English-Indonesian False Friends

Taking a short break from perusing the grandificently written novel Hotel Megalodon by Rick Chesler, I am here nestled on my bed writing this English-themed article. Some (or many?) friends are not real; those backstabbers or wolves in sheep's clothing should be eschewed, hurled into oblivion in a split second. Nevertheless, this is not the sense this article intends to discuss.

In linguistic terminology, a false friend is "a word in a foreign language that is similar to one in your own, so that you wrongly think they both mean the same thing" (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online). It is obvious that false friends can impede a language learner's progress, misleading them into an incorrect understanding of a word. Hence, I hope the following list of English-Indonesian false friends can help English-learning Indonesian speakers and Indonesian-learning English speakers alike to avoid such a misunderstanding potentially caused by these "masquerading foes". Enjoy!

Note:

• In each entry, the first word is English and the second word Indonesian.
• The entries are arranged in alphabetical order.
• The definition of the English word is from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online, unless stated otherwise.
• If you would like to suggest your own false friends, feel free to contact me. I will credit you for your contribution(s).

1. air vs. air (added on October 10, 2024)
• air: the mixture of gases around the Earth, that we breathe
• air: water
2. Angus vs. (h)angus (added on October 6, 2024)
• Angus: any of a breed of usually black hornless beef cattle originating in Scotland (Merriam-Webster)
• (h)angus: burnt
3. babe vs. babe (added on October 10, 2024)
• babe: a word for an attractive young woman; a way of speaking to someone you love, especially your wife or husband
• babe: father; dad
4. baggage vs. bagasi (added on October 19, 2024)
• baggage: the cases, bags, boxes etc. carried by someone who is traveling
• bagasi: the part at the back of a car where you can put bags, tools etc.; trunk [US]/boot [UK]
• Note that the word "bagasi" can also refer to the English meaning above.
5. ballyhoo vs. baliho
• ballyhoo: when there is a lot of excitement or anger about something – used to show disapproval
• baliho: a promotional medium that gives information about an activity related to a society (Kumparan)
• Note that the word "baliho" can also refer to the English meaning above.
6. bandan(n)a vs. bando
• bandan(n)a: a large brightly colo(u)red piece of cloth that you wear around your head or neck
• bando: headband
7. benzene vs. bensin
• benzene: a liquid obtained from coal, used for making plastics
• bensin: gasoline [US]/petrol [UK]
8. bow tie vs. bau ta(h)i
• bow tie: a short piece of cloth tied in the shape of a bow that men sometimes wear around their neck
• bau ta(h)i: the smell of f(a)eces
9. bullet vs. bulat
• bullet: a small piece of metal that you fire from a gun
• bulat: round(ed)
10. center [US]/centre [UK] vs. senter
• center [US]/centre [UK]: the middle of a space, area, or object, especially the exact middle; a building which is used for a particular purpose or activity
• senter: flashlight [US]/torch [UK]
11. colo(u)r vs. kolor
• colo(u)r: red, blue, yellow, green, brown, purple etc.
• kolor: briefs; underpants [US]/pants [UK]
12. copy vs. kopi (added on November 1, 2024)
• copy: something that is made to be exactly like another thing
• kopi: coffee
• Note that the word "kopi" can also refer to the English meaning above.
13. cost vs. kos(t)
• cost: the amount of money that you have to pay in order to buy, do, or produce something
• kos(t): boarding house; bedsit [UK]
14. critic vs. kritik
• critic: someone whose job is to make judgments about the good and bad qualities of art, music, films etc.; someone who criticizes a person, organization, or idea
• kritik: criticism
15. dozen vs. dosen
• dozen: twelve
• dosen: lecturer
16. espionage vs. spion
• espionage: the activity of secretly finding out secret information and giving it to a country’s enemies or a company’s competitors 
• spion: side mirror [US]/wing mirror [UK]
17. fabric vs. pabrik
• fabric: cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc.
• pabrik: factory
18. grocer vs. grosir
• grocer: someone who owns or works in a shop that sells food and other things used in the home
• grosir: wholesale(r)
19. groggy vs. grogi
• groggy: weak and unable to move well or think clearly because you are ill or very tired
• grogi: nervous; have butterflies (in your stomach)
20. guru vs. guru
• guru: someone who knows a lot about a particular subject, and gives advice to other people; a Hindu religious teacher or leader
• guru: teacher
21. hide vs. haid
• hide: to deliberately put or keep something or someone in a place where they cannot easily be seen or found; to go or stay in a place where no one will see or find you
• haid: menstruation
22. ketchup vs. kecap
• ketchup: a thick cold red sauce made from tomatoes that you put on food
• kecap: soy sauce
23. khaki vs. kaki
• khaki: a dull green-brown or yellow-brown colo(u)r; cloth of this colo(u)r, especially when worn by soldiers
• kaki: foot; leg
24. modal vs. modal (added on October 6, 2024)
• modal: a verb, such as "can", "might", and "must", that is used with another verb to express an idea such as possibility that is not expressed by the main verb of a sentence (Cambridge Dictionary)
• modal: capital; money or property, especially when it is used to start a business or to produce more wealth
25. optical vs. optik
• optical: relating to machines or processes which are concerned with light, images, or the way we see things
• optik: optometrist's [US]/optician's [UK]
• Note that the word "optik" can also refer to the English meaning above.
26. ounce vs. ons
• ounce: a unit for measuring weight, equal to 28.35 grams. There are 16 ounces in a pound.
• ons: a unit for measuring weight, equal to 100 grams
27. police vs. polis (added on October 18, 2024)
• police: the people who work for an official organization whose job is to catch criminals and make sure that people obey the law
• polis: policy; a contract with an insurance company, or an official written statement giving all the details of such a contract
28. policy vs. polisi (added on October 18, 2024)
• policy: a way of doing something that has been officially agreed and chosen by a political party, a business, or another organization; a contract with an insurance company, or an official written statement giving all the details of such a contract
• polisi: police
29. prawn vs. perawan
• prawn: a small pink shellfish that can be eaten
• perawan: virgin
30. pulse vs. pulsa
• pulse: the regular beat that can be felt, for example at your wrist, as your heart pumps blood around your body
• pulsa: cell phone credit [US]/mobile phone credit [UK]
31. room vs. rumah
• room: a part of the inside of a building that has its own walls, floor, and ceiling
• rumah: house; home
32. solar vs. solar (added on October 19, 2024)
• solar: relating to the sun; using the power of the sun’s light and heat
• solar: a type of heavy oil used instead of petrol in engines, especially in trucks, buses, and trains; diesel (fuel/oil)
33. sinister vs. sinis
• sinister: making you feel that something evil, dangerous, or illegal is happening or will happen
• sinis: cynical
34. vocal vs. vokal
• vocal: expressing strong opinions publicly, especially about things that you disagree with; relating to the voice or to singing
• vokal: vowel
• Note that the word "vokal" can also refer to the English meanings above.

