Indonesia Expat - Issue 171

Page 1

I S S U E N O . 17 1 | 1 0 – 2 3 A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

J A K A R TA • J AVA • B A L I • L O M B O K • K A L I M A N TA N • S U M AT R A • S U L AW E S I • W E S T PA P U A

W W W. I N D O N E S I A E X PAT. B I Z

What does Brexit Mean for British Expats?

Travel: Lake Toba

Tasting Tapas at Basque Jakarta

Meet James Ofili from Nigeria

Indonesia's Elusive Renewable Energy Plans

issue 171 Indonesia expat

1


2

Indonesia expat issue 171


issue 171 Indonesia expat

3


Letter from the Editor

Editor in Chief

Angela Richardson angela@indonesiaexpat.biz

Marketing Consultant

Edo Frese edo@indonesiaexpat.biz

Editorial Assistant

Dear Readers,

Caranissa Djatmiko letters@indonesiaexpat.biz

Sales & Advertising

Dian Mardianingsih (Jakarta) Ervina Tambun (Jakarta) Wahyu Atmaja (Bali) ads@indonesiaexpat.biz

Distribution & Admin

Juni Setiawan admin@indonesiaexpat.biz

Finance

Lini Verawaty finance@indonesiaexpat.biz

Contributors

Karen Davis Simon Pitchforth Daniel Pope Tommy Prayoga Antony Sutton Ketut Krisna Wijaya Kenneth Yeung

Editorial Enquiries

letters@indonesiaexpat.biz

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” – Paulo Coehlo I’ve been the editor of this little publication since 2010, back when you may still remember it as Jakarta Expat and then followed by a sister publication in Bali, Bali Expat. It’s been an interesting journey, and one that’s taught me so much, but the time has come for me to bid you adieu and pass the baton. I’ve learned so much about the country of my birth through writing and editing stories for you, and even with thousands of articles edited for

this publication about Indonesia, it seems there is still so much to learn! We live in a fascinating and complex archipelago that deserves to be appreciated while we’re here. I would like to thank our readers from the bottom of my heart for their loyalty and support throughout the years – I only hope the pages of our free publication have enriched your Indonesia experience somehow. I would also like to thank our writers for delivering digital

packets of joy time and time again, and I hope you believe we have done your words and photographs justice. If I’ve learned anything in my career so far, it’s that there is never really a goodbye, but more a see you later. So until our paths cross again, I wish you all the best and thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me so far. Sampai jumpa!

Terima kasih, Angela Richardson

Subscriptions

subscriptions@indonesiaexpat.biz

Events

events@indonesiaexpat.biz

Published by

PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia Alamanda Tower 25th floor Jl. T.B Simatupang kav 23–24 Jakarta 12430 T: 021 2965 7821 F: 021 2965 7821 Office hours: 09.00–17.00 Monday–Friday Indonesia Expat is published bi-weekly by PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia. Opinions Expressed in this publication are those of the writers and the publisher does not accept any responsibility for any errors, ommisions, or complaints arising there from. No parts of this publication can be reproduced in whole or in part, in print or electronically without permission of the publisher. All trademarks, logos, brands and designs are copyright and fully reserved by PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia.

Printed by

Letters from the Readers

Dear Indonesia Expat, I’m an Indonesian citizen and I enjoyed seeing Governor Ahok on your cover of Edition number 170. I also found it interesting to read what psych experts thought of our ‘controversial’ governor.

Fauzi Bowo’s light rail transit (LRT) calamity; landmarks which remind us daily of what happens when power enters into the wrong hands.

I personally think Ahok is exactly what the doctor ordered. I have lived in Jakarta for the most part of my life (except for when I went to Australia to study at University) and I have never seen as much progress take place as during his term. Yes, the capital is a bit of a mess at the moment, with so much construction taking place – the MRT, flyovers, and the like – but it is so much better to see all of this progress rather than the still standing remnants of previous governor

It’s also a testament to Indonesians that we have a Chinese and a Christian running the capital – something only ten years ago would never have happened! This shows how we are developing as a nation – being more open-minded and accepting of all the wonderful differences this nation’s people hold. I really hope Ahok will be able to run as governor in the next term and continue to take the capital where it needs to be.

Sammy

On The Cover

Solar panels at Jeda Villa Bali. Photo by Bart Speelman

4

Indonesia expat issue 171

Connect with Us www.indonesiaexpat.biz

@indonesia_expat

/indonesia.expat

issuu.com/indonesiaexpat

indonesiaexpat

Now available on

For advertising enquiries

021 2965 7821

recycle When you have finished reading this magazine please recycle it.


Issue 171

Contents 06

Feature Story

08

Expat Business

10

06

12 14

16

Featured Indonesia Sets Vague Goals for Weaning Itself Off Fossil Fuels Business Profile The Classic Boats of Vintage Marine Asia Meet the Expat Vera Ribeiro: Skull-Rattling Retail

Expat Lifestyle Food and Drink Basque-ing in Spanish Delights

16

Travel Lake Placid

18

Scams in the City Pokemon NO?

19

14

What does the Brexit Mean for UK Expats in Indonesia?

Expat Outreach Meet the Expat James Ofili

20

Environment Good News from Wild Sumatra

22

Worthy Causes Bumi Pemuda Rahayu: Building Ecological Sustainability

23

Announcements

24

For the Macet Mind

25

Observations Lost in Bali

26 27

Events

28

Business Directory Classifieds

issue 171 Indonesia expat

5


What does the

Brexit Mean for UK Expats in Indonesia?

If the UK’s exit from the EU creates an economic apocalypse in London, Jakarta may serve as the other side of the fence, where the grass is greener.

BY TOMMY PR AYOGA

F

or expats in Indonesia who are not British or European, the news of the Brexit was likely just a headline that flashed across the laptop screen — one you may not have taken time to fully appreciate. Some of us may not even be fully aware of the potential economic apocalypse the UK is facing as a result of boorish political rhetoric; words and ideas that resulted in an ill-informed national vote that yielded dire consequences. For those who’ve been scuba diving in the Gilis for the past two months, or riding riverboats in Kalimantan, here’s a quick recap.

For immigrants and migrant workers living in Britain, lives truly do hang in the balance. As a result of the Brexit, the status of all European foreigners in the country will be called into question. Big businesses in London will surely suffer in many ways too.

June 23 was a historic day for the European Union (EU). Britain’s second attempt to exit the politico-economic cooperation of 28 member countries finally succeeded after 17 million UK voters opted to leave. Experts say most Brits did not fully understand the economic implications of such a vote. Arguments can be made that the vote to leave the EU was largely due to political zealotry brought about by former conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and former London mayor Boris Johnson. The vote in favour of a “British exit” has brought global uncertainty about the future of Britain’s economy.

Indonesia and the EU have recently negotiated a free trade agreement that represents an aggregate market size of 750 million people. Indonesia is one of the world’s largest emerging markets, and experts say it needs to be prepared for the possibility of renegotiating bilateral trade with the UK.

The two-year exit process has not officially started yet. David Cameron stepped down as prime minister after the harsh reality of Brexit set in, realizing he likely did permanent damage to the global economy. Parliament member and conservative party leader Theresa May has since stepped in to fill his shoes. The most immediate and obvious economic impact of the vote was the British pound’s nearly overnight devaluation. At the time of this writing, the pound is worth roughly US$1.32 — the lowest it has been in decades. After it was announced that Britain would leave the EU, big companies began moving their money out of the country, which in turn lead to skyrocketing inflation rates. According to the Centre of Economic Performance at the London School of Economics, the UK has greatly benefited from favourable EU market access and low trade tariffs over the years. With this in mind, 48 percent of the nation’s exports go to Europe. While these are just some of the things that will be dramatically impacted by Brexit, they serve as important economic puzzle pieces to the nation's wellbeing as a whole.

6

Indonesia expat issue 171

While left-wing politicians and the media have done their best to paint visions of a dystopian British future, the Brexit fiasco has also washed up on foreign shores. British expats in Indonesia have begun wondering what the vote really means for them.

On a more upbeat note, Indonesia’s vice president Jusuf Kalla suggests Brexit will not have a significant impact on the local economy, saying the country’s exports are unlikely to see a decline at all. When compared to other countries like Japan and Singapore, exports from Indonesia to the UK are still considerably small. That said, the long-term impacts of Brexit on Indonesia’s economy will continue to remain uncertain. For British expats living in the archipelago, many think not much will really change. Adrian Li is a British citizen living in Jakarta. He is the founder and managing partner of the local venture capital firm Convergence Ventures, a company that invests in technology startups in the archipelago. He sits on the board of directors at regional Internet companies like Qraved, Female Daily Network, and Paktor. Prior to entering the tech world, Li also served as an investment banking analyst for JP Morgan the UK. “Overall, Britain’s exit from the European Union will impact the relationship between the UK and the EU far more than it will Indonesia,” says Li in an interview with Indonesia Expat. “The UK is just one component of the relationship between all other European countries. It is actually quite complicated because the UK has never fully participated in all of the components of the EU. For example, it is not in the Eurozone and it uses the pound as its currency. Britain agrees on some terms put forth by the EU, but not others.”


“If Brexit is the catalyst for a future of economic doom in London, British expats in Jakarta may start to see their mates arriving in batik shirts.” From a purely economic standpoint, Li believes Indonesia can sidestep most potential risks posed by Brexit. Fundamentally speaking, the UK will still want to conduct as much foreign trade as it possibly can, while simultaneously looking to tighten up its borders and control immigration. In the short term, Indonesia will have to be mindful when negotiating any further trade agreements with the EU. It will need to specify whether the UK be included in the terms of said agreements, as Brexit will indeed take multiple years to execute. “The UK in and of itself is already the largest economic market in the European Union,” explains Li. “So, in its own right, it is large enough to carry out serious negotiations with other countries.” But this is not necessarily a good thing. Li says that Brexit could potentially encourage other countries to shy away from international free trade. “If we believe that countries are better off being more open in working together, promoting free trade, and so on, then Brexit is certainly a departure from that,” says Li. Although he admits he cannot speak for all Brits in Indonesia, he adds, “All things considered, we would have preferred not to have Britain depart from the EU, not to have turmoil in the markets, and not to have a lot of anti-immigration sentiments.” Li’s perspective aligns with that of Jusuf Kalla, who believes in the long term, the actual economic impact of Brexit on Indonesia will not be as severe as the immediate aftermath of the vote suggests.

likely have to apply for a different visa to enter the UK. That said, it still remains unclear how British immigration policies will take form.

Tommy Prayoga is a full-time staff writer and editor at Content Collision, a media agency and technology firm in Southeast Asia. He covers issues related to political science, news, and business. For more information, visit www.ContentCollision.co

Adrian Li

As a British citizen, Li admits that getting a visa just to go to Europe would be a pain. He adds, “Brexit itself has no direct impact of any sort on me personally, other than how valuable and flexible the UK’s passport will be in the future. In the near term, we in Indonesia should not expect any harmful effects.” Depending on negotiations between the EU and UK, the pound’s current devaluation might represent a viable buying opportunity, says Li, assuming traders believe forex rates will eventually return to normal. “Although I am not an economist or a trader, I do think that the immediate market concerns are exaggerated,” he says. “The market movements were caused less by what would happen because of Brexit, but actually more by uncertainty created by the vote.” “In terms of opportunity, we cannot be sure to what extent the relationship will be between the UK and Indonesia,” says Li. “Indonesia’s growing need for investments in infrastructure might benefit from this, along with exports to the UK.” If Brexit is the catalyst for a future of economic doom and gloom in London, it’s possible that British expats in Jakarta might start to see more of their mates arriving in batik shirts, sniffing out fresh opportunities.

However, Brexit does have implications for people in Indonesia who want to visit Europe. Previously, getting a Schengen visa meant you could visit both Europe and Britain. Unfortunately, going forward, visitors will most

issue 171 Indonesia expat

7


EXPAT BUSINESS FEATURED

Indonesia Sets Vague Goals for Weaning Itself Off Fossil Fuels In the wake of a cabinet reshuffle, and with BP expanding its operation in West Papua, Indonesia believes it can reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. BY KE TUT KRISNA WIJAYA

Birol agrees that Indonesia should put some fuel-efficiency standards in place to reduce carbon emission from industries and vehicles. However, he also suggests that the government first reduce its number of coal power plants. Birol believes that if Indonesia can handle these two things, “we will see a major cleaning up of the air in Indonesia.” Birol says the government should make renewable energy its top priority, and open the sector up for foreign investment. His logic is that there are not many places in the world quite like Indonesia that are ripe for clean energy plays. The recently completed five-megawatt-peak solar power plant in Kupang is an interesting step towards a possible future of solar power in Indonesia. For power generated by ocean turbines, Indonesia is also attractive, as the country has a variety of coastal areas and different tidal conditions to work with. According to the IEA, 6.5 million people around the world die each year from health risks associated with air pollution, with many of its root causes and cures to be found in the energy sector. A sizeable portion of this, the agency says, occurs in developing Asia and Africa. Reducing Indonesia’s appetite for fossil fuels is the best way to lower pollution, and therefore reduce premature deaths that are linked to it, says the IEA.

On July 27, President Jokowi announced a cabinet reshuffle. He appointed Archandra Tahar as the nation’s new energy and mineral resources minister, replacing Sudirman Said. The president believes the move will strengthen the government’s performance and efficiency overall.

in ocean engineering from Texas A&M University. The archipelago’s new energy minister also has a stake in several offshore oil fields. Jokowi expects Tahar to bring new technology to the nation in a bid to boost energy production, but also to ensure the nation’s energy future as a whole is secure.

“I was shocked when the president appointed me to become the new energy and mineral resources minister,” Tahar told Kompas after being inaugurated by Jokowi. “I just spoke to the president about the problems that Indonesia is facing right now, which is oil and gas. From that discussion, I came up with a few solutions that could be applied in the country, based on my experience in the US.”

