Archive for December 7th, 2006
Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country, the world’s largest archipelago, the place that enjoys the most thunderstorms on Earth. It is also attibuted to be the ‘epicenter of marine life’ on the planet. There’s also a whole lot of history and facts that most people aren’t aware of.
Wikipedia has an
overview of Indonesia which is fun to read through. US President GW Bush recently visited Indonesia and said the country is a lot bigger than most Americans think. Some of the interesting facts I was unaware of include:
•Indonesia is the world’s 16th-largest country in terms of land area.
•Indonesia’s national motto, Bhinneka tunggal ika, is derived from Old Javanese (kawi), and means ‘unity in diversity’.
•The name ‘Indonesia’ was derived the from Greek indus, meaning India, and nesos, meaning islands
•Homo erectus, or Java Man lived in Indonesia between 500,000 and 2 million years ago.
•The 5 biggest cities in Indonesia are Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Semarang.
Clicking around the Wikipedia page, will take you off into many different aspects of Indonesia, ranging from geographic, to historical to political. Here’s Wikipedia’s page on Bali.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 7th, 2006
Santa Fe was the first bar on Jl.Dhyana Pura and is still the busiest place by far. Featuring streetside tables and chairs, an upstairs wine bar and dance floor, Santa Fe offers an easy place to come and relax.
Santa Fe has an interesting menu which is broken down into:
Sushi - including a medium Sushi set for 50,000rp
Makki-Rolls - including California Makki for 30,000rp
Sashimi - including a medium sashimi set for 45,000rp
Tempura - including Anago Tempura for 36,000rp
Japanese Soup - including Miso Shiru for 20,000rp
Appetizers - including Chicken Liver Pate for 20,000rp
Soup - including Minestrone for 15,000rp
Salads - including Greek Salad for 25,000rp
Chinese Food - including Cap Cay Special for 23,000rp
Indonesian Food - including Ginger Chicken for 31,000rp
Santa Fe’s Curries - including Vegetable Curry for 22,500rp
Mexican Food - including Fajitas for 37,000rp
Pizza - including Romano for 35,500rp
Pasta - including Lasagna for 23,000rp
Spaghetti - including Marinara for 31,000rp
Specialita Di Carne - including Pollo Arrosia (roast chicken) for 33,000rp
From the Grill - including Lamb Chops for 65,000rp
Dessert - including Tiramisu for 15,000rp
Many choices which cover multiple cuisines. All pirces are subject to 12% Tax and Service. There is also a Breakfast menu, for those partiers who just can’t go to bed.
Delivery Service is available (0361)731147
An arak madu in Santa fe costs 20,000rp. Ika loves the chocolate mousse cake for 15,000rp. Actually it doesn’t cost her 15,000rp, its free as I buy it, but it is a good dessert.
Santa Fe is open from 7am to 4am, with live music 7 nights a week. The scene is suitable for people who like a ‘people watching place’ early on, and people who enjoy a busy bar after 10pm. I see many couples on holiday, as well as group of friends enjoying the music. Sante Fe is a good place for single men wishing to meet women (just make sure they are women!).
Santa Fe
Jl. Dhyana Pura
Seminyak
(0361)731147
source : www.baliblog.com
December 7th, 2006
Scotty Col (Colin Forrest), a Baliblog reader and genuine good bloke, passed away recently.
Scotty was a witty guy and had visited Bali, on many occassions. A Scotsman who emigrated to Perth Australia, he worked in Margaret River at a winery and seemed pretty content. Last time I met Scotty was September 12th, 2006, along with Steve from Perth. Scotty seemed perky, actually doing most of the talking, part of which Steve and I understood.
Scotty brought me a bottle of his wine, which was very sporting, asked about Ika and Jevon and seemed in good spirits. Apparently shortly after returning to Australia, Scotty developed a cough which turned out to be cancer. He passed away December 4th.
All this kind of stuff is a lesson. It says “buddy, you might not be around as long as you think, so better make the most of it.”
Bon voyage Scotty Col, drink one of those FREE Bintangs for us, in that Bali in the sky.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 7th, 2006
Balinese Agama Hindu is the backbone upon which this island’s culture rests. It has mixed elements of native animist beliefs with newer ideas coming from India, starting 2,000-3,000 years ago.
Symbols are everywhere in Balinese Agama Hindu, which are important, but often completly not recognised by westerners. One of the cultural examples that I like, is the fact that in Balinese plays, the bad guy stands, arms akimo. In Bali, that’s a no no. Placing your hands on your hips in a relaxed manner, is a sign of aggression to this day, taken directly from the religious plays.
