Yesterday Jakarta saw the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (affectionately known as SBY). The presidents of both Australia and Malaysia were both in town to see SBY start his second term on the back of a big mandate following a sweeping election victory. Indonesia is one of the most democratic countries in Asia, and SBY is now the 6th Indonesian president following liberation from colonialisation.
I was lucky enough to be invited to a not entirely unrelated dinner on the same evening and there was much discussion about the future of Indonesia, its gifts and its failings. The most optimistic dinner guest carefully explained to me that Indonesia is in fact heaven; blessed with 15,000 beautiful islands (17,000 at low tide), warm weather, friendly people and every possible natural resource - all spread across a distance the equivalent of London to Moscow. Hard to argue. But it would be nice if the phones worked too.
P.S. Well done to 50% of you who identified Java as the island home of Jakarta. Keep trying the quizzes!
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