KHO News - May 2005

The KHO News is published monthly

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Email: jbsymons@indo.net.id

May 2005

The Manager of Matahari Department store Kuta, Mr Sun, has announced the cancellation of the annual May Sale this year.

Mr Sun said it was due to an apparently wealthy duo, Ms Bev and Ms Georgia from Leongatha, Victoria, Australia who virtually stripped the store of stock on their recent shopping spree to Bali. Manager Sun said "If only we knew they were coming, we would have ordered in more stock"

he went on to say, "it was just like the old days when Australians threw money around like no tomorrow, I wish more people like that would come to Bali." - Mr Sun asked us if we knew where Leongatha is - John filled him in!! "There must be a lot of rich people there" he said.

The shopping duo spot yet another bargain in the window of Matahari Dept. Store, Kuta.

Don't be Superstitious

About Earthquakes

Says Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, known in Indonesia as SBY.

Speaking to participants of a national meeting of the Family Welfare Movement at the State Palace, Yudhoyono said he had received

many text messages on his phone requesting him to slaughter at least 1,000 goats as an offering to prevent more natural disasters.

He said all the quakes and other natural disasters could be explained scientifically based on the movements of the earth's crust. "It is better I spend my time

organizing relief and aid rather than ordering a mass goat sacrifice. Therefore, don't be superstitious."

Rupiah Rp7,600=A$

The indonesian rupiah suffered downward pressure at the end of April and hit 7,600/A$1 on April 26 due to foreign debt repayments.

W. Sobat to Close

Warung Sobat will close sometime in the near future for renovations. Work has already started building a bar. Later a new kitchen will be build further to the back and the current kitchen will become extra dining area. Pak Made hopes to keep the restaurant open as long as possible during the renovations. However he will have to close to demolish the old roof and build a new one over the entire restaurant and kitchen area. We hope to bring you photos next month.

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 2

April 24: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono leads Asia-Africa leaders to the Merdeka Building, Bandung, where the first 1955 Conference took place.

Last month, April 22-24. Indonesia hosted one of the biggest gatherings of world leaders outside of the United Nations. The Asia-Africa Conference was first held 1955 in Jamal's hometown of Bandung, West Java.

It was a landmark meeting where the Third World sought to assert itself for the first time. One aim of the meetings is to commemorate the conference in Bandung 50 yrs ago. The 1955 conference was the first world summit that gathered former colonized Asian & African nations

Indonesia's President Sukarno hosted the first Asia-Africa Conference 1955

together. A total of 29 countries attended that event, which led to the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961

The Merdeka Building, Bandung hosted the first Asia-Africa Conference in 1955.

Jakarta Summit

This years Summit in Jakarta was an opportunity to close a gap in global relations and boost economic and trade ties between the two continents, building on the "Bandung spirit" of solidarity by creating something tangible. More than 106 nations sent representatives, including observers from countries such as the United States and Russia. Over 60 heads of government attended. Other notable attendees include United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

YES!, you and your family could win an afternoon tour of the KHO in Bali, followed by afternoon tea and cocktails.

Actually get to meet and talk to KHO's John & Jamal live, in person.

You will get to see a demonstration of the award winning KHO Earthquake Detector.

Hear the talking bathroom-talk

Witness a Bali power failure and appreciate KHO Emergency Power.

PLUS LOTS, LOTS, MORE!

QUESTION

What kind of aircraft was the British R101, built in 1929 and crashed in 1930?

KHO News next month will feature a story on the amazing R101.

Email your answer now

CLICK HERE

Note: The Judges decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into.

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 3

Indonesia's Special Forces (Kopassus) kick up their heels

during an exhibition to mark the force's 53rd anniversary.

Kopussus to Storm NYC

KHO EXCLUSIVE: Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) have been booked to appear at Radio City Music Hall, New York to replace the Rocketts during their annual holidays. Known as the KORPUSETTES, they will kick their way to normalization of relations with the US and entertain thousands of little children during the annual Christmas Show.

Rockettes on Holidays

Friends Hamdani and wife Jo have opened a new BBQ restaurant in Cakranegara, Mataram, Lombok featuring Japanese and Western food.

Jo is from Japan and cooks these authentic Japanese dishes.

Jo is also an expert western cook and serves these dishes, Beefsteak, Tuna Steak & Benoa steak. Yum!

It's a boy!

Jo and Hamdani recently had a son, Danny. Danny said "I can't eat the restaurant food yet, but is smells great, you must come and try"

The restaurant is only a 20 minute drive from the Sengigi tourist area on Lombok. Well worth a try, would make a nice lunch time excursion to see some local colour in Cakranega.

