Sujadi’s Blog

I often get this question from family members, friends and colleagues - “How long does it take to get from point A to point B in Jakarta?” And my standard answer is - “It depends”. No one can give you a definite answer to the question without considering several variables. The traffic situation in Jakarta is worsening.

So, to gauge how long it takes to travel within Jakarta - you need to take into account Day, Time and Weather. In short, DTW. Simple, right? Ok, here goes..

DAY: DO NOT believe anyone who says it’ll take only a few minutes from point A to point B - IF there’s no macet (traffic jam). There WILL be macet during weekdays - Monday to Friday. It’s worse now because they’re constructing special bus lanes on major roads which they call bus-way. Therefore the space for private vehicles is being squeezed. The macet includes the toll road(expressway) from/to the airport. Here, they are widening and elevating the roads to prevent them from being submerged by flood water -like what happened a few months back.

The rule of thumb is to X2 the time quoted by the driver to take you to your destination during weekdays. You can breathe easier on Saturday and Sunday. BUT do remember that there’s a CAR FREE DAY every last Sunday of the month. The main road - Jalan Sudirman and Thamrin (it’s like Singapore’s Shenton Way) - will be closed to traffic from early morning till about 4 or 5pm. There’s a silly reason behind this initiative which I would rather not go into. My purpose in raising this point is that this CAR FREE DAY causes MACET on SUNDAY! Argh!!!

TIME: There’s hardly any time that Jakarta roads are not clogged with traffic. However the worst part of the day is 7.30am-10.30am and 4pm-8pm - on weekdays. And also lunch time between 12-2pm. If you’re in Jakarta for leisure, it’s better to remain indoors between 4pm-8pm. And if you’re in the capital for business, it’s best you keep to 2 appointments a day.

Avoid arriving in Jakarta between 5pm and 8pm. The 45 min journey from the airport to centre of Jakarta may stretch to  1.5hr to 2 hrs. So you see what I mean? There’s very little time when there’s no macet.

Oh yes…if you’re leaving for the airport between 6pm and 8pm, I suggest you give yourself an extra 15 mins on top of the 1 hour regular journey. That’s why I prefer to take the early morning flight - before 8am. Yes…get up at 5am! But I can get to the airport in 35 minutes…haha!

WEATHER: Rain means Macet. Heavy rain for 1 hour means flood. If it’s raining and you have a flight to catch, I suggest you turn on the radio or tv to check if the road to the airport is still passable. My personal best time to the airport is 3.5 hours. And the taxi I was in almost turned into a submarine. The wet season usually comes around in the early part of the year. But recently, high tides have also submerged the roads to/from the airport.

So remember DTW. Wait…one more to remember. Street demonstrations or Demo as they call it here. They cause macet on major roads when thousands of Indonesians take to the streets protesting against almost anything. They usually take place in front of the parliament house - which you have to pass if you’re heading towards the airport. Another favourite Demo location in the circle called Bunderen HI - in front of Plaza Indonesia. You may know in advance when the Demo will take place from online news portal such as detik.com.

Finally, if you stuck in Jakarta traffic, you will need lots of vitamin P — Patience.

 

Yes…I was on leave the past week. And every long school holidays, I turn driver/tour guide for my family who comes to visit me in Jakarta. Not that I begrudge it. I do it willingly simply because I want to spend as much time with them.

My kids have become fascinated with volcanoes in Indonesia following reports of volcanic activities in the country the past few years since I have been here. So this time we headed to Mount Bromo in East Java. This is the 3^rd active volcano we’ve visited after Mount Merapi in Central Java and West Java’s Mount Tangkuban Perahu.

I’m sure many of you have been to Bromo or at least read about it somewhere. Watching the crack of dawn at 2694 meters above sea level was just breathtaking. Mount Semeru was clearly in the background – spewing hot clouds the past week. Crossing the volcano’s “desert” on horse-back to the foot of the crater makes you feel like you’re Indiana Jones. Then the sulphur-choking climb – on foot - to have a ringside view of the volcano’s belly. Don’t forget to bring your puffer if you’re asthmatic.

Yes, of course it was dangerous. Bromo could just release its trapped energy while we were gazing at its belly. That was what happened a few years back. 2 people were killed – one of them was a Singaporean. And guess what? There’s not a single shelter for you to run for cover. And no ranger post either to warn of the impending danger. The only people you had to count on were the locals who run the horse-rental service. They are the Tenggeres – not Javanese. Hindus – not Muslim.

But even if there is a bunker, visitors may have a slim chance of surviving if Bromo decides to release its hot gas and ashes. That was what happened at Mount Merapi 2 years ago. 2 persons were cooked alive after the bunker they were taking shelter was covered by hot volcanic rocks and ashes. During one of my “live” crosses while covering Merapi, Dominic Loh asked me where I would run for cover if the volcano erupted. I simply answered – to the bunker. Hmmm…

Despite the potential risks, people still flock to view the volcanoes up close. Some how – whether as tourists or journalists - you tend not to think too much of the potential dangers when you’re close to the action. Most times you go by gut instinct and trust the judgment of the locals. Too bad if you happen to be at the wrong place and at the wrong time. You’ll miss the beauty of Indonesia if you only go to Bali. Like the sticker on my laptop says: Travel Warning – Indonesia, Dangerously Beautiful.