I was driving with my friends from Leicester to London when I found the coldness could no longer be tolerated, and we decided to stop by local coffee shop, A Tower1 coffee. A-GBP-6-cup of coffee finally helped us ease the extreme coldness, before I realized that there was a small yellow sticker on the cash machine, something I really recognized,”TRAVEL WARNING: INDONESIA - DANGEROUSLY BEAUTIFUL”
My boss, an English national, once told me like this, “Arry, I have been traveling to over 60 countries worldwide, and I find that Indonesians are the friendliest people on earth“.
When I tried to ask further about that, he continued, “I wanna spend my remaining years in Indonesia, would you mind find me a good place in Yogyakarta, or West Java, or Bali?” I then realized that it was no need to argue with him. I have been living among Indonesians for over 30 years, and I find that he was right. We are used to the culture of helping people, tolerating others’ stand, being respective and passionate.
These days, Indonesia sees a heighten tension with its neighbor Malaysia over several issues. GNFI agrees that some remaining issues should not be left unsolved, both countries should really sit together with the spirit of equality, understanding, and for the sake of long-term friendship. Both sides then should really adopt and follow what is decided during the talk, with no reserve.
GNFI would like to use this opportunity to ask you Indonesians to uphold the spirit of friendship and mutual need during any rally or demonstration. We should adopt a friendlier demonstration, instead of burning flag, blocking road, and sealing the embassy’s gate with our flag. Those kinda things will not resolve anything, instead, it damages our reputation as a “civilized” society.
I met some angry students of Indonesians visiting Phnom Penh few months back, over the repeated physical abuse of Indonesian migrant worker in Malaysia, which at that time happened to take Siti Hajar as the victim. In time like this, Indonesians have been continuously taught to let the heart heated, but keep the head cool. Some Javanese proverbs also told us to fight fire with water, not with fire.
Please I request you to stop any harsh action towards Malaysian, its people, and its interest anywhere, cause believe me, with a peaceful demonstration, your message will be more easily to be delivered and heard. I am so sure, the messages to the Malaysian government have been clearly read and thought. We have seen some good progress as part of the result of good effort to ease the tension. We have seen some Malaysian programs aired in our TVs, our drama actors and actress spends days to learn to speak Malay, and there have been a clear standing from our government over the tension.
So, let’s forgive, for forgiving is the attribute of the strong. And then resolve!
I love Indonesia probably more that some Indonesian do, I’d gladly sacrifice my life for the sake of Indonesia and its people, but I’d die in honor and dignity.
Back to the story in London, in that coffee shop I encouraged myself to talk with the cashier and ask her where they got the sticker. Amanda, her name, replied, “Oh, I just returned from Indonesia 2 weeks ago, and someone gave me the sticker for free“. I bombarded her with more question, “You agree with the remark?“. She replied, “Oh, absolutely! The people were really nice“.
“Hey, I think you must remove the sticker, or else your boss will do“, I continued. She said and asked me, “Thank you, I am the boss. Hey, are you Indonesian?”
I surely am, Amanda!
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bandit sp
8 months ago
Very nice pict..
HibikimeChaos
8 months ago
Mr akhyari as Indonesian you should know too that from our culture to help each other (gotong royong) ,respect other people and to welcoming guest have been rooting since our ancestor for hundreds years ago.In java if you’re guest or tourist you will be welcomed friendly (i’ve been witnessing this scheme for hundred times).But when you’re doing something bad (especially like stealing) then there will be bad (the racism system in java is not wether you chinese,bule,or javanese but wether you become a good people in the community or not).And what the malaysian did is they steal our pride ,our culture and kicking our family ass (tki) ,as indonesian who had the culture to help each other of my people of course i fell hatred.But we have to realize that yes maybe the malaysian are doing that thing but not all malaysian.i think and i hope there’s a or some malaysian and indonesian who worked togheter in trying to resolve the problem between our country which have been started since Soekarno’s era.I hope that in the future there will be no problems like this anymore. But remember if the problems still continuing and there is anything happen to my country i will have no hestitation ,because to protect our nation is some kind jihad too,not by the suicide bombers who suceesfully stupid to destroy the public facillity and make many suffer (of course the one who suffer is our nation too).but i still choose peace agreement between us.
Sorry if i’m too harsh.
And sorry for my english they are suck ;-/
pimpii
8 months ago
TRAVEL WARNING: INDONESIA – DANGEROUSLY BEAUTIFUL…
kereeen, bertambah lagi julukan untuk Indonesia.
Mari ramai-ramai ke Indonesia, anda akan merasakan sensasi tamasya di tengah-tengah teror bahaya yang setiap detik akan mengancam anda, sangat cocok bagi mereka yang berjiwa petualang…. tapi maafkan jika begitu anda menginjakkan kaki di Indonesia anda akan kecewa karena tidak menemukan sensasi tersebut, sebab nyatanya Indonesia yang juga ‘living in shadow of volcano’ karena di lingkari jajaran gunung api aktif dalam rangkaian the famous ‘ring of fire’ sangatlah mencintai kedamaian dan akan menjadi pengalaman tak terlupakan berkunjung ke negeri with hospitality people. Proving that.
Indonesia I love you full…….
jakarta citizen
21 hours ago
why amanda should remove the sticker?? i think that is a good message??