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span class="inline inline-none">Quality time: Sheila brings her pet, a civet cat, along to a gathering of Musang (Civet) Lovers around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle during Car-Free Day on May 27. Many communities enjoy their Sunday morning activities in the area. JP/P.J. LeoAs one of Indonesia’s landmarks, the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta has become a favored place for various parties to vent their frustrations.

It has witnessed massive protests over the plan to raise the prices of subsidized fuel and has been the center of May Day rallies.

Indeed, the circle is never really empty, often even at night.

Frequently on Friday and Saturday nights, hundreds of people occupy the circle. Yet, unlike those who bring banners and megaphones when they gather at the circle, these people bring nothing. They are there just to hang about and to refresh their minds after a stressful week.

Jaha, 22, for example, went to the traffic circle to rendezvous with her three friends last Saturday night. She came from her boarding house in Cengkareng, West Jakarta.

“It feels so good to be in an open space like this at night,” she said, adding that she had hung out at the circle over several weekends usually for about three hours. If it got too cool, she said, she would buy hot drinks from passing street vendors. For only Rp 3,000 (32 US cents), she could get a hot cup of coffee or ginger tea to warm her up.

“I love the scenery. During the day, passing through this area can be very frustrating but at night it is really beautiful. That is why I love coming here,” she said, while sipping her hot coffee.

Indeed, the scenery around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle is more beautiful at night. Several lamps illuminate the “Welcome to Jakarta” statue, erected upon a pedestal in the middle of the pool inside the circle. Skyscrapers surrounding the circle also glow in the dark of the night.

This beautiful scenery also entices Junaedi Sholeh, 28, to visit the circle but for different reasons.

“I frequently come here to practice my photography skills,” said Junaedi whose only companion was a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera.

His favorite objects, he said, were the buildings surrounding the traffic circle, which were bathed with lights. However, often times, he said, he also found many other surprising and interesting subjects to capture.

“Two weeks ago, there were a group of people dancing in various spots inside the circle,” he said, guessing that the group was practicing for an upcoming show.

Sometimes, he said, fancy cars and motorcycles would pass the circle, roaring their thunderous engines in the middle of the night.

Youngsters and lovebirds own the circle on Friday and Saturday night. On Sunday mornings however, family groups reign over the circle, turning it into the venue for their family outing while taking part in the Car Free Day program along Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin.

Doni Irawan, 35, for instance, went to the circle from his home at Petukangan in South Jakarta on Sunday morning, bringing along his three family members. “I wanted to show this place to my five-year-old daughter,” he said while watching as his daughter around a couple of meters away. (riz)