Indonesia is a fascinating country, with many local traditions, customs and beliefs.
People are often superstitious and even believe in ‘black magic’.
Seems like every culture has it’s ‘cure all’s and over here they use ‘jamu’ a concoction of bitter tasting ingredients to give the body a little tonic to help you on your way. My buddy Mike from California who recently moved back to Bali takes jamu regularly and told me our western diet is to acidic and needs an alkaline to balance it out.
Having guests for an extended time meant I was dragging a bit more than usual with trying to be ‘Mr Friendly’ and I asked Ika if maybe she could recommend a jamu to give me a kick in the pants.
The other day I opened my fridge and the stuff was there on the top shelf of the door. Several packets of a powder you mix with 100cc of boiling water, half a dozen eggs and a packet of cookies to take away the bitter taste afterwards. I just brewed up a cup and true to it’s reputation it is bitter, with a strong hint of tumeric, pepper and other spices. The stuff actually sinks to the bottom and you have to stir it often unless you want a mouthful of sediment.
Jamu has quite a reputation as you might imagine with local remedies. According to legend and the people who I asked, ladies who have given birth can take jamu to firm up parts that giving birth affected. I want to find a jamu that will turn me into Burt Reynolds.
Sunday night Ika and I went to the food court area at the top of Jl. Pantai Kuta to check out the closing day of the Kuta Karnival. Many restaurants had booths and people were having a good old time listening to live music on the main stage. We stopped by TJ’s Mexican who had a booth there and talked with Jean, the owner. She gave me a cup of her sangria and got Ika an order of nachos.
We chatted to Arnawa, the bodybuilder from Ade Rai’s Hammerhead gym. This guy is about 5′9″ and looks like a boulder walking down the street. He was doing his posing thing before we got there. Along from him was a ‘babi guling’ (suckling pig) stall. About 2/3 of the pig was already gone and they were working their way towards the head. Babi guling is the Balinese favourite dish and I’m sure the locals couldn’t wait to get their teeth into a plate.
Along from the pig was a booth staffed entirely by Indonesians all wearing Irish clothing and hats selling Guinness steak pies and chips. That’s globalization.
There were a couple of fashions shows, one by Balinese lace company Uluwatu and another by Mambo, a surf company. Having Ika along it’s probably as well I didn’t get to see the fashion show. Uluwatu in particular has impressive clothing and models.
We did watch a Indonesian group banging out some local favourites, the female lead singer doing the old ‘look at me playing and singing’ routine by switching a guitar, harmonica and drums between songs.
There was no entrance fee to get in and the only security I could see were a few cops hanging out around the entrance at the top corner of Jl. Pantai Kuta.
The official program said there were fireworks at 11pm but one of the organizers told us safety concerns overruled that. ( Is that one for the books or what, safety being considered in Indonesia!)
Just got a phone call from my brother Chris, he’s back in overcast London and no doubt isn’t looking forward to returning to work. Maybe I’ll send him some jamu to perk him up.
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Ruth, Nice to hear from you again. Well I took some jamu at 5pm and I’m still typing at 11.45pm so it must have something good in it.
Ruth, Nice to hear from you again. Well I took some jamu at 5pm and I’m still typing at 11.45pm so it must have something good in it.
A double post at that too, Nick!
I am back from packing, cleaning, moving, unpacking!!!!
G’day Nick,
God forbid!…a super-hairy Nick ala Burt Reynolds!. Shit mate, you’d be like a Yeti on a motorbike as you cruise down the street.
Nice fridge but you didn’t fotograph the bottom shelves where the booze is stacked I note!.
Nice foto of the jamu packet. There is such an amzing array of Jamu for every ailment and illness. I’ve even seen one in Java that reckons its a cure for Cancer. The variety is unbelievable - kidney stones, heart disease, period pains, and yes, even one for gettin’ the ‘ol pecker to attention!.
G’Day Tracey,
Selemat datang kembali. Seems the move went well. I love being nosey, so tell me which suburb in Melb are you now residing?. - Toorak?
What’s a ‘pecker’?
It’s a one eyed trouser snake
Hey Bazza,
Nope, not Toorak!!!!
It’s Bayswater!!!!
But how is this for a tale!!!!?
On Friday evening Dede was moving some stuff in & this Woman in her mid 50’s came over & said “Hello ” to him & asked where he is from he told her he is Balinese & she hugged him as she is also Balinese, married to a Dutch man & has lived in the area for about 37 years…
Turns out that my oldest sister went to kinder with this womans oldest daughter,. I went to school with their middle daughter & my younger sister went to kinder with their youngest daughter!
My Mum remembers her as Dede was telling the story, we have been invited over & Dede invited them over also…
Pretty cool hey!!!
We have our Carved Balinese Kartini lounge on the front porch next to, my gorgeous Orchid & some great Bob Marley & various other sarongs as window coverings… So I’d think it not too hard to know there was a Balinese living there!?
So if you wanna find us look for the sarong curtains!!!!!
My friend & her Balinese sister in law went to buy Jamu once & they giggling decided to get one to make the pecker hole tighter!!!
Let me just say that both their hubbies knew staright away!???
I hope you understand that Nick, or maybe Bazza can explain it when he’s there with ya soon!!!!!!!
Hey Tracey,
Bayswater is a cool area. But hey, what a tale of coincidence. You should start calling your street ‘Jalan Bali’!.
I know what you’re on about regarding that jamu. It’s supposed to be good for women who have become ’slack’ in their old age! (He, he…!). Not only that, but for women who have just given birth.
G’Day Nick,
A ‘pecker’ is like Woodie, and when, being as hard as wood, tends to search for a nestling place!. Preferably some place warm so it can warble its heart out!. Oh dear, I just knew I shouldn’t have smoked that…er…Garam!.
For all those interested that live in Perth. I picked up my visa at the Indo consulate this morning and I noticed a poster inside about the Indonesian Expo. Lots of good tucker and all things Indo.
Where: Burswood Dome, Sat 9th& 10th Sun from 3pm till 10pm
Cool, wish I could make it to the Indo Expo!!!!
Yep that’d be the same Jamu!!!!
Yeah, I should get a sign that says Jalan Bali… Do you know Bayswater!???
Nick, I still cannot believe you don’t know what a pecker is!????
Hey Tracey,
Yeah, I’ll be heading out there and so I will let you know what it’s like. I think you’ll find there will be one in every city in Oz where there is a consulate. You should give yours a call.
Driven through Bayswater many a time. I lived in Fitzroy (Brave lad eh!) on the edge of the city. I’m really into multicultural suburbia whenever I am in the big smoke.
G’Day Nick,
Tracey and I are gettin’ a tad worried about you mate. So what ya gotta do is ask ika outright. Just ask her “Where is my Zakar?”
He, he…love to be a fly on the wall when you do!
Better still save the question until a Bazza is there with Candika & the 4 of you are out at a lovely restu & ask over the dessert!!!!!!
I might check out the Indo Consul… Good Idea!!!!
So, Nick, did the jamu work for you? Also, trust me, you don’t want to turn into Burt Reynolds! As always, enjoying your blog.
Ruth