Jakarta Car Free Day

Jakarta Located on the northwest coast of java with total area : 650 square kilometres. Jakarta is the capital city of Republic Indonesia. it is also the country’s economic, culture, and political centre. Jakarta has grown rapidly and it is the most populated city in Indonesia and in Southeast Asia, and is the thirteenth most populated city in the world. Total population is 9.6 million at nights, 12 million during the day.

Every big city in the world has its own problem. it depends on how the government manage that problem to make it better. In Jakarta, we can see traffic jam during work hours and air pollution covered the city. Based on the Jakarta condition’s, perhaps Jakarta needs more an open space area for social activity, sport, creativity and etc. That’s the beginning of the ‘Car Free Day’ idea in Jakarta.

Car Free Day held by so many cities and countries all over the world, such Bogota, France and etc. September 22^th is World Car Free Day. Jakarta Car Free Day has started since 2005. The Standard Operational Procedure of Jakarta Car Free Day regulated by local act No.2/2005.  At the beginning, the event was conducted every month, then became twice a month, and now there’s Car Free Day every week, on Sunday from 6 am - 11 am.

The Car Free Day coordinators closed the streets of the city from cars and invited local pedestrian to exercise and having their activities on the streets that normally full of cars and traffic. You can see Car Free Day location below :

·   Province level                          : Jl. Sudirman - Jl. MH Thamrin;

·   East Jakarta municipality          : Jl. Pemuda;

·   North Jakarta municipality       : Jl. Danau Sunter Selatan;

·   Central Jakarta municipality     : Jl. Letjend Soeprapto;

·   South Jakarta municipality       : Jl. Sisingamangaraja;

·   West Jakarta municipality        : Kota Tua area.

From all the location which mentioned above, I recommend Jl. Sudirman - Jl. MH Thamrin than the others. we can easily find the access to get to this road because its location in the center of Jakarta. We can get there by using public transportation, Transjakarta was operated at the Car Free Day event. Along the road from Jl. Sudirman to Jl. MH Thamrin, there’s the icon of Jakarta such as Gelora Bung Karno Stadion, Patung Selamat Datang Bunderan HI and Monumen Nasional (Monas).

Car Free Day programme has aims to reduce air pollution, sport promotion for healthy life, and education in efficiency of car usage in to public transportation, ride a bicycle or walk. People usually come to do sport like running, jogging, cycling and etc. Beside that, people also come to enjoy live music, festival, art show, social event and etc.

Seeing the success of Car Free Day in Jakarta, Car Free Day programme was adopted by so many city in Indonesia such Solo, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Medan and Bogor. 

The Incredible Underwater World of Lombok

   For someone who loves the underwater world, Lombok island might become one of the good option to be considered. Lombok has an incredible underwater world while the other islands in Indonesia or in the world may not have it. It’s very natural and diverse underwater world. So, that’s why, Lombok become one of the favourite and the famous tourist destination in Indonesia.

                Lombok island located in west nusa tenggara province, with the Lombok strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. Total area of Lombok is about 5.435 Km². The indigenous people in Lombok is sasak tribe. Literally, the word ‘Lombok’ means chili. Lombok also popular for it’s traditional transportation called cidomo, the carriage drawn by horse. Is there anybody know why they close the horse’s eyes ? Tourist guide asked it and then answered it by himself. He said, ‘horse cannot control itself when seeing girl, so that’s why they close the horse’s eyes, then horse won’t run if there’s a girl’. Visitors laughed spontaneously. Before getting in to the underwater world destination, cidomo commonly used as an access to and from tourist destination.

                There is several underwater world destination which is very famous and frequently visited by local and international visitors such as senggigi beach located in the west coast of Lombok island and 3 exotic Gili (Gili means island) that is Gili trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili air, located in the west beach area of Lombok.    

                Senggigi beach offers many activities to entertain the visitors such as diving, snorkeling, surfing, jet sky and etc. This beach also has a complete facilities like hotel, restaurant, café, mini market, transportation and those will give more easiness to the visitors. Enjoying the beautiful underwater world by snorkeling is recommended.  Beside that, the natural view of the beach will definitely give new energy to the visitors.

                Gili trawangan is the biggest island and the most visited among the other gili (gili means island). Every year, there’s so many visitors come to this place, no longer this place become more crowded. Supporting the needs of the visitor, they provide good facilities and even the five-star hotel already exist there. You can enjoy and experience underwater world by diving or snorkeling. But if you want to enjoy it without getting wet, you can explore 3 gili (gili trawangan, gili meno and gili air) by boat which its bottom made of transparent glass, so you can see clearly the view of underwater world. The coral reefs and the colorful fish will be seen through the journey.

                Gili meno located between gili trawangan and gili air. This place is very quiet, so it’s suit for someone who loves quietness. Enjoy sunbathing face to the beach with music plays on your ears will relax and refresh your mind. Gili air is not too crowded and it’s also not too quiet, I think it’s medium. Gili air has a complete facilities, so no need to worry. The best moment here is play at the beach, you can see a beautiful sand and colorful layers of water that is dark blue, light blue and dark green.

                The visitors can enjoy the beautiful view since they step on the beach, then explore the incredible underwater world of Lombok. They will be amazed because of what they can see, then will express thanks to God for His great creation. Usually, they decide to come and visit Lombok again in another good day.