It’s the gray season here in SE Asia. Alighted very early from the hotel in Hong Kong and headed out to the airport—the sky was lightening, but there’s just this eternal haze. Same thing Monday in Zhongshan. Bethany and I wondered if people ever see blue sky here. After passing thru immigration and passing a mini version of The Bean in Chicago (this one’s called the Dew Drop, I think. Fun, but not as well-polished), we made our way to the Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge where we had cappucinos and watched a report on CNN International on recent plane crashes in Indonesia. The debate seemed to be: Pilot error? Endemic problem with Indonesian Air Traffic Control? Either way, it sure brightened our spirits as we waited to board the plane for our flight to…that’s right, Jakarta! I couldn’t help but have this in the back of my mind as our VERY turbulent flight took us down over Vietnam, across the equator, and in to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The approach to the airport took us over very tropical areas….lots of red-tile roofs, and lots strewn with gargabe. The sky was, of course, gray. The airport itself is kind of like an overgrown airfield---one-story buildings, very tropical greenery and architecture---it’s not a big hub or anything. Bought my Visa upon entry (very painless), considered the “Death Penalty for Drug Smugglers” signs in the airport (very painful), then gathered our stuff and out we went to meet our driver, Pak Dikdik. The drive in from the airpot took us past swollen waterways (the Jakarta Post reports that high ocean tides have resulted in flooding that’s wreaking a bit of havoc in North Jakarta, sort of where the airport is), and Pak Dikdik did a great job of dodging the incessant lane-changing of his fellow drivers. As we got in to the city we got off the highway and onto some of the tiny tiny local streets on our way to the hotel. Motorbikes everywhere, and wee little 3-wheeled cargo vehicles called Bajaj weaving to and fro. Bobbi’s cousin Marc was right; the poverty here, and the highly visible disparity between haves and have-nots, is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. SUVs and Mercedes driving amongst street after street of begging children, garbage, and meandering (somewhat insane-acting) goats. Intersections are scary---everyone racing through them, jockeying for position as the street children who beg at the stoplights try to stay out of the way. Our arrival at the hotel was like we were entering a mini Green Zone; guards check under and inside each car before its allowed on the property, and they also enter the car with some sort of electronic sniffer and check us out, the driver, and the glovebox. Then we get to the front door, but can’t enter the lobby until we pass through the metal detectors. Once inside the Shangri-La Hotel, it’s all immaculate service and highly-attentive uniformed personnel…and a fair number of armed guards. We checked in and I got to my room just as the 3pm call to prayer was being broadcast from the local mosques (there are many here; one right across the pool area from my room). Then we headed to the Motorola offices for a pre-pro meeting, and entering that facility was the same thing; vehicle inspection, metal detectors, and many armed guards everywhere. The gray, very humid skies persist (we are told it will be like this for about 4 months), but we’re very much looking forward to Wednesday….6 interviews, lots of b-roll, then a dash to the airport for the red-eye to Tokyo.
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