Indonesia Expat – issue 141

Page 1

!

E RE

F

I S S U E N O. 141

|

6 – 19 M AY 2 015

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

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

GEOTHERMAL POWER IN INDONESIA RETIREMENT AGE LAWS IN OIL & GAS

BROTHERS AT THE COALFACE: BRITMINDO TRAVEL: THE FLOATING MARKET OF LOK BAINTAN, KALIMANTAN

MEET MEGHAN PAPPENHEIM OF BALI SPIRIT FESTIVAL

The

ENERGY ISSUE

issue 141 indonesia expat

1


2

indonesia expat issue 141


issue 141 indonesia expat

3


LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Readers, Editor in Chief

Sukumaran and Chan were not the only convicts murdered who were considered rehabilitated – Nigeria’s Ayotanze was also reported to be very helpful spiritually towards other prisoners, ensuring they always attended mass. Brazil’s Gularte was mentally ill, diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, believing in his deluded state, that Indonesia had abolished the death penalty and he would be returning home next year. Gularte was reported of being afraid of electromagnetic waves watching him from satellites above the prison in Nusakambangan, and he spoke to animals.

Angela Richardson

Editorial Enquiries letters@indonesiaexpat.biz

Management Edo Frese edo@indonesiaexpat.biz

Sales Dian Mardianingsih ads@indonesiaexpat.biz

Distribution & Admin Juni Setiawan admin@indonesiaexpat.biz

Graphics Frederick Ng Katarina Anindita

Finance Lini Verawaty finance@indonesiaexpat.biz

“There is no justice in killing in the name of justice.”

Contributors Victoria Bannerman Bill Dalton Karen Davis Annali Hayward Gregg Hollomon Aulia Masna Eamonn Sadler Nabilia Soenasto Antony Sutton Ario Triwibowo Kenneth Yeung

– Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Circulation Enquiries

The eight men executed were Indonesian Zainal Abidin; Australians of the Bali9, who had spent 10 years in prison in for smuggling heroine out of the country, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran; Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte; Nigerians Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Raheem Agbaje Salami and Okwudili Oyatanze; and Ghanaian Martin Anderson.

info@indonesiaexpat.biz

Subscriptions subscriptions@indonesiaexpat.biz

Events events@indonesiaexpat.biz

Published by PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia Graha Eka Formula Building 3rd floor, #302 Jl. Bangka Raya No. 2 Kemang, Jakarta T: 021 719 5908 (sales/editorial) 021 719 3409 (admin/finance) F: 021 719 3409 Office hours: 09.00–17.00 Monday–Friday INDONESIA EXPAT IS PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY BY PT. KOLEKSI KLASIK INDONESIA. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION ARE THOSE OF THE WRITERS AND THE PUBLISHER DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ERRORS,

recruited her to act as a drug courier gave herself up to police in the Philippines the day before the executions.

Despite international outcry and pleas for clemency towards the President, the order was issued and just after midnight last Wednesday morning, the world was gripped in a helpless state as the executions of eight drug convicts on the island of Nusakambangan, Java, took place.

The Philippines breathed a sigh of relief in the eleventh hour, when Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso was spared after a woman who allegedly

As someone strongly opposed to the death penalty, watching the events unfold over the last few months has been difficult. On social media, many people are pleased with the outcome, saying that the men did the crime, therefore should do the time. While I am not opposed to men and women doing time for their mistakes, I do believe in rehabilitation and second chances, and certainly believe a mentally ill person should be hospitalised, not put to death. Under article 44 of the Indonesian criminal code, a person with a mental illness cannot be held responsible for a crime committed. So why was he still killed? If there can be any silver lining from this tragic event, it can only be that the events have led to further exposing of a corrupt judicial system in Indonesia. The month prior to the executions, former lawyer for the Australian drug smugglers during the trial in 2006, Muhammad Rifan, came forward to the press in an attempt to save the pair, telling of a bribe offered from the judges at the time of Rp.1 billion (around $130,000) for a sentence of less than 20 years. The deal fell through after the judges were later ordered by senior legal and government members to impose a death penalty. The judges

NO PARTS OF THIS PUBLICATION CAN BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN PRINT OR ELECTRONICALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. ALL TRADEMARKS, LOGOS, BRANDS AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT AND FULLY RESERVED BY PT. KOLEKSI KLASIK INDONESIA.

4

indonesia expat issue 141

The fate of French convict Atlaioui, a father of four who claims to be innocent, still hangs in the balance, as does the young drug mule Philippino Veloso, British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford and several others still on death row. 2015 has seen 14 executions in Indonesia already, and what have they accomplished? Barely a ripple in the ocean of the fight against drugs. The drug cartels will continue to operate, in and outside the country. On the other hand, the LQ45 Index (the 45 most heavily-traded stocks on the Jakarta Stock Exchange) fell by 4.5% on the day of the executions. Perhaps arguably linked, but given ongoing international uncertainty surrounding Indonesia’s political leadership and lack of a firm stance on rampant corruption, I feel it’s almost certain the unprecedented market drop and the latest blow to Indonesia’s international reputation are tied. The world is focused on Indonesia; unfortunately it’s for all the wrong reasons.

Angela Richardson Editor in Chief

Finally, the JIS cases were the last nails in the coffin for Indonesian rule of law. After 24 years here it's time to go home.

Dear Angela, After 24 years of working in Indonesia, I will be leaving this month. In my view, the overall problem here is a complete lack of policy guidance from the cabinet and a complete lack of interest in policy from senior government officials. In the resultant vacuum, policy is being set by lower level government people, not much above clerks, and this is affecting visas and other employment issues, mining/oil & gas regulations, international trade, labelling and many other issues. Combined with the latest push to eliminate alcohol (unlikely to pass, but anyway) this place is not going to get better. The continued lowering of economic growth projections is unfortunate evidence for this view. There is nobody steering the ship, and that usually leads to running aground.

I do, of course, hope I'm wrong and that you and others around succeed here. Cheers, Leaving

Connect with Us

The Cover Farmer working on potato farms around a geothermal instillation in Dieng Plateau, Central Java. Pictured by Raditya Mahendra Yasa.

The eight convicts were reported to have faced their executioners head-on, rejecting blindfolds, strapped to crosses, singing Amazing Grace in unison, praising their maker before gunshots pierced through the air. It would appear they had accepted their fates, no doubt mentally exhausted by the uncertainty of their futures over the past few months. What is clear is the Indonesian justice system made a sham of this incident – human rights and compassion, traits President Jokowi was thought to stand by, were nowhere to be seen.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

OMMISIONS, OR COMPLAINTS ARISING THERE FROM.

then asked for an even greater sum for a lighter sentence, which Rifan could not pay. He called their bluff, reportedly regretting this decision as the death penalty was sentenced.

Subscribe to our e-newsletter! Scan the barcode to receive your free bi-weekly newsletter

www.indonesiaexpat.biz

@indonesia_expat

issuu.com/indonesiaexpat

/indonesia.expat

Now available on

WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED READING THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE RECYCLE IT.


Issue 141

Contents

06

06

08 10 12

Feature Story Indonesia Aims to Capitalise on Renewable Energy

Expat Business

Featured Age Does Make a Difference: Retirement Age Laws in Oil & Gas Business Profile Brothers at The Coalface: Mining Consultancy Britmindo Meet the Expat Meet Lizzy Hawkins of UK Trade & Investment Indonesia

14

Expat Lifestyle

16

Travel Lok Baintan Floating Market and Bamboo Rafting in Loksado

17

Living Saving Energy at Home: The Revolution in Green Consumption

18

Fashion High-Energy Fashion is Fighting Fit

Food & Drink Super Sandwiches at Brown Bag

12

19

Meet the Expat Meghan Pappenheim: Energising the Spirit Within

20

Scams in the City Save the Children from Hypocrisy

21

16

Expat Outreach

Sports Deddy the Daddy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

22

Worthy Causes Let the Sun Light Up the Night: Azzura Solar's Bright Future Program

23

Announcements

24

Light Entertainment The Best Job in the World

25

Observations Seven Days of IT Blackout (and I Don't Mind)

26

Events

27

Business Directory

28

Classifieds

issue 141 indonesia expat

5


FEATURE STORY Aulia Masna is a Jakarta-based journalist covering a variety of topics related to technology, business, politics, and renewable energy in Southeast Asia. For more information visit www.CopyCollision.com

Indonesia Aims to Capitalise on Renewable Energy Indonesia possesses the lion’s share of Earth’s geothermal resources that can be used for renewable energy. Here’s what the government plans to do about it. By Aulia Masna

I

ndonesia’s days as a major oilexporting nation are long gone. Since 2004, oil consumption in the archipelago has exceeded its capacity to produce, and the rate of production is dwindling. In fact, domestic production has been on the decline since as far back as 1991. Although the country may still have large enough reserves of coal to last for several more decades, the real solution to the problem can only be found in renewable energy. The government has made one of its objectives to increase energy production from renewable resources from the current annual output of 10.7 gigawatts to 21.5 gigawatts by 2019. In November Rida Mulyana, Director General of Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, said that the country would need a US$36 billion investment to raise production capacity to the level it needs to be. In the short term, the country’s renewable energy efforts are geared toward hydroelectric power, followed by geothermal energy, solar, and wind. For the long term, however, geothermal is seen as having the greatest potential. This is due to its continuous abundance and the fact that production doesn’t need to wait for the availability of sunlight, wind, or a strong tide. “The future sustainable electricity grid will need all sources of electricity,” Benjamin Matek, an industry analyst and research project manager at the Geothermal Energy Association in Washington DC told Indonesia Expat. “Geothermal can help balance out the intermittency of solar by acting as a firm and flexible power source.” Essentially, geothermal power is extracted from steam that emanates from a reservoir of hot water and molten rocks present in volcanic regions. The steam is then used to generate electricity through turbines. Indonesia’s geology means that these underground reservoirs are plentiful. According to a report published by the US Energy Information Administration, geothermal offers a capacity factor greater than 90 percent, meaning it loses around 10 percent or less of the energy fed into the generators. By comparison, coal has an 85 percent capacity factor, while hydroelectric has around 50 percent, with solar and wind among the lowest with 25 to 30 percent efficiency. The Directorate General of Renewable Energy says Indonesia holds 40 percent of the world’s geothermal energy resources at 299 sites spread out across the archipelago.

6

indonesia expat issue 141

Geothermal power by Lydur Skulason

The known production potential from Indonesia currently clocks in at 29 gigawatts but only five percent of that is being produced at the moment. The country plans to increase this production from 1.4 gigawatts to 4.9 gigawatts by 2019, or 22 percent of the total renewable energy output. By 2025, geothermal energy production is expected to reach more than 10 gigawatts, provided that the government can execute its plan properly. However, a report titled Unlocking Indonesia’s Geothermal Potential, jointly published in early 2015 by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, puts the 2019 figure at a more conservative 3.8 gigawatts, and for 2025 it estimates 4.6 gigawatts. Geothermal exploration has been met with doubt and scepticism in Indonesia as the Bali provincial government shut down the Bedugul geothermal project repeatedly between 2005 and 2014. Although the site is expected to generate 165 megawatts of power, adding significantly to the 600 megawatts the island already produces, the local government cited destruction of four hectares of forests, disturbance to the nearby temples, and the fact that the land is part of a holy site as the primary reasons for its refusal. “It’s difficult to green-light the continued destruction of what little forests we have left in Bali,” governor Made Mangku Pastika said in 2011.

Nearly a quarter of Bali’s four million population remains ‘off the grid’ and rolling blackouts are a regular occurrence on the island. To manage the lack of electricity, Bali’s local government opted to acquire additional electricity from its neighbouring province East Java through overhead power lines across the Bali Strait. It was only in August 2014 that the Indonesian government passed a legislation to remove the legal barriers associated with geothermal exploration

for electricity generation. Previously, geothermal exploration was classified as a mining activity. But with 60 percent of Indonesia’s geothermal resources being located underneath protected forests and conservation areas, operations in those areas are prohibited. The August legislation will make it possible for research and operations to move forward without violating forestry laws and without needing approval from local governments. This means the Bedugul project may get the go ahead after all.

THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SAYS INDONESIA HOLDS 40 PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RESOURCES AT 299 SITES SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE ARCHIPELAGO.

Geothermal plant (CC World Bank)


GEOTHERMAL POWER IS EXTRACTED FROM STEAM THAT EMANATES FROM A RESERVOIR OF HOT WATER AND MOLTEN ROCKS PRESENT IN VOLCANIC REGIONS. THE STEAM IS THEN USED TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY THROUGH TURBINES. INDONESIA’S GEOLOGY MEANS THAT THESE UNDERGROUND RESERVOIRS ARE PLENTIFUL.

Puhagan geothermal plant in the Philippines (CC Wikipedia)

Companies conducting geothermal research and explorations will also be compensated better by the government than in previous years, and there is now less bureaucracy required to conduct such activities. Geothermal energy production is “incredibly safe, one of the safest energy technologies out there,” says Matek. However, the investment required to unearth and maximise the potential of geothermal energy is significant.

total to 354 megawatts, but the project has been stalled since 2013. National Geographic noted in March that Star Energy could build up to three more plants in Wayang Windu if the company could reach an agreement with the government. A single well could cost US$10 million to drill and Star Energy is asking for a better deal to compensate for its investment and match the guarantee set out by the new legislation. It’s currently receiving less.

25 years after its initial announcement, the project to build the world’s largest geothermal power plant in North Sumatra finally got underway in June 2014. The Sarulla plant is a US$1.6 billion joint venture formed in 2006 between Indonesia’s Medco Power, Israel’s Ormat International, the Itochu Corporation, and Kyushu Electric Power Company from Japan. Sarulla is projected to produce 330 megawatts of electricity annually, enough to power 330,000 homes.

In November 2014, President Joko Widodo invited New Zealand to further develop its geothermal technology in Indonesia and asked for assistance in developing geothermal power plants.

Currently, the country’s largest geothermal plant is situated in Pangalengan, West Java. The Star Energy-operated Wayang Windu Geothermal Power Station, located 40 kilometres south of the province’s capital, Bandung, has a total production capacity of 227 megawatts between two units. A planned third unit could bring the

Indonesia is currently third behind the Philippines and the United States in producing geothermal energy. But with 62 projects underway, the country could leapfrog both to become the world leader in geothermal production by the end of the current administration in 2019.

New Zealand is among the leading nations in renewable energy, having contributed nearly 25 percent of the world’s geothermal power development since 2010. 80 percent of New Zealand’s electricity comes from renewable resources.

issue 141 indonesia expat

7


EXPAT BUSINESS FEATURED Gregg Hollomon is a seasoned American expatriate who has lived in various countries of SE Asia and north Europe. He is a geologist by education and profession with over 33 years of experience in the oil and gas business.

employee. For this reason, it is sometimes difficult for a company to justify the costs of the expatriate to the oil and gas regulatory bodies.

