Jakarta, Indonesia- July 4, 2001
Something I read in the news today was that Indonesia is going to install their first few unleaded gas pumps around Jakarta. All this time they've been running with 100% leaded gasoline. I was pretty surprised, I guess Vietnam has one up on them as they just passed a law declaring that 100% of their gasoline will now be unleaded. Indonesia seems like it has a long ways away before it even considers such a move. Actually the pollution here is really getting to me already. My eyes have been burning and I'm starting to sneeze. Time to get out of Jakarta soon.
Interesting note on Indonesia - its a nation of cat lovers. I asked my Indonesian friend about this, and she even has three cats herself, and Indonesia gets it from its Arabic roots. Apparently its been an Islamic tradition to love/respect/honor cats or whatever you call it. Actually I like cats quite a bit too, so its alright with me to see their presence everywhere, and it certainly cuts down on the rat population. I wish New York City would adopt a similiar passion in house and street cats.
The other interesting observation about Indonesia is a 3 wheeled orange egg shaped vehicle called a "bajaj". They run on what sounds like a very loud lawn mower engine, and has exhaust fumes about five times thicker. Apparently Indonesia imports them from India after India runs them into the ground and declares them officially dead. Hard to believe that Indonesia would import after that? But here they are, and they are aplenty. Everywhere you go and everywhere you look. They are very loud and dirty, but their main advantage is they have no road rules, they pretty much go around traffic and go anywhere they want to go.
The other interesting aspect of Jakarta, is that there is a 24-hour McDonalds with a 24-hour Internt Cafe (part of the McDonalds), which seems to be a cornerstone of Jakarta nightlife. Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta is right above it in fact. Apparently is also a pickup place late at night, but I haven't been there late at night to see the night owls at play (or at work, whichever you call it).
The daytime/evening cornerstone to Jakarta life seems to revolve around its many indoor air-conditioned shopping malls. They are quite a relief from the squalor, dirt, and heat of the non-shopping mall world of Jakarta. Actually most Indonesians that I've met seem to go there more than anywhere else, even if its just walking around doing nothing. Speaking of shopping malls in Jakarta, there is one shopping mall which built approximately 2000 apartments connected to and above its shopping mall. You can permently live above your favorite shopping mall in this city. A true shopper's paradise.
From what I understand though, most things in Indonesia seems to belong to foreign expats who make this place their temporary home. It also seems that foreigners are very much desired and sough after by many many Indonesians, as they own alot of wealth comparatively. The locals who own the rest of the stuff seem to be the Chinese-Indonesians from what I understand. Also, being a foreigner in this city, I can feel ALOT of resentment towards anyone who is a non-Indonesian, but also some interest. But generally, it kind of feels slightly aggressive. Hopefully I'm just being overly paranoid about things, and it has no real basis though.
Tomorrow I'll be going to Bandung, a place I might consider teaching English in the future. We'll see how that city is. Maybe I'll change my mind, or maybe I'll decide its the place?? I guess I won't know until tomorrow.
Next Journal Entry:
July 7, 2001
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