I prefer the old way of finding cool, new things, not using apps to do everything for you. Things like music, in particular, but it could also be applied to books or films. I guess anything on the creative side. In the past you kinda stumble across things, they were recommended by someone, or you dug deeper somewhere and found it for yourself. Call me old fashion, but it felt better, like achieving something, it made every discovery special and personal. It was like yours, not someone else’s. You could then use it as a bridge to connect with others, your community, or create or discover new communities, all the time growing at your own speed and in your own direction. Maybe you missed out on some things, but it was definitely part of truly finding yourself and part of the journey. So, I don’t like using these apps that do everything, suggest everything for you and attempt to steal the magic. Apps like spotify, netflix, and youtube even, they are all part of it. And now there’s this terrible AI. Sorry I have to say terrible. More machines just taking jobs and conning everyone. These apps and algorithms are stealing something basic from all of us, dumbing us down, disconnecting us, taking our jobs, making us lazier, and it seems no one notices or even cares. Maybe not everyone but a big chunk, nonetheless. Don’t you feel sometimes the machine has taken over already? Well, maybe not yet, but the way it is going, it won’t be very long.
Last week was kinda busy. First stop was a Friday jam at a small restaurant on Jalan Melasti, Kuta. It was billed as a night filled with tequila, handcrafted cocktails, and legendary 90s rock vibes and this was all at Salty Soul Kitchen & Bar. The cut back, semi acoustic bands were pretty good and they surely had a community there. The drinks and food flowed and good time had. Apparently, they won’t be doing it very often with the next event to be held on the roof top of the hotel (The Rivavi Hotel) next month. We’ll let you know. Next we discovered Pinik (as the girls call it) has been closed. We weren’t aware of that until arriving out the front around midnight and only encountering a lost looking security guard – who was trying to hit us up for a tip in any case. It seems to have been closed for some time (for renovations) and who knows when it will be back again. A quick stop at Blind Bear on Dewi Sri kept the evening in a local flow, and it’s another good place for a pits stop, not sure for what else. We ended up making a visit to Red Ruby as you do before eventually getting back to base.
Next day Saturday, somehow I made down to Sundays on the Bukit south coast for their monthly Full Moon party on the beach. I arrived late but talk about a chilled affair, my lord. Greats spot; white sand beach, the breaking waves and a fun crowd. It is a long way back on a bike in the middle of the night and especially with the Mr G on the back. We doubled up on both the pits stop Bear and the full night Ruby, phewww I should know better but sometimes things just get outta hand. Sunday was definitely a day to chill and process before Monday came along and the charity gig that night once again at Red Ruby. There was also a stop earlier at the soft opening of Chook and Roos sports bar in the Legian area. That was fun with Kiki and his buddies. A highlight was jazz singer Dian Pratiwi getting up for a song. I think they have the biggest screen in town right there that you can see behind the band on the main stage in the photos above. Chook and Roos was the precursor to the charity gig, which we eventually made it to. Always like to help out where I can and DJ AJ O’Grady still needs a some help covering the cancer treatment costs—any donation will help the cause. Great music that Monday night, Esteh was on fire! Donate here.
Wednesday evening was another moment to behold, that came out of the blue. To be precise it came from a short conversation I had last weekend with DJ Druva aka Andrew, who told me he was starting a new night at Les Toilettes on the Wednesday. I have never seen a night come together so fast. They were obviously planning it longer but The Beat just jumped on board at the last minute to help out. I went down kinda early that night and it was truly amazing how many young ladies were down there on a Wednesday night. I later discovered most are there by invitation and supplied with a few drinks, but however it is, it surely works. The music from Druva, Syania and main man, Aluke Rebels was all pretty cool and the place was grooving. The winner of the Wild One dress contest was a clear fave from the outset, well, from when I first saw her anyway, and her name was Kyle. She won a bottle and sofa for the next edition of Wild Ones and cash money. Noice.
We’ve been having dramas with this email and the website last night and this morning so we are late out today but at least we made it. Catch you around the traps, enjoy the weekend.