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Australian jumps into HI fountain to bid farewell
Prodita Sabarini , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 07/03/2009 3:39 PM | Jakarta
An Australian woman jumped into the water fountain at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout Friday as she bid farewell to Jakarta.Belinda Lopez jumped and swam to the center of the fountain and back Friday, cheered on by half a dozen friends.
Car drivers slowed down to watch Belinda Lopez swim, while throngs of photojournalists came and took pictures as she performed backflips.
The 24-year-old said that Friday was her last day in Jakarta after staying for one and a half years. Belinda said that the water fountain with the towering statue and lights at night was her first memory of Jakarta.
"So I felt like conquering it before I left," she said.
Police officers around the roundabout just watched the stunt and did not attempt to stop her.
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Anna 'semi-bule' (not verified) — Thu, 07/09/2009 - 12:47am
Oh please...why the fuss. Who knows, deep down inside you all wished you were that OZ girl. Able to act like that in public. At least she is taking a walk on the wild side. Something all Indonesians should try to do. Loosen up a bit. Have been living in Jakarta for nearly two years now and noticed that heads turn when you are different or simply act spontaneous. For crying out loud, she was not skinny dipping or anything! Talking out of experience here as a tattooed, curlied, loving-my-tan, hating-the-mainstream semi-'Bule'. I say...you go girl! Do YOUR thing!
Fanny Pejaten (not verified) — Sun, 07/05/2009 - 12:02pm
Personally, I cannot see what all the fuss is about. Just because she is Australian does she feel she has the right to do this in our city? Couldn't the police have been more forceful with her or at least asked her for her credentials? What kind of stunt is this? Will other Australians be tarnishing their reputations in such a manner?
Ash (not verified) — Fri, 07/03/2009 - 5:55pm
This is the problem with young expatriates. They come over here and expect to be allowed to break the law, even if it's for something healthy like swimming. There are plenty of nice rivers in Jakarta where swimming is allowed. This is a national monument. Australians also bring swine flu.
What kind of shady profession was this woman involved in? She looks like a media type.. Heaven forbid if she was teaching children English, what a bad influence. They'll be exuberantly enjoying life and swimming all over the place if we keep letting these people in.
Ian Jompa (not verified) — Fri, 07/03/2009 - 5:36pm
If that was me, dark skinny hardly attractive melayu boy, i bet you the police would bash me up like a dog. Yep, we bash dogs here, and eat them too! Oh Jakarta Post, do tell why this is news? Was she naked?