Indonesia Independence Day Celebration

Every 17th August all Indonesian celebrates Independence Day. Thanks to our hero, who's struggle for our freedom, ending 350 years Dutch and 3,5 yrs Japanese occupations.
But lately, the celebrations turn into party and festival in many cities, villages and communities. The celebration bring happiness to all the people despite economic difficulties.
Many interesting tournaments which are not happens everyday will be held, such as palm tree climbing (panjat pinang). Slippery palm tree trunk with many presents in the top from T-shirt, mineral water, biscuit to mobile phone, tape recorder, VCD-DVD player or bicycle! In this picture, one palm tree climbing tournament in Kalimalang River, East Jakarta.
Usually they have it in the ground or open field, but Kalimalang is famous for this event every 17th August. Not only in one point, but along Kalimalang River. There are also gladiators, with two people hit each other with pillow above the river.
Catching the ducks in the river is other interesting tournament in Kalimalang. Other tournaments is eating crackers (makan kerupuk), running in jute sack race (balap karung), running with marbles in the spoon (lari kelereng) and many more.
So if you're visiting our country in August, don't miss these. These are only in Indonesia!

Don't Say "Butuh" in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur - For many people, Malaysian language seems to have many similarities with Indonesian. But you should not get wrong. We have many differences also and can bring misunderstanding or even worse.
Beside the dialect, intonation and vocabulary, which are not the same, many words have different meaning. For example, the word “berbual” in Malay means speaking or talking. But in Indonesian language, the same word will understand as ‘lying’ or speaking something bullshit. I learned that one of Malaysian telecommunication provider has the jargon “berbual tanpa batas” or talking without limit. One Malaysian television has program “Berbuallah Selalu” or Let’s Talk. One of my Malaysian friends shocked when I told her that “berbual” in Indonesian means “berbohong” or “lying”.
Other funny word in my interpretation is pejabat, which in Malaysian means office. In Indonesia, it means government high-ranking officer. When it comes “ibu pejabat” which is means headquarters, Indonesian will think that is the wife of its government officer. They have an organization for the wives of government official called Dharmawanita. So, I believe if some Indonesian read the sign of “Ibu Pejabat….” They will think that the building is the office for Malaysian “Dharmawanita”.
The other word, is “bisa”. In Malaysian, it is “poison”. But in Indonesia, that word mostly use for “able”. Sometimes when the context related to a snake, it could be “poison” too.
The most horrible things I learnt are the two words, “butuh” and “pantat”. In Indonesia, “butuh” means “need” and “pantat” is butt. I will not say it anymore in Malaysia because here, those words meaning, surprisingly far from those in Bahasa Indonesia.

Daily ConversationAfter weeks joined “International Journalism Fellowship” I get used with daily conversation with my Malaysian friends. For example, “jom”, “iye ke”, “beb” etc. One phrase I love to say is “o em ji”, short from “Oh My God”. Other word can bring misunderstanding is “gile”. Which is means “too much” here. If my Malaysian friends said “aku suke gile” or “I love it so much”, I should not think that person is sometimes crazy. That is the meaning in Indonesian language. (natalia santi)