Zack Petersen

Willy Sutrisno

My Jakarta: Willy Sutrisno, Singapore Tech Specialist

Willy Sutrisno’s life at work and at home couldn’t be more of a contrast. He works for a tech-savvy company in Singapore that deals with the latest in Internet technology. Away from the office, Willy lives a simple life, spending most of his time at home with his wife.

Finding success at work and at home has proven easy for Willy, who has gotten used to the high-stakes lifestyle of Singapore, while still maintaining the laid-back outlook more common in his hometown of Jakarta.

How often do you fly back to Jakarta?

Almost every other month. In fact, I just got back from Jakarta last week. Whenever I’m in Jakarta, I always make it a point to go clubbing, and Jakarta’s club scene, I think, is one of the most colorful in Southeast Asia. I’m planning to go back to Indonesia next month, because my wife and I will spend the holidays in Bali.

What do you do when you’re back in the Big Durian?

The usual stuff, like hanging out with friends, meeting with colleagues and spending time with my family. Or I go to places that I don’t find in the Little Red Dot.

Your work has something to do with installing subsea fiber-optic cables. Does that mean you work underwater?

No. Somebody else does that for us. My company’s primary duty is to operate these cables. A majority of Internet and voice traffic in this part of the world actually passes through these cables, and my company owns the cables connecting Jakarta and Singapore. Some are trans-Atlantic cables, or trans-Pacific cables. Without subsea fiber optics, we wouldn’t have fast Internet connections like the ones we have right now. Without this type of technology, it means we would have to rely more on radio technology, which is slower and less reliable.

Tell me about a typical day for you at work.

I bike to work and reach my office at around 9 a.m. I start my day by looking over any pending projects, or if there are any new circuits that need to be activated. I also make sure I keep in touch regularly with our counterparts in Jakarta, because in my job, we’re like the middlemen who try to put up all these connections between Singapore and Jakarta. If there aren’t a lot of things to do, I go home as early as 6 p.m.

How long does it take you to bike to work?

On a relaxed pace, it takes me around 15 minutes from my home to the office. However, one problem in biking in Singapore is you have to deal with car drivers who are not used to seeing bikes on the road. According to a police report, an average of 10 bicycle riders are killed every year. So it’s necessary to have your safety equipment on at all times.

Why is Singapore called ‘the Little Red Dot’?

It was sort of a mocking statement made by former Indonesian President BJ Habibie. He said something like, “What is Singapore but just a little red dot on the map.” The quote made it to the news and the rest is history. But Singaporeans are quite proud of being called “the little red dot that matters.” It’s become a tongue-in-cheek expression. In Singapore, there are actually many places that use the phrase “little red dot.”

If you had only one day left in Singapore, what would you do? How about in Jakarta?

In Singapore, I would spend it with my wife, taking a cruise and visiting all the memorable places we’ve been to. But in Jakarta, for sure, one day wouldn’t be enough to spend quality time with my loved ones. I would probably just gather my family and all my close friends at my home.

What is your favorite restaurant in Singapore?

I love seafood, and to name just one good seafood place is hard. There are the usual places like Newton Hawker Center, East Coast Seafood Center and No Sign Board restaurant. Lately, I’ve been going to Mellben at Ang Mo Kio to satisfy my craving for seafood.

How about in Jakarta, where do you usually eat?

I grew up in Jakarta, so I have a lot of great, memorable food places whenever I’m there. The first foods I crave are local dishes like bakmie , bubur ayam , martabak telor and many more.

What do you miss about Jakarta?

The friendliness of the people, the food, places where I normally hang out, the pembantu [domestic helper] and supir [driver] .

What’s something you don’t miss about Jakarta?

It’s a no-brainer — traffic jams. When I was working in Jakarta, it took me an average of two hours to travel by car to my office in Kuningan, and another two to get home.

Describe Jakarta in four words.

Vibrant, unpredictable, relaxed and chaotic.

If you could take one thing from Jakarta and put it in Singapore, what would it be?

The friendliness of the people.

If you could take one thing from Singapore and put it in Jakarta, what would it be?

One word — discipline.

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