De Leila, A Jakarta Dangdut Gem, Lost And Found!

I was down Gatot Subroto last week ,walking by the Gedung Patra Jasa, and stopped to buy cigarettes in the minimarket which all large office-buildings here have, usually secreted in their basement level.

=

Gatot Subroto – it’s often quicker to walk than rely on motorised transport!

=

Many years ago, when I was new to Jakarta, I’d stumbled upon De Leila, a dimly-lit night-spot where dangdut music was the main entertainment.

Time passed and it’s been several years since last I entered its portals, so naturally I was curious to see if it was still thriving.

It wasn’t!

To exacerbate my chagrin, in the area De Leila had once occupied, what should I see but a Starbucks outlet…

=

Jangan Ke Starbucks Lagi! Tolak ‘Gay’ Marriage! (Bahasa Inggris/Bahasa Indonesia) 

… somewhere I would never willingly enter!

Disappointed, I went on my way, but was still inquisitive about when De Leila had closed down.

It hasn’t!

Thanks to that amazingly useful site, Jakarta 100 Bars, I can report that it’s moved.

=

• De Leila (Arabic Nightclub) – FX Sudirman | Jakarta100bars Nightlife

FX Sudirman is where it’s now at, but if that bar-site is to be believed, and I have never found it unreliable, the clientele, which was very mixed, though with a significant proportion of Arabs, now overwhelmingly caters for the Mid-East crowd AND…

…it’s gone ‘UPMARKET!’

This is certainly mixed news.

I’m glad De Leila has not disappeared, but if the prices are high, I guess I won’t be hanging out there too often.

Having said that, the  Hundred Bars reporter makes it sound not uninteresting, but I leave you to read his comments for yourself.

PS – there is a direct link to the new De Leila, here. http://deleila.net/#event-promo

Wadu! Pasar Rumput Dibongkar? Dan Gimana Blora?

I was on one of my TransJakarta Busway journeys last week, from Manggarai to Kuningan, and it took us past Pasar Rumput.

For overseas readers, the name means Grass Market, but it is no more grassy  than Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, though both places may once have been green and pleasant.

Pasar Rumput was one of Jakarta’s traditional markets…

====

==

… an impressive but admittedly somewhat decrepit edifice, where vegetables, meats and all manner of other things were on sale – by day!

At night, though, a magical transformation! All around the upper levels, little dangdut bars opened up!

Songstresses galore took to small stages to entertain patrons till the wee small hours.

=

‘Welcome to Pasar Rumput!’

=,

Many a time and oft I’d gone there, taken by Indonesian pals in my very first year, and subsequently on my own, or introducing other foreigners to the joys of Indonesia’s most popular music.

But last week – lo and behold – scaffolding, workmen, the old market under ‘renovasi‘ – and if the renovation of Pasar Senen is anything to go by, this could mean it will emerge unrecognisable.

And meanwhile, where have all the dishy dangdut starlets gone to sing?

I have also noted, also from my buses, that Blora, or Belora, just off to the left as the main north/south artery changes its name from Jalan Thamrin to Jalan Sudirman, is also looking in a bad way.

That little otherwise non-descript area too boasted a string of music bars, mostly dangdut, which I once frequented.

It was so famous that there was even a horror film set in its environs…

=

=

…but it nowadays appears, from a distance, to have lost much of its character.

I must investigate!

A gal I met on Friday night at a Hallowe’en party tells me that the Asmoro is still going strong.

=

The Asmoro in the good old days!

=

..but a few years back it started presenting ‘heavy metal’ instead of dangdut, so naturally I stopped going.

But what about the Puspita?

It closed due to flooding a several years ago, so I haven’t been down there either, and it’s round the corner so not visible from the main road.

Can anybody save me a trip?

The old Jakarta, so vibrant when I first came here, is changing so fast, and in many ways for the worse, or at least for the worst of reasons.

What’s the state of play in Blora?

Duo Cobra – A Hitherto Unknown Dangdut Treat?

I was walking down Pancoran about three weeks ago, off to meet some people for coffee, when I noticed a poster advertising a dangdut concert.

The picture adorning the poster was that of a very attractive young lady, so I slowed my stately stride to learn more.

The Duo Kobra!

It’s not uncommon for dangdut duos to use slightly menacing creatures as their stage name, the Duo Racun (Poison) and the Duo Serigala (she-wolves!) being two examples I have featured before.

So calling themselves cobras was not remotely alarming.

Alas, their concert was that very night, and I had further social plans in the evening which could not be rearranged, so no chance of attending their undoubtedly impressive performance.