Tahar acknowledged the president’s ambitious target to turn Indonesia into a nation with self-sustaining energy production. According to him, there are three ways to increase production locally. Indonesia will have to adopt new tech, develop its human resources, and implement a process for better accountability in all facets of the energy business.

Tahar is an expert in the energy field. The Indonesian national spent more than 20 years in the fossil fuel sector as president of Petroneering, an oil and gas company headquartered in Texas. Prior to that, he earned his master's degree and PhD 8

Indonesia expat issue 171

Before the reshuffle, former minister Said pointed out that Indonesia had a dependency on oil and gas, offering up a few solutions of his own that would see the archipelago explore renewable alternatives. First, Said proposed a scale back of government fuel subsidies, which would

result in higher fuel prices for consumers. Second, Said suggested that the nation seek to remove fossil fuels as Indonesia’s main energy source. He pitched an idea that would aim to make the nation cut coal consumption by 50 percent of the overall energy pie, while also lowering gas consumption to 25 percent. If done right, such a plan would free up the last 25 percent of the nation’s energy demand to be filled by renewable alternatives. Following the reshuffle, it still remains unclear whether Tahar will follow through with the previous administration’s lofty vision to make one quarter of Indonesia’s energy renewable. On the other hand, the International Energy Agency (IEA) supports the archipelago’s plan to make more environmentally friendly energy sources. That said, many proposals by former minister Said were met with opposition by IEA executive director Fatih Birol in an interview with The Jakarta Post.

But as the number of vehicles continues to increase by 12 percent annually in Jakarta — an average 4,000 new bikes and 1,500 new cars a day — the government is also paying a hefty price. Traffic and road congestion costs the city roughly Rp.65 trillion (US$5 billion) per year. Hermono Sigit works closely with Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry. His job title is assistant deputy of degradation control for terrestrial ecosystems, and his job is to conduct field studies and report back to the government. Sigit also believes the archipelago can capitalize on its inherent potential for clean and renewable energy. “Rather than using fossil fuels and coal as the main source of energy, Indonesia can use other things like geothermal as an alternative solution,” Sigit tells Indonesia Expat. “A few renewable energy solutions that can be applied in Indonesia include biogas from animal waste, micro-hydro, or solar for really large scale projects. Solar is a long-term energy source, and Indonesia can develop this solution, especially in the small villages.”


Ketut Krisna Wijaya is a Bali-based journalist and full-time editor at Content Collision. He specializes in technology and business stories in Southeast Asia. For more information, visit www.ContentCollision.co

“Following the reshuffle, it is still unclear whether Tahar will follow through with the previous administration’s vision to make 25 percent of Indonesia’s energy renewable.”

In recent years, the government created an ambitious programme that aims to add 35,000 megawatts to the nation’s power capacity come 2020. The plan hinges on foreign investment to expand the nation’s energy production capability at large. Indonesia-Investments reports that Londonbased BP, one of the world’s leading oil and gas conglomerates, recently submitted its final investment development decision to expand the Tangguh liquefied natural gas facility in West Papua. Construction is estimated to cost around US$8 million, and the plant is designed to add 3.8 million tonnes of petrol per year to its existing operation. The expansion is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2016, and is projected to be complete by 2020. Despite claims that Indonesia needs to curb its dependency on fossil fuels, authorities and the government have welcomed BP with open arms. Counterintuitively, the former minister Said (who wanted to make clean

energy account for 25 percent of national consumption) claimed the BP expansion was indeed the solution needed to fulfil the local energy demand. Indonesia's state-owned electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) is reported to be the largest customer. PLN will buy 75 percent of the liquefied natural gas produced by the expansion. Archanda also says he will follow through with the president's plan to build the Masela gas block oil refinery onshore in Indonesia. He is scheduled to hold meetings with stakeholders in the energy sector in the first half of August. “I will ask them one by one about what assistance they need. If the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is not able to overcome the problems, I will discuss it with the president to seek a solution so that the programme will run well,” Tahar recently told reporters. issue 171 Indonesia expat

9


EXPAT BUSINESS BUSINESS PROFILE

VOYAG I N G TO J E PA R A

The Classic Boats of Vintage Marine Asia BY CAR ANISSA DJATMIKO

A

ll the way from the Italian island of Sicily, Roberto Mancuso channelled his passion for sailing and building boats to Jepara in Central Java, after setting foot in the region for the first time in 1996. Here, in a regency best known for wood carvings, he established Vintage Marine Asia, a company that builds various kinds of classic boat replicas like the Riva (model Runabout), American Speedsters and Coastal and Fast Commuters. After over 20 years of building boats in Jepara, Mancuso came to the conclusion that it was time for him to retire and take charge of his own business as a consultant. During my visit to his home and boatyard, I had the opportunity to speak with him and get a real insight into his unique vintage boat business. What made you come here to Indonesia? I was a little bit bored in Europe. Here the time is more relaxed, more quiet, and the people are more respectable; not thinking about business and making money all the time. So I moved here for business, but I

understand that there are more possibilities for doing other things. You can work and relax. I initially did not plan to come and stay here for life, but now it has been more than 20 years. Can you share with us the story of how this classic boat business was opened in Jepara? I first moved here after staying for five years in Malaysia. When I first got here, I knew that Jepara was a special centre for furniture and carving. So I moved here and I would say that the furniture business is more important than the boat business. So I started out making furniture for many years. But my knowledge was in boats and I like to make boats for pleasure. So in 2003 I stopped the furniture business and I started to make boats. I also trained the staff because the locals here are very good with handmade productions. So what I did was I took the best people here and brought a person from Holland – who was an engineer who builds

boats – to train the people here. Initially we trained around 13 people, but today we only have three staff along with myself. I also went to Holland to get the training for three to four weeks about the wood lapstrake system for my first client in Amsterdam. But my knowledge about classic and wooden boat construction came from my boatyard in Palermo from 1975 to 1990. Then I started making them on my own here. Who are your customers? In Indonesia, this vintage boat is not very popular. The public is not so interested in boats like this; if you look at Bali it is all fibreglass, quickly built and with cheap materials. Our boats are meant to be for specific people who really appreciate vintage design. This vintage design is very popular in Holland, to go on the lake or the canals. The people appreciate the good design. Here there are not many people who appreciate this wooden design. So we have a very specific market. We mostly target expats, but of course there are some Indonesians who appreciate old design.

I think 90 percent of the people do not like my production because it’s all made of wood. But this 10 percent, they like it very much. It is not easy to find people who do this kind of job because it is not commercial, so this is just for those who like and understand what I am doing. I also sometimes make boats for myself and my friends. What makes a high-quality vintage boat? It’s all made by hand. I think as someone who appreciates boats, you would say that it is like a living thing which is not made by a machine but by people. Where did you get the designs for these creations? I used to buy classic designs from museums all over the world and make a copy of them. The museums in America, Germany and China, for instance, have a library specifically for all kinds of boat designs, ranging from centuries ago until today. Because I do not do commercial boats, I make boats for those who like antiques, but not the real antiques because I make their copies.

BUSINESS SNIPPETS

Growing Ties: Indonesia and Morocco SOURCE: JAK ARTA POST

Amid growing economic ties, Indonesia and Morocco aim to increase cooperation, a minister said. Economic ties with Morocco are "expanding and encouraging", said Basuki Hadimuljuno, Indonesia’s Public Works and Public Housing Minister, explaining that trade between the two countries reached US$214.32 million last year.

10

Indonesia expat issue 171

“We will jointly explore opportunities to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries," he said at the Moroccan National Day reception in Jakarta on 31 July. Morocco is Indonesia’s seventh-biggest trading partner in Africa. With its more than US$100 billion gross domestic product (GDP) and population of 35 million people,


“I think as someone who appreciates boats, you would say that it is like a living thing which is not made by a machine but by people”

What services do you offer to customers? We receive customer requests. They can buy the basic model or they can ask for the complete version. So for the local market, we are thinking of providing them with the option of buying in instalments, like when you buy a car or a motorcycle. What do you think of Jepara as a tourist destination? Jepara, I think, is the future of the touristic place for Indonesia. It is different from Bali, maybe because of the culture, but the sea is OK here and it is cheaper than Bali. With Bali and Lombok, big companies are developing these areas, which I do not understand. When they start making golf clubs and five-star hotels, it would be the beginning of the end. I would rather have Jepara to stay as it is.

It is for this reason that the management of the Jepara Boatyard, and the production responsibility, was entrusted to two of the most skilled naval carpenters in the staff, Pak Yono and Pak Eko, with the mission to maintain the high quality standards set during the previous 15 years by myself in Jepara. The design, quality control and final say in the Jepara Boatyard remains in my own hands. What message would you send to people who are struggling in their business? If you are creative, you can do whatever you want. Find people who can follow you and work together well in your projects!

For more information please visit www.vintagemarineasia.com

What is next for Vintage Marine Asia? After this I would like to retire and not continue to work, so I am teaching my workers to do this business. And now I am only the consultant: I supervise, take charge of quality control and transfer my ability and knowledge to my workers.

the regional power in North Africa is a promising market as well as a gateway to both African and European countries for Indonesian products and investment, as it is located less than 100 kilometres from Spain. Indonesia's exports to Morocco over the years include palm oil, furniture, coal, spices, garments and glassware. In recent years, Indonesia added more products to its exports to the North African country such as instant noodles, green tea and coffee. Publicly listed food giant Indofood is building a US$5 million instant noodle factory in Morocco, its largest factory

outside Indonesia, set to begin operating later this year. Morocco also serves as an important partner in Indonesia's agricultural sector, as it is home to more than 70 percent of the world’s phosphate, a main ingredient in fertilizers and reserves. Indonesia imports phosphate, fertilizers, chemicals, oranges, iron and steel products from the country. Echoing a similar view, Moroccan Ambassador to Indonesia Mohamed Majdi praised relations between the two countries, calling them “excellent”.

issue 171 Indonesia expat

11


EXPAT BUSINESS MEET THE EXPAT Karen Davis is a NYC artist and writer.

V E R A R I B E I RO

Skull-Rattling Retail Brazilian expat Vera Ribeiro and her partner Rhett Hutchence are the creators of the world’s largest skull memorabilia shop, where works of art and fashion are all connected with the age-old theme of human skulls and skeletons. Vera reveals her fascination with the bones and the story behind her very successful store SKULL Bali. BY K AREN DAVIS

“At 200 square metres we are the biggest skull shop in the world.”

I knew we needed to expand but wasn’t sure how to do this and thought a lot about what to do next. I literally had a vivid dream where I saw a huge skull covered in green leaves on a friend’s storefront! It was our friend who had the Italian shop, SKS (Simple Concept Store) on Jalan Oberoi. I’d never even mentioned this to him, and no one thought this was a possibility because it was a beautiful, successful shop. Six months later my girlfriend mentioned my dream to him, just for a laugh, and he said he was ready to move on and would love to meet with us. After a month we closed the deal and here we are, two years later! It was good for everybody. This shop is a landmark on Oberoi road now. Yes, it took off right away! The huge leafy skull draws a lot of attention, as do all the skulls and skeletons. It really is a visual feast. At 200 square metres we are the biggest skull shop in the world. We sell everything at a full range of prices starting at Rp.30,000 for our skull shoelaces to Rp.26 million for some artwork, but most things are kept at a reasonable price. Skulls, being iconic, have a worldwide timeless appeal. Under all the colours of our skin and hair; we all share the same framework of skull and bones. Every culture has used these images. And because we have such a broad range of skull art, fashion and décor, there really is something for everybody. Nothing is scary or gnarly, more homely and appealing. A third of the store is our SKULL brand, so we put a lot of thought into everything. I think the shop reflects us, as well as it does just skulls. It’s different to Petitenget, which was our first, our baby, cuddly and cute. Oberoi is more modern and contemporary in style, but just as fascinating.

Vera, tell me about your career in fashion. At 18 years of age I was a fashion photographer’s assistant and stylist. I soon became the youngest editor of a leading fashion publication in Brazil at 23 years old. I went to fashion shows all over Europe; Milan, London, Paris and learned a lot about the industry. When the economic crisis hit Brazil the magazine closed. I opened a public relations firm specializing in the fashion industry with 16 clients. Then I fell in love, gave up everything and got married. And how did your Bali chapter begin? I moved to Hawaii and that is when I started coming to Bali, 20 years ago. My husband was a surfer and for five years we lived on North Shore, Oahu, and travelled here a lot. I started buying things for a little shop I had in Hawaii. After five years living there I moved to LA where I started a very successful wholesale business named Purple Seven (Purp7e). We manufactured tops in knitwear in Bali because I loved Bali. I did five collections a year and sold to 750 stores internationally for five years. Eventually the constant travel back and forth became too much despite the success. So I closed the business and I stayed on in Bali. How did the SKULL Shop concept come about? Three years after moving to Bali I met my partner in life and business, Rhett Hutchence. We wanted to do a shop together but didn’t want to do just clothing and accessories. Rhett had been representing artists, so we wanted to combine fashion and art with a strong theme to promote both. I said why don’t we do a skull shop? People thought it was a crazy idea. In August 2013 we opened our first store in Petitenget; a small shop which quickly filled with skull art and immediately did well, winning the Yak Award for Best Retail Shop, and getting a write-up in Vanity Fair as one of the Top Ten Locations to visit in Bali. 12

Indonesia expat issue 171

The works of art are amazing. Tell me how you get such fine craftsmanship but with unusual, creative themes? My partner Rhett does all of that. We display works by local and international artists and he curates them. But he is also an artist and he searches out artisans and directs a lot of these pieces. For instance this piece was a carved teak ball which Rhett took and had a skull carved so it appears to be emerging from a world of detailed carving. He had these skeletons carved; some holding flowers, others with cell phones or in yoga positions. He goes directly to villages of carvers and has them do his amazing designs. Rhett also brings different woods and materials from around the world and inspires artists to be more creative and expand from the traditional images they have mastered. What most inspires your fashion designs? I approach the fashion from different aspects but I design what I like and what I would wear. Sometimes I will buy clothing and modify it. I love vintage but mostly I buy new and add to it, cut it, reshape it. If I design what I will wear, I am a perfectionist about it – it must fit well! My fashion is a reflection of myself and what I have come to love over the many years in this business. There are styles here I have been selling for three years now because they are classics. After years in an industry which promotes change, I have come to appreciate that which surpasses seasons and trends. I am also influenced by Bali and our way of life here. What are your future plans? I love being in Bali because the entire world comes here! I do get requests to open more shops, especially in other countries or in Jakarta. For now I want to focus on what we are doing here. We will keep it all positive! We are the SKULL shop, but you can see that our skulls and skeletons are all positive, happy and spiritual. They connect us all as one and the same. We have so many creative visions between the two of us that I see us just getting better at what we are already immersed in; expanding, bringing our creativity to an international market by wholesaling. Our website will be up soon so our plans are evolving in good time. We will be right here in Bali promoting what we love and what all humanity shares – skulls and bones!