QUARTZ

ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO WORK

Age does make a difference

RETIREMENT AGE LAWS IN OIL & GAS By Gregg Hollomon

LIKE WORKING IN INDONESIA? DON’T GET OLD. I was 38 years old when I first stepped off the Garuda plane in Indonesia for my first overseas assignment with an international oil and gas company in 1991. 24 years and three different work assignments later, it seems just like yesterday. Throughout this time period, our family moves in and out of Indonesia have been quite fluid with minimal extraneous disruption. This month, however, my wife and I will be leaving for the last time. I turned 62 in March. It was a personal decision to retire, but a strong driver was the inability to renew a cost-recoverable KITAS working permit under the auspices of my employer. The mental mistake many expats working in Indonesia make is the misconception that they can easily work for as long as they like, similar to their home countries. Indonesia actually has laws which stipulate the ‘official’ retirement age of nationals to be 55 years of age – it is no wonder the country would want to have these same stipulations apply to the working expat community.

RECENT CHANGES Recently, the maximum age for technical professionals has been reduced to 55 from 60 for those working under a costrecovery basis. This does not necessarily apply to those expats working within the oil industry, where 100% of their costs are borne by their sponsoring company. In addition, this age limit may not directly apply to expatriates holding executive positions of President, Director or VP of Finance.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT Years ago, an expatriate assignee selected by his or her company may have had to wait 8

indonesia expat issue 141

two to three months for the processing of a work permit, or KITAS. Recently, that waiting time has shrunk considerably, but the intricacies imposed by the Government of Indonesia for the approval of a costrecoverable expatriate slot within a Work Program and Budget (WP&B) scheme have become more complex. Multiple agencies are involved and stop-gaps during the approval process may have a tendency to hamper the filling of internal slots with the desired specialist expatriate positions by upstream exploration and production oil companies.

HOW THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY WORKS To understand the reason for this complexity within the oil and gas industry is to better understand how Indonesia applies international petroleum laws to lease out a surface region with subsurface mineral rights (called a Block) to a foreign or domestic entity. Oil companies here operate under a Production Sharing Contract (PSC). PSCs are agreements with the central Government, whereas any hydrocarbon produced within the Block is shared by both the Company (called the Operator) and the Government. Typically, the production splits for oil are 70% to the Government and 30% to the Operator. Companies competitively bid for Blocks and are awarded by their submitted work programme and expected forward monetary expenditures. Once the Block is awarded, the company has an obligation to complete this designated work within a specific time period. For planning and budget purposes, the company develops a work programme and budget (WP&B) which must be approved yearly by the Government. Early in the process, the company must come up with an organization chart and obtain

approval from the oil and gas regulatory agency known as Satuan Kerja Khusus Minyak dan Gas (SKKMIGAS) for the Rencana Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja (RPTK), literally interpreted as the human resource labour plan. Approval of this plan is critical in terms of what expatriate positions will be available to the company for the particular asset. If no expat slots are presented and approved, it is extremely hard to add them in at a later date.

“The mental mistake many expats working in Indonesia make is the misconception that they can easily work for as long as they like, similar to their home countries.”

COST RECOVERY When an economically viable discovery is made within an operating Block, development and production of the discovery can proceed (upon lengthy approvals). Developing an oil and gas field can be extremely expensive, for which the operating company must bear the direct cost. Under a PSC, some of this capital and operational expenditure can be costrecovered through the sale of oil allocated to the Government of Indonesia. This recovery of costs comes directly out of the government’s coffers, so you can imagine why Indonesia wants to keep the cost in line with the economics of the project. As you would expect, total costs associated with the employment of an expatriate normally are higher that of an equivalent national

There is still flexibility within the system with legal channels to continue employment past 55 years of age. One method is to use one of many local manpower companies which act as agents. Some of these companies may retain ‘technical specialist’ slots which – if your qualifications match – you may be directly employed through. The parent company could then sign a contract of work with the ‘agent’ under an approved procurement of work. The agent is actually acting as a sub-contractor who provides the manpower and methodology to accomplish the work as set forth within the approved work program and budget plan of the oil and gas company. This all sounds complicated, but the method is frequently used for particular short-term work projects which require the use of a skilled technical specialist. Highly qualified specialists such as geochemists and biostratigraphers may sometimes circumvent the current age restriction in cases of no available nationals to fill this type of position. This would be on a case-by-case basis and would require direct justification support for approval. For older expatriates married to an Indonesian spouse or those with a longterm sponsor, the government of Indonesia offers another avenue to continue working. In this case, the spouse would sponsor the foreigner through the application and approval of a Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap (KITAP). The literal interpretation means a permit card to stay on a permanent basis. This procedure may be initiated by application of the permit itself, which may take 3-4 months to process. Upon approval of this permit, the person may then apply for a five-year KITAP. Approval of such allows one to work. After the initial five years, application for a lifelong residency and work permit is possible.

CONCLUSION Indonesia is not the only country in Southeast Asia with age restrictions. For example, the age limit for many professionals applying for a work permit in Singapore is 50 (except for Malaysians, for whom it is 58). Indonesia has historically courted foreign investment but it is currently finding itself in a balancing act between ensuring a level of profit for the investing oil company, at the same time protecting and further developing the local workforce. Where these goals don’t align, problems may occur, and the investing company may feel unable to operate without the number of foreigners they would like. I personally hope this is not really the last time my wife and I leave Indonesia. I love the people, the culture and as a geologist, particularly the rocks. We can always return as needed, where my company sponsor doesn’t mind paying 100% of the associated costs!


issue 141 indonesia expat

9


EXPAT BUSINESS BUSINESS PROFILE

Alan Nye

David Nye

Stephen Nye

BROTHERS AT THE COA LFACE

Mining Consultancy Britmindo Britmindo is a family-run mining consultancy firm powered by brothers Stephen and David Nye, along with their father and the company’s founder, Alan Nye. Stephen and David talk to Indonesia Expat about their firm and their industry. By Angela Richardson

Stephen and David, could you give us a bit of background information about Britmindo? Our father Alan Nye started Britmindo about 10 years ago. He’d been in Indonesia for 25 years, and involved in the mining industry since the late ‘80s, originally in West Sumatra. He then moved to PT Pamapersada Nusantara and then PT Berau Coal as Operations Director before deciding to establish Britmindo in 2004, which started off as a one-man band under the staircase of his house in Kelapa Gading. We’ve since grown into probably one of the largest mining consultancy companies in Indonesia. What does Britmindo specialise in? We specialise in mining, particularly coal. We have branches in Singapore and in Australia as well as our main operating office here in Indonesia, where we have around 120 staff and a strong Indonesian focus – very few expatriates. Our services cover JORC & KCMI, technical due diligence, mine valuations, mine management, mine planning, coal processing services, coal chain management, quality control management, expert witness services, health and safety,

mine closure, exploration management and supervision, GIS services, manpower supply & recruitment services, as well as market reports and reviews. Our attitude is ‘International Standards with Indonesian Expertise’. Your company claims to improve mining in Indonesia – how? Mining is all about efficiencies – how efficiently and cheaply you can extract coal from the ground and then reclaim that land. A lot of it is down to people management, equipment management and time management. Indonesia is a difficult environment, with logistical issues in getting coal to a port. We look at reducing mining and logistical costs to make it more efficient plus provide consultancy services directly to mine owners and contractors, helping them with their reporting, compliance, and environmental practices. With the coal industry the way it is now, has your workload reduced? The exploration side has certainly slowed down, however we find the industry still very buoyant. Coal prices are low at the moment, so people don’t want to spend money exploring something if they can’t

make a margin on it. In operations, we have six coal mines under our management, with approximately 100 people over these sites located predominantly in Sumatra and Kalimantan, equating to around 750,000 tonnes of coal production and 3,000,000 bcm of overburden each month – a lot for a small company like us. Coal mining generally has a bad reputation. What would say about that? If done correctly, coal mining is actually quite environmentally friendly. It only takes a few bad operators to tarnish the image. Unless you do underground mining, then naturally you must clear trees, but logs are generally used in the establishment of camp facilities, or given back to the community as part of a CSR programme. Then we strip the topsoil and the sub-soil, dig the hole, take the coal out, bring the sub-soil back in, put the topsoil back on the surface, spread out, and replant with native trees or sustainable crops. You should have a nursery set up on the mine site for reclaiming once the site closes. The water from a site can be quite acidic, so you monitor the PH levels, treating it accordingly before discharging the water back into the environment.

A lot of local miners do not follow the rules, entering the industry with very little understanding. They contravene regulations. We like to see things done as efficiently and properly as possible, with minimal social and environmental conflicts. With exploration, what kind of challenges do you face in Indonesia? Definitely logistics and getting access to remote locations but also overlaps with production forestry permits which requires certain access permits such as Pinjam Pakai. We also deal with social issues like land compensation for the local community; appeasing local people and providing reassurance you’re not doing anything untoward. 90% of the problems with mining here are generally not technical in nature. Do you think there will be a strengthening in coal prices? We foresee a slight strengthening towards the end of this year, but not much – maybe 10%. It won’t go back to the 2011–2012 prices because that was basically driven by China and their fast track infrastructure programmes. If you look at historical

BUSINESS SNIPPETS

Fuji Electric selected as geothermal power equipment supplier for major project in Indonesia Area, Fuji Electric, in collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation and Rekayasa, has successfully delivered three units of geothermal steam turbines and generators for Units 2, 3 and 4.

Fuji Electric announced that they have been selected as the supplier of geothermal power equipment for two major projects in Indonesia and Iceland. The power electronics manufacturer will supply two units of geothermal steam turbines and generators – each with a power generation capacity of 20,000kW – to PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of Indonesia's oil, gas, renewable and new energy company PT Pertamina. The production is to be completed by the end of 2016. Fuji Electric was awarded the Indonesian contract through Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, which formed a consortium 10

indonesia expat issue 141

© GLOBAL INDONESIAN VOICES

with PT Rekayasa Industri (Rekayasa), an engineering company in Indonesia, to win and undertake an EPC contract from PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy for Units 5

and 6 at the Lahendong Geothermal Area. The units will be constructed in Minahasa district of the North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. At the Lahendong Geothermal

Since 1960, Fuji Electric has delivered a total of 71 geothermal steam turbine power generation units providing a capacity of 2,787 MW in Japan and overseas and, in the decade from 2004 to 2013, the power electronics manufacturer achieved the world’s largest market share (40%) with 21 units delivered providing 1,068 MW. Source: Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation


OU R AT T I T U DE IS

‘International Standards with Indonesian Expertise’. pricing, where we are now is comparable to 2008-2009. Back in 2003, the price was as low as $23 per tonne, so it’s not as low as it’s been historically. We don’t think we’ll see the same highs again. If we can get 10-15% back, it’s sustainable. Illegal coal mining is a big problem in Indonesia. What is the Government doing about it? There are probably fewer illegal miners today than ten years ago, but they still exist. They don’t do things properly, which is why they don’t come to us for consultation. They come in the middle of the night, fire up their equipment, and cause environmental degradation like you wouldn’t believe. It’s prevalent in South and East Kalimantan. However, recently the Government has done a great job in bringing this under control. There are more regulations and licensing requirements, therefore less opportunity for them to successfully operate today. Firstly the Government instituted the CnC (Clean and Clear), checking every

operator’s taxes were paid, reporting was done, licenses and environmental laws were adhered to – and also that no operators were overlapping with one another. More recently, the Government put in an Eksportir Terdaftar (export permit) for any mine wanting to sell coal abroad, which needs to be signed off centrally to stop illegal export. The idea is to track where the coal has originated, and to ensure exporters are paying royalties. In the past, it is estimated up to 70 million tonnes of coal was being exported illegally and missing out on royalties. Looking forward, how are Britmindo planning to expand? Through association with other companies, we’re looking to branch out into the minerals sector: nickel, gold and copper. We’re also looking at working with power generation companies, utilising low-grade coal throughout Sumatra and Kalimantan, and looking at bringing foreign investment and expertise to provide mine-mouth power that can feed directly into a PLN grid.

Thank you, Stephen and David. To get in touch, contact: bm_jakarta@britmindo.com

Indonesia will not reintroduce gas subsidies campaign to win the presidency last year – hit as international oil prices were dipping to six-year lows, softening some of the pain of higher fuel prices. ©THE BUSINESS TIMES

Indonesia won’t re-introduce government subsidies for gasoline, even if prices bounce back to previous highs, the energy minister said in a recent statement. President Joko Widodo scrapped gasoline subsidies at the start of the year, freeing up US$20 billion dollars in state spending for infrastructure and agricultural projects. The removal of the subsidies – in keeping with policies announced during Widodo’s

The global Brent crude benchmark climbed nearly 40 percent from US$45.19 a barrel in January, however, prompting speculation that Indonesia might reinstate the subsidies if international oil prices keep rising. “The president said we will never retreat from this policy,” oil minister Sudirman Said said at a conference. “This is our effort to educate our people that we are no longer rich in oil and gas.” Source: Reuters issue 141 indonesia expat

11


EXPAT BUSINESS MEET THE EXPAT

Annali Hayward an English freelance writer and editor based in Asia. You can get in touch at annali.s.hayward@gmail.com

BRITISH TRADE IN INDONESIA

Meet Lizzy Hawkins Lizzy Hawkins is Director of Trade and Investment at UK Trade & Investment Indonesia, a part of the British Embassy, which aims to help British businesses succeed in Indonesia. She talks to us about her time here so far, and what makes the Indo-British relationship special. By Annali Hayward

Lizzy, tell us a little about your background. Where are you originally from? I grew up in a pretty village called Lilleshall in central England. My mum worked as a nurse and my dad was in the army, based at the local army base. I went to the local high school before studying history at Cambridge University – probably the closest thing to Hogwarts I'll ever experience. All in all, a very happy and fortunate upbringing. What drew you to a life in the civil service? After working in trade associations doing government affairs and communications, I decided to stop lobbying and start law-making! I joined the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) in 2009. It is a fascinating privilege to work in the British Government. It's much less about making laws now: over the past ten years there's been a real shift towards finding more innovative solutions to avoid regulatory burdens on business and individuals. We've been sharing our experience with the Indonesian Government and they're encouragingly interested. What is your role at UKTI all about? How do you go about getting done what needs to be done? My team and I exist to help British businesses succeed in Indonesia. There are two sides to that: getting out and meeting people to find out about opportunities for British expertise; and then getting British companies excited about those opportunities, before finally helping them when they decide to take the plunge. We identify potential partners or distributors; sound out their interest in a company; make introductions to key decision-makers, and sometimes help businesses overcome obstacles. Recently we've been working closely with the British Chamber of Commerce, giving British companies a ready-made network of experienced companies and potential partners to learn from. What are some of the British businesses you work with in Indonesia, and what industries are they chiefly from? The UK is the fifth-largest international investor in Indonesia and many of the British companies here are well-

established names like Prudential, Rolls Royce, HSBC, Standard Chartered, BP and Unilever. Recently we've been pleased to see a lot more British companies waking up to the Indonesian opportunity. Over the past couple of years we've seen different companies from Premier Inn, Linguaphone and Aviva (with their Astra Life JV with Astra) to Triumph Motorbikes set up here. I would love to see more! We are particularly keen to promote emerging opportunities for UK expertise in infrastructure design, healthcare and telecoms – all areas where the UK has a lot to offer to complement Indonesia's existing capabilities. What makes the relationship between the UK and Indonesia special? In a remarkably short time Indonesia has become a democratic, tolerant country with a commitment to improving the lives of its citizens. Those are values that are central to the UK and the fact that we share them is at the root of our relationship. We work hard to find areas where we can complement each other and learn from each other's experience. The fact that the UK is the home of the Premier League, Mr. Bean and James Bond doesn't hurt either! What do you think the future holds for British businesses in Indonesia? What challenges do they face? More and more British companies are recognising that Indonesia is the third pillar of Asia alongside China and India. So we'll see more British businesses forming partnerships and succeeding in Indonesia. We're working with the British Chamber of Commerce to get more British companies to consider opportunities outside Jakarta, for example in Bandung and Surabaya, too. I am optimistic that the Indonesian Government's drive to develop infrastructure and reduce bureaucracy will improve the business environment and boost growth even further. The big headaches for British businesses are the same as those faced by all businesses: choked infrastructure; unclear and burdensome regulation, and sadly ongoing issues with graft. That's why the British Embassy is working with partners across the Indonesian Government to help address these issues.

