I-Magazine 1 #1 by I-Magazine Bali

magazine

ozzie wrong frazer the eraser killer whale harry holiday christopher cuseo

i features

features

a road less travelled one bike one million adventures

best in dining 24 thein balitown

art clowns

we love pink horses

we cant get enough of yulia

these are a few of my favorite things.........

product review the best of the best in town

bookband elisa-jane george gives her scoop on what to read and what to listen to

chris cuseo talks life, art, music and stolen taxis

, Publisher s Note

i publisher’s note

PUBLISHER

Aah, yes.. We have changed the magazine again! What I love about creativity is that sometimes you just never know the outcome at the point of embarking down the path. And this is exactly the case with this August issue. What started out as planning a few changes, turned into a major re-vamp spurned on by the input from “The O” who came on board as special guest editor. Along with a whole host of super talented people who put in shit-loads of effort to make the new look so good (well, at least in our opinion). It feels like we are getting close to being the medium we dreamt of in the beginning - an explosive intersection of Island high life and the dirty backstreets, sending fragments of design driven cultural fusion amongst the community... So, not much elso to say ... just enjoy it and have as much fun reading as we did making it! ps. thanks Pasha for staying up so late! Andrew Campbell

(PT Mitra Mandiri Sempurna) andrew@wwmedia.asia INSIGHT REG. NO. 65/HK.HM/IV/ BITD/2008 Andrew Campbell (andrew@wwmedia.asia) EDITOR IN CHIEF the Ö OPERATIONAL MANAGER Han GRAPHIC DESIGNER nyoman Coba PHOTOGRAPHER Handy Tamam TRAFFIC Delarosa (traffic@wwmedia.asia) ADMINISTRATION Eno Pratiwi (accounting.eno@wwmedia.asia) DISTRIBUTION Adhi ketut sales enquiries andrew@wwmedia.asia p +62 813 375 73 471 Jl. Dewi Sri Ruko Koempoel Koempoel 18 Blok F Kuta - Bali 80361 - Indonesia P + 62 361 863 79 79 P + 62 361 766 752 F + 62 361 766 652

ps. if you aint a surfer you aint shit....

Views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor’s and publisher’s. All material copyright ©2008 PT. Mitra Mandiri Sempurna. The publisher will not be held responsible for copyright infringements on images supplied by advertisers and, or contributors. www.wwmedia.asia

i contributors

Contributors + features Repo, Ozzie, Hula, Killer, The O, Fraser, Harry, coba, cuseo

i shopping

bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and camera from Drifter

vintage sunglasses from Prisoners of St.Petersburg peak cap from Prisoners of St.Petersburg

Mr. zog sex wax-drifter red root beer blue coconut

surf yogis sunscreen & body oil Drifter

studded shoes Prisoners of St.Petersburg lace up shoes from Prisoners of St.Petersburg

military hat from Prisoners of St.Petersburg

surf board fin Drifter

kimo ukulele Drifter

Marc Jacobs flip flops C-shop

lost & found coin bracelet C-shop

Pegaz long dress rasberry Magali Pascal

Nasamoto parfum C-shop

ring agate in gold plate silver Saya Gallery

handbag Magali Pascal A PURE products from Aquilibre Miss Milne bra from This is Genevieve & Miss Milne

dress & boots Shakuhachi

bracelets & neck pieces Saya Gallery

derma clear organic sun cream & lucas papaw ointment C-shop

pom poms & feather neck piece Saya Gallery

i shopping

red boots from Market

necklace from Skin

handbag from Market

t-shirt from Lost in Paradise

dress from Natasha

denim shorts from Market

denim dress from Market

denim handbag from Zuition

Kukuh jacket from Zuition

distressed t-shirt from Zuition

i review

bookband

The Age of Reason

Tame Impala

If Paris is the fantasy and freedom is the ideal, The Age of Reason is the novel where it all began. The combination of 1930’s nostalgia and the awesome prose of Sartre make it hard not to become affected by this classic translation of L’âge de Raison. Within the setting of Paris in its prime, under the mess and mélange of theory and philosophy we are introduced to protagonist Mathieu, a man who is forced to reassess his life’s theory: freedom. As Mathieu struggles with the reality of an unplanned pregnancy, which will inevitably challenge his life’s beliefs, the storyline welcomes the reader into the authentic bohemia that was Paris in the ‘30’s. It’s an existential crisis we can all relate to, as he contemplates the life he’s lived and the lack of consequence to a life kept in check. Moments of catharsis precede moments of frustration with the intangible reality of freedom. While lines such as, ‘All I do I do for nothing. It might be said that I am robbed of the consequences of my acts… I don’t know what I would give to do something irrevocable’, render the audience breathless, the constant flux of rationale make for moments of monotony and restlessness. Through cutting observations and intelligent banter within the hazey chaos of theory we come to conclude life is never as neat as it may have once seemed. This classic novel is well worth dusting off and spending the afternoon lost in its browning pages.