Email info@skullbali.com for more information.


issue 171 Indonesia expat

13


EXPAT LIFESTYLE FOOD AND DRINK Our Clandestine Critic has dined all over the world, everywhere from threeMichelin starred restaurants in Monaco to street stalls in Shanghai – so this discerning palate has pedigree. The quest for truth and the elimination of mediocrity in Indonesia’s emerging dining scene is finally here!

Basque-ing in

Spanish Delights Our expert epicure continues an undercover operation to bring you the truth about Indonesia’s dining scene. No spoon is left unturned in the quest for honest, balanced reviews, from longestablished favourites to the hottest new tables in town. This month, authentic and hearty Spanish tapas restaurant: Basque. BY THE CL ANDESTINE CRITIC

The term ‘tapas’ is overused in the restaurant sector these days; it has become quite high on my list of pet peeves when I see it on menus where it is misappropriated. Every dining culture has its own name to describe small bites or bar snacks, from France (hors d'oeuvres) to Korea (anju) to Mexico (botanas) to Greece (meze) to China (dim sum). To disregard the etymology of great dining cultures is to create a great disservice to each of them, as well as to the Spanish tradition.

con tomate). It’s one of the simplest, yet most delicious tapas available, and created true to form here. Unfortunately for the ham, it had probably seen better days as the shavings we encountered were dry, unevenly sliced and consisting of odd scraps and bits. Most of the rich, nutty, unctuous flavours of the ham were gone; perhaps as a result of age and too much exposure to air in storage. At best, it was about as good as gas station jerky. The Tortilla Alioli with Brava Sauce, which we endearingly nicknamed ‘The Hockey Puck’ because of the striking resemblance, was as tasty as a Spanish tortilla could be. Aside from its rather unfortunate shape, the potatoes were tender and the accompanying brava sauce was lick-off-the-plate good. This particular dish can be served warm or cold, dry or moist (with the egg cooked especially well done or somewhat runny), browned or not…the list goes on and on; but it is a mainstay at any decent tapas bar in Spain. The Chipirones (fried baby squid) were delicately fried and served with small green chilli peppers, aioli and a fresh squeeze of lime. Our Pâté de Campagne was presented somewhat on the chilly side. It could have used a few more minutes to warm up to room temperature to allow for full diffusion of flavours from the pâté.

In the Basque region of northern Spain, the terms tapas and pintxos are interchangeable with native northerners’ preferences for the latter, and they are wondrous little bites of savoury heaven. In the restaurant Basque, it is a delight the moment you step through the front door.

“Nothing can be more satisfying in Jakarta at the moment than a large bowl full of this sopa and the soft and crusty ciabatta bread served here. My dining partner and I had no qualms battling over the last drop.”

The Critic's Verdict?

Cheque please! (Dinner for two) Food: Rp.470,000 Drinks: Rp.375,000 (based on half a bottle of wine) Service charge 10%: Rp.84,500 PB 1 10%: Rp.92,950 Grand Total: Rp.1,022,450

Basque 8th Floor, Noble House Building Mega Kuningan, Jakarta 10270 Telephone: +62 (0) 21 2978 3111

14

Indonesia expat issue 171

It is a magical moment, walking in, where one step is like a leap through a wormhole stealing the diner away from the big city life of Jakarta to a rustic, cavernous Spanish tavern one would encounter on the Camino de Santiago. The sterile and metallic buzz of the office building in which the restaurant inhabits disappears, and the warm glow of incandescent lights and rusty rich reds from laid bricks and dark wood strong beams provide more than ample suggestion of where we were being taken for the evening. The glassroofed patio seating area did not detract from this feeling in the dark of night either. The wrap around bar near the entrance allows for plenty of thirsty patrons to stand elbow-to-elbow to drink and eat as the Spanish intended. A good selection of traditional pintxos is displayed for good measure, complete with a slice of bread tucked neatly underneath, and toothpicks. It reminded me of one of my favourite meals in Spain: standing and merrily conversing over the course of an extended evening with a belly full of miscellaneous marinated seafood straight from tins with plates of cured meats, glasses upon glasses of Rioja and discarded toothpicks piled into a little fortress in front of me. The wine list is extensive, and crafted to complement the food. A good selection of Spanish wine is available, although be ready to fork over a hefty amount compared to Spain, where a few spare Euros in your change pocket can easily buy a decent bottle. A current favourite, the Marqués de Riscal Reserva 2011, is available by the bottle and exhibits wonderfully when decanted. It is a fullbodied Tempranillo, and carries with it strong vanilla and oak aromas that are the perfect companions to the dishes served here.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Sopa de Migas Mussels Marinera Cocktails at Basque

Seafood is showcased at Basque, and is highly recommended should one be at a loss for what to order. Also, what better way to sample the menu than through tapas? The Pulpo a la Gallega was tender and moist, albeit somewhat lost without some more salt to lure the flavours from the octopus and few key ingredients. The technique was there, though, and it was a pleasant surprise to find Galician-style octopus on the menu, as it is something eaten quite commonly in Spain and not on Java. We also ordered the Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, which was a plate full of the famous Iberican ham shavings served with Catalan toast topped with a fresh tomato sauce (pan

However, without hesitation, the Sopa de Mariscos is one of the best dishes I have had the pleasure to discover in 2016. It is a gorgeous seafood stew, exhibiting everything that is good and holy in food. Though the kitchen decided to add broccoli florets and baby corn, which would have made a less than average sopa veer closer akin to the horror that is a tuna-and-sweetcorn-Asianpizza disaster, every additional ingredient lent itself to balance the rich and heady flavours of the stew. Nothing can be more satisfying in Jakarta at the moment than a large bowl full of this sopa and the soft and crusty ciabatta bread served here. My dining partner and I had no qualms battling over the last drop. In regards to the service – which has become the bane of my existence after dining in fine establishments in Indonesia for a few years only to experience ignorant service personnel and unresponsive management – it was surprisingly good. From the time I made the reservation to when we were presented with the bill, there was never a moment that made me regret my decision to review the establishment (and this regret, I’ve had quite a few in Jakarta). Our server understood enough English to communicate effectively, anticipated items and took initiative on requests. It gives me some hope that perhaps restaurant management around Jakarta is actually starting to pay particular attention to this area, as it can either make or break an establishment.


issue 171 Indonesia expat

15


EXPAT LIFESTYLE TRAVEL Simon is the person his parents warned him about

Lake Placid BY SIMON PITCHFORTH

The mighty Lake Toba remains one of Indonesia’s most impressive stop-offs

At the opposite side of the lake, the road sweeps back up to the ridge to a height of 1,500m from the town of Pangururan (on the lake’s island of Samosir) across to the mainland and all the way up to the ridge top

16

Indonesia expat issue 171

ia

As the road nears Toba, it gradually rises up by half a kilometre to the huge ridge that runs around the perimeter of the lake that now fills the enormous mega-volcano caldera. There are some spectacular views and photo opportunities to be enjoyed from up here. As one nears the lake, it’s nice to try and stop to take a few pics and have a coffee at one of the many cafes, before finally sweeping down to the lakeside town of Parapat and reeling off a few snaps.

Medan

ys ala

Indonesia’s third largest city is, let’s be honest, a hot, dusty and thoroughly knackered urban population centre but it is, let us not forget, surrounded by simply stunning countryside. This is a pattern you’ll find repeated all across Indonesia. North Sumatra is a fascinatingly varied province, and ranges from sweltering planes to cooler highlands, and from traditional mosques to church steeples. My ride from Medan to the pellucid blue depths of Toba offered me the chance to take in all of these elements, as I simultaneously tried to not get mown down by the suicidal bus drivers who were also plying the same route.

tM

To get to enjoy this bucolic beauty, one first has to negotiate the crumbling sweatbox that is Medan, which is unlikely to win a Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize any time in the near future. It was during the recent Lebaran holiday that I decided to return to the shores of Toba after my first visit a number of years ago. This time though, I brought my bicycle with me and embarked on a week-long tour of the area. I’d been to Medan before then, however the sense of anticlimax as I pedalled my way from the city’s brand spanking new Kualanamu Airport deep into the downtown area was still so intense that I feared that my tyres would start to deflate.

es W

Outside of Bali, the dodgy pizzas and dishevelled hotels that are the mainstays of Indonesian tourism still have a way to go before the pasty skinned doyens of international globetrotting and backpacking start flocking to the country in anything like the numbers that they do to neighbouring Malaysia (27 million in 2015) or Thailand (30 million in 2015). North Sumatra remains one of the country’s better-known spots however, as dotted around the central city of Medan you’ll find the huge Gunung Leuser National Park for jungle trekking and orangutan spotting, the volcanic highlands and hiking of Berastagi and, of course, the picturesque shores of the mighty Lake Toba, which despite not being the backpacking hippie epicentre that it once was in the 1960s, still has enough going for it to attract a decent amount of global travellers and dreadlocked jugglers to its shores.

Lake Toba Nias

Pekanbaru Padang Jambi

Lake Toba Size: 100km long, 30km wide, 500m deep Province: North Sumatra

How to get there

Fly to Medan’s new Kualanamu airport and then take a three-hour bus ride.

What to do

Swim, cycle, take photos, hike, drink beer, enjoy the amazing views and, above all, relax.

What to bring

Swimming kit, decent footwear, sunblock, camera.

town of Tele. Don’t miss this one, as the views all the way up are some of the best you will ever see. There’s also a lookout tower at the top, which is a fun little local tourist attraction. Crossing over to the lake’s island of Samosir by boat is undertaken from the lakeside town of Parapat. Samosir is what Lake Toba is really all about and the 30km-long island is the spiritual home of the Bataks, one of Indonesia’s best-known ethnic groups, and remains largely untouched by the rest of the world. The Bataks themselves are a proto-Malay tribe who are descended from Neolithic mountain tribes who originally hailed from Myanmar and northern Thailand. Thankfully, the Bataks no longer practise cannibalism and are now mainly Protestant Christians whose lands extend a couple of hundred kilometres north and south of the Batak ground zero of Toba. Today, the region’s 6 million Bataks are famous for playing guitars and other traditional instruments, singing hymns, chomping on pork, drinking beer, being filled with joie de vivre and for generally calling a spade a spade, in contrast perhaps with their brothers and sisters over in Java. Toba itself is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and covers an amazing 1,707sq.km, while the island of Samosir is almost as large as Singapore. Directly opposite Parapat, you’ll find yourself sailing to the sweet little peninsula known as Tuk Tuk, which boasts

the lake’s greatest concentration of tourist facilities. Here you’ll be greeted by a wealth of guesthouses and restaurants. Check in, have a beer, and then why not have a swim in the lake itself? Most of Tuk Tuk’s hotels and guesthouses offer access to Toba’s cool blue waters. Then you should think about exploring the island via its sleepy roads. Simply rent a bicycle or motor scooter and away you go. Don’t forget your camera though, as you will find plenty to snap along the way, from stunning views of the lake and its surrounding hills to beautiful, traditional Batak houses with their distinctive curving roofs. There are even beaches further up the coast to the north of Tuk Tuk, which you will no doubt stumble across as you roll past rice fields, sweet villages, traditional multistorey Batak graves marked by crosses, lush volcanic countryside, traditional churches and unique local architecture. If you fancy trekking, then you can hike along trails up into the island’s interior. The hills here rise up to some 700m above the level of the lake and offer more sensational views. There are also a few sites of historical interest to check out too, including the grave of King Sidabutar, the monarch responsible for converting the Bataks to Christianity, the Huta Bolon Simanindo Museum, and the famous megalithic stone chairs at Ambarita, where miscreants were once beheaded.

Heading further back into human prehistory though, perhaps Toba’s most amazing claim to fame involves the huge mega volcano, the caldera of which the lake now occupies. The 1883 Krakatau eruption, huge as it was, was ultimately peanuts in comparison with some of the mega volcano super eruptions that have occurred throughout geological history. The most recent of these super eruptions spewed forth from the massive crater that now holds the enormous lake around 70,000 years ago. This eruption is described by scientists as being "mega colossal", and is thought to have caused a decade-long volcanic winter, as well as a 1,000-year-long “cooling episode” over the entire planet. By coincidence, geneticists have discovered that our species, already flourishing at this point, hit a so-called, “population bottleneck” around (drum roll, please) 70,000 years ago. The theory is that the Toba eruption proved so utterly catastrophic to the environment that humanity was reduced to maybe a thousand breeding pairs before the population eventually re-expanded many years later. Indeed, DNA evidence shows that we are all much more closely related to each other than we should be, given the age of our species. So there you have it. We really are all brothers and sisters, and it's all thanks to Toba!


issue 171 Indonesia expat

17


Kenneth Yeung is a Jakarta-based editor

Pokémon NO? BY KENNE TH YEUNG

Love it or hate it, Pokémon GO’s augmented reality is the future of gaming. It’s also a magnet for scammers.

