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)