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Bush shrugs off
Indonesia protests
"People protest - that's a good sign. It's a sign of
a healthy society," Bush told a joint news conference with
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang. "Thank God that it is
raining, very helpful," said Bogor police chief Nurwidianto, as
some protesters scattered in the downpours. (Not many people know
that there is a link between the rain in Bogor and the
stroopwafels from Aaltje Bakery, but that is too be explained in
the editorial). (The Age)
U.S., Indonesia Agree to Target Illegal
Logging
Extended LADIES NIGHT in BUGILS! Ladies drink
for free till closing!!
 Every
Tuesday Night is one of the best nights in BuGils, when this
institutional bar offers free drinks to women. BuGils has been
renovated and a larger pool table has been installed. After
all these years the place is just getting better and better. Every
Saturday Jazzy Dora plays the Crazy Piano. AN ABSOLUTE MUST for
every couple that feels bored at home. Dora offers a unique piece
of entertainment and knows how to rock the place. (BuGils Daily)
MUSLIM BEAUTY PAGEANT GETS THUMBS UP FROM
RELIGIOUS LEADER
Contestants in the Miss Muslimah - the pageant's name - will not
only be judged according to physical beauty, poise and
intelligence, but will also have to show they have good moral and
spiritual qualities,
according to the Muhammadiyah organisation's president. "It's
important that our Miss possesses healthy values, excellent habits
and a strong faith," he said. Syamsuddin however denied reports
that contestants would also be judged on their knowledge of
Islam's holy book, the Koran. (Spero News)
Indonesia continues religion ID
Jakarta will still list its
citizens' religious affiliation on
government-issued ID cards;
Muslim scholar dissents. Indicating one’s faith on identity cards
has long been a source of discrimination against followers of
religions different from the six faiths recognized by Jakarta:
Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and
Confucianism.
FROM
THE EDITOR:
 I have seen many surprises coming from the kitchen in the
past years, but this was the most shocking. We had to cater for
some 300 hockey players, everything from breakfast till diner, for
two days. Although the kitchen staff is experienced, I thought I
better keep an eye on it and double check every item. After all,
the customers were Dutch and I saw it as a challenge to cater for
this job without giving them one change to complain. The first
part of the contract was to provide coffee, 600 sandwiches and
stroopwafels.
When I arrived at the hockey field in Senayan I
was happy to see that everything was in place. The coffee was
good, the wafels were there as well as some big boxes with nicely
wrapped sandwiches. The staff had worked the whole night.
Satisfied, I took a sandwich, unwrapped the plastic and took a
bite. Strange, I thought, I don't taste cheese or ham. I quickly
took another bite and again, nothing. I separated the two pieces of
bread and couldn't believe it. There was - and I am not
exaggerating - one square centimeter of paper thin cheese
on it! Not more, not less. Thinking it was probably a 'one off', I
quickly opened another one. Same thing! Just one hour before we
had to serve some 600 people, I realised I was on a catastrophic
mission. I couldn't speak. I opened the bread one by one in front
of the innocent looking staff. Was this sabotage? They had made
thousands of sandwiches over the years. How could this have gone
wrong!? I wanted to yell at them, but I couldn't and I knew
it would not bring a solution. Damage control. Do you we still
have cheeses? Ham? Get it here immediately! One of the tournament organisers walked in our direction. I quickly muffled the empty
sandwiches away. "Everything ready?" the Dutch man asked
jubilantly. 'Uhh.. yes. Everything under control'. "Good!
 The
guys are coming and they will be hungry for sure!" he
replied. The cooks were still standing motionless. Dazed
they looked over the boxes with bread. Their eyes were red from a
night without sleep. As soon as the man moved on, I clapped my
hands rapidly and loud. 'Action, action, action!' Half an hour
later they were busy filling up the bread. But luckily, most
guests only went for a coffee and stroopwafel and didn't care much
about the ham and cheese sandwiches. Aaltje bakery saved the day.
On the picture: One of the sandwiches in
question....
