'My children prefer malls, salons to exercise'

'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