The Jakarta Post

I'm behind the curve. So much to blog about, let's set the clock to T-2 days! I arrived in Jakarta on a drizzly Sunday morning and was amazed to see how laid back the airport is in Jakarta. It looks more like a resort than an airport, and the immigration people smile at you, really!

The nice people at ABV put me in an excellent suite at the Kempinski, the oldest luxury hotel in Jakarta. I met my elusive team mates after 4 hours, which included 2 hours of running around and then giving up to take a nice bath and some room service, and we got a briefing from Anna S, Anna B and Kevin (all from ABV) about the assignment.

Jakarta is a city with character. There is an air of culture and you know it is the kind of city that would have an underground music culture and lots of art. From my room on the 11th floor, i could look at the canopy cover over most of Jakarta, something very similar to my city, Bangalore.

We J-walked our way through the bustling streets to get to the IBM office in Jakarta to meet the Country General Manager. On our way there, Arun (from Bangalore) told me that in Jakarta there are people you help you cross the road in exchange for small amounts of money. Who'd have thought you have to pay and break the rule? (instead of the other way around!)

At IBM Jakarta, we met Suryo Suwignjo (CGM) and he helped us understand the importance of CSC and what it means for a growth economy. While the challenges are easy to guess, the extent to which the problems run is something that needs to be experienced. I will write about that in my subsequent posts. Let's just say that the assignment is going to be important and extremely challenging.

After the meeting, the team headed to the loveliest meal i have had yet in Indonesia at the Lara DjongRong (Tan from IBM told me the delightful story behind the name). The indoors were exquisite, but the food was everything i'd expected Indonesian food to be, and more! Colourful, aromatic and an explosion of flavours, Indonesian food has something for every senses.

Left to Makassar the day after and some very intersting things have happened in the past 36 hours. Too sleepy to write now, but will bridge this lag soon! Slight preview, i met the mayor!

* The Jakarta Post is one of the most popular newspapers in Indonesia.