Capital becomes like a ghost city<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most offices and shops throughout the city were
\nclosed on Thursday as city residents were still gripped by the
\nfestive mood of Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Most activities practically ground to a halt and the capital
\nwas left like a ghost city. A handful of restaurants which were
\nopened were flooded by customers, who mostly complained about
\ndifficulties in finding lunch.<\/p>\n
The habitual hustle-and-bustle of traffic along the major
\nthoroughfares like Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Juanda and Jl.
\nCikini Raya in Central Jakarta was absent and these roads were so
\ndeserted that only a few vehicles could be spotted.<\/p>\n
According to some employees, office activities would restart
\nonly on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"I think most offices have let their employees enjoy the Idul
\nFitri vacation for one full week. It is not surprising as such a
\npolicy has been implemented for years,\" said a security guard of
\nan office complex on Jl. Sudirman.<\/p>\n
Dede, a marketing officer of a water treatment machine
\ndistributor in Grogol, West Jakarta, said that he would start
\nwork again on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We would have nothing to do if we went to work now as
\ncustomers are still on vacation,\" he said. \"Now I just go around
\nvisiting customers to deliver Idul Fitri greetings.\"<\/p>\n
A staff member of the city's inspectorate office said that
\nonly 10 employees of the office showed up on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"Those who do not show up include employees in charge of
\nhandling the corruption cases in the city administration,\" the
\nstaff member, who asked for anonymity, said.<\/p>\n
\"What can I say? I guess everybody's on holiday.\"<\/p>\n
About 15 of the city's public relations bureau staffers were
\nseen chatting or making personal calls with two others being
\ncaught sleeping. Some of them left the office two hours earlier
\nthan the usual 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a staff member of the city's employee affairs
\nbureau, said that he did not expect such a high degree of
\n\"truancy\" from employees of the city administration.<\/p>\n
\"The bureau expected at least those who had not traveled out
\nof the city to show up today,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sidewalk vendors at Senen market in Central Jakarta and some
\nshopping centers did start their activities on Thursday, but only
\na few customers appeared.<\/p>\n
At Senen market almost all vendors displayed their merchandise
\non part of the road, thereby causing traffic to slow down but no
\ncongestion.<\/p>\n
The nearby Atrium shopping center also opened but it was short
\nof visitors.<\/p>\n
Restaurants which had opened were packed by customers on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
On. Jl. Sabang and Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta, the
\nlocation of tens of restaurants, parked cars lined the streets.<\/p>\n
A customer of the Toko Tiga restaurant named Rudy said that he
\nwas forced to have lunch at the quite expensive restaurant
\nbecause foodstalls near his office were still closed as the
\nowners were on vacation.<\/p>\n
The Pho Hoa Vietnamese noodle restaurant was also packed with
\ncustomers.<\/p>\n
Many visitors could also be seen at a foodstall center on Jl
\nGelora, Central Jakarta. (ind\/ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/capital-becomes-like-a-ghost-city-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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