My friend once told me she dreams in technicolour, when I listen to Tame Impala I imagine I’m in her dreamscape and the world is spinning but I’m standing still. Their name implies a certain majesty of the wild, being trapped in a forest among herds of graceful antelope under your command. Previously known as The Dee Dee Dums they’re style has reinvented itself under a new drummer and guitar set becoming more than just a WA competition winner but taking on the music world in their own right. After playing a solid summer festival set around Australia, the aussie indie sensation has taken the international festival scene by storm playing at over 8 events in the UK and Europe. Recently playing the Pukklepop festival in Belgian I managed to overhear a chorus of appreciation after the fact, which filled my belly with that old aussie pride of independent reign. Reminiscent of brother-bands such as Wolfmother and Jet but with the staying power of The Doors, their perfect blend of melody and catastrophe make listening to music a trip into a better world. Sometimes it seems the band themselves lose reality in their shows with extended jam sessions taking over and a fierce analogue of intense moments passed. Having only recently released their album “Innerspeaker” a recent triple J interview gave unexpected insight into another album to look forward to. Think sex, psychadelics and sweet afternoons spent in a dirty smokey den, in the company of Mary Jane. The longer you listen the more you come to realise first hand the sensation of being “high on life”.

words Eliza-Jane George

i scoop

nick morley ,

Somebody who i s ori g i n al, has an eye for detai l s and has a sense of thei r own , style. Otherwise, they just end up copying everyone else How long have you been in Bali and have you always been in the fashion industry? I have been here on and off for 12 years., and yes, mostly in the fashion industry Have you noticed any changes in the overall ‘fashion scene’; in the quality of the products? Yeah. It’s over 100 times the size of what it used to be. The quality is better than ever. So, overall there’s been a development? Yeah… I’ve seen some good products coming out of here, as well as some crap. . What do you think is the biggest change? The biggest change is that it has gotten bigger and better. Unfortunately, the Indonesians have not been able to keep up with the growth. Westerners are coming over and working with the Indonesian factories, right. And the Indonesian factories are nowhere near are not as good as the factories in India or China. But in Bali it’s mostly a home or cottage industry and not factories? Exactly. That’s where the problem lies. The good thing about Indonesia and producing out of Bali is that westerners coming to Bali have a better quality of life. If you are really serious about making quality products, you wouldn’t make it out of Bali, unless it was special handicrafts. The other positive aspect of producing in Bali or Indonesia is the minimum production load is lower here. The Chinese won’t make a 200-piece order. What is the essence of a good fashion designer? So many people are ‘fashion designers’. Somebody who is original, has an eye for details and has a sense of their own style. Otherwise, they just end up copying everyone else. What about the retail/wholesale business. Is it good for you guys now? I don’t do retail or wholesale. I see there’s a retail boom. People use to come to Bali to buy sarongs and handicrafts. Now they come

to buy designers clothing, wedding dresses and leather goods. Bali has become a fashion destination. There are some incredible shops here. But I don’t retail. I’m not designing anymore. But business is good for a lot of people A lot of people meaning newcomers? Newcomers and old comers as well. Like Jessie White. Jessie White and I started out the same time over 13 years ago. Gary Collins has been doing it for nearly 20 years. They have shops here. Made de Coney has a shop here. How long do you think this retail or fashion thing is going to last? As long as people keep on coming to Bali. I think the biggest problem is that tourists will stop coming here unless the Balinese start cleaning up the island, I have been hearing that Bali is not a paradise anymore. It’s dirty, people are getting mugged in the street; the police are harassing people, and then there is the traffic. What about with prices going up? Will there be a time when the price is going to be the same as outside of Bali. Sure. Then people won’t be coming here anymore. That’s what I mean. How long is it going to last? Could be a couple of years; three to five years. I don’t know. But it’s definitely not going to last. Look at the traffic situation here. There’s no infrastructure. The island is not going to last. No body is doing anything about it. The government is taking money from the taxes. But where is it going? It’s not going to the roads. Definitely not to the hospitals because you can hardly get a room there. Maybe it’s going to the officials to get holidays? That adds to the whole thing. Yeah. The corruption will kill it.

I still see shops sprouting like mushrooms. How long will they last? I don’t know. It depends on how good their products are. The shops seem to be selling the same thing, It’s either surfer gear or boutique fashion. No. Surf shops are changing. Tke Drifter is doing a lot better than the other surf shops. It’s different and it’s cool. Not all their products are Quicksilver or Billabong. The rest of the shops are selling the same generic crap. Another great shop is Little Wing. They’re the guys that are setting the trends. They’re the one doing the interesting shops. Why do most people want to remain anonymous when interviewed? Because you’re a journalist and most people don’t believe journalists. The thing is most people are hiding from the Indonesians here.. Even though you’ve got your KITAS and everything is organized, they still come to screw you. They still come to get money out of you and make problems. You’re okay with us putting your name? Yeah… I’m okay cause I don’t think I’ve said anything that might get me in trouble. What else would you like to add about the fashion scene. It’s a great positive scene; it’s flourishing and a realy, really good thing. I think it’s good for the locals. They get to see it firsthand and its good for the community. It’s big business for the community and working two ways. You’ve got the cottage industries and these women working. We’re paying staff and sustaining a whole community. The fashion designers in Bali are not leaving in two weeks but staying the whole year. We are actually providing a basic, good income for the island. Like giving back? Making things easier… Absolutely. But anyone who get too big too quickly in Bali will leave and go to China. Because of the quality, and management,

as well. Especially in Australia, goods from Indonesia don’t have good potential. Really? That’s a shame Indonesia is not known for quality. Is Bali going to be the ‘underground’ boutique scene? So many boutiques around here. Do the shops here qualify as ‘boutiques’? Yeah… it’s great. Seminyak shops do and some in Kuta. The good thing about the boutique scene , what makes it really cool, is that people can make beautiful and creative shops with not a lot of money. If you’re in Australia, England or Japan you wouldn’t be able to build a shop so quickly and so cheaply as here. It’s very attractive; the rates quite cheap. People are still making a lot of money here. Okay, so there are still people coming here. A lot of people in the fashion industry. Should Anything be done about it? I don’t’ know. I don’t think like that. It’s healthy and keeps everybody on their toes. It makes you good because so many people are doing the same thing. If you’re not good, You’re gonna sink. There’s so much fashion in Bali even the Jakartans come here to shop. Can you compare the Jakarta fashion scene with Bali. Completely different. The market in Jakarta is all Indonesians with Indonesian designers, and mports. The market in Bali is expats and westerners living in Bali. A completely different look. No competition there, right? Not at all. It’s a free trade. To each his own. Fashion is relatively new to Indonesia whereas In Australia, England, the United States it’s like an everyday thing. So, this fashion scene can only benefit Indonesians.

