Last night, before heading out to diner I stopped in at a bar near my house for a pick me up. It was only 7pm at the time so the place was totally empty. From the outside this bar looks pretty small and mundane, but upon entering it revealed itself to be quite large with 3 pool table areas!! The bar which is centrally located is about 5 feet wide and 20 feet long at least, with a silver pole on each corner stretching to the roof. Being the curious George that I am, I also noticed a set of small rustic steps going up to the bar. Poles, steps… This could only mean one thing. DANCERS!!
Loads of bars in Jakarta have dancers that come in and prance around the bar tops, pouring drinks down horny men’s throats to fuel the flames that burn in their loins. The only place I have actually seen the women take serious action and work the customers is at Zen on Thamrin. But that place is a bar-come-karaoke joint. They have the usual hostesses and strippers in the private rooms, behind locked doors. There is no real place for good innocent fun. The place I went to last night was a regular bar. I expected them to have the regular dance troop putting up a show every now and then. As I sat there sipping my JD coke, the bartender informed me that they had dancers at the bar every day except for Sunday when they are closed. We chatted a while and I took of on my way.
As we were heading home around 12.30am, we decided to stop in and have one for the road, which makes little sense since my house is literally around the corner from there. But you know how the story goes. I walked in to see a room the size of a tennis court full of Chinese men. Something was definitely sketchy. Gonzo and I planted ourselves in the back, concealed by the shadows, and we cracked open a bottle of JD. I figured as I live so close I could stop in every now and then to nurse the bottle. The dancers took the platform and proceeded to shake their booties as the gents stared in excitement. The routine was standard and we were about to leave when I noticed a nipple. Yes… One of the 6 dancers flashed me a sample of her nipple. I immediately sat back down and maintained eye contact. This is Indonesia, the largest Muslim population in the world! There is no way in hell that a woman could flash her nipple in a regular bar. Loads of freaky shit goes down in Kota and other derelict districts but not here in a regular bar in Kelapa Gading. And right there in the middle of the bar?! Was my mind fucking with me? Had I been celibate so long that I was seeing a mirage?
Ten minutes later I was staring, with my jaw hanging down to my knees, at 6 sets of wonderful perky nipples!! Gonzo and I were completely blown away. The ladies were swinging to the beats wearing only their tight black shorts and their shirts were lying lifeless on the bar top. All this was happening right near my own house and I had no fucking idea. Brothers were buying some mystery shot that cost Rp.50,000 for the dancers. The ladies place the drink in the customer’s mouth and spend 2 minutes drinking it out of there using only their mouth. I was not keen to try this after seeing numerous men queue up for the experience, but Gonzo, being the shameless bastard that he is, was right there in line with Rp.150,000 in hand. He figured he needed at least 6 minutes to get his rocks off. That bastard really was not shy at all. I almost fell of my chair when I saw him actually take a sipple of her nipple!! Only Gonzo could manipulate his way from her lips all the way down to her tits without her even posting an objection.
Needless to say, we spent quite a while there and almost polished that damn bottle. They are having a wild Jamaican night there on the 7th of July. I will be there fo-sho. Contrary to what you might think, it is a cool place for ladies to come hang out as well. The atmosphere is clean and styrish (as my Japanese friend says). I realize I haven’t mentioned exactly where it is but I am sure you can figure it out. Where there is a will there is a way. Puts, Inny, Surri, daddy got a brand new bag baby!
Right now I am really hung over and I got shit loads of work to do before I jump the plane to Bali. You all have a great weekend cause I know I will. Saturday is Canada Day so go out and hug a maple tree or something. I will have maple syrup with my pancakes as a tribute cause there aint no maple tree’s in Indo.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Wannabe Cops
After having lunch at Hot Shots the other day, I took a walk around La Piazza to take some pictures. After all I figure I would be giving them some publicity. All of a sudden some asshole security guard comes up to me and tells me I can’t take pictures here AND he wants to see my camera so he can delete the images. Yeah right!! Like I am gonna hand over my digital camera to some wannabe cop. So I said the first thing that came to my mind, which is probably not the best thing I could have said. I said, “Fuck off, that’s bull shit”. You see he was rude to me first. Rather than saying excuse me and asking politely, he chose to tap my shoulder and bark orders at me. Within minutes there were 3 guards around me asking for my camera. Now I am not a small fellow so I stood my ground and told them that if they wanted it they would have to rip it from me. That being said I puffed out my chest and casually strolled out of the complex continuing to take pictures. Why do I have to be such a cheeky bastard?
I hate security guards. I don’t know why but I just do, especially in this country where they all try to assert an air of authority. All you gotta do here is give a man a uniform and a whistle and suddenly he thinks he is Wyatt fuckin Earp. Even the gad damned parking guys. For those of you who live here, I am sure you have noticed that when you pull into a difficult spot there is no one to guide you in, but as you are ready to leave and the coast is clear all around you, some chump will jump out of the wood work to start blowing his whistle and yell, TERUUUS, TERUUS!!!”. And then you HAVE to pay the guy Rp.2000. It’s not the money but the principality of the whole thing. Just writing about it gets me in a huff.
My cuzin told me the other day that as he was leaving a mall and some security guard who was lounging back in a chair reached over and touched his hand and said, “Boss, ada kerja buat saya ngak?” That means do you have any work for me. He said this he was totally slumped in his chair. What the fuck did he think the man would say? Yeah, come sleep outside my office? You got a job mister, do it!
I really need this break to Bali before I end up committing murder. This is what living in a concrete jungle can do to you. My edginess by also just be a result of the fact that I did not go out this weekend. All work and no play makes Avi manic depressive and homicidal. One more day baby!!!
Here are a few more places you can munch at while visiting La Piazza in Kelapa Gading. There are a lot more places there but I guess I won’t be taking no more pictures. Other places worth visiting are La Porchetta, Churasco Brazilian Grill, Singapore Hawker Stall, and others. The Piazza also has a Happy Puppy Karaoke joint which is really high tech and they serve pretty cheap bottles of vodka. Its like I have been a fucking spokesperson for this place!! They should hire me for PR dammit.
