x

The KHO News is published monthly free for our friends of Bali 1/12/06 AUD=Rp6900 USD=Rp9200  December 2006 Another year passes and what a great year it was. It began with John & Jamal heading off with our favourite discount airline, AirAsia to Malaysia and Thailand where we visited Kuala Lumpur, Phuket Town, Patong Beach, Surathani, Ko Samui and Hat Yai before returning by train to KL.... page 2 Departing Denpasar Jan 2006 Fri Dec 1 @22:01: a 6.3 earthquake occurred near Raba, Sumbawa, 403 km from the KHO, Denpasar, Bali. We were alerted by the KHO Earthquake alarm which rang continuously for 2 minutes.  Although we could feel nothing, the dining room lamp was rocking side to side. We checked with Ines, she felt something, but thought it was the cocktails she had before. One person was killed and many houses were damaged. Garuda Folly Last month Garuda announced from May 2007, they would no longer fly internationally to Bali, all flights would terminate in Jakarta. The Bali tourist industry went ballistic saying no one would want to fly Australia to Jakarta and then have to fly domestic to Bali taking upwards of 10 hrs when they could fly direct in 5½ hrs. Later a Garuda spokesman renounced the idea. Apology We apologize that there was no November edition of the KHO News. John was on assignment in Australia.

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 2

The Previous December Air Paradise ceased operations and John lost his return ticket to Melbourne. He was left high and dry, like thousands of others. So at the end of our Jan holiday, Jamal returned to Bali alone and John began his "air plane hitch hike" to  Melbourne. First by bus to Singapore, Tiger Airways to Darwin, where he was looked after by Pete & Liz.  Pete & Liz Then by Virgin Airlines on to Brisbane, then finally to Melbourne. John was out-of-pocket over $600. Recently Air Paradise announced they will recommence flying to Australia. Will be interesting to see how they overcome the bad will they have created in Australia amongst the public & travel agents. Ines, Rob & Win enjoy Nyepi March we celebrated Nyepi (Balinese New Year) The day of silence. Nyepi Eve, the Ogoh-Ogoh procession left from Warung Sobat for the beach after which we adjourned for a celebration dinner. Batu Belig kids, Ogoh-Ogoh (back) Pak Made's sons (left & right of John) and Jamal celebrate Nyepi April, Kutut, Pak Made's wife's younger brother and Sobat waitress Ayu married. Ayu and Ketut - Married Later: Pak Made celebrated his 41st birthday with a gala bash at Warung Sobat. Pak Made & Ines May: A 6.3 earthquake devastates the city of Yogyakarta in Java. The death toll has now risen to over 5,700 & more than 20,000 injured. Yogyakarta Devastation  Then Mt Merapi 25 km from Yogyakarta erupted. July: John's mum Nancy celebrated her 87th birthday. Her ambition is to live to 100, so she can get a telegram from the Queen. Also in July Malcolm. Robert's brother from Sydney dropped in with 24 kilograms of Gravox. Malcolm and John August: Indonesia grinds to a halt for the Soccer World Cup. John even got interested  when Australia played. John celebrates his 62nd birthday by nursing a baby.

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 3

September: Rob and Wiwin fly to Sydney to buy even more Gravox. John and Jamal Holiday in Kuching Jamal celebrates his 40th birthday with 2 parties, first in Warung Sobat and then in Padangbai. Idul Fitri Bali Oct 30: Like most of  Indonesia the KHO was closed for the Idul Fitri holidays, Jamal travelled to Bandung to visit his family and John went to Australia for 3 weeks.  Idul Fitri is Indonesia's largest holiday of the year, and follows the fasting month of Ramadan, the country virtually closing down for 2 weeks. This year Idul Fitri occurred on October 24. The holiday is celebrated by people returning home to their families, the traffic becomes a nightmare with buses trains and inter-island ships packed like sardines. Airlines run hundreds of extra flights, standing is not allowed in aircraft. On Idul Fitri day every one drops by to wish each other all the best, and to apologize for any wrong doing in the past year with the phrase "Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin". Gifts are given and families join together for a special meal, most often featuring Nasi Kuning (yellow rice) Bali: Many ex-pats in Bali last month got a shock when they went to extend their one year Multiple Entry Business Visa, to find out it can longer be done and they must leave the country after 2 months stay. Previously each entry on the visa permitted one to stay 2 months, then by applying to immigration the visa could be extended each month up until a total stay of 6 months, then one had to leave the country and return to do another 6 months. Indonesian Visa's The most commonly used visa is the tourist Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) There are 2 available a 7 day UD$10 and a 30 day US$25 visa. The facility is available to citizens of 37 countries, including the USA, UK and Australia. Check your local Indonesian delegation website for eligible countries. If you are not a citizen one of the 37 countries you must obtain a single entry Tourist Visa before you arrive in Indonesia. Other Visa's Social-Culture Visa - 2 months extendable to 6 months. Temporary Stay Visa (VTAS). Single and multiple entry business visa. Bali Kitchen Hints Here are a couple helpful tips for surviving in your Bali kitchen. Sticky Salt Shaker Due to the high humidity, salt always goes solid in the salt shaker, no amount of banging will free it. Solution: add some rice to the salt when you re-fill the shaker. Flour Weevils and Bugs Indonesian flour is notorious for  weevils and bugs. Solution: place some bay leaves in the bottom of your flour container.

