'A long holiday has its downside'

A week-long public holiday is the dream of all workers, as it happens only once in a blue moon. But for the two Jakartans The Jakarta Post talked to, a few days escaping the daily grind have their disadvantages as well.

Aprilina, 26, is a consultant with a public relations firm on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta. She lives in Condet, East Jakarta:

A holiday is always good news for all employees because they can be free of the routines of daily life. I am no exception.

I spent most of my holiday in my hometown in Palembang, South Sumatra. I visited many relatives during Idul Fitri and enjoyed my stay there, as I do not always get to go home every year.

After the holiday, though, piles and piles of work were already waiting on my desk when I returned to the office on Monday.

While I was on holiday, I sometimes missed my job; But now that I've returned to work, sometimes I wish I could have had more days off.

Arya, 28, is a producer of television programs. He lives in Menteng, Central Jakarta:

I spent the last four days of my week-long holiday in Bangkok. It's a lovely city, better than it was a few years ago.

It was really hard for me to get back to Jakarta to work the following day.

I was brain-dead on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday I had to do a shoot, so basically, I forced myself to get back to work.

On Thursday, I left the office early because of my holiday hangover.

I like the idea of a long holiday, but I think the disadvantage is that you have to drag yourself back into the office afterwards.

-- The Jakarta Post