An American's Observations on Jakarta

A very good friend lived in Jakarta for three months.  On his second month, he made an account of some observations about the city that may seem unimportant to most of us but can be very interesting to know.

What I Know So Far

By: TSJ from San Jose, Ca.

I have been in Indonesia for two months now and here are some things I've heard, some things I've seen:

DRIVING

• Because traffic is a constant here, one must always allow themselves 1 hour to go anywhere (especially to eat or go to the mall).
• It is common for cars to have 2 people in them (the driver and the passenger). So there is a 3-in-1 law which is enforced to lessen cars on the roads just like our carpooling law in the US. So there are people in the streets who offer themselves, as the 3rd person, in exchange for money.
• Gas is about $0.40 per liter, which comes out to around $0.10 per gallon.
• There are a lot more motorcycles than cars here in Jakarta.  They are like annoying pests, coming out of nowhere to bother you  that you want to swat them but can't do anything about them.
• There is a helmet law.
• The car that bumps into another car is the one at fault. However, a motorcycle that bumps into a car is not at fault. Actually, the car is at fault. My cousin fell victim to this. Law protects motorcyclists.
• Driving is done on the wrong side of the road, the left side. So sitting shotgun is like sitting on the driver's side in the US without the steering wheel. And I'm always sitting there.
• Speed bumps are called "sleeping police".
• Tricycles, like in the Philippines, are called BMW (baji merah wanita). Literal Translation in Bahasa: red wedges women.

 Typical bumper-to-bumper traffic in Jakarta.  
Motorcycles, coming from all directions, squeeze in between cars

SPORTS

• Soccer is the main sport played and watched. 
• Basketball very closely follows, while many business men play golf. 
• ESPN seems to show only NY Yankee baseball and LA Laker basketball.

ENTERTAINMENT

• Mall is the main place for people to hang out which is largely attributed to the fact that 1) you get free A/C in the mall; 2) outdoors can be too hot during the day; 3) it seems like everything is attached to the mall: movies, clubs, restaurants, hotels, spas. And the great thing I noticed is  that every mall has a place for you to drop off your kids and let them play, until you're ready to go home to sleep.
  
•  House music is very popular among the older crowd (28+), while hip hop is popular with the younger crowd.
• Beers and other alcohol are just as expensive as in the US (Muslims and their influence)
• Spring chickens are not the main course for a meal, but women that you know... for money. 
• They love the Terminator out here. It seems like the movie channels are always showing old Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.
  

Huge malls are sprouting in Jakarta like mushrooms.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

• Beware: they do not use toilet paper in many places. Either bring your own or learn how to use the water bucket or water squirter. Be aware that it might get messy and sting a little (you'll understand if you use the squirter incorrectly).

FOOD

• Food here have Dutch influence, as the Dutch ruled the country for 350 years.
• If you like spicy hot food, this is the country to come to. Most of the food here are cooked with chili and are so hot they can kill any bacteria in your mouth. Be sure to drink lots of water and bring your antacid.
• Many dishes and sauces are made with peanuts (beware if you have any allergies). 
• If you love pork, this is not the country to come to (Mulsim influence). The good thing about this, you don't have to worry about the swine flu.

Crabs in bean sauce and a whole lot of chili.

RELIGION 

• Indonesia has the highest Muslim population in the world. 
• Prayer can be heard 5 times a day in the neighborhood.