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ISSUE 203 Indonesia expat
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ISSUE 203 Indonesia expat
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Indonesia expat
Chief Editorial Advisor Bernhard Eduard Frese editor@indonesiaexpat.biz
issue 203
WELCOME BACK Readers!
Marketing Consultant Edo Frese edo@indonesiaexpat.biz
Editorial Assistant Christabel Sasabone letters@indonesiaexpat.biz
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Distribution & Admin Juni Setiawan admin@indonesiaexpat.biz
Finance Lini Verawaty finance@indonesiaexpat.biz
Contributors SNA Media Club Terry Donohue Ahda Arifa Ismail Kerli Pärnapuu Hans Rooseboom Eamonn Sadler May Tien Kenneth Yeung
Ever wonder what the challenges are behind running one of the largest private, international schools in Southeast Asia? And, on top of that, running it as a non-profit organization? In Issue 203, we sit down with Jakarta Intercultural School’s new Head of School Tarek Razik who helps demystify the business behind running these types of schools as well as get to know more about his leadership style and philosophy behind education. It is an in-depth exclusive, one you won’t find anywhere else in Indonesia. We also take a look at Krakatau through the eyes of adventure travel writer Terry Donohue, who explains the history and geological formations of the small band of islands to the west of Java. Another new contributing writer Ahda Ismail shows us the natural power in using locally made, ecologically viable, health and beauty products. Kenneth Yeung is back with an explosive one-on-one with no other than David Bond. Whatever you think of him or his tactics, this will be an eye-opening experience for anyone who ever wondered about the power of self-promotion online. We hope that you enjoy this issue as it could be one of our most powerful yet in terms of content and style.
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MEET THE EXPAT Chef Matias Ayala, Executive Chef of the Raffles Hotel Jakarta
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BEAUTY Homegrown Beauty – A Simple Guide to Indonesian Cosmetic Brands
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BUSINESS PROFILE Tarek Razik Ed.D, The New Head of School at JIS, and the Business of International Education
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FOOD AND DRINK The Vanguard of the New Southeast Asian Cuisine
Until next time,
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SCAMS IN THE CITY Sexploitation, Lies and Video
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BUSINESS Common Myths about Doing Business in Indonesia
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INDONESIAN HISTORY Corruption and Mismanagement in the Times of the VOC
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TRAVEL The Resurrection of Krakatau
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LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT Lessons in Life
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SNA MEDIA CLUB COLUMN 36 Hours in Surabaya
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DUA TANGAN CUKUP Crown's Golden Relay: Helping Children with Disabilities with Yayasan Sayap Ibu Bintaro
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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EVENTS
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CLASSIFIEDS
Edo Frese
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On the Cover Tarek Razik, Ed.D, New Head of School for Jakarta Intercultural School
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Meet the Expat
Chef Matias Ayala
can be a very good first experience. The décor, ambience and offerings are really something else!
Executive Chef of the Raffles Hotel Jakarta
What are the challenges of managing hotel restaurants? Any differences between working in Jakarta versus other places? Every place is different due to cultural differences, religions, taste and more. However, I consider the biggest challenge in managing a hotel restaurant is the diversity of the guests. Our guests are from around the world and today you could serve a guest from Europe, tomorrow from South America and the next day Asia. All of them will have different expectations and want different flavours. Making all of them happy in one restaurant would be a real challenge for any chef.
The Raffles Jakarta’s name is synonymous with elegance, luxury and refinement when it comes to the hotel experience and fine dining in Indonesia’s capital. Indonesia Expat sits down with their new executive chef Matias Ayala and explores his signature dishes and philosophy behind the cuisine.
What do you think about the Jakarta restaurant scene? I think that Jakarta and Indonesia in general is really growing, and the people of Indonesia are searching for new and better places to eat. It is great to see many chefs working hard and producing great food, and it is very easy to find good restaurants all over the city. What is your current favourite restaurant in Jakarta, and why? Any recent discoveries, whether food or business related? It is very difficult to mention only one restaurant as there are many great restaurants all over the city. I’ve only been here for a short time, but I will say what I think is great and business related is the capacity of the Indonesian people when it comes to creativity and handicraft works. We have an amazing opportunity to work with individuals that create personalized chinaware, buffet set-ups and so forth. Tell us a little about the cuisine of The Arts Café at the Raffles Jakarta. I think the cuisine at the Raffles is unique as it is made with love, care and passion from the team, which makes a huge difference. It is very diverse as we try to provide many options for our guests, and being an international brand with a big reputation such as Raffles, our guests are wellseasoned travellers from all over the world with exceptional individual tastes and preferences. One of the things we are very proud of is our signature dishes, making our hotel very well known in the market. What is your philosophy when it comes to cooking and being an industry leader? My philosophy when it comes to cooking is very straightforward. I like simple, good food that is cooked well with the best possible ingredients. You know, when I enjoy doing something, I take it to another level. I just keep going at it until it is perfected. I consider good leaders as the ones from whom you are always able to learn something even when you make some mistakes. They will guide you and coach you with good examples and encouragement. Our industry is continuously changing, and it is important to keep developing our team in order to provide our guests the best possible experiences.
What sets yours apart from other hotel restaurants? We always think of our guests first, and try to execute our cuisine with as much integrity as possible. If it were my first time dining at the hotel, what should I try and drink or pair with my food? We have several options, but the afternoon tea is very special. The pairings with our high quality tea selection
What cuisine do you enjoy cooking the most, and why? Who are you most inspired by? I really like to cook comfort food, and I feel familiarity with some Italian flavours. However, I’m very passionate about and inspired by some Asian ingredients and techniques lately. I find inspiration everywhere: in my team, reading books, going out for dinner and even browsing the Internet. I think it is very important to keep trying, travelling and discovering new flavours all the time. Tell us a little about your typical day. My day usually starts with having breakfast with my wife at home and then heading to work. Every day, I usually have something new to address, which is very exciting as this keeps me very busy and active. In the mornings, I use my time for meetings and to oversee the operation in the hotel outlets. Then, in the afternoon, I focus more on the banquet operations. Most of the time I use the afternoons to work on my emails, menus or special guest requests.
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RAFFLES HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE
What do you enjoy the most in your line of work? I think what I enjoy most is seeing the faces of our guests and team after a good service; seeing people enjoying the food is really something else for me. It allows me to keep focused and improve my skills, to keep developing my team to provide better experiences. What is your advice to people who want to become a chef or restaurateur? I recommend travelling, eating a lot, enjoying life and being ready for a lifetime commitment.
The Raffles Jakarta’s à la carte menu • The Korean-inspired kimchi fried rice with braised beef short rib (bulgogi style) is a superb main dish with kimchi studded rice and tender and juicy short ribs. • Raffles Hainan Chicken Rice is a house favourite with ginger, soy, special chili sauces, chicken-cabbage broth, fragrant ginger rice. • The popular Ivory Cheesecake with mango mousse and passion fruit is enjoyed by all.
Chef Matias Ayala’s Signature Dishes • A simply stunning Tomato and Lemon Risotto • A profound Asian-flavours-cured Salmon, pickled onion and avocado puree. • A tender and juicy Pan-seared Ribeye with Argentinian chimichurri sauce, kale, and smoked corn puree.
TOMATO AND LEMON RISOTTO
KOREAN KIMCHI FRIED RICE WITH BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIB BULGOGI
PAN-SEARED RIB EYE
IVORY CHEESECAKE
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Beauty
Ahda Arifa Ismail was born in Indonesia and raised in the United States. She is a full-time feature writer for one of Southeast Asia’s largest media companies. Just like the secret meaning within her name – ahda arifa means eloquent guidance – she is aspired to inspire others through her words.
Homegrown Beauty – A Simple Guide to Indonesian Cosmetic Brands Indonesian skincare and beauty supplies are hot items, but what’s an expat to do when looking for the best items and brands? Beauty writer Ahda Arifa Ismail explains what’s best amongst the leading products and lines. BY AHDA ARIFA ISMAIL
O
ften considered as the recession-proof business, the beauty industry attracts both the enthusiast and entrepreneur around the world. There is always a place in the market for growth and a chance to change the trends. After all, beauty has become a vital necessity in this modern age. Severe competition between companies trying to out-best each other is no secret. Pinning down the who’s who in cosmetics can be difficult because this business deals with people’s preferences. For decades now, Paris and the United States have set the stage for beauty. The companies that operate from there deliver high quality goods, and dictate a certain standard for what’s in style and what looks good. Beauty companies from South Korea have recently tipped the industry into a new phase. They have successfully marketed a new look to the world focussing on the health of skin as equally or more important than traditional cover ups. People are gradually realizing the significance of skincare products, with a preference for ingredients sourced from nature. Despite the aggressive marketing campaigns from these companies in the past few years, the Indonesian market has seen a steady-butdefinitive new wave of locally sourced and manufactured beauty products. Although Indonesia has been producing cosmetics and skincare lines for the market for a while, the response from consumers has never been more exciting for these up-and-comers. More and more Indonesian consumers are proud to purchase local brands. The young entrepreneurs behind the local companies are also eager to promote beauty innovations. The locally-made products are now almost comparable to the world-class brands. Some of them have even succeeded internationally. Over the course of two years, Indonesia’s market has been flooded with local cosmetics companies that focus on lip wear. More specifically, lip cream in a non-drying matte finish. Several Indonesia-based companies started off with entirely new concepts. Their arrival was a breath of fresh air for a sagging market for which there is always opportunity for creativity and innovation. Here are some of the vastly popular local brands with homegrown appeal: 8
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Juara
Rollover Reaction Arguably the only youthful, local brand that pioneers a broad-spectrum lip cream with matte finish, Rollover Reaction is one of the most popular brands amongst Indonesians. It is a brainchild of four young women, who successfully married simplicity with elegance. It is one of the holy grails of lipwear with an unprecedented formula that seems fitting to any type of skin condition. Rollover Reaction is recently expanding their collections to eyebrow makeup. (Price range Rp.109,000 to Rp.129,000 at website www.rolloverreaction.com)
This skincare company combines ancient, Indonesian beauty rituals and herbal medicinal practices within the confines of modern science. Even though it is based in New York, the originator of the brand features traditional Indonesian spices such as candlenut oil, clove, tamarind or turmeric. They offer an array of herbalheritage-meets-botanical-science concept skincare products and body treatments. (Price range Rp.329,000 to Rp.994,000 at Sephora Indonesia).
Polka Imitation and repetition are two of the largest issues in the digitized era. A majority of local companies have started to encourage women to be brave and flaunt their uniqueness. Celebrating the vivacious world of pop culture with innocent optimism at its core, Polka’s brand livens up with originality. The cosmetic company offers a range of colours that can hardly be found anywhere else. They are also one of the few Indonesian brands that have broken through the international ranks to Australia and the United States. (Price Rp.185,000 at www.polkabeauty.com and Sephora Indonesia)
Make Over In a world full of possibilities, the only thing that remains a rule is the perception of beauty. However, does beauty have to fulfil a certain standard in society? Determined to answer this profound question, Make Over initiates a line of beauty products suitable for every skin type and concern. They are not one type of beauty, but beauty for every type. Their lines of cosmetic and skincare products arrive with classy black packaging, giving world-class elegance. (Price range: Rp.45,000 to Rp.305,000 at Make Over Stores and local drugstores)
Esqa Inspired by world-class beauty experts, Esqa Cosmetics shows how sophistication can be achieved with the subtlest of colours. The founders of the brand infuse natural ingredients inside their iconic rose-gold packaging. Even though the brand has now launched another line of products, Indonesian cosmetic aficionados are still championing their lip products, in both matte-finish liquid and satinfinish crayon. (Price range Rp.185,000 to Rp.295,000 at www.esqacosmetics. com, Sociolla and Sephora Indonesia)
overlooked due to its relatively lowranging price, its quality is comparable to internationally manufactured brands. They offer an unprecedented collection of cosmetics, skincare, tools and body care. (Price range Rp.20,000 to Rp.197,900 at their outlets across Indonesia and local drugstores)
Mineral Botanica Delivering beneficial elements that only nature can, Mineral Botanica produces cosmetics and skincare without the use of chemicals. The products are developed with extracts and essential oils that are manufactured under the strictest quality control. Often
Switching loyalties from one cosmetic brand to another and trying new things can be diffcult to do. However, using locally-made cosmetics would be a wise choice as some are designed to fit the skin conditions experienced by Indonesians along with the impact of the climate to the skin’s overall health.
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Business Profile
Tarek Razik, Ed.D The New Head of School at JIS, and the Business of International Education In this exclusive interview, Jakarta Intercultural School’s new Head of School shares his thoughts on the business of education as well as his vision for this sprawling campus filled with one of the most diverse student bodies in Southeast Asia.
world. “Investment firms are putting big money into purchasing schools. There’s the GEMS [Global Education Management Systems] organization running primarily in the Middle East. There are also [others] that are running a lot of the international schools in Asia and South Asia,” Razik explains to Indonesia Expat one afternoon at his office in Pondok Indah campus. One look at the profile of any of these educational brands reinforces this position.
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ot many people understand Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) exists as a non-profit educational organization. Its founding as a small school for United Nations staff posted to Jakarta after Indonesia gained independence in 1951 has now transformed to lush and sprawling grounds with three separate campuses. With roughly 2300 students and 65 nationalities represented throughout, it’s an incredible sight to behold when the school bell rings at Cilandak and students pour out of classrooms and move on to the next. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls allow parents and visitors to see how the youngest students enrolled in the early education programmes are learning at Pattimura. With a ratio of one teacher to every ten students, teaching staff and administrators also complement the campus and many greet students on a first-name basis as they walk through the corridors. Perhaps due to its tuition costs, an image has circulated through expatriate and local communities that JIS is an elite and privileged institution. And while the costs of schooling have increased at private schools such as JIS in recent years (and may have perpetuated this image), one needn’t look far to also see JIS’s position in the region as one of the first and largest international schools with high matriculation and graduation rates for those students who finish the rigorous International Baccalaureate or Advanced Placement programmes. The new Head of School Tarek Razik, Ed.D, sits down with Indonesia Expat and dispels this common misconception along with explaining the differences between the business of education and the art of educating in the current economic environment.
