Love of your life

Love of your life

It is difficult to believe that before the end of the year a
blatant advertisement should appear in The Jakarta Post,
especially given the banning of New Year's Eve parties. But then
came the Gran Melia Jakarta, which I normally like to frequent,
with its advertisement offering a romantic 24 hours in their
hotel for US$10,000 by asking the stupid question whether the
love of our lives was worth that amount.

I don't know on what planet the Gran Melia people live but
quite recently this country experienced the "ridiculously" low
price of US$10 for a limousine pick up, a grand welcoming at the
hotel entrance (what else can this entail than shaking people's
hands?), and having a string quartet play only for you and your
loved one in the cozy atmosphere of a 1,700 square meter ballroom
(sounds pretty lonely). How can this increase from Rp 25 million
which is already ridiculous, to more than Rp 50 million, not
forgetting the added tax.

Either the advertisement contained a severe printing error or
some elements in this society have become even sicker than one
would believe considering the problems we are facing at this
point in time.

Happy New Year to all, even if you celebrate at home alone or
with your loved ones, which could save you a lot of money.

ROLAND WOEHRLE

Jakarta