interview by winny photo tamam

i appetite

dining out

Biku Tea Room

Zuttion

If you’re craving for High Tea with its quintessential finger sandwiches, scrumptious scones, small cakes and mini quiches in a traditional old-world atmosphere, Biku is the place to go. This quaint, wooden building houses an incredible assortment of antique Chinese & European porcelain tea sets, arts, silver jewelry and books. Recycled wood furniture, plants and lovely bric-a-brac create an eclectic atmosphere just like Grandma’s living room. Biku pampers diners with their a la carte menu: from salads, spring rolls and chicken wings, to deluxe beef burgers and homemade shepherds pies. Luscious Mexican Chocolate Cake, Carrot Cake, Brownies and more are temptingly displayed to go with their finest blend of Indonesian coffee. As proud owner Asri and her son Cok Bagus like to say, “It’s an extension of our sitting room.” Welcome

Come in for a cold beer, breakfast, lunch, dinner or for clothes, shoes and accessories. What? Yes, Café Zuccchini is the place to go if you want to shop and dine or dine and then shop. Look for the white and yellow striped canopy that marks this remarkably small but compact café. The food is simple, fresh and homemade using only the best ingredients. Come for breads, jams, cheeses and locally grown vegetables. Start with a breakfast of Fruit Salad with coconut, honey and yoghurt or Zucchini Omelette with homemade relish. Have a Steak Sandwich, Spaghetti alla Zucchini or Pollenta alla Rocco for lunch and try Eggplant Parmagiana with mash, rocket & parmesan or Pierre’s homemade Spaghetti Bolognaise for dinner. Also check out their Specials board. The little ones can enjoy eating at Zuttion because the children’s portion makes that possible. Inside you will find a cache of delightful Zuttion’s shirts, Tees, bags, bikinis, pocket singlet and summer dresses. Watch for evening wear by oscarthethird.

Biku Tea Room Jalan Petitenget 888, Kerobokan Phone +62 361 857 0888 Opening hours: 8am – 11pm / Seats 65

Café Zucchini @ Zuttion Jalan Oberoi 49, Seminyak Phone +62 361 736 633

Embun Life Cafe

Mojos Burritos

Embun, the newest café to open in Caggu provides an absolute feast for the senses. The fabulous bamboo structure rises like a wave poised to break over the lush rice fields that surround it. The air is rich with the fragrance of mint, lemongrass and basil which proliferate in the herb garden. Butterflies flitter, birds sing, And then there is the food, which is healthy, fresh, organic wherever possible and most importantly, very tasty! Embun translates as morning dew in Bahasa and was designed to showcase good Indonesian products; and to promote awareness of organic farming, sustainable development and fair trade. Everything is made from scratch and the menu includes a creative range of health drinks – try the Warm Apple Pie Smoothy and the Blood Cleansing Energiser − as well as a range of predominantly, but not exclusively, vegetarian soups, salads, mains and desserts. I love the Beetroot Bangkuan and Rambutan Salad in a light mustard dressing and the Grilled Veggie Sandwich with homemade pesto (made with lemon basil from the garden.) It is rare in the south of Bali to find a cafe that is totally integrated with nature; the beauty of Embun is that it combines the ‘feel good factor’ of Ubud with a fresh sea breeze.

Mojo’s Burritos serves the best California-style nachos and burritos outside the US-of-A. One of the owners is from San Francisco and has trained staff to make fresh tortillas using the traditional Mexican method. This lovely eatery, with only 30 seats, whips up delicious vegetarian salads, tacos and desserts. Come with friends and share potent Margaritas- by the glass or pitcher; or opt for Sangria, fresh juices and the ever faithful cold beer. Children are given special attention with their own Children’s Portion! Mojo’s Burritos is popular with expats and surfers and a fun place for the whole family. Booking advisable for special events and Mojos does delivery and catering for parties, too. Come to Mojo’s Burritos nearest you:

Embun Life café Jalan Kayu Putih / Subak Sari 77. Br Tegal Gundul, Caggu Bali Phone +62 361 847 56 14 www.embunlife.com

Mojos Burritos Jalan Petitenget Gang Prana (behind Harry Juku Restaurant) Phone +62 361 730 260 Jalan Petitenget (opposite Warung Jawa) Phone +62 361 747 79 193 Jalan Benesari, Poppies 2 Phone +62 361 730 260 Mojos Ubud, Ubud Main Road (near BCA Bank) Phone +62 361 920 94 22

i feature

lifestyle > art

Bali BohĂŠme

i artist profile

cristopher cuseo Meet Cuseo: His work is the magic of his mind and he loves it when she kisses his eyelids. This kid is as far from the LA

artorganiscenezatioasn. heInsteadis fromhe theworksworldin aofworld wrinkledof organi suits.z. edchrichaoss is fastwithbecomi n g obsolete under the wei g ht of consumeri s m and world of chris. his take on art, love ,whiskey and life in general.. .his hands the only tool to his success. step inside the My Last project was… “Broadcast Emotion” - a study on post-traumatic stress caused by bad memories. I tried to illustrate the natural growth of a painful memory in ones head by interviewing five friends and creating color pallets on the descriptions of their memories. My next project is… “Wrath of God” - I am writing a novel about two girls surviving a post apocalyptic post World War III world where men cease to exist anymore. After migrating to some sort of religious Mecca the girls discover that strong-arm religious factions have deviled the city. The book focuses around a

Art to me is... Turning pain into beauty and providing a break from reality while making the escape accessible to everyone. I draw my inspiration from… Romance, history, friends, family, fear, love and loss.

