a 24 karat gold flame & costume kebaya

Jatu picked me up yesterday morning, for an exciting day of tourist adventures. She had never been to see MONAS, the National Monument in Jakarta, so I didn't feel so bad when Sari recruited her to take me to see it. MONAS is basically like a candle, erect like the Washington Monument, but it has a 24 karat gold flame on the very top. expensive, Jakarta!

we got our tickets, saw the diarama stations in the museum beneath the monument, depicting the coming of age story of Indonesia. the diaramas were awesome, but much too dark, so I wasn't able to take any photos. then we stood in line. Jatu compared it to standing in line art Disneyland, but it lacked the immense excitement that you know you are going to feel. yes, you stand in line for a long time and yes it's over in a few minutes (hell, a few seconds for a Disney ride), but the anticipation wasn't the same. all in all, it took us FOREVER to get to the front of the line and realize the monument has 1 elevator that fits 10 people. hey, it's an old monument.

got up to the top and started taking photos. the landscaping was gorgeous and they had banners of the city and buildings labeled so you knew what you were looking at.

waited in line to go down to the pedastal and took more photos. we were getting good at taking pictures of ourselves by this time.

I do have to say this though. Indonesian people are by far the pushiest people I have met. whether it's trying to squeeze in a motorbike or minibus on the road during a mass traffic jam or pushing their way into an elevator- it's not pretty. they are worse than New Yorkers trying to get into a subway at rush hour. and that is not an easy thing to top.

left MONAS and went to eat at the food court in Grand Indonesia and started searching for a kebaya for me to wear with my batik sarong I purchased in Ubud. went to Pasaraya and found a whole section in the department store dedicated to formal kebaya wear and stayed in the Rizal Costume section, where I tried on many a different fit and color kebaya with the bustier underneath. after a good amount of time, I settled on a red/gold kebaya and two bustiers- red and gold. I am determined to wear the gold with the kebaya and the batik sarong.

but the red with the kebaya and jeans. and heels. it just looks hot.

but of course, I couldn't just leave the store yet. my eye caught on a mermaid skirt, Sari told me is called Prada Batik. it's a batik skirt but with glitter. very fancy. and I got it. to wear with kebaya or navy/gold top back in New York.

ate dinner with Jatu and bought some more dvds and then headed home for a fashion show. Sari's brother Kariim met me at the gate and he'll be staying at the house till tomorrow, I believe. he's a pilot for Quatar Airlines and lives there with his wife and little girl, but is only in town for some business.

then we had a fashion show for Sari and her mom. and I was taught how to wrap my sarong properly. and I have come to the conclusion that I might possibly need help getting dressed and will definately be taking a taxi if wearing this in New York!