January Warmed Up Leftovers1. Ya-Udah returns to Central JakartaHabituees of Jalan Jaksa who enjoyed the ambiance of Ya Udah Bistro, with its excellent westernised food at reasonable prices and cold Bintangs at just above supermarket cost, mourned its closure last year. All kinds of scurrilous gossip about ex-Governor Sooty landgrabbing so that the giant hypermarket Carrefour could be plonked on the empty site proved wrong. Thankfully.
Pedro, the master chef-entrepreneur, opened up a branch on the floodplain of Kelapa Gading, an inconvenience to we regulars. And the previous location remains forlornly for rent or sale.
I am therefore more than pleased to report that a new Ya-Udah opened on Saturday a short walk from the bottom end of Jaksa. Following a Dave Jardine social quiz on Sunday at the pleasant Jaksa watering hole of Cocktails and Friends, which, incidentally, has a jazzy choice of sounds, we adjourned to Jalan Johar No.15, Gondangdia Menteng, Central Jakarta
(tel: (+62 21) 390 9010 & 314 0343 - SMS: 0811982587).
Whilst the traffic noise is more intrusive than before and one cannot observe passing backpackers, I am pleased to report that our meals - buffalo wings, weiner schnitzel and your correspondent's spaghetti carbonera - were as good as ever.
I look forward to Our Kid and I resuming our regular monthly repasts.
2. I subscribe to the
Wild Asia monthly newsletter, which g
oes out to over 18,000 people worldwide. Keeping you connected to help promote the conservation of wild places in Asia - for people, nature and the environment.Based in Kuala Lumpur, the group's advocacy of environmental and social sustainability in tourism is mainly focussed on Malaysia. I don't know of a similar Indonesian NGO, but would be more than willing to give a permanent link to such a group.
3. I have given a permanent link to
PJ Bali, an expat in the oil industry who is a frequent visitor to Jakartass. Much of what he writes is too technical for butterfingers like me, but it is another facet of expat life here.
4. Another fairly technical blog may be of more interest to readers. Houw Liong The has left a comment saying that his blog,
Sanstecknologi - say it quickly and even if you only speak English you'll know what his blog is about - has long and short range Jakarta flood predictions.
I'm sure that HLT won't be surprised to know that most Jakartans can also predict floods. They occur when it rains and at high tides.
5. The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is being held on the 6th, 7th and 8th March at the Jakarta Convention Center.
This year, Java Festival Production plans to feature, among few, Jason Mraz, Brian McKnight, Swing Out Sister, New York Voices, Ivan Lins, Matt Bianco, Isao Suzuki, Mike Stern, Oleta Adams, Peabo Bryson, David Garfield, Chieli Minucci & the Special EFX and Ron King Big Band.
We've seen Mike Stern a few times over the years. I do wonder though why he always focusses on 'Er Indoors whilst playing.
Anyway, according to What's New Jakarta, "attending the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is a part of a lifestyle."
Lifestyles of the rich and vacuous no doubt.
6. Finally, may I offer a gentle reminder that I've reopened
Thoughts Outside The Indonesian Box and invite all of you to contribute political manifestos before this year's elections.
This invitation is particularly extended to local politicos because you/they have significantly failed to offer any kind of vision. And if you/they can't, then let us say, yes
we can.
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