Irish couple make new record

Irish couple make new record

SEMARANG (JP): An Irish couple that checked out of the Patra
Jasa Hotel on Feb. 5 after a five-year stay has provoked a debate
over whether their continuous occupation deserves entry in the
Museum for Indonesian Records.

The museum's management is impressed by Dannis Hanley and his
wife's feat but are checking to see if anyone has a better
record.

Adding to the headache is the fact that the potential record
holders are foreigners.

Hanley and his wife checked into room 612 of the four-star
hotel May 17, 1992 and left Feb. 5 1997 after a party thrown by
the hotel management in an obvious show of gratitude.

The room rate was Rp 125,000 (US$52) in 1992. The couple
received a special discount throughout their stay.

Hanley, a consultant for Sumitomo Corporation at the
Tambaklorok steam generated power plant near here, said he
enjoyed the hotel because it was clean and offered good service.

He described the environment as "friendly" having much in
common with his home town in Ireland.

The general manager, Wahono, said the Hanleys' stay was the
longest he could remember.

"Some guests have stayed here for as long as four years but
this makes a new record," he said.

The Museum of Indonesian Records' owner, Jaya Suprana, also
has an eye on the Hanleys for a new entry but said he would first
need previous records, if any existed, from the public. (har/pan)