I hate security guards. I don’t know why but I just do, especially in this country where they all try to assert an air of authority. All you gotta do here is give a man a uniform and a whistle and suddenly he thinks he is Wyatt fuckin Earp. Even the gad damned parking guys. For those of you who live here, I am sure you have noticed that when you pull into a difficult spot there is no one to guide you in, but as you are ready to leave and the coast is clear all around you, some chump will jump out of the wood work to start blowing his whistle and yell, TERUUUS, TERUUS!!!”. And then you HAVE to pay the guy Rp.2000. It’s not the money but the principality of the whole thing. Just writing about it gets me in a huff.
My cuzin told me the other day that as he was leaving a mall and some security guard who was lounging back in a chair reached over and touched his hand and said, “Boss, ada kerja buat saya ngak?” That means do you have any work for me. He said this he was totally slumped in his chair. What the fuck did he think the man would say? Yeah, come sleep outside my office? You got a job mister, do it!
I really need this break to Bali before I end up committing murder. This is what living in a concrete jungle can do to you. My edginess by also just be a result of the fact that I did not go out this weekend. All work and no play makes Avi manic depressive and homicidal. One more day baby!!!
Here are a few more places you can munch at while visiting La Piazza in Kelapa Gading. There are a lot more places there but I guess I won’t be taking no more pictures. Other places worth visiting are La Porchetta, Churasco Brazilian Grill, Singapore Hawker Stall, and others. The Piazza also has a Happy Puppy Karaoke joint which is really high tech and they serve pretty cheap bottles of vodka. Its like I have been a fucking spokesperson for this place!! They should hire me for PR dammit.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Rollin' Stone
A friend mine wrote an article some time ago regarding identity on his blog Ceiling Zero. You can read it here. It was basically concerning how he feels having grown up in various parts of the world and where other people might consider themselves to be “from” having shared a similar upbringing. I basically saw the article as an invitation to discuss how we identify ourselves. This article prompted a flood of essay writing in the posts that were all very personal, brave, and revealing. Some people were confused while others were confident. But they all spent time looking within themselves for answers before penning their opinions.
I personally did not contribute my views to this discussion as I felt quite comfortable to observe and learn. I guess there were times in my life where I have been equally confused but I know now that I am who I am and that changes quite regularly. I am comfortable with where I come from, my heritage, and my cultures. Although all of these things are only a part of whom I am. I felt I had nothing positive to add to that discussion but the comments were eye openers and reminders to me. And above all else I got a glimpse into how some of my closest friends experience a part of life.
The other night I was watching something or reading something that prompted a new question in my mind. The older character had spent some time with a younger one, trying to revive the culture within him. The younger had been in the US for 15 years and was loosing touch with his heritage. Though a sequence of events the older man found himself on his deathbed and he said to the young man. I am going home. Do not forget where your home is because when you die your soul has to find its way home.
I am a Sindhi by birth. My mother in Sindhi and my father is Sindhi and so were their parents. What is a Sindhi? Well there is a shit load of information on the internet about whom, what, and where Sindh and Sindhi’s are. Rather than regurgitate that information here I would rather write about what I think I know which is probably going to demonstrate how misinformed and ignorant I am about my own culture. The Sindhi’s originated from the area of Sindh, which was located along the lower delta river of the Indus Valley. Some people say this is one of the world’s oldest civilizations. What I know by word of mouth and current reading is that my Grandparents lived in an area still called Sindh that is located inside Pakistan’s borders. When India and Pakistan separated in 1945-46 (I am not positive when) the Hindu’s were driven out of Pakistan and I am sure some Muslims were driven into Pakistan as well. There were violent tragedies but shit happens, that’s human nature. My father was carried out by his parents on top of the box car of a train into India. It was the last train that made it out so they narrowly escaped. He was one year old.
Most Hindu Sindhi’s have spread out across the world after that because they had no real place to call home. I know Sindhi’s living in places you might never have heard of. We are known for being shrewd business men and sharp entrepreneurs. Many Sindhi’s have grown to be extremely powerful and successful in their new homes. But in essence we are still nomads. My generations have grown up educated, and in these trying times are searching for an identity which they can sometimes not find. There is actually a publication out of Hong Kong called Beyond Sindh which is reaching out these confused minds and offering answers. I subscribe to this magazine and I am surprised to see how many young Sindhi’s are actually interested in their culture and heritage. There are various other publications and websites that tie the community together. With all this in mind, the question of identity is wide spread and important to address.
My mother was born in Ghana, my older sister in Japan, and me in Canada. Her kids were just born here in Indonesia. Not one of us except my father in India. And in a part of India that mo longer is part of India. However, none of these facts confuse me about whom I am because these events are what shaped who I have become. And I would not rather have it any other way. I have no desire to feel patriotism towards one country. I do not want to be generally categorized, although I am. I am fortunate that I can speak 4 languages. And over all I feel like a citizen of planet Earth. I am in touch with my heritage and proud of my culture. It is important to have roots and I can pass what I know on to my children. But that will only be a small part of who they become. But after hearing that statement the other night… Do not forget where your home is because when you die your soul has to find its way home.
I don’t know if I believe in God, the soul, or the afterlife. But I asked myself, where is home? If my soul had to rest in one place, where would it be? I don’t think I can look at this question like thinking about where I would like to buy a house and settle down for the next 20 years. Hell I couldn’t even answer that. This home should be the place where you can spend eternity. If I had to answer I would say Ghana. I grew up there and that is where my heart is but that is only if I HAD to choose. I am just as content being detached I guess. Just BEING… I really feel no attachment to any one place, just to people. Shoots, if I could I would rather just linger around where all my friends and family are in the after life. Even in the afterlife, if there is one, I would not want to be tied down and laid to rest. I actually hope I can transport myself from a beach in Maui out to a mountain top in Chile and then to the Grand Canyon, all in seconds. Rolling stones gather no moss so I guess I just gotta keep on moving and give my family the exciting nomadic experience that I grew up with. Would you have it any other way?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
- Bob Dylan
I personally did not contribute my views to this discussion as I felt quite comfortable to observe and learn. I guess there were times in my life where I have been equally confused but I know now that I am who I am and that changes quite regularly. I am comfortable with where I come from, my heritage, and my cultures. Although all of these things are only a part of whom I am. I felt I had nothing positive to add to that discussion but the comments were eye openers and reminders to me. And above all else I got a glimpse into how some of my closest friends experience a part of life.