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GO-JEK, GrabBike, and Our Indonesian Mentality

The occurrence the other day has motivated me to compose this piece of writing.

I am a repeat customer of Grab – sometimes I utilize the GrabCar and GrabFood services; however, GrabBike is what I use most often. That day I set out from my itsy-bitsy home with a GrabBike. The journey was smooth until we came to a point which is not far from where I dwell as a Jakartan; the GrabBiker chose to take the wrong way, driving against the flow of traffic. With my eyes open, I could also see a GO-JEK heading in the same direction whose driver didn't seem to feel guilty of what he was doing at that moment. (for those who don't know GO-JEK, it is an Indonesian (local) company which provides transportation services, competing with Grab, which is based in Malaysia)

I often give 1-star ratings to GrabBike riders (don't believe it? Check with Grab itself, or contact me and I'll forward to you the plethora of complaint response e-mails from Grab). The reason is nothing but such dangerously frivolous behavior, which could bring their passengers' lives to an end.

Indonesia is a fantastic country. We are endowed with huge amounts of exquisite scenery, vast biodiversity which is probably the greatest on the planet, and abundant natural resources. With these advantages, along with other strong points which include a gigantic population of some 250 million people, Indonesia surely has the potential to be one of the most powerful countries in the world. However, compared with two neighboring countries Singapore and Vietnam both of which gained independence much later than Indonesia, I'd say Indonesia's progress has been 'pretty' disappointing.

It seems to be an irony since we have bountiful treasures which other nations, I believe, are drooling over. Are the Indonesians stupider than those of other nationalities? Nope. We boast a significant figure of doctors and professors, don't we? So, what makes this country far less developed than it should be?

The mentality is what I think the culprit of this big issue. The attitude that everything should be done in an instant and not being concerned about the consequences of what one's acts might carry is the key factor of why we are still building an MRT system in the 2010s. This is, of course, what leads to corruption, which is one of the major problems of this highly diverse nation.

That's our challenge. Fixing this might take quite a lot of time since older generations tend to resist change; later ones might be easier to shape into humans of excellent quality. Nevertheless, it is of extreme importance to work together fervently to make up for what we have wasted and, ultimately, for a much better Indonesia that we can take pride in. Continue reading

Indonesian or English Expressions?

It is no surprise that a humongous amount of Indonesian language has entered my ears and my eyes--and my brain--considering the fact that I have spent most of my life in this wide-stretching, equator-passed country. Surprisingly, there are a huge number of Indonesian expressions that are strikingly similar to or even exactly the same as English ones if translated, sometimes with the help of thinking figuratively. I have compiled a 'mini' list of these expressions and hopefully it will quench your language thirst, expand your linguistic knowledge, or even just kill your time in a nice fashion. Cheers!

Note:
• The Indonesian expressions display a range of formality levels.
• I believe there are many, many more of such expressions out there. So if you know any, please poke me, and I will add yours to the list. Huge thanks to those who have contributed to helping me build up the expression bank!

