Traffic

Jakarta is a city with a population of 9 million (this figure comes from an internet site somewhere and it's almost impossible to verify because the amount of people who work in this city and live more than an hour away is a figure on its own, not to mention the unlisted citizens who live in the dark alleys of Jakarta slums) and these people need to commute. As a city it has a humoungous traffic problem which can never be solved. Town planning doesn't really exist. Future developments goes as far as 2 years into the future. The word long term planning is obsolete. In a town where money speaks louder than rules and regulations, anything goes.

As a result, traffic becomes the most commonly used excuse if someone is late for a meeting, or any appointment. This excuse will be received with a shrug, a roll of the eye -- it's so normal. I don't think it's normal though... This excuse can only be given by someone who's new in this town and have no idea on how bad/good the traffic is. There's nothing wrong in arriving early, make sure you bring a book, an iPod while you wait? It's called respecting other people's time.

Aaaaaargh!!! I hate traffic and I hate people who uses traffic as an excuse. Lame.