“Have you got Pokémon GO on your phone?” a colleague asked me last week. “No,” I replied, laying on as much condescension as possible, “because I’m an adult.” But a few days later I relented and installed it, merely for the sake of critique. And because I didn’t want to be labelled a “grandpa” over any perceived aversion to technology.

Indonesian pop singer Cakra Khan (25) saw an online post by someone “selling” a Pokémon GO account with a high experience level. He transferred Rp.1 million to the vendor’s bank account and received nothing. The husky-voiced songster said his experience has not cured his addiction, but it was a lesson to be more careful and not to use real money when playing the game.

Perhaps you have a job, a family, a life. You can quit reading now and get on with something more important. The Japanese Pocket Monster (Pokémon) craze started in 1996 as a role-playing video game for the Nintendo Game Boy device. Then it became an anime series and spawned a lot of merchandising. Now, 20 years later, Pokémon’s latest incarnation is a locationbased, augmented reality game, played on smartphones and tablets.

Another singer weighing in on the game is Titiek Puspa (78). She warned that Pokémon GO could cause children to become selfish bullies.

What are Pokémon? Cute creatures that look like mutant or alien animals (and a few resemble plants). Most famous among them is Pikachu, a yellow mouse with a lightning bolt tail. In a 1997 anime episode, one of his lightning attacks sparked a flashing redand-blue background that sent about 700 Japanese children into seizures. Pokémon GO is now getting kids to ignore the TV. The aim of the game is fairly simple: catch the creatures (by throwing a ball at them), imprison them in the ball, augment their power and evolution, then challenge other Pokémon in fights and try to take control of local “gyms” (fight centres). You can also trade the creatures for a virtual candy currency or incubate eggs to hatch potentially rare Pokémon. Players collect experience points and improve their trainer level as they continue the quest to “catch ’em all” – at least 151 of them. It’s an antithesis to conservation. A more ethical game might teach kids to protect or rescue animals – but where’s the fun in that? Everything in Pokémon GO takes place in the “real world”, using GPS and a bright display that resembles a cartoon version of Google Maps. So you have to walk about in order to catch the Pokémon, and wave your phone around, often with the camera on. Not a game to be playing while lounging around your house in the nude. The PokéStops (where you can collect incense lures and healing potions) and gyms are real world landmarks, such as fountains, shopping malls and museums. ‘Dumb & Dangerous’ Proponents of Pokémon GO say it’s great because it gets kids outside and moving. Critics claim that it’s dumb and dangerous. Dangerous? Well, there have been reports of players being mugged, having car accidents and trespassing. But it’s much less dangerous than many other Indonesian pastimes, such as smoking, or not wearing helmets while

18

Indonesia expat issue 171

More worrying should be privacy invasion and data theft. The official version of the app gives its developer, Niantec Labs, access to your movements and personally identifiable information. The company shares some of this information with third parties, ostensibly to improve its services. It may also give any information about you to “government and law enforcement officials or private parties”. It also warns that “no method of transmitting information over the Internet or storing information is completely secure... [so] we cannot guarantee the absolute security of any information.”

“Downloading the game from an unofficial source and then signing up with your Google account may lead to the installation of malware or even a trojanized version that gives scammers complete access to your phone.” illegally riding motorbikes. For example, two 12-year-old boys died in the East Java town of Blitar on June 22 when they crashed their speeding motorbike into the back of a car. There was no media outcry demanding that children stop riding motorbikes. Instead, there were reports about the dangers of Pokémon GO. Police and the military have banned their personnel from playing the game while on duty. That’s just common sense. Numerous government officials have also spoken out against Pokémon GO, threatening to fire civil servants for playing the game. Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise has drafted a decree banning the game at schools. She said parents should also ban their kids from playing the game because it “can damage children’s minds and make them lazy”. Many schools already ban smartphones in classes. Banning Pokémon GO is a silly

Downloading the game from an unofficial source and then signing up with your Google account may lead to the installation of malware or even a trojanized version that gives scammers complete access to your phone. Players who download and install game-cheating apps may also be exposing themselves to malware.

move. Smart schools could instead use the game as a teaching resource to interest kids in lessons, especially maths and geography. For example, use fractions, ratios and percentages to study Pokémon appearances. Virtual Coins Teachers could also use the game to teach kids about online fraud. Some players have been scammed when trying to buy virtual PokéCoins. Even though the game has not yet been officially released in Indonesia, you can download it from unofficial sources, and then start making “in-app purchases”, spending Rp.15,000 for 100 coins or Rp.299,000 for 2,500 coins. When these coins are offered by third parties, you can usually kiss your money goodbye. There are also websites offering “free PokéCoins” to people who complete online surveys or post links on social media. The scammer earns money for the completed surveys and reposts, and rewards you with nothing.

Claims by politicians that the game could jeopardize Indonesia’s security and state secrets may seem far-fetched, but if officials install an unofficial version and then install third-party cheating tools, they could be opening a door to hackers. Some politicians have embraced Pokémon GO on the grounds that it can encourage tourism and fitness. Communication and Information Technology Minister Rudiantara says the game is not dangerous, although he has asked the developers to ensure that it doesn’t show “vital state objects” such as courts, police stations and power stations. When I finish writing this, I will uninstall Pokémon GO from my phone. It’s an unwelcome distraction that failed to get me addicted. But the technology of augmented reality is fascinating and will play a big future in e-commerce, digital marketing, education, and industrial and medical applications. If you’re intent on playing the game, just make sure you download only from safe sources and do your utmost to protect your personal data.


EXPAT OUTREACH MEET THE EXPAT

James Ofili

James Ofili*, a textiles trader from Nigeria, discusses corruption, drugs and discrimination.

BY KENNE TH YEUNG

If you don’t give money, they will take you aside with the Arabs and threaten to deport you. Or they do a full body search and check everything in your bags, like they are looking for drugs. So you learn to just pay. What do you think about corruption? I understand why officials are corrupt. Their salaries are very small, so they need to make extra money. If they are fair, I don’t mind to pay small money. Any problem in Indonesia can be solved with money. Why do Indonesians link Nigerians to drugs? Nigeria is a big transit place for drugs. Most of the drug dealers in Indonesia are Indonesians, but if the dealer is a black man, they will show him in the media.

Why do so many Nigerians come to Indonesia? Why not? Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. We have about 180 million people. That’s the seventh biggest population in the world. You will find Nigerians all over the world. Indonesia suits us because our countries are very similar. We have a hot, tropical climate with a dry season and a rainy season. It’s just the same as here. Are there any other similarities? Corruption. Nigeria is listed as one of the most corrupt countries in Africa, and Indonesia is one of the most corrupt in Asia. So Nigerians really understand the system of doing business in Indonesia. Nigeria is very rich in natural resources. We are one of the world’s biggest oil producers and we have the biggest natural gas reserves in Africa. I love my country, but many Nigerians are poor because the oil money is not shared. It’s similar to Indonesia, especially Papua, which has much natural wealth but its people are poor. A difference is that Nigeria was colonized by the British, so English is our main language. Nigeria became independent in 1960 and then had coup d’états and a civil war, and now has problems with Islamic terrorists. Many of the [extremist group] Boko Haram are actually from other countries. What about traffic? We do have bad traffic jams in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria, but maybe Jakarta is the king of bad traffic.

“If you want to stop the drug problem in Indonesia, start at the top. Arrest the people who are in charge.” How are you treated in Indonesia? It’s sad that many Indonesians think badly of black people. They think we are all selling drugs or doing bad things. Indonesian children are brainwashed to not like Africans. Maybe Indonesians have a superstition that black skin is the devil, I don’t know. I wish people would not judge by nationality or skin colour. In every country, colour and religion, you will have good people and bad people. When I’m on the street waiting for a taxi, sometimes the driver will slow down, but when I move to get into the taxi, he will drive away. This happens a lot, usually when it’s raining.

Do Indonesians know much about Nigeria? No. But there are hundreds of Indonesians living and doing business in Nigeria. Their main business is Indomie, the Indonesian instant noodles. Indomie has the biggest noodle factory in Africa and it’s in Nigeria. Nigerians love Indomie; it’s the perfect food when you have no time to cook.

How do you go about getting a visa? It’s expensive. If a Nigerian wants to work here, he has to spend at least US$3,000 to get a 12-month work visa, not including the official fees. I don’t do it myself through the Immigration offices or the Manpower Ministry. There are Indonesian agents we pay, and they do it all quickly for us. If we tried to do it ourselves, without paying the extra money through agents, the officials would keep telling us “come back next week” and always reject us.

What brought you to Indonesia? I came ten years ago. I have a trade business, buying textiles and making clothes, which I send to Africa. Most of the textile factories are in Bandung [West Java]. I deal directly with the factories for ordering clothes, rather than dealing with the traders in Tanah Abang [textile market in Jakarta]. That way, I get the best prices. It’s a good business because Nigeria doesn’t have big clothing factories.

When I arrive at the airport, I always have US$50 dollars inside my passport, even though I have the right visa. The official takes it quickly and stamps my passport. One time, I tried with just Rp.300,000 inside. The official asked for Rp.200,000 more, so of course I gave it to him. When you are spending US$10,000 on coming to Indonesia to do business, giving US$50 to the airport Immigration man is not a problem.

If you want to stop the drug problem in Indonesia, start at the top. Arrest the people who are in charge. The big guys pay for protection, so only the small guys and the foreigners get arrested. You need money and connections to stay out of prison, and you must keep your mouth shut. Not like [Indonesian drug lord] Freddy Budiman. He told people how he was paying so much money to police, to the prison chiefs and to Customs, so they executed him to make him quiet. When people get put in prison in Indonesia, there is nothing for them to do except take drugs, shabu-shabu [crystal meth), which they make in the prisons. You need to have money when you are in jail here and drugs is the only way to make money. So some guys become experts about the drug business while they are in prison. Then the business spreads. Does Nigeria try to save its citizens on death row? No. The Nigerian government does not want to interfere in Indonesia’s legal system. One of the Nigerians executed last week [on July 28] had an Indonesian wife, and she took his body back to Nigeria for burial. She will stay in Nigeria. Do people ever ask you about drugs? I have Indonesian men, friends, coming up to me, asking what are the best drugs for making them strong and big; to make their woman happy. You know, sex. I never use that sort of thing. I tell them, stop smoking and stop eating so much sugar. All the drinks here are full of sugar. It’s not good for you. It makes you weak. How do you deal with the bureaucracy here, for taxes and export permits? I pay taxes in Nigeria. In Indonesia, I don’t pay tax. I pay agents to take care of everything. They go to the offices, talk to the right people, give them money, so I can do my business. It’s corrupt, just like Nigeria. So it’s very easy for Nigerians to do business here. Do you think you will stay another ten years in Indonesia? I’m not sure. I like living here and doing business here. I would like to be married. Some Nigerians here marry Indonesian women. If I could meet the right one, maybe I would. But I will probably eventually retire to Nigeria and get married. There’s no place like home. *James did not want to use his real name or photo for this interview, given some of the ‘sensitive’ content.

issue 171 Indonesia expat

19


EXPAT OUTREACH ENVIRONMENT Antony is a freelance writer based in Jakarta. Please send comments and suggestions to antony@the-spiceislands.com

Good News from Wild Sumatra BY ANTONY SUT TON | IMAGES BY LUKE MACKIN (WILD SUMATR A)

Sad, but true. The only time you hear of Sumatra in the news is when there is a natural disaster, deforestation, fanatics in Aceh caning people, or the haze heading east over the Straits of Melaka one more time. With tale after tale of woe it would probably surprise many of us that the world’s sixth largest island does in fact have some good news to tell. Take for example the work of Kalaweit. An ‘etho-passion’ association, Kalaweit was founded in 1997 and two years later signed an agreement with the Ministry of Forestry to rehabilitate gibbons held captive by the local population or poachers, educate, inform and raise the awareness of local populations with regard to environmental protection, and protect the tropical forests. The eight-hectare Supayang Gibbon Conservation Centre is a two-hour drive from Padang in West Sumatra and is home to gibbons and siamangs that had been kept illegally as pets. Adjoining the centre is the Supayang Reserve, hectares of gibbons, siamangs, bears, pangolins, tapirs and big cats including clouded leopards and even a rare tiger. A camera trap blog (kalaweitcameratrap.blogspot.com) has a selection of shots from the hidden camera including snakes, boars and leopard cats. In fact social media plays an important role in Kalaweit’s work, with active Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts, as well as an app spreading the word of their conservation efforts, in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The more traditional media hasn’t been forgotten, however; MetroTV is filming Wildlife Rescue, a show that is aired every week. Aurélien Brulé has been with the project since the early days and is now the public face for the work they do. Better known as Chanee Kalaweit, he is the man you see battling the deer, snakes and generally roaming the jungle in search of animals to save. Australia had the late Steve Irwin, Indonesia has Chanee. While Kalaweit is focused on conservation, another Sumatran-based enterprise looks to ecotourism to keep the remaining biodiversity for future generations. Based in

20

Indonesia expat issue 171

the Kerinci Seblat National Park, Wild Sumatra Adventures believes “ecotourism can help safeguard the still untouched forests deep within the park.” With few job opportunities for people in the nature reserve, it is understandable if they seek less environmentally friendly methods to put rice on the dinner table. Wild Sumatra hopes to tap into the unrivalled local knowledge and use that experience to help show and explain the beauty of the park to guests. The Kerinci area has something for everyone. From the eponymous 3,805 metre mountain – an eight hour climb that offers spectacular sunrises – bird-watching and even the occasional tiger for the enthusiastic nature lover, to the second highest tea plantation in the world, caves and lakes the national park can bring you up close and personal to an Indonesia far removed from the factory outlets of Bandung or the busy narrow streets of Kuta. The still vista of an early morning panorama looking across the rice fields towards the mountains has changed little over the years, a reminder of a less hectic Indonesia. Wild Sumatra was set up by Luke Makin and Joshua Kegg, a couple of Americans with a love of the great outdoors. However, and in keeping with the company’s mission, the guides are all local people. Pak Subandi, for example, has been showing visitors around the national park for more than 20 years from his base in Kersik Tuo where he operates a small guesthouse. Another guide with a passion is ‘Zacky’ Zaid. He enjoys trekking to the many lakes that dot the park and in his spare time teams up with fellow members of Pecinta Alam, a local nature appreciation group, to pick up some of the rubbish that has been left behind by other less thoughtful visitors.