The other night I was watching something or reading something that prompted a new question in my mind. The older character had spent some time with a younger one, trying to revive the culture within him. The younger had been in the US for 15 years and was loosing touch with his heritage. Though a sequence of events the older man found himself on his deathbed and he said to the young man. I am going home. Do not forget where your home is because when you die your soul has to find its way home.
I am a Sindhi by birth. My mother in Sindhi and my father is Sindhi and so were their parents. What is a Sindhi? Well there is a shit load of information on the internet about whom, what, and where Sindh and Sindhi’s are. Rather than regurgitate that information here I would rather write about what I think I know which is probably going to demonstrate how misinformed and ignorant I am about my own culture. The Sindhi’s originated from the area of Sindh, which was located along the lower delta river of the Indus Valley. Some people say this is one of the world’s oldest civilizations. What I know by word of mouth and current reading is that my Grandparents lived in an area still called Sindh that is located inside Pakistan’s borders. When India and Pakistan separated in 1945-46 (I am not positive when) the Hindu’s were driven out of Pakistan and I am sure some Muslims were driven into Pakistan as well. There were violent tragedies but shit happens, that’s human nature. My father was carried out by his parents on top of the box car of a train into India. It was the last train that made it out so they narrowly escaped. He was one year old.
Most Hindu Sindhi’s have spread out across the world after that because they had no real place to call home. I know Sindhi’s living in places you might never have heard of. We are known for being shrewd business men and sharp entrepreneurs. Many Sindhi’s have grown to be extremely powerful and successful in their new homes. But in essence we are still nomads. My generations have grown up educated, and in these trying times are searching for an identity which they can sometimes not find. There is actually a publication out of Hong Kong called Beyond Sindh which is reaching out these confused minds and offering answers. I subscribe to this magazine and I am surprised to see how many young Sindhi’s are actually interested in their culture and heritage. There are various other publications and websites that tie the community together. With all this in mind, the question of identity is wide spread and important to address.
My mother was born in Ghana, my older sister in Japan, and me in Canada. Her kids were just born here in Indonesia. Not one of us except my father in India. And in a part of India that mo longer is part of India. However, none of these facts confuse me about whom I am because these events are what shaped who I have become. And I would not rather have it any other way. I have no desire to feel patriotism towards one country. I do not want to be generally categorized, although I am. I am fortunate that I can speak 4 languages. And over all I feel like a citizen of planet Earth. I am in touch with my heritage and proud of my culture. It is important to have roots and I can pass what I know on to my children. But that will only be a small part of who they become. But after hearing that statement the other night… Do not forget where your home is because when you die your soul has to find its way home.
I don’t know if I believe in God, the soul, or the afterlife. But I asked myself, where is home? If my soul had to rest in one place, where would it be? I don’t think I can look at this question like thinking about where I would like to buy a house and settle down for the next 20 years. Hell I couldn’t even answer that. This home should be the place where you can spend eternity. If I had to answer I would say Ghana. I grew up there and that is where my heart is but that is only if I HAD to choose. I am just as content being detached I guess. Just BEING… I really feel no attachment to any one place, just to people. Shoots, if I could I would rather just linger around where all my friends and family are in the after life. Even in the afterlife, if there is one, I would not want to be tied down and laid to rest. I actually hope I can transport myself from a beach in Maui out to a mountain top in Chile and then to the Grand Canyon, all in seconds. Rolling stones gather no moss so I guess I just gotta keep on moving and give my family the exciting nomadic experience that I grew up with. Would you have it any other way?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
- Bob Dylan
Hot Shots
I know I have mentioned Hot Shots Burgers before. Yesterday I was in the office at about 3pm when I started fiending for a burger. I headed down to La Piazza in Kelapa Gading where I ordered the Caramelized Onion Burger. I feel kinda hungry now, lookin at these pictures. I will say though that these burgers are extremely fresh and juicy. They actually have the char broiled flavor.
The best burger I have ever had would probably be at Kamaaina Burgers in Honolulu. But then again, things always taste better when you can only just about afford it.
The best burger I have ever had would probably be at Kamaaina Burgers in Honolulu. But then again, things always taste better when you can only just about afford it.
Monday, June 27, 2005
The Red Worm
A couple of weeks ago my friend came back from Me-he-co, and he brought back a couple of bottles of CUSANO ROJO (Red Worm), which is real Me-he-can Mescal. We polished one bottle the day he got in and I have the other one stashed at home. Unlike the conventional Jose Cuervo Taquila, this mescal was very smooth and actually quite tasty with coke as a mixer. Usually tequila triggers a gag reflex in me with just the scent but I actually enjoyed this stuff. And after quaffing ¾ of the bottle I was still feeling really good. I even chewed the worm at the bottom that I hoped would have a psychedelic reaction, but no such luck. I am holding this bottle for a special night; don’t know what that could be though. If anyone is coming my way please but me any exotic booze you can find. I would especially appreciate a bottle of Brazilian Kishsa (don’t knock my spelling).
I had some ARAK last week at the Lebanese place. It is a clear alcohol that you add to water and ice. The mixture immediately turns a smokey white color. It was very, very strong.
I just realized I posted the pictures backwards. Ah well…
I had some ARAK last week at the Lebanese place. It is a clear alcohol that you add to water and ice. The mixture immediately turns a smokey white color. It was very, very strong.
I just realized I posted the pictures backwards. Ah well…
The juicy worm fermenting in the bottom of the bottle is about an inch long. The last one I had was a bit smaller. Innitially it was crunchy but the inside is a bit mushy... To be honest though, after getting to it I could not really taste anything. I felt like a hero though. Who wants to share this one?
