Price increase: Fantastic!

We live in a crazy sort of world, do we not? Let me give you two examples.

No 1. As I have a lot of Christmas cards to send to family and friends in Europe and USA etc., I took the precaution of having one specimen checked, to ascertain the cost of postage (airmail, unsealed) to various destinations. For Europe, I was told by the Post Office in Landmark Center, "Rp 1100." However, when my wife took a bulk consignment to the Main Post Office, she was obliged to pay Rp 2100. Does the right hand of the Post Office turn what the left hand was doing, I wonder?

No 2. How's this for inflation? A month or so ago, I bought a few packs of Ryvita for Rp 7,200 per pack. On Nov. 22 my wife went to buy a few more: cost Rp 10,150 per pack! These purchases were made at the same supermarket.

R.B. SAWREY-COOKSON

Jakarta