FROM THE EDITOR [APRIL 6th 2005]

Just got a stress call from my partner in the stroopwafel business Lens, who is attending the Food and Beverage Exhibition that just started this morning in the PRJ building in Kemayoran, Jakarta. What happened? Some history first:

Last night, while checking our display in the Holland Pavilion, I introduced myself to some other people in the stand. 'What are you selling?' 'Cheese', said the man. 'Together with my son. And you?' 'Stroopwafels', I answered. A third man joined. He asked me: 'What are you selling?' 'Stroopwafels', I replied again. 'And you?' 'Strawberries', he answered. (So if you are planning to visit this exhibition that last until Saturday, you can find us in between strawberries and cheese.)

The Dutch man and his son where new in town so I took them to BuGils, where it happened to be ladies night. It was hot in BuGils and their Dutch winter resistant suit made them sweat even more. The older cheese man looked with wide open eyes at the dancing staff behind the bar. His son had loosened his tie a bit already, and moved away further and further from his father. Finally, after one hour, the father didn't talk about the cheese business anymore, but he started to become interested in my business. Questions like 'What do you pay them?'  and 'Do they have boyfriends' were easy to answer. By the end of the evening I was confident these father and son would do their utmost to establish a business in Indonesia.

Back to Lens his call just now. The exhibition was just opened by the Tourism Minister. Why the tourism minister, I have no idea. 'Bart, we have to do something! These cheese guys get all the attention. Everybody is interested in their product!' I was surprised because so far our stroopwafels sales in Starbucks went very well and Indonesians clearly like our product. Lens continued: 'They managed to get Vi here (Vi is a BuGils waitress) and she is walking around in a Dutch traditional custom and cloggies! The combination of a piercing in her tongue, nose and lip and a Volendam uniform is ridiculous but everybody wants to go on the picture with her!'

The father and son had learned fast. They brought 450 kilo cheese from Holland and Vi handed out 20 kilo already in just two hours. I am sure the father and son have their tie tight again. They are sharp. After one day in Indonesia they like it already. Luckily for Lens we have also a BuGils stand on this exhibition where Henny and Widi are the serving drinks, free of charge. I will go there now. If you have time, dear reader, come the Holland stand in Kemayoran and support the strawberry farmer and Aaltje Bakery.

Note: No time yet to extract pictures from Madura and Glenmore from the camera. next edition, hopefully. --
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