OZ
I spent the weekend doing a lot of reading and a lot of drinking. I also watched this series OZ that I bought on DVD. I just finished season 2. At first I did not really dig the show but now I am kind of getting into it. I recall watching some really good prison movies in the past like ‘American Me’ and “Blood In Blood Out”, which were both really entertaining. It’s probably just a guy thing to find all the prison gangs and sabotage fascinating. The concept of prison however just freaks me out. Of course the first thing we dread as men is the rape. No one wants to be fucked up the ass! And this shit happens. It’s like when the judge gives you sentence, after she says you are guilty, you don’t even consider the time they are dishing you. All you hear is “you will be fucked up the ass for seven years with the possibility of not having to be fucked up the ass anymore after 4 years”. It is a give in. Even when you come out, everyone is gonna know you took a canolli in your culo. Without the gang banging maybe prison would not be such a bad option for some stupid, lazy, criminal. You get free room and board, utilities, food, and you get a job that you are paid for upon release. You will have a shit load of time to work out as well so when you get out all you need to do is flash the abs and hook a sweet chick.
Humans are the only creatures on this earth to actually cage other animals, including their own species. We can all agree that criminals need to be separated from so called functioning society but are they really being offered a chance at rehabilitation? When you put a guy arrested for selling weed in the same cell as a rapist and in the same ward and murderers, he is going to have to fit in to survive. This is just human nature. I would hate to ever find my self in a position like that but I tell you this, I would kill any fool just to make my place and insure I don’t become somebody’s bitch. To a certain extent we also have to go through these transformations while growing up. Some of us out of the need to be excepted in high schools and others in order to just survive in boarding schools. But with prison, it is the end of the road so you will do what ever you have to in order to stay alive. How can you come out of a situation like that to be a normal husband, father, brother, or son?
Of course here in the 3rd world countries, money talks and bull shit walks. I have personally seen brothers in jail cells with Russian hookers, lap top computers, plasma TV’s, and all the comforts of home. But the idea of being held captive is still tormenting. And as for the everyday Joe? Fugetaboutit. He will see what hell really is before he gets out. The conditions here in the Far East are frightful. I do not believe even animals in the US would be treated this way. There really should be a better way to deal with criminals although I have no idea what that could be.
This Australian girl Schapelle Corby just got sentenced to 20 years in prison in Bali for trafficking 4.1 kgs of Marijuana. I do not know too many specific details about the case but I do know that she claims the drugs were planted on her. I also heard that the authorities in Australia know of a ring of people who are doing this. I remember watching this girl hear her verdict a few weeks ago. The whole scene just made me cringe. It was horrible watching her break down and I could only imagine what was going through her mind. She is a really beautiful girl and by the time she comes out what future could she possibly have. The case is in appeals now but this just goes to show that it could happen to any of us. You go on an innocent holiday and the next thing you know, you are checked into the Bangkok Hilton for the next 30 years. If you want more details on the case just google Schapelle Corby. It has become a pretty big deal out here and in Australia.
A lot of people ask why she would bring bud into Bali when there is so much here. Truth of the matter is that there is very ganja in Bali. Most of the buds in Indo come from Aceh and after the tsunami things have been very slow, even here in JKT. Also with the extra vigilance in Bali it is very hard to get good weed there but the tourists are willing to pay top dollar for the better stuff. If you ever go to Bali, never buy anything of the people who offer you shit in the street.
Humans are the only creatures on this earth to actually cage other animals, including their own species. We can all agree that criminals need to be separated from so called functioning society but are they really being offered a chance at rehabilitation? When you put a guy arrested for selling weed in the same cell as a rapist and in the same ward and murderers, he is going to have to fit in to survive. This is just human nature. I would hate to ever find my self in a position like that but I tell you this, I would kill any fool just to make my place and insure I don’t become somebody’s bitch. To a certain extent we also have to go through these transformations while growing up. Some of us out of the need to be excepted in high schools and others in order to just survive in boarding schools. But with prison, it is the end of the road so you will do what ever you have to in order to stay alive. How can you come out of a situation like that to be a normal husband, father, brother, or son?
Of course here in the 3rd world countries, money talks and bull shit walks. I have personally seen brothers in jail cells with Russian hookers, lap top computers, plasma TV’s, and all the comforts of home. But the idea of being held captive is still tormenting. And as for the everyday Joe? Fugetaboutit. He will see what hell really is before he gets out. The conditions here in the Far East are frightful. I do not believe even animals in the US would be treated this way. There really should be a better way to deal with criminals although I have no idea what that could be.
This Australian girl Schapelle Corby just got sentenced to 20 years in prison in Bali for trafficking 4.1 kgs of Marijuana. I do not know too many specific details about the case but I do know that she claims the drugs were planted on her. I also heard that the authorities in Australia know of a ring of people who are doing this. I remember watching this girl hear her verdict a few weeks ago. The whole scene just made me cringe. It was horrible watching her break down and I could only imagine what was going through her mind. She is a really beautiful girl and by the time she comes out what future could she possibly have. The case is in appeals now but this just goes to show that it could happen to any of us. You go on an innocent holiday and the next thing you know, you are checked into the Bangkok Hilton for the next 30 years. If you want more details on the case just google Schapelle Corby. It has become a pretty big deal out here and in Australia.
A lot of people ask why she would bring bud into Bali when there is so much here. Truth of the matter is that there is very ganja in Bali. Most of the buds in Indo come from Aceh and after the tsunami things have been very slow, even here in JKT. Also with the extra vigilance in Bali it is very hard to get good weed there but the tourists are willing to pay top dollar for the better stuff. If you ever go to Bali, never buy anything of the people who offer you shit in the street.
Friday, June 24, 2005
A Few of My Favorite Things
Since I put up this new template I can’t seem to figure out how to get my links back up and running. Actually to be honest, I have been trying to NOT fuck with the HTML. I really do not know enough about that shit to be tampering around with it. Also before I start listing, I checked out Audio Bolgger where after registering you can actually blog via telephone. I downloaded some one else’s today and it did not take long at all. So maybe while I am pissed at some bar I will put something up there, so you have to download it and tell me how it went. So without further a due, here are my favorite blog’s, in no specific order, just as they come to me.
Zuleika Unstrung
This blog is a journal of this woman in the Mid-West US somewhere. She is pregnant right now and I believe she is also a photographer. She has a very expressive way of writing and occasionally her excerpts are exceptionally perceptive.
Spanky McWanker Strikes Back
This blog is by an old friend of mine who I had not been in touch with for over ten years. Here’s is the first blog I ever started reading religiously and this is what prompted me to start one of my own. It is a personal blog and it takes a lot of courage to open ones self up the way she has.
The Sixth Seal
By far one of the most awesome blog’s out there, Sixth Seal is like the movie Train Spotting. The author, PHB, lives in Malaysia and documents various things from restaurants to cigarettes to potato chips even. His archives are split into topic groups that make it very easy to browse. I found this site while researching some recreational pharmaceuticals and his site has the most useful information one could ever need on this subject. His post today is a review of the Malaysian Blogger Awards, definitely a good read.
Kenny Sia
Although his blog is relatively new, Kenny Sia started his blog when he returned to Malaysia from Perth to spend time with his father, who was suffering from cancer and had been given the final dead line. His blog is very humorous, poking fun at himself with references to other Malaysian and Singaporean bloggers. His brand of humor is truly original. In fact last night he just walked away with the award for best blog!! He has also put up some posts that struck deep emotional chords with many readers.
Dreams
Started by a very close friend of mine who also happened to be my room mate in college, this is a blog coming out of Africa about… You guessed it, dreams. There are regular posts from contributors and the posts are well analyzed in the comments usually with revealing and insightful prose. This blog is very new but it is proving to be a true mixing pot of ideas. This could possibly be the ONLY blog coming out of Ghana.
YVR-WHOVR
Get it? Why we are, who we are? The writer is a friend of a friend and this site is what I will call extremely introspective. I always have respect for someone who can be so open about their feelings. I for one can not. The author is also an awesome poet and he churns them out quite often. This is another one worth visiting daily for some thought provoking writing.
Lavi Rants
This is what it says it is. Lavi, an old friend of mine in Hawaii is ranting with thoughts and ideas that are proving to be quite interesting. So far the best reason I can give you to check it out is the hot pictures of Zeenat Aman, but that is just because I am infatuated.
Ceiling Zero
One of my closest friends who is also in Hawaii also just started this blog. It is also extremely introspective and DEEP. But the brother IS deep so it can’t be any other way. His articles have inspired some serious essays amongst the readers. His writing is what I would call… Honest. Good things are sure to follow.
Sarong Party Girl
I have mentioned this blog before. She is still going strong and I maintain that she is a very talented writer.
Java Jive
I only came across this yesterday. It is also the only Indonesian based blog that I have added to my favorites, but that is only because I have not come across anything else I like yet. The archives are full of pictures taken by the author (I presume), that are very striking and they do give a pleasant image of Indonesia. In the gallery there are also photographs from America and South Africa.
Kimi Land
Okay, if I have to be totally honest here, this is a blog I check every other day as well. It is the personal journal of a porn star named Kimi Andrews. Of course she does throw up some neat pictures but her entries are also very interesting. If you don’t like that kind of stuff then just don’t venture there but if you do, then this is one of the better blog’s out there. It is not weighed down with links to numerous porn sites and the writing is actually insightful to her lifestyle. It is a fun and informative blog. The archives are worth going through. Lots of interesting stuff to… uh… read.
So that’s all I can recall right now, plus I want to get out of the office. It’s Friday and things are pretty quite. Maybe I can find a cozy getaway not to far from where I am to put down some cold beers and talk story with some strangers. I pretty much put up this post as a shout out to all my buddies. Hope you mind the extra attention if any. I mean shoots, your blog is out there right? You might as well fish for hits. I miss you all and have a good weekend. Make sure there is a drink and cheers involved for me.
Song to download today – Aisa Jadoo - Remix
Zuleika Unstrung
This blog is a journal of this woman in the Mid-West US somewhere. She is pregnant right now and I believe she is also a photographer. She has a very expressive way of writing and occasionally her excerpts are exceptionally perceptive.
Spanky McWanker Strikes Back
This blog is by an old friend of mine who I had not been in touch with for over ten years. Here’s is the first blog I ever started reading religiously and this is what prompted me to start one of my own. It is a personal blog and it takes a lot of courage to open ones self up the way she has.
The Sixth Seal
By far one of the most awesome blog’s out there, Sixth Seal is like the movie Train Spotting. The author, PHB, lives in Malaysia and documents various things from restaurants to cigarettes to potato chips even. His archives are split into topic groups that make it very easy to browse. I found this site while researching some recreational pharmaceuticals and his site has the most useful information one could ever need on this subject. His post today is a review of the Malaysian Blogger Awards, definitely a good read.
Kenny Sia
Although his blog is relatively new, Kenny Sia started his blog when he returned to Malaysia from Perth to spend time with his father, who was suffering from cancer and had been given the final dead line. His blog is very humorous, poking fun at himself with references to other Malaysian and Singaporean bloggers. His brand of humor is truly original. In fact last night he just walked away with the award for best blog!! He has also put up some posts that struck deep emotional chords with many readers.
Dreams
Started by a very close friend of mine who also happened to be my room mate in college, this is a blog coming out of Africa about… You guessed it, dreams. There are regular posts from contributors and the posts are well analyzed in the comments usually with revealing and insightful prose. This blog is very new but it is proving to be a true mixing pot of ideas. This could possibly be the ONLY blog coming out of Ghana.
YVR-WHOVR
Get it? Why we are, who we are? The writer is a friend of a friend and this site is what I will call extremely introspective. I always have respect for someone who can be so open about their feelings. I for one can not. The author is also an awesome poet and he churns them out quite often. This is another one worth visiting daily for some thought provoking writing.
Lavi Rants
This is what it says it is. Lavi, an old friend of mine in Hawaii is ranting with thoughts and ideas that are proving to be quite interesting. So far the best reason I can give you to check it out is the hot pictures of Zeenat Aman, but that is just because I am infatuated.
Ceiling Zero
One of my closest friends who is also in Hawaii also just started this blog. It is also extremely introspective and DEEP. But the brother IS deep so it can’t be any other way. His articles have inspired some serious essays amongst the readers. His writing is what I would call… Honest. Good things are sure to follow.