But curiosity was aroused, so since then research has been undertaken. If you’re a dangdut afficionado, pray read on.

======

ooooooooooooo

Their names are Amel and Putri, and both of them worked as SPGs (Sales Promotion Girls) in a well-known market in Bandung.

Again, regular readers will know my sincere appreciation of SPGs, who are invariably delightful to behold…

Jakarta Fair – SPGs Alone Make PRJ Worth The Trip! 

….and to chat to, wherever they happen to be.  Incidentally, this year’s Jakarta Fair starts in a week!

But these two SPGs were working in separate areas, one promoting products on the upper level, the other on the lower.

When they did meet, they decided to get together – and why not?

Putri had previously appeared on the popular tv Dangdut Academy while Amel was a former contestant on Indonesian Idol. http://www.infokanlah.com/2015/11/biodata-personil-duo-cobra-yang-terbaru.html

Now to watch out for ads so I can go see them live!

Meanwhile, purely as a public service, I offer you some photos of other Indonesian dangdut duos.

 

 

Duo Racun

========

Duo Virgin!

==

AND…

Duo Serigala

===

We’ll look at trios another day!

Indonesia’s Islamist Kill-Joys Rage Against Erotic Wobbling!

Again I’m obliged to quote my old Latin teacher when confronted by one of us hapless boys with something absurd   – ‘that would make a cat laugh.’

And sure enough, here’s Ibi in stitches…

—————–

————–

….reacting to the latest kill-joy outburst from the Aceh chapter of the infamous IslamoNazi FPI, self-styled ‘Defenders of Islam.’

There are elections coming up there, and while none of the candidates in Indonesia’s only shariah-ruled province are likely to meet with my approval, at least there are signs of humanity among some of them.

Or so we must assume, because…

…the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Bireuen are requesting all candidates for Vice Regent in Bireuen running in the 2017 elections to respect Shari’a law in Aceh….

So dos that mean the white-shirt thug gang is seeking declarations of support for flogging defenceless girls who go out scarfless or hold their boyfriends’ hands?

 

The Sharia Hell of Aceh!

————

Both such behaviours are, after all, outlawed by the backward bigot codes that obtain in Aceh. 

No!

It’s a much more frightful form of misconduct which has the nasties all agitated. 
“Holding indecent dangdut performances to win the sympathy of the public… is stupid and ridiculous!” said Chairman of FPI Bireuen, Sheikh Khalil on Monday.

ooooooooooooooo

Happy-Happy Sheikh, left

——————————————- 

For new readers, dangdut is the common people’s favourite music (and mine!) and many candidates for local (and much higher) office have luscious songstresses at their rallies to stimulate popular support.

Here’s a link if you want to sample the flavour.

Live Konser Goyang Dangdut Panas Oplosan Terbaru 2014 – YouTube

Dangdut singers are almost invariably yummy girls, like those in the photos below.

---

———-

Creepy Khalil, however, is beside himself at the prospect. He says he’ll be asking voters not to choose candidates who are looking for a cheap thrill with dangdut…
 
The question arises – is he then in favour of expensive thrills?

No matter. I shudder to imagine what might ‘thrill’ the likes of a sectarian gang leader who characterises the fun performances as dangdut wobbling that carries the stench of eroticism.

Where can we buy tickets, I hear you ask!

But while you and I might reckon a bit of aromatic wobbling is exactly what a boring political campaign needs…

———–

————–

….especially in benighted Aceh, not so Creepy Khalil, who maintains that those who differ from his mean-spirited mind-set just DON’T understand the socio-cultural and socio-religious society Bireuen!” 

All parties, said Sheikh Khalil, should undertake preventive measures before Islamic Sharia violations occur…

•  http://www.goaceh.co/berita/baca/2016/09/06/fpi-minta-cabup-bireuen-hormati-syariat-islam-saat-deklarasi
• ————–
• Sadly, this kind of weird wowser mentality is engrained among those who call the shots up there, on what they delightfully describe as the ‘Verandah of Mecca.’
• We have covered similar drivel before. Aceh represents the very heart of darkness….‘Immoral Activities – Sitting in Coffee Shops Laughing and Talking…’ Islamist Inquisition in Aceh – ” Minority Religious Creed ‘Worse Than Tsunami!’ “=

  Aceh’s Mad Mullah – ‘Dancing is EVIL – It Involves Body Movements!’ 

  —————

  
  Not Fasting – How About A Whipping? Aceh Slips Deeper Into Barbarism 

  Islamist Mayor – We Know Where You Live! Submit to Indoctrination OR ELSE! 