The Education Business Education has changed dramatically over the past few decades. It is a massive business, with large management companies running schools around the 10
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“As long as quality is kept in mind, I am OK with it. But you’ve got to put students first, and most of these schools end up trying to save money in order to turn a profit and that’s either on resources or on teachers or teachers’ salaries. There is this tension, I think, between the business side and academic delivery. However, some of these schools have figured it out and are doing a very good job; I single out GEMS because I know they put the students first,” says Razik. And although JIS is a non-profit organization, it is not exempt from Indonesian government taxes. In fact, the school is taxed like a for-profit entity. Razik explains, “We are the largest employer of expatriates in Indonesia. We are not making any money, but we are taxed like it. The taxes on teaching staff salaries and benefits really puts us non-profits at a real disadvantage.” It is strange to consider that international schools like JIS might eventually go the way of the dinosaur. In order for school boards to attract top talent, maintain high quality facilities and make resources available to the students; the schools must spend money. Finances are a constant concern for the head of school. “We have to raise tuition each year commensurate with the cost of living that just keeps going up and I worry unless we develop alternate streams of revenue, we could be priced out of the market.” Public schools in the United States and other Western countries have corporate sponsorships, on-campus advertising, leasing of school facilities and other such income-generating activities for the schools when government funds do not meet the rising costs of resources or salaries. However, the only source of revenue for a non-profit, private, international school such as JIS is through tuition. Competition is high between schools in the region for sourcing the best teachers, too. “If we want to remain competitive against schools in Singapore and China, then we have to maintain a competitive benefits package. I do think that there is a similar tension between non-profit and for-profit systems, and that for-profit schools are going to take over most of the education in the region.
I struggle to think of how many not-forprofit schools there are in Indonesia, Thailand or China. They are few and far between,” says Razik.
or you can be Brazilian. However, if you agree with our core values and mission and you’re academically qualified, then we will happily educate you.”
Attracting the Best Educators and Talent
The New Head of School
Some international schools have a tough time attracting and retaining top talent. There is a small pool of qualified, international school educators in an everexpanding world of international schools. Some for-profit schools manage that by throwing money at teacher applicants who would otherwise be working elsewhere with less hardship. “At JIS, recruitment is conducted year-round to find the best people. It’s a nonstop job,” says Razik. For him, there are three major factors that he believes to be important. “The least important one is a competitive salary and benefits package; teachers need to know they’re being looked after. The more important ones for me are the work environment and reputation. Schools develop reputations, and it impacts the recruitment process more and more. Teachers want to feel that they’re valued, they enjoy coming to work, they’re respected and they have opportunities for professional development and growth within the organization. I always say that you can be making a lot of money, but be very unhappy in your job and you’re not going to be productive so the students are going to suffer. Money is not going to buy a good working environment. However, a teacher is more willing to stay and the students will benefit if the work environment is positive and the salary is good. If you can put those two things together, then you’ve got a good thing going,” says Razik. He adds, “I’m trying to navigate the impact of Jakarta on recruiting as well. Coming from Beijing, we had this little thing called pollution that we had to work our way around periodically. Here, I’m just learning about the challenges.”
Tarek Razik pauses for a moment. “I’m only three months on the ground here. There are many differences between working in China and Indonesia. It’s a different pace and cultural sensitivity.” Razik is a seasoned head of school, having start his career in the Caribbean and then landing a management role at the Shanghai American School in 2000. He eventually moved to Beijing where he was head of school. “Even though I’ve been doing this for a while and moving periodically, no two cities or schools are ever alike. I want to acclimate myself personally and with my family. I also want to make sure I respect the work that’s been done to get the institution to this point and how I’m going to add value with the next iteration of Jakarta Intercultural school with my leadership,” he says thoughtfully. He describes his philosophy in detail. “At the end of the day, test scores should not be the measurements of a child’s success. Is a child happy? Is the child giving back to society? Is the child doing good things for the world? Is the child healthy mentally and physically? Those things, in my mind, will influence their education in a positive direction beyond the academics. You see some of the big scandals around the world like Enron; these people have serious college and graduate school degrees and yet they’ve gone off and done these unethical things. I think that’s what we try to prevent here. We look at wellness and mindfulness because I believe a healthy mind and body will eventually lead to academic results that are appropriate for that individual child. There is definitely an emphasis on the academics and less so on the child in many countries, and I don’t think that’s healthy.”
The Enrolments Issue
JIS Elites?
If there’s one issue that is always a constant source of anxiety and concern at board meetings and conferences, it’s the issue of enrolments. When the global economy was expanding during the early part of the century, expatriates were hired in large numbers, particularly in Asia. As that stagnated and countries started to localize because of the expenses associated with relocations and benefits packages provided for school and housing, a different approach was taken. “Anybody who tells you that their enrolment is increasing with expatriates right now, well, I’d like to see their data. Most of the time you see a decline in expat students and that’s where your board starts to get nervous, especially with for-profit schools,” explains Razik.
So where does this elitist reputation come from? Is it simply from the costs associated with attending the school or are there other factors that come into play?
For many of the schools, the alternative is opening the doors to local students. By doing so, do schools then lose their international appeal? Is a bum on the seat that translates into tuition the only way to survive a tough economic environment? Razik considers this point carefully. “People stereotype by saying, ‘We’ll lose our identity and our international culture.’ I’m not sure I agree with that. I think here at JIS we want students that fit with our admissions criteria, and they and their families agree with our mission and values. You can be Indonesian, you can be Korean
When pressed further, he adds, “The elitist perception comes from the fact that we charge tuition, and our tuition is high for all of the reasons that we spoke about earlier. However, that in itself shouldn’t drive the narrative for the school and who we are. It’s not about how much you spend to go to school, but how you’re giving back to the community and getting people to see your attitude. And your attitude should never be one of arrogance or condescension, but rather something that is inclusive and respectful.”
Razik seems acutely aware of the situation, and surprisingly, does not shy away from the subject. “It’s definitely crossed my plate since I’ve been here. I want to dispel this reputation, but acknowledge that perhaps some of it is our own doing. I think we need to get out there and share more of the community service work that we do. We need to showcase what happens on this campus when this place is abuzz with local students using our classrooms, theatres and sports facilities. We are a very community-based school here.”
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Food and Drink
Our Clandestine Critic has dined all over the world, everywhere from three-Michelin 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!
The Vanguard of the New Southeast Asian Cuisine The Clandestine Critic takes a couple of weeks off from dining to contemplate the meaning of Southeast Asian cuisine and the chefs who provide a new hope for this region’s amazing culinary history and bounty.
BY THE CLANDESTINE CRITIC
D
uring the Jakarta Culinary Feastival event in November, chefs from around the region were flown in to provide a glimpse into each style of cuisine they represented and to showcase the varying flavours from the countries from which they hailed.
The event was described as a, “four-day long culinary festival that will cater to all of foodies’s [sic] dream. Whether it’s participating in live cooking show [sic] featuring international celebrity chefs or signing up to various workshops and cooking classes to sharpen your skill, we have everything you need and so much more. Here, your appetite will be spoiled [sic – I truly hope not]. Your prowess at creating dishes will be challenged. Not to mention you will have a fulfilling feast together with your loved ones, all possibly, easily done in one place.” It was meant to be a food lover’s dream-come-true based on the hosting organization’s website, and for many, it was an incredible opportunity to fawn over their favourite celebrity chef or dine at the many stalls displaying bites of prettily concocted desserts or hors d'oeuvres; a one-stop shop to meet with their food hero or restaurant darling and sample delights from across Southeast Asia. Over the course of the week, these chefs also had the opportunity to speak with media and many of them shared some concerns over the path of where the region’s cuisines are headed. Much of the information these chefs provided to young local journalists at press junkets flew over heads perhaps due to language barriers (and heavy accents) or inexperience with the subject, but there seemed to be a growing discontent with some about how cuisine is perceived in this region, and the flavours and dishes that define each country. There were comments about restrictive government regulations, poor distribution systems and the lack of best
““Technique” was a word that was often thrown at the media as well as “best ingredients” or “concepts.” However, it seemed to sound more like an echo chamber for the sexiest or brashest chefs.” practices. There were issues with imported goods over locally sourced ones. There was the issue of proper training and retaining talent amongst local staff. Most of the top chefs who participated in the festival were from different ethnic backgrounds and ran restaurants that could be categorized from fine European gastronomy to Bali café culture. “Technique” was a word that was often thrown at the media as well as “best ingredients” or “concepts.” However, at one point, it seemed to sound more like an echo chamber for the sexiest or brashest chefs. Yet, away from all the bright lights and razzle-dazzle of the event, a few important people in the industry got together and started talking. What defines Southeast Asian cuisine? Who are we, what are our ingredients, how do we utilize what is best here on the ground? How do we mobilize? What is the history behind the cuisines, and how do we analyze and dissect all of the influences from the past, which are now a part of the current food culture in many of the countries we operate? Here in Indonesia, delving into the history of the cuisine is something to be reckoned with. Much of the knowledge has been imparted via oral traditions and hearsay, something that is very much a part of local traditions. As an example, although one expert believes nasi goreng was influenced by Arab traders with their fondness for pilaf another would say that this “national dish” was inspired by Chinese traders who brought their culinary influences from the continent at a much earlier stage to keep leftover rice from spoiling.
Constant bickering over the best satés, the best sotos, etc. and etc., only distracts from the real question over Indonesian cuisine. Can it be defined from other areas such as Malaysia, Singapore or the Philippines with which there is some shared cultural history? The overlap of many dishes and flavours in this region would clearly suggest not. However, the intense national pride over something like nasi goreng suggests that there needs to be someone or something to bring all these nations together to create a newer and better identity, one that is not based on nationalism, but on something much more important to the multitudes of food cultures which inhabit the space of Southeast Asia. In our current need to eat the best food and dine at the best restaurants, we sometimes forget that we live in a country where there are incredible natural resources and food traditions. Who among us can document the use of special, native ingredients and how they are used? How can we source these items respectfully and provide local populations self-sufficient methods of farming or harvesting? Can we decipher the past for the present and future by using derivative flavours? Most importantly, how does this manifest in the perception of the region’s cuisines? Can it be taken to the next level, and who amongst the new vanguard of Southeast Asian chefs will likely be able to do so? For what it’s worth, the recent culinary festival may have been the catalyst for a few key players to create a new movement for Southeast Asian cuisine. It could be the start of a truly beautiful thing for anyone who cares an iota for the region’s cuisines.
COURTESY OF PSST.PH
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Scams in the City
Sexploitation, Lies and Video Courts of public opinion are swift to judge sex scandals, but online moral outrage often overlooks the worst villains.
BY KENNETH YEUNG
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called The Game by Neil Strauss, who is now married with a child and has killed off his pick-up persona. The book proved popular in Jakarta and there was even an unauthorized Indonesian edition of its sequel, The Rules of the Game.
mid the almost daily allegations of sexual abuse by Hollywood celebrities, there is an understandable response of condemnation and moral indignation. In Indonesia, a few actors and singers have faced similar accusations in recent years, but the local media tends to jump strongest on men suspected of abusing boys. There is even greater moral outrage when foreigners are accused of sexually exploiting Indonesian women. In such cases, expatriates are often just as eager to denounce their fellow foreigners. That’s what happened when an American calling himself David Bond arrived in Indonesia in October, preceded by his reputation for seducing and filming Asian women. Online news portal Coconuts Jakarta branded him a racist misogynistic creep and warned that officials were on the lookout for him. A British YouTuber posted a video about Bond, entitled “Indonesia’s Biggest Sex Tourist Exposed.” It soon gained 100,000 views and the comments section attracted a mob mentality of “let’s take this guy down!” Viewers also posted death threats and accusations of sex crimes. Indonesian headlines warned of “Sex Maniac Bule Seeking Indonesian Women for Adult Movies.” Reports accused Bond of targeting women in poor countries, filming himself having sex with them (without their permission to film), and selling the videos online. It turns out that Bond is just a media manipulator. You may consider him sleazy and amoral, but he isn’t selling explicit sex tapes. Instead, he profits from his notoriety by selling relatively tame videos online. And he doesn’t fit the stereotypical image of the balding, elderly, overweight, beerswilling sex tourist. He’s 30 and in good shape. Bond’s story started in 2013 when he left America for the first time and took a holiday to Japan. Some American friends later sought his advice on how to flirt with Japanese women. This led to an e-guide called “A Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Laid in Japan.” He also started a YouTube channel, showing his encounters with women. He sometimes uses sexy clickbait thumbnails to attract more interest. In 2014, Bond posted a video shot in Hong Kong, showing one of his friends picking up a woman who had earlier been in the company of a Chinese man. It went viral, generated hostile reactions and made
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Some male expats claim expertise is not a prerequisite for a sexual relationship in Indonesia. “You don’t need to buy lessons to get laid here,” says one British expatriate. “You just need a personality or money, and Tinder.”
the news. Interviewed by the local media, Bond tried to defend himself but he was repeatedly portrayed as a dangerous Western sexual predator and pornographer. He decided to capitalize on the negative publicity by paying virtual assistants to spread stories that his website contained sex videos. The media took the bait and gave him more attention, resulting in huge sales of his “premium” travel videos – which show him riding a motorbike, visiting temples or just flirting and hanging out with women. Bond replicated his strategy across several countries, courting controversy to cash-in on video sales. He also uses fake Facebook accounts, posing as young Asian women, to leak photos and lewd tales of himself, resulting in more coverage and more sales. He says most of the buyers are Asian men.
over their fresh faces and small bodies, and ends up singing the praises of a 17 year-old girl. Moral outrage? None. He went on to write another sex guidebook called Jakarta X-plorer. Consenting Adults Filming sex is riskier than writing about it. Sex tape scandals have become common in Indonesia. One of the earliest was in 2001 when two college students, Amed and Nanda, filmed themselves having fun in a Jakarta hotel room. Amed took the film to a local video compact disc (VCD) shop to make some private copies. A worker at the shop, Yayan, saved a copy, which was later uploaded to the internet and spread like wildfire. Police arrested Yayan and his colleagues. The two students were also arrested but charges against them were later dropped on the grounds they had never intended to share their film.
Bond says there’s no such thing as bad publicity as all of the online hate, lies and rumours are good for business. In Jakarta, he was warned he would be beaten up by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), arrested by police and banned by Immigration. None of that happened. He is careful not to reveal his real name, so going through immigration checks at airports is yet to be a problem. He points out that an Asian-American pick-up artist, who goes by the handle Mike SquattinCassanova, produces similar videos; but doesn’t attract negative publicity in Asia because he is Asian. Then there’s a European guy calling himself John Tron, who films himself having sex with young prostitutes across Asia and sells the videos online. Where’s the moral outrage and hatred against him? Pick-up Artists & Paying Customers The community and methods of pick-up artists were made famous in a 2005 book
Men who think paying for sex requires skill might enjoy one of Indonesia’s bestselling non-fiction books, Jakarta Undercover (2002), which describes the author’s experiences in various brothels and sex clubs. Written by men’s interest magazine journalist Moammar Emka, the book aims to titillate and inform readers. It spawned two sequels and two dreadful movies. In the third book, Moammar visits a brothel specializing in girls aged 14–19. He drools
Less lucky was pop star Nazril “Ariel” Irham, lead singer of the band Peterpan (now called Noah), who was fond of filming himself having sex with various girlfriends. He was arrested in June 2010 after videos were posted online, showing him copulating with actresses Luna Maya and Cut Tari. The videos were copied from his laptop by a Peterpan employee, Reza
Kenneth Yeung is a Jakarta-based editor
Rizaldy, whose cousin posted them online. Ariel was in 2011 sentenced to three-and-ahalf years in jail and fined Rp.250 million for distributing pornography, while Reza received a two-year sentence. There were rumours Ariel was punished because one of his girlfriends was linked to a prominent businessman. No Consent In 2003, police arrested a fashion photographer, Budi Han, who in October 1997 secretly filmed six models getting changed at his studio in Tebet, South Jakarta. Shooting through a two-way mirror, Budi’s two assistants recorded the women in various states of nudity. Some of the footage was later transferred to VCD and posted online. Three of the models reported Budi to police. He initially denied any wrongdoing but soon offered “peace money” of Rp.50 million (then US$5,150) to some of the victims. South Jakarta District Court gave him just one year in jail. Two of his assistants received ten-month jail terms, while the agent who brought the women to the studio received nine months. Today, Budi still works as a fashion photographer from the same premises. No massive, public, moral outrage.
