Mixed emotions for a young Dutch guy in Jakarta. I marvel at the fact that we as such a small country and people were able to run this amazing archipelago for centuries. I'm very ashamed that we did. There's not much left today in Jakarta of the Dutch occupation. You can still find some old Dutch buildings by the old harbour but they're falling apart due to lack of maintenance.

After independence things changed rapidly in Indonesia. It's an enormous country divided into thousands of islands which makes it hard to rule by any government. A range of different religions doesn't make it easier. Nor does the corruption which is infamous. I had to buy my way in with some old Dutch double salty liccorice with customs officers at Jakarta Airport! They didn't like it much so I could keep the bag..

The extreme difference between rich and poor was hard to find in this street for the poor don't even come here to beg. There's a poor street cigarette vendor there but I know it's much worse. Still there's also a lot of development in areas of this amazing country. Sadly enough the environment pays a high price. And so do some indigenous peoples.