Comments on: Money Can’t Buy Everything

By: Melya

Melya — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:43:17 +0000

I attended a friend’s wedding in Jakarta back in 2008 with my fellas. We came a bit late as we planned so, just to avoid all the traditional ceremony. It was about lunch time, we can see people having their food there, and the family of the bride welcomed us to go straight to the food stall. And you know what, there’s nothing left but empty bowls. We told her not to worry about that, but she kept apologise.

About Rima’s Question how did they get to be so rich, here’s the answer: Lacking manners doesn’t mean they don’t know how to behave. They just treat it very exclusively that they will keep it and will only use it when dealing with “penting” people, those who can give them advantages. Here, at the place where I work I can spot loads of people who treat bosses and expats like the Sultan, and the rest like a pile of turds.
My Malay frends always tease me with saying: in Malaysia there are 3 kind of people; Chinese, India, and Malay. In Indonesia, they unite so there are only 2 kind of people; penting dan gak penting.

BTW Therry, been soooooo long since your last writing

By: エドハーディー

エドハーディー — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:35:44 +0000

As a high school teacher who talked with students in my drama club, I was appalled to learn how many thought of suicide. And these generally were “well adjusted kids” who one would have never thought could consider such an act. You never know who is depression. Just talk to someone, they need to know they are not alone. As always you serve your viewers well. Thanks.

By: mia

mia — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:39:45 +0000

My friend worked in an upscale wedding/event organiser in Bali, and her stories of how people behave during wedding parties can make my skin crawl.

One of the classics was when for a particular wedding (Indonesian couple) my friend decorated the back of each chair in off-white cover, with pretty maroon-colored wide sash tied in a pretty bow. Since the aircon was blowing rather strong inside the reception room, the bejeweled Ibu-ibu untied the bows and wore the material around their shoulders like one would a pashmina. So it was like a uniform during the party! And then, all the ladies just took the sash home with them.. despite all their bling-bling, heavy makeup and hairdo that suggested they could very well afford their own pashmina. Not also that, they stole some candlestands, flower bouquets, fancy cutleries etc. These honourable guests were practically looting! I doubt if any of them has ever head of the word “manner”.

ROFL.

That has got to be the funniest and most ironic wedding reception stories I’ve ever read! And nobody actually scolded or told these women off that the sash was not a part of the wedding souvenirs??

Oh.. how sad. One of them could’ve just told the hotel staff to change the AC setting – but I guess the urge to possess the sash/pashmina was stronger!

I do feel sorry for people who hold wedding receptions now because they’re the ones paying for the hotel loss!

By: minanube

minanube — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:08:56 +0000

Yes Money can’t buy everything, my friends.
But believe me, Everything needs Money. A thousand life, family, education are destroyed by poverty.

In Indonesia’s case, my friend, poverty doesn’t destroy them; the government does.

By: Jade

Jade — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:55:07 +0000

Hi Therry, interesting posts you have here
One of my major gripes whenever I fly back to Jakarta for hols is people driving (and speeding) on the road shoulders!
About Indonesians being lazy, they’re not really THAT lazy, I think. If they’re really lazy, would they put in the extra effort to pack all those sushi from the wedding banquet into their nanny’s bag, or rush to board the plane (same thing on arrival, where everyone stands on the aisle with their supermi boxes at the first sign of the plane stopping).
Although here in Singapore IMO the faces and personal service is way unfriendly compared to Indo, people still follow rules & manners – since they get fined if they don’t, and people are really paranoid about getting fined here. Someone told me on his first visit to Singapore that he’s impressed with the number of signs posted in public places. Every 10 meters there’s something saying no smoking, no littering, no eating, no durian, no loitering (nongkrong aja dilarang! pedahal ini favoritnya orang indo) no forgetting to flush the toilet, etc. Maybe Indo needs something as big-brother like. (but maybe they’re too lazy to enforce it anyway)

Thanks Jade! You know, apart from being lazy, another world-famous Indonesian trait is being greedy, even to something as silly as flower decorations at wedding receptions that are often get snatched away by irresponsible hands.

And the whole rushing to the plane thing is due to the habit of catching Indonesian public transport – it’s so unbelievably messy and dysfunctional that people often have to run to catch the bus at almost all the time! LOL

I agree, Indonesia (especiall Jabodetabek area) needs the strong hands and discipline of Singaporean governments.