Indonesia and Super Mario

It might be a strange comparison but I'm just going to go ahead a say it - I feel like my life here sometimes resembles a video game. And not just any video game - Super Mario. You know the kind of game where you are just walking in the same direction and you have all of these obstacles, little turtles or pitfalls or something, to avoid. Here in Jakarta it is much the same.

You start out walking, take a big step to avoid the hole in the sidewalk - miss that one and you'll end up in the sewers. Walking, walking, oh no, you have to cross the street. Put your hand out and hope for the best - cars stop, motorcycles don't. After tangoing your way across the street you have to avoid the woman begging for money, walk around the garbage dump (hold your breath!) and balance on the edge of the sidewalk so you again don't end up in Jakarta's sewer system. Walking, walking, past all of the starring Indonesians, the children yelling stuff at you and the food carts. This really isn't an exaggeration, actually in many ways it is slightly watered-down (I am tired to into more detail...).

Not going to lie, it is not the most fun game BUT it keeps me engaged.