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35 more things I just don’t understand
Dalton Tanonaka | Tue, 05/19/2009 6:04 PM | Dalton Tanonaka
As I complete my third full year in the land of jamu and J.Co, I’d like to think I’ve learned a few things.
Like how to order a pizza by phone. Or be able to read the newspaper, call Mom in the US and memorize the words for a new karaoke song all at the same time while sitting in traffic.
But there remain some truly puzzling matters that have eluded my comprehension. So, as I did previously in October 2007, I ask for your help.
Please tolong and, if you can, provide some clues to 35 more things I just don’t understand:
1) Why most motorbike riders wear long-sleeved jackets under the broiling sun.
2) The “bigger is better” hairstyle philosophy among high society matrons.
3) Why nobody has thought of serving corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day in March.
4) Why Garuda flight attendants were playing videogames in empty business class seats when I was trying to get their attention.
5) The incredible sensation of having the right credit card to get that 50 percent restaurant discount.
6) Why it takes four police officers to direct traffic at a busy intersection when it would take only one to do as much. Or as little.
7) Why the matter of compensation to homeless mudflow victims in Sidoarjo is still on this list.
8) How women in headscarves keep their cool in the daytime heat.
9) Taxi drivers who don’t have change for anything larger than Rp 10,000.
10) Why I have a thing for singers.
11) How co-workers can be two hours late for an appointment one day, then one hour early the next.
12) Why someone would order a “tuna pancake” sandwich.
13) Why a spouse or friend doesn’t tell a person how bad his toupee looks.
14) Why that person doesn’t do anything about it when he’s told.
15) The cashier’s assumption that I don’t want my Rp 100 or 200 coins in change.
16) Why so many older women are wearing braces on their teeth.
17) How many talented and unique musicians Indonesia has, such as country-western violinist Rifa of the Wagon Cowboys.
18) Why there isn’t more than one main road in and out of the club-and-pub district of Kemang, and why that road isn’t wider.
19) How exciting it is to see a star in the Jakarta night sky.
20) Why people say they’ll call you back and never do.
21) How, in the end, you eventually get to where you’re going even though it took an extra 90 minutes.
22) How I truly appreciate teaching and helping young people who listen more than they talk.
23) Why women carry purses that weigh more than a baby one-horned rhino.
24) Why boxing champ Chris John isn’t more of a national hero in a country starved for anything to cheer about.
25) Just where that “sushi girl” nightclub is that everyone says exists.
26) Why the government is allowing the national treasure Borobudur Temple to be worn down by poor maintenance and security.
27) Why there isn’t a sophisticated supper club that provides entertainment for the 40-to-65-year-old crowd.
28) How exquisitely beautiful an empty street can be.
29) The need for more than two cell phones. Or one, for that matter.
30) Why so many people simply don’t care.
31) How talented classically trained jazz pianist Nita Aartsen is, and why she isn’t touring Asia to display her passionate music.
32) How much I enjoy being with someone who doesn’t pick up her BlackBerry once during dinner.
33) How I can be putting for birdie one day, and then making double par the next.
34) How I can still get excited about a first kiss.
35) How much more I enjoy life in Indonesia despite this second list of things I just don’t understand.
Hawaii native Dalton Tanonaka is the co-anchor of Metro TV’s "Indonesia Now" program, seen on Saturday mornings at 7 a.m. and Sundays at 1 a.m. He can be reached at dalton@metrotvnews.com.
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
William z (not verified), west sumatera — Mon, 11/09/2009 - 11:20pm
29) The need for more than two cell phones. Or one, for that matter. according to me... people need more than two cell phones becos they want to show their rich or they will be proud if they have more than two cell phones. they look like prestigious.Yoen (not verified) — Fri, 06/26/2009 - 2:11pm
Lemme answer some
1) Why most motorbike riders wear long-sleeved jackets under the broiling sun.
+ wind-blocking matter, or "if-I-crash" matter, or "does-this-leather-jacket-look-cool" matter, or anything that matter... huh
6) Why it takes four police officers to direct traffic at a busy intersection when it would take only one to do as much. Or as little.
+ Does the traffic light work? (I even make more question ./hehe)
7) Why the matter of compensation to homeless mudflow victims in Sidoarjo is still on this list.
