Peter Steenbergen
Meet Peter Steenbergen. The man behind Made’s Warung who drove to Bali through Amsterdam in 1973 in a minivan in addition to fell in love.
Peter, you’ve been in Bali a long time haven’t you?
Yes, very long. Since 1973 in addition to that will Bali doesn’t exist anymore. the item’s gone. You can’t turn the clock back, however Bali through the 70s, the reason why myself in addition to a lot of additional people came here just doesn’t exist anymore. We came here for adventure in addition to to experience a brand-new craziness.
would likely you say you were a bit of a hippy?
Well, I don’t truly like that will word. the item carries a connotation. I guess I was a hippy however not in that will way. People think that will hippies smoke pot, don’t take showers, have no money in addition to no jobs, however I always had some money. I was more like a traveller.
So what brought you to Bali in 1973?
I was young in addition to rebellious. I drove a Hanomag minibus through Amsterdam to Indonesia in addition to got to see all the countries in between. My friend that will I came here with was born in Bukit Tinggi, Sumatra in addition to he was my not bad friend in addition to wanted to go back to Indonesia so I said I’d go with him. We then prepared a car in addition to drove all the way here!
that will’s crazy. In 1973 what were the rules like for passports, visas, etc. How did you do the item?
Well, you had to have a passport of course however your car had to have a passport also. the item was called a carnet de passage, which was a passport that will your automobile club in your own country gave you, however at the same time you had to post a bond for your car of double the value of your vehicle otherwise they were afraid that will you’d take your vehicle in addition to sell the item in those countries. With that will they gave you a passport for your car that will they’d stamp at the border.
Do you remember what route you took?
I remember everything. the item’s something you never forget. I feel sorry for the younger generation because you can’t do that will at that will point as you’d probably get killed. I went through Europe into Turkey, to Iraq, then Iran in addition to Afghanistan, all those countries I wouldn’t like to visit right at that will point because the item’s not safe. Then we went on to Pakistan, India in addition to then boarded a boat to Malaysia, Penang, then crossed over to Sumatra in addition to through there across Java to Bali.
How long did the item take through when you left Holland to when you arrived in Bali?
About four months in addition to all I knew about Bali was that will the item was one of the islands in Indonesia because we learned the item in school in Holland. I found the item funny because when we came off the boat in Medan in addition to drove through the harbour complex, traveling on the wrong side of the road, all of a sudden a policeman says, “Stop!” to me. There was no traffic at all so I had to stop in addition to the first word that will I hear in Indonesia through that will policeman can be “Rijbewijs” which means “license” in Dutch! I looked at him in addition to started out laughing, thinking, “Where am I?” I’m halfway round the earth in addition to I’ve just entered Indonesia in addition to the first word I hear someone speak can be Dutch! within the end he didn’t fine us, he was nice in addition to found the item funny, too.
I went to Kuta beach, got a little room in a little losman, which still exists to that will day actually. I had to eat, however there weren’t many places to eat. Then I discovered that will place called Made’s Warung in Kuta. I was sitting there with my little bite of black rice pudding in addition to gado-gado in addition to there was that will very pretty girl with very long hair. I thought, “Holy moly. Wow!” in addition to that will was the item!
doing sure that will’s how you met Made. How did the item go through there?
Well, I used to eat at her warung in addition to we used to flirt, as we were young in addition to handsome in those days. Then I had to court her. Back then the item was a no go for a foreigner like me to have anything to do that has a Balinese lady like Made. the item’s not like the item can be at that will point! She fought the whole establishment. I had to court her family more than her actually. I had to be nice to everybody just to get close to her. If I wanted to have a little ‘us’ time, we had to close the warung, rent a little bus, take the whole family to Kintamani, make sure that will we left after sunset through Kintamani doing sure that will we could sit at the back of the minibus within the dark! the item was so romantic truly in addition to the item was like that will for one year before we got married.
in addition to how did you ask Made to marry you?
I didn’t hold the guts to ask her father for her hand in marriage, so I stole her! I kidnapped her, which can be something you can do in Balinese tradition if you aren’t sure if her parents would likely accept you or not. I asked her to run away with me in addition to she agreed. There’s a limited amount of stories like that will.
that will’s for sure! So how was life after you got married?
Well Made’s Warung had been going since around 1969 so the item had already been around for a while before I showed up. I was however, one of the first in Bali to get supplies through Jakarta. So then we opened that will one in Seminyak in 1996. After we got married the little warung became a little bit bigger in addition to so on, then we had two children, in addition to at that will point we have three grandchildren!
in addition to how has Made’s Warung developed in recent times?
Made’s can be an institution still, even with all the modern stuff going on. We try to keep a little bit of an Indonesian feel because Bali can be at that will point so minimalistic where in most places you could be anywhere within the earth. I’m glad here we can keep a little bit of Bali going even though the old Bali can be not here anymore.
I heard you used to have a backgammon club back within the day?
