Today was an important day for Indonesians – legistlative election day! So it was a public holiday here in Jakarta and there was lots of talk about who to vote for going on in the morning. I find the whole process of voting here in Indonesia completely confusing! For starters there are over 200 million people in the country who can vote, and although voting is not compulsory, the sheer amount of people means that it takes over a month to collaborate and count these votes. Hundreds of thousands of people get elected in positions throughout the country and just the amount of candidates on the wall at the voting station today was huge! The presidential elections will be held in July and it will mark the end of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s second term, meaning Indonesians will be choosing a new leader for the first time in 10 years.
Samudra and I followed Putra down the narrow alleyways near home to the voting station which was set up right infront of a dumpsite behind the kampungs. It was incredibly hot as we waited for Putra’s name to be called to vote so Samudra made some new friends in the waiting area before voting was finished, Putra’s finger was inked and we headed back home again.
I don’t know where the rest of the day went, just playing with Samudra, catching up on emails and being productive again before we headed down to Cali Deli and a 5 minute look in Ace Hardware before heading home again for cuddles with my beautiful little boy.
I hope you had a beautiful day too wherever in the world you are.
Day 71: Arriving at the voting area in the back alleyways of the kampung in Pasar Minggu. Happiness.
Day 71: Instructions on the process of voting.. ha! Happiness.
Day 71: Putra waiting for his name to be called. Happiness.
Day 71: Samudra making yet another new friend. He really loves to study everyone’s faces! Happiness.
Day 71: At the voting booth. Happiness.
Day 71: Voting papers go to the box. Happiness.
Day 71: Putra inking his finger to show he has already voted. Happiness.
Day 71: Little kids in the kampung. Happiness.
Day 71: Heading home through the alleyways of the kampung. Happiness.
Thanks for the insight into our elections and the photos! Samudra sure comes around.
Thanks Christine! In July I will have to travel around Jakarta to get more election photos.. I’m sure there’ll be lots of action then! Samudra does get around… he comes everywhere with me and I love it! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a message, I really appreciate it.