'I'd love to go skiing', Herawati beams
One of the first female journalists in Indonesia, 83-year-old Herawati Diah has worked for various media, including Merdeka daily, which was set up by her late husband, former minister of information B.M Diah. Now, Herawati, who is still a director of the daily, also spends her time promoting women's causes through the Movement for Women's Awareness for the Elections, a non- governmental organization for the empowerment of women in politics. She lives in Kuningan, South Jakarta. She spoke to The Jakarta Post's contributor William Furney.
Question: If you had a choice, what would you be doing now?
Answer: I'm doing exactly what I want to do: traveling, playing bridge and exercising.
Q: What makes you tick?
A: Seeing things get done - if from nothing, comes something.
Q: What characteristics do you like about yourself?
A: That I am active; some of my friends are not so active. Also looking forward to the future.
Q: And deplore?
A: Wanting to do too many things. I should measure my capacity.
Q: What is your biggest regret?
A: That I became a practicing Muslim late in life.
Q: Have you ever had a terribly embarrassing moment?
A: I always try to overcome embarrassments; nobody is perfect.
Q: Whom do you admire?
A: Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid), for his courage in taking on that difficult position.
Q: What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
A: National dress, such as kebaya....
Q: What was the last book you read?
A: Lee Kuan Yew's autobiography.
Q: Do you ever worry about your weight?
A: Yes, I don't want to be fat. I walk two kilometers, three times a week at 6 a.m. at Senayan, and do more exercise for an hour afterward.
Q: What makes you angry?
A: I'm not terribly emotional but I get angry when people lie and steal. Why do they have to lie?
Q: When was the last time you were angry?
A: I don't remember.
Q: What characteristics do you dislike in others?
A: I don't like people who talk about themselves - people who think they're so perfect, powerful and rich, when in reality they're not.
Q: What makes you laugh?
A: A lot of things. I'm not a sad person. Jokes and things I say wrong make me laugh.
Q: And cry?
A: When I think about my late husband.
Q: What items do you carry with you at all times?
A: My mobile phone, money and credit cards, and my driving license, even though I don't drive any more.
Q: If there were something you could change about your appearance, what would it be?
A: I'd like to look more youthful.
Q: What's your favorite smell?
A: Flowers in the garden, such as jasmine.
Q: Do you have a favorite song?
A: Anything by Nat King Cole, especially the melancholic ones.
Q: And movie?
A: I'm not that interested in the movies, although I do like Jodie Foster.
Q: Have you had, or would you ever consider, plastic surgery?
A: No, not at my age.
Q: What, for you, is the single most irritating thing about life?
A: Nothing irritates me; I'm easygoing. But I don't like it when my servants leave the house untidy; I like things to be beautiful and perfect.
Q: Do you think we are alone in the Universe?
A: I've never thought about it; I'm too practical.
Q: Would you like to go into space?
A: No, I've no interest.
Q: Is there one thing in life you would love to do?
A: Yes, I'd love to go skiing.
Q: If you had to live on a desert island for one year, and were allowed to take three items with you, what would they be?
A: A typewriter, mobile phone and a tape recorder to play my Nat King Cole songs.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As a journalist and a good person.