For directions for your taxi driver telephone Lombok (0370) 63 9698. Tell them you read about their place in the KHO news and you will be treated like an emperor.

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 4

Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, December 17, 1903.

April 27, Just 101 yrs, after the historic first flight, by Wilbur and Orville Wright, the gigantic new Airbus A 380 took

Wilbur & Orville

off on its maiden flight from Toulouse in France flown by test pilots Jacques Rosay and Claude Lelaie.

Jacques & Claude

The A380 crew were ecstatic about the aircraft's performance. "You handle it as you handle a bicycle. It's very, very easy to fly," said chief test pilot Jacques Rosay. Interesting to note that the Wright Bros. ran a bicycle shop.

A380 lines up for maiden flight

The Airbus A380 has a wingspan of 260 ft, is 80 ft tall and 240 ft long, that's twice the length of the Wright Bros. first flight of 120 ft. In fact the airbus fuselage is so tall the Wright Bros. could have done their first flight inside the A380.

Denny's Folks in Aus.

Denny in Melbourne recently had his parents visit from South Africa. They were originally from Zimbabwe,

they moved to South Africa after Zimbabwe gained independence.

Marion & Des in Melbourne

While they were in Melbourne they travelled up to Leongatha for lunch and meet John's mother, Nancy.

A cup of tea with Nancy

Marion, Nancy, Bradley & Des Bush walking in Leongatha

While in Australia, Denny's parents also visited Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Des & Marion at the Canberra War Memorial.

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 5

Bali: Our friend, architect and master builder, Wiwin, is at it again.

This time she is building a luxury hideaway, literally in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by stunning mountain and sea views.

Hide-Away 60km from KHO

The property of over one hectare is over 3000 ft up in the Bedugul mountains over looking Singaraja and the north Bali sea.

Looking Seaward

Gala Celebration

To celebrate the first cement pour a group of Kuta identities were invited to a picnic at the secret location for the ceremony.

Freezing Bedugul

We stayed the night in Bedugul at Buyan Resort to prepare for the jungle treck to the new villa property. Wiwin served BBQ steak, the best steak I've ever had in Bali. Fortunately we had an open fire as during the night the temperature plummeted to a low 5oC.

Yes! an open fire in Bali

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 6

Jamal enjoying BBQ Steak

Jamal and I were up at the crack of dawn for a round of golf, before the arduous jungle treck.

Jamal & John play morning golf

Off to the Jungle

KHO Jeep at the Jungle site

After arrival we toured the project. The villa will be fantastic, two storeys following the steep decline.

Project Foreman Beker

The villa will have three bedrooms, kitchen, huge dining room and lounge area. The view is magnificent, the mountains ever changing as the clouds make shadows slowly drifting across.

Architect/Builder Wiwin briefs the workers on cement stress

The building was blessed with Ines performing the inaugural stroke with a wood plane.

Some of the gang

Wiwin served a fantastic Chicken BBQ lunch, cooked on the new Webber USA imported BBQ.

Enjoying the BBQ

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 7

We returned from the Jungle and spent another night in Begugul, this time at the once glamorous ASHRAM hotel, on the edge of the main Bedugul lake, Lake Bratan.

The Ashram Hotel overlooking Lake Bratan, Bedugul

Ashram Hotel - the main block

Our room with-a-view

All rooms feature hot water - essential in the mountain altitudes.

The Ashram Hotel Restaurant

The trusty KHO Jeep made easy work of the 3000ft above sea level climb to Bedugul.

Jamal & handphone at Ashram

Nearby boat ramp

New KHO Subscribers

Erik and Chantal at W. Sobat

Frequent visitors Erik and Chantal from Holland have just been in Bali again, while they were here they subscribed to the KHO News.

Rodrigo Krista & Jamal at KHO

New friends, also from Holland, Rodrigo and Krista we met in Bedugal have also subscribed to the KHO News. Welcome all.

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 8

From last month, we continue Trenton & Danielle's trip to Bali and Lombok.

Lombok Taxi

From Danielle: This was all so exciting for me, I had never been overseas before, everything was so different in Bali from home in

Australia. We travelled down to Padangbai with John & Jamal in

the KHO jeep, what an experience. After we arrived we had a big surprise when Onney arrived by ship from Lombok.

Onney arrives

Padangbai Beach

The beach in Padangbai is beautiful, the water is so clean and safe to swim, so cute with the little fishing boats on the shore. We stayed at Kerti Bungalows, so cheap only $5.50 per night including breakfast. After drinks we went to Kerti restaurant for dinner.