Sarong Party Girl
I have mentioned this blog before. She is still going strong and I maintain that she is a very talented writer.
Java Jive
I only came across this yesterday. It is also the only Indonesian based blog that I have added to my favorites, but that is only because I have not come across anything else I like yet. The archives are full of pictures taken by the author (I presume), that are very striking and they do give a pleasant image of Indonesia. In the gallery there are also photographs from America and South Africa.
Kimi Land
Okay, if I have to be totally honest here, this is a blog I check every other day as well. It is the personal journal of a porn star named Kimi Andrews. Of course she does throw up some neat pictures but her entries are also very interesting. If you don’t like that kind of stuff then just don’t venture there but if you do, then this is one of the better blog’s out there. It is not weighed down with links to numerous porn sites and the writing is actually insightful to her lifestyle. It is a fun and informative blog. The archives are worth going through. Lots of interesting stuff to… uh… read.
So that’s all I can recall right now, plus I want to get out of the office. It’s Friday and things are pretty quite. Maybe I can find a cozy getaway not to far from where I am to put down some cold beers and talk story with some strangers. I pretty much put up this post as a shout out to all my buddies. Hope you mind the extra attention if any. I mean shoots, your blog is out there right? You might as well fish for hits. I miss you all and have a good weekend. Make sure there is a drink and cheers involved for me.
Song to download today – Aisa Jadoo - Remix
Dolphins Day Out
Yesterday afternoon I took my boy to check out a new place in Jakarta that was offering Dolphin Therapy. Located just beside the North entrance of the Ancol complex is the Institute of Marine Biology. Next to it is a building called Balai Samudra. On the ground floor of that building, just four months ago, a group of four physiotherapists set up a small center where they handle consultations prior to sending people in for dolphin therapy. They also offer the service of regular therapy to their clients. The office is small and nothing fancy at all but the therapist we met seemed knowledgeable enough.
After consultation we headed into the Ancol complex. It costs a bit of money to get in but once you sign up with the centre they give you vouchers to enter not only the complex but also the Gelangang Samudra, which is a dolphin park type thing, not to be confused with Sea World. The GS Park is a little run down but one can see it was quite an attraction when it was built about 20 years ago. We had to walk pretty much all the way through the park to get to the place where they had the therapy sessions. It was a small indoor coral where old dolphins were retired and new ones trained. On the way we passed some dolphin and sea lion shows.
The area we entered was enclosed so there was little direct sunlight and there were 3 dolphins that moved freely between three pools that had doors between them. I met the therapist Abdul who spoke very good English and he explained to me the benefits and procedures of dolphin therapy. Although he seemed young, I felt he really knew his stuff. I also met with the dolphin trainer and of course the dolphins themselves. They informed me that the water was cycled 3 times a day and marine biologists checked the water 2 times a day. It was all salt water and the pools were pretty deep.
I lived in Hawaii for three years but I never touched a dolphin till yesterday. I saw a herd of dolphin swimming past spitting caves once and I have seen numerous whale dances all over the island. I even encountered a turtle face to face once on Kailua beach, but I never got up close with a dolphin. I thought the skin of the dolphin might be a bit rubbery or creepy but surprisingly it felt just like wet human skin, just without the hair. I sat by the edge of the pool with my feet in the water playing with the dolphins, throwing the ball out that they would bring back to me. There was one dolphin in particular that was exceptionally playful. She had only been brought into captivity 3 months ago. While the others only came up to be petted every once in a while she spent the whole time swimming around me and rubbing against my feet. She was as playful as a puppy. They made the coolest sounds and I got pretty damn close to jumping in the water. I tried not to give much thought to the fact that were trapped here and the conditions were probably not the best but that is something I could not have any control over.
So all this hanging out with the dolphins got me thinking, which as I have mentioned before is a very dangerous past time for me. I am stupid when it comes to science. I was never a good student in school and all I really know about animals is what I watch on discovery. But I noticed a few things. Whales, dolphins, and sea lions all have horizontal tales that they wave in a up-down motion to propel forward where as all other fish I have seen, including the shark, have vertical tail fins that swing side to side. So only the mammals have the horizontal ones. Now the mammals also breathe oxygen and do not have gills. They are pretty much like land animals. So if we except Darwin’s theory of evolution then we all started off in the water and then evolved to be land dwelling animals, then all life started as fish and slowly evolved into amphibians, reptiles, birds etc… I mean I have seen on discovery that there were reptilian birds at one time, like the Pterodactyl. So then dolphins, whales, and sea lions, were fully evolved land mammals that spent so much time in the water that they took they direction in development that they have, back to the sea? Is it possible that dolphins are further evolved than us? I tell you, looking into their eyes yesterday I felt a strange tranquility come over me. It was not like looking into the eyes of any other beast.
Their speech pattern is way more complex than ours apparently and they seem to be living more harmoniously than us. Their voices sounded like a modem sending information. Imagine if we could understand the sounds frequency that the web based information is transferred on. Would that mean that if we listed to the beeping we could conjure up the same information our monitors display for a website in our heads? Can dolphins do that with the way they speak? If that were the case and I wanted to describe a house to you, I could pretty much give you the exact picture in your head, with all details and colors to the T? Anyone following me here? I think I have given my self a headache. I am not sure if I am even making sense anymore. It’s Friday so I am going let this madness rest. Have a good weekend and happy fuck faces to all of you.
After consultation we headed into the Ancol complex. It costs a bit of money to get in but once you sign up with the centre they give you vouchers to enter not only the complex but also the Gelangang Samudra, which is a dolphin park type thing, not to be confused with Sea World. The GS Park is a little run down but one can see it was quite an attraction when it was built about 20 years ago. We had to walk pretty much all the way through the park to get to the place where they had the therapy sessions. It was a small indoor coral where old dolphins were retired and new ones trained. On the way we passed some dolphin and sea lion shows.
