No idea who was the founder, but there was a book about dream and with numeric codes. It seemed to me the book was from China. A friend's brother of mine had a small lotto dealer, sometimes I shared my dreams with him to be interpreted into codes, and I enjoyed very much to break the codes together with him into a lotto numbers (although we didn't win at the end).

That day my aunt bought a lotto based on her dreams. According to her, this time her dream would bring her luck as she dreamed about baby and moon. She was a bit addicted to buy lotto. Sometimes she won, but more lost than won, I guess. 

She promised to bring us to Ancol, a famous place for recreation located in North Jakarta. We went off to the lotto dealer where just a very very small dealer - they had only a very small table with some lotto tickets - we were very excited that our aunt would win. That time the lotto ticket was just about Rp 250. Aunt just bought three numbers. 

And that was her lucky day to win the lotto. 

I might need to tell you why I like posting about dreams. I studied Psychoanalysis subject few years ago, we were focusing in Sigmund's analysis, and you know how complicated his analysis was. However, I fond Sigmund's analysis even though it gave a big headache afterwards. 

Sigmund was very detail on his works, specially the interpretation dreams and he'd been working on this field for very long time. I had some books of his works and I must be honest with you that I did not finish reading his books as you need special time to read his books, and the interpretation dreams book was just soooo long and off course complex too. 

Anyway, it was because I always have dreams and remember them all! that's why I like Freud's work about interpretation dream and that's why I think why I like posting about dreams.

To me it still does not make sense about a dream because dream could make you  become something or being somewhere you haven't been to. We could fly like birds, fight like a hero, run so fast, meet people who have passed away, etc: have you ever had one of these dreams?

My aunt believed that the baby symbolized happiness and the moon enlightened the earth from darkness. Relying on the book she discovered the drizzle of her dreams and got the number pattern.

I like interpreting my dream sometimes but unlike my aunt I don't use the 'special' book and look for numbers. Usually when I dream seeing someone who already pass away I just take it as a reminder, that I need to visit her or his grave. Sometimes I dream seeing or talking to old friends, but again, I take it as  a reminder to visit them. 

When I had a bad dream about someone's life I just think that person might be in a trouble OR sometimes I had a bad dream about myself and I just think I should not be thinking too much about something. 

Yeah, it's just as easy as that the way I interpret my dreams. I learn this from many people around - mostly people in Indonesia. 

It's not just Freud said that dream has a meaning, it's been said since old century people think that dream does have a meaning. Dream links to what happened in the past life and even the future. 

However, I still continue to crack the codes. 

JKT, 2159-270213

You will find a bit culture shock if first time arrive in Jakarta, not just the high traffic but anything that you think contrary to your home culture.

Even just for me who was born and grew up in Jakarta, I feel like an alien in my hometown. The traffic in Jakarta make it worst and I wonder how people in Jakarta survive from this? 

I might survive from the traffic but I have something that very difficult to tolerate, is when people smoke near to me. What makes me so mad is most the smokers ignore the sign of no smoking and people near them! 

Do you know when you have to call somebody ass***e? It when they ignore anything but themselves. 

My story

In 2005, I and my hubby had a bus trip from Merak to Medan. In the middle of trip a guy was smoking where there was air conditioner on AND with a sign of no smoking! I looked at the back seat and there was a couple with a toddler crying a lot. I approached to where the guy smoke and tell him that he not supposed to smoke on the bus. And do you know what he respond to me? He just smiled at me and continued to enjoy his f*****g cigarette.

So quite shocking when arrived in a restaurant the staff asking us: "Non smoking or smoking area?" When we  were brought to the non smoking area, about few centimeters from us there was a smoking area!

How about making the warning sign like this?

So quite shocking when arrived in a restaurant the staff asking us: "Non smoking or smoking area?" When we  were brought to the non smoking area, about few centimeters from us there was a smoking area! And I find most restaurants or pubs in Indonesia are the same: Non smoking and smoking area are in the same room.

When I asked a friend of mine who run a pub business in Jakarta why they allow people smoke inside, and they just answered: "Well, this is Indonesia, you know".  

Today more people smoke than few years ago and they're everywhere. It is quite shocking when you used to live in where people respect to the law and you here in a 'jungle' where law is just a joke. 

