Happy New Year!

So here’s what you can expect in a more or less generic New Year’s Eve in Jakarta:

• afternoon to evening, the roads will be relatively empty, as many people will still be going to Puncak, or another out-of-town destination. I still don’t know why that after 20 years and almost no development, Puncak is still a destination.
• sounds of fireworks will start as soon as it gets dark.
• the people selling new year trumpets will have a rush of orders; they’ll need to unload their merchandise quickly, anyway.
• the streets will get jammed 10 PM upwards, filled with people in the streets parking irregularly and blowing their new year trumpets in everybody’s ear.
• bars will be packed with people wanting to countdown the seconds enchanced with various types of alcoholic drinks.
• somebody, somewhere is having a DVD marathon at home and hating the noise outside.
• don’t ever go to the Monas area because it will be packed even more.
• pickpockets have the time of their life in the throng of new year crowds.
• policemen are overwhelmed trying to organize the traffic and people, simply give up and go to the nearest coffee stall.
• ‘anti-maksiat’ patrols will still make rounds in certain areas, waving their banner high.
• but all over Jakarta, people will be forgetting their worries for the moment, as they celebrate the coming of a new year!

Happy New Year, Jakartans. Keep safe and good luck!