Making a home under the roar of traffic

Jakarta has its fancy skyscrapers, luxurious cars and posh shopping malls. That is the charmed life for the lucky few: Many others barely scrape by, finding a "roof" over their heads wherever they can.

Despite warnings to leave from the Jakarta administration, the Ministry of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure as well as toll road operator PT Jasa Marga, the people living under the overpass in Jembatan Tiga area in North Jakarta are staying put and continuing their daily routine.

After being evicted from many places before, it's hard for the residents, most of them scavengers barely eking out a living, to find another place they can call home. For them, in their present circumstances and with no viable alternative, staying under the overpass will have to do.

-- Text and photos by P.J. Leo