Great gifts which stick in the memory

Great gifts which stick in the memory

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Those celebrating Christmas always have a favorite Christmas
gift that leaves an enduring impression. We asked several
celebrities about that special something they will never forget.

Tika Panggabean, comedienne and entertainer: Last Christmas,
Mbak Uthe (Ruth Sahanaya, singer) and Jeffrey (Waworuntu, a TV
presenter and Ruth's husband) gave me the most interesting gift
I've ever received: Cookie Monster stuff, from soap case to
spectacles case. All of it was packed in a 21-inch TV set box and
wrapped in Cookie Monster paper.

I think they purchased all the goods from the Sesame Street
section in Kidz Station. I was so surprised when they showed me
the huge gift.

I like Sesame Street because it's educational. I personally
like Cookie Monster because he's, ohh so adorable. He doesn't say
much but every time he sees cookies he screams "cookie...
cookie... cookie...". I like eating too, and I think he's the
personification of my own character.

William Wongso, culinary expert: The most special gifts I've
ever received have been homemade foods prepared by friends and
relatives, who usually don't have time to cook.

Such gifts are not really Christmas gifts because I often
received them during Idul Fitri too.

For me, these homemade foods have a unique value as they
require time and extra effort to prepare. That's what makes them
special, not how much they cost.

I greatly appreciate the attention made by the givers who
prepared these gifts.

Butet Kartaredjasa, satirist: To tell you the truth, I've
never received a special gift but there is a tradition of gift
giving during Christmas at my father's (noted contemporary
choreographer Bagong Kusudiardjo) house. The gifts are ordinary
things like T-shirts, money or cookies and they've always been
from my parents to their children and grandchildren but never
from their children and grandchildren.

Usually the gifts are neatly wrapped and placed in the
family's living room, while the money is put inside envelopes and
hung on the wall. We collect the ones with our names on them.

There is nothing special with the goods as they are only
ordinary things but I personally think that the tradition is
special. Can you imagine, at my age, I still receive gifts from
my father.

Ghea Panggabean, fashion designer: For me, all Christmas gifts
from family and friends are always special. I value the attention
they give me by sending me those gifts, many of them homemade
cookies.

Christmas is always special. It's the most magical time of the
year and everything, even ordinary things, become very special
during Christmas.

But the most memorable Christmas time was last year when the
whole family -- my children and my parents who live in the
Netherlands -- were here to celebrate Christmas together. It was
very special.

I also enjoy being together with my friends, most of them are
busy people and I often hold an informal Christmas gathering at
my house just to be together.

Debby Sahertian, TV actress, comedienne: My favorite Christmas
gift was a flower bouquet given by someone. It was four or five
years ago and the bouquet was very special because I never
expected to receive such a Christmas gift from that person.

If I tell you and he reads it in the paper, he would be
astonished because it was a long time ago. But it is still one of
the most special Christmas gifts I've ever received.

"Last Christmas, I also received a trendy blouse from my
eight-year-old niece Dimitri. She bought it with her own money.
It was special, too. A few months later, Mimi (short for Dimitri)
visited me and she opened my wardrobe. When she saw my clothes,
she asked me, "May I keep all your clothes when I grow up?"