“Ecotourism can help safeguard the still untouched forests deep within the park.”

Enterprises like Kalaweit and Wild Sumatra attract the headlines and, in this social media age, the likes, with their efforts and their emphasis on working with local communities, and it is with local people that conservation efforts stand and fall. West Sumatra is a conservative part of the country where Islam plays a major role in the lives of people living in the countryside. A project by the Darwin Initiative and the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology worked with local religious leaders to raise awareness of how forest management was linked to good religious practise. The project, which featured input from the likes of Fauna & Flora International (FFI), Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, the British Council and Conservation International, provided training for religious leaders and teachers and brought immediate results. Before the project began there was little awareness of how an ecosystem worked, with just 50 percent saying they understood. After training that figure rose to 92 percent. At the same time awareness of Islamic systems for natural resource management rose from zero to 100 percent! For example, Hima translates as an ‘inviolate zone’ and includes a forest area where the cutting of trees is forbidden and land managed for the welfare of a community. Meanwhile the concept of Ihya Al-Mawat, the revival of dead or unused land, was brought to life by the opening of a community-run field school and nursery. As Fauna and Flora International say on their official website, “Engaging religious leaders in sustainable natural resource management approaches that are explicitly based on their religious principles, the project was both culturally appropriate and replicable across most of Indonesia.” It’s not only charity that begins at home. Conservation does and three very different approaches are utilising local wisdom to ensure one of Indonesia’s attractions, the flora and fauna, can be protected and enjoyed for future generations. Isn’t that worthy of a story? www.kalaweit.org www.wildsumatra.com


issue 171 Indonesia expat

21


EXPAT OUTREACH WORTHY CAUSES

B UM I PE MU DA R A H AY U

Building Ecological Sustainability Bumi Pemuda Rahayu (BPR) was established to explore ways of developing a sustainable living. Founder and Director Marco Kusumawijaya gives us an insight into how arts, architecture and urbanism collaborate to solve ecological issues and support local communities. BY CAR ANISSA DJATMIKO

Aiming to realize the visions of these organizations altogether, Kusumawijaya – along with his co-workers from KUNCI, ARKOM and RCUS – founded BPR in 2012, and set out to achieve ecological sustainability through developing innovative projects in the village of Muntuk, located in the sub-district of Bantul Regency, in Jogjakarta. The village was considered an ideal place for BPR since it is not too far from Jogjakarta, a city that is known as Indonesia’s hub of creativity and contemporary art. Aside from that, the founders’ interests were piqued by the area’s potential. “The village is a ‘difficult’ place: a semi-urbanized rural area, not so fertile, with some crime and impacts of a consumptive economy (plastic waste, juvenile motorcycling),” said Kusumawijaya.

Knowledge and creativity both play a key role in our lives, although it may not be obvious how the two directly contribute towards building a better society. But for architect and urban planner Marco Kusumawijaya, they served as the main prescription in the establishment of BPR, which he calls “a sustainable learning centre”. “Knowledge is the main nutrition for our minds. It is the basis for creation and creativity, which precedes productivity economically, as well as culturally and socially,” said Kusumawijaya. Understanding the importance of sharing knowledge, both on theoretical and practical levels, Kusumawijaya turned to the creation of BPR, an organization which combines arts, architecture and urbanism in a bid to tackle ecological issues. In the beginning, BPR was conceptualized by three organizations working to accomplish different purposes. They are: KUNCI Cultural Studies Center, which focuses on applying cultural study approaches to understand contemporary society; Arsitek Komunitas (ARKOM) Jogjakarta, which aims to develop community-centred development models and practices; and Rujak Center for Urban Studies (RCUS), which helps cities progress towards ecological sustainability.

Dua Tangan Cukup

Hoping to foster the local community there, as well as to promote the message of sustainable living, BPR organized a variety of programmes, which include community development (workshops and trainings) that aims to fulfil the locals’ needs; and organic farming, where they benefit from learning farming methods that are environmentally friendly. In addition, BPR provides facilities like an open-air theatre, organic garden and accommodation for a maximum of 50 people. The facilities built by BPR are especially interesting because they are complemented with structures that support ecological functions. The multipurpose hall, for instance, is entirely made from bamboo, a sustainable wood that serves as a fundamental building material in this village.

Currently, BPR is working on their annual programme, residency for creative workers, where they will be hosting two Indonesian artists for six months starting from August, and one Taiwanese artist for two months later in September. Through this residency, artists will have the opportunity to work with the local community on ecological issues. Other interesting activities include bamboo making workshops, puppet making with the local children and video production classes with women from the village. Acknowledging the role of arts for the environment, Kusumawijaya believes that it should not only inspire, but also adjust to the changes found in our surroundings. With this in mind, he stressed artists’ abilities to challenge status quo. “Art itself also needs to change towards the environment, while we also take inspirations from it,” said Kusumawijaya. But running this rather multidimensional organization does come with the huge task of maintaining sustainability. Kusumawijaya himself reveals that financial resource does play a huge role in realizing the organization’s programmes. One of their programmes that has long been proposed, an ecological arts festival, has yet to materialize due to the lack of funding. And the fact that BPR has only been operating in their early stages explains why there is still work to be done: “We have been operating only for three years with very limited budget and programmes, although we keep trying to develop and improve. But the way that we have been doing things, and we plan to intensify it, is to engage the surrounding communities in more and more of all the centre's activities and decision-making processes.” Regardless, BPR is delighted because the bamboo craft has proved to be successful in attracting buyers. In addition, they are focusing on improving plans in advanced marketing, as well as arranging more workshops and seminars.

In order to develop their skills in building this centre, members of the local community received training from architects, landscape designers, even a Japanese master who specializes in bamboo construction.

“We just hired a full-time manager for the place and its programming. There will be workshops and seminars in late August, October, December and February next year,” Kusumawijaya revealed.

Aside from focusing on the architectural and environmental aspects, BPR also takes an interest in growing creativity in the village of Muntuk. Last year, BPR (initially hosted by RCUS) held an event called SAM Fund for Art and the Environment, where they invited artists and environmental activists like writer Ayu Utami and a Dutch artist residing in Indonesia, Mella Jaarsma, to select as many as 361 proposals from organizations fighting for artistic or environmental causes.

Asked what he considers to be the most important aspects of running BPR, Kusumawijaya mentioned “creativity, trust, communication and tenacity”. At the end of the day, he admits that they are all required in managing an organization with such an unconventional means of bringing about change.

For more information: www.bumipemudarahayu.org

Actions From Across The Archipelago

Gerakan Kendari Mengajar Fights for Education Facilities in Southeast Sulawesi Many students are found to be without school uniforms in many regions across Indonesia. In Southeast Sulawesi, this was uncovered through results from a survey conducted by education community Gerakan Kendari Mengajar (GKM) at a number of schools in the region.

22

Uniforms), better known as #GerakanSerasa, aims to not only provide uniforms for students, but also support them and teachers with proper facilities. With this in mind, GKM hopes that the rights of these unfortunate students (some of whom are children of fishermen, some even orphans) to obtain a decent education are fulfilled.

The survey revealed that most schools lack the facilities required to experience a proper learning process. In addition, GKM discovered that some schools, like MI DDI Al-Hidayah Mataiwoi in South Konawe regency, even make use of cardboard and the plant metroxylon sagu as the main materials for the construction of their buildings. Yet even with limited equipment like chairs, tables and whiteboards, these schools are still determined to accommodate students.

including Gerakan 1,000 Buku in 2014, which was followed by Gerakan 1,000 Buku Tulis a year later.

Concerned by this reality, GKM set out to start various kinds of initiatives to help these schools become suitable learning institutions. In the past, they have held several social projects,

Today, GKM is back collecting funds in order to provide students with their own uniform. The campaign Gerakan Seribu Seragam Sekolah (Movement of a Thousand School

Indonesia expat issue 171

Currently, the foundation has gathered over Rp.25 million for #GerakanSerasa, nearly reaching their target of Rp.30 million. Aside from fundraising, they also sell T-shirts for those wishing to support the campaign. If you wish to help them collect more funds, please make your donation on the following pages: https://kitabisa.com/gerakanserasa https://www.facebook.com/kendari.mengajar/


Helicopter landing point now open at Banyan Tree Ungasan Bali Since the end of June, Banyan Tree Ungasan has opened a new helicopter landing area at Melasti Beach (also known as the Banyan Beach). The landing area, which is on public land, has passed all the safety tests conducted by Bali’s most reliable helicopter company, Air Bali Helicopter. This landing point will provide greater accessibility for all luxury and adventure travellers around Bali, including those who seek alternative airport transfers, to Banyan Tree Ungasan and surrounding areas. Guests will experience amazing views of south Bali’s coastlines before arrival to check in to Banyan Tree Ungasan, or to indulge in a romantic lunch at the White Dove or Ju-Ma-Na restaurant.

Grandkemang Jakarta welcomes new executive chef Jakarta Grandkemang Jakarta has announced the addition of its new Executive Chef, Benny Sarta, who has just recently joined the team. Chef Benny started his career right after he graduated from college with a passion for travelling around the world. He has more than 14 years of experience working in Indonesia, and other countries such as United Arab Emirates, The Republic of Maldives, Germany, Thailand, and many more. Grandkemang Jakarta will be the first hotel he has worked for in Jakarta. Chef Benny’s specialties are Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Indonesian, and also Mediterranean. But he is very passionate about Thai food. “I would like to make a more creative and innovative menu for Grandkemang Jakarta. Our food has been famous for its good taste, and now we want our guests to have a new experience on the food selection and taste when dining at Grandkemang.”

Corporates work together to keep beaches clean every day Bali Spurred on by the concerning amount of rubbish in Bali, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia (CCAI) and Quiksilver Indonesia (QS) took real action in helping to keep Bali’s beaches clean and green by initiating the Bali Beach Clean Up (BBCU) in 2007, a daily clean-up programme across five iconic beaches of Bali. “The waste problem on Bali’s beaches is a problem that can be found in many communities across Indonesia, a problem that belongs to all parts of the society. Since 2007 Coca-Cola Amatil and Quiksilver commenced the BBCU to set an example of how corporates can be part of the solution, especially in the areas in which they operate. We believe that the positive spirit behind BBCU is contagious, and we sincerely hope that more people and organisations will contribute to improving our environment,” says Kadir Gunduz, President Director of CCAI.

Planting 1,000 mangroves with HARRIS Hotel & Residences Sunset Road Bali Together with Climate & Forest Control Center, as well as Serangan Village & SMPN 11 Denpasar, HARRIS Hotel & Residences Sunset Road Bali planted 1,000 mangroves on the island of Serangan on July 26 in an attempt to help curb the side effects of climate change. “This action is done to prevent erosion on the seaside. This is also a long-run commitment to conserve the surrounding environment for a better future,” said I Nyoman Wirayasa, General Manager of HARRIS Hotel & Residences Sunset Road.

Through BBCU, CCAI and QS have cleaned 9.7 kilometres of shoreline in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, and Kedonganan every day. The programme employs 78 cleaning crew, provided 150 new bins per year, four beach tractors, two automated beach rakes, and three garbage trucks. As of June this year BBCU has collected and removed more than 31 million kilograms of rubbish from these beaches. The effort is the result of great collaboration between CCAI, QS, the Bali government, and local community leaders. Incorporated in the Bali Beach Clean Up is the support for the development of the Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation (KBSTC). In the first six years they have managed to increase the number of turtle eggs collected to 122,230 – this is a significant increase from the previous years of the KBSTC operating without support. In total over 130,000 baby sea turtles have been released into the wild. The continuous effort and contribution of BBCU is recognised in 2016 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization in the 12th UNWTO Awards for ‘Excellence and Innovation in Tourism’, where BBCU became the first runner up for the ‘Innovation in Enterprises’ category.

Special summer package from Potato Head’s Katamama Bali PTT Family, the Indonesia-based group behind the world-renowned Potato Head Beach Club in Bali, adds the first hotel to its portfolio of award-winning restaurants and bars with the launch of Katamama in Bali. The culturally led five-star hotel will offer guests an experience unlike anything else on the island by showcasing the best of Indonesia’s rich heritage through PTT Family’s signature contemporary context. SUMMER HOLIDAY PACKAGE Indonesian nationals and KITAS holders, enjoy a full package when you explore your own backyard. Stay three days and two nights at Katamama for Rp.6,600,00 net, plus: • Daily breakfast at MoVida for two people • Welcome cocktails in the room • Daily cultural programmes • Free Wi-Fi within the hotel • Return airport transfer • 1x lunch and 1x dinner at MoVida for 2 people • Early check-in or late check-out until 4pm (subject to availability) • Priority daybed booking at Potato Head Beach Club without a minimum spend T&C • Rates inclusive of 21 percent tax and service charge • Rates starting on Garden Suite • Not to be combined with other offers or promotions, and subject to change without prior notice • Maximum occupancy is two adults per suite • Black out dates apply • Other terms and conditions apply Validity: Immediately until 31 March 2017 For more information please contact the reservation team at reservations.katamama@pttfamily.com issue 171 Indonesia expat

23


* Answers in the next edition!