The area we entered was enclosed so there was little direct sunlight and there were 3 dolphins that moved freely between three pools that had doors between them. I met the therapist Abdul who spoke very good English and he explained to me the benefits and procedures of dolphin therapy. Although he seemed young, I felt he really knew his stuff. I also met with the dolphin trainer and of course the dolphins themselves. They informed me that the water was cycled 3 times a day and marine biologists checked the water 2 times a day. It was all salt water and the pools were pretty deep.
I lived in Hawaii for three years but I never touched a dolphin till yesterday. I saw a herd of dolphin swimming past spitting caves once and I have seen numerous whale dances all over the island. I even encountered a turtle face to face once on Kailua beach, but I never got up close with a dolphin. I thought the skin of the dolphin might be a bit rubbery or creepy but surprisingly it felt just like wet human skin, just without the hair. I sat by the edge of the pool with my feet in the water playing with the dolphins, throwing the ball out that they would bring back to me. There was one dolphin in particular that was exceptionally playful. She had only been brought into captivity 3 months ago. While the others only came up to be petted every once in a while she spent the whole time swimming around me and rubbing against my feet. She was as playful as a puppy. They made the coolest sounds and I got pretty damn close to jumping in the water. I tried not to give much thought to the fact that were trapped here and the conditions were probably not the best but that is something I could not have any control over.
So all this hanging out with the dolphins got me thinking, which as I have mentioned before is a very dangerous past time for me. I am stupid when it comes to science. I was never a good student in school and all I really know about animals is what I watch on discovery. But I noticed a few things. Whales, dolphins, and sea lions all have horizontal tales that they wave in a up-down motion to propel forward where as all other fish I have seen, including the shark, have vertical tail fins that swing side to side. So only the mammals have the horizontal ones. Now the mammals also breathe oxygen and do not have gills. They are pretty much like land animals. So if we except Darwin’s theory of evolution then we all started off in the water and then evolved to be land dwelling animals, then all life started as fish and slowly evolved into amphibians, reptiles, birds etc… I mean I have seen on discovery that there were reptilian birds at one time, like the Pterodactyl. So then dolphins, whales, and sea lions, were fully evolved land mammals that spent so much time in the water that they took they direction in development that they have, back to the sea? Is it possible that dolphins are further evolved than us? I tell you, looking into their eyes yesterday I felt a strange tranquility come over me. It was not like looking into the eyes of any other beast.
Their speech pattern is way more complex than ours apparently and they seem to be living more harmoniously than us. Their voices sounded like a modem sending information. Imagine if we could understand the sounds frequency that the web based information is transferred on. Would that mean that if we listed to the beeping we could conjure up the same information our monitors display for a website in our heads? Can dolphins do that with the way they speak? If that were the case and I wanted to describe a house to you, I could pretty much give you the exact picture in your head, with all details and colors to the T? Anyone following me here? I think I have given my self a headache. I am not sure if I am even making sense anymore. It’s Friday so I am going let this madness rest. Have a good weekend and happy fuck faces to all of you.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Gonzo Makes a Mistake
I haven’t chilled with Gonzo for a while now. I guess he has been busy doing his thing, whatever the fuck that is. But we talked on the phone this morning and, oh my god. Guy’s, what is the worst thing that could happen to you when you are out with a girl? Gonzo made the fatal mistake. Yes… It is the nastiest thing that you can think of.
Apparently he got drunk with some friends last weekend and headed out to JJ’s. This is a very well known bar, smack in the middle of Jakarta, just off Jalan Sudirman. It is an old place that has been running for many years now. Its predecessor Tanahmor is also very familiar to the expatriates in Jakarta. Basically both these bars are known for being pick-up joints. Back in the early 90’s, a lot of hot models started partying there mostly because the patrons were a lot of gay fellows that would not hit on them. And you could smoke weed and do other shit pretty openly. The last time I was there must have been in 2001, and by then there were still some hot chicks that came there on the weekends. Some skanks, a lot of old white men, and a few African “businessmen” but sometimes the crowd was alright and the music downright wikid. We used to go there to meet our dealer and you now how unreliable those fuckers can be, so at times we ended up chilling there for a few hours or more.
Now I don’t know if you have Lady Boys where you live but there are shit loads in Jakarta. And I am not too shy to say that some of them are fucking hot. I am not talking about the fools on the side of the road, but sometimes these chicks/guys who go clubbing can get all dressed up and look really fucking classy. And they are not prostitutes either. Quite a few of them are high society babes/dudes. I will even go as far as to admit that my cuzin Archie saved me more than once. Sitting at the bar, all sloppy drunk, buying what I believe to be a hot chick some drinks. He came over and yanked me off the stool and took me outside. He had to explain the whole Adam’s apple thing to me. I have almost never been fooled since then, but I hear now that they have operations to get rid of that too.
I recall last year when I was in Bangkok with five friends of mine. I took them to Nana Plaza, which is a complex of strip clubs, to hang out and have a few drinks before hitting Q Bar. It was their first night there and that is pretty much something you have to get out of the way before you can actually enjoy other aspects of the night life in Bangkok. We walked into one of the many bars and all sat side by side, laughing and joking, all eagerly facing the semi-naked dancers on stage. A couple of us were commenting on how hot some of the chicks were when one of the other fella’s whispered, “Dude… I think these are dudes.” We quickly asked our host what the story was and within the blink of an eye we were on the move straight out the door. Although none of us admitted it at the time, some of those Lady Boys were just extremely good looking. I was honestly frightened at the idea that I could be fooled like that. Even when they were stripped down to their knickers!!!
That being said, it is understandable I guess, that Gonzo made the grave blunder and hooked up with a Lady Boy at JJ’s. Right now he is grieving at home and refuses to come hang out. I tried to get him to come to the pool competition last night but he down right declined. So what if it was dark and he shared a few drinks with her/him? So what if they moved to the sofa’s in the back and made out a bit? So what he let her/him rub his cock a bit? So what if he grabbed a hold of some titties as well? Things just took a horrible turn when she/he was sitting on Gonzo’s lap facing him and he felt something hard against his belly…
Shit happens brother Gonz. Get over it and put that night behind you. Better you found out sooner than later right? At least you did not get into her BMW and go home with her like she wanted you to. And life goes on.
