In Reply to: I'm wondering if it got started posted by Hillary on Sunday, 15. March 2009 at 07:16 Bali Time:
What you say is 100% correct when you talk about calling an older woman Ibu. But having spent a lot on time on Sumatra and some on Java I can also tell you that even female friends or workmates of a similar age call eachother Ibu or 'Bu. So it is a term of respect regardless of age. I have yet to experience older Indonesians call their younger counterparts "son" or "daughter" if they are not of their own flesh. So it does not make sense to say that as because an enrelated younger person calls you Ibu, taht you can refer to them as a son or daughter.