1. backstab – menusuk dari belakang
• Several days ago I found out that Lousia had backstabbed me. I thought she was a good friend!
• Beberapa hari lalu saya menemukan bahwa Louisa menusuk saya dari belakang. Saya pikir dia seorang teman yang baik!
2. bitter pill to swallow – menelan pil pahit
• For Chelsea, losing to Manchester United was a bitter pill to swallow.
• Chelsea menelan pil pahit dengan kalah dari Manchester United.
3. black and white – hitam dan putih
• It is very difficult to make a decision since it is not a black and white issue.
• Sangat sulit untuk mengambil keputusan karena ini bukan isu hitam dan putih.
4. crocodile tears – air mata buaya
• Don't believe Martin. He is a playboy. Those are just crocodile tears.
• Jangan percaya Martin. Dia itu playboy. Itu cuma air mata buaya.
5. empty vessels make the most noise – tong kosong nyaring bunyinya
• That gubernatorial candidate speaks the most but actually he is the least skilled of all. Empty vessels make the most noise.
• Calon gubernur itu paling banyak berbicara tetapi sebenarnya dia yang paling tidak mampu dari semuanya. Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya.
6. experience is the best teacher – pengalaman adalah guru terbaik
• The internship at that oil and gas company has been very meaningful to me. I really believe experience is the best teacher.
• Magang di perusahaan minyak dan gas itu sangat berarti bagiku. Aku sungguh percaya pengalaman adalah guru terbaik.
7. get out of bed on the wrong side/get out of the wrong side of bed – salah bangun tidur
• Clark must have gotten out of the wrong side of bed. He has been grumbling all day.
• Clark pasti salah bangun tidur. Dia ngomel-ngomel seharian.
8. give someone an inch (and they'll take a mile/yard) – dikasih hati minta jantung
• I don't want to help Frederick anymore. Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.
• Saya tidak mau membantu Frederick lagi. Dikasih hati minta jantung.
9. golden opportunity – kesempatan emas
• It is a golden opportunity to become a famous person. You must accept the job offer.
• Ini adalah sebuah kesempatan emas untuk menjadi orang terkenal. Kamu harus menerima tawaran pekerjaan itu.
10. guinea pig/lab rat – kelinci percobaan
• No, I don't want to be a guinea pig! What if I die after taking those pills?
• Tidak, saya tidak mau menjadi seekor kelinci percobaan!. Bagaimana jika saya mati setelah mengonsumsi pil-pil itu?
11. green – hijau
• Are you sure you will assign this huge task to Britney? She is still green.
• Apakah Anda yakin Anda akan memberikan tugas besar ini ke Britney? Dia masih hijau.
12. half-heartedly – (dengan) setengah hati
• Eric's work results are always bad because he does his job half-heartedly.
• Hasi kerja Eric selalu buruk karena dia melakukan pekerjaannya setengah hati.
13. have a sense of humor – punya selera humor
• My uncle has a great sense of humor. It is always fun to talk with him!
• Paman saya mempunyai selera humor yang tinggi. Berbicara dengan dia selalu menyenangkan!
14. have the last laugh – ketawa terakhir
• I accept the defeat, but I will have the last laugh.
• Gua terima kekalahan ini, tapi gua yang akanketawa terakhir.
15. hidden agenda – agenda terselubung/tersembunyi
• Tracy is visiting her house too? Hm... He must have a hidden agenda.
• Tracy mengunjungi rumahnya juga? Hm... Dia pasti ada sebuah agenda terselubung/tersembunyi.
16. in black and white – hitam di atas putih
• You must insist this agreement be in black and white.
• Kamu harus bersikukuh perjanjian ini harus hitam di atas putih.
17. lightning fast – secepat kilat
• Maria can run 8 meters per second. She is really lightning fast.
• Maria bisa berlari 8 meter per detik. Dia benar-benar secepat kilat.
18. like a broken record – kayak tip pecah
• Your brother sounds like a broken record. He is always talking about the same things.
• Kakak laki-lakimu kayak tip pecah. Dia selalu ngomong hal yang sama.
19. like talking to a brick wall – kayak ngomong sama tembok
• I've asked her to go to school many times, but it's like talking to a brick wall. Basically she won't do that.
• Gua udah berkali-kali minta dia pergi ke sekolah, tapi itu kayak ngomong sama tembok. Pada dasarnya dia ga mau.
20. lose face – kehilangan muka
• The sex scandal made the singer lose face.
• Skandal sex tersebut membuat sang penyanyi kehilangan muka.
21. make yourself at home – anggap saja rumah sendiri
• Please sit down and enjoy the snacks. Make yourself at home.
• Silakan duduk dan nikmati makanan ringannya. Anggap saja rumah sendiri.
22. money laundering – pencucian uang
• Those men in white are accused of money laundering.
• Pria berpakaian putih itu dituduh melakukan pencucian uang.
23. oil and water don't mix – bagai air dengan minyak
• Stephanie and Aldo always have quarrels when they are together. Oil and water don't mix.