Lizzy with Embassy colleagues at the Health care is GREAT stand at the Jakarta Hospital Expo in October 2014

IN A REMARKABLY SHORT TIME INDONESIA HAS BECOME A DEMOCRATIC, TOLERANT COUNTRY WITH A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ITS CITIZENS. Tell us about a particularly memorable day at work. It's a tough call! One of the best things about this job is that no two days are the same. I think my most memorable day was the Sunday when Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, visited Jakarta. We were all up early to see him and the Ambassador off to cycle up Jl. Sudirman with the President and Governor Ahok on Car-Free Day, and then I went with Boris' business delegation to meet them for breakfast at the Presidential Palace. The most memorable thing about it was that, for protocol reasons, the entire delegation was dressed in sports attire because that's what the President was wearing – I never expected to visit the Presidential Palace in a t-shirt! What’s your favourite thing about living in Indonesia? It's a tie between the incredibly friendly people and the stunning places you can visit. I've seen orangutans in rainforests, washed elephants, swum with manta rays, cycled down volcanoes – nowhere else in the region can you see such a range of spectacular places. What’s the most challenging thing you find about your role or about living in Indonesia? The fact that you never know – when you start something – if it's going to be a breeze or unexpectedly, maddeningly difficult. That unpredictability is also one of the most delightful things about living and working here. Whether it's the traffic, sorting out a licensing issue, or trying to fix the Internet, you can never be quite sure what's going to happen – which means life is never dull. Thank you Lizzy. To get in touch with the UKTI Jakarta team please e-mail uktijakarta.enquiries@fco.gov.uk

Lizzy, sixth from left, watching HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, open the GREAT Britain week at Senayan City mall in 2013

12

indonesia expat issue 141


Your Relocation Partner

based on ISO and FAIM – ensures AGS gets it right. Quality is measured using a client satisfaction tool, Mr. GoodMove, which provides rapid responses to client needs, analyses feedback, enforces transparency and provides statistical proof of quality. The AGS Group is a global leader in international removals. With 128 locations in 80 countries, and over 40 years’ service excellence, AGS can provide you with complete door-to-door relocation solutions, to and from anywhere in the world. In Asia, AGS has 23 locations in twelve countries including Indonesia, with over 360 highly-skilled employees and 20,101m2 storage capacity. Wordlwide, a network of 300 partners means AGS covers the globe fully. AGS Services include: • Door-to-door removal of household, personal and office effects • Customised solutions for local, national and international moves, to and from anywhere in the world • Packing and crating services • Handling of air, road and sea shipments • Short- and long-term storage • Motor vehicle transportation and storage • Customs clearance, forwarding and delivery

In addition AGS can offer: • Secure, 24-hour shipment tracking online • After-delivery service • Expertise in relocation services offered in Africa, India and China Why choose AGS? AGS are specialists in their field. It is a family-run business, so decision-making is fast and effective, and involves the nucleus of senior management. Customers range from global corprates like HSBC and GlaxoSmithKline to embassies and organisations such as the United Nations. AGS provides unmatched quality, backed by the prestigious FIDI/FAIM accreditation and memberships of quality moving networks including IAM. Standardised and superior process and process management – including the AGS Quality Manual

AGS takes pride in their superior quality of all packaging materials, which are developed specially for AGS to minimise common causes of damage. Your personal effects are secure in specialised cartons for different objects. Tailor-made wooden crates cater to sensitive and fragile items, and AGS also offers a ‘first necessity’ carton in which clients can pack the things they will need as soon as the truck or container arrives. Staff are uniformed, highly trained and carry ID at all times. Storage facilities are safely locked, with alarms, regularly inspected, patrolled and and secured. The company also has an enduring commitment to green-friendly methodologies. There is a centralised fleet management system in Europe to maximise efficiency, and loads are reduced through expert packing techniques. The company plants one tree for every international move, and is an active member of the UN Global Compact.

AGS Four Winds Indonesia T: +62 21 8370 8395 | F: +62 21 8370 8391 | E: enquiries-jakarta@agsfourwinds.com | W: www.agsmovers.com issue 141 indonesia expat

13


EXPAT LIFESTYLE

FOOD & DRINK

Super Sandwiches

Brown Bag

By Annali Hayward

Sandwiches can be extremely subjective. One man’s tuna trash is another’s turkey treasure. To avoid coming to blows over butties, certain principles can be applied to ensure sarnie satisfaction: freshness of ingredients. Quality of source. Yumminess of bread. Adequate bread-to-filling ratios. These things can make or break your lunchtime. Brown Bag in Kemang knows this well – and aims to score high on all counts.

Veggie Spring Rolls

coffee more suited to local tastes, whereas for expat-heavy Kemang, the southern roaster makes a fruitier, sweeter taste out of their mix of Javanese and international beans. They sell bags of their coffee too for Rp.100,000, for those who want to take the taste home. The menu here stretches from breakfast to lunch to dinner, with some hot main meal choices that can be enjoyed at any time. But of course, the focus here is sandwiches – so that’s what we homed in on.

Fish and chips

The beauty of Brown Bag is that you can choose your bread. They humbly suggest the best option, in their opinion – but you are free to differ. You can also request it to be toasted or untoasted. We took them as they come: the Tuna Swiss Sandwich (Rp.56,000) came on black pepper and onion bread, which was slightly crispy when toasted. The taste of the tuna and the Swiss cheese together was spot on for any sub, and certainly hit the spot. The Veg All Out (Rp.48,000) is not kidding – it is choc-a-bloc packed with perfectly-cooked veggies: mushroom, sundried tomato, olive, pepper and onion, all smothered in tomato sauce and melted cheese on a toasted-flat focaccia. Even for a committed carnivore such as myself, this sarnie has enough going on to make you forget all about the likes of bacon or chicken (but if you really can’t, the establishment recommends its Club Sandwich at Rp.68,000 – a popular classic). I was impressed with their freshly-squeezed juices. You can create your own, or order one of their concoctions, with guava as one of the fruits available. They exclusively use imported navel oranges because they provide a sweeter, juicier squeeze. This was a nice fresh start to our meal.

Brown Bag’s location is a little bit like its moniker — a bit of a surprise, all packaged up and hidden in the back of Plaza Adorama on Jl. Kemang Raya. You wouldn’t necessarily know it was there, were it not for a few signs on the front doors of the mini-mall. But since the separate, enclosed smoking section at the front of the building (with windows looking out) was opened a couple of months ago, foot traffic to the original, cosy, smoke-free café upstairs has increased. The first incarnation of Brown Bag was Glory Jeans Coffee, a franchise the Gunawan family (who own Plaza Adorama) operated in their mini-mall starting in 2004. Running this operation convinced the family there was demand in the area for freshly-made, delicious sandwiches to go with the decent coffee one family member learned about whilst studying in Perth. Thus the family opened Sandwich Club, which eventually morphed into Brown Bag Kemang in late 2013. The sister location in Menteng has been open longer, since 2010, and has a slightly different emphasis – on breakfasts to go with coffee for the local office crowds. We visited the Kemang location on a Friday lunchtime – one of their busiest times. The space is small but comfortable, with exposed brick and large sofas to recline on. The showpiece on the baristas’ bar is their prized Lamazoto espresso machine from Italy, which works overtime churning out a high standard of coffee. Brown Bag have their own coffee bean roasting stations, which interestingly are matched to their locations. The northern Jakarta one, serving the Menteng location, makes a stronger 14

indonesia expat issue 141

Veg All Out

Alongside the sandwiches we also sampled the vegetable spring rolls (Rp.38,000) which were very reasonably priced for a fairly big portion of long, stuffed rolls – and the veggies inside were tasty. We also chose the fish and chips (Rp.70,000), to try one of their popular hot main courses. We were pleasantly surprised: they had folded over the dory fish inside to make for a rounder, more goujon-shaped wedge encased in a light beer batter, which wasn’t too crispy or too soft. This was with chunky chips and a decent tartare sauce – overall, quite satisfying. An alternative hot choice is their roast chicken, a simple dish that has found many fans in the Kemang location. Otherwise, the kitchen serves up a comprehensive selection of pastas, from lasagne to carbonara, for which the sauces are made offsite. We couldn’t leave without a coffee, and the straight-up cappuccino is pretty good. They could perhaps consider offering skim or soy milk, just to up the ante over their many competitors in the local area. My companion tried the rather special Javanese tea, which came with a custom-made teapot and cups, rock sugar and a very delicate flavour. Finally, we caved and ordered a chocolate brownie for a sweet ending. Although a little more cake-like than brownie-like, it was served with a little fresh strawberry and some good vanilla ice-cream, and went down with no complaints. What would I go back for? Definitely the coffee and the sandwiches. I’d like to see Brown Bag round out and differentiate their offering with some really special homemade muffins to go with that morning caffeine craving. I also suspect they could further live up to their name, corner more of the local market— and even overcome the very slight disadvantage of their somewhat hidden location—by becoming the best coffee-andsandwiches delivery service in Kemang. Now, that’d be something even the staunchest of sandwich enemies could agree on! Brown Bag Plaza Adorama, Lantai 2 Jl. Kemang Raya No. 17, Kemang, Jakarta 12730 P: +62 (0) 21 2970 4981 Ext: 239 Menteng Central, Ground Floor, Jl. H.O.S. Cokroaminoto No. 78-80, Jakarta 10350 P: +62 (0) 21 230 5000

Tuna Swiss Sandwich

“The Veg All Out is not kidding…even for a committed carnivore such as myself, this sarnie has enough going on to make you forget all about the likes of bacon or chicken.

Cappuccino

Javanese Tea

Annali Hayward is an expert eater, decisive drinker, fumbling fashionista and tasteful traveller, who writes to savour it all – preferably at once. E-mail her at annali.s.hayward@gmail.com


For more details, please contact or visit us:

What is Western Union? Western Union is a global leader in money-transferring services at home and abroad. A trusted name for sending and receiving money for individuals and corporate clients, Western Union provides money-transferring services in more than 500,000 agent locations in more over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Why use Western Union? Western Union provides a solution for those who do not have bank accounts who require money-sending services, so they are able to share with their families back home.

Send and receive money in 4 easy steps Sending Visit your nearest WESTERN UNION agent. Fill in the ‘send money’ form. Your WESTERN UNION will process your order. Your sender will inform your designated receiver. Receiving The receiver visits their nearest WESTERN UNION agent. The receiver fills in a ‘receive money’ form. The receiver shows their ID. Money will be received within minutes.

What are the advantages of using Western Union? Fast – only takes a few minutes to send money worldwide using our online system Easy – just come to an agent location bearing the Western Union logo. All you need is a valid ID (KTP/Passport) and there is no need for a bank account Reliable – we are a global company with 160 years’ experience

Western Union has special rates for sending money to 9 different countries—Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, India, Australia, UK and USA. For other countries the international standard transfer rate starts from Rp. 112.500 for sending amount of Rp. 750.000. The fee is charged during sending and the recipient will receive money the same amount as transferred.

Where is Western Union in Indonesia? Western Union in Indonesia works together with 21 of the largest agents in the country, with a reach of over 20,000 locations.

Tips to avoid becoming a victim of consumer fraud Beware if you plan to use money transferring services for the following reasons: • Purchases via the Internet or online auctions • Taxes or other fees to claim lottery prizes or sweepstakes • Advance payments or charges for loans • Investment opportunity of a lifetime • Return of pets or lost valuables • Electronic goods or other expensive appliances

How much does it cost to send money inside Indonesia? Domestic transfers with Western Union start from Rp.15,000 for deliveries of up to Rp.950,000. For higher sums, fees multiply. How affordable is Western Union? Shipping costs are relatively affordable and recipients are not charged.

Ask yourself: • Who is this person? • Does this money need to be sent? • Can this offer be trusted?

issue 141 indonesia expat

15


EXPAT LIFESTYLE

TRAVEL Ario is a freelance writer and photographer as well as a frequent traveller. He resides in Jakarta and can be reached through ario_t@hotmail.com.

the Banjar Sultanate (c.1520). Modernisation threatens its future, though on my visit I heard the local government is now willing to make the effort to support and preserve the tradition. The Lok Baintan Floating Market is usually held from just after dawn until the boats disperse mid-morning. The traders are mostly women offering goods to anyone on the river, including tourists in modern motor boats. The traders approach in their klotok (traditional boats) and hawk their goods, ranging from fruits, such as rambutans, bananas, guavas and oranges, to vegetables like cassava leaves, water spinach and cauliflowers, to traditional snacks. There are also ready-made meals to go, such as nasi bungkus (wrapped-up rice with side dishes). Prices start from as little as Rp.5,000 for a small bundle of pink, spiky rambutan. Bargaining is widely practised.

