Service

If there's one thing the Indonesians do well, it's service.......ok, I joke.

Example: I'm staying in a hotel, a nice hotel but not 5 star. After looking through the options for room service I find the menu lacks a number...ok. the other book holds one page of hotel info and directs you to call 0 for operator to pass you through to room service, laundry etc.

The first time I ring, I get bored waiting for someone to pick up after several minutes.

The second time I place my order. The gent repeats my order and hangs up! Err, whatever happened to we'll be there in 30 mins, and is there anything else you'd like?

Example 2: Walk into a salon to ask about hair cuts. No less than four staff occupy the 'reception' all chatting away about appointments etc....ok, they might be busy. Despite looking at me several times, no one makes an acknowledgment gesture such as a smile, let alone 'I'll be with you in a sec'. Time drifts by and receptionists/stylists or whatever come and go, and still no enquiry to see why I'm standing there looking from one to the other. For the first couple of minutes it was slightly annoying. For the next few it was amusing. After about 12 mins though it got boring and I left. The place next door got the gig as they actually spoke to me after only two or three minutes.

posted from Bloggeroid

What the?

So still nudging along in peak hour traffic, my driver cranes his neck and cuts over the inner lane. In the outer lane walking towards us is scruffy haired Indonesian wearing nothing but a loin cloth - maybe he thinks he's Tarzan?
Despite the obvious disruption to traffic as it tries to avoid an accident, the police officer looks on...puzzled but clearly unwilling to get involved.

posted from Bloggeroid

Safety first

We've grown accustomed to seeing children being driven around on mopeds and bikes wearing no protection whilst mum and dad wear their helmets.

This mornings observation? Passing a car similar to our own and seeing mum in the passenger seat with a 2 or 3 year old standing in the footwell being her legs.
We're in peak hour traffic which means lots of start stop and the occasional hard stop as the next moron dashes across your bow. All I can see is the poor kid smashing his/her head into the glove box.

posted from Bloggeroid

New Stories

Finally getting around to posting some photo's.  In keeping the dates accurate, the stories will be a little out of order.
Trip to Puncak (May)
Trip to Bogor (June)
Islamic Wedding (June)
Prambanan Temple (July)
Yogyakarta Palace/Kraton (July)
Yogyakarta (July)

I also encourage you to leave comments to help us understand what is, or isn't, working - it can be done anonymously.  You need to enter the actual story to leave a comment.

thanks :)