January 29th was an exceptionally lovely day in the Nevin household. It kicked-off at 6.30am in true Hunter S Thompson fashion with not one, but two bottles of fizz to celebrate my big day. There is something wonderfully decadent about champagne, especially when imbibed at such an early hour so no surprise then that by 8.30am both bottles had been drained and birthday girl was feeling slightly the worse for wear.
I wrote in my last post about a handbag that I’ve been lusting after for over a year. You’ll be pleased to learn that the object of my desire, this vision of orange gorgeousness is now sitting on a chair next to me whilst I write this. However, like many things that seem to happen in my life, it’s been quite an adventure procuring it and because of that I feel that it deserves a post of it’s own. I’m collating all the information that I’ve picked up over the past week plus of course some photos and soon all will be revealed.
Until then here are some photos that I’ve taken in two different shopping malls in Jakarta. The first 2 are of Pacific Place, a high end and very flashy mall situated in the Sudirman Central District. It’s the kind of place that only Rockefeller can afford to shop in but it’s quite fun for browsing and walking around, and there are some good places to eat. I have to confess that Irishman and I did slip in there later on yesterday for a couple of Birthday Mojitos and very delicious they were too.
The fourth photo was taken in Ambassador Mall in kuningan. Talk about going from the sublime to the ridiculous. This mall is the polar opposite of Pacific Place and very definitely my favourite. Ambassador Mall is vast, shambolic and grotty, but if you are looking for a bargain, this is the place to go. Clothes, electronics, phones, DVD’s, bags, shoes and gadgets galore, it is all here. Only in Indonesia will you find a row of apples stacked under a row of cigarettes on a counter. I read some reviews about it earlier and a couple of people wrote that they’d spotted rats and cockroaches. I’m not in the least bit surprised, it’s exactly that kind of place.
Lottie Nevin - The Red House Diaries 
So glad you had a lovely day. But I really want to know about the bag.
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Thanks Trish 🙂 but hold your horses matey!! The bag is going to be premiered in the next post…..X
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I’m with Tricia! What about the bag? 🙂
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ummmm….Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can, girls have it seldom, boys have none!
In answer to your question Richard, very soon now ‘the bag’ is going to be premiered right here – there’s just a bit of fine tuning to be done first. watch this space 😉
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Happy happy days mumma xxxx
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Thank you darling girl – nothing is as lovely as the beautiful necklace that you all sent me, MY BEST PRESENT 🙂 xooxoxoxoxox
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It appears retail Jakarta is a step or two up the food chain from Ubud?
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I think there is probably a different mall or market to visit for every day of the year!
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Happy birthday! (The bag, the bag, the bag, must. see. the bag.)
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Coming!!!!!!!
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I’d have liked the “grotty” mall, too, Lottie, and also can’t wait to see the bag. 🙂
Fabulous pajamas, Mr. Nevin.
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Just read your comment and laughed! I shall relay your message about the pj’s to Mr Nevin straight away! Thanks Martha X
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Many congratulations Lottie. Birthday, booze and bag. 2 bottles before breakfast or even for breakfast sounds like a good warm up for the day ahead. But orange? Oh well…….it could have been worse. It could have been an LV.
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Haha!! it could have been an LV….no way Jose! Not in a month of!!
Thanks for your birthday wishes Andrew and though I know you don’t approve of my choice of bag, I’m glad you approve of the Birthday breakfast beverage selection 🙂
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Happy Birthday, my wonderful friend!!! I’m so glad you kicked off your birthday in style! The malls both look fantastic — apples and cigarettes — hilarious!! By the way, you have just introduced me to my new favorite word, “shambolic.” Awesome. Looking forward to hearing the tale about the orange bag. Have a great birthday week. xoxoxoxox
P.S, Martha is spot on. The Irishman looks quite dashing in the pj’s
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Thank you Steph XXX I’m thrilled you like the word shambolic and that it has found a way into your lexicon – my favourite new word is plethora – I try to slip that into the conversation as much as possible at the moment. Irishman does look very dashing in the p-j’s but the only trouble is when i wash them, they bleed red dye everywhere so they are not remotely practical, just a bit of fun for high days and holidays! xoxoxoxo
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Great write up of a birthday that almost began with a bang but maybe it did. I had to laugh about Andrew’s description of the 3 B’s so early in the morning. The mall of extravagant and stupendous absurdity was something else to see. I had no idea of the wealth of the country. Then on to the lower end of life amid the produce, apples, and cockroaches was the polar opposite. Such extremes in some countries, boggles my mind. But back to your birthday. I am glad that all went well for you on the a big day and that you wanted to share the adventures with your subscribers/readers.
