Fast Fashion Farewell

One thing this pandemic showed us is that, globally, no business is safe from its effects. While new companies and recent start ups bore the brunt of the situation, even older companies were equally affected.

Last week, I read this article online with a combination of shock and disbelief.

Debenhams - a fast fashion giant - has been in the UK for around 200 years. That's 2 centuries! Imagine that it's been through so much - from 2 World Wars, The Great Depression, the earlier pandemics, even the most recent Brexit. 

And it was able to weather all those crucial events in all those decades.  So, you'd think that they could also weather this crisis as they did the previous ones.

But these are strange times we live in. Especially for businesses. Even a heavyweight like Debenhams.

Makes me wonder if their closure in the UK will affect their Philippine operations? Will their stores around the globe close down, too?

If they will, I'll definitely miss my lunch time trips to Debenhams at Shangrila Mall. I'll miss Principles by Ben De Lisi, Butterfly by Matthew Williamson, Rocha by John Rocha, Star by Julien Macdonald, Red Herring, and even the earlier Editions collaborations with Roksanda Ilincic.

I'll also miss my Debenhams runs in JKT and HKG. I still remember all the great buys from sales in those branches a few years back.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that after this situation ends, they'll find a way to reopen and still be a fabulous fast fashion source, both in the UK and the world.

What's in a name? Part Dua

Yes, JKT is like a gift that keeps on giving.

If you like funny product names as "gifts. "

Here's another sighting from a local supermarket.

And yes, they still can't import this in the Philippines.

What's in a name?

When we were in JKT, a particular brand of snacks - potato chips to be exact - caught my eye.

Nay, it grabbed me eye and made sure I paid attention.

I actually get the idea behind the name. It's something I teach in SSC, that you can sometimes create a "Compound Name" out of 2 or more important qualities of the product. This is a "Japanese" "Potato Chip," and I'm assuming that's how they got to the name.

Valid. But I don't think they can sell this in the Philippines.

Following a calling

One of the things that we first researched on was the mass schedules in JKT.

Apparently, their anticipated masses are on Saturday at 3:30pm, way earlier than the usual 6:00pm mass that we're used to.

Luckily, that church was near our hotel, so we decided to hear Mass at Gereja Santa Theresia on Saturday.

The church was a very quaint, very peaceful place of worship, which made it a joy to visit.

Definitely one of the high points of this trip.

Meals with Mark: Fridays on a Saturday

We have this tradition.

When we'd go out to a different country, we have to go and eat at a TGIFriday's.

We went to several locations in Japan, including Yokohama. We ate at TGIFriday's in HKG, and in BKK.

And because traditions must be honored, TGIFriday's JKT was our venue for dinner tonight.

Here's the traditions!

Meals with Mark: Bread and Breakfast

On our first day in Jakarta, Mark and I decided to walk around our neighborhood - Gajah Mada.

As we traversed down the road, we encountered a lot of Padang Padang, street food stalls, and quaint, little restaurants.

But when Mark saw Suisse Bakery, he said that he read about that ,and it was one of the oldest and most popular bakeries in Jakarta. So, risking life and limb, we crossed the busy highway to get there.

What Mark read about is true. It was around 9am, and the bakery was packed! And it was packed with people who looked like regulars, because they're buying a lot, and their purchases are carefully curated. It's the handiwork of long time Suisse bakery fans!

Mark eventually got the quiche, while I went to the blueberry bread. Then, we decided to share a cinnamon roll.

And that was our first breakfast in JKT.

From MNL to JKT

It's hard to believe that this time last week, I was in JKT enjoying the local cuisine, and reconnecting with old friends.

Last Sunday, I met up with Rommel and Bong for lunch at a nice restaurant called Benedict's at Grand Indonesia. After all the nasi-permutations I ate the past few days, something western was welcome.

The funny thing with this meet up is that we all just met up in MNL a few weeks ago. In fact, I was just with Bong that same week. And suddenly, here we are, meeting up again. But in a different country this time.

I wonder where we'll meet up next?

Name-calling

Too bad I didn't see this product before our "name studies" lecture in copywriting. It would've been a perfect example:

I guess a product made of corn makes it, uhm, corny.

I'll take a bus or a train to get to...

Jakarta City!

Whenever I travel, I try to use the local transportation to get a feel of the local people and culture.

So, my transport of choice around Jakarta was the TransJakarta bus line.

It was pretty efficient and fast, which made me like it a bit more than the usual Grab or Cab.

My local friends were actually surprised that I survived the bus system since it gets too frenetic even for them.

Good thing I'm intrepid enough for experiences like this.

Monas on a Sunday

The Jakarta National Monument, or as the locals call it - Monas, is one of my earliest recollections of Jakarta. As the country's national park, and the symbol of the country's independence, it was one of those must-visit-tourist-places. Thus, we made a stop there.

Monas to Indonesia is what Luneta is to Manila and what Quezon Memorial Circle is to Quezon City. It's a place where people can relax and unwind, especially on weekends.

Yesterday was a Sunday, so I thought I'd go back to Monas and go back down memory lane to my first visit to the city.

As expected, Monas was packed! There were thousands of families and friends enjoying the park on a Sunday. There were families having picnics, friends gregariously taking photos, there were groups engaged in sports like badminton and soccer, and there was even a battalion of police cadets running around and chanting.

Needless to say, it was a busy Sunday at Monas.

It was fun just observing and assimilating with the crowd. And it was also nice to see what the Indonesians do to relax on a weekend.

After all, Monas is the place to be on weekends.

FMM: Anggun's a-blazing

Since I'm in JKT this weekend, today's Friday Magic Madness song is from one of my favorite Indonesian artists - Anggun! And this is actually the second time I'm posting her as an FMM song.

She has such a soulful and powerful voice that's easy on the ears. The nice things is that her voice is comforting as it is powerful. I can listen to her songs over and over again.

That's why today, I'll listen to her hit song, "Snow on the Sahara" again and again.

Keeping a-float!

Even before I left for JKT, I already knew the first thing I'd do in the country.

Get a mug of A&W Rootbeer Float at the airport.

And that's exactly what I did.

Hello Indonesia!