I am writing this at a petrol station in the centre of Jakarta, in a darkened Golden Bird car. My driver (left) had asked me if it was okay for him to stop off at a surau so he can do his evening prayers.

I said, “Yes.” What’s another 10 minutes when I’ve been in the vehicle for two hours already – it picked me up from the airport at 5pm and it’s now 7pm. Why, I feel so at home here – I’ve laid out my stuff, got my computer out and been catching up on work.

Hardly noticed the traffic. You know how you don’t notice something anymore because it is so ubiquitous. Except for the annoying ambulance siren which accompanied us for at least 30 minutes – I felt sorry for whoever it was trying to rush to hospital – I’ve largely been oblivious to what’s outside me.

See, it takes a certain kind of mindset to enjoy Jakarta. The Singaporean man who stood in front of me at immigration clearly needed a lesson. He kept shaking his head and puffing away because the officer was taking at least 90 seconds per person – and it was a long, long queue.

Puffing makes no haste, I wanted to tell him.

Me, I read a book I picked up at Changi – The Mystery of Mercy Close – a fun book about an awkwardly social, but clearly brilliant, female private investigator.

At kerb side, I was told I had to wait at least 20 minutes for my transport – “traffic jam” was the explanation – and so I asked if it was okay for me to wait at a café. There were several huffing, puffing people in front of me and I didn’t want their negative energy to rub off on me.

Thing is, I had already put myself in a Jakarta state of mind even before the flight took off.

You see, at boarding time, I found myself behind two Indonesian couples who were strolling rather leisurely towards the aircraft while conversing with each other.

Having just returned from Hong Kong, where everyone “tsks” you if you stroll, not stride, I found myself wanting to push ahead of them but then I checked myself and thought, “What’s the hurry? The plane isn’t going anywhere, is it?”

And so I switched pace, slowed down and almost found myself whistling the tune, “Leaving on a jetplane” as I boarded the aircraft.

See, when you make time, you also take the time to notice the small things. Like my driver who at one point in our stop-start-mostly stop journey, gave money to a woman and her baby sitting and begging in the middle of traffic. He tells me she’s in the same spot everyday. It’s great when you don’t take for granted what you see everyday.

Anyway, got to run (sorry, stroll) because believe it or not, we have finally arrived at the Pullman Central Park Jakarta where our first WIT Indonesia will open on Wednesday. First impression of hotel – love the art pieces and the first one to catch my eye is this one of Jimi Hendrix in Purple Haze.

Just the man to keep me in a Jakarta state of mind.