Soap Casting Scam In 2000, a Jakarta-based video production company called Indochroma Proadvi recruited women and girls for casting sessions for a spurious soap advertisement. They were asked to undress and simulate bathing with soap. Nine of them, aged 16–22, were recorded and the footage was released in 2002 on a VCD called Soap Ad Casting. A key suspect in the case was the casting director, George Irvan, who worked as a voiceover man for Metro TV. Prosecutors recommended a jail sentence of six months, but Central Jakarta District Court ruled him not guilty because he had not produced the pornographic VCDs
and he thought the nude footage would be deleted. The Supreme Court quietly upheld his acquittal in 2005. Zero moral outrage. Indecency, Bribery & Indifference In recent years, moral outrage has been magnified by the proliferation of social media and smartphones, coupled with Indonesia’s political exploitation of conservative Islam and homophobia. In February 2016, actor and dangdut singer Saipul Jamil, the ex-husband of scandalous actress Dewi Persik, was widely criticized after being arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a 17-year-old boy. When Saipul went on trial at North Jakarta District Court, state prosecutors recommended a seven-year sentence. At the behest of his lawyer and a clerk of the court, he provided a bribe of Rp.250 million and was in June 2017 sentenced to three years in jail. The following month, he received an additional three years for bribery, on top of having his initial sentence extended to five years.
Sexploitation in Indonesia comes in many forms. Likewise, sex tourism comes in many guises, from Singaporeans visiting brothels on neighbouring Batam Island to Japanese women paying for sex with young men in Bali, and Australian paedophiles seeking boys on the same resort island. Obviously, any sexual action without consent is wrong, as is child abuse. While it’s easy to denounce alleged abusers with a public profile, consider that most cases of child sexual abuse in Indonesia occur within families or a school environment. Often, there’s no outrage or justice for these victims.
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Business
Kerli Pärnapuu is a content writer at Emerhub where the mission is to lower entry barriers in the emerging markets. She writes about doing business in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Emerhub Indonesia can be reached at indonesia@emerhub.com
Common Myths about Doing Business in Indonesia Writer Kerli Pärnapuu debunks the most common myths surrounding foreign business ownership in Indonesia.
BY KERLI PÄRNAPUU
I
ndonesia is a land of great potential. Rich in culture and resources, the world’s largest archipelago offers a wide array of opportunities for lifestyle business as well as the corporate behemoths that have vested interest and are flocking to the nation to grab market share. Yet, for the individual investor and entrepreneur who has lived or considered building a small business here in Indonesia there are plenty of tall tales and myths accompanying such enterprises that need to be dispelled.
Business through Partnerships Another common misconception in Indonesia is that partnerships, specifically marital partnerships, allow business in Indonesia to be more conducive. Whether these partnerships are purely to secure residence permits, company registration or simply for further insight into the Indonesian business culture; it’s all speculative. And, although Indonesians do have a smaller capital requirement when starting a company, asset control is a huge issue – especially if the expat partner in question doesn’t legally hold any.
Some claims are so ingrained that even those who have lived in Indonesia for a length of time have trouble differentiating between what is true and false. The rumours shared through the expat community are not usually spread with bad intentions, but perhaps are based on misguided and outdated information. Many of these myths can be (and are) easily debunked below.
From the local perspective, it is oftentimes wiser to turn to a professional consultant or lawyer as regulations in Indonesia can change overnight and the information from a “trusted” advisor might become outdated or simply untrue. And, there are alternatives to partnerships for all other issues such as visas and company establishment,.
The Local Shareholder Myth One of the most common misconceptions about doing business in Indonesia is that a local shareholder is required for starting a company. In reality, many business lines are open to full foreign ownership. Foreign investors are allowed to set up 100 percent foreign-owned trading and real estate companies in Indonesia. In the hospitality industry, that means hotels with three or more stars classification can be fully controlled by a foreign business entity. However, it’s the lesser rated hotels that require percentage ownership with a cap at 67 percent for foreign holdings and the remaining stakes held by Indonesian shareholders. Foreign shareholding depends on your business classification. The document regulating restricted industries is the Negative Investment List or Daftar Negatif Investasi (DNI), and it is revised every three years. The purpose of the DNI is to protect local companies, especially smaller and aspiring businesses, from foreign competition.
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Indeed, building a company under a local spouse’s name might seem like a good idea, but it carries high risks. Unsecured nominee agreements constitute one of the diciest ways of starting a business anywhere. As a foreigner in Indonesia, you would not have any legal claims to your business should the marriage go south. There are non-financial ways to contribute since paid up capital can be in the form of money or other assets. A personal nominee is only based on good will whereas professionally pledged shareholding agreements keep your assets safe. The Question of Marriage In Indonesia, religion plays a significant role. Foreigners who wish to marry an Indonesian partner often think they are required to convert to their future spouse’s religion, but there are ways around this statute. Most foreigners who change their faith do it because it is the wish of their spouse or their spouse’s family and they do it by choice, and perhaps a bit of obligation.
Weddings conducted abroad are currently recognized in Indonesia. It takes a little bit of time and paperwork, but your marriage can be acknowledged by the Indonesian government. However, dual citizenship is not recognized in Indonesia so any move to change citizenship must be scrutinized with a fine-toothed comb. Land and Property Ownership The Basic Agrarian Law No. 5 Year 1960 dictates that foreigners are not allowed to own freehold land in Indonesia. The same law stipulates that foreigners can only obtain land under the following rights: Hak Guna Bangunan – Right to Build, Hak Guna Usaha – Right to Cultivate, and Hak Pakai – Right to Use. It is common practice among foreign investors to buy land or real estate using a local nominee, but this is a high risk manoeuvre that would waive any legal protection over your investment. Human relations have a tendency to change and there is no guarantee that your nominee won’t take over your land or property. The safest option to invest in property in Indonesia is through a foreign-owned company, which would allow legal ownership of the property. Conclusion Conducting business in Indonesia may seem arduous. Most businesses that struggle in Indonesia struggle for the same reason anywhere in the world – lack of demand, high competition or poor management. The real issue here is red tape, so be prepared to invest a lot of time into your business venture. Seek advice from experienced people who have a proven track record in the relevant industry and try to ignore hearsay and horror stories. Investors entering Indonesia face entry barriers, but these obstacles are some of the reasons why the competition is relatively low. Opportunities abound, and playing it wisely can provide some lucrative rewards.
ALM OST
SOLD OUT
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF GIVING 4500+ KIDS A SPORTING CHANCE
SPORT - DIRECT, FUN ROUTE TO HEARTS AND MINDS. Ten years ago, the BritCham Board
faced a conundrum – how to embrace the exponential growth in EPL popularity and retain a focus on the business-end of British sports exports? How could a solution add value to members, develop closer Anglo-Indonesian ties and embrace British values? The author of the ‘How Giving Kids A Sporting Chance Began’ and his then Board colleague Chris Wren began an internal charm offensive to make BritCham a viable partner for Premier League football promotion and pioneer a community programme that would become a sub-brand of the Chamber – Giving Kids A Sporting Chance.
It was almost exactly ten years ago that the British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (BRITCHAM) inaugurated a new Corporate Social Responsibility Brian Watters Programme in response BritCham Board to EPL popularity 2004 – 2012 and the introduction of mandatory CSR for Indonesian corporates – that was the backdrop to BritCham’s Giving Kids a Sporting Chance (GKSC). The aim was to give our members opportunities to reach out together to children from poor families in Jakarta and West Java with a programme that was designed to inspire them, encourage them and to fulfil their potential through sport.
The future of Indonesia and by extension the future of British/Indonesian relations lies firmly with young people. It is pleasing to report that young Indonesians responded with great enthusiasm to a series of initiatives across a range of British sports. BritCham captured their imagination and passion. (continued on last page)
INSIDE • BACK TEN YEARS OF LEGENDS OUR AMBASSADORS THE CHAIRMEN | FORWARD LOOK GKSC SNAPSHOTS PHIL NEAL INTERVIEW
www.britcham.or.id | Facebook British Chamber of Commerce Indonesia Twitter @britcham_id | Linkedin The British Chamber of Commerce In Indonesia ISSUE 203 Indonesia expat
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TEN YEARS OF
LEGENDs
Ten years have seen a fantastic assortment of legends respond positively to the BritCham invitation to provide happy and lasting memories and personal development opportunities for such a huge number of kids. In no order, we honour and thank the legendary figures from the glory days of Liverpool FC – Ian Rush, Phil Neal and Robbie Fowler. International cricket legends Adam Holioake and Gladstone Small. Three nations of international rugby fame in John Bentley, Cameron Shepherd and Byron Kelleher and our collaborative and sustaining international hockey partner Viknaswaren. We also thank fund-raising contributions from Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, The British & Irish Lions, All Blacks, the MCC, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Turkish Airlines. This anniversary is one milestone of many more.
2008
2017
2009
2016
2015
2010 2014
2011 2013
2012
SNAPSHOTS by Steve Barber • Teamed up with Indonesian Rugby in 2011-13 to introduce Rugby to underprivileged children at the Jakarta Highland Gathering. • Started sponsoring the Mama Sayang Women’s Rugby Team, now called the Jakarta Komodos Women’s Rugby Team in late 2013 and have continued this sponsorship through until the present. • Britcham Sports Gala Night in June 2013 with Special Guest, former England & British Lions player John ‘Bentos’ Bentley, was jointly organised by Britcham and Indonesian Rugby.
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OUR AMBASSADORS MARTIN HATFULL (2008 – 2011) I was delighted when BritCham established this programme during my time as Ambassador in Indonesia. I particularly remember a great televised fundraising event and being there when some of the MCC touring cricket team turned out to give about 100 children their first taste of cricket. The kids thrived on the space, the opportunity to run and run and the camaraderie with new friends. Being an Ambassador is all about strengthening relationships at all levels so it was wonderful seeing the mix of British and Indonesian flags as they received their certificates and got some autographs. Fantastic moments for them, and for all of us watching. It just needed an organisation to make it happen for them - and I am proud that organisation was and remains BritCham. I had no idea that the numbers would grow to around 4500 over the ten years: that’s a remarkable achievement, which is testament to the commitment and hard work of all those involved over the years. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to them and all the BritCham community - and here’s to the next 10 years. MARK CANNING (2011 – 2014) Love of sport, and pride in giving back to the community, are two distinctive British traits. So I was always delighted that the British Chamber had found, and sustained, such a fantastic and worthwhile way to export and promote these qualities. Ten years on, and having helped and supported some 4500 Indonesian kids, I warmly congratulate all those who have made this great and heartwarming achievement happen. HMA MOAZZAM MALIK (2014 – PRESENT) The UK is hugely proud of its sporting heritage, the excellence and achievements of our sports men and women, and our strength in hosting global sports events such as the London Olympics. It has been really pleasing to see BritCham building on this heritage to offer a taste of some of our traditional sports to large numbers of Indonesian children. Sport is a great medium for all kinds of learning. Giving Kids A Sporting Chance is another wonderful example of collaboration between British communities in Indonesia and our host country. I look forward to seeing some of the young Indonesians who have participated in these programmes developing their skills and talents further over the coming years, whether for recreation or on the competitive stage. Well done, Don’t miss our exciting insert for Britcham’s Ten Years of Giving 4500+ Kids a Sporting Chance BritCham!
THE CHAIRMEN
MALCOLM LLEWELLYN FORMER CHAIRMAN (2008 – 2011)
HASLAM PREESTON FORMER CHAIRMAN (2011 – 2014)
ADRIAN SHORT FORMER CHAIRMAN (2014 - 2017)
AINSLEY MANN CURRENT CHAIRMAN (2017 – PRESENT)
‘GKSC was started during my BritCham tenure ten years ago. We knew we needed to be more involved with the Indonesian community. We also knew Indonesians were glued to the television for English Premier League games. We considered supporting and promoting sporting exports could well be the way. Honestly, we had no idea that we would go on to play a part in developing significant opportunities in rugby and hockey. We were also never sure how long these initiatives could be sustained. Now 10 years on we seem to be providing more opportunities than ever before. The generosity of our members and the foreign community is admirable. ‘
Most of us take access to organized sport for granted and I was initially unsure if a community sports programme was a correct fit for BriCham and our businessengagement agenda. However, when I saw the lack of ready-access to sports and the real impact GKSC was having on children, supported by a number of global stars over the years and backed up by a committed organisation at BritCham, I recognised the Chamber is an excellent partner for promoting British Sports exports and making a real impact in the community. I would like to congratulate all those who devote their skill, expertise and time in support of GKSC.
‘It is really pleasing to have been around as GKSC evolved from a series of separate events to sustainable engagement in rugby and hockey development. In both cases, we have been able to get both girls and boys involved and at the same time keep aligned with the Chambers’ business development as with Surabaya. A lot of work goes into all of this. We couldn’t have gone from strength to strength without so many like-minded friends and all the enthusiasm from the team at the Executive Office. Whether or not we play any small part in developing a young national sporting icon, there is no doubt that these activities add so much to so many youngsters.’
I was neither in country nor on the Board when this began ten years ago. However, I am proud to note that we remain the only international Chamber of Commerce with a community portfolio. Sport is a given for children in the UK. We all know that apart from the pure fun, it is also a great tool for developing leadership and nurturing ambition. As Indonesia prepares to host the Asian games and sports will take a higher profile, I hope that BritCham’s modest, but sustained efforts can inspire some young Indonesians.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2018 AND BEYOND
Most of this supplement is a glance back down memory lane and the GKSC journey so far. But we now have sustaining interests in girls’ rugby development in partnership with the Komodos and the Priscilla Hall Memorial Foundation. Some of these activities bring new kids into rugby. Some is aimed at the development of kids that have been under our umbrella for a few years. We are also delighted to be working with initiatives outside Greater Jakarta. On January 14, 2018 we will launch a new initiative in East Java. This is a collaboration with Federasi Hockey Indonesia, East Java with the full support of the Surabaya Mayor’s office and the Regency of Sidoardjo. FHI-PJT has selected two schools from each of Surabaya and Siduardjo. Twenty 8-10 year olds from each will commence a one-year hockey induction. The programme design is from Vikneswaren, who has just designed and launched a new national hockey programme in Malaysia. Vik is a former Malaysian international player and national coach. Says Vik, “I am so pleased to be helping out with kids hockey development in Indonesia. I have many senior hockey friends in the country. I am particularly impressed with the commitment and vision of the FHI-PJT. The support of a partner like BritCham opens new opportunities for kids in East Java. Hockey is a sport that many can hope to have a real opportunity to excel”. The FHI-PJT Chairman, Donnie Gunawan, is “Excited that an international association is committing resources to children in East Java. Thank you BritCham and Giving Kids A Sporting Chance”.
