Archive for September 25th, 2006
Every red blooded man who comes to Bali (plus a few Sheila’s), likes to get hold of a cold Bintang beer. Usually it happen about 5 minutes after checking into the hotel and 10 minutes before jumping into the pool. Bintang is a
pilsner (clear, bottom fermented lager beer), which makes it ideal for those steamy Bali afternoons (some Seminyak expats like it on steamy Bali mornings, but that’s another matter).
Bintang means ’star’ in Indonesian, but the origins of Bier Bintang are in Holland. Indonesia used to be a Dutch colony, with the focus of attention being Java. Here’s what the official website says: “The history of PT Multi Bintang Indonesia Tbk. (MBI) dates back to 1929 when the company was founded under the name of NV Nederlandsch Indische Bierbrouwerijen. The first brand of the company was Java Bier.In 1936 Heineken became the major shareholder and the company name changed into Heineken Nederlandsch-Indische Brouwerij Maatschappij. In 1937 the company introduced Heineken beer for the first time on the Indonesian market.
During the Second World-war the company ceased the production of Heineken beer. In 1947 Heineken was introduced on the Indonesian market for the 2nd time.
During the years of Indonesia’s Guided Democracy (1957-1965), Heineken stopped being technical advisor and prohibited the use of the Heineken brand-name. Heineken beer was changed in Bir Bintang and the company-name changed into Perusahaan Bir Bintang. The label changed step by step from Heineken to Bintang.
In 1967 Heineken resumed the activities in Indonesia and – thanks to the renewed technical assistance of the Heineken company – the quality of the beer was again brought up to the international standards. Bir Bintang was relaunched under the name Bintang Baru.
In 2006 the latest label change took place to rejuvenate the Bir Bintang brand.”
Can you believe it, when Miguel Covarrubias (Island Of Bali) landed in Bali in 1936, there was cold beer waiting for him! In the last few months, Bintang has shaken the jar once more, introducing a new label. Some of the old fogies here in Bali, the 50 year old, Marlboro smoking, “I was here in 1970″ brigade, almost fell off their bamboo stools. Give me civil war, give me tsunami’s, give me volcanic eruptions, but don’t change the label on my beer bottle!
Where can you buy Bintang?
Almost everywhere. Supermarkets, Circle K’s, convenience stores, bars and restaurants, all serve Bintang.
Where can’t you buy Bintang?
In Muslim places like small warungs and Padang food places. The price of Bintang, while cheap for westerners, is still relatively high for locals. In places like Negara, you will find it hard to get a Bintang. Also in villages it will be served warm.
Where can you drink Bintang?
Anywhere you like, except in a temple / mosque / church.
Who can buy Bintang?
Anyone. In Bali the attitude towards drinking / sex / driving, is ‘when you are old enough, you can do it’. There is no drinking age, no ID required.
Where is the best place to drink a Bintang?
That’s arguable, but a few of my favourites include Lanai (formerly Benny’s) on Blue Ocean beach in Seminyak at sunset. Grabbing a cold one in the middle of a steamy afternoon can be refreshing, as can lounging in a hammock in East Bali.
What can you drink with a Bintang?
Bintang isn’t a particularly distinctive beer. Its decent, especially when served ice-cold. You can drink it by itself, with peanuts, as are often served in Bali, with pedas (spicy) Indonesian food, or at a bbq.
How much does a Bintang cost?
A small Bintang cost around 6,000rp at Circle K, a large 12,000rp.
What alcohol content is Bintang?
Bintang is 5%. A light beer.
Selamat minum.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 25th, 2006
Okay here’s the deal on Bali Business Visas. This morning I went down to Arjuna on Jl. Petitenget in Kerobokan. They looked closed, I mean permanently closed, probably moved location, and I’m not really that keen to find out where to.
Down in Kuta I bumped into Dallas Finn, founder of Bali Peace Park, the organisation that wants to build a memorial on the site of the Sari Club. We chatted about the supposed new visa laws, he offering to go with me to BaliMode, a place on the loop near the bottom of Jl. Legian. BaliMode handles investment, visas, exports, imports. spoke to their manager Tari, who seemed pretty switched on. She told me Multiple Entry Business Visas were denied extensions, starting 2 days ago. I hate to invoke Murphy’s Law, but don’t you love spending cash for new paperwork, flying to Singapore and spending more money for processing, only to end up with a worthless visa. I will have to leave again in 30 days to apply for a Single Entry Business Visa, which is extendable. AHHHH!!!! The nimrods in Jakarta just love to screw with things and all it does is waste time and money.