CROSSWORD Across

1. Hand in one’s notice (6) 4. Population survey (6) 8. Copper and zinc alloy (5) 9. Savoy vegetable (7) 10. Starchy foodstuff (7) 11. Ice cream biscuit (5) 12. Watery field where grass is grown for its food grains (4,5) 17. Part of a shoe (5) 19. Hungarian stew (7) 21. Person from Birmingham (7) 22. Fabric (5) 23. Thin strand of pasta (6) 24. Thick and boring (of food) (6)

DOWN

1. Discount – tax return? (6) 2. (Often red) food fish (7) 3. Vigorous enthusiasm (5) 5. Jostled (7) 6. Neck warmer (5) 7. Jerez drink (6) 9. Bubbly (9) 13. Burnt sugar (7) 14. Pined (7) 15. Sikh headgear (6) 16. Beer and lemonade drink (6) 18. Planet furthest from the sun (5) 20. Lacking illumination (5)

ANSWERS OF ISSUE 170 ACROSS—1. Scotland yard 9. Title 10. Classic 11. Fern 12. Helsinki 14. Exhort 15. Pegleg 18. Supplant 20. Abet 22. Incense 23. Cello 24. Ten gallon hat DOWN—2. Catarrh 3. Tree 4. Archer 5. Dragster 6. Anson 7. Ducking stool 8. Stuffed shirt 13. Sri Lanka 16. Lobelia 17. Unwell 19. Pecan 21. Icon

Drunks and drug users banned from parking here. I parked anyway. Spotted by anonymous Send your funny pictures to letters@indonesiaexpat.biz

IS MADE POSSIBLE BY:

24

Indonesia expat issue 171


OBSERVATIONS

Daniel Pope is a part-time hedonist, residing mostly in Jakarta, where he still finds everything a bit of a rum do.

Lost in

Bali Daniel Pope recalls a new year that didn’t begin well BY DANIEL POPE

I

am a mobile technology geek. As well as carrying a fiveinch Nokia phone, I keep in my shoulder bag an eight-inch Samsung tablet, a nine-inch iPad, and an 11-inch laptop. Although I have specific use cases for each of these devices, I just like to carry around a range of specifications. I guess I adhere to a certain personality type. If my interest were in guns instead of communication devices, I’d probably be carrying around a pistol, a revolver, a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle, and a couple of hand grenades. I’d also almost certainly be serving life for murder. On New Year’s Eve 2013, I was staying at a friend’s house in Sanur, south-east Bali. Tyronne was an amicable American with a hearty appetite for good food and drink, and we were heading out to celebrate the New Year in the lively bars along Jalan Danau Tamblingan. We had been drinking periodically since the start of the day – Tyronne made a fabulous breakfast punch – but I was clearheaded enough to remember to take a note of our address on my mobile phone in case we got split up later. I was unfamiliar with the area, and doubted that I could find my way back alone. And so, armed to the teeth with my devices, off we went to celebrate. The mood was good, the company was bonkers, and we drank lots. Then at about 2am it was time to fish out the car keys and head home. Oh, did I mention that Tyronne was driving? Drink-drive laws in Indonesia, if they exist, aren’t enforced as strictly as in some other countries. My pet peeve is drivers who park their cars with the same disregard for the streets as people who drop litter, by vehicles that block pavements, forcing pedestrians to step into the road. There are too many vehicles. Like sand they get everywhere. And I’m not disinclined to kick an illegally parked car that is in my way. But parking once hit back at me. A car park entrance barrier clobbered me on the head as I was walking into the forecourt of Jakarta’s Gajah Mada Mal, not looking where I was going. I staggered back, seeing stars. But I quickly feigned composure, not wanting to appear a fool, trying to make it seem to witnesses that I had got the better of the barrier. I felt woozy. Shopping was now the last thing on my mind. I had to go home and lie down. Perhaps I had a mild concussion. Worst of all, I kept thinking of those cases you read in the papers about people who receive a knock on the head, cheerily declare that no damage has been done, and then drop dead several hours later.

On the way back from the bars, Tyronne suggested that we stop at McDonald’s. He elected to wait in the car while I fetched some food for us both. Entering the restaurant, I took my place in the rowdy queue, repelled by that sickly sweet and salty smell that you get in some fast food places, but looking forward to placing my order.

Furthermore, I had left my bag containing my other devices in the footwell of the car when I went to fetch the food. A chill came over me as my circumstances dawned – I was without communications and internet. No messenger, no Google, no maps. I had been disarmed. I was powerless. I had only my brain. God help me.

I had an Australian housemate in Jakarta who after a night on the town would reward his beer-bloated belly with a takeaway meal of a Big Mac with two large fries. Arriving home, he would reheat the fries in a pan, dump the lot on a plate with the burger, and flop down in front of the television. After eating most of this greasy feast, he would fall asleep – perhaps his body's emergency back-up reaction for when the gag reflex fails. And there he would remain until dawn, a duel line of ants crawling up and down his leg to reach and carry off the crumbs on his plate. I always imagined that zooming in on those ants would reveal a Disney-esque scene of marching cartoon insects singing and blowing trumpets as they toiled.

I had one memory to go on. Tyronne lived near a monument. This Hindu edifice, situated in the middle of a park, was immense enough to be seen from all over the area. It was a famous landmark. It should have been easy to find.

Emerging from McDonald’s clutching two bulging bags of burgers, I was puzzled to find that the spot where Tyronne’s car had been parked was now standing empty. I thought he must have gone round the block for some reason. But when it began to seem that he wasn’t coming back, I decided to call him. Unfortunately my phone was dead. I had noticed earlier that the battery was critically low, but had been too diverted to care. This loss of information also meant that I had no access to my record of Tyronne’s address, which I otherwise could have shown to a taxi driver and got home easily.

“No messenger, no Google, no maps. I had been disarmed. I was powerless. I had only my brain. God help me.”

But what followed was an epic six-hour search for Tyronne’s house, during which dawn broke, I sobered up rapidly, got drenched in the rain (once I’d decided that sheltering was just wasting time), trudged roads long and short, walked in circles large and small, and encountered many dead ends. People to ask for directions were scarce by now. Groups of stragglers on the streets were mostly drunk and unhelpful. None were in a fit state to open Google maps on their phone. Often my request for directions would be met with a party trumpet blown in my face. It was like imploring for help in a lunatic asylum. I plopped down in despair many times. I took three taxis, the drivers of which all failed to recognise the monument I was describing, which got me further lost. I banged hopelessly on the doors of closed cyber cafes, stumbled into paddy fields that waterlogged my boots. I ran after a minibus, but got repelled by a black cloud of exhaust fumes. I walked on. I even tried walking backward just to see if it had any surprising advantage. Eventually I got there. A kindly professional driver spotted me plodding along a grass verge toward oblivion, and we worked out together where Tyronne lived. Never had I been so grateful to anyone in my life. I thanked him endlessly. This tale has no proper ending because Tyronne never could remember why he’d driven off without me. We discussed it the next afternoon, but it remained a mystery. But, hell, this was Bali, a party town where mental fog and a blank memory after New Year’s Eve were solid evidence of a good time. He began to prepare some late breakfast punch while I went online, gratefully settling back into a world where I never got lost.

issue 171 Indonesia expat

25


If you want your event to be posted here, please contact +62 (0) 21 2965 7821 or e-mail: events@indonesiaexpat.biz

EVENTS

JAKARTA

sports

networking

the film in Ciputra Artpreneur in a total of 16 performances. For more information please visit http:// anniejakarta.ciputraartpreneur. com

Jakarta Business Networkers Every Tuesday and Thursday Make the right connections to help develop and grow your business over br e a k f a s t . At Ja k a r t a Business Networkers (JBN), all attendees are encouraged to help other attendees by exchanging referrals and introducing them to their target audience. JBN is all about helping you grow your business. Promote your business, personal brand or portfolio each week to the rest of the attendees and explain to the group the type of referrals you would like to receive. JBN professional networking sessions are from 7–8.30am every Tuesday at Sapori Deli, Fairmont Jakar ta, and Thursday at Mercantile Athletic Club, WTC, Sudirman. RSVP: info@jbnetworkers.com arts & culture

Andrea Ponsi’s Exhibition: Florence – A Map of Perceptions 22 July – 20 August 2016 Architect and writer Andrea Ponsi is displaying some of his works in the exhibition Florence – A Map of Perceptions. The exhibition is organized a ccord ing to a hypothetical itinerary through the most popular spots in cities like the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, here reinterpreted in original bird's-eye views, drawings transparencies, compositions in which plans, sections and perspective views are intertwined in a way similar to a multimedia experience. The exhibition takes place at the Italian Cultural Institute. For more information please contact +62(0)2139275312. Annie the Musical 2–14 August 2016 One of the world’s most famous musicals, Annie, is coming to Jakarta! The musical, which is based on the book by Thomas Meehan, is known for songs like ‘Maybe’, ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, and the one that the kids love the most, ‘Tomorrow’. This August, fans can watch the live version of

26

Indonesia expat issue 171

Classical Guitar Concert Giordano Passini 18 August 2016 The Embassy of Italy and The Italian Cultural Institute of Jakarta are presenting a classical g u it a r c onc er t of Giord a no Passini. Passini studied in many conservatories, from the one in Frosinone to the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome. He has held concerts at various institutions, festivals and musical events in Italy and other countries. This August he will be coming to Jakarta to play at the Auditorium IIC. The event is free of charge. For reservation please contact eventi@itacultjkt. or.id

Salihara International Performing Arts Festival 8 October – 6 November 2016 Salihara International Performing Arts Festival is back to bring you more local and international arts groups form various areas includ ing music , da nce a nd theatre. This year, the festival will be showcasing 14-15 groups f rom t he nat ion, a s wel l a s Australia and the United States. A mong the talents featured, three percussion groups will be highlighting the music section; Indonesian choreographers Eko Supriyanto and Fitri Setyaningsih will be taking the lead in the dance section; and the Kalanari Theatre Movement from Jogjakarta will be ta k ing the theatre stage. International groups include the dance group Benoît Lachambre & Montréal Danse from Canada, theatre group She She Pop from Germany, and composer Lukas Ligeti from Austria. For more information please visit www. salihara.org music We The Fest 2016 13–14 August 2016 The annual summer music festival We The Fest is back, bringing you bigger international talents. The festival, which also include arts, fashion and food, will entertain music fans with their most exciting

line-up so far. Fans will be able to watch music sensations like Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mark Ronson, The Temper Trap, and the 1975. The two-day event will be held at Parkir Timur Senayan and is presented by Ismaya Live. Tickets are available both online and off line, with price starting f rom Rp.720,000. For more information please visit http:// wethefest.com

Djakarta Warehouse Project 2016 9–10 December 2016 One of the most anticipated electronic dance music (EDM) festivals, DWP, will be bringing the greatest party of the year to Jakarta with explosive sounds. Recognized as the ‘Best EDM Festival of 2015’ according to a number of music publications and with the arrival of guests from more than 30 countries, DWP is looking to recreate the success it has had over the years. The two-day festival will take place at Jakarta International Expo and Kemayoran (JI. Expo). Please note that the event is valid for those who are at least 18 years of age. For more information please visit www.rajakarcis.com conference

Young on Top National Conference 13 August 2016 This year, the Young on Top National Conference (YOTNC) will be held for its sixth time to celebrate the young generation of Indonesia. With the theme ‘It’s Millennials Time to Lead this Nation’, YOTNC hopes to inspire the youths of today to become f uture leaders of Indonesia . Commonly referred to as the Y Generation, young people are identified with their association with technology, the Internet and entertainment. To lead the discussions, a number of speakers, including Ben Soebiako (CMO of KapanLagi Network), Achmad Zaky (CEO of Bukalapak.com), and governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaya Purnama. The conference w ill ta ke place at K ar tika Expo, Balai Kartini. For more information please visit www3. kiostix.com

Tough Mudder Bali 1–2 October 2016 Prepare yourself and your team to be challenged by Tough Mudder, the world ’s most recognized endurance series. With more than 200 events since 2010 spread across seven different countries globally, this year Tough Mudder will reach more ‘Mudders’ by expanding the series of events to Jimbaran, Bali on October 1–2. Tough Mudder is a 16–20 km obstacle course run designed by British Special Forces to test all round strength, stamina, mental grit, teamwork and camaraderie with the most innovative courses. Teamwork is needed to complete this challenge with no time to race against. Bring your friends, family and colleagues to join this challenge! Visit www.facebook. com/ToughMudderIndonesia o r w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m / t o u g h mu d d e r_ i d f o r m o r e information. education

you’re feeling extra committed you can nominate a location to clean up and get a group together to make a difference! This year, an anticipated 50 locations will be cleaned up at the same time across the capital, with a target of 20,000 volunteers. Clean Up Jakarta Day works with the city’s sanitation department. For more information on how you can volunteer, visit www.cleanupjakartaday.org

SURABAYA & BANDUNG music

Boyz II Men Live Indonesia 17-18 August 2016 Indonesian fans of the vocal group Boyz II Men will rejoice as the trio will be stopping by on their ‘Boyz II Men Indonesia Tour 2016’. In August, Shawn Stockman, Nathan Morris and Wanya Morris will be taking over two stages in the country, one in Surabaya on August 17 and one the next day in Bandung. The four-time Grammy winning group has been known for making R&B music with hit singles like ‘I’ll Make Love to You’, ‘End of the Road’, and ‘One Sweet Day’. In Surabaya, the event will take place at Dyandra Convention Center, and the next day at Eldorado stage in Bandung. T i c k e t s p r i c e r a ng e s f r o m Rp.250,000 – Rp.2,000,000. Tickets are available at http:// tiketapasaja.com/event/boyz-iimen-indonesian-tour-bandung

tackling global issues. Taking on the theme of Tvat Tvam Asi, which translates to ‘I am You, You are Me’, UWRF will be focusing on the importance of diversity in this nation – in terms of religious, ethnic, and historical background – and how it will lead to respect. The artists revealed to be joining UWRF this year from Indonesia are Eka Kur niawan, Iswadi Pratama and Slamet Rahardjo; and international artists include Juan Pablo Villalobos, Magda Szubankski and Stan Grant. For more information please visit www.ubudwritersfestival.com leisure Moonlight Dinner at Ju-Ma-Na Restaurant From 20 August 2016 Make a lasting memory with your loved one as you dine under the scintillating moonlit sky while gazing into the never-ending horizon of the Indian Ocean. Perched on Bali’s southernmost cliff, the award-winning Ju-MaNa Restaurant is the ideal place to fully experience the brilliant full moon. To make your night even more unforgettable, Chef de Cuisine Alit Mendala will present an awe-inspiring set of courses prepared only with the freshest ingredients. Enjoy the moonlight with the company of a live acoustic performance. For more information visit w w w. banyantree.com

