Great music, crowd and cuddles at Pitstop Club

It was 10:55 p.m., and the Pitstop Club was laboring under a crippling weight of emptiness.

Yes, the band was still playing and the booze was still flowing, at least into my glass, but with all of three tables occupied (including that of yours truly and sidekick), the prospects of social or any other form of intercourse were looking distinctly slim.

So, there we were, all set to pack bags and baggage and hoof it off to greener pastures, muttering darkly all the while about the price of drink in Jakarta, when suddenly, seemingly out of the blue, the place was invaded by hordes of high-spirited revellers. By 11:15 p.m., the joint was fairly heaving.

Where our new-found fellow carousers had all appeared from I have no idea, but it all goes to prove once again that it pays to time your drinking right!

Looks: That the joint was almost completely empty when we arrived gave us a good opportunity to take in our surroundings at leisure. At this stage, the sense of vacuity in the Pitstop was heightened by the fact that all the seats are upholstered in a way that makes them look for all the world like they've been draped in dust cloths, giving the impression of a boozer that's been long shuttered up, abandoned and possibly even haunted.

After the punters crowded in later, however, all that changed, and the Pitstop was converted within the space of twenty minutes into a small, intimate venue with an almost seedy, Hamburg cabaret-type atmosphere, with the seating tightly packed together to ensure conviviality, and arranged so closely around the dance floor you could almost stretch out and touch the three delectable young ladies in the band, whom the sidekick referred to, somewhat sexistly, as the Three Degrees -- Hot, Hotter and Hottest.

The fact that the seating is so close to the dance floor is obviously a treat for all manner of male exhibitionists as the said Three Degrees have a penchant for mingling intimately with the giggling but generally long-in-the-tooth "boys", sometimes cuddling up to them and even amorously whispering in their ears -- much, one would imagine, to the chagrin of the boys' wives, many of whom actually appeared to be accompanying their hubbies.

Myself and the sidekick were, however, left asking ourselves awkward questions, like why there were no amorous whisperings or cuddles extended in our direction, especially given that we were the only two unattached males present. Most disappointing!

But seriously, it was all innocent stuff and great fun designed to keep the crowd interested in the show, something the girls and the other six members of the band were able to do with bells on.

Between dragging up members of the audience to dance and meandering their way around the tightly packed tables, the three divas ensured that a frolicking good time was had by all.

And let's not forget our fellow revellers. One really has got to hand it to the Pitstop crowd, many of whom seemed to be regulars. These guys -- when they eventually showed up -- were all game for a laugh, dancing with the band, jumping up and down (one lady did a particularly good impression of a blancmange on springs), and generally making complete fools of themselves.

Myself and the sidekick were on cloud nine!

As for those who might find themselves somewhat intimidated by the three gyrating sirens and the rocking regulars, there's always refuge to be had at the bar, a comforting, womb-like twilight zone where the diligent and professional bartenders ensure that you don't have to wait long for a refill while at the same time refraining from harassing you like hungry sharks circling around waiting for the kill.

Bill, please: The well-stocked bar comes with a price tag as you'd expect from a club that's attached to the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel. But it's nowhere near as expensive as other similar establishments in the same range. A local beer will set you back Rp 30,000 while the cheapest whisky and cola is to be had for Rp 36,000 (excluding 21 percent tax and service).

Unfortunately, like so many other places in Jakarta, the Pitstop has succumbed to the wiles of the cover charge, this time a not-so-exorbitant Rp 45,000 (for which you get the first drink free).

Verdict: Given all the stresses of living in Jakarta, there's nothing quite like a good belly laugh to give one a bit of a lift -- and that's exactly what you get here (apart altogether from good music, a convivial crowd and even the possibility of a cuddle). It may not be the newest kid on the block (it's almost as old as some of the "boys" tripping the light fantastic Mr. Bean-style), but thumbs up all the same for Pitstop. Great staff, great band and great fun!

The Pitstop Club (to give it its official moniker), Hotel Sari Pan Pacific, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 6. You can call them at 3902707. Hours: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. at weekends.

-- Bill Blade