This is news that has made headlines around the world and is likely to continue to do so until the US Presidential election process concludes on 4 November.
Now, if Obama wins, then it is likely to be news for a while yet. And, the question will always be will President Obama visit one of his childhood homes when he makes a visit to Indonesia (photo is of the home).
The story is an interesting one in its entirety however a long story short. Obama spent a couple of his childhood years living in the Menteng area of Central Jakarta.
Now some 35 years later a Dutch businessman with extensive business interests in the bar and cafe scene in Jakarta and Bali has decided that a good cafe might be just the thing to capitalize on Obama mania.
It would be a cafe and not a bar. The products of choice would be a Barack blend of coffee mixing Kenyan and Indonesian beans. The other product would be Dutch inspired stroopwaffles. The place is also likely to become a bit of a museum decked out with Obama memorabilia (some might say a shrine). Yet, in a business sense it really needs Obama to come through and win the election. Simply, a coffee joint for a junior senator from Illinois is probably not going to pay the bills.
It is being reported that Bartele Santema is offering USD 500 a month as rent. This is unlikely to get the deal done with rumors floating around of a solid offer for USD 3 million for the whole property and other rumors suggesting that in the event the world sees a President Obama then the value of the property could be as much as five time the 3 million supposedly already on offer.
There is little doubting in terms of the value of the Obama brand should he become President of the USA and leader of the free world.
Good luck to all involved and may your hopes, dreams, and prayers for financial success be realized this 4 November.
You can find news of this momentous event at Bugil News, The Wall Street Journal, AP, and CNN.
Why a post on Belgian beer? Well, as I have been sitting here this fine Saturday evening I have enjoyed a couple of Belgian beers. Two are of the Hoegaarden brand: a white beer and the grand cru. The third was a Leffe and a brown beer. I think I like Belgian beer.
I have a good mate who is currently studying for a Masters of Law in New York at NYU. The last time we were in the US I convinced him to have a go at the Sam Adams (very much a boutique beer brand). He loved it! So, the other day whilst chatting, he in NYC and me in J-town, the subject of beer came up and some new Sam Adams flavours. Then the discussion turned to other beers and the Hoegaarden was described as being worth a taste test.
I was not sure where I would find it in Jakarta but I figured that one day I would make the trek over to Bugils in Taman Ria. Bugils started off as a bar owned by a Belgian (see comments -- this is not true! It is in fact owned by a group of Dutch business people) and has morphed into a business group with a number of bars and a travel agency and other business interests so I am told. My logic being that if the owner is Belgian he probably indulges his own tastes and some Belgian beers would be on the menu (see the earlier point -- if the fella was Belgian then my logic might hold true. The fact that he is Dutch means that the logic does not stand up to scrutiny).
However, a trip to Pacific Place, a new shopping mall and hotel complex in the SCBD, uncovered a Kem Chicks supermarket. Lo and behold the Belgian beer availability question was answered. I decided to start off slow and purchased just one bottle of each. Now that I have finished all three bottles I am left ruing the decision not to buy more.
I have decided that Belgian beer is pretty good.
I have also determined to do a beer appreciation course (I am guessing something like a wine appreciation course) so that I can post authoritative looking posts describing the unique palates and flavours and whatever else connoisseurs say. Although, for most of my mates the simple recommendation of that it goes down smooth, tastes good, slightly bitter, and ranging in alcohol content volume between 6.5% and 8.7%, will probably be enough information for them.
I have just done a little Internet searching I think I can learn this beer tasting stuff on line here.