BALI arts & culture Australian International School Fair 2016 20 August 2016 Celebrating 20 years of commitment to inclusive education, Australian Independent School (AIS) brings a magical Saturday afternoon of pure excitement at the AIS 20th Anniversary Fair. There will be fun activities, ranging from 3D Trick Eye Museum, live music performances, cake baking competition, pop up market , face painting, kids entertainment, food, prizes and fireworks. The event is open for public for all ages. It will take place at the school in Jl. Kemang Timur No. 81, South Jakarta. volunteer

Clean Up Jakarta Day 16 October 2016 Annual volunteering event Clean Up Jakarta Day returns for its fourth time this October in a bid to raise awareness of the littering problem the city faces, and in turn groom responsible and concerned citizens. Volunteers can register to join a public site near them to help clean up, or if

BANYUWANGI music

Ubud Village Jazz Festival 2016 12–13 August 2016 Ubud Village Jazz Festival is returning for its four th year to bring you the best talents in jazz music. The festival joins together local and international jazz ar tists to promote Jazz education in Indonesia. To raise awareness, Ubud Village Jazz Festival invites volunteers from var ious backg rounds in ar t, media, video, design, music and culinary. Indonesia’s top jazz musicians headlining this year include Marg ie Segers, Oele Pattiselano, Glen Dauna – with his sons Rega and Indra (The Daunas) – Jeffrey Tahalele, and Arief Setiadi. World-class bass player Reuben Rogers will also be performing with jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein. For tickets and more information please visit www.ubudvillagejazzfestival.com Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2016 26–30 October 2016 The 13 th annual Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) is back this year to celebrate the power of arts and literature in

Ijen Summer Jazz 30 July–22 October 2016 Jazz lovers will cheer this summer w ith the rare oppor tunity to embrace their love for music in the beautiful resort of Jiwa Jawa, Ijen. Set in a beautiful mountainous area, about 300 attendees will be entertained by a number of musicians, whom they get to watch very closely, while also taking in the views of Mount Merapi, Raung, Ranti and Suket. When night falls, guests will be served dinner and have the chance to interact with fellow visitors and musicians. Performers include local and international musicians: Jean Sebastien Simonviez (France), Pablo Calzado (Cuba) and Patric Lauwerends (The Netherlands). For more information please visit www.jazzgunung.com

If you want your event listed here, please contact: +62 (0) 21 2965 7821 or email events@indonesiaexpat.biz


INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

SERVICED OFFICE • VIRTUAL OFFICE • MEETING FACILITIES • COMPANY INCORPORATION

Executive Search Recruitment Services Translations & Interpreting HR Consulting Payroll & Accounting Service

Located in Kuningan Business District, integrated with shopping Mall and residential enable you for a more convenient and easier way of doing business in Jakarta. With flexible lease terms, ready to use office suites, immediate office setup, daily receptionist and maintenance services, 88 Service Office leaves you free to run your business without the day to day hassles of managing a conventional office space. "At 88 Service Office, we enable you to focus on your core business with friendly professionalism and affordable flexibility"

For more information: www.jac-recruitment.co.id indoexpat@jac-recruitment.co.id Phone: 021-315-9504 / 9506 Mobile: 081-672-8653

Jl Raya Casablanca Kav 88 Phone: 021-29631688 E-mail: sales@88office.co.id Web: www.88office.co.id

Still having trouble when topping up your Internet Package & Phone Credit?

Ayopop provides a Top Up Solution for Expat!

Local Experts Providing Comprehensive Tax, Accounting & Payroll Services Let Integra Consulting team provide you with the comprehensive services that will help you achieve your financial objectives. We welcome you to review our professional services: · Accounting · Tax · Payroll

· Business Consulting · Financial Statement Review and Compilations

Integra Consulting - Jl. Puter Raya EC2/41 Bintaro Jaya, Tel. : (021) 7358635, 0812 9165 4830 Email: integra.projects@yahoo.co.id

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

Santa Fe provides moving services — International, domestic, local & office, document storage & management services, real estate, property management & maintenance, orientations, visa & immigration and home contents insurance. Call us Jakarta: +62 21 2961 2990 Balikpapan:+62 542 713 4334 Bali: +62 811 889 2445 Surabaya: +62 812 304 4775 or E-mail: indonesia@santaferelo.com and visit our website www.santaferelo.com for more information

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

· Pay with International or Indonesian credit card / deposit / bank transfer · Top-up for phone credit & internet for any Indonesian phone number · In-app customer support chats 24 hrs also in English · No extra fee vs. other top-up channels · Fast & Easy top up internet package without *363*99*123..

Available for iPhone & Android. Free Download. Search for 'Ayopop' on AppStore or PlayStore.

TO BOOK SPACE ON THIS DIRECTORY PAGE CALL: 021 2965 7821

issue 171 Indonesia expat

27


HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Looking for something to buy? Looking for staff? Selling property? Or need a place to live? Why not place your classified ad with Indonesia Expat! Your classified will be placed once for 2 weeks online and once in our printed version which has a circulation of 16.500 copies bi-weekly.

Next deadline: 17 August 2016 CONDITIONS Personal classifieds Commercial classifieds

JAKARTA Free of Charge (50 words max) Rp. 100,000 (0–50 words) Rp. 200,000 (50–100 words)

Automotive

Property listings are considered as Commercial. Adding an image incurs an extra charge of Rp.150,000. Business Listings can only be placed on the Business Listings page (p.30) Send in your classifieds to ads@indonesiaexpat.biz

USED DUMP TRUCK CAT 777D Excellent Condition Of f highway and Articulated Truck . Good Dump Body and Tyre. All sub-assembly complete No visible damages noticed. Major Component hours available on request. Reach us at meenakshi. khurana@quippoworld.com A f fordable rental car Toyota Avanza new and English speaking driver will be available from the end of July. Car ow ner is our recommended driver Mr. Wahyu who has worked for us during 3 years. You can contact Mr. Wahyu directly +62 812 81819452 or email ( y udhy.wahy udhy@ yahoo.com) or contact Tanaka (shantishanti7575@gmail.com) We are selling our Honda Brio Satya E 2014 Manual Transmission white color . Very fresh in and out. Lady driven. 14,000 km reading. First owner. Doubledin audio and airbags. Must see to appreciate. Reason for selling is that We are moving out of the country. Price: Rp.110 million obo. For more information please WA/ call/ iMessage/ SMS to +62(0)87882840044 We are selling our Piaggio LX 150 ie 2014. All document complete (first owner). Body very fresh and original paint (yellow). Brand new tire front and back. Comes with Free original vespa floormat. Ready master key and italian front grill. Minus speedometer just stopped working 2 days ago. Must see to appreciate. Price: Rp.17,500,000 obo. Call/WA/ iMessage: +62(0)87882840044 Jobs Available Full Time and Part Time vacancies are now available for experienced English lang uage instructors for corporate courses around Jakarta. Competitive rates and travel allowance are offered. Please send your CV to: recruitment. kpiconsultancy@gmail.com Part-time Primary Teacher Position (EXPAT) – Bintaro, Tangerang Join a well-established IB World School: • Native speaker of English (UK, US, CDN, Aussie, NZ) preferred • 5 Years Teaching experience, IB PYP preferred • Team-player, flexible, creative • A degree in Education is required for a Work Permit Please send your application and updated resume with recent photo to hrd@globaljaya.com

28

Indonesia expat issue 171

Services Spanish Tutor: Learn Spanish at your place with a DELE-certified examiner from Spain. Most of my students come from International Schools (JIS and BSJ). Please call me (Raúl) +62 (0) 821 1050 2786 Email: unascartas@yahoo.com Bahasa Indonesia lessons for expats living in South Jakarta, Kuningan, Country Wood, BSD, given by instructor with 20 years experience. Flexible schedule. Plea se c a l l Pa k Cha ir u ma n +62 (0) 812 103 7466 or email chairuman1942@gmail.com “Fu l l Ti me a nd Pa r t Ti me vacancies are now available for experienced English language instructors for corporate courses around Jakarta. Competitive rates and travel allowance are offered. Please send your CV to recruitment.kpiconsultancy@ gmail.com” Traditional dances teacher: Hi everyone, I'm Andrini . If there is anyone would like to learn Indonesian traditional dances especially Balinese dances, in group or personal. Send me an email or contact me on this number +62(0)82111658892 Property For rent 300 houses at Kemang, Cipete, Cilandak, Jeruk Purut, Pondok Indah. Big gardens, swimming pools, USD2,000 – 5,000. Phone +62(0)816859551 or +62(0)8170093366 I would like to offer my property for rent for USD 2300/month. 225/210—5 minutes to Kemang Near to Australia International School, New Zealand International School & Pejaten Village. Private Residence with 10 limited houses · 24 Hours security · Private swimming pool · 3 room + 1 maid room · 4 bathroom · 2 car park · Internet by First Media Plea se cont a c t: K amilia . rosmasari@yahoo.com @Kuningan, Apar tment SetiaBudi, on RENT, for short &/ or long term. Size 159 Sq.meters, Furnished 2 Bedrooms in a Good building with amenities, at prime location. Unit with large living room & separate study room, large kitchen , with store room & utility room, along with separate entrance for maid /servant’s room & bathroom. Agents &/or Brokers welcome to assist. Reasonable price & flexible terms. Call / SMS/ WA Owner +62(0)8159061267 / +62(0)8119961267 A Classic Mansion for sale in Rawamangun, Jakarta Timur, near Jakarta Golf Club. 5 br, 5 bath, 1 powder room, library room,

2 maid + 1 bath, swimming pool, dance studio, badminton court, big garden, koi pond, garage, and carport for up to 6 cars, 3 storey, semi-equipped. Contact Indra +62(0)82297286667 For rent! Comfy Full furnished apartment in Aspen Residences Fatmawati. Next to One Belpark Mall. Conveniently located close to to Citos, Mayapada and Siloam Hospital, 1km to Toll JORR. 18th Floor, with city/mall view. 102 sqm. 3 Bedrooms.2 Bathrooms. +1 study room. All electronics and appliances included. Just bring your luggage. Rent USD1,350 per month (min 6 mths). Include service charge. Rented by owner. Santi: +62(0)818874676. Email: santimar747@gmail.com

For Rent, Apartment Hampton’s Park, Flexible Payment, Contract 6 month – 1 year - 2 year, Low Rise Floor, USD1,100- USD1,250 net t nego. L ocated close to Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS), supermarket, hospital, pharmacy, paid highway JORR BSD-Tanjung Priok-Cikampek , and free highway Pangeran Antasari. It consists of 1 main bedroom, 1 kids room, and 1 bathroom ( 54 m2). Rental price is USD1,100-USD1,250. Present Facility: · Fully furnished · Air conditioned for each room. · Guaranteed for the ser v ice maintenance. The AC is regularly serviced for every 3 months. · Water heater Ariston 10-L · TV in main bedroom and living room · Internet and TV connection wired by First Media. Its billing is paid monthly. · There is also Japanese bakery, b a s e m e nt p a r k i ng , i nd o or s u p e r m a r k e t , He r o F r e s h Supermarket, swimming pool (sandy, Olympic sized, hot water), fitness area, children playground, business center around the Crystal Hotel (in front of the apartment), gas station, Starbucks, and dry clean laundry. For perfect viewing please make a call to Dani as a direct owner, Whatsapp number at +62(0)81288512380 or you may reach me at dani_arief_rahman@ outlook.co.id for asking question about the apartment. There is USD1,000 reward commitment fee for 1-year contract agreement. A Luxury Apartment Unit at Kemang Village~Infinity Tower 17th Floor. Unit size 160 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, spacious living room, dining room, pantry, wet kitchen, and storage room. Fully furnished. Private elevator, Foyer in the entrance area .