Kerti Upstairs Restaurant

The first floor restaurant has a neat view out over the sea and looks great at night with the sea lights.

Trenton & Jamal

Later we went to a small bar on the beach for drinks and dancing.

Padangbai Beach Bar

Next morning we had breakfast and I was fascinated by the boy grinding ice right in front of our room. The hand operated machine looked like it was from the 1800's.

With the Ice Grinding boy

Trenton and I said goodbye to John and Jamal and we headed off on the rusty ferry ship to Lombok with Onney. The trip to Lombok took almost 5 hours, the toilets were something else and the fare was only (A)$2.00, so cheap.

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 9

On board Onney & Trenton

When we arrived in Lombok, John's friend Amang met us and took us to Losman Pabean. John stayed there many times over the past 20 years so they gave us a nice welcome. Even my Grandmother Nancy has stayed there many times. They said to tell Nancy she left some underwear behind last time - they want to know, does she still want them?

Nancy's knickers on-line

We had dinner in the Cerebon restaurant and had an early night.

Next morning we went around the villages and met some locals.

Trenton in the Village

Trenton loved the village, he said, he would like to live there. No way i would live there.

The people are so friendly in Lombok, they are so poor, but they are so happy. I have never seen so many smiling faces.

Even the monkey's smile

New Lombok Friends

We headed out to Gili Trawangan Island, we had such a good time, I only took one photo.

Trenton wanted to buy this house

Sadly it was time to leave Lombok behind and return to Bali. I would love to go back there again, next time I hope we have more time.

With Wiwin at welcome back to Bali dinner

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 10

Monte in Bali

Regular visitor to Bali, Monte from Greenbushes, 15 km north of Bridgetown, 268km south of Perth, Western Australia has been in town recently

married and promoting Blues at getting Bridgetown annual Nov. festival. To be held this year from Fri 11th-Sun 13th Nov 2005.

Monte is an accomplished guitarist and singer and often appears at the 17,000 strong celebration. The Blues at Bridgetown Festival started as a small community run event to promote Bridgetown as a tourist destination gives the avid festival goer a unique music experience.

www.bluesatbridgetown.com

The final concert

Regulars - Screaming Banshees

The Sunday Street Party

Bridgetown is roughly 3 hours drive from Perth, directly using South Western Highway (Route 1) via Bunbury. Located in centre of the Blackwood River Valley which surrounds the town and undulates to the South Coast. Bridgetown is nestled amongst the hills on the banks of the Blackwood River and has the rare combination of old world charm and modern facilities.

Many fine old building have been restored to their former glory, including the post office, old goal, police quarters and "Bridgedale", the home built in

War Memorial

1862 by one of the areas first settlers, John Blechynden.

Bridgetown is the only town given ‘Historic Town’ status by the National Trust of Australia.

Historic Bridgetown

Monte Marries in Java

Monte & new wife Titin at KHO

Mid April Monte Married his fiancé of 3 years, Titin from Banyuwangi, East Java. He is currently trying, so far unsuccessfully, to get his new wife a visitors visa to Australia. Australia doesn't recognize Indonesian marriages so there is almost no hope of him bringing his wife permanently to Australia.

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 11

Another Cheap Eat: Warung Seneng (contented) has recently opened in Banjar Semer, just a few doors up from the well established Globe Café. The restaurant is nicely located on the first floor. The chef previously worked at Partu Jasa Hotel and certainly knows what he is doing, the food is good.

At Seneng, Georgia & Bev take a break from shopping

The warung is cosy and the staff friendly, the menu features: Salads, with Caesar Salad at only Rp15,000, (A$2.14) soups including crab and corn for only Rp 12,000 (A$1.70). Pasta with Bolognaise at Rp 17,000 (A$2.40), Hamburger with the lot at Rp25,000 (A$3.57). Steak Rp 40,000 (A$5.71) Snapper Rp 30,000 (A$4.28) and Fish & Chips at Rp 23,000 (A$3.28). Indonesian food from Rp10,000 (A$1.40) and Pizza from Rp20,000 (A$2.80). There is no wine but they don't mind if you BYO, Beer is Rp 14,000 (A$2) a large bottle, Rp 8,000 ($1.14) small

Jamal enjoys at W Seneng

Ines & Robert - Senenging

Warung Seneng is easy to find, from Seminyak head north on Jl Raya, through the Petitenget traffic lights, second turn left where there are amber flashing lights.

Warung Seneng is certainly not 5 star, however for a pleasant, very inexpensive evening with nice food and a cold beer, we recommend you give it a try. Phone 74 66119

Famous Shopping Duo at KHO

Totally exhilarated from the 9th day of shopping, Georgia and Bev take time out at the KHO to sign the guest book & have a vodka or three.