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 4

John's brother Ross and his daughter Renee, Bali bound on QF143 Bali Nov: John's younger brother Ross and his daughter Renee arrived in Bali mid-November. It was their first time overseas and to Bali. Ross and Renee visited with us for two weeks. After a welcome dinner at Warung Sobat we went to Padangbai for two nights, from there by slow ship to Lombok, where they spent a night in Ampenan and 2 nights in Gili Trawangan. Later they visited Ubud and Bedugul. The rest of the time was spent shopping. Flying to Bali, Renee got this great shot of Uluru Ayers Rock Ross and Renee flew on one of the last Qantas flight to Bali. The airline will cease flying to Bali when subsidiary JetStar commences operations in December. Welcome Music at the KHO John & Ross at the KHO Beach Cruising in the KHO Jeep Sunset from the KHO Balcony At Padangbai Dede, Ross, Onney & Erna Ross, Renee, Jamal, his brother Dadan, nephew Dede and John spent 2 nights in Padangbai. Leo, Erna from Holland and KHO news personality, Ines joined us for the Saturday night.  INES COCKTAIL PARTY Ines supplied cocktails and snacks. Hostess Ines with Erna

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 5

Jamal, Oney, Dede and Dadan Ross dreaming of Colonial Days Jamal having a good time "Do I want a cork what?" DINNER AT PADANGBAI Dinner beachside Dede, John, Dadan & Jamal Renee with the Warung staff KINKY BAR The Kinky Bar Band Ines drank so much her chair Collapsed PADANGBAI DEMOLITION Sadly this is the last time we will ever eat at the beach warung and enjoy Kinky Bar at Padangbai.  The local authorities have decided in their infinite wisdom that bar's and warungs on the beach are an eyesore and they all must go. Maybe they will re-think it when the tourist number decline, but as usual, that will be too late. Off to Lombok Ross gets his sea legs

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 6

The Dolphins put on a show Lembar Harbour Lombok Peanut vendors board our ship Losman Pabean Ampenan With Ahin - Cirebon Restaurant Feeding Monkeys on the way to Bangsal Port Drinks at Gili Trawangan John & old friend Luke Amang and Ross Renee at Rudy's Swimming at Trawangan Ross enjoys a Coconut Dede in Ampenan

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 7

Ampenan Horsecart After a nice lunch at the famed Cirebon Chinese restaurant in Ampenan, Onney took Ross and Renee on a tour of Lombok, visiting the Narmada Water Palace. Renee meets some local kids   See a Street Band That evening we took the last Folker Friendship 20 minute flight back to Bali. We took off during a thunderstorm and downpour, the classic old F-27 handled it easily. Ross & Renee at "Misty Mountain" - note the north Bali shoreline Next and last adventure was to travel up to Bedugul to Rob and Win's country retreat. "Misty Mountain" overlooking Singaraja from an altitude of over 4,000 ft. for a great dinner cooked by Wiwin and an overnight stay. House overlooking the view Ross discovers his fingers are larger than Balinese Banana's

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 8

The new Southern Cross Railway Station in Melbourne John Visits Melbourne Early October John flew to Melbourne with QANTAS for three weeks to visit his 87 year old mum, family, friends and to apply at the Indonesian Consulate for new Social Visa for a further six month stay in Indonesia. During the time he travelled to hometown Leongatha twice and then to  Bendigo to visit friends Ian and Mandy, both times passing through the yet to be completed new Southern Cross railway station. John's mum Nancy came to Melbourne for 2 days and stayed with John at Denny and Bradley's house. She got to meet her new granddaughter and other family at a special lunch in Northcote. Old Melbourne John at Flinders Street Station One of the few familiar sights left in Melbourne, Flinders Street Station. The station was built between 1901 and 1910 and was designed by two railway employees  J. W. Fawcett and H. P. C. Ashworth, who won a £500 prize for the design. "Meet You Under the Clocks" A phrase known to all Melbournians, meaning under the clocks at Flinders Street Station. Inside the Flinders Street Station Dome Flinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban rail network of Melbourne. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city blocks. Each weekday, approximately 105,000 commuters and 1,500 trains pass through it.