second coming of Christ. The women believe in a false second coming and effectively kill each other off. It is a love story with an unbelievable backdrop. All of my art is coming from this world at the moment. I am planning on expiring every medium through this chaotic journey. I am replicating broken down city walls as gallery sculptures. There will be glass branches in 50 color pallets… Beautified chaos; it is a roller coaster, violent and dark, its believability opens your heart. All of the fine art ideas bent around this theme are as big as the idea itself. There are already ten ideas for largescale installations, paintings and photography. I intend to fully illustrate this concept until it reso-

nates on a holy level. It explores more issues than my average project so I am happily faced with an intellectual challenge that feels right for my age. I have taken many beatings to get to the point of understanding this idea that has been in my mind for ten years now. After a million deep breaths I am up swinging with my eyes shut. Through this process I have come to find the beauty in the pain that is a part of me, this was necessary to understanding the story and its relevance to me, as well as the world that surrounds us. I am currently fundraising for all of them. This will be my first real project… Did that make any sense? I’ve never really tried to explain it on paper before!

My favorite artist of the moment is… www.clemensbehr.com

Currently i am listening to… Bring me the horizon.

My ultimate Friday night is… Depends on which Chris you are talking to. Haha! Friday night Chris might like some Jack Daniel’s, play a rock show, or dance on tables. Stealing taxi cabs used to be a favorite of mine.

My ultimate Monday night would be… Same as above. Hahaha! …Well not for a few years. I am reformed. My mind is my moneymaker, so I now stay away from that sort of crazy stuff. Monday nights I am always working these days.

Last thing I watched that got me inspired or moved me… trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/enterthevoid I like it when… She kisses my eyelids. They need a break. I love it when… I feel like I inspire others. This justifies everything. I really want to… Own a space ship someday and travel around the galaxy hunting space bounty. I aspire to… Become a professor at the school I attended, UCLA. I hate it when… I forget how beautiful life is.

Did art school prepare you for life of art? Not at all. It was like a diving board. It gave me the tools to reach new heights. The last lesson, as an artist, is when you hit the water. It’s what you do with the newfound knowledge and how you interpret it that defines you as an artist. Did your family have an influence on you becoming an artist? Yes a bit. My mother’s father was a successful actor and sculptor as well as an author. My father’s family has some very creative history to it as well. I will tell you about it someday, it’s a piece of history for sure. Tell me about the art scene in La compared to other places you have been to… I hate the art scene in LA. I have been struggling to find my place in it. I don’t think I ever will. But this was important to me. I am easily influenced so I don’t like having any other artist friends, especially painters. All my friends are musicians, filmmakers, and actors, a lively bunch! Now that I feel like I have solidified my style and direction I am being a bit more open with those sorts of restrictions though.

What’s your definition of a true artist? Someone who can effectively turn pain into beauty and provide a break from reality while making the escape accessible to everyone. If you were not an artist what would you be? A Marine. One half of me comes from a long line of famous soldiers. I have wild blood. It’s hard to be under the law. What makes you smile? Other peoples smiles, memories of friends and loved ones. Reminding myself of the beauty that surrounds me and having the shit scared out of me… Gross re-phrase: being scared for my life. Never laughed harder. Bad habit. What pisses you off? Ignorance. What are you wearing right now? Black jeans, white T-shirt supra hightops. Apparently you cook (Jason vouched for you) Signature Chris dish… Haha. Italian seafood.

Art to me is Turning pain into beauty and providing a break from reality while making the escape accessible to everyone.

My favorite website is… ffffound.com, adultswim.com, footytube.com Personally I feel everything has been done, seen, raped, traced and regurgitated in the way of visual stimulation how do you keep things new and fresh? I don’t compare myself with other artists or past art works. I work on my own original ideas. I know there has never been a me before. When art truly comes from an artist’s heart and the artist gives his or her all to become the best, they can always be original. As a kid I wanted to… Do everything. What’s on your bed side table, your jean pockets. Nothing beside my bed… Jeans - pocketknife, passport, cash. Best quote you ever heard… Fuck I don’t know. Don’t sweat the small stuff? Snakes or spiders… Spiders. Skating or surfing... Surfing. Black or white... One can’t exist without the other.

Whiskey or beer… Both, at the same time. Romance or bromance… Romance.

How have you evolved from your first exhibition till now? I evolve faster as i grow older.

Education or experience... You need both in my opinion. They serve different purposes.

Definition of being honest with your work? Finding your process and using it as a crutch to further explore emotion.

If I could own any artwork in the world it would be?? Andy Warhol himself. Maybe with a new robot brain. I would hang out and do weird shit all day.

How long does it take for one of your paintings? Anywhere from 50 hours to 400 hours.

If I was an animal I would be... A wolf. Do you feel pressure to follow the trends? Not at all. Best collaboration you ever did? www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MPgaX7-F_A Best advice you’ve ever been given? “Look at each moment as if you were old and writing the story of your life. What would you do? How would you act? What would you want to read? My story will constantly be romantic and exiting, adventurous and never dull or filled with regrets.” (My Grampa, Dan Kemp the actor/sculptor.)