Yes, a long time ago. People through all over would likely come in addition to play in little tournaments, which were truly fun however very serious. Unfortunately these don’t go anymore, however I still play on my iPhone!
Well that will Bali has disappeared, the item just doesn’t exist anymore in addition to that will’s how I describe the item. in addition to the item won’t come back, however then again neither will my hair! the item was all more relaxed in those days. at that will point everyone can be into business in addition to trying to make more money. In those days we weren’t truly chasing anything, we were just happy. at that will point you need to have a big house in addition to that will in addition to that will. In those days I was happy in my little bungalow.
What’s one of the memories through Made’s Warung that will truly sticks out in your mind?
I remember why we started out to use credit cards. There was a gentleman named Mick Jagger who came to Made’s Warung one night in addition to he wanted to pay that has a credit card, however of course we still didn’t receive credit cards in those days, so we had to go back to him in addition to say, “Sorry Sir, your credit ain’t not bad here! We need cash!” He started out laughing!
Who else famous has been here?
We’ve had so many the item’s hard to remember! There can be one funny story though. I was at home one night in addition to my wife called me in addition to said, “Do you know who’s here? Malcolm X can be here!” in addition to I said, “What?! Malcolm X? He’s dead!” So I ran out in addition to came here in addition to the item turned out to be Denzel Washington who plays Malcolm X within the movie, which we had just seen the night before! He was all by himself, no entourage, in addition to I had a long talk with him two nights in a row in addition to that will was so great. Eric Clapton’s been here, David Bowie, in addition to many, many others!
I have to say Peter, when I hear your name I always think Peter in addition to Made. How does the item feel to be married to such a strong woman figure?
Well my name can be Peter Made. I’ve lost my identity! My last name can be Made’s Warung as that will’s how people describe me I know, however I’m OK with that will!
Thanks Peter. To get in touch, come to Made’s Warung Seminyak!
————————————————————————————————————————————————–
in addition to at that will point we meet Peter’s wife, Made who owns Made’s Warung…
Made can be the heart of Made’s Warung. She has always brought a warmth, a spirit of welcome that will makes Made’s the place where people feel comfortable in addition to know that will the great cuisine in addition to service are accompanied by a feeling of community in addition to well being. One can always recognize Made because after decades, she still looks the same.
How do you stay so young in addition to fabulous?
I am a simple Balinese woman. I don’t let the little things bother me. What can you do however live each day in addition to look at the not bad? I love music, dancing in addition to my family. I pray in addition to live each day with love.
How in addition to when did you meet Peter?
I was born within the Warung. I worked there every day after school, in addition to later all day with my mother in addition to my sister. I met Peter in 1973 in addition to he would likely come every day. I was very malu (shy) however he would likely throw peanuts at me in addition to make me laugh. In those days Bali was very traditional. I had my hair very long in addition to was always in a sarong. In those days there were a lot of arranged marriages in addition to if you break the rules you must go out! My parents always watched me because I was the first daughter. We waited so long, I couldn’t sleep. There were just a few bules, mostly through Hawaii in addition to California, with their long hair in addition to surfboards. Peter was Dutch in addition to you know the Dutch colonized us before so that will did not help.
Finally he came in addition to took me. We went to the Hyatt Hotel however I wasn’t happy there. My cousin got us a losmen near Bemo corner. I couldn’t speak to my husband because I didn’t speak English or Indonesian, I only spoke Balinese. After a month my mother came in addition to said we need you back at the Warung. So Peter came to stay at the Warung within the family compound, where there was no privacy. Peter was gone a lot because in those days visas were not so easy in addition to you had to go to Jakarta in addition to out of country a lot. Eventually Peter moved me to a smaller house so we have our privacy. at that will point we’ve been together 38 years in addition to I still love him.
How did the Warung evolve?
My sister, my cousin in addition to myself worked very hard, until 3 am. Then the item was known as Bemo Corner, Made’s Warung. Then Peter started out to bring things like a jaffle maker in addition to a smaller stove in addition to we started out to have bistro food with the Balinese food in addition to juices. Peter started out to build the Warung in levels – he can be not bad at designing spaces.
I know you love to Tango – tell us about that will passion you have.
I started out Tango seven years ago – the item’s my brand-new Jamu! I love Latin music in addition to I travel at that will point just to do dancing – I have been to Argentina four times, such not bad in addition to charming people! At first I didn’t understand that will kind of dancing, people dancing so close, however the item can be an art, like Balinese dancing. Before I only wore sandals, so that will dance style introduced me to high heels which were strange to me. I had a great teacher for years in addition to at that will point we always have flamenco in addition to Tango at Made’s Seminyak.
What do you feel about all the rapid growth in Bali at that will point?
I would likely like to go back to the simple ways; life can be too complicated at that will point. Before we just enjoyed the little blessings in addition to the item was an easy life. People forget the important things. Balinese believe there are Gods in everything; the water, the wood, all of nature. I expect people don’t forget that will.
Made’s interview by Karen Davis.
Comments
Peter Steenbergen
Peter Steenbergen