Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Hobi saya membaca dan jalan-jalan di taman. - My hobby is reading and strolling in the park.

Yes. Indonesian typically puts the possessed noun before the possessor: hobi saya = “my hobby/hobbies.” You can also say Saya hobi ... (“I’m into ...”), which is common and a bit more casual. Another option is the possessive suffix: hobiku ... (my hobby). All are acceptable; Hobi saya ... sounds neutral-to-formal.

Examples:

Hobi saya membaca.
Saya hobi membaca.
Hobiku membaca.

Do I need the linking word adalah here?

It’s optional. Hobi saya membaca dan jalan-jalan di taman is fine. Adding adalah makes it a bit more formal/emphatic: Hobi saya adalah membaca dan jalan-jalan di taman. You generally use adalah when the subject is a noun phrase (like Hobi saya). It’s not used before ordinary adjectives or verb predicates like in Saya senang (not “Saya adalah senang”).

Why is it membaca and not just baca?

Baca is the root “read.” The active verb form is made with the meN- prefix; with roots starting with b, it becomes mem-, so membaca = “to read/reading.” After Hobi saya, the activity form membaca is the normal choice. In casual speech you may hear the prefix dropped (e.g., Saya baca buku), but membaca is the standard form here.

Quick guide:

Root: baca (read)
Imperative: Baca! (Read!)
Active: membaca (to read / reading)

Why is jalan repeated (jalan-jalan)? Does that make it plural?

Reduplication here doesn’t mark plural. Jalan-jalan is a set expression meaning “to stroll/walk around/go out for leisure/sightseeing.” It adds a light, leisurely nuance, often implying unplanned wandering. So:

berjalan = to walk (move on foot)
jalan-jalan = to stroll/hang out/sightsee (for fun)

Should it be berjalan-jalan instead of jalan-jalan?

Both occur. Jalan-jalan is very common and natural for “strolling/going out for fun.” Berjalan-jalan is also correct and can sound a bit more formal/literal “walking around.” By contrast, plain berjalan is just “to walk” and doesn’t convey the leisure idea; it’s less natural in a hobby list unless you really mean “walking (as exercise).”

Are membaca and jalan-jalan verbs or nouns here?

They’re verb phrases used as activities (gerund-like). Indonesian doesn’t need special gerund forms; verbs can function as “activity nouns” after a predicate like Hobi saya. Other examples: Hobi saya berenang, Hobi saya memasak.

Since two activities are listed, should I say hobi-hobi saya?

No. Indonesian usually leaves nouns unmarked for number. Hobi saya can refer to one or several hobbies. Use plural markers only if you need to emphasize it:

Beberapa hobi saya ... (some of my hobbies)
Dua hobi saya ... (two of my hobbies)
Hobi-hobi saya ... is possible but often unnecessary.

Does di taman mean “in the park” or “at the park”? Do I need “the/a”?

Indonesian has no articles. Di marks location, so di taman can be “in/at the park” depending on context. To be specific:

di taman itu = in that (specific) park
di sebuah taman = in a park (one park, unspecified)

Could I say ke taman instead of di taman?

Different meaning:

di taman = at/in the park (location)
ke taman = to the park (destination) Your sentence describes strolling in the park, so di fits. If your hobby is going to the park, say pergi ke taman or jalan-jalan ke taman (go to the park for a walk/outings).

Does di taman apply to both activities or only to jalan-jalan?

As written, it most naturally attaches to the nearest activity: “reading” and “strolling in the park.” To say both are done in the park, clarify:

Hobi saya membaca di taman dan jalan-jalan di taman.
Di taman, hobi saya membaca dan jalan-jalan. If only the second activity is in the park, your original is fine.

Do I need a hyphen in jalan-jalan? I sometimes see jalan2.

Yes, standard Indonesian writes reduplication with a hyphen: jalan-jalan. The jalan2 form is informal texting. Avoid jalan jalan (with a space) in formal writing.

Is a comma needed before dan? Is serta okay?

No comma is needed before dan (“and”) in a simple list like this. Serta is a slightly more formal synonym:

Hobi saya membaca serta jalan-jalan di taman.

How do I negate a sentence like this correctly?

Use bukan to negate a noun-like predicate; use tidak to negate verbs/adjectives.

Negating the hobby claim: Hobi saya bukan membaca, tetapi jalan-jalan di taman.
Negating the action itself: Saya tidak membaca di taman.

Any tips on pronunciation for this sentence?

Stress is typically on the second-to-last syllable: HÓ-bi SA-ya mem-BA-ca ja-lan-JA-lan di TA-man.
Vowels are pure: a like “ah,” i like “ee,” o like “o” in “so.”
c is “ch” (in membaca), j is like English “j.”
t and d are unaspirated (softer than in English).

Is the alternative order Membaca dan jalan-jalan di taman adalah hobi saya natural?

Yes. Fronting the activity phrase and adding adalah is natural and a bit more formal/emphatic: Membaca dan jalan-jalan di taman adalah hobi saya. Both orders are fine.

Anything special about writing di as one word or two?

As a preposition meaning “at/in/on,” di is written separately: di taman. As a passive prefix, it attaches to a verb with no space: dibaca (is/was read). Your sentence uses di as a preposition, so it must be separate.