HUTAN INDONESIA - ANTARA BISNIS & POLITIK

This is what happens when Harrison Ford meet Indonesian Minister of Forestry. 

Ini issue lama, meskipun keprihatinan tentang hutan di Indonesia masih sama. Nonton lagi rekaman ini di YouTube, sebagai warga Indonesia, saya malu melihat reaksi Menteri Kehutanan kita yang tampak inferior banget di depan seorang Harrison Ford. Kenapa harus Harrison Ford yang bring up issue tentang hutan kita, selama ini menteri nya ngapain aja? Terhimpit antara bisnis dan politik?

WELCOMING RAMADAN - FASTING MONTH

Today is only 2 days prior to Ramadan (Moslem fasting month) as for me, works getting so intense this week, Ramadan is coming soon, and this time would be best to finalize all report and time consuming tasks, beside all those scheduled interview session (still have some vacant positions to fill up), plus that food safety audit and other HR audit are underway, otherwise we have to finish them all after Idul Fitri Festival (Eid Mubarak, or in Bahasa Indonesia, we call it Hari Raya Idul Fitri / Lebaran). And, yes, this would be the best time to achieve your staffs best efforts, before fasting month.

Why so? Well, these might only happen in Indonesia …..

* In Ramadan, Moslem must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, marital relations or getting angry during the daylight hours. In addition, those fasting are supposed to refrain from bad habits - lying, getting angry, using bad language as well as to be more diligent in prayer and give to charities. It is believed that fasting heightens spirituality and develops self-control. AGREE! But then, the overall pace of life overall slows down. Things take longer to get accomplished both at home and at the office.

* Whenever Ramadan rolls around, things change. Government offices close earlier so employees can break the fast with their family. Some folks suddenly become pious, who would take to performing their daily prayers in a shiny new “mukena” (female prayer garb). It’s necessitating their absence from work for about 30-60 minutes. (but when Ramadan is over, much of this behavior and its symbols end up back on the shelf)

* An increased level of patience and tolerance is required when dealing with employees who are fasting.

* We may feel uncomfortable eating or drinking before your fasting staffs/friends. It would be considerate to refrain from eating or drinking in front of others that are fasting.

* Not to speak harshly with those fasting as if they get angry or have negative feelings towards others it invalidates their fasting for that day.

* The office driver will appreciate it if you can let him breaking fast in the car with a drink of water and a sweet snack, if he is driving you home at sunset.

* Traffic congestion from the afternoon rush hour start earlier as many office workers are allowed to leave earlier than usual to get home in time to breaking fast with family and friends. (unfortunately, that’s not happen for hoteliers (laughing out loud)

* We'll notice a big increase in beggars at traffic lights as the poor flock into the city from the villages at this traditional time of heightened charity giving.

* We’ll notice a growing excitement amongst Moslem friends, colleagues and staffs as Idul Fitri Festival / Lebaran approaches and they make plans for their special celebration.

Those are happening in my work life, what about at home?

* My live-in housemaid will wake up very early in the morning to prepare her pre-dawn meal and to complete her heavy chores early in the morning just after she has eaten. Sometimes, her pre-sunrise noise is bothering us, coz usually it is done while we still asleep.

* We may be awoken early in the morning by the enthusiastic young people parading through the neighborhood (DON'T tell them to be quiet! This would be extremely offensive, just quietly endure).

* Noise from the local mosques will increase in volume and frequency, much …. much louder than it usual, not only at the time when they broadcast the calls to prayers but almost all evening in Arabic chanting (I believe this is NOT possibly happened in USA, well, to speak)

* Food vendors and some restaurants close during the day and some restaurants stop serving alcohol. The government closes night entertainment centers during the beginning and end of Ramadan and shortens their hours throughout the month (except restaurants and entertainment in the hotels).

* You may find people sell snacks and drinks along the street for riders (breaking fast is normally the time they go home from works) and even some companies doing their charity (or, CSR-Corporate Social Responsibility) by distributing snacks and drinks for free (we call it “Takjil” or appetizer prior to breaking fast)

Well, that’s the story of Ramadan in Indonesia, with almost 300 million of its population and 85% of them are Moslem.

Enjoy your life during Ramadan, fasting is a good method to keep you healthy. Ensure you keep doing your diet, limit calories intake, and stay healthy, and remain yourself in control when breaking fast.

Happy Ramadan!!

NASI CIKUR - WARUNG INUL

The first time I heard of Nasi Cikur is from some friends travelling to Bandung from Jakarta, and Nasi Cikur at Warung Inul is definitely their “must go”  eating place - a mandatory destination agenda.

Been living in Bandung for couple months I think Nasi Cikur was not itemized in my culinary journey. You might have known that Bandung is very well known with its culinary tourism, and somehow I missed to know Nasi Cikur earlier. Till one fine day we (my GM, and colleagues) had lunch at that very known Nasi Cikur, at Warung Inul.

It is definitely not a luxury restaurant, it is just “Warung” / old spelling “Waroeng” (in Bahasa Indonesia means a type of small family-owned business — often a casual shop, a modest small restaurant or café. A warung is an essential part of daily life in Indonesia. Traditional warungs are made from wooden bamboo or thatched materials, and Warung Inul is beautifully located among big houses at exclusive luxury residential area of Dago Pakar.

Looking at its parking spaces, which its definitely surprising, you wouldn’t find motor cycles or low societies owned vehicles but most of them are classy built up cars, if you know what I mean what type of customers they have. You have to write down your orders, complete with your name on it, menu is just simply stuck on the glass showcase, and take your seat, waiting for your name to be called that your order is ready to serve. They are so packed during lunch hours.

Nasi cikur is made of rice and herbs, kaempferia galanga, commonly known as “kencur” in Bahasa Indonesia or “Cikur” in Bahasa Sunda, aromatic ginger, sand ginger, cut cherry or resurrection lily, and is a monocotyledonous plant in the ginger family, and one of four plants called galangal. It is found primarily in open areas in Indonesia, southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. That is served with traditional Sundanese food, such as : Ayam Goreng, Lalapan, Sambal, Pepes Ikan, Pepes Tahu and various of Sundanese home made cooking.

Talking about the taste, for Nasi Cikur itself, I expect to have not only seasoned but flavor rice but I think my expectation was just too high. Its just filthy rice and not even kencur/cikur aroma on it. The variety of side dishes were tempting though 

ROTI GEMPOL - Roti jaman dulu

Spending time visited me in Bandung, Kiki and I have planned to go exploring Bandung and surround. As what we used to do was searching and observing the destination via internet and make plan.

Today, We’re heading to Garut, one of the small cities in West Java which well known with its “Dodol” (sweet toffee-like confection made of sticky rice, added by various flavor), and leather products.

On our way heading to Garut, we stopped by for having breakfast at one of the legend bread factory & café in Bandung, Roti Gempol, some people called as “Roti Jadul” (old fashioned bread), which has been established since 1958. 

This place is not luxurious, even you can say it old, small space, exist in the midst of crowded “mid level” residential area of Jl.Gempol Wetan, limited parking space, and no distinct signage. Their main and best seller products are white bread and whole grain bread. Donuts and “Addict tea” with various flavors are side menus you can order. This bread shop was opened in 1958. Bread making process remain traditional and old fashioned but the bread consistency is perfect. 

So, here is our breakfast. What is yours?