Jakarta deserted, recreational centers crowded

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 10/02/2008 11:58 PM  |  Jakarta

Jakarta's downtown areas, normally packed with traffics, were literally deserted on the second day of Idul Fitri celebrations on Thursday.

Jakarta's main thoroughfares, i.e. Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin, were empty from traffics, except at locations near shopping centers like Sarinah, Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia at Jl. Thamrin.

"The streets look emptier now than any other national holidays," Wahono, a security officer at an office building on Jl. Sudirman, told Antara.

In contrast to the situation in central Jakarta, streets leading to recreational sites such as Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta , Indonesia-in-Miniature Park or Taman Mini in East Jakarta and the Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta, were packed with both public and private vehicles taking holidaymakers.

On Jalan Harsono leading to Ragunan Zoo, traffics were so dense that at midday vehicles could move at a speed of five kilometers per hour. The police then rerouted some of the vehicles wanting to go to Ragunan Zoo through alternative roads.

"We come here (Ragunan Zoo) every Lebaran just to take our kids out," said Harry, 28, with his two kids and wife. They came all the way from Parung in Bogor.

Traffics also clog roads leading to Taman Mini where vehicles had to wait in long line to pass through the ticket counters.

The same situation prevailed on Jalan RE Martadinata and Jalan Gunug Sahari, the two only roads leading to Ancol Dreamlad where traffic police worked hard to keep the traffics moving. (rid)

 

 

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