A big durian that isn't Jakarta & Big Name labels
Trip Start
Dec 01, 2008
1
32
79
Trip End
Dec 01, 2011
Jakarta, Java, Indonesia
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Ok. I was too quick to judge... So far, Jakarta seems brilliant!! I am poshing it up for the first in Asia... Well, sort of! I have a hot water shower, finally, and air-con as well! Niiiiice! I figured the last few days in Indonesia should be comfortable... Why did I stay in Bogor again!?!
Jakarta doesn't seem to be nearly as "dirty" and "grungy" as most travelers seem to find it... Maybe I'm just happy to be moving on from such a depressing place that was Bogor and happy to leave Christmas behind. The comfort of family is quite often underestimated at times like these. It's tradition after all.. I was far. Far too far this year.
*****
December 29, 2009
Today's only half over and it's 7pm...! Since my flight is early tomorrow morning, direction of Singapore, I opted for a "hotel room-less" night. Makes it a bit cheaper. I'll attempt to kill time by surfing the net and seeing Avatar tonight, again...! Come on, it's a dollar fifty! The movie's at 11pm so it'll bring me till 1:30am and then just busing it to the airport and hang out there for four hours... Won't be too bad.
I had a really "sophisticated" and "polished" day. I spent the day shopping in one of the most prestigious mall I've ever walked through... Even more than the grand ones in Las Vegas' Bellagio and Caesar's Arcade... Plaza Indonesia holds the most complete array of designer houses under one roof! Everything from Alberta Ferretti to Aigner. Emergildo Zegna to Givenchy to Jean-Paul Gauthier, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Valentino, Chanel, Yves St-Laurent without forgetting Versace, Louis Vuitton, Kenzo and the ones that almost saw my wallet; Calvin Klein and Emporio Armani!!
Leaving all bags, camera, maps, money belt behind, I entered the plaza with only a pair of jeans, a simple white t-shirt, a pair of sunglasses and simple flip-flops. Lifting my nose up ever so slightly and not taking my shades off; I walked through their doors one after the next asking to try this and that in small, size 30 or where I could get the shoes in the window display. I never had so much customer service... Ever! They would walk with me and hold my hangers, point new arrivals, sale items and the latest bag in the collection. They would inform me of a certain 10 or 15% discount and I just waived them off gently with a "yes... I'm not looking for sales.".
Let me tell you, there's something about a pair of Armani jeans, a CK sweater, a Mont Blanc watch, a Vuitton bag, a Versace scarf or a Hugo Boss pair of shoes once sitting on you. They feel so good! I must admit, I was tempted and even analyzed calling Asia quits and spending like a mad mother f-er on myself and book the next flight home! Who needs to travel when you have a Jean-Paul Gauthier pair of trousers or an Armani shirt on...! Darn that shirt looked hot! It felt hot walking in, trying sizes on and not even knowing the prices! I felt like I was above it and their $3000 jacket was only few coins off my Visa!
Only one item that caught the strings to my heart, twisted them, pulled a weight and kept bringing me back. I shouldn't be surprised; Calvin Klein! I tried on this navy blue jacket... Oh my... This navy blue jacket!
I actually looked like the promo pic for the item! The ladies were so impressed how much of a glove it was on me that they pulled out their book and showed me the pic... I was stunned! That jacket was made for me! To make life a bit more hellish; it was 70% off and they only had one size left... My size. Bitches! I strutted around the rest of the store trying the jacket with CK watches, bags, shirts and pulls. I felt like crying! It was all perfect. I finally took the jacket off and told them to put on hold, that I had to check Jean-Paul Gauthier and Boss first before spending $2680 on a winter jacket, in Indonesia!
I ummed and aaahed until about 6pm while eating some of the best crêpes and waffler at "My Pancake" french café beside Lanvin. Cast-iron fountain, big red wind "moulin rouge" mill, cobblestones, iron tables, french balconies, sparkling starry sky and all...! I distracted myself with another jacket at Burberry (priced at $7300) and showed myself that there will always be more jackets and that CK isn't going anywhere... I'll get one in Canada when I come back, don't you worry!
I'm still not convinced and the shop is open until 10pm... That's 3 hours away!
