It is already my last full day in Jakarta. Since leaving Salatiga, I spent a couple of days hanging round bule cafes in Yogyakarta, then took an 8 hour night train to Jakarta. The train was pretty impressive actually, with security patrolling and professional-looking polite staff checking tickets, clearing rubbish, and offering food and drink from a little glossy-printed paper menu.
I was also amused by having to print out my "real" ticket at the station on a noisy and slow dot matrix printer! Can't remember the last time I saw one of those!
Travel tip: avoid weekend travel where possible, and this includes Indonesian trains, where the pricing premium put it on par with flying... when the flight is booked one day in advance! (And takes only about 45 minutes!)
It's been good reconnecting with people and places in Jakarta over the past few days. A few thoughts that have occupied a disproportionate amount of brain space while here:
August: the month of flags and nationalism
ID70, SG50. 3 close neighbours, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, share the month in which they celebrate national (independence) day. Indonesia was liberated from the Dutch, Malaysia was granted independence from the British, and Singapore was "released" from Malaysia. Every August, the capitals (and possibly entire nations) are covered in flags and nationalistic signage celebrating freedom (merdeka). This year is a big year for Indonesia (70th year of independence) and Singapore (50th). I sat with Toby and said that I remember when Indonesia was celebrating its 50th! Then we again felt old together.
El Niño
Musim kering (dry season), crop failure, el niño. I have heard these terms in passing while crossing from Bali and over Java. Farmers are having a tough year due to not enough rain. It is still raining in Jakarta, but only an hour or so of night drizzle each night. Not enough to clear the settling pollution. The sun is a weak orange egg yolk for much of the day (though not all of it). The air feels dustier than I remember.
JAKARTA IS SO GREEN AND LANDSCAPED!!!!!
The sort of thing that completely escapes notice when you grow up with it around you, then bewilders you when you return. The city of Jakarta must hire an ARMY of gardeners and landscapers! Possibly another army hired by the private sector: parks, shopping malls, apartment complexes, office buildings, etc. No further information on google.
I was also amused by having to print out my "real" ticket at the station on a noisy and slow dot matrix printer! Can't remember the last time I saw one of those!
Travel tip: avoid weekend travel where possible, and this includes Indonesian trains, where the pricing premium put it on par with flying... when the flight is booked one day in advance! (And takes only about 45 minutes!)
It's been good reconnecting with people and places in Jakarta over the past few days. A few thoughts that have occupied a disproportionate amount of brain space while here:
August: the month of flags and nationalism
ID70, SG50. 3 close neighbours, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, share the month in which they celebrate national (independence) day. Indonesia was liberated from the Dutch, Malaysia was granted independence from the British, and Singapore was "released" from Malaysia. Every August, the capitals (and possibly entire nations) are covered in flags and nationalistic signage celebrating freedom (merdeka). This year is a big year for Indonesia (70th year of independence) and Singapore (50th). I sat with Toby and said that I remember when Indonesia was celebrating its 50th! Then we again felt old together.
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| Happy 70th birthday from bir Bintang |
El Niño
Musim kering (dry season), crop failure, el niño. I have heard these terms in passing while crossing from Bali and over Java. Farmers are having a tough year due to not enough rain. It is still raining in Jakarta, but only an hour or so of night drizzle each night. Not enough to clear the settling pollution. The sun is a weak orange egg yolk for much of the day (though not all of it). The air feels dustier than I remember.
JAKARTA IS SO GREEN AND LANDSCAPED!!!!!
The sort of thing that completely escapes notice when you grow up with it around you, then bewilders you when you return. The city of Jakarta must hire an ARMY of gardeners and landscapers! Possibly another army hired by the private sector: parks, shopping malls, apartment complexes, office buildings, etc. No further information on google.
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