Best regards to you Lottie and for many more birthdays to come.
Yvonne
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Thanks for your wonderful birthday wishes Yvonne, very lovely of you and much appreciated. The birthday certainly started in style and ended in shrieks of laughter via a skype call to California with my great friend IK who also shares the same birthday – only difference being that she is 15hrs behind me. It was a very happy day indeed! 🙂 XXX
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Thanks for the reply, I had meant to include a question about IK and if the two of you had joined forces by some means. Sounds like the two of you had a good time visiting. Skype is wonderful.
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I adore Ambassador! Everything you need in one place. Hope your birthday was a wonderful day.
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It’s such a shame that we never met when you were still in Jakarta – I think we could have had a lot of fun! Ambassador is the Dogs £@%&**** as far as I’m concerned and I can’t wait to go back! It’s the most fantastic place, never mind the rats and cockroaches. I love everything about the place – a little piece of consumer heaven I’d say!
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I agree completely! Ambassador and ITC next door were my favorite lazy Sunday spots to stock up on DVDs and fake designer sunglasses. Have you ever been to Jaya Pub on a Saturday night? That’s a spot I think you’d really like.
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No I haven’t but thanks for letting me know about Jaya Pub and I shall drag the Irishman over there at the first opportunity! 🙂
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Happy Belated! IMHO, any day that starts out with bubbly is a good day!
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I reckon so too beduwen and thanks for your Birthday wishes! 🙂
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Begone birthday cakes and candles-to-be-blown-out and in their place stands a bottle of shiny bubbly. Sounds right to me and it is my newest, most fervent wish that your post, dear Sister, will begin the trend.
Like yourself, I’m sure Ambassador Mall would be my fav to shop at, but I love Pacific Place’s ceiling. Very cool. Pacific certainly cannot compete with the display tactics of Ambassador, though. Apples displayed beneath cigarettes? What marketing genius came up with that!?! I absolutely love the complete weirdness of it.
I cannot wait to hear about your handbag (and see it too! yes, please?), Lottie! xoxo
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Oh LOL-I BOBS!! haha! yes of course Champagne has to be the new trend – let’s be done with that stodgy chocolate cake and the candles and get on with the fizz instead – so much more fun and a fraction of the calories (not that i’m counting or anything…)
You would love Ambassador Mall and you’d get it. The apples and cigarettes are just one of a million different things that made me laugh that day but architecturally, yes, Pacific Place is very lovely and the atrium at the top is quite stunning as are of course the prices of the Porches that are for sale on the ground floor! xoxo
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I am taking a bite out of your luncheon, and upon my next birthday shall rise to great the day with champagne as well! Sounds as though you had a fabulous day with your honey — well deserved, lovely lady! xoxo
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Big kiss Andi- Roo and thank you. I did have a fabulous day, the only thing that was missing were all the children and all you great friends X
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Happy birthday! Always a good idea to start such occasions with bubbles, but two bottles is inspirational!
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Two bottles was perfect for Birthday starters and I can highly recommend it! 🙂 Thanks for your lovely Birthday wishes X
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Happy birthday! I know I’m a little late but maybe there’s some champagne leftovers just waiting for an opportunity? 🙂
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A VERY belated happy birthday, Lottie. I think you should just celebrate again, to spare me embarrassment. 😉 Hugs.
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Aww, thank you Teagan 🙂 I’m now two whole years older than when this post was written and I still have the orange bag but now it lives in Spain with me 🙂 You are a sweetie rummaging through the archives and leaving comments – I do appreciate it. So much is going on here right now (I shall write about it shortly) that I don’t have time to comment as much as I’d like to, I hope that you understand. Hugs right back at you! xox
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