• Stephanie dan Aldo selalu berseteru jika sedang bersama-sama. Mereka bagai air dengan minyak.
24. opportunity only knocks once – kesempatan cuma datang sekali
• You should accept that job offer. Opportunity only knocks once.
• Kamu harus mengambil tawaran pekerjaan itu. Kesempatan cuma datang sekali.
25. over my dead body – langkahin dulu mayat gue
• You want to use my car? Over my dead body!
• Loe mau make mobil gue? Langkahin dulu mayat gue!
26. pig in a poke – kucing dalam karung
• Martin just bought a pig in a poke. The new smartphone he ordered online turned out to be defective!
• Martin baru saja membeli kucing dalam karung. Ponsel pintar baru yang dia pesan secara daring ternyata cacat!
27. play with fire – bermain dengan api
• You want to sell drugs? Don't play with fire!
• Kamu mau jual narkoba? Jangan bermain dengan api deh!
28. save face – menyelamatkan muka
• He tried to save face by making a public apology.
• Dia berusaha menyelamatkan muka dengan meminta maaf kepada publik.
29. silence is golden – diam adalah emas
• Taylor was punched by Annie because he gave her criticisms. Silence is golden.
• Taylor dipukul oleh Annie karena dia memberi kritikan. Diam adalah emas.
30. sleep with – tidur dengan
• The mayor was arrested because he had slept with his mistress.
• Walikota itu ditangkap karena ia telah tidur dengan selingkuhannya.
31. someone’s eyes are bigger than their stomach/belly – seseorang lapar mata
• Timmy gave most of his huge meal to his mom. His eyes are bigger than his belly.
• Timmy memberikan sebagian besar makanannya yang sangat banyak kepada ibunya. Dia lapar mata.
32. spoon-feed – cekokin
• Let him work by himself. Don't spoon-feed him.
• Biarin dia kerja sendirian. Jangan cekokin dia.
33. still water runs deep – air beriak tanda tak dalam (Note: Most of the elements of these two expressions are antithetical, but the whole phrases convey exactly the same meaning.)
• Don't judge a person by how loud they are. Still water runs deep.
• Jangan menilai orang dari berapa banyak mereka berbicara. Air beriak tanda tak dalam.
34. take my hat off (to) – angkat topi (untuk)
• Our sales have increased by 25% in the last three months. I take my hat off to you!
• Penjualan kita telah meningkat sebesar 25% dalam waktu tiga bulan terakhir. Saya angkat topi untuk kamu!
35. take part (in) – ambil bagian (dalam)
• My neighbor is taking part in a charity event next Sunday.
• Tetangga saya akan ambil bagian dalam acara amal Minggu depan.
36. the apple doesn't fall far from its tree – buah jatuh tidak jauh dari pohonnya
• Like his father, Andrew is enthusiastic about table tennis. The apple doesn't fall far from its tree.
• Seperti ayahnnya, Andrew antusias terhadap ping-pong. Buah jatuh tidak jauh dari pohonnya.
37. the grass is always greener on the other side – rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau
• My little sister always thinks other girls are a lot luckier than her. The grass is always greener on the other side.
• Adik perempuan saya selalu berpikir gadis-gadis lain jauh lebih beruntung daripada dia. Rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau.
38. there's no smoke without fire – tak ada asap tanpa api
• He said he is not guilty, but there's no smoke without fire.
• Dia bilang dia tidak bersalah, tetapi tak ada asap tanpa api.
39. throw in the towel – lempar handuk
• The badminton players thought they couldn't' win the match, so they threw in the towel.
• Pemain-pemain bulutangkis itu berpikir mereka tidak dapat memenangkan pertandingan tersebut, jadi mereka melempar handuk.
40. turn over a new leaf – membuka lembaran baru
• Sonya has turned over a new leaf; she has stopped being a drug abuser.
• Sonya telah membuka lembaran baru; dia telah berhenti menjadi penyalahguna obat.
41. two-faced – bermuka dua
• Never believe Vanness. He is a two-faced liar.
• Jangan pernah percaya Vanness. Dia pembohong bermuka dua.
42. when in Rome, do as the Romans do – di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung (Note: the English expression uses a specific example, while the Indonesian one uses generalization.)
• You can't wear that kind of clothes in this country. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
• Kamu tidak boleh memakai pakaian seperti itu di negara ini. Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung.
43. wholeheartedly – (dengan) sepenuh hati
• One of the keys to success is working wholeheartedly.
• Salah satu kunci kesuksesan adalah bekerja dengan sepenuh hati.
44. with a heavy heart – dengan hati yang berat/dengan berberat hati
• With a heavy heart, George said goodbye to all of us.
• Dengan hati yang berat, George mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada kita semua. 
45. with all your heart – dengan sepenuh hati(mu)
• Klinsman sang Ge Qian with all his heart.
• Klinsman menyanyikan Ge Qian dengan sepenuh hatinya.

