Nice work if you can get it.Like the
Swanker, I can't get too excited by this week's
Asia Africa Summit, especially as the rumoured holiday on Thursday may not materialise.
I watched S. Africa's President Mbeki arrive in Jakarta today. My office window overlooks the toll road from the Soekarno-Hatta airport which was specially emptied of regular traffic so he could motor majestically into town with his entourage. Coincidentally, my home lies more or less on the route from Halim airport, so I expect more hold ups this week as I seek to arrive at my various assignations.
I also expect to see lots more security. Today I've seen truckloads of soldiers with machine guns, a policeman at every road junction and road-sweepers galore (who are presumably cops in mufti.). I've also noted an absence of beggars and a lot fewer meals-on-wheels vendors.
Around 60 heads of state/government are expected to arrive in Jakarta on Thursday.In order to get a taxi home, I generally go under the westbound lanes of the toll road, over a fetid, stinking drainage canal, and then over a footbridge to the far side. Between the underpass and the bridge is a grassy area which is 'home' to half a dozen families who seem to survive by selling the plastic cups and bottles they dredge from the canal.
Today, I strolled past three policemen, dismounted from their trail bikes, who were enjoying a picnic in the park.
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