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Old 16th July 2006, 01:05 AM   #7
Mudi
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Makassar, (Ujung Pandang), Sulawesi, Indonesia
Posts: 38
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Pak Radu

Welcome to Indonesia soon. Be careful for spicy food and lady from Madura! Ha ha. In Jakarata National museum called museum gajah. Most keris upstair in treasure rooms. Ask driver also to bring to Jalan Surabaya. Many shop like flea market Portobello road in London there. Hati hati mean be careful. Many kriminal there and many fakes but good thing can be found in the shops. Be sure to negotiate price for anything you like. As a tip for you I give you secret. When talking price, you can say near end ask Harga Mati? That mean last best price you ask. In Indonesia negotiate price. It is part of culture. For tamu which mean guest price ask always higher. That OK if you understand. Also in Jakarta when meet Indonesian very nice to say Salam and gesture with right hand flat and bring to chest. This give you right away respect and appreciate for you polite.

In Bali two good place for keris asli. Best first place in kampung Batuan. Pande Retug live there. He is expert for keris and have many good keris for sale. You need driver speak good English take you there. Pande Retug only speak bahasa Bali and bahasa Indonesia. Pande Retug famous even on National Geographic TV about Bali. With driver for translate ask Pande Retug about pamor. He explain very well. If you need personal keris good for you he is best to go. Even high priest in Bali consult Pande Retug.

Second good place is Pak Yan. He in Batuan also. Pak Yan father start business many years ago. His business first antique business in Bali. He also make and sell furniture so do not have confusion. His shop on main road in Batuan. Driver will know. He have many good keris and he speak English OK. His keris not on display. Ask there for Pak Yan and say I like keris asli. He has many but Pande Retug have more. For polite in Bali when first meet Bali person give om and you get respect. Om is hold both hand together like to pray and place on chest with small bend of head. If you want make real good first impression to first time meeting orang di Bali say Om Swastiastu when gesture Om. Swastiastu sound like spell. Swassss.....ti.....aaaaas....tu. I wish you have good trip to Indonesia. We like to have tamu guest visit. Not for money like some may think. To share and learn is most in heart.
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