Lok Baintan Floating Market and Bamboo Rafting in Loksado

What I found most intriguing were the countless exotic fruits on sale, including some rarely seen or sold in big cities nowadays. One example is the Kalimantan mango or kasturi (Mangifera casturi) which is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. It tastes similar to an ordinary mango, but softer and with less flesh. Others are the rambai (Baccaurea motleyana), a bit like longan and similar to another rare fruit, the menteng. There is also duku fruit, known as langsat or lanzones, the latter of which is more common in Indonesia.

After traversing the Lok Baintan Floating Market shortly before closing time, I tasted one of Banjar’s culinary wonders, Soto Banjar. The common soto is found all over Indonesia and is usually composed of broth, meat and vegetables. This one was in a traditionally Banjarese style: shredded chicken, egg, potatoes and carrots, served with lontong (packed rice in leaves).

Wading through the Amandit River in Loksado From my hotel in Banjarmasin I headed out to Loksado, around four hours away. Loksado District is in the Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency. The route from Banjarmasin was via Martapura, Rantau, Kandangan and on to Loksado. Martapura is a producer of diamonds and other valuable mineral rocks, but it is also the centre for clerical Muslim schools in Kalimantan. Leaving Martapura I encountered Rantau, a producer of coal, passing several mines and large trucks. After Kandangan the road started to escalate in twist and turns: the start of the road to Loksado, up in the highlands of the Maratus Mountains and home to the Dayak Maratus tribes. Arriving at the Mountain Maratus Resort late at night, I slept and prepared for an early start. The hotel’s modest yet relaxing rooms sit amid natural surroundings of rivers and mountains. The environment is pristinely

Words & Photos by Ario Triwibowo

Any discourse on the rivers of Indonesia owes a great debt to Kalimantan. The world’s third-largest island is home to three of the longest rivers in Indonesia: the Kapuas (West Kalimantan), the Mahakam (East Kalimantan) and the Barito (South Kalimantan). No wonder Kalimantan’s people rely heavily on the abundance of waterways, both as a means of transport and a source of livelihood.

R

Recently I visited South Kalimantan province to explore the wonders of the Lok Baintan Floating Market in Banjar Regency, as well as the beautiful scenery in the heights of the Maratus Mountains in Loksado District. The beauty of these places would be nothing without the existence of the rivers and the lifeblood they provide.

Lok Baintan Floating Market: a 500-year-old legacy A ‘f loating’ market is a market held on a river or waterway, usually using traditional boats. This type of market is also found in neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. In Indonesia the most prominent, authentic floating markets are the Muara Kuin, downstream of the Kuin River in Banjarmasin, and the Lok Baintan on the Martapura River in Banjar. Both are in South Kalimantan province. It is a privilege to witness this ancient trade in action, as it dates back to the reign of

16

indonesia expat issue 141

KALIMANTAN

Loksado

Loksado

◊ Fast Facts

Country

Indonesia

Province

South Kalimantan

Largest Cities

Martapura, Kadangan

Land areas Banjar regency (4,668 km2) Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency (1,703 km2) Top Tips • Fly in the afternoon or at night to Banjarmasin and stay for one night. • Use a charter or rented car and boat (plus a local guide) to take you to the Lok Baintan Floating Market. Get up for dawn and get there early. • Rent a car that has experience of driving guests the four hours to Loksado. I stayed at the Mountain Maratus Resort, Desa Loklahung. E-mail: meratus.resort@ yahoo.com

The beauty of these places would be nothing without the existence of the rivers and the lifeblood they provide. Chaos is perhaps one’s initial impression of the Lok Baintan Floating Market. It can seem haphazard, with nudges and bumps between boats often occurring. But observe closely and you’ll see it is actually very orderly and tolerant. In this market the traders respect one another: the bumps are inevitable and indeed necessary for them to communicate and even to trade with one another. Uniquely, they often do not use money for trade, but instead do business by barter system; trading one item for another.

preserved; it would perfectly suit those who crave a peaceful vacation – but don’t miss out on wading the Amandit River in a bambooconstructed raft. Rafting here is different to the usual safety get-ups and high-tech boats found elsewhere. These are simply plain yet sturdy bamboo logs tied together into a long raft. It may look frightening at first but it is actually pretty stable! It helps that the rapids in the Amandit River are not as strong as others used for more heavy-duty rafting. Indeed you don’t get too wet – perhaps just from the waist down. The journey was about 90 minutes with stops for picking local fruits from trees along the riverbanks. Visiting the Lok Baintan Floating Market and then partaking in Loksado’s bamboo rafting are unique experiences, but still relaxed and not too tiring. Perfect for a quick getaway or weekend trip.


EXPAT LIFESTYLE LIVING

Saving Energy at Home

The Revolution in Green Consumption Energy conservation is an acute necessity on the beautiful but vulnerable island of Bali. You can also save millions of rupiah in energy costs each year, by using affordable and sustainable energy-saving products and easy-to-apply practices in the home and business. By Bill Dalton

By adopting a simple lifestyle, there’s no reason why your monthly electricity bill should exceed Rp.250,000. This would mean doing without air conditioners; living in a naturally-ventilated home; using energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration, and using organic waste for garden compost. Even more savings can be realised if you install a rainwater catchment system.

home’s video, audio, lighting, cooling, curtains, etc. by remote access from your smartphone or laptop. Not treating and disposing of wastewater properly is against Bali’s regulations and constitutes a crime against the environment. Recycling of black and grey water, particularly for villa complexes and businesses consuming huge quantities of water, is a very cost-effective technology and the water quality output can be better than some bottled water brands. For people who have large gardens, utilising organic waste for composting saves quite a bit as there is no need to buy expensive fertilisers – plus the plants are much healthier!

It’s a myth that green products are a lot more expensive than mainstream products. In the past five years, there have been huge changes in the competitiveness of green technologies. These are now increasingly affordable, particularly lighting (LED), water treatment and water-saving devices. An eco-friendly solution is often the best solution. Coconut-shell mosaic tiles for walls are extremely competitive compared to many kinds of imported, conventional wall decorations. There are also natural stone options, using just a thin layer of stone with a backing. This material has a much lower carbon footprint than ceramic tiles and is lightweight and flexible.

Return on investment Although some green technologies require higher upfront investments thanks to manufacturing costs, your return on investment should range from 1-3 years for most types (except for solar photovoltaics) because of lower operating costs, maintenance requirements, and the product’s longer life. A clever architect will find ways to deflect the high cost of solar panels and batteries. When building, you must consider your costs over a two-year, five-year or ten-year period. An investment in sustainability will pay back substantially in the long term. If you forgo solar panels, a green house with a low carbon footprint, solar hot water and an effective passive design can be built at a cost that is competitive to a conventional house.

Eco-friendly termite control treatment

Composite decking in action

It is however untrue you can't save money using solar energy. If using a gridconnected system, solar energy can provide a return on investment (ROI) in eight years. When you consider there’s often a 25-year guarantee for the panels, this means over 17 years of profit. If the government decides to subsidise solar energy or if electricity rates increase, your ROI could even be shorter. Solar hot water systems now have a respectable ROI in the medium to long term – a must if you’re using an electric water heater. For homeowners who don’t wish to install a solar hot water system on the roof, a heat exchanger connected to their air conditioner is another way to generate free hot water.

Steps to savings One of the biggest costs for homeowners in Bali’s tropical climate is cooling. This means taking a hard look at ventilation, insulation and other materials that don’t absorb heat. Electricity costs from air-conditioning can be cut by installing good insulation, adding double-sided aluminium foil under the roof or coating the roof with an insulating paint.

Tackling cooling is also an issue of changing behaviour. Living in a room cooled to 21°C or less is not really necessary. We should learn to adjust and feel comfortable at 2425°C, using fans and allowing the entry of breezes to create a cooling effect. If you keep ACs, install inverters. If your AC is still using R22 greenhouse gas, get a retrofit done with Hydrocarbon MC22, which will also save up to 20% on the electricity consumption.

Resources If you have a swimming pool and want to ensure the good health of your children, use an Ionizer that will replace 95% of the chemicals in your pool. LED lights, which are becoming quite inexpensive, are a no-brainer. Changing all your bulbs over to LEDs will save heaps on monthly electricity bills. Replace aging major appliances like TVs and VCRs with energy-efficient models. Another quick win is solar-powered outdoor lighting, which doesn’t use cables, so maintenance is low. On the market now are energy-efficient fans and smart systems that control your

An investment in sustainability will pay back substantially in the long term. Clayplast, an alternative wall finish

If your wooden flooring is rotten, replace it with a more sustainable and durable alternative material. Strand Woven bamboo, made from bamboo grown in sustainable bamboo plantations, is an inexpensive alternative to hardwood floors. If you prefer the look and feel of solid timber, choose reclaimed or recycled wood like long-lasting Ulin. Tough and stain-resistant composite decking now comes with a 10-year guarantee at a price that’s extremely competitive if compared to conventional rainforest timbers. As a karmic bonus, you’ll save trees!

A highly-recommended green supplier in Bali is ecoSmart, who bring together an array of 50 small- and medium-sized companies in Indonesia: a one-stop shop for sustainable products and solutions, with a great cafe in the back! In one giant showroom, see every type of product and technology on display. An expert pool of partners – the “Green Team” – works with clients on identifying the most suitable technical solutions for your project. This professional outfit’s best-selling products are natural cleaners, organic termite treatment, LEDs and solar lights, and the installation of reclaimed timbers for flooring and decking projects. ecoSMart Little Tree Green Building Jl. Sunset Road 112 X (opposite Rip Curl), Kuta, Bali Phone: +62 (0) 361 752 133 Web: www.littletreebali.com

Bill Dalton has been writing travel features, book reviews, interviews and guidebooks about Indonesia for more than 40 years, starting with his groundbreaking Indonesia Handbook first published in 1976. issue 141 indonesia expat

17


EXPAT LIFESTYLE

FASHION

High-Energy Fashion is Fighting Fit Gone are the days when sportswear was for the sole purpose of getting downright sweaty at the gym. It has stepped up its game: we are in the midst of a sports-meets-fashion revolution. By Victoria Bannerman

Sweaty Betty Holistic All In One Yoga Retreat (back view)

Adidas Originals Rita Ora stretch jersey leggings

T by Alexander Wang is the perfect label to mix with your sportswear. The British brand Sweaty Betty has hip active wear that can translate to daywear. Their partnership with the designer Richard Nicoll for their SS15 collection is sensationally cool, especially the Arashi reflective running dress, accessorised with a wide-knit, slouchy, super-chichi cardigan. Their yoga retreat all-in-one is so flash that it can turn itself from a harem skirt into a strapless jumpsuit. At the click of a mouse it could be yours!

As more and more of us are exercising more regularly, fashion houses and sports brands are taking notice. Now, not only can you look gorgeous as you sweat, but these garments can complement part of your everyday attire – whether you buy them to pump iron or simply to pose in. Celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham, arriving and leaving gyms – such as the near-cult status Soul Cycle studios – swigging wheatgrass looking cool and stylish, only reaffirm the importance of looking good while working out.

Expand your wardrobe by mixing your sports and beachwear along with your classic everyday wear. A bikini top, yoga pants, some chunky trainers and a fedora – add a tux jacket and a slouch bag and you’re off.

Fashion’s fit financials Sport is big business, with more and more of us turning to yoga, Pilates, high-impact workouts, spinning, weight training, barre classes and the amazing Gyrotonic Expansion System. It is at these gyms and centres that we also build our social life and sometimes make lasting friendships. Nike has tuned in to our needs, and in the process has become a demi-fashion brand while shrewdly enlisting the likes of top athletes as ambassadors and test drivers for their new products. Nike’s training apps, used by millions, have created an online community, providing the company with user information to help them improve their products and keep their audience captivated.

Sprint for Etro’s wide-leg silk-crepe pants – deliciously psychedelic; they will mesmerise. Throw on a cool tracksuit hoodie, racer-back top and some Supergas and leave your competition in the dust. Alternate with a short-cropped cardi or swimsuit and wedges, and you will be ticking all the boxes.

Nike Epic Lux snake print stretch leggings

Lisa Marie Fernandez’s swimsuits are deliciously versatile and can spice up any shorts, trousers or skirt. Her Jasmine swimsuit, and the Arden one-shoulder number, are simply divine and worth every penny. Adidas by Stella McCartney is the cream of the crop. This partnership is celebrating a perfect decade of synergy between sports and fashion, and there’s a mountain of choice in the latest campaign. The cute tennis skirt matched with a hi-lo top or a racer back t-shirt, platform boots and a long, knitted sleeveless cardigan à la seventies would be rather cool. Her Run Climate shorts are lovely too, and would look fantabulous with a quirky wedge and an oversized jacket draped about your shoulders.

The behemoth Adidas has it spot on. It keeps au courant by using the latest sports performance technology to create clever fabrics. Through collaborations with ‘designers’ – often pop and sports stars – it creates innovative, funky attire. Even if you do not worship at the altar of the gym, the temptation to acquire a set of gear, which may never taste a drop of your sweat, is irresistible.

The hybrid of street and sportswear is a heady combination and one in which a smarter, urbane feel has evolved.

Lisa Marie Fernandez Jasmine Swimsuit

Adidas by Stella McCartney tennis skirt

Grab a pair of Stella’s elegantly clumpy polyurethane trainers, they are just the right mix of feminine-masculine; style them up with a fantastic red trouser-suit and sports bra. Allow Tomas Maier’s Resort ’15 collection red trouser suit inspire you – find a tailor to make you your own. Adidas’ Roland Garros collection by Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto is sleek tenniswear that is robust, yet delicately floral. Tennis players now want to look urbane and chic while doing battle on court. This is multi-functional sportswear. The terribly seductive and voguish Rita Ora is the go-to girl of the moment when it comes to single-minded fashion and clearly, this is reflected in her collection for Adidas. Her printed chiffon track pants can be easily dressed up with a white jacket, yellow t-shirt and strappy heels.

Fitness DVDs are big business too, with one made seemingly every second by another famous person determined to show us how easy it is to lose weight. Well, it would be if you could afford a personal trainer and a fulltime chef! If that lifestyle is all but a dream, fear not! The Nutribullet is a little mean machine that will change the way you eat – from smoothies to soups, your nutrition will become a no-brainer. Now all you have to do is go jogging!

Invest in an equestrian show jacket to wear with your flared jeans or crazy-print running leggings. Or, slink into a pair of jodhpurs (buy both beige and black if you can afford to) – this noble pant’s origins date back to the 1890s, and today look divine with a pleasantly masculine, crisp white shirt. Complete the outré ensemble with sensational “So Kate” Christian Louboutin heels in nude for demure and black for vamping.