Did your style develop accidentally? It has always been the same. I watched the piece you did for a show in front of a bunch of people how does that feel? I am very comfortable working in front of people under pressure. I love it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9xkuTTCqs4 What’s your favorite medium… Film. Dumbest thing you have ever done? Everything from breaking a bottle over my head at my own birthday dinner, to my cab-stealing phase, wow… I think there might be a longer list than I would like. The best thing you have ever done? Save a life.

interview by the Ö

as the

dead rise to

live by repo fashion editor the o

make up & hairstylist dima model yulia at lvdk

all head pieces and jewelry courtesy of saya gallery swimsuits courtesy of c-shop green swimsuit courtesy of this is genevieve

vintage dress stylist own shoes alaia

that night photographer Ludovic Perrin fashion editor the o production by frASER AT BRIGHT BLACK make up & hairstylist sherry model yulia at lvdk

vintage jumpsuit stylist own shoes chloe

shirt & shoes chloe denim shorst children of the sunglasses vintage chanel

vintage jacket stylist own denim shorst children of the

i travel lifestyle> street review

d e l e v a r t s s e l d a o The r 56

For many travelers itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the people you meet that form your memories. But for a man on a motorcycle nature can be the biggest challenge. So far in my journey from Norway to Bali, I have crossed rough terrain that nearly killed my bike, seen war conflicts that made me shut my mouth regarding local politics, and experienced extreme altitude sickness that taught me to slow down. Regardless, the dogs might be the only factor that still scare the life out of me. The hospitality, all the way from Turkey to Bali, has been wonderful. Occasionally I stumbled across someone who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the best intentions, but the signals to steer away are usually pretty clear. Only once have I regretted spending the night in a strangers house, although this was a house of the Taliban...

Are you gonna bark all day little dog? The dog stories started in Sicily. The island itself is rootless to man. If the mafia doesn’t kill you the extreme traffic rage will; and the explosiveness in character and energy has clearly rubbed off on the wild dogs. Before setting camp in the wildest of wild, in west Sicily, I stopped on a dirt road late one night to pitch my tent. Soon after, I heard dogs barking, they were getting closer and closer. I didn’t plan to get eaten alive by a rabies infected packs of dogs in the middle of nowhere, so I jumped on my bike to find the battery was flat. Reflexes came into action, head torch and knife come out of my bag and I was ready to fight. Now for those who haven’t fought against wild animals, it’s nothing like a bar fight where everything is 50/50. The rage of 20 hungry dogs who smell the fear in your sweat, can’t be ignored. Adrenaline is rushing, the dogs are in a frenzy, red shiny eyes reflect in the light of my torch. Then suddenly thanks to someone.......God? Allah? you pick yours, my high beams turn on and sweet electric juice runs through my bike. I jump on it and literally spin away with dogs biting at my feet.

Stop or blast past.. Riding through Pakistan in war time was quite a shock. At this time I didn’t have access to the news and had no idea what was about to rumble in Pakistan. As I crossed the Iran/ Pakistani border the customs officer says; “You shouldn’t be here, its very dangerous for you and our men.” He insisted on a military escort while travelling through the south of Pakistan, due to drug lords from Afghanistan, the Taliban, and of course the usual Kalashnikov bandits robbing and killing stray wanderers like myself. So after much argument from the local security soldiers he agreed to join me on this mission. After seeing him shaking in his boots while I fixed my punctured tyre in the middle of the desert, I understood that I too should be

more than scared. His expression painted a clear, dark picture of why I shouldn’t have stepped into this country. War had broken out and in the last weeks many people including westerners had been kidnapped and even killed. In the major towns bombs had started to paint the city skies and people gave me looks that I couldn’t fully analyze. Was it hatred? Or was its simply “What the hell are you doing here boy!?” With a soldier and a machinegun behind me, we ride through armed barricades and ghost towns with the simple understanding that the only way out is India. Before I hit the first major city I got stopped and held for hours until two heavy military trucks, four military cars and two military motorcycles pull up with a total 50 soldiers. With me and my motorcycle in the centre the convoy escorts me through the city. After a while it occurs to me, that they have assembled all these soldiers to keep me safe from the Taliban. After putting me in the safest hotel they could find the manager tells me, “Don’t go anywhere,” and five soldiers follow me though the high security hotel as bombs are blasting just a few hundred meters away. On the way to Lahore three locals with the usual outfit, an AK47 and a suspicious look stop me. Since three machineguns are pointing straight towards me I have no choice but to stop. My bike simply isn’t fast enough to outrun bullets. I stand there for an endless minute and have no idea what to expect. These guys are either bandits or the Taliban. Neither of which are good. For some odd reason I do the strangest thing. Standing there more helpless than ever before I reach for my secret weapon, the squeaky clown horn on my handlebar and give it a few squeezes. The situation turns and suddenly everyone is laughing. They bring out their boss who is a really funny guy and goes crazy for the toy horn. I end up drinking tea, discussing Pakistani and Western customs and have no choice but to spend the night

with them. Not the best night’s sleep, but by far the best goodbye!

Kickin and screaming The traffic in India can not be described in words alone. But I will say that it takes a strong person to not go on a killing rampage against Indian drivers. Every day is filled with at least six or seven close calls. The Indians are so good-hearted that they couldn’t see the extreme anger in me when I kicked in their passenger window and smashed off the side mirror. Being almost killed in traffic everyday can make a person crazy. Set aside all the craziness and sleepless nights, there were moments that made it all beautiful. The good energy that filled my days, riding though countries like Indonesia is what travelling is all about. People all over have invited the unshaved, dirty biker to their homes without question. Restaurant owners have treated me to dinner only to hear a part of my story or to become a small part of it. The countless faces and smiles that I carry with me give me the motivation to continue; and the kind gestures will never be forgotten. Some have asked what is the hardest part of motorcycle travelling. The answer is very simple. Riding, living and seeing is the easy part, it was leaving home that took the most courage. In Norway I had an extremely stressful lifestyle and felt I never got around to doing what I really wanted. Living outside reminds me how little I want my old life back. I ask myself how many days of the year living back home can I recall what I did? Not very many. This last year I can remember every single day, every camp site, every road and many, many different people and situations. So if you feel like life is flying past you at super speed, I can tell you how to change it. Every day do something that scares you; and do something completely different. 59

i shots

my favorite photos of the month. the o 60

miss you ziggy...

miss you dash...

i diary

who are you really When you are dressi n g to i m press or to attract, you are actually dressing with fear Fashionable clothes are a wonderful way to show off the best of our looks, enhance our appearance and give expression to how we feel. It is a form of creative expression for the designer and for the wearer alike. The colors and styles may not be everyone’s cup of tea but the diversity only shows the unique taste of each individual.

Fashion trends supposedly reflect the taste of the population but more often than not their promotion shapes the desire of their followers. The personal nature of the designer gives character to their creations and attracts a following of people of similar mind attracted to that style. For example, a designer whose greatest personal need is to be noticed is more likely to create clothes which grab the attention through their shock value than one who is by nature conservative. You could say that the style of their designs reflects the style of their minds. Those who wear their clothes will be similar in that it is unlikely that a conservative person will wear outrageous, attention seeking designs. The human mind will use any opportunity it can to take advantage of a physical opportunity. We use fashion as a form of personal expression in three distinct ways: We can show our insecurity and lack of self esteem by dressing in fashion that makes us look as grey as we feel and believe we are. Our clothes tell the world that we should be ignored, that we have nothing to offer and we do not matter. Our belief in an inferior, worthless and unwanted self is so strong we cannot see ourselves in a different way. We show through our clothes that we lack the inspiration to rise above our perceived limitations. Essentially we are stuck in the fear-based idea of who we are and are unlikely to want to listen to alternatives or 62

solutions because of the inner-emotional confrontation that would cause. When we are insecure and lack confidence in our presence with others, we can also use fashion to prop up our personality by wearing clothes that exude confidence in areas were we feel lack. We may, for example, show more skin than we normally would to prove we are sexually confident or wear an unusual and confronting design to attract attention or something that is both. In this case fashion has become a strategic tool of our mind, a means to overcome fears we hold about ourselves. We have a need to prove to others that we are not the fearful and insecure people we believe we are. We think that if can convince them that we are confident and in control then maybe we are not as bad as we feel we are. Our clothes serve the purpose of hiding our insecurities and are instruments to elicit responses from others we believe we otherwise would not get. If we get them to admire us, want us or be impressed by us we believe we have proof of how special we are. We use an illusion to create an illusion for ourselves. The third group is not as common. They can choose to follow fashion when it suits them but more than often do not. They are usually not entranced by one designer, but choose their particular style from a variety of them. The actual design, its quality and style are more important than the name on the label. They develop an individual style of clothes that suits their moods and personality and fit into a variety of occasions. They

are always sensitive to the occasion and choose what to wear accordingly. They dress for themselves and do generally not care of what others think of what they wear. Physically, emotionally and sexually confident of their presence they do not need to use their clothes to convince or impress others. Clothes are there for utilitarian purposes, to enhance their appearance, to give expression to how they feel or just to have fun with. When you are dressing to impress or to attract, you are actually dressing with fear. You expect your clothes to make a difference for you that you believe you cannot create without them. You expect your appearance to influence the perception that others have of you hence the fear should you choose the ‘wrong clothes’ and fail. Surprisingly you are likely to be successful with all of the people that are similar to you and those in our first category. But not with all of group 3, they are likely to see your insecurities in spite of your clothes and posturing. In the end you can only hide your negative self from those who share your issues no matter how you try and certainly not from yourself. So next time you buy some new clothes or dress up for an event, ask yourself: “Am I dressing for my self or for others and do I have an alternative motives”. The answers could reveal something that may well be worth exploring and dealing with.

rudy Eckhadt therapist & healer

i insider

peter porn and the real sex scandal It seems that almost all individuals no matter what nationality they are loves a sex scandal, especially if the persons involved in the scandal happen to be attractive celebrities and are caught on tape in the compromising position(s). e have had Pamela Anderson with Tommy Lee, Paris Hilton, Mimi McPherson (Elle’s sister) and many lesser known celebrities who have been caught doing what they generally probably regret ever recording, although in some cases it probably attributed more to their fame than any actual talent they may have, sorry Paris. Humans really do appear to have a fascination with sex and when people who are ‘famous’ are caught on film it seems the majority of people are overcome by voyeuristic instincts and wish to see these individuals in the flesh so to speak, doing what nearly all of us do at some time; being the act of sex, shagging, rooting, jiggy jig, making love or whatever you wish to call it. It is now just too easy with the internet, modern phones and technology to view and spread these types of images to a global audience. These scandals generally blow over in a little while after the media has beaten the story to death and anyone who was going to view the scandal of the moment on tape has already watched it. However, things in Indonesia seem to be a little different as the newest sex scandal continues to dominate the headlines long after the case should be fading from the news. This scandal involves the lead vocalist from popular Indonesian pop group Peterpan, Nazril Ilham and 2 videos of him doing ‘it’ with 2 different young ladies both of whom are famous in Indonesia, Luna Maya and Cut Tari. What differs here in Indonesia is that the above mentioned individuals have all been taken into police custody and technically could be facing time in jail up to 12 years under the Indonesian Pornography law, which it would seem now, wants to outlaw sex or at least the filming of the deed? The video in question was not deliberately put out into the public arena for financial gain but I believe became public property when the lap top belonging to Nazril was stolen. Really this should now be just a case for the parties involved to try and salvage what is left of their damaged image and get on with their lives. Unfortunately this does not appear to be the case as the police, after having already Nazril in custody for a while, now have the girls in custody in order, as the Police claim, to pro-