• Britcham Rugby World Cup Final Night in November 2015 with Special Guest, former Wallaby, Cameron Shepherd, was jointly organised by Britcham and Indonesian Rugby. • Britcham teamed up with the Jakarta Komodos and Banteng Rugby Clubs, July 8, 2017 to host a Rugby Clinic with Indonesian children and youths at the British School Jakarta; former All Black, Byron Kelleher was in attendance. • Britcham ‘All Blacks v Lions 3rd Test Lunch’ July 8, 2017 with Special Guest, former All Black, Byron Kelleher, was jointly organised by Britcham and the Jakarta Komodos Rugby Club. • Britcham representatives have also attended numerous Indonesian Rugby events over the years.
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INTERVIEWEE TURNED INTERVIEWER WITH PHIL NEAL, LFC AND ENGLAND, MOST DECORATED ENGLISH FOOTBALLER OF ALL TIME Hi there, everyone at BritCham. I was with you at your fund-raiser at the Dharmawangsa in 2010. F A Cup Final time. Before and after we had some great times with the kids and even a bit of fun in a friendly match with an expat XI and some Embassy folk. The Indonesian Minister of Sport kicked off. Then received the ball back. I am not sure how friendly the Minister of Sport thought it was. He was unceremoniously grounded and dislocated his shoulder. Before the game I was briefed by Ambassador Hatful that this was just some fun and aimed at improving ties, as well as putting Giving Kids A Sporting Chance on the Indonesian radar. Just to point out that I am a retired footballer and don’t know much of the subtleties of Foreign Office stuff. But it really was a strange one when one of the Ambo’s Embassy team lunged in at the Minister. It was a tackle right out of the Souey (Souness) hand-book! That really didn’t do much to improve my understanding of foreign diplomacy. I can only guess he hadn’t been told who the Minister was… Anyway, Chris Wren approached me first to visit you for this special Christmas event as part of your Giving Kids A Sporting Chance GKSC) 10th Anniversary celebration. You know, I really wanted to. But the one week visit unusually spanned three home games and I am under contract for special hospitality events at Anfield. I could have got away with one no-show, but not three. I hope you understand what I mean and please put my sincere apologies on record. Hopefully there will be another opportunity. Then Chris asked if I would do an interview. I was happy to. But on reflection, I am sure you all know about me and my achievements so I told Chris that I wanted to be the interviewer and give BritCham the chance to share with me (and maybe many of you) some of the highlights from the ten years. Here we go - excerpts from answers by Chris and others I met in Jakarta. PGN: Of the different legends that have supported you, who was the best? CW: Well Phil, what can I say? Each of you has added great value in different ways. Rushie was the first, so that made it big for us. Big in the context of the media surrounding him. Big because of the different interest groups we had to accommodate, such as the Liverpool Supporters’ Club ‘Big Reds’. Big because of the commercial interest from sponsors. Big because he arrived at a time when few real global stars were visiting Indonesia. Then there was Robbie Fowler. Of course he is younger than most on the legend circuit so the younger audiences felt more connected and had a better recollection of his achievements. Barry Venison was the first to join us for the Jakarta Highland Gathering (courtesy of Rob Davies, Connections) and was the first legend without a scouse accent! PGN: Haven’t you forgotten someone? CW: Sorry Phil. Who?
WHEN IT ALL BEGAN…
Brian Watters and Chris Wren (2008)
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PGN: Me! CW: Oops. Yes, of course Phil. I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to talk about you in your own article. You being the shy and reserved type. But actually, your visit was so different. You were with us for about a week I recall. That gave us a lot of opportunity to visit schools and do a whole range of activities. You also had the great support of Paul Barratt of the PT LFC Academy Indonesia. So you guys were working like a team. But you know we did treat you specially, putting you up in the Mandarin Oriental and having our fund-raiser at the very distinguished Dharmawangsa Hotel. All right and proper for the most decorated British (at the time!) footballer of all time. PGN: What about the legends from other sports? The rugby guys? CW: It is said that different sports have different cultures. The rugby guys were different and the audiences treated them differently. John Bentley was quite fond of the expletives. If footballers swear, it is unacceptable. If rugby players blast off, it’s all in support of the context and quite acceptable! And the rugby guys brought BritCham its first liaisons with non-Brits. Cameron Shepherd from Oz was on edge all weekend because his wife was overdue and he was dreading the ‘CALL’. Byron Kelleher, an All Black New Zealander had one big reputation as a single lad and happy to share some of those stories at half time during the Lions v All Blacks match earlier this year. Also almost censorship material. PGN: And what about the men in white? CW: Yes, we were treated to a Sunday morning session with a few of the MCC touring team. They were led by Adam Holioake. Also great with their interactions with the kids. PGN: It would be rare for their not be any awkward or embarrassing moments with sports people on tour. Are there any you could share? Please do name names! CW: A scary moment that need silky diplomatic skills was when representatives of the Man U Supporters Club turned up at our fundraising event threatening to disrupt the evening. Rushie was our legend guest. His second visit I recall. The previous evening, we had had a meet and greet session with Big Reds at Aphrodite. Rushie had been asked whether he regretted never having played under the great Sir Alex Ferguson. He answered very.. err… disparagingly! Of course we knew he was tongue-in-cheek because he went on to say that Sir Alex’s impeccable record spoke for itself. But one of the media quoted just his tongue-in-cheek comment without any of the explanation or context. It went viral on social media and this gang turned up. Rushie and I spent a good 45 minutes of valuable drinking time placating them. Then there was one of the rugby guys – no names- who was near dead in my car after the kids session and decided to show us his breakfast. Said it must have been the midday son. So that mess had to be cleaned up. My driver told me later that he gave him a Rp 10,000 tip! Oh my!! I happen to know Chris has many more tales that he could tell. But he is a sporting gentleman himself and respects the ‘what goes on tour…’ rule. Good man.
(continued from first page) The success of what has developed into a portfolio of programmes was due to multiple partnerships with members, schools, clubs and volunteers already active in sport with kids. But most importantly to the selfless devotion and enthusiasm of no less than 11 sporting legends – from football, rugby, cricket and hockey (regionally) - who gave their time and skills willingly by coming out to Indonesia to work with and inspire children to follow sporting endeavours. More than 4500 disadvantaged children were given opportunities to partake in organized sporting activities in the fields of football, hockey, rugby and cricket. Each event has included coaching clinics and personal development workshops in more than 200 schools and is likely to have provided a milestone in each child’s life. The GKSC portfolio has grown and sustained because of the generous support of sponsors from the Indonesian business community and their efforts are highly appreciated. Our members’ attendance at six Sports Galas and nine (soon to be TEN) Christmas Parties have been the cornerstone of fundraising through auctions of memorabilia, raffles and sometimes just silly games! It is hoped that with everyone’s continued assistance, the portfolio can expand beyond Jakarta and be able to go on to new heights and touch the lives of many more children who simply don’t ordinarily have access to organised sport. I am now retired in Malacca and regret not being able to join the 10th Anniversary celebration on December 14. I suggest you try to get your hands on a ticket. You won’t just be joining a great BritCham event, you’ll be joining the great Giving Kids A Sporting Chance movement! My best wishes to all my former colleagues and friends in Indonesia and to the International Expat readers.
Indonesian History
Hans Rooseboom is a long term resident of Jakarta. He now enjoys a leisurely life, playing tennis most mornings and writing his blogs and other articles.
Corruption and Mismanagement in the Times of the VOC Contributing writer Hans Rooseboom explores the dark history behind the Dutch East India Company, with a tale of corruption and mismanagement as engrossing as any fictional narrative.
BY HANS ROOSEBOOM
T
he Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde OostIndische Compagnie, VOC) was established in 1602. The company was initially granted a 21-year monopoly to trade in Asia. A licence to trade included the licence to colonize, and also to protect its activities from unwanted competition and to secure stable and regular supplies of the trade commodities. In the areas the VOC controlled, it was omnipotent. It negotiated treaties with local rulers, coined money, retained its own army; therefore, it was able to wage war and establish settlements. However, the company went bankrupt in the late eighteenth century and was dissolved in 1800.
Corruption and Mismanagement During the 200 years of VOC hegemony and in spite of the unabating costly skirmishes and wars fought to subdue local rulers, fortunes were made by the company and its employees – especially the employees in positions of influence, and the ones in charge of procuring the goods for the European markets. Although strictly forbidden by VOC regulations, the returnfleet of ships owned and operated by the Company carried the privately traded goods of officers employed by the VOC. Of course, the ships' captains had been given attractive shares to lubricate these deeds. In an official letter to the Governor-General in Batavia (Jakarta), the Board of the VOC (Heren XVII) in Amsterdam complained, "the ships are so overloaded with these goods that one wonders how they ever made it across the sea.” In response, the Governor-General would have probably circulated a reminder of the company regulations, which would have then been the end of the issue. What else could he do? His own bales of nutmeg, cloves, mace, pepper, cinnamon and any other tradable goods would, undoubtedly, have taken a significant amount of space in the holds. He was, after all, the chief trader and he had to prepare for a life of leisure back home after the strenuous efforts of administering such a widely dispersed territory.
Padding, not Guilding Lilies Fascinating insights into Batavia and its people have been culled from the eight-volume encyclopaedia, Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien (Old and New East Indies). The encyclopaedia is the work of François Valentijn, Minister of the Gospel, a keen observer and cheerful gossip of the goings-on in Batavia and the rest of the region. In the section on Batavia and its resident administrators in the early eighteenth century, the salary of a GovernorGeneral was around 14,000 guilders per year. Not a bad salary, as the modern equivalent would be roughly 250,000 guilders (around US$150,000). After a mere five years on the job, Governor-General Joan van Hoorn (1704-1709) repatriated with an accumulated capital of ten million guilders. Sources of additional earnings for a GovernorGeneral and other administrators were, first of all, the private trade in spices and other valuables. Second, he may have sold jobs and licences to the highest bidder. Third, there were lavish presents given during the Lunar New Year by Chinese traders and tax collectors.
“In an official letter to the Governor-General in Batavia (Jakarta), the Board of the VOC (Heren XVII) in Amsterdam complained, "the ships are so overloaded with these goods that one wonders how they ever made it across the sea.””
JACOB MOSSEL (COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA)
A lot of fiddling also went on with the weights and prices of the products purchased. It is thus not surprising that the Governor of the Moluccas, on an annual salary of less than 2,000 guilders saved 50,000 guilders per year, while Assistant Trader Lodewijck de Roy having earned a mere 18 guilders a month left a sum of 136,000 guilders in gold coins to his wife upon his death. The VOC Board in Amsterdam tried their very best to curb malpractices and corruption. And to make it less visible, they issued regulations to reduce the display of ostentatious splendour. However, the records show that they were not very successful in the execution of this effort. In 1750, the presiding Governor-General Jacob Mossel, on instructions from Amsterdam, issued the Regulations to Curb Pomp and Circumstances in which the conspicuous luxury that was permitted was laid out in detail. For instance, the number of buttonholes on a gentleman's vest was restricted; while the size and adornments of the parasols for ladies of different ranks, were also specified – these parasols were carried by a slave following the lady. But, when it was ruled that ladies of mixed-race had to carry their parasol by themselves, the ladies boycotted church attendance, and the rule was quickly revoked. Without the equivalent of modern-day newspapers and organizations monitoring the public administration, these particular abuses only ended when the VOC was declared bankrupt.
FRANÇOIS VALENTIJN (COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA)
COURTESY OF YOUNAMEITHISTORY.BLOGSPOT.COM
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Travel
The Resurrection of Krakatau Adventure travel writer Terry Donahue explores Krakatau’s incredible history and provides some insight into the wonders of that region today along with prudent travel tips. BY TERRY DONOHUE
Destruction
W
hen Krakatau erupted in 1883, it became the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history. Scientists stationed in Batavia (Jakarta) used seismographs to measure the earth’s movements and this information, along with eyewitness accounts, were telegraphed around the world through new transoceanic cables that connected every continent. It was one of the world’s first global news stories. There were no settlements on Krakatau itself as the ill-tempered island had been rumbling for centuries. However, the nearby coasts of Sumatra and Java were well populated by both Indonesians and foreigners, who were attracted to the rich volcanic soil, the fisheries and the strategic Sunda Strait – a busy shipping lane used for the Dutch spice trade. The forces that had formed Krakatau Island lay deep within the earth’s crust where the Indo-Australian tectonic plate grinds beneath the Eurasian plate. This subduction process sends island-forming magma to the surface. In 1883, the island actually had three ominous volcanoes: Rakata, Danan, Perbuwatan – and all of them were active. However, the magma chamber had been plugged by viscous rock for hundreds of years and the pressure that built inside intensified until the eventual eruption on August 26, 1883. It must have been a terrifying sight that afternoon when all three volcanoes erupted, spewing columns of ash and mushroom clouds 50 kilometres into the atmosphere. Pyroclastic flows (fire, debris and gases) ran down the mountainside and across the sea, travelling at over 160 kilometres per hour incinerating everything in their path. For the people in South Sumatra and West Java who witnessed the event, their world turned black and warm and sticky ash began falling from the sky. It must have felt like the end of the world.
ANAK KRAKATAU'S FUMAROLES WITH THE AUTHOR (IMAGE BY TERRY DONOHUE)
Snorkellers will feel sudden currents of hot water, bump into chunks of floating pumice and get a fascinating look at underwater lava flows. New corals grow from the flows, temporarily providing food and shelter for marine life, waiting to be buried in the next eruption.
ANAK KRAKATAU FROM RAKATA (IMAGE BY TERRY DONOHUE)
Scientists believe that the partially emptied magma chamber was then filled with a hotter, darker magma from deep within the earth, creating a lethal mixture. Gases expanded, pressure increased and by 5:30 the next morning there was a cataclysmic explosion that ripped the island apart. Over the next four and a half hours, there were two more explosions. The first one was so loud that it was heard in Perth, Australia, 3,200 km to the south and Rodriguez Island 5,000 km to the west. It reverberated around the globe seven times and to this day remains the loudest sound in recorded history. The next explosion was so powerful that the island literally blew itself to bits and whatever was left standing collapsed into the magma chamber and disappeared into the boiling ocean. The explosions caused deadly tsunamis. Boats in the Sunda Strait witnessed immense walls of water and the coastlines of South Sumatra and West Java were slammed by mammoth waves up to 40 metres high. By the time the damaged could be assessed, 165 villages had been destroyed and almost 37,000 people had lost their lives.