The big dogs of the sports world, like Nike, Puma and Adidas, have so far kept a step ahead (see Nike’s Air Flyknit trainers), but quickly catching up on the racetrack bend are Lululemon, Sweaty Betty, Live the Process and Net-a-Sporter. They all want a piece of the action.

Superga classic Bahamas print trainers

Be part of the revolution: look sleek and snazzy as you get fit and healthy.

Sports-luxe mixology The hybrid of street and sportswear is a heady combination and one in which a smarter, urbane feel has evolved. Now, luxe sportswear is available to mix with your gym togs for a chic yet relaxed look.

Adidas Gazelle Onyx White Pink Print

18

indonesia expat issue 141

Being around glamour all her life, Victoria developed a sense of style that has led her to fashion styling, journalism and designing her debut collection. E-mail her at tori@toribannermanlondon.com


EXPAT LIFESTYLE

MEET THE EXPAT

Karen Davis is a NYC artist and writer

Energising the Spirit Within

meet MEGHAN PAPPENHEIM By Karen Davis

Meghan is Co-Founder, Director and Producer of the Bali Spirit Festival and lives the mission of the festival through Karma Yoga (selfless service), sharing the spirit and energy inherent in the Festival. You are from New York and started doing business at a young age. Tell me about that. I was an only child growing up in NYC. Being alone all the time, I had to keep myself busy and art was my solace. I was always creative, spending Sundays with a local artist painting in her studio. Ever entrepreneurial, at nine years old I started my first small business, selling seedlings to my neighbours to make our building’s front garden beautiful – in NYC, beauty amongst the cement is coveted. My second business was creating and selling funky sculptural jewellery – I did that until 14 or so. In high school, I worked for a travel agent which turned me on to travel and event production, and at 17 I started taking my buddies on international trips and throwing parties. I was fortunate to have gone to the United Nations International School in NYC, a heart-opening, multi-cultural experience that shaped who I am today. Why did you choose to come to Bali in 1992? I turned 21 in Bali in 1992. I was in the third year of my BA in Art History, Anthropology, and Asian Studies at Beloit College, Wisconsin, USA, when I discovered Indonesia through the Anthropology department. Lucky for me, the head of the department was an ‘Indophile’ and I was blessed with the opportunity to come here for a semester abroad and focus on Indonesian art and culture;

especially Balinese. It was then I met my future husband, so it was natural for me to eventually settle here. Why did you decide to stay here? I didn’t come with the intention to stay. But when I fell for this wonderful Balinese man, Kadek Gunarta (also known as Dek), the future was determined. Although we tried to settle in hippie-ville Northern California, Ubud kept beckoning us back. Now, 20 years later, we are still together with two children who go to the fabulous Pelangi School, a small community school in Ubud we helped create. Dek is my life partner and also the co-founder of the festival. He runs his own business and is active in our mutual endeavours in the social sector. How did the Bali Spirit Festival come about? In 2007 we had recently launched The Yoga Barn in Ubud and worked in the non-profit sector. On a whim, I took a trip to experience WOMAD, an amazing world music event, and I came back to Bali jazzed up to inspire others with a similar event here. Growing up in NYC and having gone to the United Nations International School, I love world music. In 2008, I thought I’d bring this multi-cultural energy to Bali, and Bali Spirit Festival was born with the help of a brainstorming session with our third co-founder, Robert Weber.

I BELIEVE GENEROSITY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND, AND MONEY IS MADE TO BE USED FOR GOOD PURPOSES; NOT TO ENRICH ONESELF BUT TO ENRICH COMMUNITY. The festival is rooted in the Balinese-Hindu concept of Tri Hita Karana. Can you explain what that means? Tri Hita Karana refers to harmony with God, harmony in community and harmony with nature, inspiring us to use our resources and energy to achieve balance in one’s daily life and environment. It is said you live the mission of the festival, or Karma Yoga (selfless service). What other companies and NGOs are you a part of? Through the Bali Spirit Festival, BaliSpirit.com (an online directory for holistic Bali) and our other bricks-and-mortar businesses, Dek and I have launched Yayasan Kryasta Guna, a foundation to support community, culture, health and the environment. Through this foundation we run an HIV/AIDS awareness programme (Ayo! Kita Bicara HIV/ AIDS), a bamboo reforestation programme (Bali Regreen) and a multi-cultural arts performance programme. You are a certified yoga teacher since 2002. How does yoga enhance our energy; individually and collectively? Yoga is an internal practice; in my opinion it’s a practice based on awareness and certain values. I do not actively teach asana (the yoga art of sitting still), but I do practice and teach seva (selfless work). I believe that yoga enhances all areas of our lives positively, and awareness is the driving force behind Bali Spirit Festival and everything I do.

The Bali Spirit Festival

Tell me about the highlights of this year’s festival in early April. The festival grew by about 20% from 2014 – it is increasingly global, with participants coming all the way from Estonia and central China. This year we had nine workshop pavilions, a vibrant marketplace, an incredible daily kids’ programme, magical healers and an enhanced daytime music programme on the Coco Love stage. At the One World One Stage night concerts (at Agung Rai Museum of Art), a big highlight was the Spirit of the Hornbill Dance Academy who flew over from central Borneo to perform and represent the rainforest. Also, a special guest appearance by ‘90s singing siren Toni Childs was fabulous. 2015 was the best ever! Can you tell me your philosophy behind making money? There’s a phrase: ‘conscious capitalism‘. I believe generosity makes the world go round, and money is made to be used for good purposes; not to enrich oneself but to enrich community. Business should be win-win and when you put out good energy, you get it back! Do you have any new plans for the future? To gather up a group of people who want to see the quality of life for Ubudians improve and, most likely, to create more community spaces and events.

A happy Meghan in a yoga pose

Meghan & husband Kadek

Meghan, Kadek and Rob, founders of Bali Spirit Festival

Thank you, Meghan! For more information see www.balispirit.com

issue 141 indonesia expat

19


Kenneth Yeung is a Jakarta-based editor

The Government claims that its ban on alcohol sales in convenience stores is motivated solely by a desire to protect children. If the Government really cares about the health and morals of young Indonesians, it should start enforcing existing laws, rather than creating new ones.

SAVE THE CHILDREN FROM

The removal of beer and pre-mixed alcoholic drinks from minimarts and small shops is a trifling inconvenience to me – as it merely means trekking to a supermarket next time I have to entertain any guests desirous of a beer. What concerns me is proposed legislation by Islamic parties for a complete ban on alcohol – and jail terms for drinkers. Trying to impose exclusively Islamic values on a nation that once prided itself on its secular and inclusive state ideology, Pancasila, reeks of betrayal to the nation’s founders. The danger of beer is not in selling it from licensed premises. The danger is in banning it, as people will turn to illicitly produced alcohol. Hundreds, possibly thousands (there is no accurate data), of Indonesians are killed each year by home-made spirits, often tainted with methanol – a highly toxic chemical more suited for industrial applications. Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel in January issued the decree banning the sale of drinks with between 1%–5% alcohol content from minimarts and other small shops. Sales of stronger drinks were already forbidden at such stores. The latest restrictions came into effect on April 16. Gobel insisted the ban was necessary to protect Indonesian children from alcohol. There is already legislation for that purpose. A 2009 Trade Ministry decree states that a person must be at least 21 years old to purchase alcohol. Many minimarts had alcohol-specific fridges emblazoned with signs reminding customers of the minimum drinking age. The penalty for selling alcohol to minors depends on the local bylaws of each region and province. For example, those violating the rules on alcohol sales in Jakarta can be jailed from 20 to 90 days, and fined from Rp.500,000 to Rp.30 million. Proponents of the beer ban insist that minimarts have been allowing Indonesian children to get drunk, leading to rape, prostitution, theft and murder. I have spent more time than I care for in Jakarta’s minimarts, but I have never seen children buying alcohol. Cigarettes, frequently; but never alcohol. I have witnessed staff at a 7-Eleven refusing to sell beer to children. Alcohol causes 1 out of every 100,000 deaths in Indonesia. Smoking and traffic accidents claim many more lives. Following are some measures the Government could take to protect the wellbeing of children: 1: Ban all forms of cigarette advertising, including sponsorship of music concerts and sporting events. Tobaccorelated illnesses kill about 240,000 Indonesians annually. The minimum age for smoking in Indonesia is 18 but vendors are

20

indonesia expat issue 141

HYPOCRISY By Kenneth Yeung

rarely penalized for selling cigarettes to children. Most Indonesian smokers start the habit as children. According to World Health Organization data, 34.9% of Indonesians (including 66.8% of men) are smokers, whereas 0.6% are alcohol drinkers.

Alcoholic Reprobates? Some expats made a lot of noise – at least on social media – about the minimart alcohol ban. I wasted about 10 years of my life on heavy drinking, mostly in Indonesia. It never caused me to commit any crimes or violence. It never caused any discernible health problems, apart from when I routinely passed out drunk holding a lit cigarette in a plastic filter, which melted onto my fingers. I rarely bought beer from minimarts. I was a social drinker, the sort who drank almost every night in the company of like-minded alcoholic losers, some seeking solace from the excruciating emptiness of existence, partly fuelled by booze. I tried a few “Are You an Alcoholic?” tests and ticked most boxes. However, an excessive fondness for beer doesn’t necessarily make someone an incurable alcoholic. I simply reduced my intake from approximately 96 standard drinks a week to about 4 a week (and quit smoking at the same time). Easy. The only negative is that I became unbearably sanctimonious.

2: Stop children from riding motorbikes – especially those riding without helmets. Road traffic accidents kill about 32,000 Indonesians annually. Most traffic accidents involve motorbikes. Indonesia’s mandatory helmet law is often flouted by passengers – especially children. It’s common to see school kids riding motorbikes – with no license and no helmet. In 21% of motorbike accidents, drivers were unlicensed.

Hardened beer drinkers, averse to wasting money on inflated pub and supermarket prices, can order Bintang beer from distributors for Rp.290,000 per crate of 16 x 620 ml bottles. That includes delivery and works out to just over Rp.18,000 a bottle – whereas cafes and bars charge about Rp.30,000 per 330ml bottle or 300ml glass, often much more. If you do start buying by the crate, you have to pay an initial deposit of Rp.2,000 per bottle and about Rp.20,000 per crate.

3: Improve the education system. At least 20% of the state budget is allocated to education, but much of it is spent on administrative costs, rather than providing children with free textbooks. At least 17,520 schools don’t have electricity. Elementary school children are forced to rote-learn the structure of the Indonesian bureaucracy, rather than being encouraged to develop creativity and critical thinking.

A Rum Do Supermarkets must now stock alcohol behind counters or in locked cabinets. This was evident at my local supermarket last week – although I managed to find over a dozen bottles of 40% rum on a shelf, between bottles of maple syrup. When I asked why it wasn’t banned, the reply was: “It’s for making cakes, not for drinking.”

4: Impound vehicles that emit dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Vehicle exhausts are the major source of urban air pollution, which is extremely hazardous to children because it can cause respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases and brain damage. Old buses, orange bajajs and motorbikes belch out toxic fumes.

The leading proponent of alcohol restrictions is Fahira Idris (47), who founded the National Anti-Alcohol Movement in 2013. She claims that alcohol every year kills 18,000 Indonesians, most of them young people. "Imagine the fate of this nation if it is led by people contaminated by alcohol. We will become a weak nation. Indonesia could lose a generation due to alcohol.”

5: Enforce regulations that ban parking on sidewalks. Some 21% of traffic fatalities in Indonesia are pedestrians. Every day, you can see children walking on roads because sidewalks are covered by illegally parked motorbikes and cars, and by vendors. In genuine democracies, sidewalks are for pedestrians.

You can buy beer, wine and spirits at minimarts in neighbouring Singapore, which is not doing too badly as one of the world’s richest countries with its policies that encourage growth and innovation.

6: Allocate more urban space to parks and sports fields. If children had safe, free places to play and exercise, they would be healthier and less likely to develop anti-social habits. Indonesia should be able to rival Brazil in soccer prowess, if only it cared about providing kids with free training and places to play. Many other measures could be taken to protect children, such as: restricting the sale of unhealthy food at schools, improving awareness of healthcare and sanitation, preventing noise-induced hearing impairment, halting mercury-based illegal gold mining, and cracking down on child labour.

Fahira was accused of hypocrisy earlier this year after Tweeting against Valentine’s Day, when it was later revealed that her online florist business sold Valentine’s Day bouquets. She recently lambasted Jakarta Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama over his comment that stealing public money is a bigger sin than drinking alcohol. She said Ahok’s stance makes him clearly unsuitable to be the leader of Jakarta. No joke. Some people favour corruption over alcohol. It’s almost enough to drive an ethical person to drink.


EXPAT OUTREACH SPORTS

Deddy the Daddy of

BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU We live in healthy times. For me, growing up in suburban Surrey in the 1980s, exercise was limited to a swift stroll down to the local pub followed by some elbow-bending at the bar then a headlong dash to the local curry house. By Antony Sutton

Such a sedate existence has no place these days, as a more energetic generation rushes to keep themselves as fit and healthy as their lifestyles allow. Once jogging was a phase; now it is a lifestyle of choice for many and gym membership has replaced the favoured stool at the bar. All this interest in keeping fit has seen opportunities for the savvy to carve out their own niche, and one of these is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Yes, the country that has given us Pele, the samba and beaches for Barry Manilow to croon about also has its own martial art and it is a sport that is gaining in popularity in Jakarta. The daddy of them all, at least as far as Indonesia is concerned, is Deddy Wigraha. “I got involved in BJJ by watching UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) in 1995 when Brazilian Royce Gracie won all of his matches using groundfighting (a BJJ technique) and forced all his opponents into submission,” said Wigraha. “I started my BJJ training at the Rickson Gracie academy in Los Angeles in 1996 and got a blue belt from Gracie. Then I moved to San Francisco to train with Charles Gracie and got my purple belt from him.” Wigraha certainly chose a good role model. Rickson Gracie won 11 straight bouts by submission against bigger opponents who were skilled in boxing, shootfighting, muay thai, karate, wrestling and tae kwon do. In boxing, commentators make much of the respective fighters reach and weight on the assumption taller boxers can take advantage of their reach while keeping their opponent at arm’s length. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seeks to level the playing field with the smaller fighter attempting to grapple his larger opponent to the ground. This goes some way towards levelling the playing field and allows the smaller fighter to use his perceived greater mobility to try and gain the all-important submission. Returning to Indonesia in 1998, Wigraha looked to his passion for an income. He founded a Jui Jitsu centre and also taught judo before being asked to coach people interested in the Brazilian martial art.

