What some infamous Indonesians are and aren't doing this New Year's.

The 2011/2012 Indonesian Travel and Tourism Awards recognises Indonesia's best hotels.

Scenes from slum life in Jakarta as a poor family does battle with globalisation.

Lots of bombs going off, and bomb scares; a renewed effort by terrorist gangs or part of the vast conspiracy to divert our attention from real issues.

The Economist Intelligence Unit's World's Most Livable City list is out, the report costs $500 so I haven't seen the full list but it seems that Jakarta placed 125th out of 140 - no surprises there, although at least in this list it is not in the top ten worst.

The criteria that the Economist relies on appear to be:

• Stability
• Healthcare
• Culture and environment
• Education
• Infrastructure

Probably we should start at the bottom to reassure ourselves, here is the bottom ten:

• Harare, Zimbabwe
• Dhaka , Bangladesh
• Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
• Lagos, Nigeria
• Algiers , Algeria
• Karachi, Pakistan
• Douala, Cameroon
• Tehran, Iran
• Dakar, Senegal
• Colombo, Sri Lanka

It appears only Jakarta was surveyed, not Surabaya, Medan (the worst city ever according to a ridiculous Australian journalist ), etc.

For further comparison, the top Asian city was Osaka at number 12, then the Japanese capital Tokyo, at 18. Hong Kong at 31, then Singapore (55), Taipei (64), Beijing (72), Kuala Lumpur (78), Bangkok (101), Hanoi (123).

And top ten, dominated by Anglophone Canada and Australia plus New Zealand; however the mother country's capital London came in at a dismal 53rd.

1. Vancouver, Canada
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Vienna, Austria
4. Toronto, Canada
5. Calgary, Canada
6. Helsinki, Finland
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Perth, Australia
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. Auckland, New Zealand

The best ranked US city was Pittsburgh at 29th.

A map of the top ten and bottom ten:

Chris takes a ride on KA Ciliwung, the train that nobody knows exists.

Batavia Air commences flights between Indonesia's tourist hub of Bali and Dili, capital city of Timor Leste (East Timor).

Garuda increases the frequency of its flights between Jakarta and Sydney.

Tourists polled, their favourite hotels, restaurants, malls, and holiday destinations in Indonesia.

Air Asia's plan to grow its business in Indonesia and beyond.

The ample bosom of singer Dewi Persik causes another national controversy; Dewi threatened with prison time and an FPI home visit.

The winners of the Indonesia Travel Tourism Awards 2010/2011, as announced at the Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place, Jakarta in late October:

Lion Air spreads its ample wings at Jakarta airport moving a third of its departures to a new sub-terminal.

Duty/tax-free shopping for tourists is coming to Indonesia, sort of.

South-East Asia’s biggest music festival is coming to Jakarta, supported by a tobacco company.
 

Celebrating Indonesians' contributions to natural selection by way of careless deaths.

18th Indonesia Motor Show in Jakarta, car industry buoyant; Miss Motorshow: Eviliana.

Why does Indonesia inspire so little quality literature, except novels about sexy bar girls?

"Obama Anak Menteng" a new film on the Jakarta childhood days of the US president.

Census figures unreliable, are Jakarta and Java are much less populated than is thought?

How basi are you? Measuring signs for basi-ness in expats in Indonesia.

Shock at Jakarta city government's plans to punitively tax nightlife venues and cinemas.

Plane Sailing (Part 2) - Tips for booking international flights from or in Indonesia.

Calls for disbanding of the Satpol PP after violence at Tanjung Priok harbour in Jakarta.

The many low-cost or free tourist attractions in the cities of Jakarta and Surabaya.

Movement of village dwellers to cities like Jakarta to be welcomed say urban planners.