First Impressions
Believe it or not I just spent 30 thousand bucks on an iced latte! However, I bought that latte at Jakarta airport at a Starbucks. So although I paid a lot more than I should on the usual overpriced Starbucks product, it wasn't as much as it sounds. Taking advantage of the fact that most Starbucks offer wi-fi (don't they?) I logged on to the internet to convert how much 30 K Indo rupiah means to me: the humble rupee earning Indian. It adds up to 135 rupees or about $3.50 which was a relief.
My journey into Indonesia left no room for complaint. Smooth visa-on-arrival for $10 USD. Smooth and courteous immigration staff, courteous customs staff and a guide from the folks organising the conference I am here for, who facilitated my transfer from the international to domestic terminal, checked me in and sent me on my way with a pat on the head.
My first thoughts are that brands are simply a fantastic creation. I had forgotten what the experience is like when one walks into a completely alien country for the first time: strange tongues, signs you can't read and you don't know if you're being ripped off or not. These were exactly my sentiments as I walked through the domestic terminal here in Jakarta and suddenly everything settled back to routine: I spotted first a Baskin Robbins, then a Krispy Kreme, a KFC sign board, an advert for Citibank, a pretty girl who asked me to sign up for an AmEx credit card and finally my current port of call Starbucks. It really doesn't take too much to feel settled, gather your thoughts and plan your next steps in a completely alien environment provided there are some familiar signs. I can already hear the anti globalisation folks crying themselves hoarse. Pipe down and have an iced latte will you?
As I breathe in the fumes of the inevitable clove-flavoured cigarette from the next table, I feel comfortable to be traveling in Asia again, the warmth is impossible to miss and although this is my first time here I begin to realise why the Orient has fascinated Westerners for so many hundreds of years.
I now board a flight to Yogyakarta and hopefully will get to see a little more of the culture food and customs of these people.
My journey into Indonesia left no room for complaint. Smooth visa-on-arrival for $10 USD. Smooth and courteous immigration staff, courteous customs staff and a guide from the folks organising the conference I am here for, who facilitated my transfer from the international to domestic terminal, checked me in and sent me on my way with a pat on the head.
My first thoughts are that brands are simply a fantastic creation. I had forgotten what the experience is like when one walks into a completely alien country for the first time: strange tongues, signs you can't read and you don't know if you're being ripped off or not. These were exactly my sentiments as I walked through the domestic terminal here in Jakarta and suddenly everything settled back to routine: I spotted first a Baskin Robbins, then a Krispy Kreme, a KFC sign board, an advert for Citibank, a pretty girl who asked me to sign up for an AmEx credit card and finally my current port of call Starbucks. It really doesn't take too much to feel settled, gather your thoughts and plan your next steps in a completely alien environment provided there are some familiar signs. I can already hear the anti globalisation folks crying themselves hoarse. Pipe down and have an iced latte will you?
As I breathe in the fumes of the inevitable clove-flavoured cigarette from the next table, I feel comfortable to be traveling in Asia again, the warmth is impossible to miss and although this is my first time here I begin to realise why the Orient has fascinated Westerners for so many hundreds of years.
I now board a flight to Yogyakarta and hopefully will get to see a little more of the culture food and customs of these people.
Labels: travel
posted by Abs @ 5/12/2008 08:11:00 AM
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