Resurrection Today the only thing that remains of the original island of Krakatau is half of the Rakata volcano. Left scorched and devoid of life in 1883, Rakata regenerated at an amazing pace. Algae and ferns took hold within three years. Then grasses appeared. Over time trees took over the grasses, and within 40 years the island was covered in dense jungle. Visitors today can explore the jungle and find two-toned
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Above the jungle is a fascinating transition zone where pioneer species of grasses and trees establish themselves in the sterile ash and rock, laying the groundwork for future forests. Beyond the transition zone looms a barren and foreboding volcano. The trail zigzags upward through silty ash and lava flows of varying colour. Sometimes the ground will feel warm as Anak Krakatau radiates from the inside out. Then the landscape becomes an otherworldly scene: bright yellow fumaroles belching out clouds of toxic sulphuric gas. From the top of Anak Krakatau, looking out over the ocean at the distant Rakata, it’s difficult to comprehend forces so destructive as to make an island disappear, but gazing into the mouth of the crater one can imagine how it is being reborn.
Practicalities SNORKELING NEW CORAL (IMAGE BY TERRY DONOHUE)
chunks of lava, testimonials of the magma mixing that triggered the massive explosion and tore Krakatau apart. In 1930 Krakatau proved that it wasn’t finished yet. After three years of churning magma onto the seabed a new island was born: Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau). Regular eruptions have raised Anak Krakatau to the lofty height of 400 metres in less than 90 years – comparable to the height of the Empire State Building. There are a few black sand beaches strewn with granite and lava rock. Areas undisturbed by volcanic activity are now covered in jungle. Birds sing and cicadas drone in the midday heat. At sunrise one is likely to be greeted by a biawak or two, cousin of the famous Komodo dragon. At dusk retiring egrets and seed-dispersing bats will cast silhouettes against the sunset.
The best way to see Krakatau is through a travel company: • Door-to-door service from Jakarta can be arranged. • Overland to/from Jakarta to Carita or Anyer • Boat to/from the west coast to Anak Krakatau • Volcanic activity will determine the trip – be sure to inquire • Boats do not operate during much of the rainy season There are three types of trips: • Day trips including hiking and snorkelling, returning to the west coast or Jakarta on the same day • Overnight camping trips including hiking and snorkelling staying on Rakata or Anak Krakatau • One-day dive trips including hiking, returning to west coast or Jakarta the same day On Java • Visit the ruins of the Fourth Point Lighthouse and see a 600-tonne chunk of coral washed up by the tsunami in 1883 • Visit the hills behind Carita to see what stopped the tsunami from advancing further inland
A Dazzling Festive Season with Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta This festive season, Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta presents a dazzling celebration throughout December. The hotel will celebrate the gift of the merry season with stylish festive hampers, wondrous hotel decors, exquisite menu items and privileges for the holidays. A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS To embrace the end-of-season joy, Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta will be decorated exceptionally in gold and bronze Christmas ornaments, an arrangement of beautiful lights, Christmas trees and many others. Lobby Lounge presents the Festive Hi-Tea, a perfect afternoon gathering in the hotel’s iconic grand Lobby Lounge overlooking the lush garden. Expect traditional high tea with all the trimmings, including freshly baked scones with jams, clotted cream, Christmas Fruit Cake, Plum Pudding, Stollen and Linzer Cookies and a plethora of pastries and tea. The high tea is available 3 to 6 p.m. from 5 to 30 December 2017. A Christmas dining series will also take place at SATOO international buffet restaurant and Rosso Italian restaurant on 24 - 25 December 2017. Guests will have the privilege of indulging their appetite by tasting festive creations. At Rosso, Italian Chef Gianfranco Pirrone will present a scrumptious Italian set-menu that’s perfect for Christmas. Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta also has the pleasure of presenting a Christmas choir to delight guests with harmonious Christmas carols and a Santa Claus appearance along with the Christmas dining events on the above dates. A MAGICAL NEW YEAR’S Counting the moments to 2018, Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta will have a carnival-themed New Year celebration for its Lobby Lounge party. Starting from 8 p.m. until the midnight countdown, the lounge will have live music, colourful clowns, children’s games and delicious festive New Year’s Eve snacks.
B.A.T.S. will feature a lively New Year celebration for the late-night party seeker crowd from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Midnight Class band will present energetic live music with their arrangements of hit songs from the past and present. Guests are recommended to try Smoked Salmon Pizza, Lamb Rack and English Sherry Trifle, specially made for the New Year’s Eve dinner. New Year dining will be at SATOO and Rosso. The culinary team will bring in exquisite ingredients to tantalise the guests’ taste buds for the special New Year’s Eve celebration. HOLIDAY PACKAGES The hotel also offers special holiday package to celebrate the season’s merriment. The available packages are: • Festive Holiday, (8 December 2017 - 6 January 2018) • Year-End Stay and Dine; Deluxe Room stay, including New Years’ Eve dining at SATOO or Rosso, check-in on from 31 December 2017 These packages feature a special 20% saving on Spa and dining at hotel’s restaurant collections as well as kid’s activities on Sunday.
For more information and reservations, please call (021) 2922 9999, email to fbreservation.slj@shangri-la.com for restaurants, reservations.slj@shangri-la.com for rooms or visit www.shangri-la.com/jakarta. ISSUE 203 Indonesia expat
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Light Entertainment
Sensatia Botanicals Introduces Its First Holiday Gift Set
LESSONS IN LIFE
A collection of daily essentials makes a great gift for everyone.
BY EAMONN SADLER
O Sensatia Botanicals, Indonesia’s leading natural cosmetic company, is excited to announce the launch of its first gift set just in time for the holidays. The set includes five delectable skin care products ranging from handmade soap to a scrumptious lip balm all made from natural ingredients, perfect for a daily routine. The collection was designed to provide ease of use and for those choosing the perfect gift during the festive season. The gift set features a special-edition box containing the following products: • Petal & Rind Hands Divine (60ml) • Phenomenal Cacao Body Butter (100gr) • Coffee & Cacao Brown Sugar Scrub (100gr) • Cocoa & Honey Lip Bliss (20gr) • Bali Cinnamon & Clove Natural Soap (125gr) “With family traditions on our mind, we carefully selected products that are complemented by aromas that would remind people of homemade baked goods shared with loved ones during the festive season,” said Michael Lorenti Jr., Managing Director of Sensatia Botanicals. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of this joyful time of year and to share the holiday spirit.” Specially priced at Rp.395,000 (normally Rp.495,000), the set will be available for purchase starting 1 December 2017 in all Sensatia Botanicals stores as well as at the official website. For more information about Sensatia Botanicals, please visit www.sensatia.com.
About Sensatia Botanicals Since 2000, Sensatia Botanicals is an Indonesian beauty care brand dedicated to offer naturally effective products. It has been granted GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Certification under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive and is the first GMP-
ne day while we were having a few beers in Kemang, my friend Steve told me that his fashion designer girlfriend Tia was opening boutiques in Singapore and Hong Kong, and looking for partners to help her fund the expansion. He told me that he was thinking about investing and told me I should think about it, too. She was making lots of money and we would do the same as her partners without actually having to do any work, which is always an attractive proposition. Steve had US$5,000 in Indonesia and he told me he was going to invest it with Tia in return for five percent of her business. I had received a modest pay out from the UK Fire and Rescue Service when I retired, but I had left it in a building society account in the UK when I set off on my journey around the world. I was interested, but first I wanted to know more. The next time I saw Tia, I asked her what I thought were some very searching questions about her business. As she was Steve’s girlfriend, it seemed inappropriate to ask her for any kind of written business plan or guarantees so after I satisfied myself that the prospects were good, I agreed I would invest US$10,000 in return for ten percent of her business. In those days there was no Internet banking, and even a good old fashioned telegraphic transfer took a week or more. Because my money was in a building society, it took even longer. I had to arrange for the building society to issue a cheque payable to my father, and then ask my father to clear the cheque into his account and then TT the money to me so that I could give it to Tia. Clearing the cheque into my father’s account took 40 days (yes, 40 days!) and then the TT took another two weeks. I thought it was never going to arrive and I started to get worried that I
would miss the investment opportunity. Tia continued to reassure me that she would wait and not take the money from anyone else because we were friends. I was grateful. After I had been waiting for the money for nearly two months, Steve came to see me. He didn’t look happy. He asked if I had seen Tia, which I knew was not a good sign. He went on to tell me that he had given her US$5000 a few weeks before, but then she had become very difficult to contact. Steve had called other mutual friends to ask if they’d seen her, and they said they hadn’t – but they’d like to know where she was as well because they also had “invested” in her business. Some friends had given her a lot more money than Steve – as much as US$50,000. It slowly became obvious that she was a con artist, a confidence trickster in the true sense of the term. Tia had been taking money from people and faking the success of her business using the money they gave her. I suddenly realised that while we had indeed seen her boutiques and her staff and all the trappings of a successful fashion designer, the one thing we had never seen in any of her boutiques was a customer. Tia was never seen again. Steve and the other “investors” did report the incident to a very amused policeman, but they never saw their money again. I suddenly became very appreciative of the sluggish international banking system and all its archaic bureaucracy, because I would definitely have given Tia my US$10,000 had it arrived in time. Looking back, it was a stupid idea in the first place. We were just fresh meat caught in the headlights of a new and glamourous lifestyle. These days you could easily make a huge mistake in 24 hours or less. It was a valuable lesson learnt.
certified company in Bali. Sensatia Botanicals is committed to minimize its environmental footprint while continuously empowers local community by hiring residents of Karangasem, an area where the brand was founded, resulting with over 90% of the total employees. Made in Bali, with globally sourced ingredients, all Sensatia Botanicals products are cruelty-free, free of parabens, palm oil, synthetic dyes and artificial fragrances. For more information, please visit www.sensatia.com.
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IS MADE POSSIBLE BY:
L IM I T ED ED I T I ON GI F T S ET AVA I L A B L E S TA R T I N G 1 D EC EM B ER 2017
KARANGASEM UBUD DENPASAR SANUR SEMINYAK KUTA CANGGU NUSA DUA TANGERANG +62-363-23260
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SHOP ONLINE AT SENSATIA.COM
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SNA Media Club Column
36 Hours in Surabaya The SNA Media Club is back with suggestions for an exciting weekend getaway to Surabaya.
SURABAYA AT NIGHT, TUNJUNGAN PLAZA BUILDING
Do you want to explore Surabaya, but don’t know how to begin your journey? Don’t worry, SNA Media Club is here to enlighten you with our 36-hour guide of this wonderful, historic city. FRIDAY 7:25 Departure with Garuda Airlines In order to have time to enjoy Surabaya, an early flight to the second largest city of Indonesia is a must. Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport is small compared to other international airports but it is comfortable enough with beautiful Indonesian wooden carvings on its walls. Wait inside the air-conditioned gate for your short 1 hour and 40 minute flight. 9:05 Arrive at Juanda Surabaya International Airport Juanda Surabaya International Airport is small but looks more modern and bright in comparison to Jakarta’s terminals two and three. Upon arriving, book a taxi or car from the stands located outside the arrival gate. We suggest booking a car for a day if possible. Agree on the cost and the staff will give you a receipt upon full payment. If you prefer not to book a car for the whole day Uber, Grab and metered taxi services are easily available in Surabaya. 10:00 Breakfast at Primarasa Restaurant on Ahmad Yani Road To overcome hunger, we suggest a trip to Primarasa Restaurant for a tasty Indonesian meal to boost your energy. The deep-fried gurame fish is a must try. 13:00 Shopping at Pakuwon Mall Once you have a full stomach, we suggest that you burn some calories at Surabaya’s newest shopping destination, Pakuwon Mall. Pakuwon Mall consists of three main retail buildings that are connected – PTC Mall, Supermall and Pakuwon.
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MAJAPAHIT HOTEL DINING ROOM SURABAYA
After several hours of window-shopping and extravagant purchases, hunger may strike again. Luckily, Pakuwon mall houses many Indonesian and international restaurants to satiate your belly. We like El Churros, a Spanish restaurant. You get to enjoy the food while admiring the beautiful Spanish décor of the restaurant and listening to songs from the Mediterranean nation. 14:30 Check-in Shangri-la Hotel Check in to Hotel Shangri-la, a wonderful hotel in Surabaya that is rated five stars. The hotel itself has a modern yet classical feel due to its excellent choice of furnishings. However, if this hotel is too pricey for your current budget, a great alternative is the Ibis Hotel in Surabaya City Center near Tunjungan Plaza. For those who prefer something more traditional and colonial, the Majapahit Hotel would be a fine option with its historic architecture. 15:00 Relax at the hotel For the next few hours, feel free to do whatever you wish at the hotel. You can take a refreshing swim at the large pool, play some tennis or relax in the hotel spa. Massages are a great value wherever you are in Indonesia, and are usually of a very high standard. 18:00 Dinner at Layar Seafood/Boncafe For dinner, we have the ultimate dining experience for you. Layar is a well-known seafood restaurant that has been noted to have the best quality seafood. However, if you are allergic to shellfish or simply not in the mood for seafood, Boncafe is another great dining experience serving great steaks, pasta and Indonesian dishes such as oxtail soup at a reasonable price. Those who really want a treat may wish to savour the dishes served at La Rucola, a fine Italian restaurant that always gets rave reviews.
VENDORS AT SUNAN AMPEL MOSQUE SURABAYA
20:00 Enjoy a game of billiards at Option If you wish to enjoy a game of billiards, this is the perfect place. Surabaya has a popular pool hall called Option Billiard. Don’t let its outside appearance deceive you into thinking it’s small. There is a café serving quick bites and drinks. Take an Uber, Grab or metered taxi back to your hotel for a good night’s sleep. SATURDAY 7:00 Breakfast Buffet at Shangri-la Hotel The next morning, pack your bags for your day trip and have breakfast. The Shangri-la Hotel is known to serve a great breakfast buffet, ranging from Western to Asian cuisines. In fact, the buffet is so large that one could walk around the buffet as morning exercise. 9:00 Arab Street - Sunan Ampel and Ampel Mosque After breakfast, take a trip to Sunan Ampel, the Arab Street of Surabaya and don’t forget to visit the Ampel Mosque. Its picturesque architecture will surely add a unique touch to your photo gallery. This mosque is also quite historic as it is the burial site for the Sunan Ampel – one of the Wali Songo (Islamic religious leaders) who were a group of people that first spread Islam in Indonesia. 11:00 Surabaya North Quay Our next stop would be Surabaya North Quay. This port offers a great view of the ocean and is a scenic spot due to the massive cruise ships that dock there occasionally. There are also several retailers that sell lovely Batik clothing. 13:00 Lunch at Sate Taichan Nyot-Nyot Eat some delicious sate after enjoying the sea breeze. Sate is ubiquitous throughout Indonesia, but Sate Taichan Nyot-Nyot has the best value, serving only highest quality sate fresh from hot coals. They are located at Ruko Taman
Indonesia Expat and Singapore National Academy are joining forces to provide insightful articles on Surabaya. The young, student journalists in the SNA Media Club get to learn valuable writing techniques with the help of the editorial staff at Indonesia Expat.
