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By different I mean that Jakarta can range from first world to third world in a couple of blocks. The traffic is so intense that most locals have personal drivers (and not just the wealthy). In fact, the traffic is bad enough that vendors prowl the expressways selling newspapers, gum, drinks (whatever) from car to car. You can have a very wealthy house with shanties built against their walls (all houses have some form of wall or fence but that pretty much the case throughout Asia). Poverty is much more in your face than in the West.
As for the smell... it didn't stink when I was there but speaking speaking as someone who has done some traveling through south east Asia, there are some smells you will just have to get used to... even here, were it is very clean and organized you will get the smell of heat (it smells like a terrarium, rotting peat, not a bad smell but it's there). You will get the wafting smell of cooking food (fried fermented shrimp paste - belachan), burning charcoal, durian, chempedak, etc. Two-stroke engine smoke is prevalent as well.
It's just different from what you are familiar with in the US.
I've seen some people come here and just can't handle it. They are gone within a month or two. Others just love it.
As for beaches, I don't know what is especially close to Jakarta but I can say that flights are cheap (cheap!) and Bali, Phuket, Boracay, etc. are all within one to three hours flight away.
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