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Continue reading →: 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 want to undermine the author’s points on America’s many problems,…
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Continue reading →: 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 central throughway (Jalan Sudirman). In 1994, like many cities, Jakarta…
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Continue reading →: 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 is the lack of spaces to walk. So I am…
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Continue reading →: 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, Manila and Bangkok, are considered “mega-cities” like Jakarta. Because I…
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Continue reading →: 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 instead. After the animals — goats, sheep and cattle —…
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Streetside livestock bring redemption and risk
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Continue reading →: Streetside livestock bring redemption and riskOnce 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 previous post. Buying a goat for Eid-ul-Adha in Jakarta is…
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Continue reading →: 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, save for some banana trees, a shack and piles of…
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Continue reading →: 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 are too young to be behind the wheel.” Because public…
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Continue reading →: 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 to school across this dense, poorly laid out metro area.…
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Extremists’ moral muscle forces detour for female stars
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Continue reading →: Extremists’ moral muscle forces detour for female starsJakarta 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 recent victims have been Lady Gaga, Kesha, and now, the…
Hello,
I’m Katherine
I started this blog while living as a single expat more than 20 years ago. Now with husband and two kids in tow I’m keeping the adventures alive. Follow along for travel tips and life detours!
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