  0000000000000

• As we’ve also said before, President Jokowi would do Indonesia’s reputation on the world stage a world of good by intervening to oust the primitives and restore freedom to those oppressed people.  

 

Jakarta Post Equates Islam With Islamist Fanaticism!

A prominent headline in the Jakarta Post this week briefly gladdened my heart…

Apology from Jakarta Post

oooooooooo

————

But only briefly.

I had hoped their Editor, Endy, had finally decided to say sorry for the JP’s failure to condemn the Hitlerian book-burning committed a couple of years ago by his newspaper’s parent company, Gramedia, at the behest of Islamist fanatics.

Grovelling Gramedia’s Book–Burning Bonanza – Appeasing Fanatics 

• Gramedia’s Hitlerite book-burning

• …………………..

But no, it was just that the JP was apologising for its sloppy reporting 0f the recent executions.Apology from Jakarta Post .

Now I wake up this sunny Saturday and wonder if we’ll see another apology soon for THIS indefensible headline.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

More celebrities, rock stars turn to Islam

000000000000000000000000000

This alarming news had me worried.

…………….

• 
• ………..

• Was Mick Jagger about to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca – I’d much prefer him to bring the Stones to Jakarta so I could enjoy their brilliant music once again.

—

–

Was, perhaps, k d lang, the Canadian lesbian, about to cover her glorious beauty (!) with a burka?

———

Not so!

In fact the JP report is not, as far as I can see, about apostasy at all.

……..

……………..

None of the celeb singers etc. mentioned ( I may be wrong but am open to correction) are Christian or Hindu or Buddhist. It seems that the people concerned are by no means ‘converts.’

On the contrary.

Up till recently, they have, apparently, been like the Indonesian Muslims I mingle with every day, nice, normal people who say their prayers but don’t shove their religion down other folks’ throats.

What the JP means by ‘turning to Islam’ is that they have endorsed the most extreme and fanatical outlooks, most notably (for stars of the music industry) 

Kang Ucay, the former lead singer of Bandung-based pop-punk band Rockcalled et Rockers, who now goes by the name of Noor Al Kautsar, serves as the coordinator for the Bandung chapter of Indonesia Tanpa JIL (Indonesia Without JIL). Indonesia Tanpa JIL is a conservative Islamist movement opposed to the liberal Islam, promoted in Indonesia by Jaringan Islam Liberal (Liberal Islam Network)  http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2016/05/27/more-celebrities-rock-stars-turn-to-islam.html

For ‘conservative,’ please read radical. Conservatism means attachment to traditional values, which in Indonesia are distinguished by an easy-going tolerance among creeds.

In fact, there’s much misuse of the term Islamisation here, when what’s meant is Arabisation. Though to be fair to Arabs, many of them enjoy music, unlike another gaggle of celebs cited by the JP, viz.

Some other musicians who have decided to lay down their instruments recently set up a movement and identified themselves as Al Ghuroba, or The Strangers. These former musicians’ primary campaign theme is the prohibition of music.

———–

Of course, we have often covered kill-joy nonsense, most often from Aceh, the only Indonesian province with sharia law…

‘Immoral Activities – Sitting in Coffee Shops Laughing and Talking…’ 

=

Aceh’s Mad Mullah – ‘Dancing is EVIL – It Involves Body Movements!’ 

—————

…but also from other parts of the archipelago…

Islamist Kill-Joys, Buoyed by Gaga Ban, Now Turn On Indonesian Stars 

However, outwith the ranks of frothing fanatics like that mullah, Indonesians, Muslim or not, DELIGHT in music, especially dangdut, this country’s most beloved genre.

I append one example of the many popular practitioners. She’s named Cynthiara Alona. And she’s Aceh-born!

..

===============

She’s a great dangdut singer – since foreign readers know little or nothing of that music, I’ve searched around and got you a link to one of her performances.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHfGZPh624

Dangdut tv shows command audiences of millions, and, in a 90% Muslim country, most of them are likely to be Muslims.

The Jakarta Post headline is surely a slur on all those who adore their music and see no inconsistency with adherence to their faith.

Why should a handful of fanaticised ‘celebrities’ opting for outlandish extremes be said to be ‘turning to Islam?’

The JP should issue another of its rare apologies!

I’m of course NOT Muslim – as regular readers will have long since guessed! – but my final quote comes from a prominent Muslim who ought to know what he’s talking about.

Syafiq Hasyim of the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarief Hidayatullah said that celebrities’ newfound piety, especially those who chose to become preachers, may be motivated by pragmatism.      