tect them from angry mobs such as the peace loving progressive religious group the FPI (Islamic Defenders Front) who have threatened to cane or stone the individuals for their sins If the government do not do it. Others want to see the celebrities in jail as they claim it goes against the morals of society and is damaging to Indonesian children, children whom I am sure most have already watched the video due to all the publicity given to the case by these vocal puritans through the media and the police. Whether you approve of the lives of the celebrities involved or not, having them face criminal prosecution in any way really is quite absurd, basically what has happened is that consenting adults have had sex in front of their own camera for their own use, which happened to be stolen thus entering the public arena. Is sex to become a crime? with Indonesia’s population I think not. Sarcasm aside, it really is a ridiculous waste of money, police work and the Courts time to be pursuing these matters when real sex scandals that destroy individual lives are taking place and no one seems to care. Occasionally a story appears in the paper mentioning sex slaves or human trafficking where women have for example applied for a job through an agency as a hospitality worker in Jakarta and then find themselves being forced into prostitution or being sold to a foreigner as a sex slave. Until recently my only knowledge of this was what I had read in the papers but now I know it really does happen and heard it from someone who unfortunately had to experience it firsthand. An ex-pat friend of mine who is married to an Indonesian lady had the following story which I have condensed. He received a phone call from a number he did not know and on the other end of the line was a young female member of his wife’s family pleading for him to help, she did not know where she was and she was being forced into having sex with men in a compound. (The lady had applied for a job in Jakarta but never arrived but was now in a place she did not know where). My friend learnt from the number that the actual call had come from a Wartel in Kalimantan and with no other real option he flew to the area where the call had originated. After a bit of detective work he found the

compound and posing as an interested buyer he found the family member and managed to negotiate a price to buy her. He learnt from the young lady that she had been forced to have sex with a number of men; that there were cases where men had entered the compound looking to ‘buy’ women; men from Malaysia and some from she thought Arab countries. What was really frightening about the situation was that the compound was hardly a secret location, so local authorities must have been aware what was occurring. According to www.antaranews.com this kind of human trafficking has been going on for quite some time, with women being tricked into becoming victims by being offered good jobs or other forms of flattery. Now the perpetrators are getting their victims by kidnapping and drugging. There was a case of a secondary female student who was kidnapped by 5 masked men on her way home from school in Lampung, Sumatra. The next day she was flown to Pontianak in West Kalimantan and then bused to Entikong on the West Kalimantan and Malaysian border, then taken to Malaysia to work as a prostitute. UNICEF estimates that approximately 100,000 women and children are trafficked inside and outside Indonesia a year (www.edition.cnn.com) and quite often done with the complicity of local authorities and police (www.asianews.com). While all this attention is being placed on 3 famous individuals who happened to be caught on tape having consensual sex, tens of thousands of women and children are being bought, sold and abused and it hardly rates a mention. Where are those protectors of Islamic values the FPI trying to put an end to this practice, or other groups moralizing about the celebrities, where is the anger in the media with these events occurring? The corruption of these so called moral values is depressingly hypocritically pathetic. PEACE.

words andy mac

Jl. Seminyak 47a // Bali

pics by: Mick Curley // Rik Fiddicke

available at:

i environment

bombastic plastix our pruducts are garbage!

They are handed out gleefully by cashiers the length and breadth of the island, used once and abandoned. Their fate to float down rivers, ride the waves, wash up on the beaches or smolder in black smoky fires.…. In Bali there is no escaping plastic bags.

ecycled products often get a bad wrap (no pun intended) because they are produced poorly with little thought for design. But Bombastic Plastix has turned recycling into an art form and their products are attractive in their own right, regardless of their ‘greenness’. Let’s face it, most of us want to do our bit to save the planet but there is nothing wrong with looking good while we are doing it. Surfer Girl, Bali Buddha and Bali Deli have jumped on the bandwagon and sell Bombastic products, they also have a shop in Kerobokan, and export around the world. It all started a few years ago, on Bombastic founder, Sam Miller’s kitchen floor. He was a man on a mission, armed with an environmental conscience, a keen sense of design, a heap of plastic bags and an iron. Through trial and error he discovered a way to fuse plastic bags into sheets of plastic fabric, which form the base of all his products. “Its hardly like we are using all the plastic in the world,” he tells me, “but at least we are using some of it; and we are taking

something that has a service life of 30 minutes and converting in into something that lasts years.” The process uses a mixture of heat and pressure, kind of like laminating. A cut and paste method is used to apply flower, feather and polka dot motifs and transfers are also used - which is how Audrey Hepburn and Geisha girls end up adorning some of the wallets. Results are stylish and durable, have a strong environmental message and also make a great talking point. Only the cleanest plastics are used and the bags go through a rigorous sorting process before being sent to the laundry and dried in the sun. Finally they are converted into sheets of plastic and are ready for designs and tailoring. Plastic bags are unavoidable, but if you have been hoarding a pile below your kitchen sink, (and they are clean and preferably made of polyethelene) drop them off at Bombastics on Jalan Mertanadi so they can be born again! www.bombasticsplastix.com

words ali edison

i party

i music

tah riQ getting there, my way -taught flamenco guitar player. JAtordanthe-young born Tahage RiofQ siisxanteenaccompli s hed, self he had already been studying five to nine hours daily for two years. He is now playing his own original flamenco pieces and songs he’s written in selective up-market venues in Bali. He is a big believer in originality and wants to bring his own music here. But the real essence of Tah RiQ is more than just his music. It is the ‘how and why’ he is in Bali, which he describes as his launching pad and spiritual home. The excerpt below is from our very interesting interview. How did you get to be in Bali? In a nutshell, while I was at university I had a part time job working at PC World selling computers to families. I fell into a trap that a lot of people fall into, which I’m actually grateful for. After finishing university I had no money so the natural impulse is to increase the hours at your part time job. The part time job became a full time one. I was working 40 hours a week when I was sitting on a masters, a degree and all the other skills that I had developed over the years. But I was stuck because I had bills to pay; I had rents and cost of living and no way out. Here is when something really different happened. I started getting into free running, Parkour. A French urban discipline where you like leap, climb walls and jump off rooftops. What that teaches you is that the limits that you thought you had aren’t true at all. It’s just your perception. You mean it unleashes who you really are or meant to be? Yeah. It shows you have more potential. One day I was on this rooftop 14 feet high. It not that high but when you’re on top it’s really high. I wanted to jump but I was really scared. A friend of mine that does Parkour said, “The jump is not going to change. You go home and come back and the jump is still the same. Only your perception changes.” I made a vow to myself that if I jump I’m going to resign. Next day I jumped; landed on my feet and said, “No more PC World.” In the morning I handed in my resignation letter and quit. People asked me what I was going to do. I didn’t know and just didn’t care because I made a decision on my own two feet. How did you get through all that? I was on such a positive vibe that day, I was talking to a customer about our interests. I told him I resigned this morning and he asked what I do. So, I told him I was an animator. He said he needed an animator and hired me. I quit my job at nine and 70

