In Reply to: what does Om swastiastu mean posted by nusaduadanny on Thursday, 13. July 2006 at 18:04 Bali Time:
G'day nusaduadanny (is it ok if I call you "nu" for short?)
First off your Pacific question: I was on air there from 88 - 93 mainly doing nights on Auckland, then the network, then afternoons in Wellington, then back to nights on the network. If in the wee small hours, you heard someone stirring the pot and winding up Waitangi Bill or Clark the yank who wanted a new flag for NZ - it was very possibly me. Or it might have been interviewing all sorts of interesting people in the afternoons in Wellington ...
Next: Om Swastistu. Its a Balinese Hindu greeting which means "many blessings to you". Pronounced ... om - swosty - arse - too ...
It's mate, "Om santi santi santi om" has basically the same meaning and is said when you are leaving.
We were walking around Matahari one evening when Pieboy spied a pile of grunders on special. We walked to the display where Mrs Pieboy pointed at the grunders, then pointed at me. To watch the girls (about 6 of them) that were working in that department shaking their heads vigourously "no" and laughing to beat the band was a treat. We "om swastiastu'ed" and wandered on ... laughing too. When we came back that way a few minutes later the laughter started all over again. I don't know who was enjoying it more - the girls or us.
Cheers
Pieboy