Rudolf Dethu

Belgian Beer: Brewed Force

As well as having a good claim to brew the best beer in the world, Belgium is also home to the world’s biggest brewer. Anheuser-Busch (AB) InBev, based in Leuven, a small university town half an hour by train from Brussels, turns out one in five of every beer sold around the world. Across the road from head office, the ultra-modern Stella Artois brewery pumps out one of the firm’s best-known international brands.

Big Durian and Jason Tedjasukmana

When it comes to the person who should be asked about hot spots in the Big Durian, Jason is definitely the one, having lived in Jakarta since the late 90s. He has worked as a presenter on national TV, a correspondent for Time Asia, and many different international travel magazines, and has been the President of Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club since 2008 till today. Having visited lots of places and met many people, Jason knows Jakarta like the back of his hand.

Localista

Brand new and already making a splash in Ubud, Localista is the place to get great espresso coffee and a mouth-watering selection of cupcakes. If cappuccino isn’t your thing, there is a selection of special teas, juices and lassies, quiches and croissants, and legendary Gaya gelato.

Rock-n-Roll Exhibition: DJUNDI PRAKASHA

Edition: October 19, 2011

Rock-n-Roll-Exhibition: DJUNDI PRAKASHA
U2 and I: My U224

:: Playlist, intro, song descriptions, and photos, handpicked and written by Djundi Himself ::

It was the Live Aid concert 1985 which started my love for this band. It wasn’t the first time that I had heard about U2, but it was this show that made me fall in love with this group from Ireland.

Craziness, that is how some people may describe my love of this band, but this love and craziness which I have is only the start of it. Because of my love of this band I have travelled almost around the world just to see their shows. Up to now I have seen U2 16 times since my first show in Stuttgart in 1993 to my last time in Perth 2010. The last six shows were in my playground: the front row of the concert.

Chicago in 2005, the Vertigo tour was like a blessing to me, a true gift. I am not saying that I am ungrateful for all the other times I have seen them but at this show I got the chance to get my picture taken with Bono. From what I remember, I shouted to him, “Bono, please can I have my picture taken with you. I am your fan from Indonesia and have come to Chicago just to celebrate your birthday.” I hadn’t noticed but Bono was looking at me and said “Really? Sure. Here.” Damn, I was speechless after that moment. It was a dream come true after all the years and miles of following them. I am also on the DVD deluxe version of this concert—even if only for a second and you have to press pause to find me but, hey, I was there in U2 DVD history!

Still the Vertigo tour 2006 and I was in Melbourne. I got the chance to shake hands with all of the band and got all their signatures on my U218 deluxe album alsoAI got the chance to have a photo with the founding father of U2, Larry Mullen Jr.

In Perth, December 2010, I think I was the only one who got a setlist from both nights and also got a photograph with the U2 stage manager Rocko Reddy.

If I start talking about my U2 collection it will be a very long story. Instead just come to my U2 bar in Bandung and let me tell you and show you some of my U2 collection.

My love of U2 doesn’t just stop at collecting and going to shows but also in seeing locations connected to them. I have been to Dublin twice and stayed a night in the Clarence hotel (own by Bono and the Edge). I took photos outside of Bono’s and Larry’s houses. I would like to see more than just the sites in Dublin though, places such as Eze, The Million Dollar Hotel and Sun Studio etc……

Here we are – this is my U2 play list, to all of you who love U2, or doesn’t.

Radio streaming live: http://army.wavestreamer.com:6356/listen.pls

Mo' Mohawk, Mo' Mohican

Sebagian sejawat pasti amat kenal grup musik The Exploited. Benar, kontingen asal Edinburgh, Skotlandia, tersebut merupakan entitas yang amat disegani hingga kini dan sering disebut sebagai salah satu pionir Punk Rock. Oleh penganut “sekte” Street Punk, gaya rambut sang vokalis, Wattie Buchan, bak dijadikan identitas resmi, simbol paling sahih.

Lalu band-band dengan kadar ekstrem setingkat, bak terbawa arus. Sebut saja misalnya The Casualties dan projek sampingan gitaris Rancid, Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards.

Apa julukan rambut bak cendrawasih itu? Di Amerika disebut Mohawk. Sementara di Inggris lebih dikenal dengan Mohican.

Fedora-O-Rama

Jika menyebut nama Slash, selain rambut keriting serta kepiawaiannya bergitar, apa yang paling benderang kita ingat dari dia? Topinya, tentu. Begitu juga The Blues Brothers serta Brian Johnson biduan AC/DC, sama sebangun, segendang sepenarian, ciri khas mereka ada pada aksesori yang dikenakan di kepalanya.

Cuman, giliran ditanyain penutup kepala nan panjang yang gemar dipakai oleh pria bernama asli Saul Hudson itu tepatnya bernama apa, saya berani jamin pasti sebagian besar dari anda bakal bengong kebingungan. Hey, sebutan tepatnya adalah “Top Hatâ€. Sementara topi khas The Blues Brothers dikenal dengan “Fedoraâ€.

Apa Kabar CBGB

Foto kiri: Patti Smith saat CBGB ditutup pada 15 Oktober 2006

CBGB memang sudah tutup usia pada 2006. Klub legendaris tersebut, menurut sang pendiri, Hilly Kristal, rencananya dipindah ke Las Vegas. Tapi dia keburu meninggal. Saya kurang tau apa akhirnya jadi dipindah ke Vegas apa tidak (maybe you guys know?).

Namun tepat di lokasi dimana CBGB dulu berada, 315 Bowery, Bleecker Street, Manhattan, New York City; sekarang sudah diambil alih oleh John Varvatos, salah satu desainer pakaian terpanas di Amrik saat ini—yang belakangan juga nyumbang rancangannya untuk Converse kelas premium (dengan label: Converse by John Varvatos) yang tentu saja harganya lebih mahal dari biasanya.

Pompadour d’Amour

Jika belakangan ini anda berkunjung ke Bali anda pasti akan cukup sering berpapasan dengan anak muda yang menyisir klimis rambutnya, pekat mengingatkan pada gaya rambut Elvis Presley atau para personel Stray Cats, atau konseptor Social Distortion, Mike Ness. Tahukah anda bahwa gaya rambut—yang juga sempat dipakai sebagai identitas khas oleh The Changcuters—itu memiliki sebutan spesifik bertajuk Pompadour?

Cannes, Mix and Mismatch

Berikut saya sisipkan beberapa foto para The Beautiful People saat menghadiri festival film Cannes dari tahun ke tahun. Artikel ini dipinjam dari men.style.com (portal virtual untuk majalah pria Details & GQ). Menurut men.style.com festival film Cannes tak melulu tentang motion picture an sich, tapi juga tentang sang bintang beserta busananya…

Manic-ass Men Tempeh

Berikut adalah tulisan tentang Men Tempeh yang tadinya hendak saya sertakan di Bali A to Z part 3. Cuman karena projek tulisan itu (sudah mulai ditulis sejak pertengahan 2007) masih tertunda hingga detik ini, biar gak basi, salah satu topik bahasannya, Men Tempeh, tak share aja dah. Mind you, saat tulisan ini dibuat, Men Tempeh sedang dalam transisi dari sekadar “warung makan” (pretty much uncivilized) naik pangkat menjadi “restoran” (civilized, most likely). Sekarang sih Men Tempeh sudah lumayan flashy (should I say, tackily flashy? Ada gak bahasa Inggris seperti itu? Hiks).

Yeah, it’s still a bit tacky. Tapi persetanlah, yang penting makanannya—meniru gaya Enny Arrow—enaakhsss…