White shoes and the couples company in USA tour

One of my favorite Indonesian bands. Voted 25 best bands in MySpace by rollingstone.com.

clipped from www.thejakartapost.com Accolades from respected music websites including All Music Guide and Rollingstone.com led to the Jakarta indie-pop sextet releasing their self-titled debut in the U.S. late 2007 under prestigious Minty Fresh Records. Since then, the band made its maiden voyage to the United States last March to perform at South by Southwest, a music festival in Austin, Texas known as a breeding ground for up-and-coming acts. In late October, the group returned to the U.S. for an invitational performance at the New York-based CMJ, another music festival known for showcasing fresh talent from around the globe.

Buddha bar opens in Jakarta

I went to the newly opened Buddha bar last wednesday evening. It was packed (on a weekday). Got gin tonic at the bar and wandering around at the second floor restaurant, moved to the terrace outside overlooking the garden and the fountain outside. The club/restaurant is housed in the Dutch colonial building. It was the centre of cultural life back then before turned into an immigration office in the past years.

The interior is elegant. The music is nice (although weird because they played Culture Club, Kenny Logins, Gloria Gaynor etc that night). Is Wednesday an 80's music nite?

Didn't try the restaurant. I suspect it tasteless and expensive. Anyway, I don't think you go to this place for the food.

Want to have ago at this decadence? Just head to Jalan Teuku Umar 1, Jakarta Pusat.

clipped from http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/10/26/chilling-out-with-buddha.html

Jakarta international film festival begins.

Here is the Brazilian award winning film I'd like to see: Tropa de elite / Elite Squad. The festival will last only 5 days this year from 5 to 9 December 2008.

clipped from 2008.jiffest.org In 1997, before the visit of the Pope to Rio de Janeiro, Captain Nascimento from an elite squad to combat drug deals is assigned to eliminate the risks of the drug dealers in a dangerous slum nearby. He is trying to find a man to replace him, and narrows down his choices to new recruits, Neto and Matias. They join the squad after backing out from the corrupted, incompetence and stupid bureaucracy of the military police. Without their knowledge, the squad and its operations challenge these guys views to their cores.

Birthday in Indonesia

My nephew birthday party. Instead of having a birthday cake, we had

"tumpengan", traditional Javanese rice mountain.

Indonesia: Anthony Bourdain's end of the road?

Interesting episode of "No reservation" where New York chef Anthony Bourdain ponders whether he's done with his television career and perhaps be better off living in Indonesia, a country he falls in love with.

He gets it now why most of us never leave.....

clipped from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFF3MfrN93U

West Sumatra: Sikuai island part 2 and Harau valley

As promised, more pictures of Sikuai and Harau valley.

The top 2 pictures (and also at the head of my blog ) are those of Harau, the biggest and highest rock climbing valley in Asia. The house that you see is actually one of the many bungalows of Echo homestay. Call ahead at (62 752) 775 03 06 if you're interested to stay there as it is often full. The bungalows are well equipped and surrounded by beautiful scenery of the valley. Here, And if you howl your heart out loud, the sound will come several time , therefore the echo...

Meanwhile, Sikuai island can be reached half an hour from Padang. Pristine, powder-sand beach with see-through sea water beckon you. If you want to visit Sikuai island, call this local guy named Jack (62 752 6141) He can arrange travel around west sumatra including Sikuai island and finds you the best rate. He actually owns a cosy "Bagus cafe" at lake Maninjau which serves probably the best western food in Sumatra (He lived in Alaska once). The cafe also provides internet, DVD movie and transportation. If Jack loves you, he may close the cafe and show you around for several days!

Batik from Madura

The island of Madura is located east of Java. It is where salt and corn are produced, where the relatives of the Javanese royalty live in the Sumenep Kraton or palace and best of all where the colorful, vibrant and brave batik print fabric is made.

Unlike it's counterpart in Java, the Madurese have more daring experiment with pattern and color. They absorb the best influence from Arab and Chinese traders and there you have it. And the saying on the street is even the poorest batik producer won't use cheap coloring. They use high quality indigo or purple mix. And there you have it, simply exquisite batik.

My cousin sent me these beautiful pictures. In Jakarta it was rare and difficult to find Madurese batik, it explains why it is so expensive. If you're lucky to meet someone who sell them or find them at the stores, expect to pay Rp 300,000 (US $ 30) for the lowest quality of fabric.

Sikuai island

I have loads of questions from people asking me about Sikuai island in West Sumatra. Most people ask me how to get there. What's the accommodation like?

Also apparently there are pictures in the internet claiming to be Sikuai island. I have seen these pictures. They are not taken from Sikuai island.

Here I attach some pictures. More coming in.

Adidas with Batik

I know this is last winter collection, however I just put it here to ask if anybody got the sneaker since only 1000 pairs made?

clipped from www.freshnessmag.com

"Verses of love" behind the scene

Hanung Bramantyo, the film director of "Ayat-ayat cinta" wrote an interesting post of the challenges, frustration and difficulties in shooting this movie.

I find it eye-opening, sometimes hilarious.

Amongst others:

- At some point, the producers (Of Indian descent) want to make it more pop, more youthful, meaning more "Kuch kuch Hota Hai"

- Ryanti Catwright playing Aisha, has to juggle her job as MTV VJ and her being deported. (She has UK passport)

- Thinking that Jodhpur in India is an isolated location, not a popular tourist destination (C'mon Hanung, you should have known better!), the crew had to ride a (mini) bus for the 24 hours travel time from Mumbai instead of a plane tickets.

Find it here at his blog (In Indonesian only):

http://dearestmask.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/2007/11/kisah_di_balik_.html

clipped from ruangfilm.com