'My children prefer malls, salons to exercise'

Not all Jakartans can afford the "luxury" of staying healthy and fit. While those who can afford it don't seem to understand the benefits of exercise. To make things worse, green, open spaces for residents to exercise or play sport on are declining. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents about their lifestyles.

Folber Sialagan, 30, is a reporter with Indopos daily in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. He rents a house in Cileduk, Tangerang:

I love sport, but it has been nearly six months since I last exercised. I don't have time. Most gyms are open between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., but I don't finish work until 8:30 p.m.

I prefer to exercise close to home. When I lived in Pondok Labu (South Jakarta), I could easily find a gym close by. But, where I live now, there are just a few gyms.

Sport is very important to stay healthy and fit, particularly when you've got a stressful job.

Irene Tobing, 67, is a retired physician. She lives with her husband and three of their five children in Cinere, South Jakarta:

I started to play tennis at university after playing table tennis for years. I'm still good at both sports. I regularly play at least twice a week as the tennis court is walking distance from my house.

On other days, I weed the garden. The important thing is to stay active.

I also have a table-tennis table at home. You don't need space for that, and its not expensive. But its been neglected for some years as none of my children use it.

They don't like sport. When they have spare time, they prefer going to the salon or a mall.

--The Jakarta Post