Last updated: December 30, 2024

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The Problem of Tolerance

Recently, in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the food stall of an aged woman named Saeni was inspected by officials of Banten, one of the biggest provinces in Indonesia. They confiscated all of her food – and perhaps drink(s) too – since it was considered illegal for people to sell food and/or drink during certain hours in the fasting month for Muslims. This was recorded on a video and it became viral on social media; the public responded by giving her a big donation – around 265 million IDR, equal to approximately 19,925 USD.

The underlying idea behind this attention-drawing event is that people should express tolerance to those who are fasting. However, there are people who are opposed to this with the thought that, actually, Muslims are the ones who have to pay respect – to those who aren't fasting – which makes a lot more sense since, as far as I know, fasting is not about avoiding temptation, but resisting it. But, say, it is really about 'avoiding temptation'. So we are faced with a clash – one side wants to fulfill their daily sustenance needs (and this means bread and butter for Saeni), while the other wants to experience as fewer things that can drive them to consume food and drink as they can.

In the wake of this controversial matter, a meme challenging the Minister of Religious Affairs to keep Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport open on Silence Day and ban Christmas trees in malls has spread on the Internet. If you think about it, they reflect the same kind of issue. Most Balinese are Hindus, but there are Balinese who aren't. I believe so many foreigners, as well as non-Hindu Balinese (including Muslims), want to enter and leave Bali through the airport on the religious holiday, when Hindus don't work – perhaps they want to visit their families or partners that they haven't met for ages. The question is "Who is to tolerate who?" The same thing can be recognized in the second case, although it is more subtle. Would a Muslim hanging out in a mall be agreeable to occupancy of items promoting Christianity, which clearly teaches doctrines contradictory to Islamic ones, in some space where they should be able get through? The honest answer is "no". And this gives rise to the same question "Who is to tolerate who?"

I reckon we can find many other examples easily. You live next to a church and the choir is chanting a hymn while you are trying to meditate, needing silence. You are exhausted and trying to catch forty winks at noon before continuing to work at 1, but the mosque near your workplace is emitting loud sounds through its speaker(s) – it's very likely to happen in Indonesia. You are discussing the possibility of a new contract with your important business partner while the smoke and ash of burning incense from a temple is making your eyes ache and distracting your concentration. Who is to tolerate who?

There is no win-win solution to this kind of thing. One has to swallow a bitter pill, whereas the other rejoices in the fulfillment of their wish. The end result might be in favor of the majority of inhabitants of the region.

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7 "Little" Things You Can Do to Make the World a Better Place

No-one can deny that we live in one big world called Earth. The globe is the place where we entirely spend every single day – unless you are an astronaut. And I think it makes sense to think that it is highly demanded that our dwelling place increase in quality so that every Homo sapiens individual living here can take full advantage of it.

I know that this post might not change your behavior in an instant, but I am glad that you have read this article up to this point so far, making my hope go up. The last mass extinction event happened around 66 million years ago, wiping out the non-avian dinosaurs and other groups of animals, and I am sure you don't want humankind to vanish soon. So, here they are: some things that you can do to make the earth a more enjoyable place to live in.

1. Give up smoking
This is probably a 'rusty' topic. But, let's give it one more try. I am pretty sure there are smokers in each country existing today. To the best of my knowledge, there is no single advantage of consuming this 'small killer', except for escapism. Some points to highlight:

• Smoking kills you and people around you
You already know so many diseases can be caused by smoking: cancer and those with believably Latin-derived names. And the thing is, you don't only kill yourself – yes, literally kill – but also take out your loved ones. And the unique thing is I have never heard of people put into jail because of this horrendous act.

• Smoking is a waste of money
In my country, Indonesia, a pack of cigarettes costs around USD 1. Let's say, you buy one pack a day: this means it swallows USD 30 per month or USD 360 per year. You could spend that sum of money on something useful such as the education of your children or high-quality dinosaur books such as Dinosaurs: The Most Complete Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers or All Ages.

Smoking is probably one of the most terrible ideas ever in the history of the human race. Sometimes I imagine what would the world be if all smokers just quit it simultaneously. Ahh.....

2. Stop getting drunk
Well, yeah, you know the health implications of drinking too much, not to mention the family quarrels that it has contributed to. You might throw some plates or knives, which might lead to injury or even death of your spouse and/or children. And think of what you would get if you spent that amount of money on dihydrogen monoxide. Yes, children in Africa could have drunk it.

3. Put trash in the proper place
Hmm... This relates to an 'excruciating' disposition of some humans. Actually, if you think about it, it is pretty simple. You buy a package of Keripik Karuhun in a convenience store and finish it up. Then, you realize there is no garbage can around. You just need to keep it until you find one along your way home. In addition to musty smells that sting everybody's nose nearby, huge accumulations of trash can trigger major floods, which affect people's lives in a not-so-good way. And sadly, sometimes it can switch them off as well. The problem is people often do something without thinking about any harmful effects it may cause. I hope you are not one of those. Remember our existence depends on us.

4. Say thanks and sorry
This seems to be a petty thing but I consider this "of huge importance". I often experience this kind of thing, people benefiting from a good favor without saying thanks and doing something unpleasant without saying sorry. From my personal viewpoint, saying thanks and sorry is an honorable act that makes people people. I base this on my experience: the feelings that I had when I received sorry and thanks, even though the objects concerned were of little importance, were 'overwhelming'. I smiled and it seemed as if there were flowers growing in my heart. I am not trying to be poetic or whatever else but this is an honest confession. In contrast, annoyance coming out from the opposite situation is surely irritating, bringing about a bit of a bad day. Saying thanks and sorry can bring happiness to the world and cause a domino effect. Yes! Let's do it – say them sincerely, though!

5. Avoid speeding
You are not a great driver if you do this. Instead, people might call you "the Grim Reaper" or something. The speeding case of Abdul Qodir Jaelani a.k.a. Dul, the third son of famous Indonesian musician Ahmad Dhani, in which he caused many people to die, has gotten many people to deem him evil. Speeding is only for those who want put their and others' lives at stake. Why don't you just sit at home, reading blog posts by Brian Switek?