Symbolism of a finer degree is found throughout temples, ceremonies and offerings. Murnis.com has a handy rundown of some of the symbols that come up in Balinese Agama Hindu.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 7th, 2006
Travelers the world over owe a debt of thanks to their loyal Swiss Army knife. The little red friend has opened cans, bottles, cut packaging, toenails, fruit and has often meant the difference between success and failure.
One of my most memorable times, was trying to mail a large package from India to the US. It took 4 and half hours, and I had to write an essay, on the outside of the cloth covered sack. Not having a pen handy, I used the ball point pen inside my Swiss Army knife. That was 10 years ago, and its still working.
Nowadays there are other companies offering alternatives to Swiss Army knives, such as Leatherman. Personally I’m a backpacker and need light tools I’ll use, so my old knife is just the ticket. Recently, one of the companies that makes the Swiss Army knife, came out with the latest version. At 2lbs, and 85 tools, its a bit bigger than mine. I’d like to see somebody try to cut a slice of cheese with that thing. Its probably impossible, but for bragging rights, or just the ‘Oh my God you bought that thing?’ effect, you’ll win.
Visitors to Bali might want to bring a Swiss Army knife and small flashlight. In my experience I always use both, when travelling, whether its getting through a power outage, navigating a dark alley, climbing a volcano at night, cutting the mango I just bought, or the ’safety wrapping’ off of my backpack. Be sure to bring your Swiss Army knife in your checked luggage, and don’t let Customs get their sticky hands on it, if you have the choice.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 7th, 2006
Freedom in Indonesia is always in a state of change. Laws concerning, dress, actions, words, religious activities etc. often make the news here. Recently there have been a couple of news items, that may affect public freedom. The Indonesian government has decided, it is no longer a crimimal offence to burn photos of the President & VP, or criticize them publicly. These ‘offences’ were punishable by up to 6 years in jail. So good news for people who like to speak their mind. On the downside, the local spy network is to be reactivated.
Ministry to reactivate grassroots spy networks to ‘combat terror’M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government is planning to set up grassroots spy networks at every local administration in the country, Home Minister M. Ma’ruf says.
A new national body, the Regional Intelligence Community Agency (Kominda), will coordinate the work of the local intelligence offices, he said Tuesday.
Ma’ruf stressed the new agency would not spy on normal citizens.
“This agency will only serve as coordinating body for the intelligence agencies in local governments. It will only tackle administrative issues,” Ma’ruf said on the sidelines of a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission II on domestic affairs.
Ma’ruf said his ministry’s role was to coordinate the work of local intelligence offices, which included branches of the National Intelligence Agency, the National Police, prosecutor’s offices and the military.
He claimed the new coordinating agency would not put a strain on the state budget because it would be financed by local governments.
“How can you call it a waste of state budget money if the local legislatures and local governments agreed to allocate budgets for the new agency,” he said.
Ma’ruf earlier said the new agency would be created to counter terrorism in the country.
Kominda’s existence was based on a 2003 ministerial decree on community networks, he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has supported the plan to reactivate intelligence gathering at the grass roots.
Last year, during a visit to the Central Java town of Surakarta, Yudhoyono said a coordinating agency would be needed to collect information about the many problems plaguing people around the country.
Critics, however, have blasted the idea, saying the emphasis on intelligence gathering harked back to the authoritarian regime of former president Soeharto. At that time, intelligence officers were deployed down to the village level to target pro-democracy activists and other critics of the government.
During the New Order era, these activities were coordinated by the much feared Coordinating Body for National Stability, popularly known as Bakorstanas. That agency was not dissolved until 2000 by president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid.
When Ika and I got married in Semarang, we had to visit the house of the local ‘chief’, who was a resident, in charge of the administering the street. There was also an area chief and a regional chief. Weird to a westerner, but normal for Indonesians. In Indonesia everyone local must be on a ‘family card’ in the area they live, or else make a new card in the place they moved to. This requires involving the local chief, getting him to sign a form etc. During the Suharto era, the level of government control went down to village level via this method, and also by the use of a country-wide, village spy network. SBY obviously thinks he needs it.
sources : www.baliblog.com
December 7th, 2006
Bali is enjoying sunny hot weather right now, with sunshine forecast for the next 10 days.
During the day here in Bali the weather is everything you’d want it to be, perfectly tropical. Last night however, for some reason it felt extremely humid. I went out for dinner with some friends, and my long sleeve shirt was wet when I returned home. In the early hours we had a lovely thunderstorm, though by 7m skies were again clear.
Bali’s 10 day weather forecast predicts sunshine, although there is a chance of rain.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 7th, 2006