was employed before noon at a job that paid me more… So, if you had not quit you would have not gotten the new job…? Yes. So then I was in a normal design job and moved from working for him to working for a marketing company that folded because of the economic situation. It was a blessing in disguise because at the time I was just finishing my old rent and was moving into a brand new apartment and getting a big promotion. The rug was swept out under you. The first time you quit but this time it’s different Right. I had a good job and was working for people that I like. I kept thinking, “What do I do, what do I do?” I started to think up alternatives like seeing other parts of the world that I hadn’t seen before. Then a friend that I met a few years ago suggested I move to Bali. She said that knowing me and my artistic talents, Bali would be good for me. So, fine I put my stuff in storage; bought a one-way ticket and came here. Just like that? Have you ever regretted the decision? I never even Googled Bali. I left ten years of my life behind, just like that. Wow… How did you start to ‘move around’ in Bali? Again just meeting the right people. I happened to meet someone and we played the guitar. One night I walked into this restaurant where he was playing and he asked me to take the stage. The owner heard me play and asked if I wanted a regular gig. I accepted but asked her to also provide accommodations. Sensing that things would escalate I bought a new guitar. You like it here? Are you kidding? Love it! To me Bali is a launching pad and my new spiritual home. Before home to me was more of a familiar setting or room. But now I feel more at peace within and so in turn more at peace here than anywhere else. I could sleep on a table and still feel at home. For the first time in my life I am doing exactly what I want to do. I read somewhere Jelilah wrote you have to try to do what you want and nothing else. Is

that what you’re doing? Exactly. It’s working for me. Great. You’re living proof that the stuff works so I’m going to do just that, too. There never seems to be a hesitation on your part in doing anything? I’m the sort of person that does everything ‘blindly’ when I feel a strong vibe. The fear is there; it’s natural but I trust the vibes, my intuition and just go. Like trusting the Universe? Yes. I don’t agree with the saying that everything happens for a reason. I believe everything happens for a reason when you’re on your path. Your job is just to spot these ‘signs’ and make the most of each opportunity. Will we be given signs when we are on the right path? I suppose we have to be aware. I believe so. You have to be very aware, sensitive, open, in tune and receptive. It’s easy to know if you’re on the right path. Everything will work out, things will fall in to place and these forces are magnified considerably here in Bali. I am also a great believer in The Law of Attraction, a book by Michael Lossier on the ‘how to’. You just have to ask and the path to get there will begin revealing itself. I mean, how I met Andrew. I’ve been told that I needed press shots by the places that I’m working for. My friend was shooting for her new swimwear range at the studio and I asked to be the guinea pig while they adjusted the lights. Because I wanted the shot to look natural I played the guitar. That was when Andrew noticed my guitar playing and we started talking; and here we are now. What about the positive affirmations usually suggested? Most times they’re not true. A positive affirmation is not always a good thing. For example if you look into your empty wallet and say, “I have lots of money’ your mind rejects it. I reframe by saying, “I love the thought of seeing my wallet full of money”. Even though it’s empty, what you are saying is true. There is no contradiction. By visualizing a fuller wallet you’ll start to smile. That starts sending out the abundance vibes which draws more abundance towards you rather than the lack.

You can catch Tah RiQ at the Rock Bar, Ayana Resort & Spa. interview by winny

i scene

THE CAVE music is the only true religion What happens when two buddies from the same hometown share a bottle of red label late into the night and find there is nowhere to go out and listen to good music? he Cave is what happens… Nestled amongst foliage there is no name out front, no neon flashing lights, just a couple of friendly security guards to let you know you have arrived. Once inside the sweat pit feels like a modern day version of a roaring secret 50’s bar; cramped, dark and filled with a crowd clearly not out to just stand around and pose. Everybody is getting down so low that you realize music is definitely the only religion in this headquarter. I catch up with Lars on a windy afternoon with a couple of beers and what starts off as an in-

terview ends up a good few hours of bars, music and general life conversations. As we skew in and out of a million topics I get the feeling that this guy really is about the music. There is no plan to expand to an overflowing club, no sell out DJ’s, just raw old school music with a twist of dancing and good times. Lars originally from Switzerland came to Bali 3 years ago like most of us on a fashion trail. With the lack of a place catering to non-ravehead techno crowds, he decided to do what anyone with an events background could do: create one. With a non-pretentious energy the cave has managed to draw in all of Bali’s local

hip cats looking for a place to dance until the wee hours of the morning. Each week expect to see DJ Solomn, DJ Goldigger, DJ J-funk, DJ LBS, DJ Fabio Barocco, and DJ Bongkar. The Cave is all about girls in tighter than tight dresses amidst some serious hip hop lovers. With more tequila shots than Bintang shirts, this is the place to be when it comes to a Bali night out. Jl.Petitenget no.900x

words the O

PT. Pinisi Duta Bahari Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 245 ,Sanur 80228 Bali - Indonesia P. +62 361 283 358 F. +62 361 283 357 info@seatrekbali.com