“There are two types of piety, exclusive and inclusive and the latter is always better. But I suspect that for some of those preachers, they have financial motivations,” Syafiq said.    

 

Sarapan Sama Duo Anggrek

What a fine sunny Sunday!

Just been out to  Alfamart to buy cigarettes, avoiding thereby unwanted rush on Monday morning, though I have no particular place to go, unlike the commuting multitude.

I finally surfaced an hour or two ago, when summoned for sarapan (breakfast) and whilst guzzling my mie rebus and nasi putih, I passed some agreeable time watching the Duo Anggrek on Dangdutz Channel.

———

They are really cute, and here’s a picture to prove it.

======

If push came to shove, I’d say Mozaine was my fave, not because she’s cuter but simply because when they sang their hit song on the show, Devayne showed slightly less ‘ooomph.’

—————-

————–

But which I prefer is a very academic point, alas, for I fear they would put me at the very back of any theoretical queue of wannabe suitors, of whom there must be thousands.

o

Cynthiara Alona – Not Everything Out Of Aceh Is Ugly!

Some readers have asked why I didn’t cover the reports of thousands of real refugees fleeing the primitive province of Aceh after the latest sectarian scenes there. 

Frankly, I was just too disgusted, and not in the least surprised, because any territory governed by shariah law is bound to foster cruelty, iniquity and violence.\

‘Immoral Activities – Sitting in Coffee Shops Laughing and Talking…’ 

Islamist Inquisition in Aceh – ” Minority Religious Creed ‘Worse Than Tsunami!’ “

Not Fasting – How About A Whipping? Aceh Slips Deeper Into Barbarism 

Islamist Mayor – We Know Where You Live! Submit to Indoctrination OR ELSE! 

—————

The Sharia Hell of Aceh!

——————-

So I left it to the many other media interested to record the evil that flourishes up there.

Now most of the departees are back in Aceh, God help them, back in the backward dump that styles itself the ‘Verandah of Mecca!’  

Which is one reason I feel a need to focus on the nicer things to be found in this archipelago. For example…

I see an old post is getting a lot of new views, that of the beautiful Baby Margaretha Kenapa Banyak Foto Baby Margaretha? and she deserves the attention.

So since there is a genuine hunger for voluptuous delights out there, this morning I had a look through the files and found another lovely, named Cynthiara Alona.

And she’s Aceh-born!

What charming proof that no matter how vile the regime, as in that benighted province…Indonesian authorities demolish churches in Aceh ….something wonderful can emerge therefrom.

..

===============

She’s a dangdut singer too, and, as ever conscious of the fact that foreign readers know little or nothing of that musical genre, I’ve even searched around and got you a link to one of her performances. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHfGZPh624

Not only gorgeous, but honest, Cynthiara has confessed that she has given nature a helping hand to expand her assets. 

“My bosom indeed isn’t real, for at the age of 16 I had an operation – from 32B I’m now 36C.”      http://www.korangratis.web.id/2014/06/cynthiara-alona-bangga-punya-payudara.html

—————————————

But Ms. Alona declares she is ‘proud‘ of her bust and her equally impressive posterior (no photo of the latter asset but it features prominently on the You Tube link!)

And why shouldn’t she be proud?

She’s a credit to Aceh, which has so much to be ashamed of!

Dina Jazz? Windy? WOW! Sabun Colek, Penyanyi2 Dangdut Cantik2!

Wahid Yasim/Thamrin junction, site of the Djakarta Theater

===============

It was the venue that caught my attention, that old Djakarta Theater, so different now from the flea-pit which it used to be.  Nowadays it’s a fine cinema, multi-screened like all the ’21’ chain.

But I miss the older version, not for its decrepitude but for the little friends I used to take there!

However, this is not a nostalgia post but a happy story to round off our bloggy evening, about a young Javanese gal who has arisen to stardom from humble origins as a TKI in Hong Kong.

• –
•  

–

TKIs are a favourite theme of mine, dauntless ladies who travel far from their kampungs to earn much-needed money in foreign parts. Some do well, but others sadly come to grief, exploited by evil rich swine, brutalised, raped and ripped-off.

Nor are their troubles only visited on them by foreign fiends, but by nasty scum who work at airports here in Indonesia.

Ayo, KPK. Drag the Airport Scum Out of the Shadows – String ‘Em Up! 

–

 Erwiana, one TKI who suffered badly.

• Erwiana OKE! Now PUNISH the Evil Bitch Guilty of Tormenting Her! 

I’ve recounted many terrible tales, and leave it to you to look at the links to former posts on the subject.

