"In Indonesia you always have to expect the unexpected.,.."

Mike Egeler, Director of Bir Bintang

His reaction after some Islamic leaders (MUI) accused PT Multi Bintang of lying about the content of the new product Bintang Zero. According to the religious leaders the alcohol free product is not for 100% free of alcohol and therefore haram. Source: De Telegraaf
 

FROM THE EDITOR:

I apologize for not sending out a complete newsletter. The reason for this is written in the following editorial:

It was only yesterday when I suddenly decided to go to Madura for a search in the past (read my previous story about Madura) . And now,  24 hours later, I am sitting in the Majapahit Hotel in Surabaya already. I took a BuGils regular with me; Lens will be the witness to my accounts and film it. The search got an interest new twist. Last night in BuGils I met this Scottish guy named Charlie from Perth who is on a holiday in Indonesia. While telling him about my plan to 're-discover' the remains of the Kampung Belanda (Dutch Village) in East Madura, I remembered a story I heard a year earlier from another Scot named Phil Hamilton. He once told me that in East Java a Kampung Skotlandia exists. Apparently the VOC had hired a regiment of Scottish Highlanders to protect their assets from the Portuguese and English, but they moved to East Java when the English increased their power in the late 18th century. Afraid of reprisal's from the English they stayed in the mountains near the city of Jember and never left. The name of this kampung? Glenmore. In the Lonely Travel Guide that Charlie brought with him this kampung Glenmore is mentioned, but nothing about the origin of the name or whatsoever. So I invited Charlie to go along and with the three of us we hope to discover some interesting facts about the history of these two bule kampungs from the past. From Surabaya we will go to Sumenep first and from Kalianget we will cross the Java Sea with a ferry ride of four hours to the Java mainland -not that far from Glenmore.

In BuGils the staff and regulars where not really convinced that we go there for the history. Uci, the BuGils cashier who originates from Madura and became famous after I published some of her Madura secrets in my book Bule Gila, came to me and whispered me hopefully in the ear: "Bart, please buy some Madura tongkats for me! As many as possible. I can sell them easily here!' Later she also approached Lens with a list of herbs and powders we should collect for her. She wants to make new jamu and sell it in BuGils to the other staff and customers. As I am really intended to go for the historic secrets and not the secrets of the women of Madura, I will not allow any side steps on my little expedition from my travel companions.

I keep you informed on our discoveries. I will not have access to internet in the next few days, but if a real anarchy breaks out in BuGils, I might come back with a regiment of very old Scottish Highlanders! The girls in BuGils have been warned. Until Monday, Bart

PS. In a separate note I want to notify you on the latest efforts that we made to put up a reliably property website in Indonesia. Check out RUMAH.US that lists already a number of properties for rent. To subscribe to the Expat Property Newsletter, go to BARTELE.COM and receive weekly updates on our new listings.

Singapore shakes up skies over Asia
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has come under fire for refusing to grant landing rights at Changi International, to an Indonesia-based carrier in which Malaysia's leading low-fare airline, AirAsia Berhad, holds a 49% stake. Though Singapore may call the shots in granting landing rights at Changi - upsetting AirAsia, which claims Singapore is using its planned Jakarta-Singapore route to give itself an edge in bargaining with Jakarta over air links - the issue has stirred up waves of criticism. (Asia Times)

Sampoerna deal may lift confidence in Indonesia (The Standard)

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d’Amateurs presenteert!

d’Amateurs presenteert op 24 maart vol trots

MIKE BODDÉ in het Erasmushuis. Wie hem nog niet kent van het cabaretduo ‘Ajuinen & Look’, heeft zeker gehoord van zijn glamourquizz ‘De Mike en Thomas Show’, een hit op de Nederlandse televisie. 

In Jakarta speelt hij voor ons ‘En van je’. Een programma gevuld met zijn eigen favoriete liedjes en verhalen. Mike speelt zelf piano en neemt als extra zijn trompettist annex bassist mee. Kortom cabaret met veel geluid! 

Donderdag 24 maart, 20.00u, Erasmushuis.   Kaarten in de voorverkoop te verkrijgen bij Jacqueline Duiker 0811 836 884  - Denise Te Riele 0813 1648  -7086 en  Charlotte Bouvy 0813 1099 7966

Kaarten in de voorverkoop: DNC leden Rp80.000 / niet leden Rp100.000
Kaarten aan de deur: DNC leden Rp100.000 / niet leden Rp120.000

---XXX---

Friday at VIP at D's KEMANG 7.30 PM  BINGO! Chance to win line and house.

This Saturday BiG Dony and the Jaya Pub Band LIVE in BuGils, 21.30 onwards.

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