The air is always filled with smoke

For those who enjoy smoking, Indonesia is even more of a paradise with cheap cigarettes and no restrictions on the activity. For those who aren't very fond of the habit, the incessant smoking of locals and tourists alike puts a bit of a damper on a trip to Indonesia. Smoky buildings, flickering red dots in the night and stale smells taint an otherwise beautiful destination.

When visiting Indonesia, one quickly finds out that smoking is a favorite past time. Be it while walking down the street, eating in a restaurant, riding in public transportation, or basically any activity, cigarettes will follow you on your journey. If you are susceptible to smoke, this can serve as a warning to let you know that if you want to do anything with Indonesians, there is a constant stream of smoke coming from nearly every hand.

While smoking is prevalent in many places, according to The Guardian, over 70 percent of men aged 20 or over are smokers. What is even scarier is that many of these smokers are starting around the age of seven. There is no age restriction on buying tobacco products, and with a majority of the male population doing it, there seems to be little in the way to curb young kids from picking up the habit. According to the same article, cigarettes are the second largest household expenditure behind food.

Although the tobacco epidemic in Indonesia doesn't seem anywhere near ending, there are a few glimmers of hope. The capital city of Jakarta has banned smoking on trains. Though the ban boasts tough penalties for those who choose to try and light up, it seems more like a small slap on the wrist. Regardless, anything to help progress toward a less smokey nation, where a quarter of annual deaths are the result of the habit, should be seen as a success. 

Photo courtesy of Tyglobalist.org