On an even sadder note, we lost the competition last night and there will be no more Wednesday pool night till next month. I was home before 1 am! I am going to have to find some new recreation now. Put’s and Surri, you have both been signed up to play with the Fez Bastard’s (our new team) next month.
*The above is entirely fictional. The people do not exist but the places do.
Apparently he got drunk with some friends last weekend and headed out to JJ’s. This is a very well known bar, smack in the middle of Jakarta, just off Jalan Sudirman. It is an old place that has been running for many years now. Its predecessor Tanahmor is also very familiar to the expatriates in Jakarta. Basically both these bars are known for being pick-up joints. Back in the early 90’s, a lot of hot models started partying there mostly because the patrons were a lot of gay fellows that would not hit on them. And you could smoke weed and do other shit pretty openly. The last time I was there must have been in 2001, and by then there were still some hot chicks that came there on the weekends. Some skanks, a lot of old white men, and a few African “businessmen” but sometimes the crowd was alright and the music downright wikid. We used to go there to meet our dealer and you now how unreliable those fuckers can be, so at times we ended up chilling there for a few hours or more.
Now I don’t know if you have Lady Boys where you live but there are shit loads in Jakarta. And I am not too shy to say that some of them are fucking hot. I am not talking about the fools on the side of the road, but sometimes these chicks/guys who go clubbing can get all dressed up and look really fucking classy. And they are not prostitutes either. Quite a few of them are high society babes/dudes. I will even go as far as to admit that my cuzin Archie saved me more than once. Sitting at the bar, all sloppy drunk, buying what I believe to be a hot chick some drinks. He came over and yanked me off the stool and took me outside. He had to explain the whole Adam’s apple thing to me. I have almost never been fooled since then, but I hear now that they have operations to get rid of that too.
I recall last year when I was in Bangkok with five friends of mine. I took them to Nana Plaza, which is a complex of strip clubs, to hang out and have a few drinks before hitting Q Bar. It was their first night there and that is pretty much something you have to get out of the way before you can actually enjoy other aspects of the night life in Bangkok. We walked into one of the many bars and all sat side by side, laughing and joking, all eagerly facing the semi-naked dancers on stage. A couple of us were commenting on how hot some of the chicks were when one of the other fella’s whispered, “Dude… I think these are dudes.” We quickly asked our host what the story was and within the blink of an eye we were on the move straight out the door. Although none of us admitted it at the time, some of those Lady Boys were just extremely good looking. I was honestly frightened at the idea that I could be fooled like that. Even when they were stripped down to their knickers!!!
That being said, it is understandable I guess, that Gonzo made the grave blunder and hooked up with a Lady Boy at JJ’s. Right now he is grieving at home and refuses to come hang out. I tried to get him to come to the pool competition last night but he down right declined. So what if it was dark and he shared a few drinks with her/him? So what if they moved to the sofa’s in the back and made out a bit? So what he let her/him rub his cock a bit? So what if he grabbed a hold of some titties as well? Things just took a horrible turn when she/he was sitting on Gonzo’s lap facing him and he felt something hard against his belly…
Shit happens brother Gonz. Get over it and put that night behind you. Better you found out sooner than later right? At least you did not get into her BMW and go home with her like she wanted you to. And life goes on.
On an even sadder note, we lost the competition last night and there will be no more Wednesday pool night till next month. I was home before 1 am! I am going to have to find some new recreation now. Put’s and Surri, you have both been signed up to play with the Fez Bastard’s (our new team) next month.
*The above is entirely fictional. The people do not exist but the places do.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Kono Pizza
For the last few weeks, for two months in fact, there have been banners, flyers, posters, and sign boards all over Kelapa Gading, announcing the opening of KONO PIZZA on the 2nd floor of KGM 3. The proprietors of Kono Pizza also happen to own Cinnzeo, a cinnamon bun joint on the ground floor of KGM 3 that really is quite good. In addition they own Hot Shots which is a burger place located in La Piazza, also in Kelapa Gading. Hot Shots in my opinion serves up one of the best burgers in town and they also have beverages such as Sarsaparilla and Portello. And yes boys, it takes just like the one we used to get in Tesano Club.
With the entire buzz going on about Kono Pizza I finally made up my mind to head there for lunch today. At first I thought this would be some sort a Japanese twist on pizza but once I saw the banners up close I realized that these people were putting pizzas into cones. The idea did seem strange to me but I had to give it a shot. Pizza is my most favorite food and this could be a culinary revolution
I just got back from lunch. What the fuck were they thinking!!?? Pizza in a cone makes as much sense as ice cream spread out flat on a plate, is how my sister put it. I’m sorry, but this just did not work for me. There seemed to be a general flow of people coming in while I was there but I am sure once the novelty is gone this place will fade away. But then again, stranger things have worked in this country. I thought this might just taste like a pizza folding half but it was not like that at all.
Have you ever heard of this place? I am pretty sure this is a franchise as the kitchen equipment was customized. The cones which are just made of dough are placed in a cone shaped holder where they are filled with whatever filling you order. They then go around in an assembly line manner, through holes in a big metal stove and come out hot and steamy on the other end. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the KONO PIZZA!!
With the entire buzz going on about Kono Pizza I finally made up my mind to head there for lunch today. At first I thought this would be some sort a Japanese twist on pizza but once I saw the banners up close I realized that these people were putting pizzas into cones. The idea did seem strange to me but I had to give it a shot. Pizza is my most favorite food and this could be a culinary revolution
I just got back from lunch. What the fuck were they thinking!!?? Pizza in a cone makes as much sense as ice cream spread out flat on a plate, is how my sister put it. I’m sorry, but this just did not work for me. There seemed to be a general flow of people coming in while I was there but I am sure once the novelty is gone this place will fade away. But then again, stranger things have worked in this country. I thought this might just taste like a pizza folding half but it was not like that at all.
Have you ever heard of this place? I am pretty sure this is a franchise as the kitchen equipment was customized. The cones which are just made of dough are placed in a cone shaped holder where they are filled with whatever filling you order. They then go around in an assembly line manner, through holes in a big metal stove and come out hot and steamy on the other end. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the KONO PIZZA!!
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