Jakartans spand their weekends in style

JAKARTA (JP): Weekends are a precious time for almost all urban people to help cool their heated brain and body after heavily working on weekdays.

Some people cannot even concentrate working on Fridays because their heads are already filled with itineraries for places to go on their next two days off.

The Jakarta Post recently talked with several people about their view on weekends and their favorite popular spots.

Paimin Aboeamr, Jakarta chief of detectives: Spending leisure time on weekends is a must for all, including police personnel like me. Unlike businesspeople and other government employees, police sometimes have to work during weekends and we have some days off during weekdays. On those days off, I usually leave the city with my family or just visit shopping centers in Jakarta. If there were 26 hours day, I would spend the remaining two hours to be revitalized.

Inke Maris, president of Inke Maris & Associates public relations company: Recreation together with the family on weekends is a necessity. I usually spend the time with my family at certain places, such as Bali. Otherwise, I just stay at home, hanging around, taking a midday nap, reading novels, watching LDs, videos or putting things in order at home.

Joel Friedman, an ex-official of Unicef, now works at a consultant company dealing with urban planning: On Saturdays, I play soccer during the day and go out with my family in the evening. On Sundays, my wife and I take our three children to go shopping. Sometimes, we spend the whole weekend at holiday resorts such as Pelabuhan Ratu or Pantai Carita beach.

Elizabeth Sihombing, an executive of a communications firm: I spend most of my weekends at home. Occasionally, I go to my office to complete delayed works. I go to Puncak for recreation only once a month.

Herman Z. Latif, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries: I usually spend weekends with friends and family. I play golf on Saturday mornings with former classmates and go out for dinner with my family in the evening. It's nice to meet friends so we can chat and make fools of each other just like we used to do when we were still in college. However, I don't always push myself to have a weekend vacation. If I'm busy, then I spend the weekend arranging my workload or entertaining business associates.

Weekends, for me, are just a matter of filling my spare time, either with family, friends, or others. They're not for relieving stress, really, because I don't suffer from stress. I don't feel stress. Why? Because I enjoy my life, I do my best and surrender to God.

I agree that recreation with family or friends on weekends is a good thing. But I think a routine trip to the countryside almost every weekend is unnecessary ... because you'll only get more stress by worrying about the cost, traffic, time and energy.

You can still enjoy yourself and have enough leisure and pleasure any day just by sitting down under a tree, watching the ants march by.

Zoer'aini Djamal Irwan, a landscape professor at Trisakti University: I always spend my weekends together with my husband and four children. When my children were teenagers we used to go sightseeing at Taman Safari or Puncak. We also used to go to Anyer beach, but it is far from Jakarta and we usually returned home exhausted. But now, since my children have grown up, I often spend my weekends at home, gardening. Sometimes, I go out of town for a reunion with my old friends.

Amir Syamsuddin, a lawyer: I spend weekends with my wife and our three-year-old child. Sometimes, we go to Pondok Indah Mall or other shopping centers, but just for window-shopping. Don't be surprised if you see me browsing at clothes when there is a cheap sale at a mall. Once in a while, I spend weekends with my family in Puncak. I don't like going to very exclusive places. On Saturdays, I play golf with friends, mostly fellow lawyers, at golf courses in Jakarta or nearby areas.

Ali Jusmono, general manager of Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant: I spend weekends together with my wife and four children and we go to some of our favorite restaurants. Sometimes we take our children to discotheques. We rarely stay overnight outside the house because I don't have much time.

We love the fresh air of Puncak so we can forget polluted Jakarta.

Benny Soetrisno, president of PT Apac Centertext Corp.: What? Weekends? No way. I don't think it's a must to have leisure time on weekends. I don't need it, anyway. My time is already packed with business problems, so I don't have spare time to think about weekends. (04/jun/lnt/bsr)