Looking back, I was greatful to be able to live 2,5 years in Makassar (July 2006 – February 2008). It was really an eye opener to see the rich culture of Indonesia
Sure, I got culture shock. From the funny accent (which by now I mastered the accent. Hehe), the high tone people used when they were speaking, demonstrations, the way reckless drivers drove were beyooond Jakarta
For that particularly last one, raised by a mother who taught me a healthy clean life, I was horrified and traumatized when a friend of mine introduced me to this restaurant that served Coto Makassar. The food I like, but the restaurant? Boy… Tissue and kulit buras were all over the place - at the table, on the floor. The floor was dirty and somewhat greasy. The restaurant used huge plastic pales for trash-cans and placed in the end of every table. When I was there, the trash-cans were averagely full, and the flies were flying happily. Horrifying! It was the first and the last time I went there.
Enough with the negativity… They were all nothing compared to the things I looove about Makassar :
§ The city is (obviously) close to the beach. The air is so fresh, much much healthier than Jakarta
§ From morning till noon, the blue sky is sooo clear while at night, you can actually see million of stars. For Jakarta
§ While in raining period, strangely I almost never saw lightning nor heard thunder. But don’t let that fool you, because the rain could drop heavily and in days! Still, I’m amazed by this phenomena. There’s even a belief, if the rain started at Friday it would continue for the next 7 days. I didn’t believe it, until I experienced it myself in 2007. But just that one time.
§ The food.. oh the food… will give you one loooooong post about this one.
§ Everywhere I went, the ride was 15 minutes averagely (by car). My office started at 7.20. Mostly, I went out at 07.10. Nice. Really nice. Maybe you already heard this joke : in Jakarta
§ Taxi reservation was extremely fast! 5 minutes averagely. My trusted taxi company is Taxi Putra. 0411-888898. Due to my many many many reservations at particular hour, the operator usually recognized my voice and my name. =)
§ Another transportation is becak. It hillariously came in sizes. Seriously. I often joke that it has S, M, L, XL size. XL is super duper hard to find. Trust me, 2 adults (with quite an as* like mine ) have to ride in size L in order to have a comfort ride. Don’t forget to bargain, y’all.
§ I also into traditional waiving. And Makassar had introduced me to pretty bright colour waiving. One of the traditional dress is called Baju Bodo. I wore Baju Bodo twice. The first one was bright yellow, the second was bright orange. Never knew I looked good in solid color *bweeeehhh* This baju bodo also hide my pear shaped body perfectly. Fufufu
§ It was the first time I lived by myself (indekost). It made me do house chores by myself : sweeping, mopping, washing & ironing, changing bed sheet, cooking though I rarely cooked. But at least I can proudly say my husband wont be starving with me… *nooooot….. hello 14022, 14055, 5000bk. Hehehe.. *
§ I bond with people (you know who you are) now I call my (extended) family. I forever grateful…
§ Last and certainly not the least: it’s the city where we first met. How can I not love it, abangku.. *cup cup*
xoxo
JJ
No comments:
Post a Comment