Comments on: When Indonesian Goes Shopping

By: Herbalife Guy

Herbalife Guy — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:58:50 +0000

This blog looks good. However, it would improve your visitor retention if you can make the website design more professional.

By: Firman Hadi

Firman Hadi — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:41:00 +0000

You’re right about malls in Indonesia having to provide everything to keep their customers happy. Unfortunately this has the side effects of sucking the life out of the Jakarta’s streets. Hence, Jakarta is a city devoid of active street life, since everything happens indoor and streets are reserved for motorized vehicles.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:17:00 +0000

I think not only Indonesians, but most of Asian women are afraid to look ugly even just to go out of the house and be seen by people. I am a student in Melbourne, the city with maybe the biggest Chinese community in Australia and found so many Chinese girls are always dressed up even just to go to campus library. Many of them are on a strict diet so as to stay very skinny. I once asked one of them why most Chinese girls are so skinny, is it in their genes or they put efforts to stay thin, and she said they are on constant diet because it’s important to stay thin so they could follow the fashion trend and looks great/fashionable. I myself is a number one hater of high heels, and would never wear ones unless I really really have to.

By: Finally Woken

Finally Woken — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:01:00 +0000

@Nadia: I have no idea why big hair is always a trend. L'Oreal Group spends a lot of money to set the yearly trend, yet still they cannot dictate the trend. I wonder who's behind it...

@Ecky: aww... that's a bit harsh, isn't it? that most of US are shallow? How about Miranda Gultom who looks fab, and is definitely not shallow. She dedicates her time and effort for her look as much as to her job.

@Miss Lai Lai: I even cannot bring myself to wear flip-flops back in Indonesia* lol.

@Elyani: absolutely right. It's always about image perception first, then brain second. Do they have special hairstylist in prison?

@Devi: yeah I'm usually pissed off too when receiving cold treatments from the expensive shop staffs. But having said that their so-called "cold/unfriendly" manner is nothing compares to the Western standard of service.

@Michael: *lol, spot on. My husband's driver got second-hand leather jacket from me and he wore it the next day. Proudly, I must say, even though it's almost 40 degree outside...

@Melly: do your friend realize that those ladies won't look the same in the next morning without make-ups and stiff hair? Are they prepared for the shock? Are they willing to pay for those beauty regime and wait for more than 2 hours just to get ready to buy a detergent?

@Andie: if we collect all Hermes bags circulated in Indonesia's socialite, we should have been able to pay our debt to World Bank and other countries! But, have you checked whether the bags are genuine or made-in-China?

@Uwiuw: yeah. That's Indonesia. And Asia in general.

By: uwiuw

uwiuw — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:26:00 +0000

image is everything and everything is about the perception, Indonesians take it way too seriously and beyond it.

>> i believe your right about this. wow, thnaks, i think your blog is one my favorite to read…i’m hunger to answer crisis of indonesian identity (in my opinion)…

By: Andie Summerkiss

Andie Summerkiss — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:48:00 +0000

That trend is only going on in Jakarta. In a small city of Medan, with only ONE decent mall, we can see it too, which is more ridiculous when you consider the small city and the number of Hermes handbags circulated!

I personally don't feel "right" to dress too casually to any public places since I am brought up to "dress properly" in public. No puffy hairdos of anykind though.

I did enjoy my five-minute of nameless "expat-wife-slash-backpacker" in the Philippines. It is very invigorating.

By: Melly

Melly — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:40:00 +0000

I used to have male friend from German, Singapore,Thailand, Malaysia, US, Philipine, Hon visited me Jakarta from time to time. All of them enjoyed those ladies in mall, they said it’s beautiful ladies everywhere in here and they also said that among Asian, Indonesian has many beautiful and well-grommed ladies.

They even said that wish their spouse will dress up the same for them ehehehe. So, that is how the men viewed on this. See, man are viewing this from very different perspective. I myself also amazed how those ladies put on their effort….not mentioning the time, idea and also money they spent.

By: Michael Aulia

Michael Aulia — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:35:00 +0000

So I’ve heard.. some guys are even wearing leather jackets around..can’t believe it myself

When I go back home (I’m in Melbourne now) I always wear a t-shirt and a jeans.. at least you won’t be the first target of the robbers

By: Devi

Devi — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:44:00 +0000

I’ve been one of the observers literally but I never try to post it on blog, cos I read some magazines and forum threads discussing THE POWER OF LOOK.

The result.. dang! A woman with big hair, full make up, branded bags, and 6inch heels is always served with grace and big smile whereas the dress-down one will be abandoned by the SAs, or explicitly ask her to LEAVE (the store/boutique). Gah.

By: Elyani

Elyani — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:35:00 +0000

Well, sad to say that everywhere you go beauty over rules brains. We do not congratulate people for being smart but we compliment for good looks…I guess that’s the reason why some women need to have a perfectly coiffed hair even only for a trip to the mall. If you follow up the local news here, a business-woman named Artalyta who got involved in bribery case with the District Attorney staffs still looks good as ever in prison with a perfect hair and a matching suit!!!
You can read the article here:

http://www.detiknews.com/index.php/detik.read/tahun/2008/bulan/03/tgl/14/time/103733/idnews/908316/idkanal/10