Starting off with a bang

While crowd-averse Jakartans opted to spend New Year’s Eve in the comfort of their homes, many other city dwellers joined the throngs gathered in the city’s streets and main landmarks to celebrate the New Year in a relatively joyous and festive spirit.

Residents were seen blowing their trumpets, watching fireworks across different parts of town, playing music and sharing happy moments with less fortunate ones on Friday night.

The town’s top hotels threw their yearly lavish parties for the city’s elite, while the city administration staged impressive firework displays and live entertainment for thousands of revelers and families at Ancol Beach.

Traffic came to its usual standstill just before midnight around the city’s main arteries and Ancol, causing many to listen to the countdown sitting in their car while motorcycles weaved their way through a sea of cars.

Celebrations took place peacefully in several parts of town, including Indonesia’s Miniature Park and the city zoo in Ragunan. — JP