We often joke that in Bali the major business is not tourism but building. Prices vary from A$75,000 to over a million $'s for a luxury villa.

In Bali land is sold by the ara

100 ara = 1 hectare.

Position	Rupiah/ara	A$/hctr
Kuta	1,000,000,000	14.2 Mill
Petitenget	130,000,000	1.8 Mill
Ubud	100,000,000	1.42 Mill
Canggu	75,000,000	1 Mill

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 12

One of the fateful outcomes of the Boston Tea Party of 1773 was the change in American drinking habits from a nation of tea drinkers to a nation of coffee drinkers. From its humble beginnings in the highlands of Ethiopia, coffee plants are now cultivated around the world between the tropics. There are places that have been found to be particularly favourable for coffee production: Blue Mountains of Jamaica, Kona highlands of Hawaii and some of the rich volcanic soils of the mountains of Indonesia.

And it is there that the great soils and a local inhabitant combine to produce the rarest, and to some tastes finest, as well as the most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak producing no more than 350 kilograms per year.

Coffee is actually a small fruit tree that has lovely, fragrant white flowers that produce green fruits that ripen into red cherries.

Beneath the fruity pulp are found two seeds, round on one side and flat on the other which when dried and roasted are the familiar “beans” we know and love. But in the forests surrounding some of those Indonesian plantations live palm civets, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus , who love the sweet cherry pulp not the interior “beans”.

A Palm Civet (Luwak)

The civets are viverrids, an old world group that includes mongooses and the meerkats. Civets are very like an odd mix of cat, fox and weasel and are very successful generalists eating a variety of small things both animal and vegetable. But the palm civets love those coffee cherries and gorge on the sweet flesh and quickly pass the beans through their digestive track and on out the nether end. And this is where the harvesting of Kopi Luwak begins. The beans are collected from the civet droppings and dried and roasted to produce the rich, complex brew.

Civet Coffee is available on line for around A$56 for a 57 gram bag.

Click Here

The Civet Cat & Sars

Fears that Chinese civet cats may help to spread Sars have lead to thousands of the animals being slaughtered, but they do not seem to have affected demand for a rare coffee harvested with the animals' help in Indonesia.

Unique says Mr Susanto

"Our coffee has a strong taste and an even stronger aroma," Agus Susanto, a Jakarta cafe owner told the Associated Press news agency. He said he was still selling Kopi Luwak, even though China has exterminated thousands of civets in recent years because of an apparent link to the Sars virus. "There are many different kinds of civets in this world The Indonesian ones are different from those in China", said Mr Susanto.

Kerobokan Home Office News

Page 14

At the KHO, many visitors ask "What is the actually the style of your architecture?"

A difficult question to answer, often we would say Reproduction Colonial - but it never seemed quite right. Recently while reading Albert Spear's memoir "Inside the third Reich" we discovered the answer. Mr Speer referred to houses with timber panelled rooms as

STEAMSHIP ARCHITECTURE,

unfortunately in a derogatory way, he was repulsed by the style. However we're not going to let that dissuade us. We are not exactly overly impressed by his designs.

New renovations are on the way - we now have a new course to steer - watch for details in up coming KHO Newsletters.

Steamship Architecture at KHO

Albert Speer

Albert Speer studied architecture at the Munich Institute of Technology and at the Berlin Charlottenburg Institute, he became an architect in 1927.

Adolf Hitler met Speer in 1933 and gave him the task of organizing the 1934 Nuremberg Rally.

Speer circled Nuremberg with hundreds searchlights

Hitler was impressed by Speer's achievements and commissioned the design of the German exhibit at the Paris Exhibition in 1937, the Reich Chancellery in Berlin and the Party Palace in Nuremberg.

Speer's model dome

Hitler checks a model

In February, 1942, Adolf Hitler appointed Speer as Minister of Armaments. A good administrator, Speer considerably raised production levels of armaments. Speer clashed with Heinrich Himmler arguing that concentration camp factories were inefficient and preferred using paid labour in occupied countries.

Speer's Berlin Boulevard

He later claimed that he saved lives because of this policy but his opponents pointed out that this policy had more to do with efficiency than morality. At the end of the Second World War Speer was charged with using slave labour in his production programmes. Speer pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Speer died in 1981.

The KHO is the affectionate name of our house in Bali, this a non - commercial site, to keep our many friends in touch with the local scene. Our aim is to help the local people through promoting tourism. The KHO web site: http://www.geocities.com/jbsymons_2000 If you wish to unsubscribe please email us at:jbsymons@indo.net.id

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