==========================

But this Vivanews report features a luckier lovely, part of a pair of dangdut singers, the duo Sabun Colek, pictured below, and her name now is Dina Jazz. The journos met up with Dina at that Djakarta Theater I used to frequent.

She’s gorgeous, as you see, and so is her colleague, Windy  – what a splendid name!

————————————-

•  Dina and Windy – Sabun Colek

-=========================

As the report in puts it, she never expected her life to turn 180 degrees and become a public entertainer!  

Dina had just gone along to a concert by the band Wali, in Hong Kong, and was spotted by their manager – not surprising, given her looks! – for her dynamic shimmying, and from there, it’s just snowballed. 

Dina then officially became a dangdut singer and formed a duo called Sabun Colek with her friend, Windy Septia. The name means Soap Flick, apparently a reference to the kind of domestic chores she once did.

Dangdut songstresses are almost all beautiful, and there are plenty of them, but the more the merrier.

And it’s good to read of a TKI who has escaped drudgery to find fame!

 

=

=

http://dunia.news.viva.co.id/news/read/660115-tki-ini-sukses-berkarier-jadi-penyanyi-dangdut

Wadu! Bintang Seksi Zaskia Gotik ‘Tinggalkan Dangdut…?’

OMG!

A lovely day, pleased to be at home to receive an ever-welcome visitor, then as darkness was falling, I wandered round to my warteg, where I devoured my usual plateful of delights, tempe, pare, telor puyuh…

===============================

• 
• ———————————

• Then, when I settled up, little Yuni gave me the bad news – malam terakhir, Pak! … Their last night open till after Idul Fitri! And Idul Fitri is next weekend, and then they will be another week before they’ll make their way back to Jakarta from their little country kampung.

Wrestling with this catastrophic revelation, I wandered off to Alfamart, got my cigs for tomorrow, then headed home.

Now, just as we enter this final week of Ramadan, another, less expected, bolt from the blue, in the delightful form of Zaskia Gotik, one of the sexiest dangdut songstresses in the Indonesian archipelago…

She’s dropped dangdut!

————————————

 ooooooooooooooooo

And not only has she adopted pop mode instead, but she’s using it on a RELIGION-themed album!

Tempo.com reports that Zaskia is releasing a compilation album titled ‘Rama-dan Cinta,’ including two seasonal ditties, Ramadan and My Love for Allah.

Bikin Album Religi, Zaskia Gotik Tinggalkan Dangdut | Tempo …

oooooooooooooo

======

Always discomfited to hear of a hot girl possibly turning into a goody-two-shoes, I nevertheless draw solace from a previous post on this gorgeous gal, dated…when was it, oh, yeah, RAMADAN, two years ago. 

She had asserted her interest in getting scarfed up. However, because of her work as a dangdut singer, which demanded that she sway and dress sexily, Zaskia pleaded that she dare not do so. If obliged to do so, Zaskia was afraid that later she’d be subject to amok-run by the FPI.

“Wow, hijab? Yeah, how I work, singing like this and rocking…how do I try that if wearing a hijab? If I’m then over-run by FPI (Islamic Defenders Front) how about that?”  said Zaskia  (17/07/2013) Sexy Dangdut Star Won’t Go Baggie – Fears Amok IslamoNazis! 

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

=======

I complimented her then on her common sense, and am not too concerned now, because the report goes on to add that her reason for not singing dangdut but pop is simply because Zaskia wants to show that she can. In addition, the pop genre is deemed more suitable to accompany the song.

pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp

——————

Sounds to me that she’ll be back on the dangdut circuit soon enough – you’re best at what you’re good at, right?

That’s why I like partying!

====

Tomorrow, the foraging begins, trying to locate a warteg that will stay open during the holidays. Otherwise, desperate measures – home-cooking!

Gotta be versatile, like Zaskia! 

 Oya, and here’s a YouTube of her performing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQw9X5C49d8

Don’t skip the crazy ad that precedes it.

Enjoy!

PRJ – Jakarta Fair, 29th May-5th July, 2015

Well, it’s that time of year again, but when you try to use the http://www.jakartafair.co.id link to see who’s singing and when, all I got is ‘coming soon.’

Maybe you’ll have better luck!

But there’s only a few more days!

It would be nice to have access to a schedule of musical events.

————————

•  Ayu
• ==============================

• Happily, at least http://nasional.news.viva.co.id/news/read/629819-jakarta-fair-2015-akan-berlangsung-selama-38-hari  gives us a hint of what we can expect. but alas, the only dangdut star mentioned is Ayu Tingting.

Not my fave, but okay.