Reporters were poor, but lavish life style

Witah Anatara Correspondent in Berlin Nanang Soenarto

Reporters were poor, but lavish life style

An unfinished life's journey?

Depok, West Java, Indonesia, 24 November 2014, 04.51 PM

As a journalist in Indonesia that we can say is a poor man, but can live extravagantly, like a rich man or Chief Executive Officer (corporate leaders paid great).

I need to underline line of journalists in Indonesia, because each country has differentsalary standards. The bigger the medium is getting bigger as well his salary.

In 1984, as a news agency reporter Between my salary was only $ 125,000 per month,amounting to Rp 90,000 per month I set aside for home Savings Bank credit nyicilCountry type 45 in Villa Pertiwi, Depok for 15 years. Back to everyday life, I rely on myWife Rp 225,000 salary per month working at the Islamic Hospital, Cempaka Putih, Jakarta.

Around 1986, I invited the King of Oman Sultan Qabus, along with other journalistsfrom foreign countries, we were invited to Oman, to cover the anniversary of the independence of the Kingdom of Oman and Oman's attractions.

We flew from Jakarta to Singapore Airlines, the route Jakarta-Singapore, Islamabad, Pakistan, and then to Oman's capital, Muscat, Oman.

Up in Muscat, we stay at the Al-Bustan hotel, Car and provided the driver is ready witha mercedez Benz brought a crew of reporters to various locations in Oman.

I happened to one room with reporters TV3 Malaysia. In this Hotel the reportersalready provided breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet, luxurious Arabian food such as fried rice, ghee mixed raisins (grapes and cashew nuts) grilled goat, grapes, dates, anda wide variety of typical Arabic menu.

Indeed the results of Oman mentah if you like used to build his country and her people prosper. The city furnished, tidy, every tree (interest) in the Park are alwaysfitted pipe fountain to keep wetting the trees (flower) is there, it's no wonder the cityMuscat, Oman although located in the heart of a barren desert, but fresh as it is surrounded by trees (flower) and lush palm trees.

Enjoying life style of the rich, using luxury cars mercedez benz, luxury hotel rooms, and delicious food, for three days and three nights, we returned to the States, respectively,and return to work regularly in Jakarta with operational vehicles motorcycles HondaWin 90 CC, lunch at Warung Tegal (small restaurant/stall) on the side of the road witha simple menu of rice, fish, temped an idea at a bargain price. If we're having lunchusually between provides a free lunch in kantinnya.

Home from Muscat, we stopped at the Bangkok, Thailand, and make use ofberdarmawisata in the city of Bangkok and its environs.

On another occasion, when Indonesia was still a member of the petroleum exporting countries (OPEC), there are some times I covered the OPEC Conference at OPECheadquarters in Vienna, Austria, event banquets usually the Minister of petroleum of OPEC in luxury hotels in Austria, the reporters covering the event also enjoy it for free.

Usually after covering the OPEC Conference in Vienna, we journalists always take awaytour to various countries in Europe, such as Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany and various other European countries.

When we covered the World Energy Conference in Mandrid, Spain were we given the opportunity to tour to Seville, and many cities in Spain.

Because, the route the plane to Madrid from Jakarta via Singapore, Amsterdam, theNetherlands, and then to Madrid, the home straight I'm not using the same route, but, Madrid, New York, United States, Los Angeles, California, the new Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta.

During a layover in Los Angeles, I took myself for a visit to the home of my sister'swho lives in San Diego, California.

This visit I repeat again when I covered the shipping of liquefied natural gas fromBontang, East Kalimantan to Osaka, we journalists from Jakarta using Japan Airlines(JAL) from Jakarta to Osaka, then from Osaka to Tokyo by train quickly. From mybelokkan flight route Tokyo via Los Angeles, so that I can back my younger siblings Inengok for free.

As journalists we are not only able to travel the world for free, but also rovingIndonesia from Sabang to Merauke-Aceh, Papua, with full security guarantees as State officials.

When the joint Interior Minister Soepardjo Roestam, Foreign Minister Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, Minister of mines and energy and Ginanjar Kartasasmita to East Timor, while still a part of Indonesia, we journalists alongside the Minister must use the bulletproof jacket drive Canon armored (tank) around the towns and villages in East Timor.