+ I don't even think if there's any list
15) The cashier’s assumption that I don’t want my Rp 100 or 200 coins in change.
+ You havn't ever paid in 6800 in 5000 + 1000 + 500 ""+ 200 + 100"" , so they don't have any Rp 100 or 200 coin
21) How, in the end, you eventually get to where you’re going even though it took an extra 90 minutes.
+ You don't ride bicycle
23) Why women carry purses that weigh more than a baby one-horned rhino.
+ They were born to weight-lifting
25) Just where that “sushi girl” nightclub is that everyone says exists.
+ Hey, tell me where it is!!
32) How much I enjoy being with someone who doesn’t pick up her BlackBerry once during dinner.
+ You don't have one (neither do I)
35) How much more I enjoy life in Indonesia despite this second list of things I just don’t understand.
+ Because it is still not the 20th list
Antoni (not verified) — Thu, 06/25/2009 - 10:09am
Hahaha nice writing pak Dalton..In fact, there would be more loads of things you can hardly understand in this beloved country of mine..just too ubiquitous to bring forth :D
Lilya (not verified) — Wed, 06/24/2009 - 11:16am
No. 8
I don't understand either, Pak Dalton... even it gives us the feel of security & comfort. Amazing, isn't it?
Ha ha... well, actually we choose lighter fabrics for our outfits.
Lilya (not verified) — Wed, 06/24/2009 - 11:15am
No. 8
I don't understand either, Pak Dalton... even it gives us the feel of security & comfort. Amazing, isn't it?
Ha ha... well, actually we choose lighter fabrics.
Claudio C (not verified) — Sun, 06/07/2009 - 8:43pm
1) Why most motorbike riders wear long-sleeved jackets under the broiling sun.
-Because even if outside it's hot, wind+smog+sunblaze will ruin your skin or make you sick.
2) The “bigger is better” hairstyle philosophy among high society matrons.
-I think it's a 'legacy' from the old traditional hairstyle mixed to some old US funky fashion still sported by some celebrity on TV.
3) Why nobody has thought of serving corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day in March.
-I guess that as in many other countries, St.Patrick's Day is of course a foreign holiday,
4) Why Garuda flight attendants were playing videogames in empty business class seats when I was trying to get their attention.
-Because they prefer to 'take it easy' as most employee who already managed to snatch a good job with a salary bigger than many other people.
5) The incredible sensation of having the right credit card to get that 50 percent restaurant discount.
-Yeah, problem is, why someone should own so many credit cards in a country where many have still problem in paying off one single small loan?
6) Why it takes four police officers to direct traffic at a busy intersection when it would take only one to do as much. Or as little.
-We sometimes have the same problem in Italy. No traffic police officer wants to be in charge of a big and busy intersection. They will usually run to spots were there's less traffic instead.
7) Why the matter of compensation to homeless mudflow victims in Sidoarjo is still on this list.
-Not just Sidoarjo, but you know that many big names managed to drown into mud the consequences of their exploitation.
8) How women in headscarves keep their cool in the daytime heat.
-They don't... it also explain the large numbers of them having skin problems and using lots of deodorant.
9) Taxi drivers who don’t have change for anything larger than Rp 10,000.
-Rounding up trip fare...
10) Why I have a thing for singers.
-For male or for female singers?
11) How co-workers can be two hours late for an appointment one day, then one hour early the next.
-Because they have some other business ;-)
12) Why someone would order a “tuna pancake” sandwich.
-BEATS ME
13) Why a spouse or friend doesn’t tell a person how bad his toupee looks.
14) Why that person doesn’t do anything about it when he’s told.
-They just don't care?
15) The cashier’s assumption that I don’t want my Rp 100 or 200 coins in change.
-Happens the same here with 1-2 cents coins.
16) Why so many older women are wearing braces on their teeth.
-They are late on taking care of their teeth, so it's a last chance they think will make them look better in their 60-70s.
18) Why there isn’t more than one main road in and out of the club-and-pub district of Kemang, and why that road isn’t wider.
-Someone would have copied the motto "All roads lead to Kemang"
19) How exciting it is to see a star in the Jakarta night sky.
-Yes, I remember when it was still possible to see more than one like 10 years ago.
20) Why people say they’ll call you back and never do.
-Ngirit pulsa!
23) Why women carry purses that weigh more than a baby one-horned rhino.
