Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Wedding In Bali - Indonesia

Me - Bali Wedding
Wedding Reception in Bali - sunset time

Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall Wedding in Bali
Taiwanese Host; Patty Hou Wedding in Bali
Bali honeymoon spot
Taiwanese Host; Patty Hou Wedding in Bali

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Mbo Jamu (Tonic/Nostrum/Herbal Medicine Lady)

'Mbo Jamu' in Blok M - South Jakarta (Mrs. Yati)
Jamu (pronunciation : Jump You) is an original traditional Javanese fascinated tonic herbal from Indonesia. You could found Jamu in most every where in Jakarta or  any other provinces of Indonesia (Bandung, Surabaya, Jogjakarta, Bali, etc). Jamu consists with many kinds of herbal extract; such as : ginger, curcuma, tumeric, tamarind, etc. Example, there are : Jamu pegel linu, Jamu temu lawak, Jamu kunir putih, etc. Each herbal blended with water to create the extract. 

Jamu distributed with 3 kind of ways, which are : 
  • Warung  Jamu (TonicStand)
  • Mbo Jamu (Tonic Lady)
  • Jamu  Instan (Instant Tonic) that sells in sachet package.

What So Special About 'Mbo Jamu'?

The "Mbo Jamu" (Tonic Lady) selling regular Jamu daily for years, they started to sell in the afternoon around 4 PM from door to door on village area (kampung), small or busy street, in front of the shopping area, in traditional market, or anywhere. Mbo Jamu always wearing Kebaya (traditional Javanese dress), they're faces  fully make up and have Konde hair (Indonesia traditional hair do), but one thing for sure that so interesting is they usually walking around bare naked feet - not wearing any sandal/shoes at all. 

When they sell, they bring a long traditional fabric, a big basket of rattan and a small bucket of water. The long fabric is to tighten the big rattan when they carrying  big heavy basket on the shoulder. The big rattan basket fills with Jamu bottles, each bottle consist with one flavor extract tonic herbal plus one bottle of mineral water (to neutralize after drink Jamu). And the small bucket of water is to wash the drink cups. 

The price for one cup of Jamu around IDR 5.000 (USD 5,00). Beside one cup of Jamu, the customer will get bonuses - small cup sweet flavor of tonic and a cup of warm water. Even though taste of Jamu quite bitter but it's very good for body because it's from natural herbal. So, I love Jamu and I'm proud of Mbo Jamu!!.