Let's go to the mall!

I went off in search of a citi bank this morning, and being adventurous, I decided to walk, with just a google map burned into my memory and a good sense of direction. While the streets only have sidewawlks about half the time, the traffic will avoid you, though unfortunately my fair skin, height, and light hair make me stick out like a sore thumb and everyone on the sidewalk wants to stop and talk to me. Too bad I don't understand anything they are saying!

After 15 minutes or so, still citibank-less, I found...Blok M. Blok M is the epitome of an American mall, but Indonesian-style. I believe there were 8 stories, full of small stores that sold American-style clothing that one could never wear in Jakarta out of modesty (unlesshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif there is an area I haven't seen yet where the women wear short dresses), cell phone stores galore, and luckily for me, both an American-style supermarket (no, not with familiar food, just that accepts credit cards) and a sort of Ace-hardware anything you can think of store (aka, extension cords, lamps, rice cookers, and towels). I did see and hear one other American while I was there-my first since the airport.

I enjoyed a 12,000 rupiyah (about $1.50) sit-down lunch of tea and gado gado, which was spicy as heck, but absolutely delicious. I then went in search of a stand that sold blended avocado juice, but couldn't find one, so I settled for an iced tea from the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf conveniently located in the mall. My iced coffee cost more than my lunch!

I took a taxi back, which took as long as my walk there had-I am pretty sure the driver drove around in circles for five minutes before heading back to the kost. When I was almost back, I saw...a citibank. Less than a 5 minute walk from the kost. Oh, well. I shall try tomorrow to go and open an account.

I chatted with my roommates for a bit on my return when they saw my purchases, and they filled me in on my first set of questions--do you tip at sit-down restaurants (no, only if you have extra change and really want to), can you walk around at night (yes, just keep the jewelery to a minimum), can you order delivery (yes, and you don't tip for that either!).

I found out they love watching American horror movies (great....), don't drink coffee (double great...) and are amazingly sweet, polite, and nice. I am so glad to have talked with them--I've been shy about asking my questions, but let them all out just now. Two of them work for an cigarette company just bought by Phillip Morris, and one is finishing her degree and wants to work there when she graduates. Apparently it is one of the nicest office jobs around, and has a very good reputation here. I tried to explain to them American smoking laws and the health concerns Americans have about smoking, but it is just a different view here.

I hope to post some pictures of the kost, and maybe a little more information about it, later on. For now, I really should start on that journal competition...