........so think attractive, appealing, welcoming, safe, friendly, interesting and smiling then add the prefix UN and you've arrived in Jakarta. From the airport taxi driver who asked me, before we had cleared the car park, "you are not scared to be here?", to the state of the pre-booked budget roach palace where I was assigned for the night, Jakarta got off to a bad start. The hotel I changed, after I had exterminated two thumb sized roaches within five minutes of arrival in room 101 of all places, but the bigger problem of how to deal with the impact of Islamic fundamentalism on Western tourism....I'll have to leave till later...or until I talk to another cabby. What I am sure of however, is that there are cities of the world to visit, to explore and even with which to form a lasting affection.......and there are others to be avoided at all costs. Jakarta being firmly set as leader of the latter group. And the unsmiling faces? Well if you lived or worked in this sinkhole of a place I guess you would find it difficult to find something to smile about so maybe they can be forgiven for that at least. It is also the case that walking around the streets here gets one a lot of funny looks but maybe that is because common sense has told every other European to take a taxi! Final thought on JaKarta. You know you are running out of the adventure spirit when the most encouraging thing you see on the horizon is a 24 hour Starbucks. Never again will I criticise or despise these footprints of capitalism. When you are hot and weary and bothered familiar coffee, familiar surroundings and even familiar service is a welcome 'island in a sea of uncertainty'... even if they do insist of having David Bowie singing Christmas ballads. To paraphrase Dr Johnson on Scotland..."the best thing about Jakarta is any road leading from it".