Gapura G Walk Citraland on Jalan Niaga Gapura No.14 in Lontar. 14:00 Have a cold dessert at Es Puter Tuing-Tuing Have you tried es puter? It’s an Indonesian iced dessert that resembles ice cream, but contains coconut milk. It’s often served with chunks of bread, fine tapioca beads and chocolate sauce. To experience the best es puter in Surabaya, we recommend Es Puter Tuing-Tuing at Sonokwijenan, Suko Manunggal in Surabaya City. 15:00 House of Sampoerna A visit to the House of Sampoerna will make you feel that you have been transported back into time. When you enter the beautiful Dutch colonial style building built in 1862, you will be greeted by a strong scent of tobacco, cloves and other spices. In 1932, the building was converted into a cigarettemaking factory and a museum that houses vintage objects owned by the founder’s family and the House of Sampoerna. There is a demonstration on how the Dji Sam Soe cigarettes, Indonesia’s prestigious hand-rolled cigarettes, are made. Whether you appreciate tobacco and its associated business and products or not, the historical site is very interesting for many out-of-town guests. 18:00 Dinner at Jamoo in the Shangri-la Hotel Enjoy a spread of Indonesia, Western and Japanese cuisine at Jamoo’s dinner buffet in Shangri-la Hotel. You will be spoilt for choice for only Rp.328,000++ per person. Eat to your heart’s content in anticipation of your big night out. 20:00 Kuppel Bar At the end of the day, we suggest a big night out at Kuppel Bar. It’s similar to a typical bar and restaurant, however, its dome-like roof is made of glass and provides an excellent, panoramic view of the sky. Kuppel Bar serves quality bar food and there is weekly live music that usually attracts a good crowd.
Crown’s Golden Relay: Helping Disabled Children with Yayasan Sayap Ibu Bintaro
SUNDAY 10:00 Spa treatment by Martha Tilaar Spa at the Majapahit Hotel Remember to make an appointment ahead of time so that you will not be disappointed. Martha Tilaar Spa has many branches in Indonesia that offer an array of relaxing spa treatments which range from one hour massages to a five-hour, deluxe spa treatment. The spa also provides facial services and hair care treatment. Take your time to choose which spa treatment works best for you and your budget. Be ready to be fully pampered! 15:00 High Tea in Majapahit Hotel Right after your spa treatment, enjoy high tea at Majapahit Hotel. There are many kinds of high tea packages to try and their delicious flavours will definitely leave you wanting more. Enjoy your high tea in the historical ambience of the hotel lobby or in the beautiful garden setting while listening to the calming sound of the fountain. After tea and before leaving for the airport, take a leisurely stroll around the hotel to enjoy the beautiful architecture and gardens. The hotel itself is decorated with artworks dating back to ancient times, the Dutch colonial period and even a few modern artworks. A perfect blend of modern and antiquity. You won’t believe you are in the city centre! Built in 1910, the hotel was founded by the Sarkies Brothers who founded Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Majapahit Hotel is also a historical site; pronationalist Indonesian youth tore away the blue part of the Dutch flag flown above the hotel to make the red-and-white Indonesian flag in the lead-up to the Battle of Surabaya in 1945.
BY CHRISTABEL SASABONE In 2015, Crown marked its fiftieth birthday by holding a charity event called the Golden Relay. Offices around the world took turns to raise money for charitable causes, generating over US$100,000. In appreciation for the donations, the Crown Foundation recently added further donations for each decade of Crown’s existence. The Crown Worldwide Group is made up of complementary divisions offering business services all over the world. Crown World Mobility provides global mobility management for corporate businesses and business critical assignment services. Crown Relocations provides destination services, moving and administrative services to assist individuals and families relocating internationally or domestically. Crown Records Management aims to maximize value from corporate memory through the storage, active management, distribution of information assets across the enterprise, and much more. Crown employees were asked to nominate charities to share these proceeds in order to support underserved children and young adults. They were required to meet one of Crown’s core values: determined, caring, open-minded and sharing. Over 25 nominations were received from Crown offices around the world and, after much deliberation, the judges decided on five possible winning entries that they felt best characterized Crown’s values. Yayasan Sayap Ibu Bintaro was chosen to receive US$10,000 on 22 November 2017.
SUNAN AMPEL MOSQUE SURABAYA
KUPPEL BAR STAGE SURABAYA
BILLIARDS AT OPTION
The Yayasan Sayap Ibu branch in Banten province is the Displacement & Rehabilitation of Disadvantaged Compounded Children, a non-profit and nongovernmental institution, which was inaugurated on 1 October 2005. It is located in Graha Bintaro, South Tangerang. Yayasan Sayap Ibu Cabang Banten Province (YSI-Banten) is based on Yayasan Sayap Ibu Pusat, which has played a role in the community in caring for abandoned toddlers since 25 May 1955. YSI-Banten currently accommodates 37 children in an orphanage and at the same time helps more than 440 children with disabilities from disadvantaged families – children who still live with their parents or other members of their family. The types of disabilities the children have at the compound include hydrocephalus, microcephaly, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and others. With the received donation, the foundation will continue to aim to: 1. Assist with speech, care and education of neglected children with disabilities 2. Seek physical, psychological and social rehabilitation 3. Provide optimal, quality social services 4. Implement child protection and care
EL CHURROS RESTAURANT AT PAKUWON MALL
MARTHA TILAAR SPA AT MAJAPHIT HOTEL SURABAYA
For more information about the foundation, please call 021 7331004 007 or visit www.sayapibubintaro.org.
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Announcements AYANA Midplaza JAKARTA Sets the Stage for a Magical Festive Season JAKARTA It’s Jakarta’s time to sparkle in the heart of the city with festive celebrations beginning on December 4 with a traditional Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas Choir Performance in JimBARan Lounge. AYANA takes the stress out of the holiday season with weekend stay with play and dining packages at AYANA Midplaza JAKARTA over Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Starting on December 24, gather with your friends and family at RASA or Scusa Trattoria Grill, as three distinctive events offer all-day dining with sumptuous buffet and set menu options. To go along with it, a Christmas Choir will present heart-warming entertainment with a backdrop of twinkling Christmas lights and festive décor. On Christmas evening of December 25, RASA restaurant will host a buffet dinner brimming with classic holiday dishes, a live carving station and an elaborate dessert corner. A stunning five-course set dinner will be presented
by AYANA’s culinary team at Scusa. Both events will be complemented by a thoughtful Santa Claus themed activity to keep the little ones entertained. Starting with an elegant New Year’s Eve lunch on December 31 at RASA, and culminating in the stunning Carnival Gala Buffet in the Grand Ballroom, AYANA in-house guests and visitors are invited to ring in 2018 in style from 6:00pm onwards. Guests will enjoy dancing to the Anastasia Project Band and a live DJ. At 10:30pm, the countdown after-party begins in AYANA Lobby, with a creative VIP children’s play zone for families. Touted as the longest meal in the city, Rasa welcomes party revelers on January 1 with the longest meal in town from 5.30am – 5:00pm all rolled into one enchanting day. For guests who are still in the holiday mood, this spectacular culinary journey can be complemented with a free-flow sparkling package that includes all-you-can-drink beer, cocktails and bubbles.
ayanamidplazajakarta ayanajakarta
CONNEXT: “Turn Your Ideas Into Reality”, An Innovation By Marquee JAKARTA CONNEXT co-working space is a recent innovation of Marquee Executive Offices. Having experienced more than 12 years in the field of premium office rental services, Marquee has expanded its market by tapping into the market of co-working spaces in Indonesia which have opened in several locations across the country. The launch of CONNEXT co-working space was held at Cyber 2 Tower’s 17th floor on Thursday, November 16, 2017 which is one of four CONNEXT locations throughout Indonesia. In addition to CONNEXT Cyber 2 Tower, there are three other locations: Alamanda Bali's 5th floor, Alamanda Jakarta’s 25th floor and Sovereign Plaza’s 21st floor. The professionally managed co-working space by Marquee Executive Offices provides an opportunity for co-working space users to have an office in a prestigious area at an affordable price.
Holiday Hustle and Bustle at Four Points by Sheraton Jakarta, Thamrin JAKARTA The end of the year is getting closer. The holiday season is a perfect way to enjoy fuss-free days with family and friends. Four Points by Sheraton Jakarta, Thamrin, celebrates this time by bringing a range of delicious and seasonal menu promotion to the year-end festivities in the heart of Jakarta. There seems to be a sense of peace that one feels during this time of the year that’s warmer than any other time. To get into the holiday spirit, chefs prepare several menus from a-la-carte to buffets for their beloved guests. The special menu of the month is Thyme Crisp Chicken Confit, a combination of slow cooked and super juicy chicken legs with olive oil, garlic, and thyme for Rp.100,000++ inclusive of mineral water.
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ayanajakarta
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For more information and reservation please call
Ph. +62 21 251 0888 Jl. Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 10 -11, Jakarta 10220, Indonesia ayanajakarta.com
CONNEXT co-working space is a great choice for startup, SMEs, business activists, entrepreneurs and students. Not only does it function as a workplace, it is also a place to meet with other communities. It can also be a companion space for the development of creative and business ideas to become a reality through events, workshops and sharing sessions held at the co-working space with the support of partners from various industries. CONNEXT provides a choice of packages to use the area of co-working space according to your needs, whether it’s hourly, monthly, or per year. Not only that, it also provides support facilities for startups in the form of acceleration programmes, incubation and networking events. Facilities include internet access, locker and refreshments. The co-working space is open 24 hours. From the networking side, CONNEXT will routinely hold events that aim to increase your network of businesses and take your company to a higher level. The team will hold demonstrations and pitching sessions for startups as well as interactive seminars to add insights. For more information about CONNEXT, please call +62 813 1120 2029 or visit www.connext.co.id
croute, pea puree, Christmas cake, pumpkin waffle with orange walnut butter, cranberry orange pancake and much more for Rp.245,000++/person. To end the year, guests can experience a New Year’s Eve barbeque dinner with beef wellington, yule log dessert and more for Rp.265.000++/person. Guests will also be accompanied by live music performances so everyone can have a good time while enjoying their meals. Four Points by Sheraton Jakarta, Thamrin offers Christmas discounts for guests who stay from December 23 to 25, 2017 starting from Rp.733,500++/night. For those who want to spend their New Year’s Eve at the hotel, there is an early bird bundle package if you book before December 15, 2017 including room, breakfast and dinner for two at Rp.1,350,000++/night and special single discounts starting from IDR 810,000++/night.
To make the most of mornings, and December 25, 2017 to be exact, Four Points will provide a Christmas Brunch buffet the whole family will enjoy, with special salmon en
For further information and reservations, please call reservations at (021) 390 2226, or visit www. fourpointsjakartathamrin.com.
TAUZIA Hotels Introduces Vertu Personal Assistant JAKARTA In an effort to innovate and improve customer experience, TAUZIA’s new upscale brand Harris Vertu Hotel Harmoni Jakarta has introduced a mobile app to offer flexibility to guests to use their own mobile devices to check in prior to arrival and interact with the hotel throughout their stay. This mobile app is called Vertu Personal Assistant, which is a customized solution to allow guests to check-in, view their stay information and check out. Guests can also view hotel information, request a range of hotel services and receive
personalised notifications. Guests requests such as room service and housekeeping, traditionally done via the phone or in person, can now be managed digitally. “Our service extends beyond hotel buildings,” said Stefano de Champeaux, Harris Vertu Hotels Brand Manager, “With this newly launched Vertu Personal Assistant app, our guests can easily interact with us just by the tip of their fingers, ways that become the social norm nowadays.” For more information, please visit www.tauziahotels.com.
Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu brings Bright Blu to Indonesia and Inspired Design to Bali
BALI Only a 40-minute drive from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport lies Uluwatu – a rural jewel in Bali’s Bukit peninsula crown. On this southwestern tip of the Island, Indonesia’s first Radisson Blu resort, Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu reinterprets Balinese style for modern travellers. Set to welcome guests from January 2018, the brand’s 100 percent Satisfaction Guarantee is evident in every dimension of the resort’s unique character. Guest accommodation comprises 111 deluxe rooms in three categories, featuring private balconies on upper floors and private sundecks on lower floors, and 14 suites with stunning rooftop terraces giving guests views of the ocean, the pool or both in full panorama.
* Answers in the next edition!
The all day dining restaurant Artichoke provides guests with incredible selection, bursting with local and global flavours.
Radisson Blu’s signature restaurant concept Filini makes its Asia Pacific debut at the resort. This authentic Italian eatery offers Mediterranean flavours in an informal setting. Three distinctly different bars complete the F&B offerings with tapas and cocktail pairings at Lookout, poolside quenchers at Choka and cleansing juices at Lucid Liquids ensuring all tastes are catered for. SpaESC, a pool and fitness centre ensure that wellness and fitness go hand-in-hand with relaxation. The Eureka! Kids Club keeps the youngest guests busy. Two highspec meeting rooms, two event pavilions and an outdoor garden venue are available to host weddings, meetings, events and conferences. Everything is made possible at the property by the attentive, proactive Radisson Blu Yes I Can! service ethos. General Manager Björn-Henning Buth explains, “The incredible architecture is a true celebration of native craftsmanship. Tenganan Village is the reference for building methods and materials. The layout of guest rooms and social spaces also follows that of traditional Balinese homes, and the interior designers have taken their inspiration from the ornate patterning of Bali’s Lontar manuscripts.”
Anantara Uluwatu Bali Elevates Cliff-side Romance with a New Pinnacle of Luxury – the Exclusive New Dedari Penthouse BALI Secluded along Bali’s ruggedly beautiful southern coast, Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort now boasts an exceptional new hideaway for couples: the one-bedroom Dedari Penthouse. Ingeniously cascading down the cliffside, the resort’s designer accommodation blends innovation and cultural authenticity with sensational Indian Ocean panoramas. Until now the unique collection of 74 seaview suites, pool suites and pool villas has just the two-bedroom Dewata Penthouse, which is being renovated for families and friends to share again when its enhancements are completed at the end of 2017. The addition of the one-bedroom Dedari Penthouse offers a new luxury haven for couples seeking a pinnacle of romantic indulgence along Uluwatu’s breathtaking coastline. One-of- a-kind, the Dedari Penthouse offers a total indoor and outdoor space of 179m2, and is elevated on the fifth floor to boast sweeping ocean views. The master bedroom is plushly designed with a spacious walk-in closet. The adjoining en-suite bathroom is elegantly crafted with Javanese blue tiles and a contemporized
timber screen, and features both a rain shower and a large oval bathtub for two. Couples can relax in the open-plan lounge and dining space, chatting over drinks selected from the double minibar cabinet. Throughout the penthouse, striking contemporary artwork blends with intricate Balinese details. Floor to ceiling windows reveal vistas of rolling waves and Bali’s spectacular sunsets, giving lazy mornings in bed, lounge downtime, private dining and soaks in the tub an evolving coastal view. Nights in with a movie are a pleasure with a Bose hi-fi home entertainment system, a 64-inch flat screen TV in the bedroom and a 49-inch flat screen TV in the living room. Music can be played with Bluetooth connectivity and SONOS speakers in the living room and bedroom. From designer style comfort inside, the Dedari Penthouse flows out to a spacious private deck featuring a four-seat Jacuzzi spa, dining furniture and a double daybed for sunbathing and blissful relaxation. For more information and reservations, please contact +62 361 895 7555, email uluwatu@anantara.com, or visit www. bali-uluwatu.anantara.com.