The law, the young consumers and the society

I don't know how strict the law for cigarette in Indonesia and but when I see so many advertisement for cigarette I understand why now more people smoke in Indonesia, teens and adults - too many advertisement and events that sponsored by company cigarette. As well as the warning sign displayed only for less then a second, some the advertisements allowed to modify the warning sign.

Clear warning sign still don't stop people from smoking Warning, warning, warning!

By all means the company cigarette is thriving in Indonesia bear in mind 28 percent of the population smoke. So don't be surprised if you see a group of teens enjoying their cigarette in a restaurant or public place OR if you are non-smoker parents and your kiddos don't like to listen to you not to smoke, just remember that the society is the sample of how the young people act.

In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) found that Indonesia was ranked number third for cigarette consumers.

This is really a serious issue, you know - how come we ignore the consequence of smoking?

I was with my hubby having  lunch in usual restaurant in Citos Cilandak, not far from us, we saw few so young kids smoking, they're probably the same age as my son. I really wanted to approach them and tell them to go home and do their home work!

It's annoying when the smoker know you don't smoke and they keep smoking front of you and I get this so many times since in Jakarta!

If just the law made to be followed there would be no more people smoke. You know the impact of cigarette to the second hand smoker, it's worst than the first smoker, right? I feel the impact right away when I breath the smoke from people near me, my trout feel sore and cough all the time.

So how can we deter the young kids for not smoking then?

I honestly don't know the answer. The family will be the first sample but again the society play big role in how the young generation act.

I'm grateful that none of in our family smoke and  my son is somewhere in a good place where nobody smoke.

JKT, 15.23-240213

Still about Indonesia tourist visa. The other day I posted about how to apply tourist visa for Indonesia and I also alluding to Sosial Budaya visa. This type of visa is alternative way for those who want to stay longer than 30 days without exit the state to extend it.

You need a sponsor from Indonesia to apply this visa. Ask your Indonesian friends to be your sponsor or alternatively look for an agent to sponsor you.

The procedure for extending this visa is quite easy, I extend it by myself and I don't even need my hubby come with me. Here are few steps to extend Sosial Budaya visa:

Go to your local Immigration office

Check here for your local immigration office. I went to South Jakarta immigration office at Mampang Prapatan, the foreign service is on the 3rd floor. Most the staff very  friendly (the locket 6 and 7 specially!) . Take the queue ticket near the security: look for perpanjangan.

Get the extension form application

You can get this at the basement level or the 3rd level, don't forget to ask a red map and materai (I asked  4 for each of them for next extension). Copy all the necessary documents (all the documents are almost the same like the first time you apply for this visa). 

Wait two or three days

After you submit all the necessary documents wait for two or three days. You will be given the date when you must be back there. 

So are you planning to have holiday in Indonesia? Organize it and look for the information about what Indonesia culture looks like. And first thing you need to know before coming to Indonesia is the purpose of your visit. A short visit usually is for holiday, which is for 30 days only and in my knowledge it cannot be extended. So you must get out of the country to if you want to extend it again. 

The 30 days holiday visa called Visa On Arrival or VOA and this visa can be got in the International airport in Indonesia. Please check below if your country is eligible to get VOA (source from wikipedia):

Sosial Budaya visa is a visa that allows you to stay up to 6 months in Indonesia without leaving the country for the extension. To get this visa you need to apply in the current country where you live. I applied this type of visa for my hubby in Singapore and it's pretty easy, but first you need to get a sponsor from Indonesia (but I heard some people say that's okay without a sponsor. Please double check about this).

Here are some documents  I brought to apply Sosial Budaya Visa:

1. Application form (fill in all the information about you)

2. Your original passport

3. A sponsor letter with his/her signature on top of  RP 6,000 Materai

4. A copy of sponsor's ID card - Kartu Tanda Penduduk (KTP)

5. A copy of sponsor's Kartu Keluarga (KK)

6. A copy of your certificate marriage (if you're married)

If your visa approved then you will be given for two months (60 days) visa and then it can be extended up to 6 months. So have you decided how long are you going to stay in Indonesia?

JKT 21.53-200213