Jakarta or Jaya Karta as it was known and before that as Sunda Pura, is a bustling busy city. Like the last time I visited Singapore, I had to spend a weekend in the region, before continuing the work schedule on Monday. This weekend I decided to visit Jakarta and was hosted by an old friend and classmate. Jakarata has been a capital city for two thousand years and even during the SriVijaya times. The contrast with Bali was stark. Traffic jams everywhere, dust, pollution and in general a very densely populated metropolis. Not very many architectural features remaining from the past, unlike Bali and so had to be content with playing golf. I had almost forgotten what it is like to golf in Asia. We had caddies and ball-boys who ensured that even the most egregious hits were recovered. Did not have to carry the bags and a club was always available to the outstretched hand. You could walk and have a conversation – not always possible on western golf courses with carts and pressure to play fast to keep up.
Filed under: Foreign Affairs
