Normally when people talk about luxuries they mention things like expensive cars, fine possessions and haute cuisine dining in exclusive restaurants. For me, what I consider luxuries are very simple things and certainly not by any means pricey. However, they are difficult for me to get during my day-to-day life. And that’s what makes them expensive.

So, what are they?

For a start, strolling down a street with no particular place to go or specific thing to do except for the pleasure of walking or breathing the open air. There is nothing much required other than a sturdy pair of shoes and a willingness to stretch one’s legs. Why is this so difficult to do?

Well, for a start, living in Jakarta makes these kind of simple activities not so simple. The streets of the capital are not designed for walking. As a matter of fact many of the main roads don’t even have pavements - you know, the area reserved for pedestrians. Those that do have pavements are not exactly pedestrian-friendly. If anything pedestrians have to compete for space with street vendors and the odd motorcyclists who are looking for a short cut or to get away from the busy traffic.

Then there is the air pollution emanating from traffic fumes and the sewage that is most likely chock-a-block with rubbish and other human debris. Not to mention the state of the pavement or the road itself, which is normally full of potholes, uneven and filled with other booby traps.

Thus walking becomes not only an unpleasant activity but also a perilous one. And we haven’t even got to crossing the streets yet, which could be a fatal venture. You see, in Jakarta, in the traffic hierarchy pedestrians could either be at the top of the food chain, that is for the dare devils amongst us who would jay walk just about anywhere including the ‘busway’ and toll roads simply by holding out one hand (as if to stop the cars) and making believe that you are invincible or invisible or both. Of course, there is a risk that you might just get mowed down by a speeding bus or truck, but then that’s the fun of it.

Or you could be the bottom feeder of the traffic hierarchy. Here you could wait at the zebra crossing and you’d probably as soon see a zebra cross than be given the chance to cross as cars would try to run you off the road even as you put your foot on the crossing.

In more civilized cities, a foot on the road at the zebra crossing is a signal for an oncoming car to stop and politely wait for the pedestrian to cross safely to the other side of the road. In Jakarta you don’t cross the road. You run for your life to the other side as the oncoming cars honk and put on their high beams the moment they see you at the crossing.

Sometimes there are bridges you could use to cross, but then these are few and far betweens and you have to make sure you leave your wallets, mobile phones and other valuables behind to avoid being accosted by undesirables or getting your pockets picked during the attempt. Plus you have to make sure to really look where you’re going because most of these bridges have some parts missing in which case you could end up butter side down on the road below and crushed like a piece of toast.

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