In the end nobody had noticed the mishap of
the early morning and the comments on the food (shoarma, roast
lamb, stamppot, etc etc) where all very positive. One of the
organizers approached me with a little old man on his side. It was
the rain doctor. He had hired the guy to keep the rain away, but
when clouds were getting darker, the rain doctor had disappeared.
The rain doctor had protested the fact that he didn't get any
food. We quickly muffled some sandwiches in his pockets and he
disappeared again in the trees behind the party tent. An hour
later the dark clouds were gone. I asked the man how he did it. He
did not explain how, but he did say he moved the clouds to
Bogor and dropped the rain there. Amazing what a few sandwiches
can do. As a bonus I gave him a stroopwafel. The old man showed
the few crooked teeth that were left in an appreciating smile.
In the evening, while everybody was dancing in the tent, we only
had one problem to overcome: how to prevent the guys from the
street from stealing our food? Just behind our make shift kitchen,
there were trees and it was dark. A number of street sellers were
watching from a distance at this -for them- remarkable scene. It
must have looked like a space ship had landed in their back
garden. In the party tent was a full swing band that was flown in
from Holland. They were playing in front of a few hundred tall
white people, swaying with their hands in the air. After a while a
few of the brave street sellers just walked up to our sate grill
and took off some meat. I called for the security guards to keep
them away, but that didn't work; they were also staring at the
blond dancing people with their jaws hanging on their knees. The
street boys became braver and went into the attack. I grabbed one
by his arms, tell him to put it back, which he did. When I
released my grip, he quickly picked up the sate's again and fled
into the dark. I had to be creative quickly or I would lose
this struggle. I picked up a few sate's and went into the
direction of the trees. I could see the white in their eyes grow
bigger every step I came nearer. Some of the guys, were eating
their loot, others just stared. I reached out the sate's in their
direction. "Anybody wants some more sate babi?" I asked them
friendly. It was the purest quality of imported Australian beef,
but they didn't know. The few guys already eating, stopped chewing
for a second, looked from me at the meatskewers left in their
hand, and then started spitting it out. Left and right they were
throwing their loot away. 'Anybody some sate babi? Gratis!'
I swayed my the sate from left to right. They quickly left. I had
worked again.
 While the party continued in full swing, I
called it a day and went to nearby BuGils for a few final drinks.
It had been a hectic but successful catering event. The sky was
lit with stars. The rain doctor had done a good job. One question
remained: why did not one person of a complete team of
experienced kitchen personnel realised that one square
centimeter of cheese or ham was not enough to fill a
sandwich? How could the whole team have been blacked out? Were
they hypnotized? Had they been drinking? Or had they outsourced it
to some family members so they could sleep? Until now I don't have
an explanation. But the fact that it has not rained in Taman Ria
for a week now, I can explain: its because of one big stroopwafel.
Ask the rain doctor. -- Bartele
On the left an unique
glimpse in the kitchen of Aaltje Bakery
========================
Cazbars' 1st Anniversary!
YOU ARE INVITED!
TONIGHT in BUGILS:
LADIES NIGHT (free beer, wine and mixed drinks) till closing!
THIS WEEKEND IN EASTERN PROMISE:
 In
EASTERN PROMISE THIS FRIDAY: Bali bad boys 'SUPERMAN IS DEAD' and
a greatest hits performance by the MISKINS. Singer/Bar manager
LENS TER WEE will show his skills on stage in another 'give it
all' punk rock show!
On SATURDAY: GUGUN and the BLUES BUG (featuring Adrian on steel
guitar and Kiri on harmonica). A fantastic rock show with songs of
Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and many others. From 21.30 onwards.
 THIS
WEEKEND IN THE ONE TREE:
The ONE TREE in Blok M (next to Oscars) is still hidden and did
not have its grand opening yet, but be ready for the 'Shock of the
Block' anytime soon. ONE TREE offers some great wines for very
affordable prices in a very relaxed European setting. Some famous
people can be spotted here late in the evening.
