Medan Kota

I have lived in 4 different countries… Bangkok, Singapore, United Kingdom and Medan, Indonesia …. each lasting about 8-9 years on average… so.. I kind of able to see the full characteristics of the local cultures, the people habits, their lifestyles…etc… as for Medan.. with 9 1/2 years….. hitting a decade soon… I think I know Medan way better than some of the locals …..

well… of all 4 nationalities, Medanese have my first place for being the hardest group of consumers to please…  let’s just stick to one area that we all know best – food… restaurants…. eating out…

back in year 2000…. eating out in restaurants were rare for the locals… restaurants were often seen packed only during  the weekends… but well.. it was all simply becoz… there weren’t proper restaurants good enough for people to enjoy anyway… the best at the time were Jumbo which is still popular till today… and next and never seem to fail is Nelayan… and of course the local Padang food at Garuda…..

and to get discounts in restaurants in the past were all about connections.. i.e you know the boss… bill arrived.. you mentioned the boss’s name.. and just like that … you will probably received a maximum of 10% discount…

as years passed… the credit cards from all the different banks came out with discount offers especially for restaurants…  as such… Medan people began to eat out more….. then it became…  the ever non-stop in applying for the next card that give the next best promotions….  I have seen friends that have like 6-7 cards in his/her wallets….

for me… well.. I love food… I can cook but can’t be bother kind of thing you know… with ingredients not being that easy and cheap to source… I have since stopped my culinary skills and simply enjoyed what’s on the market…. so.. when I craved for something… I will simply head down to the ones that will satisfy my appetite…

instead…. for some of the local Medan…. people seem to head down to the whatever gourmet outlets that offer the best promotions….!!  ….  “Arisan” a term used by the locals where they gathered on monthly basis to meet up with friends over meals…. are the main target groups for all dining places around town…. so.. yes.. for those restaurants having no offer, no discount, none promo…. unless it is cheap in its own way… else.. you will often find these ones 1/2 occupied….

and I have been over-hearing such conversations way too often…

a’Fuk: ‘what to eat today….”

a’Cai: ‘anything is okay for me …..”

a’Kong: ‘there’s no such thing as anything…. ok!… decide!!’

a’Kim: ‘where got discount?..’

a’Fuk: ‘Mega got 50% off at Taipan’

a’Long: ’say earlier mah…… ‘

a’Liang; ‘who got Mega card…?? you have..?’

a’Cai: ‘I have…’

a’Kong: ‘I also have…’

a’Kim: ‘I also have leh… ‘

a’Fuk: ‘why still standing… let’s go… later no space…”

I am not saying that it’s bad… but it has since become that.. people opt to eat at wherever there is promotion going on… I have a friend who wrongly sent a message to me … in the text message…. she wrote the date n time to meet up with her friends… the last sentenced was…  ‘where to eat… but Marriott has 50% off tomorrow with Mandiri card…”

for me personally…. I am ashamed to admit that I have fallen into being a victim as well…. I am addicted to the Citicard Rp 100.000 free dining promo… ever since the promo started… we can be found at Sushi Tei every weekends… but that is also becoz my boys just love the food there…. it’s healthy and not oily …. as for us… well.. you know.. happy kids plus…  happy to daddy’s wallet kind of thing …. ^0^

the current most popular are 50% off with Mega at Taipan ….. and 50% off at JW Marriott hotel Medan on certain dates… I heard from friends that at Marriott cafe, Jade resto (min spent is Rp 2jt) as well as Prime Steakhouse (min Rp 700.000) were so fully packed that ….. they had to turn away guests…. informing them that the waiting time could be at least 1 hour… well… some guests replied were….  ‘it’s ok.. we can wait…’

well… with the Mandiri promo going on for the next serveral months… initially… it’s real tempted to apply for the card… but having heard how it’s always fully packed… well I rather go on regular day with the standard 20% off for citicard… although with 30% less discount…. but I can see that I will definitely enjoy my food in a proper and better way… not in queues… not seeing the ones that I want to eat and it’s not there… or the long waiting time ….  but well.. that’s just me though… BUT.. we are definitely getting the card for the offer they have over at Hagaan Daz…

like how Medan people are well know among the Indonesian… ‘Medanese are calculative group of people….’

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