Adventures in shopping

Jakarta has a huge shopping addiction. Seriously, the city needs an intervention in every way. So far we have visited five different malls and there are still at least five to go until we have seen the biggest malls in the city.

Yes, I realize that going to five different malls might mean that I have a shopping addiction too, but it is rude of you to say that. I consider it a fascination.

These malls take up hundreds of thousands of square feet, air conditioned, filled with food courts that include Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Kenny Rodgers Roasters, etc. Every one of them has at least one grocery store in the basement, sometimes two. Some have an Ace Hardware that is filled with the greatest stuff, but there are also Louis Vuitton stores, Ferragamo, Gap, you name it. And then there are the pastry shops, sketchy cell phone and computer stores, and certain malls are filled with bootleg movies and video games where you can negotiate the price. Two of the malls we have been to have multiple buildings, and one had a Segway course and a area filled with artificial snow.

It's just staggering how much money is spent in these places and how much is spent on keeping them cool.

My most interesting adventure so far, however, was on Saturday. We had finished shopping and were leaving the grocery store, when I saw a man begin to collapse in the hallway. Having spent the last four years as a Lifeguard and a CPR/First Aid instructor, I immediately went to his aid. He passed out, collapsed to the ground, staggered to his feet, then collapsed again. A huge crowd formed as I started to check him out, and though it looked like he might be having a seizure, it quickly showed itself to be shock. After he started coming to, he told me that he had slammed his finger in the car door, and after he came into the mall he started feeling faint. An Indonesian gentleman and I monitored him for awhile, I spoke to his wife on the phone, and made sure to pinky-swear with his daughter to let her know he would be okay. He was able to get up and keep his color, and never threw up, so I took that as a good sign. Since he refused any further care  I let him go on his way, picked up my part of the groceries, and we headed out into the rain to wait for a taxi. The oldest was bent out of shape that I helped him (more like scared out of her mind) and was a pill the whole way home, but I wouldn't have acted any other way.

I really hope that collapsing bules, pronounced boo-lay (Caucasians) aren't a common occurrence while I am here, because that would really suck.

Be well

Scooters!!!!!

I am going to take a moment and discuss scooters. As a kid, my dad had a green Honda scooter that I occasionally got to ride on with him. In High School my mother bought a blue Honda, or maybe a Yamaha, and I rode that from time to time too. They were fun to ride on, easy to maneuver, and generally safe for riding around town. I have also owned a couple of motorcycles, and consider myself an acceptable rider. I learned how to lane-split in California on the Interstate while traffic was stopped, and while it was scary at first I became comfortable, but not complacent, going 25mph between semis and other vehicles.

Pretty normal stuff, I thought.

Then I arrived in Indonesia.

I am not as good, or brave, a rider as I thought. These people take it to a whole new level. I mentioned it in my last post, but it bears repeating. They carry enormous loads on their bikes, weave in and out of traffic, go cross-ways to traffic, against traffic, on the sidewalk, run red lights, make random U-turns, and I have not seen a single accident yet.

Amazing!

This was taken the other day, please notice the large sheet of plywood in the passenger's arms.

This is the line-up of scooters at a red light. I cross this street on the way to work.

And they're off!

As I say, Madness!

One of these days I will take video during a taxi ride. Or maybe not, since it will terrify most people in the states.

Be well!

Happy New Year!

Selamat Tahun Baru, everyone! May your year be filled with joy and success!