Women are starting to see that ground fighting is good for them for rape prevention, and parents are putting their kids through training for bullying prevention in school.

although quite what a classroom teacher would make of little Johnny grappling Gripper Jenkins, the class tough, to the ground is not clear. So, is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for you? Wigraha and his team of experienced trainers welcome all level of fighters and offer a variety of classes ideal for novices to the more experienced. The best class for beginners would be Fundamentals, where newbies can learn a solid foundation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, including basic theory, self-defense, techniques and principles.

In 2002, Wigraha trained Aji Susilo to compete at Pride’s B.E.S.T Vol.3 in Japan, a competition that Aji won, making him the first Indonesian to win an international mixed martial arts event - an achievement that only added to Wigraha’s, and the sport’s growing lustre.

For those with 30 or 40 Fundamental lessons under their belt the next stage would be Intermediate, which takes a more in-depth look at the principles and techniques that define the efficient and exciting style Alliance, the most prominent Brazilian Jiu Jitsu association, is known for.

In 2013 Wigraha became the first Indonesian to earn a black belt, and while that may be a source of great pride, he is also delighted with the increase in popularity of the sport in recent years – although he bemoans the fact there aren’t enough trainers to go round!

There are other, more specialised courses available, and of course the really dedicated can opt for being thrown around the mat to their heart’s content in a one-on-one with their own private instructor.

For now he estimates some 400 to 500 people are involved on a regular basis, with an even split across expats and Indonesians. The men tend to be executives or students while a number of women are also to be found getting into the ring. Basically anyone with an interest can get involved. Wigraha modestly puts down the increased popularity to the influence of Gracie but I think he is overlooking his own efforts. People are rightly proud when one of their own makes a success of him/herself internationally and there is no doubt his black belt, as well as his regular TV appearances, have made some impression on the local population. Wigraha also points to the fact Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is known as the most effective martial art in the world. “Women are starting to see that ground fighting is good for them for rape prevention, and parents are putting their kids through training for bullying prevention in school,” Wigraha says,

There are even classes for kids where the focus according to Wigraha is “a hard work ethic, a positive attitude, and a love for the Jiu Jitsu lifestyle”. And who knows, given the shortage of trainers, what the dedicated can achieve?

Website: www.alliancebjjindo.com Twitter: twitter.com/Wigrahawigraha Instagram: instagram.com/Wigrahawigraha

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

issue 141 indonesia expat

21


EXPAT OUTREACH WORTHY CAUSES

LET THE SUN LIGHT UP THE NIGHT

Azzura Solar’s Bright Future Program You would think that Indonesia would be the perfect place for solar energy to thrive, considering its year-round sunshine. However, due to financial, technical and economical constraints, it doesn’t look like solar power will become one for the masses anytime soon. This hasn’t stopped one man from trying to harness the power of the to better the lives of poor villagers in rural areas of Jakarta. By Angela Richardson

The idea for BFP came about when Chanrai started selling solar power phone banks to the Indonesian public, receiving an order from someone in Sukabumi requiring the chargers to power the lights in his home because of regular blackouts in his area. This opened Chanrai’s eyes to poor people living further away from the grid, who were in need of an alternative way of powering lights.

Hemant with his solar panel-to-drinking-bottle light

Hemant Chanrai co-founded Azzura Solar in 2012, a company that mainly installs solar technology to properties in Bali. Last year, the Bright Future Program (BFP) was born as Azzura Solar’s CSR division, committed to empowering communities in need, improving local standards of living and creating a sustainable environment for Indonesia. A Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) graduate, Hemant originally studied Economics at University College London (UCL) before venturing into the world of solar energy back in Indonesia. Why solar? Chanrai was intrigued by the power of the sun and questioned why it hadn’t been adopted in Indonesia. According to Chanrai, “PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara) isn’t reaching enough people – there are 250 million people in Indonesia and according to a study by the UN, one in four has limited access to electricity. PLN subsidies are getting higher and higher, reaching US$40 billion in 2014 because the grid system is just not reaching enough people.” Chanrai is optimistic about solar power and believes it has a bright future. “Solar energy can be applied very quickly. As long as you have land or a rooftop, it can take a day to fit out an entire home. Considering the infrastructure in Indonesia, which can make reaching rural areas time-consuming, solar power is the perfect resource,” he explains. Dua Tangan Cukup

One of the main reasons why solar energy hasn’t reached the masses in Indonesia is that it is very expensive to initially set up, costing around US$30,000 to fit out an entire home. It’s an investment, however the upfront cost is still something people can’t afford in a country where the GDP per capita is US$3,533 (International Monetary Fund, 2014). Electricity in Indonesia is still cheap – at 8 cents per kilowatt-hour – and when the cheaper option is there, that’s what people go for.

BFP today focuses its work on the Marga Mulya area of North Jakarta, a poor area with many children and families with very limited access to electricity. Families were unproductive at night and children were unable to study or read once the sun set. BFP has changed family habits, including safety, and plans to branch out to many more areas in need in the future.

The programme has developed its own VILLAGERS JUST HANG Germany is the world’s ingenious, low-cost THE PANELS OUT IN THE leader in the use of solar system, whereby a DAY TO CAPTURE ENERGY energy; a country with small solar panel FROM THE SUN, AND a GDP of US$47,589 can be attached to a (International Monetary re-used water bottle WHEN FULLY CHARGED Fund, 2014), over 13 filled with water THE BATTERY CAN times that of Indonesia’s, (bleach can be added PROVIDE FOUR TO SIX tying in with Europe’s to increase light from HOURS OF LIGHT IN THE plans of decarbonisation refraction), which EVENINGS. by 2050. China leads the also promotes the re-use way in the production of solar of drinking bottles. BFP technology, so far unbeatable in collaborated with a 3D printing terms of pricing. company to print a ‘bottle cap’ for each panel, used to attach the solar panel to Chanrai urges the public to consider the water bottle. adapting a little bit of solar into our daily lives. “Look at parts of your life to see Villagers just hang the panels out in the day where solar energy can be applied; it’s very to capture energy from the sun, and when scalable,” he urges. “Little actions where you fully charged the battery can provide four to apply solar power will help in the long run, six hours of light in the evenings. The panels even starting with charging your phone.” will produce electricity for about 25 years

and BFP carries out regular maintenance for their projects to ensure sustainability. Currently Chanrai is working together with Brandon Fernandes, a student at JIS, on a larger installation project in Marga Mulya for the community area;setting up solar-powered generators in four to five homes. Funds for this project were raised through crowdfunding and through fundraising done at JIS. Donors to BFP have generally been from the 25-35-yearold age group, as according to Chanrai, solar power is considered “fashionable”. Receivers of the solar panels are asked to give a one-time fee of what they can afford, be it Rp.2,000 or Rp.5,000, which gives a sense of ownership and responsibility. “When we gave away for free, we found people wouldn’t take care of it and they would even sell it, whereas if they give something for it, their mentality changes,” says Chanrai. The remaining costs are covered 10% by Azzura, and the remaining from sponsors. As Chanrai’s dreams are for every one of his campaigns to be larger than the last, future plans are to provide solar energy to an entire village. Plans would be to provide solar-powered lighting for ten homes, including a solar-powered pump system and street lamps around the village. Chanrai visiting potential sites for his ‘Solar Village’ and there will be a crowd-funding campaign on kitabisa.com in the not-too-distant future, so keep your eyes peeled if you’d like to help shine a light to others in need! For more information, please visit www.azzura-solar.com

Actions From Across The Archipelago

Tourists Pick Up Rubbish on Beach in Lombok Two South African tourists holidaying in the South of Lombok spent the day relaxing and enjoying the views of the stunning Selong Belanak beach. Although the white-sand beach appeared clean from a distance, the holidaymakers soon discovered it had a dirty secret. This beautiful beach on the south coast of Lombok is known for its soft white sand, which stretches over 1.5km in a protected bay. Waters are clear and warm, perfect for swimming. After enjoying the beauty of the beach for a couple of hours, the tourists began to notice plastic bags rolling down the beach carried by the wind. On closer inspection, they noticed that the sand was actually littered with plastic bags, bottles and straws, amongst other bits of trash. Feeling compelled to clean the beach and rid it of its man-made eyesores, the couple began picking up the trash, being provided with cardboard boxes from the local beach-side warung. In an hour, the pair had filled two boxes with trash, noticing that locals manning their beach shops started to do the same in their individual areas.

22

indonesia expat issue 141

“In an hour, the pair had filled two boxes with trash, noticing that locals manning their beach shops started to do the same in their individual areas.” “It’s amazing how such a little action can inspire others to better look after their environment,” said one of the beach-cleaning tourists. “I noticed a lot of straws, which was so frustrating. I plan to boycott plastic straws from now on!” How has your little action inspired a change? Send your Dua Tangan Cukup (two hands are enough) stories to letters@indonesiaexpat. biz so we can share them here for everyone to read!


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Statement from European Union on the prospect of further executions in Indonesia

Innovative Rainforest Bond Structure Unveiled at Indonesia Tropical Landscapes Summit

“The recent rejections in Indonesia of retrials, including in the case of a French citizen, bring closer the regrettable prospect of further executions. The EU holds a strong and principled position against the death penalty in all cases and in all circumstances and works towards the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.

INDONESIA Federica Mogherini serves as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and VicePresident of the European Commission. On 23 April she had this to say about the impending executions in Indonesia:

While we acknowledge the fact that Indonesia has to cope with a growing drugs problem, experience in other countries strongly suggests that capital punishment is not the answer. The EU is prepared to explore ways of supporting Indonesia's efforts in the fight against drugs and we are ready to step up cooperation with Indonesia in this field.”

Indonesian Government ‘Opposes Full Alcohol Ban’ beverages from minimarts and smaller shops was enforced several weeks ago, to the chagrin of members of the tourism and drinks industries.

JAKARTA A minister has stated the Government will not back a blanket ban on alcohol in the country, despite fears that Islamic parties could force through legislation. On 20 April, Sofyan Djalil, Co-ordination Minister for Economic Affairs, said a bill backed by Islamic parties that proposes criminalising alcohol would not make it through parliament to become law. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Mr Djalil said, “If we want to attract tourists to Indonesia, the availability of alcoholic beverages is a must.” A ban on beer and pre-mixed alcoholic

Ivan Menezes, CEO of drinks giant Diageo, said at the time, “Our concerns with the current announced policies is that they will impact some of the smaller retail businesses and tourism. There is also the risk of illicit alcohol growing again, and that is in nobody’s interest.” Islamic parties have suggested that protecting young people from alcohol is the reason for the proposed legislation. Mr Djalil admitted that whilst this was an important step for the government to take, a blanket ban would be too far. The legislation being proposed by Islamic parties would exempt some locations to protect tourism, including five-star hotels and the resort island of Bali. Source: The Drinks Business, The Wall Street Journal

JAKARTA ADM Capital last week unveiled details of a suggested $1 billion bond programme to provide much-needed finance for forest conservation and development. The Rainforest Impact Bond (RIB) would be the first such finance mechanism to protect forests, offering investors the means to help countries cut deforestation and reduce global carbon emissions. "The RIB mechanism would also provide much-needed capital for sustainable development near sensitive landscapes globally", according to Chris Botsford, co-founder of ADM Capital, an investment manager with over two decades of investment experience in Asia. Introduced at the Tropical Landscapes Summit, "the RIB has grown out of an urgent need to slow forest destruction globally," Botsford said. "Aid and philanthropy alone cannot protect our forests. We urgently need more capital, not only for conservation but to meet the development needs of communities who live near forests. People

need power, better healthcare, education, enhanced livelihoods or jobs. We cannot protect forests if we don't link conservation to development." While previous forest protection bonds have been largely agriculture or carbon-linked, the RIB proposes a structure that uses sovereign aid commitments linked to stemming global climate change. Governments globally have committed an estimated US$5 billion dollars to help developing countries protect their forests. Indonesia alone has affirmed it will reduce its carbon emissions by between 26 and 41 percent by 2020 and slowing deforestation will be a large part of achieving those targets. Estimates are that Indonesia alone needs $10 billion by 2020 to halve deforestation. This includes critical community development to reduce pressure on forests. An estimated 50 percent of Indonesia's 250 million-strong population still lives on less than $2 a day.

Charity Painting Exhibition by Children with Special Needs JAKARTA In commemoration of the World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April, The Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta collaborated with Sekolah Daya Pelita Kasih — a school for children with autism and special needs – to hold a charity painting exhibition, themed “The Expression of Love & Eternity”. The objective was to show that children with special needs are gifted with many great talents, especially in art and creativity. More than thirty paintings were displayed at the lobby area of The Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta. All the paintings were by students with autism and special needs from Sekolah Daya Pelita Kasih.

The Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta, through its CSR program “Sultan Care”, fully supported the exhibition with all sales proceeds being donated to Sekolah Daya Pelita Kasih. The exhibition was held from 9-17 April and was opened at Lagoon Lounge by Mr. I Nyoman Sarya, General Manager of The Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta; Mr. Gatot Adisoma as the representative of Yayasan Daya Pelita Kasih; and Mr. Elmar Bouma as the Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Indonesian-Netherlands Association. In his speech, Mr. Bouma explained that children with special needs should be given appreciation and support to keep continue creating positive work.

issue 141 indonesia expat

23


* Answers in the next edition!

LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

CROSSWORD

The Best Job in the World I had been working for the Pan Pacific Hotel for about a year as an English language copywriter when the General Manager, Chris Brown, called me one Friday afternoon and asked me to meet him at the hotel bar at 5pm. He said he had something important he needed to discuss. I immediately assumed he was going to fire me because, to be honest, what I was doing was too easy. By Eamonn Sadler (www.eamonnsadler.com)

The Sari was one of eight hotels I was working for and all I did was write copy for brochures and press releases and edit and correct anything that was created in English by anyone else in the hotel. I would generally start work at about 2pm (immediately after breakfast) by tearing off the one incredibly long piece of fax paper that was hanging out of my fax machine, laying it out flat on the floor and then cutting it up into manageable single pages. I would then organise the pages by hotel, put them in order, photocopy them and then correct them, long-hand with a pen, before faxing them back. Yes, it was a long time ago and the fax machine was still a wonder of modern technology (along with the pen). I arrived at the hotel bar at exactly five o’clock that Friday afternoon to find Chris Brown and the Regional Director of Sales and Marketing sitting at a table together. As I approached them I could see that they had dozens of examples of my work laid out in front of them and they were apparently deep in serious conversation. I remember thinking “Oh well, I had a good run.” When I got close Chris saw me coming, stood up and met me a few paces from the table. He shepherded me away towards the bar and told me to have a beer, saying he would call me when they were ready. He went to rejoin the Regional Director at the table and as I walked towards the bar I looked back over my shoulder to see them both staring at me. “Yes, that’s him” I heard Chris say before they both turned back to the table. “Ok that’s definitely it,” I thought. “It’s curtains for me.” After 20 long minutes, Chris called me to the table and told me to sit down. He introduced the Regional Director as Jim Goodman and told me that they needed to talk to me. Jim took over the conversation and thanked me for all the “hard work” I had done for the hotel over the previous 12 months. He said Pan Pacific was grateful to me for my efforts and that everyone was very impressed with my professionalism and dedication to the job. It was like the worst kind of cheesy speech a boss might give at his least favourite employee’s retirement party.

