In Reply to: Am I the only one posted by LMJ on Wednesday, 27. December 2006 at 09:42 Bali Time:
So if you were sitting down to eat in a restaurant at home, and a man at the next table was shirtless would you think that was uncouth or would that be acceptable to you?
What if a man tried to come through immigration in Australia without a shirt on? He would probably be questioned, or have something said to him.
We are all used to seeing men with no shirt on, but there are places where we expect to see people properly clothed, even in Australia. Without being 'over the top'.
This is not religious, it is part of the Indonesian culture regardless of religion that people dress with some modestly. To Indonesians, a woman in a singlet top is immodest. In a similar way to a man without a shirt on in Australia is accepted but is not expected in certain situations.