For The Macet Mind ACROSS 1. Harlem Globetrotter's sport (10) 7. As are lines of latitude (8) 8. The first Arkwright! (4) 9. Vessel for food (4) 10. Straddling (7) 12. One of Henry VIII's wives (4,7) 14. It injures reputation (7) 16. Sort of paper, piper, castle or martin (4) 19. Not yet up and about (4) 20. Sieve, colander, etc (8) 21. Large instrument with horizontal strings (5,5)
DOWN 1. Trademark - burn with hot iron (5) 2. Gloria, silent film star (7) 3. Ms MacPherson, supermodel (4) 4. Dead center - Bill Sikes's dog sweet (8) 5. Seagoing vessel - goes with bin, eye or hard (5) 6. See 12 (6) 11. Killer (8) 12. Subject of biblical dream plant - chain of buckets (6) 13. Small wind instrument (7) 15. The lowest point (5) 17. Maradona, Argentine footballer (5) 18. Hallucinatory experience (4)
ANSWERS OF ISSUE 202 ACROSS—1. Biceps 4. Stable 9. Agasaga 10. Blurb 11. Ditto 12. Ecology 13. Scratch Card 18. Krypton 20. Cuppa 22. Whale 23. Obloquy 24. Rhythm 25. Career DOWN—1. Brandy 2. Chant 3. Pianola 5. Taboo 6. Boudoir 7. Embryo 8. Watercannon 14. Crybaby 15. Ceciia 16. Skewer 17. Lawyer 19. Teeth 21. Pique
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ISSUE 203 Indonesia expat
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Events JAKARTA Networking
Jakarta Business Networkers Every Thursday Make the right connections and grow your business over lunch. At Jakar ta Business Networkers (JBN), all attendees are encouraged to help others 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 every Thursday lunchtime at Central, South and West of Jakarta. RSVP: info@ jbnetworkers.com.
The Jakarta Bridge Club Every Tuesday and Friday The Jakarta Bridge Club invites ex pat communities across Jakarta to join a networking session every Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 AM to 12 PM. Participants meet for pleasant and convivial moments where they can share and exchange information among ex p ats at three to five tables. The networking event takes place at Die Stube Restaurant on Jalan Kemang Raya. Visitors and partners are welcome to join. For more information please contact Ernah at +62818686999. Arts & Culture
Indonesian Heritage Society’s Evening Lecture Series 19 September – 12 December Since 1973, the Indonesian Heritage Society (IHS) has been organizing the Evening Lectures Series to facilitate discussions about various kinds of topics related to Indonesia. This year the foundation has decided to focus on histor y, social developments, art, politics and economics. The Evening Lecture Series takes place at Erasmus Huis and is open to the public. The lectures cost Rp.50,000 ( U S $ 3 .7 0 ) , o r R p . 3 0 , 0 0 0 (US$2.75) for students. The lecture has started in September, discussing the cultural heritage in Banda Islands. The upcoming
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lectures will start October 17 with the theme ‘Where Australia Collides with Asia.’ Ian Burnet, who has spent thirty years living and traveling across Indonesia will tell the remarkable story of his journey when following the epic voyages of British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace around the eastern archipelago. On November 21, IHS will host an interactive discussion on the National C apital Integrated Coastal Development and a collaboration project involving Indonesia and the Netherlands that aims to prevent flooding in Jakarta in a session named ‘Giant Seawall: Blessing or Curse?’ The final lecture will be held on December 12, addressing the issue of preserving textiles in Indonesia. Krzystof Musial will be leading the talk, arguing that the people need to work together to preserve textiles, which have been around for centuries. For more information please visit www.heritagejkt.org/activities/ lectures/evening-lectures.
JIWA: Jakarta Biennale 2017 4 November – 10 December Jakarta Biennale is a biannual international contemporary art exhibition. Jakarta Biennale was initiated by the Jakarta Arts Council in 1974 as an Indonesian Great Painting Exhibition. Since 2009, the art exhibition, has also been known as an international contemporary art exhibition. The latest Jakarta Biennale was held in 2015 entitled “Neither Forward Nor Back: Acting in The Present.” This year, Jakarta Biennale 2017 has appointed Melati Suryodarmo as its Artistic Director, with “Jiwa” (or Soul) as the artistic concept. As an art event with local and international relevance, a biennale functions as a dialogue between those two perspectives. The relentless search for the origin of Indonesian art, in the face of the fraught colonial legacy, forms the essential inspiration for Jakarta Biennale 2017. One of the ways to evaluate the complexity of identity is to re-think history. The exhibition aims to provide opportunities to experience the jiwa of art, by attempting to venture into the lives and stories of seminal figures of the recent history of Indonesian art. Familiarity with the history of art, is essential to trace jiwa in art practice today. There will be daily performances throughout the exhibition period by Em’Kal Eyongapka and Eva Kot’átková, symposiums and competitions. For more information about Jakarta Biennale, please visit www.jakartabiennale.net/en. Bike to the Future: New Year's Celebration 31 December 2017 Preparing in advance for New Year’s celebration will make things more enjoyable and m e m o r a b l e fo r t h e w h o l e family. Hotel Santika Premiere Bintaro understands this and
presents an exciting theme “Bike to the Future 2018,” promising a sporty and vintage casual atmosphere. Guests are welcome to bring their own bikes and wear appropriate dress. The main attraction at Hotel Santika Premiere Bintaro’s New Year’s celebration is a special per formance by Atta, “The Voice” finalist in Indonesia, who will warm up the atmosphere with an exciting performance. A room package with gala dinner is also provided. Make an early bird booking, and guests will receive a special 15% discount. Many prizes will be given away for guests of Hotel Santika Premiere Bintaro, including a Grand Prize of 3-days-2-nights stay at The Anvaya Beach Resort Bali, a five-star hotel from Santika Indonesia Hotels & Resorts, valid for two people with return tickets from Jakarta to Bali. For dinner and table reservations, please WhatsApp at +628111468988.
by local cuisine fans as it will serve traditional cuisines and snacks from various parts of the country, most notably nasi cakalang from Manado, kerak telor from Jakarta, satay from Padang, and much more. More than 30 food bloggers will also attend the festival, so be sure not to miss it! For more information about Snacks of the Archipelago Festival, please visit w w w. mallofindonesia.com. Music
Djakarta Warehouse Project 15 – 16 December
Canada Year End Celebration by CALINDO 8 December 2017 W ith this year's theme of “Breaking the Tradition,” a celebration hosted by CALINDO, you will be getting away: • FROM the round table traditional sit-down settings • TO a cool, happening environment at a hip restaurant. Your admission price will entitled you to the following: • Go to a cool place with great food and drinks • A meet-and-greet with likeminded “Friends of Canada” and fellow Canadian alumni • To enjoy the year-end festivities approaching • A fun night to remember Stay tuned for more info as Calindo committee is working on this exciting event! For more information, please email info@ canadacentre.org Snacks of the Archipelago Festival 15 November – 14 December Fulfil your culinar y dreams by visiting the Snacks of the Archipelago Festival at Mall of Indonesia in North Jakarta. Located in the lower ground floor of the mall, this culinary festival is not to be missed
Party goers, dance enthusiasts and urban nightlife junkies; brace yourselves! K ick- of f festivities for the end of the year in Indonesia's metropolitan capital city of Jakarta will again be stormed with spectacular lights, sounds and sensational vibes of urban music fiesta as the Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) 2017 is here again to blast its music onstage at the Jakarta International Exhibition Center on 15 – 16 December 2017. Back for its ninth year with even bigger, stronger and louder sounds; DWP 2017 promises to give festival-goers an experience that will certainly kick off early New Year's celebrations. As always, the festival will feature some most prominent names in international and domestic electronic and club music scenes. Complete with dramatic settings and decorations, this upbeat music fiesta will indulge the audience with a wide range of genres in dance music from electronic, house, progressive, techno, trance, drum and bass, dubstep, and a whole lot more. Having started in a warehouse, DWP has become Indonesia's biggest annual dance music festival and has expanded across the region. This year, DWP will continue the use of the latest digital technology to enhance party-goers’ experiences and provide an out- of-this-world party. Known the world over for their extravagant over-thetop productions helmed by some of the biggest names in house and techno, this “festival within a festival” is definitely not one to be missed! For more information, please visit www. djakartawarehouse.com.
Liam Gallagher of Oasis – Live in Jakarta 14 January 2018 Liam Gallagher, former lead singer of the rock band Oasis, is coming to Jakarta on 14 January 2018 for the first time ever. The British musician had originally been scheduled to perform at Ecovention Ancol, Jakarta on August, but had unfortunately been postponed until January next year. Liam Gallagher is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, and later as the singer of Beady Eye, before surprisingly performing as a solo artist after the dissolution of both previous bands. His erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press; he remains one of the most recognisable figures in modern British music. Although his older brother Noel wrote the majority of Oasis' songs, Liam penned the singles "Songbird" and "I'm Outta Time", along with a string of album tracks and b -sides. Noel departed Oasis in 2009 and formed Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, while Liam continued with the former members of Oasis under the Beady Eye name until they disbanded in 2014. To purchase the tickets, please visit www. kiostix.com/events/details/ liamgallagher.tix.
sometimes the moon, with its strong power, orchestrates the swinging movement of the ocean outside, of the oceans inside. It’s a reminder to always respect and worship an infinite power by being present in every moment because that moment when the sun rises above the horizon will pass by very quickly and will never be the same again. For reservations, please send an email to reservations@zibiru. com or visit www.zibiru.com for more information regarding the photography exhibition.
SAGA Festival 28 – 29 December Descending upon the “Island of the Gods” for the first time is the SAGA Festival – Bali’s first homegrown, multi-day festival. SAGA Music Festival, the first locally owned, organized and executed multi-day festival is set to take place in Bali right before New Year’s celebrations. This year’s theme is “The Beginning,” and is filled with world-class entertainment, arts & cultural attractions, a culinary bazaar, and other activities. DJ Snake headlines this year. For more information, please visit www. sagafestival.com and www. rajakarcis.com/show/sagamusic-festival-2017 for ticket purchases.
BALI Arts & Culture
Snow White and the Seven Poofs Pantomime 15 – 23 December 2017 27 December 2017 – 7 January 2018
Tempoe Doeloe: Photographs of Indonesia 15 November – 11 December Artworks at Zibiru in Seminyak, Bali, is proud to present an exhibition of photography by artist Tomomi. Each print comes in editions of 10, signed and numbered in verso. Tomomi represents reality in a timeless way. His photos could be from another era, a time when nature was unspoiled by man. Born in Europe, his work attempts to portray Indonesia in a simple yet unique way by transporting himself into the past and showing the present what we would be missing if society continues developing the way we are. There is a strong sense of meditation in every picture — if humans are present, they’re always looking towards the horizon. Sometimes a bird passes by;
T he hilarious S now W hite and the Seven Poofs ADULT ONLY pantomime returns to the London stage for a brilliant festive run starring reality star Simon Gross who is also known as MR SHOWBIZ. The show received critical acclaim and rave reviews from its 2013 production in the Leicester Square Theatre, and now it’s back in 2017 but bigger, bolder and ruder. It’s not a show for the faint-hearted, the organisers warn – and it’s definitely not suitable for children or persons of a prudish nature. Great value tickets at just £20 are now available www. ticketsource.co.uk/snow7poofs for the production at the Karma S an c tum S o h o H otel. Yo u can also purchase a premium package ticket which includes canapés and prosecco at just £40, to book please email zoe. ranger@karmagroup.com. Performances are scheduled for the 15th – 23rd December and 27th December – January 7th all at 7.30pm. There will also be two matinees on the 17th December and 7th January at 4pm.
INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY
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We Deliver Stroopwafels in Indonesia to your home or office 1 pack/ quantity of 8 pieces regular plain (9cm) for Rp. 60.000 1 pack/ quantity of 8 pieces regular choco (9cm) for Rp. 65.000 Call: 021 766 4465/ 081 114 90400 or e-mail: info@altjebakery.com
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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
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ISSUE 203 Indonesia expat
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Classifieds
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upon appointment only. For more info: bahasaprivate@gmail.com. Golf Lessons: Get ready for Golf Season! All levels and ages are welcome, from beginner to advanced programs. Full-swing, Putting, Short game and playing lessons available. For more information and to book a lesson, please email below. Accel Golf Academy-Ken Runyon. All lessons conducted in English at Pondok Indah Driving Range: accelgolf@gmail.com. Private Italian violin teacher in Jakarta. More than 10 years of experience with students of all ages. Familiar with Suzuki and ABRSM methods. Solfeggio, Classical and Irish Violin lessons.Email: sean. silla@gmail.com, or WhatsApp to +6281298177496.
JAKARTA Cars for Sale Toyota Rush, Automatic - Sport Excellent condition. Year 2009. Mileage: 109,000km. 10 months tax B l u e c o l o u r. A s k i n g p r i c e : R p10 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0. For i m a g e s inquiries, please contact viki_ davies@bsj.sch.id
Mercedes 280s-W108, 1970. MT Jakarta, Indonesia. Papers complete, ready for touring. Fully restored including engine overhaul, in excellent state, mostly original. Rare white steering wheel, original blue glass side mirrors, American style headlights (original black steering wheel and European headlights included in the sale). AC, power steering. Year: 1970. Mileage: 98,000km. STNK in the name of the seller, valid until: 16-02-2020 Tax paid until: : 16-02-2018. Asking price: Rp145,000,000. Total Loss insurance valid until 28 October 2018 (rare to be able to get insurance for a 47 year old vehicle!!) please contact jasperjakarta@gmail.com 2014 Toyota Kijang Innova G M/T 2.0 L Luxury. Only 18,100 km - single owner. 5 speed manual transmission. 2nd row Captain seats 8'' roof monitor DVD/CD. Full service history (most recent service at 15,000 kms). CD plated, duty free. Asking price: Rp.164,000,000. Contact number: + 62 8111726868 (Frank). Job Available “Full Time and Part Time vacancies are now available for experienced English language instructors for corporate courses around Jakarta” Compet it ive rates a nd t ravel allowance are of fered. Please send your CV to recruitment. kpiconsultancy@gmail.com. Looking for part time and full time math teachers who have experience in USA test prep courses and well as tutoring in IB and Cambridge math.
