I am a member of 20 something bloggers, which is a networking site for, you guessed it, bloggers in their 20s. I signed up for a blog swap, which is kind of like a pen pal, but instead of writing letters, you write both write a post on the same topic for each other’s blog. I was matched up with Nando from Jakarta. We agreed to write about what we like about the cities we live in. Below is Nando’s post about the city he calls home, Jakarta. If you like what you see, check out his blog, Saya Berjalan.

Wow, I can’t believe I’m in to 20SB blog swap. This is my first time, and yeah I’m so excited to participate. i just found out who’s my blogswap partner this morning (Monday on my local time, Jakarta), its Alyson, she’s my blog swap partner. I hope that I wont ruin her blog with my post and yeah, I have a gift for you (lol, gift ? well it just a cheesy photo maybe) in the end of this post.

Well, let me start with introducing my self.  I’m a twenty-two years old man who lives in one of the most polluted megacity in the world (embarrassing ? yes), but I’m proud that I lived in a biggest city in my country, Indonesia – which mean I have the most update about news, movies, music etc. I love all about traveling, culinary and photography. I  even made a commitment to my self to do a far travel – at least one a year, and my backpack to Belitung island last February was the greatest journey for me (for now).

Now back to the topic I’ve dealed with Alyson the owner of this great blog. We have discussed about our topics, instead talking suggested topic from 20sb – the best things being a blogger we choose to write about ‘what the best things about our city’, which mean here I’ll talk about Jakarta and Alyson will talk about NYC on my blog. Sounds a good idea right ? so, can I write now ? let start.

First, I think I have to write about the ‘bad things’ about my city, Jakarta. Well, talk about the suck things about Jakarta there are plenty of things about it (not to be rude to my own city, but I’ll give the facts about it). According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Jakarta listed on number three as the most polluted city in the world behind Mexico and Thailand (embarrassing right ? yes). The number of poor people in Jakarta is about 3,62 % from total 8,523,157 population. Jakarta also listed on number 14 as the most heavy-traffic city in the world, etc-etc (yeah, as a good citizen I’m not going to explode all the bad things about my city. lol) and last but not the least, Jakarta is a hot damn city in real. The average temperature is around 91,4 Fahrenheit, hell, sometimes it reach into 95 – 96.8 degrees of Fahrenheit.

Despite all those bad things about my city, of course there are plenty of good things about Jakarta (the biggest city in my country – Indonesia, that’s make me proud the fact I lived in this city), too. I’ll try to say as much as I can. There are :

• The multicultural ethnic in Jakarta (probably the most multicultural city in my country). There are about 30 ethnic traditional in Indonesia, and we can find them in Jakarta + expatriates from other country like U.S, Japan, China, Korea and Europe.
• Due it status as the biggest city in Indonesia, being update to the latest news about movies, music, culinary, fashion and other things from abroad is one of the good things from this messy-yet-fun city
• Third, we can find the metropolitan things here yet we can find the historical things too here. Both mixed in a good way.
• Most of international concerts choose Jakarta as the venue. Mariah Carey, Linkin Park, John Legend, etc been here held their concert and soon Pittbull will be here this month.
• Jakarta has more than 200 museums, and I love it. Sometimes when I’m in a circle of my boredom I went to one of those museums.
• We have a great delicious donut here, its named J.co. If you guys have an opportunity to visit Jakarta, you should try this donut. It taste so great.
• It’s a heaven for those who claimed their selves as a food-hunter. Thousand or even more type of food can be found here. From our traditional food (like satay, rendang, ketoprak, soto) to the international one from all over the world (from Europe typical food, Korean food, Japanese food, India’s food yet U.S typical food)
• Etc, etc, etc

Well, the point is everything can be found in Jakarta. We have beach (even not as beautiful as Bali’s, we have game-park like Disneyland (well I do admit our game-park is much smaller than Disneyland), lots cozy pub and lounge are here, etc. I know it seems like great about the city, but sometimes I wish I could lived in the city which bigger from Jakarta, like NYC, Tokyo or Paris maybe. I just wonder what all those cities look like, and what I’m gonna do there. I still have that dream, and will try to make it come true. LOL.

That’s my story, what about you guys ? what is so good about your city ?