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Recent Posts
- Facing gender inequality In Indonesia, not so different from the West
- Jakartans claim public spaces wherever they can find room
- After tense election season, Indonesians breathe sigh of relief
- Stark contrasts, historical ignorance on display in Indonesian presidential race
- Southeast Asia’s forests: vital and vanishing
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Author Archives: Katherine
America is not a “banana republic”: A response to Salon.com
In a recent Salon.com article, “Look at the stats: America resembles a poor country,” writer CJ Werlemen likens America to a Third World nation. Having spent the last three-plus years in developing countries, I feel this deserves comment. I don’t … Continue reading
Posted in Bureaucracy, Culture, Indonesia, Politics
Tagged America, banana republic, food security, indonesia, inequality, Poverty, public policy, salon.com, stunting
1 Comment
Jakartans jockey carpool laws
If you’ve been following this blog, you’ve read all about the trials of Jakarta traffic, but there are a few fascinating tidbits left to learn. The city has in fact made an attempt at limiting traffic on the most major … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Indonesia, Our Daily Life
Tagged carpool, commute, Jakarta, jockey, Traffic
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Jakarta takes first steps for sidewalks
Yesterday the Jakarta Globe (one of two major English-language newspapers here) published an optimistic cover piece about a movement to improve Jakarta’s sidewalks. As I’ve said in previous posts, transport in this city is a problem almost beyond description, as … Continue reading
Posted in Indonesia, Our Daily Life
Tagged foodstal, Jakarta, Jokowi, motorcycle, pedestrian, sidewalk, Traffic, warteg
1 Comment
Bangkok can provide lessons for Jakarta
When describing Indonesia, people often refer to its nearest neighbors as points of comparison. These include Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. Its two fellow middle-income countries, the Philippines and Thailand, make useful points of comparison because their respective capitals, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Indonesia, Politics, Religion
Tagged bangkok, Jakarta, megga city, public transit, quality of life, urban policy
11 Comments
Jakarta’s festive, grisly holiday
On Tuesday, Indonesian Muslims sacrificed animals to please Allah. In doing so they remembered the story of Abraham from the Quran, who was willing to sacrifice his own son for God, and they remembered God’s kindness for providing a sheep … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Food & Drink, Indonesia, Religion
Tagged animal, eid ul adha, Islam, Jakarta, post office, Sacrifice
4 Comments
Streetside livestock bring redemption and risk
Once a year New York City sidewalks fill up with pine trees for sale. Once a year Jakarta sidewalks fill up with livestock for sale. As Muslims plan to sacrifice them in Allah’s name – as I wrote in our … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Indonesia, Our Daily Life, Religion
Tagged anthrax, cows, eid ul adha, foodborne illess, goats, Jakarta, livestock for sale, public health, Sacrifice, sacrifice animals
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In Jakarta, surge in urban husbandry precedes day of sacrifice
As I’ve mentioned, Jakarta is a city of strange juxtapositions. Our lovely housing complex is surrounded by a wall; on the other side, just behind our house and slightly uphill, is a quarter-acre lot that until last week was vacant, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Food & Drink, Indonesia, Religion
Tagged animals, eid ul adha, Islam, Jakarta, Sacrifice
3 Comments
Reckless bus drivers make headlines
As a follow-up to my previous post about transportation: Jakarta bus drivers made headlines this week. The Jakarta Globe reported that “almost half of Jakarta’s 28,000 public transport drivers are either not in possession of a motor vehicle license or … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Indonesia
Tagged Jakarta, Jakarta bus drivers, Jakarta Globe, public transport, public transport drivers, underage drivers
2 Comments
In the absence of public works, Jakartans cope with a daily slog
Traffic is the unifying element in Jakarta life; it’s effect on the lives of all Jakartans cannot be overstated. Unless you have been in it, Jakarta traffic is difficult to understand. Each day, 28 million people go to work and … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Indonesia, Our Daily Life
Tagged bajai, bus, Jakarta, ojek, public transit, taxi, Traffic, train
4 Comments
Extremists’ moral muscle forces detour for female stars
Jakarta is no stranger to major international events and concerts, such as a recent Metallica concert and the Mixed Martial Arts (cage fighting) world championship. But many events planned for Jakarta are canceled on short notice for vague reasons; some … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Indonesia, Politics, Religion
Tagged born this way, Extremists, indonesia, Islam, Islamic defenders front, Jakarta, Lady gaga, Miss world, miss world pageant, pageant, religious extremists, william pesek
2 Comments