Jakarta’s beautiful girl weather — La Nina’s calm before the storm

In like lion, out like a lamb. That’s what they say about the month of March — back home.

Here in Menteng, the angle of the sun, kamikaze flower petals and the soothing sounds of mourning doves and falling water contribute to the illusion that this part of  Central Jakarta is actually a sleepy suburb.

People who work on the street are napping in the pre-rush hour rays. Tomorrow’s forecast for Jakarta is “passing clouds” and “more sun than clouds.”  The Jakarta weather right now is 26 degrees and totally beautiful, perhaps the prettiest day of the year since March.

It’s also officially the strangest weather since I parachuted into Indo as an instant expat 12 years ago. According to Soeroso Hadiyanto at the official Indo climate control body (BMKG), this year resembles 1998, except that it’s more extreme.

Much more extreme. In that regard, he says he’s not really sure what to compare it with. BMKG has said that all of Indonesia is on a weather warning for extremely extreme weather about Christmas and New Years. So watch out just about the time 2011 hits the floor and 2010 heads for the door. Because La Nina’s back in Jak and for sure she’ll bring a bit of hippy-twist to the geo-choreography of  things.

And if you’re planning a New Year’s Eve party in Bali, keep in mind that the beach areas around Kuta/Legian/Seminyak are in a habit of getting pretty hammered themselves about that same time each year. Just in case, there are more pics of La Niña from the Royal Netherlands Meterological Institute.