-Trendy bo..
25) Just where that “sushi girl” nightclub is that everyone says exists.
-It's just an urban legend...
26) Why the government is allowing the national treasure Borobudur Temple to be worn down by poor maintenance and security.
-Because nobody who has power to enforce better security and maintenance would maked real money out of it..
31) How talented classically trained jazz pianist Nita Aartsen is, and why she isn’t touring Asia to display her passionate music.
-Because talented musicians and artists don't sell like some hyped up singer or band...
35) How much more I enjoy life in Indonesia despite this second list of things I just don’t understand.
-Hehehe, it's a question without a clear answer. It happens to me too. It's a spell, I guess.
Winnie (not verified) — Tue, 06/02/2009 - 4:29pm
nice questions (again) dalton.
i like what u wrote :)
i give u answers of some questions.
no3. do u know how many people who know bout st.patrick's day? when u get d'answer, u'll understand why nobody didnt serve corned beef&cabbage on that day. i guess they dont even know st patrick's day.
no5. discount is always seductive :)
no6. if only 1 police is occoupied, then the rest will be fired. that means number of unemployed people will increase :D
no7. i guess bcoz people dont care bout 'em. if everybody cares bout others, it can be solved.
n030. our earth has been changing. as the earth changes, human,as a species, has been undergoing an evolution. the result of this evolution is some people lose their heart. that's why they dont care bout anything but theirself.
dalton i have questions for u. explain to me why tv stations dont broadcast how suffering it is the life of poor people in this world. i guess they rarely broadcast it.why dont those tv station show the world how big the gap between the rich and poor is.
and why cant media/press be really objective? why powerful person can put their hands on press?
i hope u have d'answer of my questions.
:)
keep writing, dalton. i'll be waiting for ur next article ;)
Pras (not verified) — Sat, 05/30/2009 - 1:08pm
haha. i always like your writings. maybe i can answer one or two of your questions:
no 1 = the broiling sun, thats exactly the reason. they dont want their skin to more (haha) black and of course more ultraviolet increases your chance of getting skin cancer.
no 17 = there are so many more of them. but as you know, the government doesnt give a damn of something like art and tourism. so, they never have the help they can use to -say- go international?
no 25 = haha. tell me if you know it, will you? haha.
n0 26 = that is what i hate about indonesian government. THEY DONT GIVE A DAMN except for what they can earn by their positions!!
Maudy (not verified) — Fri, 05/29/2009 - 6:02pm
Maybe I can help a bit. "A bit" as in little amount of information (and validity) on little amount of question I can answer.
1) Why most motorbike riders wear long-sleeved jackets under the broiling sun.
A: To avoid getting tanned. That at least was the answer one of my colleagues (happened to be a male) gave when being asked the same question.
2) The “bigger is better” hairstyle philosophy among high society matrons.
A: It may help indicating the luxury they have in terms of money spent for the hairstylist, and time to do so.
4) Why Garuda flight attendants were playing videogames in empty business class seats when I was trying to get their attention.
A: I don't know. You tell us soon after you've found out the answer to #30 question.
35) How much more I enjoy life in Indonesia despite this second list of things I just don’t understand.
A: Thanks. I (representing my fellow Indonesians, I hope) do too. Despite of everything, I still find myself missing my hometown even after only two days away, and can't seriously figure out where else to spend my life at but here :)
Syahrini (not verified) — Thu, 05/28/2009 - 10:01pm
Hi Dalton, I'll try to help answering some of your questions, the other however, also mystery for me.
1) Why most motorbike riders wear long-sleeved jackets under the broiling sun.
As far as I know, this is as prevention for getting heat attack or skin burn.
8) How women in headscarves keep their cool in the daytime heat.
I'm wearing headscarves too, and yeah, during a very hot day sometimes it's a bit unbearable, but I choose lightweight or cool fabric clothes. beside, the headscarves and long sleeved also prevent me getting heat attack.
15) The cashier’s assumption that I don’t want my Rp 100 or 200 coins in change.
They prefer giving us candy, it's gives them more benefit.
19) How exciting it is to see a star in the Jakarta night sky.
Something that you can only see if all the lights in Jakarta are turned off.
23) Why women carry purses that weigh more than a baby one-horned rhino.
It's amazing how women can struggle with heavy bag and high heels, right?