Is Palembang Family-Friendly? A Vintage Clothes Picker’s Hot Take on Schools, **Pempek**, and Park Bench Vibes

palembang smells like fried shallots and diesel exhaust-kinda weird, kinda great. i’ve been digging through *Pasar 16 Ilir for moth-eaten batik shirts while dodging scooters, so here’s my take on whether this city works for families or just chaos addicts like me.

schools: where the gurus smoke clove cigs outside
heard from a seamstress at Pusri Plaza that public schools here are like a mixed thrift haul-some gems, some polyester disasters. private international schools? yeah, they exist, but cost more than a 1970s Bandung concert tee. literacy rate’s 95%, but good luck finding a tukang ojek who cares about homework deadlines.

parks: kambang iwak isn’t just for broke couples
this lagoon’s got paddle boats shaped like ducks and old dudes selling rainbow slushees. stats say 23% green space city-wide, but avoid the “grass” at Taman Purbakala Kerajaan Sriwijaya unless you want ants in your sandals. saw a kid faceplant off a scooter here-10/10 resilience, zero/10 parenting.

safety: watch your wallet & your kids
crime index is 54.7 (numbeo says “meh”), but locals warned me about pickpockets at Ampera Bridge after dark. police? they’re busy chasing unregistered street-food carts. rent’s cheap-$200/month gets you a 2-bedroom that smells like grandma’s closet. jobs? textiletown’s hiring if you don’t mind 1980s factory AC.

current weather: imagine god left a steamed dumpling on the city. neighbors? fly to Jambi (45 mins) when you need a break from the Musi River fog.

drunk advice i collected:
- "Pempek vendors will adopt your kid if you stare at your phone too long" - some dude at Rumah Kopi Pelangi
- "schools near Al Islam Mosque* have the strictest uniform rules, but the teachers bribe easier" - overheard at a bus stop

links for the brave: best parks (TripAdvisor), where to eat like a local (Yelp), Palembang safety rants (Reddit), and my favorite vintage stall’s IG.

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