"Why are they always talking about women....?"
 

 Inul Daratista



Indonesia's top entertainer Inul Daratista about Muslim clerics. It's Inul's bottom-
rotating ngebor (boring, as in drilling) dance style that the country's Muslim clerics say
they find lewd and a threat to national morals. For speaking out on the issue, though,
Inul has been ordered out of Jakarta by the Betawi Brotherhood - a fundamentalist
group that claims to act on behalf of the city's traditional folk. One of Inul's karaoke
lounges has already been attacked by a mob from the Islamic Defenders' Front -
another band of thugs in Muslim garb. (source: Asia Times)

Indonesian dancer, clerics go toe-to-toe -  Gyrating dance routines and gutsy popular songs have brought Inul Daratista widespread adulation in Indonesia, as well as condemnation. Muslim clerics are pushing for new laws against pornography that would see her act curtailed. But Inul, a devoted Muslim, is fighting back, saying her opponents have their priorities all wrong. (Asia Times)

Indonesian flood toll passes 200 (CNN)
Ferry carrying 116 people sinks in Indonesia (SMH)
 

Flu 'pervasive' in Indonesia birds- Bird flu is more widespread among Indonesia's poultry stocks than previously thought, and will only get worse if more action isn't taken soon in the country with the world's highest number of human deaths this year, an animal health expert said. (CNN)

Sumatra Bird Flu Case Spread by Human Contact, Indonesia Says

FROM  THE EDITOR:

Looking for a house in Indonesia? Lesson one: never contact more than one house broker at once. I made this mistake last week, and my mailbox was full for days in a row with multi MB pictures of the most ugly houses for the most ridiculous prices. There was one person who send me eight pictures, only showing iron gates and concrete walls. After noting my disappointment, he replied with a  'Lebih baik kita katamu aja..' (its better if we meet). Of course not. Next time you know he will send me pictures of the rooftops.

Trying to find a house in Jakarta is definitely not easy and very frustrating. When I contacted this person who offered houses in the 'everything from 800 US per month and up' range, I really hoped he would come up with something that would fit my budget of max 1000 US per month. His reply was that he was out of stock for now in the 'lower' ranges, but still had something very beautiful available in the 3000 US and up category. Only to be paid upfront for two years.  I tried to be nice and even replied to inform him I was not interested as his offers were far above my budget and to pay two years upfront was maybe normal in Suharto's days but not anymore. Nevertheless the house agent replied by sending me a heavy 10 MB file of pictures of overpriced houses. To show my gratitude for his efforts to help me ('kita bantuuu,  mister...') I decided to send him back the pictures of the BuGils 2004 calendar, in total good for 14 MB; nice pictures with the gates open. This agent has not contacted me again.

Better is to contact a house owner directly. They often don't know about the tricks of the trade. Most funny one of all was the one who send me info on a property not far from the Eastern Promise. Hmmm.. It looked good and was within the price range. Just to check, I asked him if there would happen to be a mosque close to the house. The owner, probably not realising I was a foreigner, replied instantly: 'Yes! We have at least five mosques within a radius of 2 kilometer from the house! When you want to come and look? Insyallah cocok!' I didn't send a calendar over the mail this time, and also the not the 'Last night in BuGils song' (ready for download on iTunes here ), as he was in good faith. At least he was honest. When he found out that I was actually looking for a place where would be able to sleep better, he made a last minute effort by explaining to me that the nearest mosque was actually a very 'quiet mosque'. I am still looking for a house until now. It seems there is a mosque next to every house in Jakarta...

What is it that make it still worth living in Jakarta? Traffic jam and pollution are only getting worse. School fees are almost unaffordable. Yesterday on Kemang Raya I managed to tank 75 liter in my Mitsubishi that according to the specification can only carry 70 liters. And the red warning light was not even on yet! And just in time I prevented the tank boy from shaking the car so he could get another liter in! This morning a police man wanted money for no obvious reason. He stopped me and told me I shcouldn't be here. He could not tell me why, as I did not do anything wrong; I just happened to be on his path and he needed money. Maybe he was right. Maybe I should not be here. Maybe that's why I received pictures of closed gates. It's a sign. But if I am not here, will the bars still do well? There are 100 Indonesian families receiving their livelihood from my business. Ok then. I stay. Inul is not giving up, so why should I. Maybe I should work together with her. She can shake my car if I am out of fuel again... Sorry I got carried away again... Time to finish this story and check out some more houses. -- Bart

Pilfering deaf war hero is NZ's oldest prisoner
A wheezing, deaf 85-year-old war hero described as an incorrigible thief has been sent to jail for a month for shoplifting, making him the oldest person in New Zealand jails, officials said Thursday. Reginald Hugh Donovan has about 50 previous petty theft convictions since 2000. (Yahoo)

Man runs naked, gets shot at  --  ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A marriage-minded man ran naked through his neighborhood, trying to show his hesitant girlfriend that taking risks is important. Story

Indonesia's fizzling terrorist threat   -   Suspected terror mastermind Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, recently released from prison, will find that the Jemaah Islamiyah organization he supposedly heads is but a shadow of its former self. Indonesia has had considerable success in reducing the threat of terrorism, something that Washington is only now beginning to acknowledge. (Asia Times)

Grumble in the jungle

Gingery, cheeky, intelligent ... and extinct in 12 years' time. The rampaging hunger of western food giants means the jungles of Indonesia and Malaysia - home to the charismatic orang-utan - are being razed in order to grow more oil palms. But, as Phil Hogan reports from Borneo, a change in our shopping habits could yet save these amazing apes. (The Guardian)

Facing Death
DICKY Iskandar Dinata has always been a newsmaker. After his release from prison over the Bank Duta scandal of more than a decade ago, he is once again a corruption suspect. This time he is accused of involvement in the massive BNI bank fraud case, in which no less than Rp1.2 trillion of the government’s money disappeared. Now Dicky is facing the death penalty—the first time the prosecution has called for the ultimate deterrent for a corruption suspect in Indonesia… (Tempo)

THE BUGILS STADIUM! 3500 LIMITED SEATS. FULL=FULL.
 

The Cazbar Crew: Aris, Leanne, Evira and Ella

ALSO A BIG SCREEN on the 2nd floor in CAZBAR
(Mega Kuningan)

JUST OPEN:

THE EASTERN PROMISE BEER GARDEN WITH LARGE SCREEN!
(Jalan Kemang Raya No.5)

ALL GAMES LIVE!

Some famous English customers in BuGils, including one ex-professional from
England (far left). More info on this person can be found here

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.

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