Why can't we sort out this mess?<\/p>\n
I have just returned from a trip to Bangkok after an interval
\nof ten years, and wow what a difference!<\/p>\n
From the beginning to the end, I totally enjoyed the
\nexperience, and was certainly impressed.<\/p>\n
Ten years ago Jakarta was better-off than Bangkok as Bangkok
\nthen was polluted, congested and disorganized. Now the reverse is
\ntrue.<\/p>\n
The Bangkok Post and The Jakarta Post are almost
\ninterchangeable in their stories of political infighting
\ncorruption, mismanagement and so on but while these activities
\nseem to have paralyzed Indonesia, Thailand has gotten on with the
\njob: building the Sky Train, reducing traffic congestion,
\ncleaning the streets and teaching its population the value of
\ntourism and foreign investment.<\/p>\n
Arriving at Soekarno-Hatta airport with its long queues at the
\nimmigration and hordes of harassing touts, left me, a longtime
\nresident, depressed and disgusted. What do you imagine visitors
\nare thinking? The thoughts certainly won't be \"can't wait to
\nreturn!\"<\/p>\n
Isn't there anyone up to the task of sorting this out?<\/p>\n
JANTHY NIHARDJO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-cant-we-sort-out-this-mess-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }