Your letters: Rare well-preserved groundwater The Jakarta Post | Readers Forum | Sat, June 22 2013, 1:17 PM A- A A+ Paper Edition | Page: 8 After more than 36 years service in the Indonesian Air Force (1946 - 1983), I was granted a home in one of the best Air Force housing compounds; the Waringin Permai Air Force Housing Complex. Many jealous hands set regulations to eject residents; but the authorities concerned warned them not to touch my well-earned home. Thankful for the assurance of a settled home, I made sure most of the rainwater was retained in the dug-in water reservoir, thus maintaining an uninterrupted drinking-water supply even during the long droughts. I know the water reservoir keeps the seven nearby mahogany trees, which are more than 20 years old, very tall and green; to the happiness of the daily aerobics enthusiast who keeps watching the trees grow profusely and well. I personally have done my best to keep the neighborhood comfortable by keeping the plants green with all the birds happy as can be by frowning at anyone thinking of harming the birds. I even intend to let loose several birds from the bird market by hanging their fully-supplied feed cages in the trees with a nearby pool to keep the birds at home. With the birdcage door intentionally left wide open it is really the intention to allow the birds to come back into the cage for the night; faithfully giving us the pleasure of their free birdsong every day. The birds at five in the morning and afternoon are noisiest as if showing us their presence; and indeed keeping the aerobic youth company before they fly to their respective destinations with their different purposes. Our only drawback, however, is the main road, Jl. Jatiwaringin. Since it became congested, the road had to be enlarged sacrificing the sidewalks; at some points the sidewalk is only 30 centimeters wide making it difficult for the elderly to pass through without holding on to someone younger nearby. In fact, to prevent motor cyclists using the already narrow sidewalk the authorities decided to plant eucalyptus trees. I have found my 85-year-old body balancing on the sidewalk every month on my way to withdraw my meager yet useful pension from a nearby bank, where a personal appearance is required. I am quite fortunate my son, who is a self-employed businessman, can always arrange his business schedule to accompany me through the narrow sidewalk all the way to and from the bank. God willing, when a car becomes available to the family, I will not have to negotiate the narrow sidewalk anymore. However, Jl. Jatiwaringin has become so crowded most of the time that it needs to be made into an overpass. An alternative move would be the activation of the Jl. Kalimalang overpass; which the people of East Jakarta have been awaiting for years now! Moeljono Adikoesoemo Jakarta
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 10:22:58 +0000