Random Act of Kindness

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Design: doughnutcrazy
Icon: morphine_kissed

Exploring (Northern) Jakarta

I was supposed to have my hair treatment at the salon with two of my cousins today. After much consideration at which hair salon should we do the treatment in, the decision falls to do it in Pluit. I was a bit skeptic when hearing it. The only thing that concerned me was, having to drive there myself, I'm no good with direction and my knowledge about Jakarta streets is very limited.

Pluit is located in the northern part of Jakarta. I live in the east side. Almost half of my life spent traveling from the east to the central where my high school was - in a chauffeured driven car. And I started driving in Jakarta a little more than a month ago.

So there I went, thinking all I need to do is going on the inner city toll road - keep going and there will be signage saying where I should exit. Easy peasy japanese. Was calling my Dad and cousin to make sure which exact exit I should go to. One thing learned, calling and Blackberry-messaging while driving in a toll road is a bad idea. BAD IDEA. It distracts you from reading the signage properly because you need to concentrate on your phone while maintaining your speed.

Now, instead of taking left to the other route toll road, I went ahead until the end of that toll road at Tanjung Priuk. I have never been to the end of the toll road (and actually always wonder and I always assume that it goes in a circle!! Now I know!). Tanjung Priuk is a port harbour. All export/import shipping that go to or through Jakarta stops there. So, I ever so suddenly surrounded by big trucks and some were carrying containers. Darn. The worst thing is I dont know how to get out.

After getting lost for following a few truckies, entering the gate to the harbour, asking people and going round in circle I finally decided to cancel my appointment and my mission was to get home.

Getting home was another issue. I finally found a way to get back to the toll road. Well, this is going to be easy. I know my way. After driving for a wee while the phone rang (next time I wont pick up phones while driving on a toll road!) My cousin was still trying to get me to our appointment. "Don't go down on the exit to your home. Keep straight and you will see the Grogol signage and you need take that left and on to Grogol route...", she said. But I can't see the signage that says Grogol! What do you mean? I don't want to go to .... Bandung..., or OMG that's Grogol! I was on the right lane and on to Pondok Gede/Taman Mini route.

What the...?!

I then spent another 45 minutes in a traffic jam in Taman Mini with buses and angkots with no where to take U turn. Hop into a police station's parking lot to do the turn and made my way back home. You cannot believe how glad I was seeing familiar signage, almost like it's crying "Home this way, baby!"

Next time, no more cellphone and blackberry while driving alone, especially when I don't know where I'm going. Better yet, don't go at all if I don't know where I'm going! And take mental note to buy maps and fit GPS in the car (!!)

A. Tanjung Priuk
B. Pondok Gede
X. Home

Labels: jakarta, life

A thought about Jakarta

Every weekdays, I spend 40 minutes minimum to get to the office. It is located probably only 6 Km away from my house. It is a ridiculous amount of time wasted.

I don't like what I see each day. Traffic jam. The goddamn traffic jam. *sigh* Too many unruly public transportation providers (angkots, metro minis, ojeks) but not wide enough roads, too many laws but a shortage of law enforcements, and this... too many motorbikes. I heard at some point of time the price of motorbikes dropped and suddenly everyone can afford one. They cram the streets like ants attacking sweet crumbs. Clogging entrances to overpass, bridge, road along with those unruly public transport taking/ dropping passengers anytime, anywhere their heart desire.

Apart from the global financial crisis and Calegs losing at the legislative election .. no wonder more and more Jakartans (is this what they called Jakarta people? D'uh.) either admitted to mental hospital or committing suicide.

Labels: jakarta, random

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