6. Stop talking garbage and that sort of thing on social media
Technology has made almost everything easier. Communicating with people 1,000 miles apart is a piece of cake, nowadays, thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and the like. However, unfortunately, not everything produced there is satisfying. Many people use this advancement to express things that are not for the good of society. Often, they insult each other and boast about themselves, acting as if they are the most important people on the planet. They exhibit something that they shouldn't and the list goes on and on. The principle is simple: before you write or post something, think about why you should do that. Will it make you and others happy? Will it be helpful for the readers in some way? Will it contribute to humanity?

7. Reduce the use of plastics, paper, etc.
I am quite sure you have heard or been given this advice at some point in your life. It might appear to be a hard thing to do, but thankfully it's not. Three things that you can start doing tomorrow – or now:

• Going shopping? Use your own bags!
Whenever you want to go to supermarkets, remember to carry your own bags. I myself try to use my own backpack to keep the things I buy from minimarkets and stuff, and often I consume them as soon as the transactions are finished.

• Do not order takeout
Yes! Why not? You don't have to eat at home: just enjoy the food in the eatery like what I do whenever possible – perhaps you will meet your future spouse; who knows?

• In the restaurant, ask for reusable items (for example, stainless steel spoons) instead of disposable ones (for example, wooden spoons)

Bonus: Eat (and drink) all of what you have bought and ordered.
It's pretty simple and actually will help you save more money. Remember that we all are connected and make up the human race. Isn't it wise to share with our fellow humans by not wasting food and drink? Bear in mind that we all must be responsible for the resources that are available on our planet, including sustenance.

Let's unite and make the world a better place! Continue reading

Jakarta vs. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

I've always been interested in Southeast Asian countries (the first country that got me interested is Thailand). However, the country that has made me 'infatuated' is the one where Ha Long Bay, one of the New7Wonders of Nature, is located: Vietnam.

Vietnam

I am from Indonesia, an archipelago republic with a great number of volcanoes dotting the country and stunning scenery stretching from west to east. Jakarta, the capital, is a bustling city chock-a-block with people from all walks of life trying to continue to survive on this planet. Twenty-five years has been spent residing in this metropolis and I plan to find bread and butter in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon – I guess the locals prefer the term "Saigon" to "Ho Chi Minh City" ("Saigon" is sometimes abbreviated as "SG", which can lead to confusion as Singapore is often referred to as "SG" as well). The question is: Why Saigon?

First, let's get this out of the way; Saigon is NOT the capital city of Vietnam–Hanoi, which is located in the north rather than the south, is. However, it is the largest city in Vietnam and is comparable to Jakarta. My first trip to Saigon, which lasted from 9 to 16 June 2014, simply swept me off my feet! And, subconsciously, during what I call "a life-changing adventure", I learned a lot about the differences between both cities. Curious? Here we go!

1. People

Vietnamese gathering at 30/4 Park, Saigon
(photo taken on February 28, 2016)

Me with Ron Le, a Vietnamese friend, at a restaurant in Saigon
(photo taken on February 29, 2016)

An Indonesian family

To my knowledge, Indonesians, including Jakartans, are some of the friendliest people on the globe. An example would be if you go shopping at malls in Jakarta, you'll definitely encounter shop assistants smiling at you and greeting you warmly. I am not saying that Saigonese are rude; they are amiable as well, but, in my opinion, Jakartans take this to a higher level.

As for prosperity, a huge wealth gap can be clearly seen in Jakarta. Just use a crossing bridge and you will most likely come across beggars sitting with their shabby clothes, hoping for a bit of compassion. On the other hand, Saigonese look more or less the same all over the city. When I was there, I NEVER saw any beggars. How surprising! This is probably due to the fact that Vietnam is a socialist country, while Indonesia is a democratic one.

Speaking of style, on the whole, Jakartans are more stylish than Saigonese. And this is even truer when it comes to men. Jakartan men display more hairstyles than their counterparts in Saigon. However, Saigonese girls are fashionable in a way that is close to that of those in Jakarta.

A street in Saigon when the light is red
(photo taken on June 10, 2016)

A street in West Jakarta
(photo taken on September 5, 2015)

Let's move on to behavior. To be frank, people in Saigon are much more orderly than those living in Jakarta. People running a red light is not an uncommon sight for Jakartans. Wrong-way driving is something that people here are used to. Saigonese people, in general, are much more compliant. That's why I felt ashamed when I discovered this fact...

2. Food and drink

Phở bò, a popular Vietnamese beef noodle dish
(photo taken on March 5, 2016)

Bún bò Huế, a popular Vietnamese soup dish from Huế, a city in central Vietnam
(photo taken on June 12, 2014)

Nasi tumpeng, an Indonesian traditional food

Indonesian foods: grilled chicken, sayur asem, etc.

I have to say that Jakarta is a must-visit for all foodies in the world. Indonesian foods, made with lots of herbs and spices, are rich in taste (rendang, a West Sumatran dish, is the most delicious food in the world according to CNNGo readers) and you can find most, if not all, of them in Jakarta. In contrast, Vietnamese foods generally taste plain; however, they boast a wide variety of vegetables and often contain a large amount of water (I think this explains why I almost never saw full-figured people in Saigon; you'll see people with more body shapes in Jakarta). So, if you are looking for mouth-watering foods, come to Jakarta. If you are craving for healthy foods, visit Saigon.

