in Eastern Promise (EP), now we have a playroom for children. Over the past trips to New Zealand and Australia, I noticed a large number of pubs and restaurants which have this facility, to the relief of parents of young children. Except for fast food chains like McDonalds, Jakarta you can not go to a restaurant and sit relaxed if you have children. So 'Hip Hip Hooray!' We now have a game room in EP! The first time I brought my young kids there, they were excited and kept playing after a few minutes, I am relieved that I could sit without worry in the restaurant and eat my food and drink wine. Ah, what the hell. I was so happy with this "break" normal "keep them under control efforts, I ordered a bottle of wine!
Shortly after having my first sip of wine, pair entered the restaurant. I had my back to the game room and had a view of each person worked. I noticed the couple. the guy seemed British cockney and looked in all directions, while pointing left and right into the excitement. It was obvious to me that this was his first time. its small Indonesian girlfriend or wife had been in EP before. I recognized her and she recognized me. But with many each of my previous Jakarta nightlife years it was just a silent sign of mutual recognition. she insisted on a table in front of me and sat with his back to me. his partner sitting on the table with her. I sip my wine and was about to check the children back into the room behind me.
Suddenly, the man stood up with a pointing finger. "Whaaat?" he said in a loud, surprised voice. "Can you believe that?" For a moment I thought he is to me, but I found it in the direction of the game room. His female partner was probably already used his enthusiastic outbursts, and reacted slowly. She turned around. the guy continued, "They have a children's playroom in a bar? Crazy! Thus, parents can get rid of their children and get themselves drunk? How terrible! "
I froze at my table with red glass in my hand. An immediate feeling of shame came over me and I tried to hide behind my glass of wine. The young Indonesian girl watched the games room at me with sad eyes and leave a "sigh" profound. "Sit down, honey," she said as she turned her head around again to look at the menu. The man was still mumbling, "... incredible," then he fell slowly in his chair.
My instant guilt changed into a house, "Wait a minute. I'm not here to get drunk. I am here to enjoy the food while I do not have to watch my children. "But somehow I did not speak out. I could fight the guy, but I did not want to embarrass the poor girl did not seem to boil more love for his partner. I mean, maybe she was, but she certainly did not show it. so I decided to remain anonymous and raised a tabloid Jakarta Expat up to block my view.
but the man had spotted me. He bowed forward his partner and began to whisper. I knew it was on me. I knew it, because he kept on looking at me with disgust. I could easily understand what he said. "It must be the a thereof! He left his children probably fall there and now take charge! Look! He has a bottle of red and it is probably the latter because it looks so sleepy already! Terrible. "And although I could not hear what he really said, it must have been close enough, the girl shook her face in denial. Now she whispered something. And his reaction, I try analyze she probably said. "no, I know the guy he has no children He often goes to this area with all the bars" the guy helped her with her loss... memory. "Blok M?" The girl confirmed her answer. He fell into the chair with a "Woooow ...." But always kept looking at me.
I do not know if I would be pleased to be recognized as someone who did not drop her children to get drunk, but as a regular visitor Blok M, I continued my wine. Then, suddenly, wooden doors of the game room will open with a loud bang. There were my two year old son, shouting loudly, "DAD! LOOK!" I froze even with the glass to my lips. The couple stopped with the food order and the two watched my son to me, and back again. I turned around slowly. Yde was holding a small plastic glass of wine from a doll house. "CHEEEERSS!" He screamed, then hurried back into the room to play. Then there was silence.
I turned to the couple and a little sheepish, I raised my glass to them. "Cheers," I said dry. They do not say anything in return, although the girl had a small sympathetic smile. The next time you see me in the EP with a bottle of wine, it will not be in front of the playroom.