Alcohol
on Really Out There Experience (Indonesia), 21/Feb/2010 00:33, 34 days ago
Beer is relatively expensive a bottle of Bintang– the only one worth drinking will cost around 25,000 Rp. A 750 cc bottle of spirit in Bali will cost around 600,000 Rp however a 1,000 cc reused Sprite bottle of the locally distilled spirit will only set you back 30,000 Rp. As it is somewhere between 50 and 60% proof one bottle goes a long way. There is a local wine which I had the misfortune to have to drink on three occasions– as I was not impressed I never thought to find out how much it cost. It is very unusual for women to drink and if they do it will be discreetly at home. Men tend to sit around outside in communal groups. The alcohol for the night will be on the table in front of the bandar– sort of bar tender– along with one glass. The bandar then pours a shot and downs it in one. He then pours the next shot and gives it to the person on his right and so on around the group. As you can imagine you do not want to join a small group as the glass returns rather swiftly. It is not acceptable to opt in and out but once you have had enough you can sit back from the group. Drinking continues until the bottle (or as at one party I was at the ewer) is empty. Some form of food is provided; this can range from peanuts to a whole BBQed chicken via fish and mango. You normally eat after you have had a drink each round. Whilst out here I started brewing my own wine again and have got one of the locals hooked as he liked the result so much. At least I do not have to worry about what to do with my kit and spare ingredients.