The Jakarta Conundrum

You don't see joggers here in Jakarta often.

Between the hazardous traffic ('Pedestrian crossing'? What's that?) and the poisonous smog that permeates every inch of the city, the only running you'd see here is limited in the gym--or when people are running for their buses, or when there's a robbery going on...

If you're lucky and happen to be pretty loaded on cash, you'd stay in one of those nice neighbourhoods where the traffic is slight and the pollution slightly better. They may have nice pedestrian walkways there for you too--that's not the case for where I'm living.

I heard that for most people, jogging means going to Monas and jogging around the monument. There is a Jakarta Marathon, which many runners turn away from due to their concerns for having to prepare a lung transplant or an iron lung once they're done.

It's pretty sad, y'know, 'cause with the hectic lifestyle and the burgeoning middle class (and fast food restaurant and the corresponding ever expanding waistline), the one thing Jakartans lack is an incentive to exercise. Slimming centers and gyms however, are the rage here (like spa and relaxation centers--a worthy investment here: a tip for you if you're a budding investor). That means that the only running and cycling people are doing are rooted at the spot on expensive equipments. As for all those not-so-well-off middle class which is the target for all those fast food restaurants? If they can't afford the gym, well... walking is not really a pleasant option here due to the danger and the smog (we hop into the cars for really anything that is more than 5 minutes walk).

The fitness buffs however, can take advantage of the many many triathlons, marathons and other sporting events happening around Indonesia--usually in beautiful islands like Bintan, Bali and Lombok--if they don't mind chalking up the mileage (budget airlines are a-dime-a-dozen here). I'd be looking out for them--you should too, if you like to enjoy a race and a vacation all in one weekend.

As for my stay in Jakarta, I'd make do with the exercise mat and the resistance band--and little jogs and runs in the wee morning when the smog hasn't blotted out the sky.