Jakarta (this is a Javaminilogue from Alissa) Today is the day before the big holiday for the Haj. As I drive to work, we pass many farm animals. At a traffic light, large white cows stare at the car window, slowly chewing grass, oblivious to the fact that tomorrow they will be slaughtered and butchered in sacrifice. The meat will be distributed to the poor. There are also goats. A cow will cost 7 million rp. A goat only 300 thousand. (~US$700 and US$30, respectively) Most of the cows are thin and bony, but the goats seem to have healthier coats and more meat on them. This evening, the road is lined with red PDI flags -- PDI is a political party. I don't know why. We have turned off the main road (Mampang Prapatan) and have come to a standstill. This too I don't know why. It's better to not worry about it as there is nothing to do about it. The cars and buses and motorcycles and bajai will move and stop and start and creep along at their own pace and rhythm. Pink cars are popular here. I just passed two of them. One was a silvery dusky pink and the other fuchsia. We have turned onto Kemang Timur and are zipping down the road. The stores seem to have all closed early, for the holiday, I'm sure. Kemang Timur is one of the streets with many furniture stores/workshops. |