Holiday revelers brace for yearend

Holiday revelers brace for yearend

JAKARTA (JP): It's holiday season and people are busy making travel plans. Some are going as far as the United States or Europe while others are satisfied with local destinations.

Here is what people who are lucky enough not to have to work say about the season and their plans:

Markus Wauran, a member of the House of Representatives: My favorite holiday resorts are Bali and Batam. I love Bali because of its gorgeous beaches and rich culture. Batam has great sea food. Oh yeah, I love sea food. From Batam you can take a ferry to Singapore and you only pay Rp 100,000 for the fiscal, compared to Rp 250,000 if you take a plane.

This coming holiday season, my wife and my daughter might go to the United States to see my son, who is studying in Boston. Since last year, my son has asked us to visit him but we haven't got the chance to go there. My daughter really wants to go. She has never seen snow and she is excited with the idea of having a white Christmas.

I will not join them because of financial considerations. Maybe I will see my parents who live in Manado, North Sulawesi. I am from Manado and I have many relatives there.

Holidays are important, especially for people who work hard. We have to make the best of our holidays. We need fun.

Aditomo Yuwono, an architect: Many people go to Bali, but I don't have any intention to go there. It is too far. What's more, I hear that all the hotel rooms are fully booked.

I want to travel by car with my family to our home town in Central Java. Our holiday will last between seven and ten days. First, we will go to Semarang and then we will go to Yogya and Solo. We might spend a night or two in Baturaden, a nice holiday resort.

On our way back to Jakarta, we might drop by Bandung. We won't go to Puncak, even though it is close. I don't think I will be able to stand the traffic. There are always traffic jams on the way to Puncak.

We don't travel to Central Java with my whole family very often. Maybe once in three years. Not because it is not important. There are many limiting factors, including money.

Lita Zen, a member of Elfa's Singers: If I have enough money, I want to go to Japan. Last year, from January to March, I joined a musical drama in Japan. We performed in Tokyo and Osaka. Japanese people are nice. I have 30 or 40 new Japanese friends and I want to see them again. If my plan works, I will spend a week or two in Japan. I won't be able to stay longer because things are expensive there.

I am not used to traveling by myself. Its fun to travel with friends. This time, I will go alone, but that is okay. I have lots of friends there.

I love traveling, but that depends on my financial situation. In 1991 I traveled around Europe: The Netherlands, France, Monaco, Belgium, Luxemburg. I have never had any bad experiences while traveling. But I remember when we were in the Netherlands for the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1990, I lost my video camera in the changing room.

I rarely have a family holiday. We are busy with our own activities. My family are in Bandung. I have just learned that there is a holiday package of a one-night cruise. That's cool. I want to go cruising with my parents, my two widow aunties, my four brothers and sisters and my only nephew and my only niece. Everything will be on me. Well, I want to share my luck.

Hario Subayu, spokesman of the Directorate General of Immigration, Ministry of Justice: Family holidays are important. I have lots of work at the office, and so does my wife, who is a consultant at a private company. My two children, who are in high school, also have to work hard. For us, a holiday is refreshing. And, no less important is that holiday brings us closer to one and another. Traveling together helps us communicate better.

We are planning to go to Ayer or Puncak in West Java. We will not be there for a long time, only about three or four days. Last year we went to Bali, where we stayed for a week. That was fun. But we can't go that far this time. I don't feel very well, I have a cough.

Hadi, manager of a private company: We are going to Malang, East Java, this holiday season. Why Malang? Well, my wife has never been there and she really wants to see Malang. People say Malang is clean and cool. The last time I was in Malang was about 20 years ago, before I moved to Australia, where I met my wife. I moved to Australia in 1981 and returned to Indonesia a few years ago.

We plan to take a train to Surabaya and then go to Malang by public transportation. Malang will be our base. We will rent a car and see Batu and Tretes -- two favorite holiday resorts in East Java-- and travel around the area.

We want to go to Australia, but not now. It is summer in Australia, it's the peak of holiday season. Many people go there. I will go there next year in winter, that is in June or July, when the holiday season is low and tickets are cheaper.

Last year we went to Lampung. We drove to Merak and then took a ferry to Lampung. We saw a unique elephant show from the elephant training school in Lampung.

Guruh Soekarnoputra, noted choreographer: I planned to go to the United States to meet some friends and do some business. There are lots of things I wanted to do in the U.S. But I'm afraid I can't make it because GSP, my group, is scheduled to perform at the end of the year, Insya Allah, (God willing) in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Jakarta. Therefore, I am not sure if I can go. Maybe I won't have any holiday.

It has become more and more difficult for me to have a holiday, but I need refreshment. If I don't work I might go to a painting or photo exhibition, do some sightseeing, or go to a discotheque.

Siti Hediati Harijadi Prabowo, businesswoman/ardent art lover: Traveling abroad, alone, is my hobby. I have friends abroad and once I get there, I visit them and we will go to places together. I decide where to go when it comes to the family holiday. It's my prerogative. I love to spend family holidays in Bali. It's my favorite place. In Bali, I love to go to Ubud where I can meet and talk with artists. My husband usually joins me on my Ubud trips, but my kids prefer to stay in the hotel.

Irwan Kristiadi, a computer engineer of PT Sistelindo Mitralintas: I can't have a real holiday. I have a beeper and people in my office can page me at anytime. Even though my office is closed on Saturday and Sunday, I have to work if there is any problem getting connected with the computer network. But I love computers and I enjoy the job.

On Dec. 18 or 19 I have to go to Medan on a business trip, which will last until the end of the month. As you know, we are an Internet provider and we plan to launch our service in Medan very soon. So, I have to work and work. I don't know if I have much leisure time to have fun in Medan. One of the reasons why my boss sends me to Medan is because I am single. But for the moment I like being single and I don't mind working during the holidays, even though sometimes I feel saturated.

Selawarti, a housemaid: I have never had a Christmas or New Year holiday since I began working as a housemaid 13 years ago. Yes, I started to work at the age of 12 after I graduated from the elementary school. I left my home town in Madiun, East Java, to find a job in Jakarta.

I only have Idul Fitri holidays. My ex-boss had a villa in Puncak. Once in two or three months, she went there and she often asked me to come along.

My current employer, a working lady, often takes me to the market or to shopping malls. Last month we went to Plaza Bintaro and watched a movie. But I don't really like shopping malls, I prefer gardens, nature.

I never go out unless my employer asks me to accompany her shopping. But I don't mind. I don't like holidays, I don't like hanging around. I prefer to stay at home.

Astari Rasjid, lecturer at the Jakarta Arts Institute: Holiday? When was the last time I had a holiday? I can't remember, it was such a long time ago. I so very busy I have to combine work with my holidays. When we have time, we go to the United States during summer holiday to see our children who study there. We usually go to Disneyland or wherever the kids want to. I just go along with them. (sim/14/lem)