Indonesians in Focus: Dindin Komarudin

October 31st, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The problems that street children face are rooted in poverty and social exclusion, and are not amenable to quick-fix solutions. People might assume that street children are not suited to working in the business sector, yet one man holds the belief that going into business will bring street children long-term benefits.

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Indonesians in Focus: Djoni Basri

October 29th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

In most Indonesian cities the principal crossroads are graced — or disgraced if you like — by statues in the style known as Soviet Realism. These show muscle men snapping their manacles, thrusting forward, determined to engage with some enemy. They
are valiant, determined, aggressive and always triumphant.

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Simmering Volcanoes in Indonesia

October 26th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The archipelago nation is home to 129 active volcanoes, including 21 on Java. Now, scientists in Indonesia are closely monitoring three simmering volcanoes across the disaster-prone nation, including the offspring of infamous Krakatau off Sumatra island. Ash has been spewing some 200 metres (yards) into the air since Tuesday at Anak Krakatau, or Child of Krakatau, the volcano left behind after Krakatau blew in 1883 and killed some 36,000 people, scientist Agus Budianto told AFP. Anak Krakatau forms part of a popular international tourist destination about 40 kilometres off Sumatra island. Visitors typically tour the waters around the volcano by boat.

Chic and Creative South Jakarta: West Java

October 25th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

In colonial times, the southern part of Batavia was a no-man’s-land, visited only by crooks on the run. Several hundred years on, it is now one of the most bustling areas of Jakarta, with chic and creative people flocking to its suburbs to live or for recreation. Businesses in the area do not just sell goods. They also promote a certain type of lifestyle - one that caters to people with particular tastes.

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Tour de Indonesia Starts in Bali

October 24th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The international Tour de Indonesia cycling race will start in Bali in November, with cyclists set to pedal through Denpasar, Buleleng and Gilimanuk on their way to Jakarta. Freddie Tutuarima from the event’s organizing committee said hundreds of athletes from 14 countries were expected to take part in this year’s event.

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Metro Jakarta: West Java

October 19th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The biggest irony about Jakarta is that people see it as a city of a thousand chances, yet chances are actually confined, especially in relation to space. It seems that the rich get richer and the poor end up sleeping in cardboard boxes.

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Volcanoes - Magnets for Tourists

October 17th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Seen as sacred in some local traditions, devotees living close to dangerous volcanoes are sometimes reluctant to evacuate when warnings are issued. The crater lake of Mt Kelud, for example, is thought to be a source of peace and prosperity by some living by its slopes. Thousands of tourists are also drawn to the symmetrical cones of volcanoes such as Bromo, one of Java’s most active, to see the sun rise through clouds of mist and volcanic steam; and Agung, Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano, which towers over the east of the island.

Peddling to Bali

October 17th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to send off 15 cyclists on a 20-day trip from Jakarta to Bali ahead of a major conference on climate change. The trip, to start on Nov. 11 from Merdeka Palace, aims to raise awareness of climate change issues and promote environmentally friendly transportation.

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The History of Kue-Kue

October 13th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

In Indonesia kue-kue, sweet or savory snacks, are a familiar sight, found everywhere from food markets to star-studded events and grand weddings. However, during colonial times, kue-kue were not considered appropriate food for well-heeled individuals and it appeared only in traditional circles.

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Farmer’s Market: Central Jakarta, West Java

October 12th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Don’t know where to go on weekends other than the shopping mall? You could perhaps pay a visit to Indonesia’s first farmers’ market, officially launched Saturday by the Agriculture Ministry and to be held every weekend.

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