Damaged Roads

It is being reported that the Public Works Agency of Jakarta is planning to repair some 211,000 sqm of roads in the capital in the first six months of this year. This gets me wondering about just how many sqm of roads are damaged and in need of repair. This is because records state that the Public Works Agency reported repairing more than 400,000 sqm of roads during the past 12 months.

It seems that the priority is going to be the main thoroughfares first. This is probably a good idea. However, it is of limited value to someone like me who lives in the suburbs.

But, I guess if the Public Works Agency manages to fill in some of the potholes and prevent accidents then this has got to count for something. Nevertheless, it is a case of doing it right the first time in order not to have to repeat the same shenanigans over and over again after each rainy season. It is a simple philosophy really!

I have also been wondering of late, how many accidents are attributable to roads that are in a state of disrepair and whether this constitutes negligence on the part of the government of Jakarta? And, if it does can citizens sue the government for this negligence?

Life in Jakarta.

Skating Police

An article on the latest creative attempt by police to tame Jakarta's unruly traffic appeared in the Jakarta Post by way of the Associated Press last week that highlights the benefits of an innovative inline skating police force. This force is going to skate into heavily jammed areas and start directing traffic. It is expected that this will enable police to get to trouble spots quicker than they could if they were in vehicles or motor bikes.

For my mind mountain bikes might have been a wiser choice for this purpose. Any resident of Jakarta will readily and quickly tell you that the condition of roads leaves a lot to be desired and the footpaths are not any better. Most people can close their eyes and see the images now; police officers falling over all over the place, going feet first into uncovered storm water drains, and getting smashed by cars or buses running red lights. This just does not seem like that good idea on second thoughts!

The inline skating force will initially be 20 officers. These officers are undergoing specialized training and the police have hired a qualified and professional inline skating instructor to put the force through its paces. The force is expected to deploy on 1 July.

I am a bit of a skeptic on this one but would be happy to be proven wrong!

Virtue Indonesian Style

The title of this entry might be a little misleading (but the photo isn't though is it?) as I really want to talk about chastity belts and the idea that a little padlock will do! I must confess the topic is inspired by a thread running over at Indonesia Matters (Patung I do not know you but you have way too much free time on your hands if you can find this stuff out! Keep it coming!)...but it is based on a story out of the mainstream media (Kompas)

Now, in most parts of Indonesia a good panti pijat (massage parlour) can get you a "full" body massage and if you are a seasoned connoisseur then perhaps you will know your way around to the "full service" massage joints. It seems though that the government has decided to crack down on these dens of sin and depravity by requiring the female masseuses' to padlock their gear including their panties in order to prevent men from taking advantage of the situation...perhaps some of you more familiar with these services might be able to add a little about the "happy ending" and whether this is a value add service that is offered rather than demanded!

Otherwise I will have to trot out the well worn ... "I heard from a 'friend'" explanation!

If you can, try and visualize all these massage parlour owners running down to the local hardware store and cleaning them out of padlocks, then running back to their establishments, and then once they get there trying to figure out how the bloody hell am I going to attach this so that the masseuse cannot get her gear off?

But better than a padlock is a real, fair dinkum, no questions asked, balls taking chastity belt. The technology might have been a little crude in the centuries past but as the above photo highlights, a good chastity belt can become a fashion item in its own right, particularly when it covers all the essential bits! Besides I also thought it was time to get a little risque with the pictures (hope you approve FriskoDude, you did say more pictures, right?)...

I am sure that vice is a problem in Jakarta but I would hope that before the government of Jakarta spends any more time on this or any resources on study tours both locally and overseas that they fix the potholes in the roads! Because while taking an ojek to work this morning my normally trustworthy and slow ojek hit a pothole and I think I jarred my spine, so I am going to have to go and get a 'healthy' massage to repair my aching back!

Simply, the failure to fix Jakarta's rapidly deteriorating roads ensures that these dens of sin and depravity are full with the victims of these woeful Jakarta roads...

Happy hunting for the perfect panti pijat...the padlocks are coming, the padlocks are coming!