Indonesia point of view

I’ve never spoken Terima Kasir (Thank you in Melayu) so many times in my whole life. Even in Singapore, when you’ve Malay friends, you’ll never realize how important Malay language is till you’ve been to a country where Beharsa Melayu is the national language.

The Indonesians love to squeeze. They squeeze in every tiny mini-van, bus and even train. Not an inch of space is spared, not to say the buttocks touching the buttock. How carbon footprint friendly they are!

It seems like every children start by learning how to play a guitar before learning how to read. During a long journey by bus or train, you’ll be entertained by pop star wannabes playing their guitar. Sometimes, it’s good. Other times, it’s hideous like what Simon Cowell will say.

At certain time of the day, the sound of Islamic prayers amplified through the loud speaker all over Indonesia will start chanting. To certain extent, it felt holy and the faith of the nation is truly inspiring. What is important is that we never truly understand their faith. We never question our own religious not to mention about others. I remember Buddha once challenges us to judge the truth of teachings for ourselves by saying

Do not believe in anything simply because you’ve heard so
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down by many generations
Do not believe in anything because it’s spoken and rumored by many
Do not believe in anything simply because it’s found in the religious book
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders

But only believe after observation and analysis, when you find anything that agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept and live up to it.