Jakarta, Indonesia- July 22, 2001
Back in Jakarta. I'm staying on Jalan Jaksa, the backpacker area of the city. All of the same prostitutes and transvestite lady-boys are still here, all hanging out with different foreigners then when I first flew into this city on June 30th. Actually I think alot of the foreigners do a pretty good job avoiding them because the women are constantly on the search for new prey. They usually just sit together in packs begging any guy to sit with them. I can hardly walk down the street without attention. Its always interesting though when I see some new guy new to town, and he thinks he is mesmerizing some "nice" girl in one of these Jalan Jaksa bars. Her eyes are probably lit up because she can smell the money that will be exhanging pockets.
Well, Jakarta had two bombs go off in two churches this morning. Its a Sunday today, and the city seems much quieter and much less traffic than I've seen on any other day. It seems like people don't want to go the main public places that they usually would. Tomorrow they expecting Wahid supporters from across the country to arrive in Jakarta and show their support for him not to be impeached. There is this general feeling of alot of s*&^ will be happening tomorrow! My Indonesian Jakarta friend advised me to leave town as soon as possible. But I think I'll hang out a couple more days and just see what happens.
Wahid was on television today telling people what a great President he has been, and that he has done nothing wrong. He told the supporters on national (and international television) that the police would use rubber bullets so that no one gets hurt tomorrow (if you read between the words, he is saying that feel free to demonstrate, because we promise we won't kill you with real bullets).
Tonight is just the calm before the storm, but there is a weird air tonight. One of uncentainty. But, on the other hand, all seems relatively the same as it is on any other day. Still people trying to sell stuff, people saying hello, prostitues trying to get me sit down at their tables as I walk by, and music being played everywhere. Alot less traffic, but it hasn't effected the backpacker ghetto of the city, and there are more travelling backpackers arriving even as we speak. Its all the status-quo here, but walk away from this area, and it seems much more quiet than usual.
My last day in Indonesia:
July 24, 2001
You can email me at:
Wintermoon2@yahoo.com