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The candidate must be a native English speaker with a minimum of 1 year experience. We offer a great working environment, a place to grow and a competitive salary. Please send your resume to: oneswind04@aol.com Services Learn Spanish (IB, IGCSE, DELE) 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) +6282110502786. Be your f ittest self at any age. Internationally certified, Englishspeaking Personal Fitness Trainer helps you lose fat and get fit faster with fun, personalized workouts at your home or apartment. Try a session FREE, full details at www. jakartafitnesscoach.com. Phone number: +6282111720271. Hi! I have been teaching Mandarin for 13 years now in an international school in Jakarta. Very fluent in English and able to teach using the medium of English. I have experiences in teaching Mandarin using PYP, MYP, DP Mandarin Ab I nit io, IG C SE Ma nda r i n Chinese and also for adults. Able to tai lor a lang uage learning program that suits your needs or your child’s needs. Email me at arumhandayani@gmail.com for more info. Private Guitar/Ukulele Lesson at your home. Interested? Contact +6281808361136 (WA/Call) for more details. Help your child reach his potential! If your child has AD/HD, Autism, PDD/NOS, Down Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD), or a specific Learning Disability (LD) and needs after school home support to cope up with school work, please feel free to contact Teacher Jun at teacher. specialeducation@gmail.com for an appointment. Private Bahasa Indonesia Tutor for Foreig n Beg inners. You'll learn grammar, pronunciation, conversation, reading etc. Free text books. Low lesson fees. South or Central Jakarta only. Classes
Native Italian and Spanish language teacher in Jakarta. Private lessons at your home. More than 10 years of experience with students of all ages. Grammar and conversation lessons. Email me at sean.silla@gmail.com or WhatsApp to +6281298177496. Property For rent 300 houses at Kemang, Cipete, Cilandak, Jeruk Purut, Pondok I nd a h. Bi g g a rden s , swimming pools, USD 2,000 5,000. Phone: +62816859551 or +628170093366.
Beautiful new full renovated house for rent. 2 storey + basement. 750m2 + 1000m 2 land with join pool. Located 10 minutes from Cilandak Commercial Estate. USD3,000/ month nett excluding tax (negotiate). If interested please call / WA owner at +62811180605. PENTHOUSE Puri Casablanca 255 sqm, good price, need to be sold soon, please contact Widya +62817730261 / 7194888 L u x u r y t wo level apa r t ment townhouse (357 sqm) with private lobby entrance. Fully enclosed 12m x 4m private pool. Gourmet open kitchen with breakfast bar and new appliances. Separate dinning room, TV lounge with entertainment area and formal lounge. Upstairs to a large family room and four bedrooms and marble tiled bathrooms. Two side by side covered carparks with easy access to the basement lobby. Quick access to the apartment gym, business center , superette and Italian restaurant. Both fully furnished. FOR SALE = Rp20,000,000,000. FOR RENT = Rp.1,135,000,000. Negotiable, Email: david.michael.bouzaid@ gmail.com Apartment in Essence Dharmawangsa for Rent: • Cosy 2 BR (one king sized, one single bed) • Fully furnished (sofa, dining table, ACs, fridge, washing machine, microwave, dispenser, First Media cable & internet)
• Excellent location in Dharmawangsa, South Jakarta: close to Kemang, SCBD, and Simatupang (near international schools, SOS Clinic, hospitals) • Great facilities: Swimming pool per tower (so not busy), gym, kids’ playroom, tennis and basketball courts, mini market, bakery, coffee shop, beautiful manicured gardens and outdoor space (great for kids) • Good security •Awesome landlord • Asking price: $1,400/month • Please ca l l or W hats App +628119505483 House for Rent: Jl. Kemang Timur XV No.70A, beautiful, spacious 2 storey hse, 700 m 2/650 m 2 , 4 bedrooms + bath/big terrace, pool, garden, close to AIS. For info please call: +6285881418203. Personal
For sale 4 pcs Horizontal plan cabinet lion L22, @Rp. 2,5 million. 5 drawer each cabinet to put A0 and A1 paper. Size : width 1375mm x height 850mm. Please contact : +622129938997 / +6281319004269. We are looking for a used and in good condition rowing machine for 4 or 5 millions. If you have one for sale please contact Billy at +62813 10090593 or email me at: xerxes. kruger@yahoo.com. Three very lovely kittens are looking for a permanent home. The first two are brother and sister. They are about 2 months old. The third kitten was recently rescued. S/he is about 3 weeks old and is dark gray in color. All kittens have long tails. They are all in good health. Please contact me if interested: Irma Peña (+6281288222922). Email: ipena@ jisedu.or.id Independent Indonesian woman is looking for a soulmate / husband (Expatriate). Please contact me. Rini: +6281317776936. Gym partner needed for Pondok Indah. I am a mature English lady who has recently joined a quiet g y m in Pondok Indah. I need encouragement to go every day, so if you would like to join me as a gym partner (for company) then please send me an email to cgconsultnow@ gmail.com. Here’s to getting f it with a friend! I am looking for a massage chair Contact me WA: +6287886485463. For Sale
High quality billiards table for sale brand: Oriley’s Billiards. Price: Rp 10,000,000. Complete with a l l accessor ies. Refer ra ls for professiona l insta l lers can be prov ided. If interested please contact: Karl(khilhorst@jisedu. or.id) or call +6281283445479.
Looking for something to buy / sell? 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: 13 December 2017
A L i fet i me Membership at Emeralda Golf Course is for sale for 120,000,000 Rupiah. Buyer will be responsible for the payment of annual fees and for any membership transfer expense. If interested, please contact me at: rubbycon@naver. com or +6281287281104(only chat or message).
Household Staff Needed I am looking for an experienced NANNY for my 1 year old active boy. The nanny has to be energetic and able to run after him. He is an easy baby and gets along with anyone. I live close to the SCBD area near Senopati. If you are interested please contact +6282111721558. Household Staff Available
High quality table-tennis table for sale. Brand: Ping Pong. Asking price: Rp.3,000,000. Complete with accessories. If interested please contact: Karl (khilhorst@jisedu. or.id) or call +6281283445479.
Weekend Housekeeper Available Now! Yes, from Friday night to Monday morning – all weekend you will have coverage for your housekeeping, laundry, cooking, food shoppi ng, t radesmen supervision, child minding etc. Tini speaks English well and is a great household manager for your busy weekends! Please contact Tini directly on +6281381704742 or +6281381704742 and for a reference contact cguyler@hotmail.com. You won't be disappointed!
BALI
For sale: pick-up from Setiabudi area: 1. R&B bread maker: Rp1.35 million 2. IKEA corner desk: Rp1 million 3. IKEA chest of drawer: Rp1.5 million 4. IKEA TV stand: Rp175,000 5. L aund r y basket on wheels: Rp125,000 6. L aund r y Basket (Colored): Rp125,000 WhatsApp only: +6281212615032
Girihills House (USD 59,000) Brand new 2 storey house in Nusa Dua, Bali. 2 Bedrooms, 1 bathroom, furnished with springbed and aircond, 2 car parking and spacious backyard. 10-20 minutes from Bali Mandara Toll Road and Ngurah Rai Airport. Building size: 45 sqm Land size: 126sqm (https://goo. gl/5Ychv1). Email: denny.supandi@ eldersrealestate.com.au
Storage Clean Up: Mosquito nets for beds including frame. 150x 210 cm cotton beige, 300k. 100x200 cm polyester white, 250k. Avent Cooling Breast Pads, 100k. Dishwasher Tabs, Salt, Rinse Aid. Baking Paper and more. Please check out and contact for price. Stephanie +628118603250
Need to sell a beautiful , good condition Xmas Tree. Height: 165 cm. Price Rp. 750,000. If You are interested you can contact me through WhatsApp: +62816992299.
Personal classifieds | Commercial classifieds 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.27) Send in your classidieds to: ads@indonesiaexpat.biz
Lifestyle Villa for rich and famous (USD 1,500,000) Epic Villa surrounded by surf spot in Pecatu Peninsula, Bali. 4 Bedrooms, 4 bathroom, fully furnished, 3 storey, 15x3m lap pool. Land size: 1,030sqm. +628967827196 (https:// goo.gl/VsVAg8). Email: denny. supandi@eldersrealestate.com.au
Tremendous Villa in Nusa Ceningan (USD 296,000) 2,7km from Crystal Bay, 33km from Ngurah Rai Airport. Fully furnished 2 storey freehold Villas with infinity pool, 3 Bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Land size: 430sqm. Building Size: 150sqm. +6289678271969 (https:// goo.gl/ZLzJFg). Email: denny. supandi@eldersrealestate.com.au
Getaway from the big city and visit Ubud, Bali – A peaceful stay in the rice fields, staying at a traditional village, Pejeng Village, a short 4.5 kms from Ubud. 3 Bedrooms plus a villa cook. Huge pool which is spring-fed and has eco-ioniser filter. Beautifully appointed villa with a villa cook. Driver available. Authentic Balinese stay. The walk down to the World Heritage Listed holy Pakerisan River is your nature fix. Sleeps 6 (can extend to 10) Ideal for family or couples or girls-getaway weekend. Breakfast included – Western or Indonesian. Security 24 hrs. Read latest guest reviews on trip advisor. A magical experience – like a home away from home. www.villadamee.com Services Vietnam Photo Tour (27 February 2018 – 12 March 2018). Availability: 4 spots available. For the passionate photog rapher, Vietnam of fers vibrant street photog raphy in Hanoi and then we journey on to Hoi An, which is an architectural and cultural photographic journey of epic proportions. Join us on this guided photo tour with Masterclass Photographer, David Metcalf. This trip includes visiting fishing villages and small cultural villages. We also will be photographing wildlife – the very photogenic Langurs of the forests just out of Danang are a true delight. More detail on: www. davidmetcalfphotography.com Looking for dynamic Presenters, Hosts, Vloggers, and Social Addicts JCB - Just Click Bali is looking
for dynamic Presenters, Hosts, Vloggers, and Social Addicts, to undertake a wide range of fun online and on-ground assignments, across this fascinating island so many call paradise. Click the link below for more details or contact us at info@ justclickbali.com and please include a picture. We will be choosing a few special people soon so don’t miss this chance to be a Star in Bali. Phone Number: +6285829651152. 200 hour yoga teacher training Bali. Our training is designed to share our knowledge, understanding, and experience of yoga in all its depth, beauty and diversity; to teach and live with integrity and authenticity; and to inspire the next generation of yoga instructors towards a life of ser v ice. We achieve this in
part by including only the most learned, sincere, and experienced teachers and practitioners on our team, and by keeping our trainings grounded in Satya (Truth). Email: emmausten1710@gmail.com Personal Two Kittens Looking for a Home Two very lovely kittens are looking for a permanent home. They are about 6 weeks to 7 weeks old. Both kittens were rescued; one from a nearby river and the other walking into traffic. Both kittens have long tails. One has ticked (agouti) gray colored fur. The other is black with white paws. They are all in good health. Please contact me if interested: Irma Peña (+62812
88222922)Email: ipena@jisedu. or.id We serve in house a traditional therapy for relaxation. USD 50 per treatment. Working day: Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 09.00 16.00. Contact us via WhatsApp at +6281337766343.
Every Thursday Jakarta's oldest (1986) running club meets. For questions contact: +6281284504422
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WHAT IS AN ALLERGY?
We get a lot of questions about allergies. Some patients ask about a possible allergy to Jakarta…An allergy is a reaction of the body to a particular food or substance. Allergies are very common especially in children. Some allergies go away when one gets older. Adults can become allergic to things they weren't previously allergic to. Most allergic reactions are mild and can be largely kept under control. Severe reactions can occasionally occur however. SOME COMMON ALLERGIES Allergens are the substances that cause an allergic reaction. Here are a few examples: • Grass and tree pollen • Dust mites • Flakes of skin or hair of animals. • Food – like nuts, fruit, shellfish, eggs and cow's milk • Insect bites or stings • Medication • Latex – used to make some gloves and condoms • Mould • Household chemicals –detergents These allergens are generally harmless to people who aren't allergic to them. SYMPTOMS OF AN ALLERGIC REACTION Allergic reactions happen usually within a few minutes of exposure to an allergen. They can cause: • Sneezing • A runny or blocked nose • Red, itchy, watery eyes • Wheezing and coughing • A red, itchy rash • Worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms
A severe reaction is called anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency. SEE YOUR GP FOR ALLERGIES Consult your trusted medical practitioner if you think you or your child might have had an allergic reaction to something. Your family doctor can determine whether it is likely that you have an allergy (or the symptoms might have been caused by something else). If you have a mild allergy, advice and treatment can be offered to manage the condition. If your allergy is severe or if it is not clear what you're allergic to you might need further testing or a referral. WHAT TO DO? Try to avoid the allergen that causes the reaction. Check the food’s ingredients!
Medication which can control symptoms of allergic reactions, include: • Anti-histamines - you can take them when you have symptoms or beforehand to prevent symptoms. • Decongestants - short-term treatment for a blocked nose • Lotions and creams, can reduce skin redness and itchiness • Steroid medication - can help reduce redness and swelling A treatment called immunotherapy may be recommended for people with severe allergies. You will be exposed to the allergen in a controlled way over a number of years so your body gets used to it. WHY DOES ALLERGY HAPPEN? A body's immune system reacts to a particular substance as if it is harmful. It's not clear why this happens, but most people who have this are known to have a family history of allergies. They can also have closely related conditions like asthma or eczema. A theory is that we are living in a cleaner, germ-free environment, which reduces the number of germs our immune system has to deal with. This may cause an overreaction when it comes into contact with harmless substances. ALLERGY, SENSITIVITY OR INTOLERANCE? Allergy – a reaction by the body's immune system when in contact with a normally harmless substance Sensitivity – exaggeration of the normal effects of a substance. For example caffeine may cause extreme symptoms, like trembling Intolerance – a substance causes unpleasant symptoms, like diarrhoea, but doesn't involve the immune system; you can typically eat a small amount without having any problems If you have any questions or concerns, I would advise you to talk to your trusted Medical Practitioner.
Dr Steven Graaff,MD,MRCGP, the founder of Good Practice Clinic is a graduate of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Before completing his formal training in General Practice in the UK, he has worked in several hospitals, occupational health and general practice in the Netherlands and the UK. As a medical professional with international experience, Steven decided to start his own clinic – Good Practice, in Jakarta. www.goodpractice.co.id
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Jl. Bangka Raya #106B Jakarta 12730 Tel. +62-21-7183140 info@goodpractice.co.id
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