Cà phê sữa (milk coffee) in a coffee shop in Saigon
(photo taken on January 21, 2015)

How about drinks? I guess they are more or less similar. Milk tea and that kind of thing are popular in both cities, though I guess coffee is more popular in Saigon – you can find coffee shops all around the city.

3. Buildings, infrastructures, etc.

A view of Saigon (1)
(photo taken on June 12, 2014)

A view of Saigon (2)
(photo taken on June 11, 2014)

A view of Saigon (3)
(photo taken on June 11, 2014)

A view of Jakarta (1)
(photo taken on September 23, 2015)

A view of Jakarta (2)
(photo taken on April 8, 2016)

A view of Jakarta (3)
(photo taken on April 25, 2016)

Firstly, Saigon is much more well-structured than Jakarta. If you get around the city, you'll see lots of similarities between one place and another (the arrangement of streets, etc.). In Jakarta, things are quite different. A set of tremendous buildings there and a sheer slum here. Very wide streets there and super narrow ones here. Again, this is likely because of the democracy-socialism difference.

Talking about sanitation, honestly, Saigon is much cleaner than Jakarta. I was knocked off my feet when I was there for the first time. What an amazing city! In Jakarta, some places are free from garbage, dust, and so on, whereas in others, fetid smell is ready to stimulate your brain.

AEON MALL in Tân Phú District, Saigon
(photo taken on June 12, 2014)

A park near my hotel, District 10, Saigon
(photo taken on June 15, 2014)

Grand Paragon Mall, Jakarta
(photo taken on September 11, 2015)

Malls. We have an enormous number of them! (In fact, if I'm not mistaken, Jakarta is the city with the most malls in the world.) And, from my viewpoint, there are too many of them! By contrast, Saigon has an ideal number of malls and it provides its residents with plenty of parks, which I think are what is needed by people in Jakarta to lead a both physically and mentally healthy life. (I miss them so much!)

A host of motorcycles in Saigon
(photo taken on June 12, 2014)

Transjakarta buses are seen at Harmoni crossroads, Central Jakarta
(photo taken on June 2, 2016)

Transportation is an interesting topic to discuss. Jakartans use a broad range of means of transportation: cars, motorcycles, buses, angkots (public transportation in the form of cars designed in such a way that they can carry more people), etc. The ratio of cars to motorcycles in Jakarta is approximately 2:3. In Saigon, surprisingly the ratio is very different, probably 1:17. However, what made me bite my nails was the fact that buses in Saigon are much, much better than those in Jakarta. First of all, most of them are air-conditioned. They are also cleaner, less crowded and in better condition. It is true that Jakarta has the Transjakarta service, which offers comfortable buses to passengers (it is not fully true, though, as there are some routes that are served by poorly maintained buses), but there are many, many buses which should NOT operate anymore due to their horrible conditions. What is more, Saigonese buses only pick up and drop off passengers at certain places (bus stops), while in Jakarta, apart from Transjakarta buses, passengers can get on and off buses anywhere. When I was in Saigon, I didn't have to wait long to take a bus. In Jakarta, a lot of irritating experiences have happened to me. It once took me around one hour to catch a bus to get to work!

4. Costs of living
Things are slightly more expensive in Jakarta than in Saigon. However, there isn't too much difference. The ratio of the cost of living in Saigon to that in Jakarta is more or less 4:5.

I hope this article could be a good read to end the year of 2015. Have you ever been to Jakarta and Saigon? What do you think of them? Please let me know in the Comments section below. :) Have a terrific day! ^^

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12 Common English Mistakes That Indonesians Make

First of all, this list of 12 mistakes is based on my experience. I encounter Indonesians every day (of course! I'm an Indonesian) and I've found these to be common among them. Secondly, I hope that it will be useful for English-learning Indonesians—and perhaps other English learners as well. Lastly, enjoy it!

1. infinitives everywhere
There are many kinds and forms of verbs in English. Indonesians tend to use infinitives on almost every occasion.

Examples:
• Erick go to school every day. (should be Erick goes...)
• She have dinner with her boyfriend at Sushi Tei Central Park yesterday. (should be She had dinner...)
• Berry want to play basketball this evening. (should be Berry wants...)

2. be + infinitive
Be forms are commonly found with infinitives. They tend to "stick together".

Examples:
• I am like to read romance novels. (should be I like to...)
• Last Friday I was bring some food to Tony. (should be Last Friday I brought ...)

3. more + short adjective + -er
Indonesians often struggle when it comes to short comparatives.

Examples:
• Elephants are more bigger than humans. (should be Elephants are bigger...)
• Kobe Bryant is more taller than Jay Chou. (should be Kobe Bryant is taller...)
• Benny is more busier than Santi. (should be Benny is busier...)
• Papayas are more healthier than beer. (should be Papayas are healthier...)

4. wh-questions
- wrong auxiliary position

Examples:
• Why you are wearing jeans? (should be Why are you...)
• Why you haven't put down the guitar yet? (should be Why haven't you...)
• Why she bought that medicine? (should be Why did she buy...)

- no auxiliaries

Examples:
• Why she walking around the park? (should be Why is she walking...)
• Why Carol eat last night? (should be Why did Carol eat...)

5. adjective + with
"With" is not combined with some adjectives.

