Thierry Vincent was born in 1955 Koblenz, Germany and grew
up in Paris. From an early age he dreamed of travel and adventure,
and showed an early interest in books. After serving as an
apprentice for a printer in Paris, at age 23 he became a printer
himself and later took up publishing. Thierry has traveled
extensively in Europe, Africa and in North and South America.
He presently lives in Ubud where he is the owner and proprietor
of a café bookstore. Thierry’s hobbies are traveling,
cinema, music and reading.
When was your first trip to Indonesia?
The first time was in 1993. Because I found it such a mosaic
of peoples, cultures, flora and fauna, I started reading and
collecting books right away about this extraordinary country.
Have you traveled extensively in Indonesia?
I’ve been to Java, Flores, Lombok, Sulawesi and Komodo.
But one life is not enough to see all that Indonesia has to
offer. It is like a continent of islands and I still have
many more places to discover.
What is your favorite place in Indonesia?
I love Ubud best of all. Don’t ask me why because I
want it to remain a secret!
What made you decide to live in Bali?
I am personally involved in Advaita Vedanta, a monistic school
of Hindu philosophy. After studying this discipline a long
time in Paris, I yearned to live this spiritual system more
fully. This is one of the reasons I chose Hindu Bali as
a place to live, so I can find harmony in my life. Today I
realize that coming to Bali was a good decision but not for
the reason stated above.
Why did you decide to open a bookstore in Ubud?
When I arrived in Bali, I gave myself one year to find an
occupation and a nice place to live. I then met a Canadian
who suggested that I live in Ubud and sell books. But I had
that idea before.
Where did you get your love of books?
While growing up in France, a lot of emphasis was placed on
books in my family. A long time ago an old woman from Algeria
told me that books will teach me the truth. That always stuck
in my mind. Music also played a big role in our family life.
In fact, I sometimes wonder why I didn’t become a musician.
Who is your favorite author?
It’s impossible for me to choose just one . That would
be like choosing one favorite fruit or one song. I like many
different sorts of books and authors. Each give a different
kind of pleasure. I also have to thank the bad authors for
making me appreciate the good ones.
Which kinds of books or magazines do you personally like to
read?
I like reading anything from comic strips to essays, from
poetry to the classics. Many people who visit my bookstore
are looking for poetry, but they often don’t know the
name of the poet. They just remember the lines from a poem.
Poetry is expressed everywhere, even in war. It is our spiritual
food.
Why did you name your bookstore Rendez vous doux?
I like the idea of people networking, so I chose the name
rendez vous which means “a meeting” in French.
It’s also the title of a beautiful French song.
Does your bookstore specialize in certain kinds of books?
No, I try to make available all the genre. When possible,
I also try to shelve books that hold interest for people who
are visiting Bali or who already live here.
How do you acquire the books that you sell?
We bought a lot of stock in the beginning. Now we mostly exchange
or buy books. I’m proud to say that we also sell new
books. One very excellent introductory book written in four
languages, “My life in Bali”, is an in important
read for anyone visiting Bali. I also sell old films about
Bali, and have a few rare books, but they are difficult to
collect and to sell.
What do you think makes your bookstore different from other
bookshops in Bali?
It’s a centre of social activity. People can browse
for books and watch old movies while at the same time enjoy
a snack and a coffee.
What nationalities and age groups visit your bookstore?
My customers are of all ages. Many come from the French-speaking
countries but also from Japan, China, Poland, Australia, India
and Brazil. Just the other day we had a man from Tibet which
was a nice surprise. It’s important to me to attract
people from everywhere.
Do you also present cultural events?
Yes! We recently held a presentation and book signing for
Gill Marais, the author of the exquisite book Sacred &
Secret. Every Thursday evening the world music group Lalloji
also plays live music.
What’s the most difficult aspect of owning an independent
bookstore here?
To find new books or certain kinds of books. But, as is often
the case, finding a solution to a problem often becomes a
learning experience and a perfect opportunity to meet new
people.
What do you like best about running a bookstore in Ubud?
I really like being able to create a pleasant atmosphere for
people from all over the world. That to me is beautiful experience.
Meet Thierry at Rendez vous doux,
Jl. Raya 14, Ubud,
Tel. (0361) 747-0163,
Email: Rendezvousdoux_bali@yahoo.fr.
For anyone interested in being considered for Siapa, please
contact: <pakbill2003@yahoo.com>
