A Back on the landscape<\/p>\n
In the spirit of regional autonomy and the recent local
\nelections, I'd like to nominate Blok M as a candidate for adding
\nto Indonesia's ever growing list of provinces. I've always
\nmaintained that the ever popular 'M' is a self-contained, one-
\nstop zone in which I could live out the rest of my days quite
\nhappily. I'd lurch from plaza to restaurant to cinema to bar to
\nhotel without ever leaving the area. Blok M's regent could set up
\nhis office on Jl. Melawai and everything would be fine.<\/p>\n
However, one potential fly in the ointment in this twisted
\nlittle fantasy is the bar-filled road of Jl. Felatehan, just
\nbehind the bus station. In our imaginary new province scenario,
\nFelatehan regulars wouldn't be happy with mere regional autonomy
\nand would push for a plebiscite and full independence. The
\nstreet's voracious micro economy, driven as it is by beer-
\nswilling, male, western expats and bakso chomping, local disco
\nbutterflies could even spawn some kind of deranged independence,
\nguerrilla movement. Molotov cocktails manufactured from old Anker
\nbottles refilled with cheap perfume would rain down on riot
\npolice from behind a burning barricade of overturned Blue Bird
\ntaxis as Felatehan's night-time boys and girls resist the
\nImperial Indonesian forces and their demands for early Ramadan
\nclosing hours.<\/p>\n
This is all a rather unlikely state of affairs, granted,
\nalthough Jl. Felatehan certainly looks the part of a violence
\nracked province, resembling as it does, Beirut circa 1982.
\nHowever, let's return to reality for a moment and take a look at
\nwhat lies behind the piles of rubble and the scarred and
\ncrumbling buildings of Jl. Felatehan.<\/p>\n
The road is certainly as popular as it has ever been and there
\nare still plenty of bibulous bules and beskirted broads to be
\nseen during the hours of darkness, weaving drunkenly between D's
\nPlace, Sportsman's, Oscar's, My Bar, Everest and Top Gun.<\/p>\n
In fact, despite looking like a tsunami has just hit it when
\nviewed from street level, business is pretty good on Blok M's
\nfamous road of revelry, so much so that the aforementioned six
\nbars have all recently joined forces to create FAB - the
\nFelatehan Association of Businesses (no sniggering at the back
\nplease).<\/p>\n
FAB aims to bring a bit of solidarity and central planning to
\nFelatehan and so far the businesses involved have managed to set
\nup an inter-bar pool league and have also clubbed together for
\nsome security men under a mini marquee who look under your car
\nwith one of those mirror thingies on wheels.<\/p>\n
Yes, despite the infidel security issue, the street's bars
\nhave been looking quite lively of late.<\/p>\n
Starting at the far end, D's Place is always full of friendly
\nfaces playing Find-the-Joker, competing in the Monday night music
\nquiz or the dance competitions or getting up to God knows what in
\nthe VIP members' room (I'm not allowed in myself). Next along,
\nSportsman's still offers the western sports bar experience
\ncomplete with live broadcasts of all the top events. Next to
\nthat, Everest, a newer addition to the street, features live
\nmusic and a vertiginous, drive-in movie sized screen that takes
\nup the whole rear wall of the club for watching the sport on.
\nMoving right along, My Bar has become the literal and spiritual
\ncenter of the Jl. Felatehan of 2005. It's pretty much full every
\nevening with the moistened T-shirt and whisky cola brigade and is
\nopen until 5 a.m. In addition, My Bar's two new tasteful floors
\n(live music lounge and billiard hall) and slightly less tasteful
\nline in merchandise (baseball hats and g-strings) have helped to
\ncement its reputation. Opposite My Bar, Top Gun is getting a bit
\nlong in the tooth these days -- its name alone should tell you
\nthat -- but it can still pull them in in the early evenings.
\nFinally, Oscar's, at the bus terminal end of the street, is
\ncurrently in the process of reviving itself with a brand-new
\ngourmet menu, talk of a members' club called Bisu and lingerie
\ntheme nights.<\/p>\n
So in this crazy city, Jl. Felatehan has managed to weather
\nthe storms of financial crisis and terrorist bombings and has
\ncome out the other side with its core clientele intact. Clearly,
\nmany of Jakarta's impish expats have a deep-seated need for this
\nstreet and the bonhomie and \"companionship\" (ahem) that it
\noffers. FAB as the new GAM though? Vive la Revolution!<\/p>\n
--Simon Pitchforth<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-back-on-the-landscape-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }