Like many, I thought I knew Indonesia just because I've been to Bali a number of times.
When I was in Jakarta, I felt everything to be very far from each other. Especially between the gilded rich and the ghastly poor. It's a huge gulf; and it's engulfing that one 'voice' I know that's dying to get out.
The one 'voice' of Indonesia.
It's said that one can suss out the ideals of a nation through its advertisements.
Well, in Jakarta I couldn't suss out even the idea of what's good to eat, never mind the ideals of the nation.
Actually, I did. Well, the food. Nasi Padang. That's all I seem to like. Even when I'm in Bali. Heck, even when I'm in Kuala Lumpur.
Anyway, I'm thrilled for one thing.
I was asked to write to some people in Jakarta about a regional posting. I wrote in a pertinent objective. To help unearth the 'voice' of Indonesia through advertising communications - much like how Thailand has done it.
I wrote that I can do that because I possess a culturally agreeable disposition. I will never be a prejudiced, jaundiced, supremacist-minded expatriate.
I got a couple of calls.
I'll be heading to Jakarta soon for chats.
And maybe this time, I'll skip the Nasi Padang for something else. I don't know what, but the choices are certainly not few and far between.
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