frustration.
Finally, I get to the market. It’s chaos. People everywhere, shouting, selling, buying. I spot Siti near a stall selling durians. Yeah, durians. The smell hits me like a brick wall. I can’t stand that stuff. But Siti’s all smiles, chatting with the vendor. “You won’t believe this!” she says.
Turns out, there’s been a theft. Some guy snatched a bag from a tourist. Classic, right? I mean, who robs a tourist in broad daylight? We start asking around, and this one dude, he’s like, “I saw him! He ran down Jalan Yos Sudarso!”
We chase after the lead, weaving through the crowd. I’m dodging kids, old folks, and a bunch of chickens. Seriously, chickens! I’m thinking, “This is not how I pictured my day.”
We finally get to Jalan Diponegoro, and there he is! The thief! He’s trying to blend in, but dude, you can’t hide in a bright yellow shirt. We sprint after him. My legs are burning, but I’m not giving up.
He ducks into an alley, and I’m right behind him. Siti’s yelling, “Stop! Police!” But he’s not stopping. I’m like, “Great, now I’m gonna have to tackle this guy.”
We corner him, and I’m feeling all heroic. But then, he pulls out a knife. My heart drops. I’m thinking, “This is it. I’m gonna get shanked in Medan.” But Siti, she’s quick. She distracts him, and I manage to grab his arm. We wrestle, and somehow, I get the knife away.
Adrenaline’s pumping. We cuff him, and I’m like, “You picked the wrong day to mess with us, buddy.”
After that, we head back to the station. I’m still buzzing from the chase. Siti’s laughing, saying, “You should’ve seen your face!” I’m just glad it’s over.
Later, I treat myself to some nasi goreng at a warung on Jalan Teuku Umar. Best decision ever. I’m sitting there, eating, and I can’t help but smile. Medan, you crazy city, you keep me alive.
As I head home, I think about the day. The chaos, the thrill, the smells, the people. It’s wild, but it’s my wild. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.