I
went back to Jakarta couple weeks ago with my two children. Though I
wasn't born in Jakarta but grew up there so I still called Jakarta my
home-town. It was nice to be back again, I try to go once a year if
it's possible.
However, we didn't really enjoy the flight though. I
always dislike the flights to and from Jakarta, it's always at the odd
hours. Initially our flight was at 2.20 am then I got text message that
said it had been delayed to 3.20 am, and when we got to the airport the
screen showed it won't fly until 4.20am.....arrgghhh! To make it more
miserable both of my Boys were not feeling that flash at that time. One
had bad croup and the other had really bad cough and high temperature.
So, I really didn't appreciate had to spend couple hours waiting at the
airport with two sick boys. Honestly I actually almost turned back and
cancelled my trip! I felt so stressed and sorry for my kids. When we
finally on the plane, one boy slept the 4.5 hours flight (thanks God!)
while the other one was so restless and didn't close his eyes at all!
When we finally landed at around 8am Jakarta's time we felt like and
looked like a zombie!
Jakarta
is always busy and hectic. The city is really never sleeps, even at
midnight the traffic jam is still crazy! Things that I hate about
Jakarta are; the traffic, it's really getting worse and unbearable every
time I come to visit. I had to endure 2.5 hours sitting in the car on
our way back from Ancol to Kuningan. Some people in Jakarta had to get
up by 5 in the morning to be at work by 8 am! When I was still living
and working in Jakarta, in the peaks hour we could go through back
alleys or shortcuts to avoid the traffic jam. But today the taxi driver
told me there's no alley or shortcut that you can go through, peak or
not busy hours, cars and motor cycles jammed together side by side not
moving at all. I really think that the government should do something
with the public transport system.
Secondly,
I hate that Jakarta is lack of park and play ground for children. They
build so many shopping malls and yes one or two of those shopping malls
may have children entertainment area or indoor playground but that's
all. Plus the fee is not that cheap either to leave your children in one
of that indoor playground. The lack of outdoor space for children,
green area and parks probably because so many high-rise offices, malls,
and residential building keep growing and growing.
Next hate is
the pedestrian walk. There's no way that we can walk safely and
comfortably around Jakarta, especially with young children. Road works,
building constructions, vehicles, make it impossible and unsafe.
The
most I love about Jakarta is the pampering. From massage to hair spa,
body scrub and any other beauty treatments that you can name it, Jakarta
has it all for a very good price too, way cheaper than in western
country. Won't you love when you spend 2 hours massage and body scrub
that cost you just around A$25???
The other thing that I love in
Jakarta is the food for sure. Eating out is cheaper, not to mention
your mother's home cook too. Also, there are always food 24/7 be it in
the fancy posh restaurant, small little restaurant along the street, or
even in the street in front of your house; from morning to midnight they
will push their little cart and yell what they are selling (
teee....for satay, for example ). You will never go hungry in Jakarta
for sure :)
Shopping
is also number one activity for the shopaholic. From expensive designer
brands to the copy cat of them you can find it in this crazy city
pretty easy. Least but not last is the night life! For clubbers and
party goers Jakarta is the city that you can party on all night long and
hang out with so much fun and style.
My wishes for Jakarta is to
solve the crazy mad traffic jam and for the government to stop granting
permit for new malls and apartments. The city is getting too much
pollution from the million numbers of cars and please have green parks
than more shopping malls and high-rise apartments.
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