'Family reunions worth the hassle'

About 2.5 million Jakarta residents are expected to travel to their hometowns to celebrate the Idul Fitri holiday. This exodus, known as mudik, has become a tradition for people living in the capital, and many people spend much of their savings to make the trip. The Jakarta Post asked residents whether it was really necessary to travel to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri.

Anggi, 20, is a student of English literature at a state university in Jakarta. She lives with here family in Titian Indah, Bekasi, West Java.

The mudik is a definite must for my family. Every year we spend Idul Fitri in our hometown of Kuningan, West Java. We never cancel the trip because of traffic or the cost of traveling.

The journey and all the work is worth it once we get to our beloved hometown.

The mudik enables members of our large family to get together and forgive each other. It is the time when we can see relatives who we can't ever see during the rest of the year.

Even money can't buy a feeling like that.

Suroso, 40, owns a trading company in West Jakarta. He lives with his wife and four children in Kembangan, West Jakarta.

Honestly, I think the mudik is just a waste of time with all the hours spent on the road, not to mention the energy and money that is spent each year.

But again, logic doesn't apply here. I have to consider that my parents in Jember, East Java, expect me to come every year. And it would be strange if all of the relatives were there except me and my family.

And it will only be tougher this year because of the fuel price hike. I calculate that I will have to spend at least Rp 15 million for the mudik, up from Rp 10 million last year.

--The Jakarta Post