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 Show
opens for Indonesia puppetry
Artists from Indonesia and abroad are performing at
locations across the capital to showcase how Indonesia's
traditional shadow puppetry has developed into
a modern art-form. (BBC)
Bush makes a visit of
mythic proportions
President George W Bush will paint a portrait of a rising
democratic Indonesia during his short visit there. But the notion
that the US really wants democratic reform in the world's largest
Muslim country is just one of
the myths surrounding Indonesia,
like the myth that Bush's visit will benefit US-Indonesia ties.
Endangered animals
sold at market in Indonesia
 A
walk through one of Jakarta's bird markets is like a living
gallery of endangered species. Four-month-old Asian
freshwater terrapins, on the endangered list, go for $21. White
cockatoos, the export of which is banned by Indonesian law, are
$87. The nocturnal and protected slow loris, curled up at
the bottom of its cage, sells for $21. Perhaps most haunting are
the primates. Tiny,
unprotected macaques reach
their arms through cages for handouts. "They ... go to the jungle
and shoot a mother with a baby. The mother falls out of the tree,
they grab the baby and three days later they sell it to you."(USA
TOday)
FROM A READER:
Hi Bart,
In August last year I was dining at Bugils and a fellow diner
tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I could spare a piece of
burger for the kitten on his knee. Being a cat man I of course
agreed. Anyway the cat ended up asleep on my knee and then your
waitress told
me that you would prefer for the cat to not be in the bar. I
understood
that and so I took the cat home. I have a problem.. I am faced
with having to leave Jakarta at the end of November for 2-3
months. I am leaving all my stuff with a friend but his wife will
not tolerate minding my cat.
Would it be possible for you to have a small item on your
newsletter this week asking if anyone would be prepared to give my
cat a home for 2-3 months until I can get back. Some of your
readers may remember the kitten he seemed very popular.
If so can I suggest something along the following:
Help. My furry friend Kubar, whom some of you may recall roaming
in
Bugils as a very small kitten during July\August last year, needs
a
temporary home as I need to leave Indonesia at the end of November
for
2-3 months. He is a quirky individual and loves people and the odd
game. If anyone can help please call Neslo 0818 967062 or
neslo@cbn.net.id
Thanks very much.
FOR RENT: BELLAGIO
RESIDENCE - Mega Kuningan. 203 sq metres. All new 3 bedroom, 2 1/2
Bath, Lounge and Dining, Kitchen with 1 Car Park and Maid area.
Asking US $2500 on 12 months contract. Call the owner direct Ibu Vonny
Hartono on 012 719 3952.
Care about Indonesian wildlife? Want to give something back?
Visit
www.profauna.or.id
Find out how ProFauna Indonesia, an Indonesian based wildlife
conservation NGO work to curb illegal wildlife trades, improving
animal welfare and increasing community awareness on the issue of
Indonesian wild animals. We need your support to protect those who
cannot speak.
Visit:
www.profauna.or.id
www.profauna-uk.org
email:
info@profauna-uk.org
Roberts Furniture
at Jalan Wijaya Kusuma No. D.4, Jakarta 12430. Tel. 021-7512223. A
great selection of both original and reproduction furniture at the
best prices.
--------------------------------
RECENT EDITIONS:
http://www.bartele.com/Nov15nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Nov03nl2006.htm
The TOUR DE INDONESIA STORIES:
The Criterium:
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Aug27nl2006.htm
Bandung-Cirebon:
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Aug28nl2006.htm
Cirebon-Purwokerto:
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Aug29nl2006.htm
Purwokerto-Solo:
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Aug30nl2006.htm
Solo-Madiun:
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Sept01nl2006.htm
Madiun-Malang, Malang-Jember:
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Sept02nl2006.htm
Jember-Banyuwanggi, Banyuwanggi-Bali:
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Sept07nl2006.htm
-----------------
Others:
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Aug09nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun30nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun23nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun15nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun03nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/May26nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/May19nl2006.htm
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http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/April29nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/April07nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Mar31nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Mar18nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Mar10nl2006.htm
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Mar04nl2006.htm
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