I lowered my head and prepared myself for the coup de gras, Jim’s words fading into the background as I stopped listening and drifted away into my thoughts, considering my options going forward. Suddenly his voice became clear again.

“I immediately assumed he was going to fire me because, to be honest, what I was doing was too easy.” “So, we’ve decided to look for a full-time marketing consultant and that would obviously make your job redundant...” I looked up at Jim and cleared my throat. “Well, I’m sure you’ll find someone easily enough,” I said, trying to sound unaffected and reaching for my jacket. Jim fixed me with a stare. “Can you think of anyone who might fit the bill?” he asked as I stood up to leave. “No,” I said, “I don’t know anybody but I could… errr…” Suddenly they both burst into laughter. I stood there bemused. Chris sprang to his feet and gave me a mighty slap on the back. “We’re offering you the job, you idiot!” I couldn’t believe it. The whole thing was a wind-up typical of Chris and his warped sense of humour. I cursed myself for falling for it. When I had recovered from the shock I told them I didn’t know anything about the hotel industry. They said I would learn. I asked where I would live. They told me I would live in the hotel. I asked about pay. They made me very happy. The only condition was I had to stop working for the other seven hotels. Done deal. The following Monday I was living in the hotel and I went on to work there for three years, a period that was definitely one of the best and most enjoyable of my life so far. We had wonderful Christmases there among many other great times and slowly I became very close to Chris and his family. Sadly Chris has since passed away, but to this day he remains one of the most treasured and inf luential people in my life.

Eamonn has lived and worked in Indonesia for over 20 years but doesn’t understand the country at all and now realises that he never will. He is an entrepreneur, businessman and writer, lead singer with expat band Xhibit A and the owner and operator of The Jakarta Comedy Club and The Bali Comedy Club.

IS MADE POSSIBLE BY:

24

indonesia expat issue 141

Across 1. Comfort in distress (6) 4. Having a purpose (6) 9. "Sur le pont d'______ on y danse, on y danse" (7) 10. Shrub - factory (5) 11. Versification (which goes with reason) (5) 12. Science of language (7) 13. Thorough (11) 18. Unvarying - work clothing (7) 20. Nick - score (5) 22. Hangman's or cowboy's loop (5) 23. Bloodsucker (7) 24. A full supply - lots (6) 25. Vigour (6)

DOWN 1. Shining brightly (6) 2. The people, not the clergy (5) 3. Pronounce as reprehensible - sentence (7) 5. Pigment from cuttlefish ink (5) 6. Rower - bargee (7) 7. Wring (money) out (by violence, etc) (6) 8. (In the above diagram, as in chess) from square 5 to 8, 11 to 13, or 17 to 21 (7,4) 14. Fatty, of tissue (7) 15. (Male) relative (7) 16. Appear by chance - increase volume (4,2) 17. Insolent (6) 19. Not concealed - public (5) 21. One who doesn't give up - judge? (5)

ANSWERS OF ISSUE 140 ACROSS — 1. Puma 3. Pathetic 8. Cone 9. Singular 11. Worthwhile 14. Calico 15. Agenda 17. Headstrong 20. Wardroom 21. Heat 22. Immunity 23. Stir

DOWN — 1. Pickwick 2. Mandrill 4. Alight 5. Highlights

6. Tall 7. Curt 10. Chicken run 12. Insolent 13. Laughter 16. Adroit 18. Kwai 19. Cram

WANT FREE TICKETS TO THE COMEDY CLUB? SMS YOUR NAMES FOR A CHANCE TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO JAKARTA OR BALI COMEDY CLUB!

SPOTTED!

The rabbit wants to break up with you. Spotted by Carl S. Send your funny pictures to letters@indonesiaexpat.biz

0821 1194 3084 Congratulations to LAURA S. IN PANTAI INDAH KAPUK! You and a friend will be enjoying the next comedy cluB ON US!

ads@indonesiaexpat.biz for competitive advertising rates and get noticed through our printed publication, e-newsletter and on our website.


OBSERVATIONS

SE V EN DAYS OF IT BL ACKOU T

(and I Don’t Mind)

Nabilia Soenasto is a 12th-grader at the Singapore School, Bona Vista in Jakarta, and was one of the winners in an essay competition on the topic ‘Seven days of IT Blackout’. This is what she discovered during her week without gadgets and technology… By Nabilia Soenasto

If you had told me a week ago that I would ever in my lifetime be considering a week without technology, I would have laughed at the absurdity of your statement. I was raised in the 21st century where anything I do requires the assistance of an electronic device, whether for research purposes or even to kill time. I have become so dependent on these devices that without them, I feel that I am crippled, paralyzed. Technology has become so much a part of who I am, showing its existence in every corner of my life, that I have never had the chance to fully consider what life would be like without it. You are all probably wondering “Why the need of a blackout to stop using these devices?” I have a sneaking suspicion that it’s the temptation. The countless times that I’ve tried to ignore the messages on my phone have been failed attempts. Every time I receive something, the itch to read the content grows with every second; my own personal hell. The fact that everyone else is using these devices makes it all the harder to just stop for a while and take a break. Every minute of the day, new information is being spread out to the Internet world that even just a day of no technology could mean missing out on possibly the most crucial information in your life. As everyone says nowadays, technology makes the world go round. Yet, what we do not realize is that technology dictates our lives and is the very reason for our blind-sightedness towards our surroundings.

Once there was a citywide blackout for a day – my television did not work, my internet was shut down and the lights were as good as dead; I felt hopeless and restless. I’m sure I was bordering on psychotic. It took me hours to finally calm down. The reality that I could do nothing about it started to sink in and it gave me the chance to finally look at this situation in a new light. I took the time to closely observe the area and everything was tranquil with the exception of the occasional chirping of birds or a gust of wind. In that moment, it dawned on me that this was the very epitome of serenity - nothing could top this. Instead of being a virtual recluse, I could do so much more productive things, such as reading from an actual book as well as being present in the moment. It dawned on me that despite public transportation being so crowded, it is eerily quiet due to the fact that everyone is focused solely on one thing: their mobile phone. We no longer co-exist with one another and the thought of having a verbal conversation with a stranger on a bus would be deemed awkward and weird nowadays. Back when I was younger and ignorant of technology, I would rarely be home – it was a place I slept in and saw my family, but other than that I saw it as a prison. I spent the majority of my time in the park with other children, running around playing tag and laughing to my heart’s content. Now though, it saddens me to see how quiet parks are – no children playing and the swings so still. Kids these

We should give life more attention, not just waste it on technology and devices.

days grow up too fast; at the age of seven they have smart phones dangling on their necks and headphones blasting songs inappropriate for their age group. Technology has exposed them to the cruel world at a very young age. I would rather have the opportunity to meet new people because I believe that I am the happiest when sharing moments with others. In the future, I get to look back and reminisce. Whether fond memories or bad, at least I get to say that I’ve experienced something new and maybe even learned new things. As for computers and phones, we make no sort of memories – it means nothing at all because it is just a device that has no emotions, simply doing what we program them to do. We look at pictures of what other people do and it may bring some sort of joy to them, but what good does it do when you’re cooped up in your room alone? We should give life more attention; not just waste it on technology and devices. Whenever I look at my phone, I seem to always miss the most extravagant moments in life I would never know about because I wasted it away on my device. Up to this day, I regret not having paid attention to what was going on because extraordinary things like this always happen at the most unexpected times. Some of you may wonder why it’s such a big deal to me. Let me tell you, it’s those moments where the little things happen and like they say, “It’s the little things that make life big”. We should share our love for one another, and not just by some Facebook ‘likes’.

issue 141 indonesia expat

25


EVENTS

If you want your event to be posted here, please contact (+62) 0 21 719 5908 or e-mail: events@indonesiaexpat.biz

JAKARTA Shopping

Beauty and the Beast: the Musical

A Night of Reunion with Boyzone Neena Sehgal Collection Sale 9 May 2015 For the first time in Jakarta, Neena Sehgal presents an irresistible collection of Indian anarkalis, dhotis, lehenga cholis and sari gowns as well as western-style gowns for your perusal, pleasure and purchase! Claim your right to be noticed and admired in these gorgeous designs, and never fade into the background again. The event will run from 11am-5pm, at the Winter & Spring Room, All Seasons Hotel, Thamrin Jl. Talang Betutu No. 2, Jakarta 10230. Tareeka Purswani, +62 (0) 817 988 7788 Music

Katy Perry – Prismatic World Tour 9 May 2015 A mer ic a n p op si nger K at y Perr y w ill make her second visit to Indonesia as part of her 2015 Prismatic World Tour, performing at the Indonesia Convention Centre (ICE) at BSD City, Tangerang, Banten, west of Jakarta, on May 9. Tickets for the concert, which is being promoted by Ismaya Live, AEG Live and Sound Rhythm, will be on sale starting February 14, and will range from Rp.900,000 (US$70.74) to Rp.5,000,000. Perry is touring in support of her 2013 album Prism, which debuted at the top of the Billboard Music Chart. www.katyperryjkt.com

26

indonesia expat issue 141

22 May 2015 Nineties fans amongst us will be thrilled to hear the beautiful boys from Ireland are coming to our shores in May for a night of reminiscing. The hits, the hairdos and the hip-shaking will happen at the Istora Senayan Jakarta. Tickets on sale now on the website. #BZIndo. +62 (0) 21 5639543, or www.fullcolorentertainment.com

26 May–7 June 2015 The story of Belle and the Beast is one of Disney’s best-loved films. Now, Disney Theatrical P r o d u c t i o n s , N E Tw o r k s , Broadway Entertainment Group and Ciputra Artpreneur theatre in Kuningan are bringing this new touring production to Jakarta. The show has been put together by the original creators of the Broadway production, and features the a n i m a t e d f i l m' s A c a d e m y Awa rd®-w inning score. It ’s been an international sensation, playing to over 35 million people worldwide in 13 countries – so book tickets now for the family! www.ciputraartpreneur.com Sports

An Evening with Michael Bolton 2 June 2015 Grammy legend Michael Bolton brings a hit-filled set list of soulful cla ssics, power ba llads and beautiful arias to Jakarta in June. Michael's artistic achievements include two Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, twenty four BMI & ASCAP Awards, nine Million-Air Awards, Hitmakers Songwriter of the Year Award and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His diverse musical interests have produced eight Top Ten studio albums and nine charttopping singles across Pop, Jazz & Classical charts and global sales of more than 53 million. His 23rd studio album, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, (Sony Music) is an authentic tribute to Hitsville USA in collaboration with Motown legends Smokey Robinson and Valerie Simpson and features duet s w ith contempora r y artists Kelly Rowland, Michael Lington, Melanie Fiona and Delta Goodrem. Ticket Prices are: VVIP Rp.3,000,000, VIP Rp.1,750,000, Diamond Rp.1,500,000, Gold Rp.1,200,000, Silver Rp.750,000. +62 (0) 21) 3005 3560, www. rajakarcis.com or email info@ mbjakarta.com

BWA Wild Safari Golf Scramble 20 May 2015 Ladies, get your golf on and have a fun day whilst raising money for the BWA and its charities! Held at Matoa Internasional Golf Course, registration starts at 8am, with a semi-shotgun start at 8.30am. Rp.650,000 for members (Rp700,000 for nonmembers) includes green fees, cart, buffet lunch, prizes and a crazy cocktail cart! (Caddy tip extra). To register, email your golf index or handicap (or gross scores for last three games played). If you’re a team please give team and captain name. Limited places so hurry! golf@bwajakarta.org Culture "Witnessing the World: The Journey of Doctors Without Borders” Photo Exhibition 11–17 May 2015 Told through the lens of some of the world's renowned photographers, take a rare inside look at one of the world's leading medical humanitarian organizations and a Nobel Peace Prize 1999 aw a r de e: D o c t or s W it hout

Borders (MSF). The exhibition, at Pacific Place Mall’s Ground Floor (10am-10pm, free entry), presents 30 photos captured by renow ned photographers featuring notable events in the history of humanitarian aid – from natural disasters, epidemics,

will perform the winning piece at their next opportunity) and all winners will receive prizes. During the event, you can order delicious food and drinks from Spanky’s. A great opportunity to meet other theatre enthusiasts and get involved in The Jakarta Players! 6:30-9pm, Spanky's Ribs & Martinis, Jl. Kemang Raya no. 24A, Jakarta. thejakartaplayers@ gmail.com

Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati, and is the sibling event of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival and Bali Emerging Writers Festival. www.ubudfoodfestival.com Music

BALI Food & Drink

"Witnessing the World: The Journey of Doctors Without Borders” Documentary Film Screening 16 May 2015 Two films will be screened, firstly “Access to the Danger Zone”, from 2.00pm-4.00pm at Pacific Place Mall, 2nd Floor, Room 215 (next to Java Jazz Coffee Cafe), followed by Q& A w ith MSF field workers from Indonesia. Narrated by Daniel Day-Lewis, this documentary provides a harrowing look at the challenges of delivering humanitarian aid in armed conflicts. The second film, “Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders” is from 7.00pm-9.00pm, and is filmed in the war-zones of Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo with unprecedented access to the field operations of MSF, “Living in Emergency” follows four volunteer doctors as they struggle to provide emergency relief.

OWL City Indonesia Tour 2015 Japanese Master Chef Experience: Hal Yamashita at KO 15 & 16 May 2015 Experience the essence of Kobe delicacies specially crafted by Japa nese Ma ster C hef, Ha l Yamashita. Savour his unique creations and “Zen" concept. Indulge in a scrumptious culinary activity with the soul of Japanese culture, by joining a cooking class and lunch. 10am-1.30pm, Rp.950,000++ for food only or Rp.1.3m++ including 180 ml sake or two glasses of white wine or red wine.