There are expats all over Bali who are at this moment, completely unaware of these events. Many people like me will have to rush to get airline tickets and paperwork organized. I guess it could be worse, they could of stopped visa extensions altogether, meaning you either get a VOA, Tourist Visa or KITAS. That really would see the back of many people who live here.
Check out BaliMode for your visa needs.
BaliMode
Jl. Sriwijaya #7
Kuta
(0361) 765162
source : www.baliblog.com
September 25th, 2006
A great idea has appeared on the horiazon. A tsunami warning system that is sent via cell phone. I read about it by browsing BaliDiscovery.com, and reckon its a good idea. Everyone in Bali has a cell phone even the beggers.
Here’s what I kind of suggested monthes ago. Someone in the weather bureau monitor earthquakes and strom surge and give the rest of us the ‘heads-up’ should any biggies come our way. The idea of having a warning system on the beach is okay, but the real value is spreading the word early.
The new tsunami warning system has its own website.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 25th, 2006
After getting all hot and bothered by my visa situation, I put on my Akubra hat and went for a walk. During my walk, I reflected that the same ‘dropping it in your lap’ treatment, had happened to some members of the Bali Nine, only they weren’t denied a visa extension, they were sentenced to death. I have nothing to complain about.
This afternoon I had a great workout at Seaside gym on Blue Ocean Beach. A session on the runner got the sweat rolling, and it didn’t stop for an hour afterwards. Sitting here at an internet cafe on Jl. Dhyana Pura, I have a large, cold, recently opened Carlsberg in front of me. There is a Circle K adjacent to the internet cafe, and the Carslberg cost me 15,500rp. Right outside the Circle K, attached to a pole, was a brand new metal bottle opener, with a cap-catcher. SAWEET!!! I thought, things are looking up. Opening the bottle, the new metal gadget took the top off of my beer, glass and all. ‘Damn it!!!’ I thought, does anything work around here? Walking back in the shop, the staff a handed me a paper cup, which was nice of them, but I also wanted coffee filters to make sure the beer wasn’t full of glass. No luck with the filters, so I put the full beer and cup on a shelf, and bought a brand new beer. As I was leaving, I told the 2 Balinese guys behind the counter, not to drink the beer, as the glass could cut their insides. When the guy realized I was leaving the beer, he smiled broadly and said “Thank you boss.” I knew as soon as I left, the guys would get into the beer, but its their guts.
Lovely weather here in Bali right now, you should come and visit.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 25th, 2006
Today is the first day of Ramadan in Bali. This morning at 3.30am, Ika’s brother called to tell her, and ask her if she was fasting. Ika is still breast feeding so she will not be fasting this time around.
Last night many Muslims across Bali and Indonesia, performed a Sholat Tarawih (evening prayer during the fasting month). Here in Bali, every evening around 7.30pm a Muslim prayer is broadcast on TV. This prayer is accompanied by a video compilation of people in scenes all over Indonesia (people walking in cities, farmers working in fields, people pulling the nets of fishing boats etc.). The 7.30pm time is to reflect sundown in Jakarta, the capital. This prayer is broadcast every day of the year, not just Ramadan.
Recently in Seminyak, I have observed teams of young Javanese guys working laying tarmac and digging deep ditches. In the hot sun they strain and sweat. I asked Ika how these guys can go without food and water, from before sunrise to after sunset. She said “That’s their fasting, they must learn to do it.” Allowances can be made for people in special conditions, and I reckon it physically dangerous, to work like that without food or water.
Today at Cafe Seminyak, I wished I had my camera along. We live in an international community here in Seminyak, and in front of me was a great scene. Sitting at one small table was a 50 year old French woman, super tanned like John Wayne’s saddle, dressed in a tiny bathing suit, with a wafter thin white shirt, over the top. Sitting 2 meters to her right, at another small table, was a 55 year old Muslim lady, dressed in blue jeans and a black Muslim cover, down to her waist. The staff and other customers were smirking and giggling at the skimpiness of the French woman’s outfit, and how she was strutting around. “Gigolo” said one fellow. Finally the French lady got up to leave, touching her toes as she did so, fixing her shoes. We all got a wrinkled view, of something I’d rather not remember, quite the opposite of what the Muslim lady wanted to project.
Visitors to Bali will probably not noticed anything different, because Ramadan has started. In fact tonight is the last night of the Kuta Karnival, complete with a food court (Kuta Beach & Jl. Melasti).
Selamat hari raya
source : www.baliblog.com
September 25th, 2006