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Dear Readers,
Not a complete newsletter this time but I am in the process of
making the newsletter an online magazine with daily updates. Just
keep posted. -- Bartele
Indonesia police raid misses capturing militant
Top
Indonesian police say
they killed two militant suspects in Central Java at a
suspected hideout of one of Asia's most wanted bombing suspects,
Noordin Top, but failed to capture him.
Woman prevents rape of Indonesian maid by three teens in Kuweit
(Arab Times)
Cholera claims 151 in Indonesia
Indonesia refuses to play Fed Cup playoff in Israel
FROM THE EDITOR:
 Years ago,
when BuGils didn't event exist, I stood on top of the Borobudur
and overheard two oversized, heavily sweating tourists. They had just climbed to
one level from the top, where I was sitting in the shadow of a
stupa. I analysed them easily as two construction workers from
Germany. They argued about the foundation of the temple. A guide
told them about the belief of Indonesians that when you
stick your hand into the stupa and you manage to touch the nose of
the Buddha inside the stupa, it will bring you luck. The
construction workers climbed clumsily up to the stupa and tried to
stick their huge arms through the openings, but to no avail. For a
second it looked like their hands were stuck. They gave up.
'Where are the girls?' one suddenly asked. The other German stared over
the edge of the temple down to some trees in the distance and
waved his hands in the air. He suddenly noticed me looking at
them. He lowered his hands and said: 'Gutentag.. German?'
'No, Dutch', I replied friendly. The German spoke in very
heavy German English accent: 'These girls we met yesterday. Very
nice, but they are so small...' The other one nodded in
agreement and continued calmly. 'Yep. They are small. But rabbits
are small, and you know their abilities....'. Both Germans
stared in the distance for another second, then nodded quietly and
they shuffled on to the next level....
Carl Gilchreist owned many bars in the past, many of which of the
older expats still remember, like: George and Dragons,
Smugglers, The Eye of the Wind, Kings Head, Mama's Kitchen,
and, of course, Eastern Promise or simply 'EP'.
Except for EP, all these bars have disappeared and most of their
customers have. But a few of the 'old time' regulars are still
around and since I took over the Eastern Promise, many of them
have come in the past few weeks to see what is going on. At the
bar in the back the stories from the past are being recollected by
the most interesting characters. There is this German who lives in
Karawaci but comes the EP every day now. He used to have a
butchery in the EP, but he was forced to close. After a few
electricity cuts he had to throw away his stock and went bankrupt.
'It's a long way to come all the way from Karawaci to EP in Kemang,
just for a drink', I said to the German. The German nodded, sipped
of his wine, and explained in very calm 'German' English:
'I have to go the bank sometimes. ABN-AMRO is just across the
road'. I looked at him again. 'But, do you have to go the bank
every day?! All the way from Karawaci!?' He just grinned and
looked at me over the edge of his spectacles. His German accent
sounded even heavier then before. 'Dear Bar man; not all things
need an explanation...'. He continued to sip from his wine.
Last Thursday in Cazbar, another, huge German was sitting
alone at the bar. It was his first time in Cazbar and he enjoyed
it. I bought him a drink. After a short chat, the German pointed at the book
Bule Gila behind the bar and said: 'That book. You should read
it. I am waiting for my colleague to finish and then I will
read it. He said it is fantastic!' Without telling the
German that I was the actual writer, I grabbed the book
from the shelve and gave it to him as a gift. 'What is your
business?' I asked him. 'Oil and gas', he answered. 'What is your
business?', he asked in return. 'Beer and whisky', I replied. He
laughed and probably thought that it was a joke. He thanked me for
the beer and the book and left. Two hours later he came back with
the book still in his hands. His eyes and jaws were wide open
'Are you Bart? Did you write this book? Is this your pub?' When I
confirmed his questions, he settled himself again on a bar stool
in that same funny German accent he said: You just got yourself a
new regular... But why didn't you tell me?' 'Not all things need
an explanation', I told him. He agreed and ordered a beer.
Last night in Eastern Promise, some old time expats were sitting
at the bar. The German butcher obvious had had a few wines
already. He was discussing ring tones with another German that was
sitting in another corner of the bar. Both Germans spoke in
English to each other, remembering me of the British TV comedies
of 25 years earlier. Herr Flick and his friends. 'I like rock
and roll... I like that Jerry Lee Lewis ringtone...', the
butcher spoke calmly. The German in the corner pushed a few more
buttons on his mobile and an another rock and roll tune came up.
The butcher now turned closer for a better look at his fellow
countrymans' mobile. He lifted his spectacles a bit and asked: 'Do
you have Be BoB a Lullah? The other German pressed buttons
on his mobile a few more times, shook his head and dryly
concluded: 'Nein.... Be Bob A Lullah habe ich nicht....'.
Not even one of the other people at the bar noticed the
magnificence of this small conversation. For them it was business
as usual. They were drinking beer and looking at a TV in the
corner. Another one stared at the 50 year old EP waitress who
stared back in full force. It was if the world stood still. For
me, this kind of short snapshots, make life so beautiful. And the
bars so colorful. Could be a great title for the next Bule Gila:
Nein, Be Bobba Lullah habe Ich Nicht.... or maybe
Rabbits and their Abilities... Why do I drink, when I write? I
shouldn't do it. But then again, not all things need an
explanation. I close my computer and look in the old CD collection
for Elvis. I wanna hear Be Bobba Lulla before I go to
sleep. But Ich habe es nicht... I try Suspicious Minds
and finish of with In the Getto when my daughter wakes
up. I hear a mosque trough the open window. More bars, longer
days.... I shuffle on to the next level... Or don't I...?
 CAZBAR
NEWS:
Happy Hour prices EVERY Saturday and an acoustic trio playing songs
of Van Morrison, Neil Young, Stones, Billy Joel, Cold Chisel,
Queen, etc. Cazbar : Open from 07.00am
onward, seven days a week. Sports can be watched live on a big
screen (2nd floor). Cazbar is fast becoming the most popular
hang-out for people after work in the Kuningan area. Check it out!
For reservations or info, contact Leanne at 081808710024 or email
bartele@thecazbar.com
BUGILS NEWS:
This Saturday another great night with expat band THE MEGAWATTS.
BuGils is more and more becoming a favorite place for people tired
of hotel bars or crowded disco's. A fun bar where the B-52's is
the favorite drink after midnight. Nobody is a stranger in BuGils.
Next week: THE ROLLING STONES (Acid SPeed)
THE EASTERN PROMISE:
The renovation is making progress and soon Kemang
will be one European style cafe richer. As a matter of fact, the
restaurant and the bar in the back are still open as usual, and
the meatpies and curries are highly recommended.
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD:
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