10 May 2015 American electronica project Owl City stops in Indonesia on their Asian tour, on 10 May at the Sky Garden, Bali at 7.00pm, and on 11 May at the Rolling Stone Café, Jakarta at 8.30pm. Singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Adam Young c r e a t e d t h e pr oj e c t i n h i s hometown in Minnesota, and developed a following online. Meet and Greet ticket prices are available. Networking

Ubud Food Festival

Jakarta Players Short Play Reading 23 May 2015 Calling all theatre enthusiasts! Feel like stretching your theatre muscles? The Jakarta Players will be holding a Short Play Reading Club Night, hosted by Heriska Suthapa. Play readings will span genres from comedy to drama to thriller. Each play will be about ten to fifteen minutes long, after which there’ll be discussion. You can also vote for your favourites in the People’s Choice and Reader’s Choice Awards (where the Players

5–7 June 2015 T h i s e xc it i ng ne w c onc e pt celebrating the richness and diversity of Indonesian culture w ill descend on Ba li for its inaugural year. Uniting some of Indonesia’s most celebrated chefs, international restaurateurs helping to shape the archipelago’s culinary landscape and industry heav y-weights to experience I n d o n e s i a’s e x t r a o r d i n a r y cuisine, Ubud Food Festival will serve up a program rich in food mythology, authenticity and of course, taste: cooking demos, workshops, masterclasses, food forums, markets, tours, and much more. The event is a project of

SKAL Lunch 8 May 2015 Skal International is an international organisation that promotes tourism and friendship, with the slogan ‘doing business amongst friends’. They will hold a lunch at Ariba Mexican Restaurant, aimed at Fellowship & Networking. Cocktails from 12 noon and lunch from 12.30-2.00pm. Members can attend for free, and guests pay Rp.400,000. For bookings and more information: malcolm@ skalbali.com. Phone +62 (0) 361 743 3589.


INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

Relax. We carry the load. #1 CUSTOMER CHOICE ASIA PACIFIC REGION

Jakarta: (021) 780 7851 Surabaya: (031) 749 8377 E-mail: info@alliedpickfords.co.id Web: www.alliedpickfords.co.id

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

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

Bartele Gallery is the only dedicated shop in Indonesia which focuses on antique maps, prints, photographs, books and antiquities, ideal for a unique gift for that special someone. Come and browse through hundreds of old and original maps and prints from all across the globe!

Call us +62 (0) 21 719 0087 or E-mail: info@bartelegallery.com and visit our Facebook: facebook.com/ bartelegallery for more information

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

DB Schenker can handle your move smoothly and efficiently from A to Z. The DB Schenker relocation service handles the complete planning and organization of a move, and of course ensures it is completed on schedule. DB Schenker relocations is your ideal moving partner with the competitive edge.

Santa Fe provides moving services — International, domestic, local & office, document storage & management services, real estate, property management & maintenance, orientations, visa & immigration and home contents insurance.

Contact: Ovilia Faratika Mobile: +62 81 8844 777 E-mail: ovilia.faratika@dbschenker.com E-mail: removal.jkt-id@dbschenker.com

Call us Jakarta: +62 21 2961 2990 Balikpapan:+62 542 713 4334 Bali: +62 811 889 2445 Surabaya: +62 812 304 4775 or E-mail: indonesia@santaferelo.com and visit our website www.santaferelo.com for more information

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

INDONESIA EXPAT DIRECTORY

TV Karaoke. Disco Lights. Bar Fridge. Toilet. 20 pax City tour? Hen's or Buck's Night? VIP Airport Pick-up? Birthday? Wedding? A Company Event?

CALL: 021 987 92877 E-mail: info@royalevipbus.com Web: www.royalevipbus.com

TO BOOK SPACE ON THIS DIRECTORY PAGE CALL: 021 719 5908

issue 141 indonesia expat

27


HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Looking for something to buy? Looking for staff? Selling property? Or need a place to live? Why not place your classified ad with Indonesia Expat! Your classified will be placed once for 2 weeks online and once in our printed version which has a circulation of 16.500 copies bi-weekly. Next deadline: 12 May

CONDITIONS Personal classifieds Commercial classifieds

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

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

JAKARTA Jobs available

Indonesia Expat is hiring a Sales Executive (local)! The position will require selling advertising space in the publication and online. The ideal candidate will be a real go-getter, have heaps of personality, be very friendly. Very good verbal and written English is a must, as is the ability to multi-task. The position will be full-time, based in South Jakarta, with a good basic salary and commissions to complement. If you believe you’re the person, please send your CV and cover letter to info@indonesiaexpat.biz Only successful candidates will be contacted. Looking for work Chauffeured by English speaking driver who has local knowledge, is familiar with the best routes, automatic vehicles, defensive driving skills. Works with honesty, responsible, politeness, and good appearance too. Availability in the beginning of June 2015. Please contact: 085714221679 or email at: budi1873@gmail.com Driver available immediately Ipung was working for us for the last 4 years as driver and personal assistant. He is a very good driver, knows very well the town and knows how to manage the expats in the local culture. His english is excellent. You can reach him on: 081388681234 SERVICES Bahasa indonesia and French lessons given at your place by qualified teacher. Contact Novi 0816 70 43 70 CORPORATE VIDEO, VIRAL VIDEO & TV COMMERCIAL S P E C I A L I S T S: Fo r a f r e e consultation please contact Gary Plant at PT. Network Multimedia +628118829933 or garyplant@ gmail.com

28

indonesia expat issue 141

Marital problems, relationship & family problems, porn addiction, sexual problems,stress, trauma, phobia ,smok ing, or even stuttering. English-speaking psychologist, mental coach & h y pn o t he r a pi s t . ON LY B Y APPOINTMENT. 021 391 5189 mental.coach99@gmail.com Shotokan Karate-Do Int er n at ion a l Fe der at ion Indonesia (SKIFI), world largest karate school with establishments in over 100 countries now open at Wisma Aldiron dojo, Jl. Jend Gatot Subroto Kav. 72, Jakarta 12780 opens new classes for all grades. Monday & Thursday: Black Belt (18:15 – 19:30) Wednesday :all grades (18:15 – 19:30) Contact us at info@skifi.org, www.skifi. org Nhazzla (HP.08111-00-6409) Spanish Tutor: Learn Spanish at your place with a DELE-certified examiner from Spain. Most of my students come from International Schools (JIS and BSJ). Please call me (Raúl) +62 (0) 821 1050 2786 Email: unascartas@yahoo.com Spanish/Indonesian translators: If you need experienced and native translators to translate in this language pair (both ways) please call us (FNA) +62 (0) 812 8821 5625 Email: elejakarta@gmail. com H i , I ' m R i c k y. I w o r k a s Indonesian language tutor. I use well-structured books, lesson plans & modules with 2 years active teaching experience. The cost is Rp.200,000 per meeting for 90 minutes. Yes, it is negotiable depends on the numbers of students and meetings within a week. We can schedule the meeting based on your availability. Ask me to find out more by call 08176055511 or rickyk _10@ yahoo.com British SLP (HCPC and RCSLT accredited) offering speech and language therapy ser vices to middle - high school age kids on the autistic spectrum. Focus on developing social communication and functional life skills. Contact me for more information, CV etc. tojwillcox@googlemail.com PROPERTY N E W HOUSE FOR R E N T: L ocation: Kebayora n Ba r u, South Jakarta. Access: 10 mins

d r ive t o S enaya n C it y Ma l l or Plaza Senayan, 15 min to Gandaria City, 25 min to SCBD area, 20 min to Blok M, 20 min to Permata Hijau area (normal condition). Condition: Very good. House information: Land 145m, building 189m, 2 floors. 1st floor: 1 bedroom + 1 bathroom (shower), Living room, Kitchen, Storage area. Utility area, 1 bedroom + 1 bathroom for house assistant, Garden. 2nd floor: 1 master bed room, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom (shower). Park : 1 car, Electricity : 2200 watt (token basis). Facility: 1 master bed (king size, serta), 1 double bunk bed (single size), 1 single bed (for house assistant), 1 book rack, 1 tv table, stove, kitchen utensil, 1 long chair, 1 rocking chair, 1 ceiling fan, 1 AC. Price: Rp.145m/year. Info: Call or WA to +62 (0) 87884026911 For rent, 300 houses at Kemang, Cipete, Cilandak, Jeruk Purut, Pondok Inda h. Big gardens, swimming pools, USD3,0005,000. Phone: +62 (0) 816 859 551 or +62 (0) 817 009 3366. Aspen Admiralty apt @pondok labu south jakarta, 700m away from JORR TB Simatupang. 55 sqm FF brand new 2 bedrooms or 1 bedroom with an office space. Idr 150 million yearly. Please contact hiu pro lani 085779002031

House available for rent at Jl. Duta Indah I, Pondok Indah. Land area 689 sqm, 2 storey Building including 4 Bedrooms, 1 Off ice, Guest room, Living room, Dining room, Dry & Wet K itchen. Back yard w ith big garden, swimming pool and large open terrace (upstair). Garage to accommodate 2 big cars plus

carport. Fully furnished condition. Available standby generator set. Located in a quiet living area and close to the Jakarta International School. Suitable for Embassy of f ic i a l s a nd or e x pat r i at e family.Rent: USD. 6,000 nett per month. Appointment, call: Agus Djuarta~Padua Property Agency Cell.: +62811961763 e-mail: adjuarta@yahoo.com

Nice house available for rent at Jl. Metro Alam III, Pondok Indah. Land area 600 sqm, 2 storey building including 5 Bedrooms, 2 Office rooms, large Living room and Family room. Furnished condition. Large sw imming pool, big terraces including open terraces upstair. Garage to accommodate 4 big cars. PLN electricity capacity 33,000 VA, clean water supply. Located in a quiet living area. Suitable for Embassy off icials and or expatriate family. Asking rent: USD.5,000 per month. Open house by appointment, call: Agus Djuarta~Padua Property Agency Cell.: +61811961763 e-mail: adjuarta@yahoo.com

A Nice House ava i lable for Rent at Jl. Laksana III, Blok S, Kebayoran Baru. Land area 320 sqm, 2 storey Building. Downstair: Master Bedroom with attached bathroom, large Living room, Dining room, Pantry and wet Kitchen, Garage for 2 cars. Upstairs: 3 family Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Balcony and 2 Maid rooms. Furnished condition. PLN Electricity capacity 10,600 VA. Good location nearby Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD), Senopati and Kuningan area. Suitable for expatriate family and


or Staff Embassy family. Asking Rent: USD. 2,800 per month. Open House by appointment, c a l l: A g u s D ju a r t a~Pa du a Property Agency +62811961763 or virtual visit: www.rumah. com/listing-properti/disewarumah-bagus-di-jl-laksana-bloks-kebayoran-5621285

A Brand New Apartment Unit at Kemang Village~Inf init y Tower 17th Floor. Unit size 160 sqm, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Spacious Living room, Dining room, Pantry and wet Kitchen and Storage room. Fully furnished. Private elevator, Foyer in the entrance area. Servant quarter with an access to service elevator. Electricity capacity 11,000 VA. Facilities include Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Function room, Parking lot, Jogging track. Highly security standards with Smart Card system and 24/7 CCT V. 180º Multiple views to the Pool, Antasari and Kemang areas. The Infinity Tower is connecting to the Luxurious Lippo Mall Kemang and nearby JW Marriott 5 Stars Hotel. Suitable for Expatriate family. Asking Rent: USD. 3,400 per month, inclusive of Service Charge. Appointment, call: Agus Djuarta~Padua Property Agency – Cell: +62811961763 e-mail: adjuarta@yahoo.com OTHERS

Sony Vaio Notebook core i7 I want to sell my old netbook Sony Vaio. I bought it in Korea. The specification is: Processor: core i7, Memory: 4GB Ram, Hard Disk: 500 GB, VGA, Ati radeon Colour Pink. If you are interested you can send me your email at: dhiank0829@gmail.com for the price.

LOOKING FOR: DO YOU HAVE TOO MUCH UNUSED STUFF? DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK T O YOU R OR IGI NAT I NG C O U N T R Y A N D WA N T SOMEBODY TO BU Y YOUR STUFF? WE BUY USED GOODS li ke f u r n it u re, elec t ron ic s, clothing, sports equipment, house hold, bags, shoes, etc. contact: 081319342224 (CHRISTI) Household appliances for sale. Si ng ap or e -pu r c h a s e d h ig h qua lit y k itchen appliances: Bosch mixer/blender (red) with two stainless bowls, stainless food processor/blender/juicer, toaster; Cuisinart programmable cof fee maker/gr inder; iron, kettle. Further details available by email:fscarden@gmail.com Ba c on , S au s a ge a nd Bl a c k Pudding. Do you miss really good dry cured bacon or plump English bangers? Or do you crave a delicious black pudding? Do you miss honey roasted ham, sliced or a whole joint? Email THE BACONSTATION Jakarta at meatmein@outlook.com for a menu and price list. Free Samples with orders in May.

AUTOMOTIVE

BALI PROPERTY

F OR S A L E 1 9 8 0 T OYO TA HARDTOP. Original - Excellent C ond it ion R p1 2 5 m i l l ion negotiable for a quick sale. All paperwork up-to-date. Petrol four-wheel drive - expat owned and maintained (one owner for last 15 years). Direct from the ow ner, South Jakar ta . Call: 08123758840 or email: mark. heyward@gmail.com

Last available piece of prime land (11.5 Are) on this street Payogan/ Ubud is the ideal location to build your dream home or business. Enough space for a main house, g uest house, large pool and garden. Price Rp.3,750,000 / Are, 20 years lease including option to extend. Total Price Rp.862,500,000. Call or WA 0878 8402 6911

Car For Sale. Toyota Fortuner 2.7G, LUX. Year: 2011 Colour: Hitam Metalik with beige interiors. K M: 70,000. Type: Seats 7 passengers, 2 wheel drive, gasoline. Purchased new, single owner, well maintained with all records, sale price. 300,000,000 IDR negotiable; for details please email livinginjak@gmail.com

JOGJAKARTA PROPERTY A ma zing lit t er , ma les a nd females, pure breed Siberian husky puppies for sale. Boys and girls available are 8 weeks old, fully wormed, flead, and weaned on dry puppy biscuit. Mum and dad have good temperaments and the pups are great around small kids. They are ready to go to their new homes please. richy678698885@hotmail.com I am looking for a second-hand Playstation 4. Must be in good condition. Location Jakarta. Please contact: jakartalinks@ gmail.com WHIRLPOOL 6th sense washing machine for sale. IDR 3.5 million. Kemang area. Please whatsapp for picture. 08111750126

Experience staying at a beautiful original antique Javanese Joglo villa in the foothills of Mount Merapi. Joglo Ago is a three double b e d r o om v i l la w it h gardens perfect for a weekend retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. In close proximity to Mount Merapi and Borobudur Temple. Visit w w w.jogloago. com for more information, or call Indah 08123563626 (owner).

issue 141 indonesia expat

29


30

indonesia expat issue 141


issue 141 indonesia expat

31


32

indonesia expat issue 141


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

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