Author Archives: aboutindo

Dangdut: Dewi Persik and FPI

By aboutindo | Published: January 3, 2011
Dangdut superstar Dewi Persik has taunted the Islamic fundamentalist sector of Indonesian society by stating that the acronym FPI (Front Pembela Islam – Islamic Defender’s Front) would be better used as Fans Persik Indonesia. Which is really just an excuse for me to make a gratuitous post featuring more Depe  clips such as this one, Jangan Pegang [...]
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Bad Hair Day

By aboutindo | Published: January 2, 2011
This funny Indonesian advertisement with the surprise ending has been doing the rounds lately.  I found it on Neatorama, who got it from Dark Roasted Blend.
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Badai di Awal Bahagia Part 5: Rhoma Robs a Bank

By aboutindo | Published: January 1, 2011
With his daughter’s life at stake, Rhoma carries obeys his kidnappers and participates in a bank robbery.  For some reason, the satpam (guard) does not react to the jeep screeching to a halt right outside the bank’s doors.  He doesn’t even look up when five guys carrying gunny sacks storm into the foyer.  This is perhaps [...]
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Badai di Awal Bahagia Part 4: Rhoma Breaks Through

By aboutindo | Published: December 30, 2010
A lot has happened since we left the children clapping in part 3.  Having established Rhoma’s credentials as a Dangdut Superstar, we need to see him as a family man, personally building a swing after which he sings a duet with second wife Ricca Rachim.  The voice actually belongs to the lovely Rita Sugiarto, who’s  had a long [...]
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Jakarta Street Food: Nasi Kucing

By aboutindo | Published: December 13, 2010
Although the name translates to “cat rice”, no cats are harmed in the making of this food.  The name refers to the size of the portions, which is no more than a cat would eat.  So it’s really intended as a snack, though you can make a full meal out of it, like Amri does [...]
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Music: Mari Bercinta – Who’s Sexier? Vicky or Aura?

By aboutindo | Published: December 12, 2010
I stumbled across this video last night featuring Vicky Shu, who claims to be Indonesia’s new sex symbol.  I think I heard it a couple of times during my trip, but most pop songs sound the same to me these days.  Anyhow, the claim to sexiness rests on some agressive booty shaking and switching between [...]
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Transgender Indonesians: Atitudes Vary

By aboutindo | Published: December 11, 2010
This clip shows that in some parts of Indonesia, transexuals are not only accepted in their communities, but fill an important role in the rituals of their culture.  At least, this is the case among the Bugis of South Sulawesi.  This is far more progressive (to my mind) even than what occurs in the West.  But [...]
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Indo Exploitation Films: Special Silencers

By aboutindo | Published: December 10, 2010
The special silencers referred to in the title of this movie from 1981 are the magic pills which the bad guy uses to kill the young man in this scene.  The bad guy sneaks the pills into his lunch after the girl (Eva Arnaz) leaves it to join him at the river.  This couple don’t [...]
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Jakarta Street Food: Cassava Chips ( or Crisps if you’re English)

By aboutindo | Published: December 9, 2010
What’s the American word for this type of food?  I know it’s chips in Australia and crisps in England.  Anyhow, these look like potato chips, but the taste and the texture are quite distinctive.  Made from cassava root instead of potato.  You can get potato chips too, but you have to seek them out.  Sometimes [...]
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Badai di Awal Bahagia Part 1: Ambush

By aboutindo | Published: December 7, 2010
Followers of this blog may have guessed that I’ve become somewhat obsessed with Rhoma Irama.  Rhoma is one of the most popular singers in Indonesia, and he has been for the past 30 years.  I’m probably not going too far if I say he’s the Indonesian Elvis.  Unfortunately he has been known to criticise other entertainers on moral [...]
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