Servant quarter with an access to service elevator. Electricity capacity 11,000VA. High security standard with Smart Card system and 24/7 CCT V. The Inf inity Tower i s c on ne c t i ng t o t he Luxurious Lippo Mall Kemang. Suitable for expatriate family. A sking Rent: USD3,000 per month, net of tax, inclusive of service charge. For appointment, call: Agus Djuarta (Padua Property Agency) – Cell: +62(0)811961763. Email: adjuarta@yahoo.com

A Luxury House available for rent at Jl. Alam Asri V, Pondok Indah. Land area 280sqm, 3 storey Building ± 500sqm, including 5 b e d r o om s , l i v i ng r o om s , dining room, pantry & kitchen, and recreation room at the attic. Service area includes servant and driver rooms, storage, and garage. Furnished condition. Located in a quiet living area and close to the Raffles International School in Pondok Indah. Asking rent: USD3,500 per month. Rent payable in equivalent of IDR currency. Open house by appointment: Ag us Djuar ta (Padua Property Agency). Cell.: +62(0)811961763 or +62(0)818 131152. Email: adjuarta@yahoo. com

Big classic and nice house available for rent in Jl. Sekolah Kencana IV, Pondok Indah. Land area 918 sqm, 2 storey building ± 750 sqm. 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, guest room, big living room, dining room, big kitchen, big family room (upstair). Very nice garden in backyard with gazebo and big swimming pool. The house is located in quiet living environment and only walking distance to the Jakarta International School. Asking rent rate: USD4,000/ month. Rental fee payable in equivalent IDR currency. Open house by appointment, call: Agus Djuarta (Padua Property Agency). Cell.: +62(0)811961763 or +62(0)818131152. Email: adjuarta@yahoo.com


Household Staff Available

A Luxury house available for rent at Jl. Prapanca IV, Kebayoran Baru. Land area 500 sqm, 2 storey Building ± 500 sqm, including 4 bedrooms, large living rooms, mini bar, dining room, pantry & kitchen, and medium size of pool w ith gazebo. Ser v ice area include servant and guard rooms, storage, and garage. Unfurnished condition. Electricity supply 33,000VA. Located in a quiet residential area. Suitable for V VIP expatriate family or Staff ’s Embassy family. Asking rent: USD5, 500per month. Open house by appointment, call: Agus Djuarta (Padua Property Agency). Cell.: +62(0)811961763 or +62(0)818131152. Email: adjuarta@yahoo.com

Nice Apartments available for Rent at Hampton’s Park, Terogong, Jakarta Selatan. 1) Level 5th with city view. Unit size 79sqm including 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, study & leisure room, living room, dining room, pantry, service area, and balcony. Service area includes storage and toilet. Fully furnished condition. Asking Rent: USD. 1,650.00/month. 2) Level 23rd with incredible golf view. Unit size 105sqm including 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, service area, and balcony. Service area includes laundry room and toilet. Fully furnished condition. Asking rent: USD2,400/month. 3) Level 3rd Unit size 127.8sqm, 3 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms, living room and dining room, pantry and laundry room with toilet. Fully furnished condition. Semi private elevator. Balcony with Golf view. Asking rent: USD2,400/month. Hampton’s Park is located not too far from the Jakarta International School and very famous residential complex in South Jakarta for expatriates community. Facilities include swimming pools, tennis court, gymnasium, fitness center, jog g ing tra ck, and child ren playground. All Rent inclusive of service charge and payable in IDR currency. Appointment for visiting unit, call: Agus Djuarta (Padua Proper ty Agency). +62(0)811 961763 or +62(0)818131152. Looking for Work Female looking for work. Job experience background: Visa and Consular Section Assistant at The Emba ss y of Irela nd, Membership Department at The American Club, etc. Educational ba c kg r ou nd: D iplom a 1 on English Literature (3.01 GPA). For more information, Email: viskagabrila@gmail.com or Call/ Text: +62(0)81298292244

L ook ing for a job a s dr iver. My name is Sugiarto. I Iive in Mampang South Jakarta. I’m 37 years old with work experience at PT. British Petroleum, PT. Weatherford Oil Services. I’m looking for a job as office driver or personal driver. Contact me at +62(0)817129515. Nanny available: I’m Vera. I’m looking a job as a nanny. Prefer full time but I’m quite f lexible. I do have references letter. I’m available ASAP. You can reach me here +62(0)82110346643. An exceptionally talented cook (with experience with children as well). Linda is not only a very good cook, with a wide repertoire, she also has a good grasp of nutrition. She can calculate the nutritional content and balance of meals, and develop meal plans to address different needs and tastes. She has good basic computer skills and can document the plan, along with all food expenses. (I trained her in this area, when she assisted me part time in my work in health consulting.) I can assure you that there is no one with the skills who can also provide gracious and competent support to all aspects of a household. She has a very agreeable nature, a gentle manner, and is utterly responsible, reliable and versatile. Her English is very good; she reads easily and can follow any written recipe in English. She has a wide knowledge of the availability of good quality foods in different markets. She is also versatile and resourceful. She has worked in retail as well, and can support many administrative needs in a house. She has a rare skill set, and will be quite an asset for the right family. Having been here for 13 years, I can say that she has as rare a skill set as I have ever seen. She can be reached at: +62(0)8179855090. I can answer questions via email: mark@lediard.net English speaking live-in nanny/ maid available in July! We will be leaving Jakarta in July and we highly recommend our nanny/ maid. Tuti is a young, active girl who is an all-rounder. She speaks English and was a nanny before she joined us. However, we live in an apartment and needed someone who can also do maid duties. She gladly took on the role as a maid/ nanny and is great at cleaning, ironing, and most importantly great with our kids (3 yr old and 1 yr old). She is very clean, active and respects our privacy. She doesn't really cook, but can help in the kitchen. I would get her to make easy meals and salads and she would help me while I cooked. What is great about her is that she is easygoing and always happy. She is available in mid-July and can be contacted directly at +62(0)85324608601. You can email me at mayan_81@hotmail. com for a detailed reference. Recommendation for fantastic live-in nanny (single, no kids) Ibu Suti (42) has been working as the nanny in our family (2 boys, 3 & 5 at the start of her assignment) for one year and seven months. She has had a live-in status throughout the entire period. Our boys go to

the Australian School in Kemang. She is well connected with the staff, security, and teachers of AIS. We have found her to be excellent at taking care of our boys, and she has adapted well to our rather demanding education style. She is very patient, and has been able to keep the children meaningfully entertained without ever making use of the television or iPad. She sits down with them, assisting w ith Lego building, play ing board games, reading, making them draw, bake, or she just lets them play without getting involved. She never hesitates to bring them outside for cycling, running, climbing and playing with friends. She has complied well with our desire not to feed junk food or sugary drinks to the children. More than just looking after the children, she has played an active and meaningful part in their education. They love her, and consider her as part of the family. In addition to that, Ibu Suti is autonomous: She doesn't need to wait for instructions, and just knows what needs to be done. When her main mission is taken care of, she helps out with number of other tasks, well beyond her job requirements, without being asked. We have also found her to be honest, and completely trustworthy. She interacts and works well with the rest of the staff. We can confidently say Ibu Suti has been an exceptionally good nanny for us, and can warmly recommend her for a similar job. Please contact her directly: +62(0)817815964 (She has many references from previous expat families: german, italian, swedish, korean, norwegian families) or send me a mail: mioraetyann@ gmail.com if you have any question or wish to discuss any particular point. for sale iPhones for sale! iPhone 5s 32GB (black). Rp.3,000,000. Purchased in U.S. Carrier SIM free, iOS 9.3.2 - Unactivate. Comes with USB cord, plug, earphones. iPhone4s 16GB ( bla ck), Rp 500,000. Purchased in Japan. Carrier locked to SoftBank - requires SoftBank SIM card to activate (or other method). iOS 9.3.2 Unactivated. Comes with USB cord. iPhone 4 s 16GB (wh it e), Rp 500,000. Purchased in Japan. Carrier locked to SoftBank requires SoftBank SIM card to activate (or other method). iOS 9.3.2 - Unactivated. Comes with USB cord. Pick up at Sudirman area. Please feel free to contact via WhatsApp: +62(0)81806912551. For sa le a c ol le c t ion of old c e r a m i c c h i n a a n d Ja p a n . and an old painting works of Hendra Gunawan, manfong lee a nd lee mayeu r, specia l c ol le c t or s , i nt er e s t e d c a l l: +62(0)81287558607 We're selling our industrial dining table! Very good condition (bought last year). Teak wood & iron stall: 180cm x 90cm. Finishing: natural sanding. Bought: IDR22 million at VIE, Kemang Timur no.50 (www. vieforliving.com). Sell: IDR15 million (fast sale only). Get FREE 4 Arbor & Troy dining chairs (bought IDR 4.7 million each). Pick up:

apartment Permata Hijau Tower 2 / Unit 9B. TEXT/WHATSAPP: +62(0)81298983242

night stand, dresser, cupboard, chest of drawers) Rp.8 million · Black bed room (queen size w ith mat tress, night stand) Rp.4,000,000 · Garden table +4 chairs Rp.500,000 · Shoes cabinet small Rp.600,000 · Shoes cabinet big Rp.1,000,000 · Sofa L shape ( whole set ) +carpet +lamp Rp.7,000,000 · Leather chair Rp.2,800,000 For photos please see the link and if anyone are interesting please whatsapp at 081212280010 https://www.flickr.com/ photos/143463954@N02/ Others

For Sale! Kenneth Cobonpue - Industr ial St yle Round G l a s s D i n i ng Ta ble —We ’r e selling this pretty industrial K e n n e t h C o b onp u e d i n i ng table A maya ser ies. ( ht tp:// www.kennethcobonpue.com/ collection/view/3/AMAYA). Like new and fast sale for half price nett!! (bought $1620). Made of steel frame constructed of woven abaca rope - suitable for indoor or outdoor. Pick up: Apartment Permata Hijau - Jakarta Selatan More info: echasimanjuntak@ gmail.com Everything must go: Reduce prices As we are moving from Jakarta soon we need to sell this stuff urgently. The price are given down but can negotiate to a reasonable degree. · ELC blossom farm Rp.500,000 · Mothercare potty Rp.80,000 · Mobi lg y m w it h play mat Rp.500,000 · Baby diper change table with tube Rp.1,200,000 · Baby sw ing f rom Gra co Rp.1,300,000 · Baby girl basket Rp.200,000 · Aquarium Rp.350,000 · Flower picture Rp.400,000 · Water gun Rp.150,000 · Princess bath curtain Rp.80,000 · Butterfly bath curtain Rp.80,000 · Purple bath curtain Rp.100,000 bath curtain stick Rp.20,000 · Swimming kit Rp.200,000 · Pa k s t a n i si l k wool c a r pe t USD1,300 (180x280) · Hello kitty scooter Rp.250,000 · Pink scooter Rp.150,000 · Princess bike Rp.700,000 · Blue bike Rp.400,000 · Puzzles : Pooh wooden Rp.80,000 Alphabet train Rp.40,000 · New IK E A sa fe lock 2 for Rp.100,000 · Baby bed set Rp.250,000 ( 3 pillows and cover) · Bird toy Rp.120,000 · Monkey toy Rp.100,000 · Tree toy Rp.150,000 · Maya the bee puzzle Rp.20,000 each · P i n k b e d r o om ( b e d w i t h mattress, night stand, dresser, desk +chair, cupboard) Rp.10 million · Blue bedroom (bed with mattress,

Still having trouble when topping up your Internet Package & Phone Credit? Ayopop provides a Top Up Solution for Expat. Available for iPhone & Android. · Easily top up internet package & phone credits to any number without *363*99*123... · Top up for other numbers & pay with credit card, deposits, or bank transfer · Chat with customer service 24hrs support via the app Free Dow n loa d. S e a rch for ‘Ayopop’ on AppStore or PlayStore. We have a variety of rare cycads seeds with very good germination rates guaranteed. Below is a list of available species and we could help you get more email u s a t ( g a r y p e t t er@g m a i l . com). Cycas cairnsiana Cycas angulata. Cycas couttsiana, Cycas panzhihuaens, Macrozamia f lexuosa, Macrozamia macdonellii, Macrozamia s t e n om e r a , E n c e p h a l a r t o s ma n i ken si s. E nc epha la r t os poggei, Encephalartos horridus and more. I am looking for a Mountain Bike, second-hand. Contact: Paul Cook (ennerdale61@gmail.com)

BALI Jobs Available Sales Consultant Wanted in Bali. Must have excellent written and spoken English. Sales experience a bonus – full training provided. Very generous remuneration. Send resume to careers@ aberdeenhouse.com.au L o o k i ng f o r d o g l o v e r s: A beachfront resort in Gianyar is looking for a dog lover for our full breed Golden Retrievers. Mother, 8 years old and her two daughters (4 years old) need loving care. Can somebody take care for them, on daily basis, 3 hours daily. Reply (email) to mayahtliem@gmail. com Seeking 2 x Indonesian professionals as Art Gallery Staff. Interested about art, excellent English, outgoing and motivated, organization, administration and sales skills. Send CV to contact@ nyamangallery.com New Luxury Beach & Pool Club in Nusa Dua is looking for an Expatriate Sous Chef/Head Chef. Have experience in Mediterranean /Greek Rest. is an advantage. Visa & Housing are provided, send your CV to bali_leisure@ymail.com

Gar ment Bik ini Produc tion M a n a g e r ne e d e d . 5 y e a r s+ ex per ience. Fluent English/ Indonesian written/spoken only. Well organised and good team player. CV : fikamurasaki@gmail. com We i n v i t e y o u t o b e o u r Administration for our villas. Excellent in written English, proactive with strong administration background, basic accounting, c on f ident c omput er s k i l l s , minimum 3 years experience in the tourism industr y and mature attitude. Competitive salary with bonus system. CV to nooysilviana@yahoo.com Property

Getaway to Ubud, Bali – Stay at Steph and Dave's Private Villa in Ubud, Bali. SPECIAL deal 15% off runs this month! Girls weekend away or Short Break in Bali . 3 Bedroom Private Pool Villa in rice fields. Authentic Balinese stay in a traditional village. 4.5 kms from Ubud. Quiet, peaceful setting – in the rice fields. Sleeps 6 - ideal for family or couples. Free daily breakfast. Driver avail on request. Your own personal villa cook. Yoga and meditation platform. Cocktails ser ved poolside at sunset. Complimentary guided local village tour. Security 24 hrs. Read latest guest reviews on trip advisor. Villa Damee – a peaceful stay in Bali www.villadamee.com info@villadamee.com Brand new 2BR + pool villa with view for lease 45,000 USD for 10 yrs or sale 115,000 USD and 3BR 3FL simple house with AC/WH for lease 35,000 USD for 10 yrs. Owner +62(0)81338549888. Perfect for hostel and villas rental biz startup with only 120,000 USD. You can own and manage 10 beds small hostel, 2 storey 2 beds villa and 1 storey 2 beds villa. Total 120,000 USD for 10 yrs lease. +62(0)81338549888.

MEDAN Property Emergency Sale: Land in Medan. 202.5m 2 Tanah milik - house with electricity. Rp.300 million or very near offer. Investment opportunity? Title deed here in Jakarta. No agents. Contact owner Ibu Lily: +62(0)81213995099 Email: terry@fullproofservices. net

PAPUA looking for household staff Live In nanny good with kids needed in Papua. Looking for early years guru to take care of twins and house in Tembagapura. Basic English & cooking. Great salary and holidays. Please contact rakel20002000@hotmail.com

issue 171 Indonesia expat

29


30

Indonesia expat issue 171


issue 171 Indonesia expat

31


32

Indonesia expat issue 171


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.