Playing guitar on your must-do list.

        Living in Jakarta definitely has many downfalls: one of them being the considerable amount of time spent indoors... mostly due to a lack of open green spaces and overwhelming traffic.

"Increasing Jakarta's green spaces is not a priority for the city administration, which focuses more on transportation and housing, a spatial planning expert says." "Green areas have long been an issue in the thriving metropolis of Jakarta, and some observers have said the lack of green spaces makes the city less livable." Jakarta Post June 06 2010

       Though, many of us expatriates have chosen to look on the bright side and simply convert this particular problem into an opportunity: in deed we have decided to dedicate this precious time to pursue our passion for some, improve a skill or take on a new activity for others. For me, I have chosen to take on ...drum roll.. guitar! 


      The fact that guitar is to Indonesia what soccer is to France... helps the learning process. The price of a brand new guitar starts at 80 euros and the opportunity to see extremely talented guitar players endless... In pubs, bars or at concerts like the one I had the pleasure to go to on Wednesday: Dewan Budjana.

  "He is the lead guitarist and songwriter of the band Gigi. Budjana’s style changed dramatically to jazzas he got to know John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, John Abercrombie, Chick Corea and Weather Report. Dewa Budjana has collaborated with many famous guitarists such as Tohpati,Ridho and Abdee Negara. His ability to combine jazz and rock has put him among the top Indonesian guitarists. Wikipedia"

Love C-