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 9

Modern Melbourne Eureka Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in the Southern Hemisphere, and the second tallest residential building in the world. Construction began in August 2002 and the exterior completed on June 1, 2006. The plaza was finished in June 2006. The building was officially opened by by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks on October 11, 2006. The Summit levels, floors 82 to 86 and 90 to 92, contain only four apartments per floor: each apartment has a price tag of 7 million AUD.  The observation deck (Skydeck) is situated on the 88th floor and is the highest public vantage point (285m/935ft) in the southern hemisphere. Ian's Recording Studio Takes Shape Ian Outside the New Studio Friend Ian in Bendigo is building a recording studio next to his home in Bendigo,140km from Melbourne. The Interior Ian will soon start work building the interior which will consist of an air-conditioned control room, equipment room, galley and the main sound proofed studio. Flight Report Oct 6: QF 144 DPS - MEL This was the return leg of an Australian Airlines ticket I purchased in January. Australian Airlines ceased operations in June and I was transferred to a Qantas Flight operating the same schedule. QANTAS 767 I was surprised to see the cabin staff were Australian Airlines, on closer inspection of my boarding pass it said "QF 144 operated for Qantas by Australian Airlines" The flight left on time at 23:50 after a body search of all the passengers by Qantas Security staff. As readers will know we are often critical of Qantas, however this flight was perfect, I had a nice aisle seat and the food was excellent.  We arrived on schedule in Melbourne at 06:10. Oct 6: QF 143 MEL- DPS The return flight to Denpasar departed on time at 08:40 and I had a good aisle seat.  After takeoff, breakfast was served. A Continental or a Hot Breakfast, I opted for the Hot Breakfast. It was terrible, dried up egg, gunk they called hash browns and a tiny sausage, a small orange juice, a bowl with 7 small pieces of mixed melon and a long bun that was dry, stale and inedible. Will We Pay $17 for This? One could not help thinking about the new JetStar service that will replace the Qantas flights to Bali. If we have to pay $17 extra  for meal like that, I would definitely want my money back. We will see!

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 10

KHO House News New Fairy Lights Another import from Australia some new fairy lights on the palm in the terrace area at the KHO. New Tv in Main Bedroom We have just installed a brand new LG 15" square flat screen Tv in the main KHO bedroom. the old set being delegated to the third bedroom which previously did not have a Tv. All three bedrooms now have Tv's with local Tv + satellite and DVD feeds. New Curtains We have installed a new curtain at the kitchen passage entrance from the dining room.  These can be closed when having a dinner party so the guests cannot hear the chief screaming blue murder in the kitchen. Donations KHO News Personality Ms Ines has had a big cleanup of her computer junk she had collected over the years. She donated a  SanDisk 2 card reader and writer, an old Epsom printer and other sundry profiteroles to the KHO. Thank you Ines, most welcome. New Centre Light The KHO Fountain has a new centre LED lamp. Sold as a LED car brake lamp KHO engineers installed

Kerobokan Home Office News - December 2006

Page 11

it in an old mayonnaise bottle for waterproofing then mounted it underwater in the KHO Fountain. Batik Framed Ms Win from Wiwin's Farm Bedugul donated to the KHO some wonderful examples of Javanese Batik in  traditional styles that go back hundreds of years. Six of the most classic were framed and mounted in KHO bedroom three. Snow Peas Galore Wiwin's farm in Bedugul has just produced it's first crop of Jumbo Snow Peas. Here Ms Win tries some of her produce. Ms Win was quoted as saying at The Big Pea-athon launch at the Badung Market Grand Hotel "They are unbelievably big and sweet too!".  Many Bali restaurants eagerly bought the new snow peas, previously unavailable in Bali. We Try Jumbo Snow Peas Wiwin's Farm presented 2Kg of Jumbo Snow Peas to the KHO kitchen for a trial. Chef Perut-besar searched the world of Google for recipes. See the next column. KHO Staff Jamal, Dede & Dadan, sample Ms Wiwin's Jumbo Snow Peas. All agreed enak sekali. (taste nice) KHO Snow Pea Recipe Ingredients - Serves 6 1/2 kg Jumbo Snow Peas 1 Tbl Spn French Butter 1/2 Tsp Salt 1 Tbl Spn Soy Sauce 1/2 Tbl Spn Sesame Seed Oil 4-6 Crushed Garlic 1/2 cup  Chicken Stock Fry in butter the garlic for a few seconds add salt, then Ms Wiwins Jumbo Snow peas. Stir fry for 1 minute. Add soy sauce and stir fry for another minute. Add Sesame Seed oil stir fry a further 15 seconds then add chicken stock, cook for a further 15 secs & serve. Trenton Has Pups John's nephew Trenton's dog  Jenny, recently had 3 pups. Trenton was on the phone immediately to tell us. He actually sounded more excited than when he had his daughter Alice. Jenny and Pups Alice - loves her new brothers and sister

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 Check Past Editions Copyright ©2006 The Kerobokan Home Office