Examples:
• Richard is different with my father. (should be Richard is different from/than (US)/to (Brit)...)
• Jane's car is similar with Rocky's. (should be Jane's car is similar to...)
• My book is same with his. (should be My book is the same as...)
• Victoria Beckham is married with David Beckham. (should be Victoria Beckham is married to...)
However, you can say "Victoria Beckham is married with four children."

6. silent t in words ending with -st, -nt and -ct, and silent k in words ending with -nk
Indonesians tend not to pronounce the last t in words ending in -st and -nt.

Examples:
• "Fast" is pronounced /'fæs/ (US) or /'fɑːs/ (Brit). (should be pronounced /'fæst/ (US) or /'fɑːst/ (Brit))
• "First" is pronounced /'fɚs/. (should be pronounced /'fɚst/)
• "List" is pronounced /'lɪs/. (should be pronounced /'lɪst/)
• "Sent" is pronounced /'sɛn/. (should be pronounced /'sɛnt/)
• "Mint" is pronounced /'mɪn/. (should be pronounced /'mɪnt/)
• "Want" is pronounced /'wɑːn/. (should be pronounced /'wɑːnt/)
• "Act" is pronounced /'æk/. (should be pronounced /'ækt/)
• "Fact" is pronounced /'fæk/. (should be pronounced /'fækt/)
• "Effect" is pronounced /ɪ'fɛk/. (should be pronounced /'ɪ'fɛkt/)
• "Expect" is pronounced /ɛk'spɛk/. (should be pronounced /ɪk'spɛkt/)

In addition, they tend not to pronounce the last k in words ending in -nk.

Examples:
• "Bank" is pronounced /'bæŋ/. (should be pronounced /'bæŋk/)
• "Link" is pronounced /'lɪŋ/. (should be pronounced /'lɪŋk/)
• "Sink" is pronounced /'sɪŋ/. (should be pronounced /'sɪŋk/)
• "Tank" is pronounced /'tæŋ/. (should be pronounced /'tæŋk/)

7. wrong pronunciation of words ending in -sk
Indonesians tend to pronounce /k/ and then /s/ in words ending in -sk. Sometimes the /k/ is silent.

Examples:
• "Ask" is pronounced /'æks/ or /'æs/ (US), or /'ɑːks/ or /'ɑ:s/ (Brit). (should be pronounced /'æsk/ (US) or /'ɑːsk/ (Brit))
• "Disk" is pronounced /'dɪks/ or /'dɪs/. (should be pronounced /'dɪsk/)
• "Risk" is pronounced /'rɪks/ or /'rɪs/. (should be pronounced /'rɪsk/)
• "Task" is pronounced /'tæks/ or /'tæs/ (US), or /'tɑːks/ or /'tɑ:s/ (Brit). (should be pronounced /'tæsk/ (US) or /'tɑːsk/ (Brit))

8. th sounds (/θ/ and /ð/)
Th is often pronounced /t/ when it should be pronounced /θ/, and it is often pronounced /d/ when it should be pronounced /ð/.

Examples:
• "Bath" is pronounced /'bæt/ (US) or /'bɑ:t/ (Brit). (should be pronounced /'bæθ/ (US) or /'bɑ:θ/ (Brit))
• "Thick" is pronounced /'tɪk/. (should be pronounced /'θɪk/)
• "Thin" is pronounced /'tɪn/. (should be pronounced /'θɪn/)
• "This" is pronounced /'dɪs/. (should be pronounced /'ðɪs/)
• "That" is pronounced /'dæt/. (should be pronounced /'ðæt/)
• "Then" is pronounced /'dɛn/. (should be pronounced /'ðɛn/)
• "With" is pronounced /'wɪt/. (should be pronounced /'wɪθ/ or /'wɪð/)

9. /v/ sound
Indonesians are not accustomed to pronouncing /v/. They often use /f/ instead of /v/.

Examples:
• "Give" is pronounced /'gɪf/. (should be pronounced /'gɪv/)
• "Live" is pronounced /'lɪf/. (should be pronounced /'lɪv/)
• "Verb" is pronounced /'fɚb/. (should be pronounced /'vɚb/)
• "Very" is pronounced /'feri/. (should be pronounced /'veri/)

10. pronounced gh
When gh should be silent, it is pronounced /g/.

Examples:
• "Eight" is pronounced /'eɪgt/. (should be pronounced /'eɪt/)
• "High" is pronounced /'haɪg/. (should be pronounced /'haɪ/)
• "Right" is pronounced /'raɪgt/. (should be pronounced /'raɪt/)
• "Weight" is pronounced /'weɪgt/. (should be pronounced /'weɪt/)

11. pronounced w in words beginning with wr-
When w should be silent in wr- words, it is pronounced.

Examples:
• "Write" is pronounced /'wraɪt/. (should be pronounced /'raɪt/)
• "Wrong" is pronounced /'wrɑːŋ/. (should be pronounced /'rɑːŋ/)

12. strong forms
Indonesians tend to use strong forms when they are not normally used.

Examples:
• Can you swim?
"Can" here is pronounced /'kæn/ (strong form). (should be pronounced /kən/ (weak form))
• I think I will make a cup of coffee.
"Will" here is pronounced /'wɪl/ (strong form). (should be pronounced /wəl/ (weak form)) Continue reading