Browsing "Older Posts"

30 Groups Who Own Jakarta Nightlife

By Tibs →
You would be surprised to know that 90% of Jakarta's main clubs, bars, spas and karaokes are in the hands of less than 50 persons and only about 30 groups. It is quite difficult to know precisely who owns what because there are usually several partners in each business venture . This is a way to minimize the investment cost, to spread the risks and to help with the promotion. Each of the owners brings his network of friends, family, strategic connections and partners to support the business and to make it grow. Within the same group, it is also not uncommon to have several companies (PT) with different shareholders each.  Another difficulty is that the real owners are sometimes hidden behind a nominee. This is especially true when the venue is reputed for hosting illegal activities such as drugs, prostitution or gambling. The best illustration for that is Tommy Winata who has the particularly of being a nominee who uses other nominees: He owns stakes in multiple compan

Saigon Nightlife: Best Clubs and Bars

By Tibs →
Ho Chi Minh City nightlife, in Vietnam, is one of the craziest in Southeast Asia. I lived in the city for a few months and this is my report about its  best nightclubs, bars, karaokes, spas and beer gardens . Note that Ho Chi Minh City can also be called Saigon, HCM or HCMC. I will also give more general nightlife tips for clubbing and having fun in Vietnam. Saigon Nightlife Summarized in 100 Words If you don't have the time to read my whole review, here is a short summary: - Best midrange hotel near the nightlife:  Sanouva Hotel  (40$ per night) - Where to party as a young tourist: Bui Vien street (just walk there and you'll see over 50 cheap bars and clubs). Music is EDM, Rn'B and Top 40. - Meet girls online:  VietnamCupid , Tinder (read my article about the best dating apps for Vietnamese girls ) - Meet sugar babies: Seeking Arrangement - Most popular nightclubs for expats:  Lush ,  Glow - Best rooftop:  Chill Skybar - Best techno/alternative nightclub: 

Is Bali Becoming a Sex Tourism Destination?

By Tibs →
One of the biggest changes to Bali nightlife since the past 5 years is the seemingly growing number of prostitution or semi-prostitution venues in Bali. Those places were once discreetly located in Sanur or in some seedy streets in Denpasar, but they are now everywhere and they are certainly not trying to hide. In Kartika Plaza, you have the new District Club which features sexy dancers and karaoke rooms with Lady Companions. It is owned by Tommy Winata, famous for being behind naughty clubs like Golden Crown in Jakarta. Other naughty KTVs include EC Bali, Tang Chao (for Chinese) and Level One. In Denpasar, Akasaka was extended with a new room called A-Club, also with sexy dancers and prostitutes. The old room in Akasaka is packed on weekends and during my visit there, I saw fully naked women trying to sell tequila shots to customers in exchange for private lap dances. Considering the head-banging music that was played there, we can imagine most people inside were taki

My Experience Buying from Amazon in Indonesia

By Tibs →
I have bought countless goods on Amazon over the years (books, toys, air purifier, pollution masks , etc) and had them shipped to Indonesia, in Jakarta or Bali, without any difficulties. In spite of this, I know quite many expats who are still not confident using the website. That's a shame because there are still many products that are hard to find in Indonesia, especially if you live in smaller cities. Amazon also has competitive prices (in particular on its " Today's Deals " page) and it is much safer to use than local alternatives like Lazada or Tokopedia. If you are still hesitating, this guide will explain everything you need to know about buying on Amazon from Indonesia and why you should not worry about it. I will answer common questions like: - Is it safe to ship from Amazon to Indonesia? - What kind of products should you avoid buying on Amazon for Indonesia? - What is the AmazonGlobal shipping program and how does it work? - Does A

10 Best Countries to Find a Wife or a Serious Girlfriend

By Tibs →
Are you struggling to meet a potential wife in your home country? Are you unsatisfied with your dating life at home? If yes, maybe you should expand your horizons and start looking for love abroad. In most cases, if you target the right countries, you are almost certain to find girls that are much better than the ones you could have hoped for back home. I have traveled to more than 60 countries in the past 4 years and I can tell you exactly where you should start looking for a serious relationship. I know where you will find the prettiest, sweetest, most caring women in the world. I can also tell you what you should be cautious about and how to avoid the most common scams. In the countries below, even if you are just a regular guy with a normal job and an average look, you should be able to be successful within just a few weeks or months. You can try your luck on the dating sites I recommend (all are free to register) and you will see for yourself. SeekingArrange

13 Most Beautiful Japanese Models and Gravure Idols

By Tibs →
Gravure idols are the Japanese equivalent to FHM models. They appear on the front page of male-oriented magazines, wearing sexy lingerie or swimsuits, or they shoot videos in which they playfully tease men with suggestive moves. They will rarely make nudes, or do pornographic movies, though some JAV actresses did start as gravure idols. On the contrary, for the most talented and beautiful models, the final objective is to become a mainstream actress or singer. That's what happened with most of the girls listed below. How to Meet Gravure Idols? One thing you should know is that it is possible to meet and date famous gravure idols, for instance by using the services of an elite dating club like Universe  (based in Tokyo and Singapore). Basically, Universe helps you to set up dates with Japanese women, in exchange for a fee that varies between US$300 and US$1,500. It is more expensive than a sugar dating website like Seeking , but you have access to more beautifu