'I need more days off to readjust to routine'

Not all civil servants and other workers showed up for work on Monday, the first official work day after the long Idul Fitri holiday. Many people, however, are now preparing for more holidays in December -- Christmas and New Year. The Jakarta Post talked to some people about their holiday hangovers.

Dian, 25, is a reporter at a newspaper company in South Jakarta. She recently came back from her hometown of Yogyakarta after celebrating Idul Fitri with her family and old friends:

I cannot believe this, I was just relaxing with all the people I love, and now I have to deal a mountain of work. I have to literally drag myself out of the house to go to the office.

Well, this is one of the consequences of having a full-time job. I wish I could get over this holiday hangover immediately.

Yoyok, 25, is a staff member at the economics department at the National Institute of Science in South Jakarta. He spent the Idul Fitri holidays in Purworejo, Central Java:

Honestly, I want to get back to work as soon as possible as I miss hanging out with my colleagues at the office.

I believe many people share my feeling. We want to get on with the routine again, to obtain some money and to save some so we can take the journey back home for the next holidays.

I think there is a strong correlation between work and holidays, as people are reluctant to go back to their hometown if they can't take lots of money along.

Saptono, 28, a staff member of a development program involving the World Bank and the Ministry of Home Affairs:

I have no problem to start working again. I finished all the work I needed to do at home before the holiday. So I won't be overburdened with work.

But, to be honest, I still feel tired from visiting all of my colleagues and greeting them.

I think I need another day to adjust, to refresh before going back to work again.

-- The Jakarta Post