Indonesia Expat - issue 262 by Indonesia Expat

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Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

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Contents

Mirella Pandjaitan

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Dear Readers,

06 BUSINESS PROFILE Corine Tap Nurtures Mother Nature, One Step at a Time

SALES & ADVERTISING

Dian Mardianingsih (Jakarta)

dian@indonesiaexpat.biz Wahyu Atmaja (Bali)

With the majority of the world’s population still staying at home, the skies are brighter, the air is clearer, and wildlife roams freely – even venturing outside their natural habitats.

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According to The Economic Times, “Two new studies published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters found that nitrogen dioxide pollution over northern China, Western Europe and the US decreased by as much as 60 percent in early 2020 as compared to the same time last year.” Air quality improvements might not continue in the long run, however, it proves emissions can rigidly diminish if environmentally friendly actions are taken.

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PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia

BUSINESS PROFILE Sip on Sustainable Wine by Giotto Castigliono, Creator and Developer of Isola Wines

Don’t forget to check out daily news updates at indonesiaexpat.biz. Follow our Instagram and Facebook accounts @indonesiaexpat to stay updated on the daily COVID-19 cases and news, as well as attractive promotions your favourite hotels, restaurants, and schools have to offer.

CLIMATE CHANGE The “Action” in Climate Action

14 16

Happy reading!

INFO FOR EXPATS Your Guide to Understanding Business Tax Obligations in Indonesia

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10 SPORTS Leave Your Cars at Home, Cycle and Longboard Instead

You’re probably tired of scrolling through online media and watching the news about COVID-19 though the truth is, the end is still inevitable. Let Indonesia Expat fill you in with ways to become more green and sustainable in our latest edition. We’ve included some exciting stories on sustainable household products and toiletries, sports as a way to improve air quality, plastic pollution, home gardening and house planting, Indonesia tragically losing its green qualities, worldwide climate change, and two environmental-conscious products in the country.

subscriptions@indonesiaexpat.biz EVENTS

08 HOME GARDENING Becoming a House Plant and Food Garden Parent

Edo Frese

DEFORESTATION Yes! We Have No Orangutans

Office hours: 09.00–17.00 Monday–Friday

20 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES Modern Movements in the Ancient City

Opinions Expressed in this publication are those of the writers and the publisher does not accept any responsibility for any errors, ommisions, or complaints arising there from.

22 HOMECOMING Expats in Indonesia Stuck Elsewhere during COVID-19 Pandemic

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Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

Corine Tap Nurtures Mother Nature, One Step at a Time

t takes more than two months before a new habit becomes automatic, depending on the person’s behaviour, the individual, and the situation. But one small action will eventually become a bigger impact, regardless if it's concerning the environment or our daily lives. As the President Director of Danone-AQUA Indonesia, Corine Tap has continued the company’s belief on using business as a force for good for everyone and the environment. Indonesia Expat had the chance to discuss with Corine on Danone-AQUA’s inspirational efforts which you can tag along with to safeguard our home, planet Earth. People are aware of the DanoneAQUA brand, but what is it that you wish people knew more about the brand? A lot of people know us as a water business; but they don’t know that we are also one of the largest B Corp Certified companies in Asia — which means we are always considering the impact of our decisions on our team, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment; balancing purpose and profit, and using business as a force for good. We are committed to putting the health and safety of people and community at the heart of our mission. There are some cases where consumers can identify the taste of water is different according to the brand of the packaged water they drink. Is there a reason behind this? The best and purest form of water comes from nature, from numbers of active volcanoes in Indonesia — that’s why we source our water from selected springs that preserve the purity and natural mineral content which gives its authentic taste depending on the source. This is also why our priority is to protect and preserve the balance of nature, to be able to continue providing the best quality of mineral water for everyone in Indonesia for generations to come. How has the company adapted to the “new normal”? We were able to adapt by staying true to our core mission; continuing to put people's health at the heart of every decision. We rolled out support in multiple layers — starting with our staff; educating them and their families about how to stay safe and prevent the spread. Then launching new initiatives to protect and support our communities and supply chain. One of the most vulnerable communities to be impacted by COVID-19 is the waste-collectors working within an informal sector. We worked with many partners such as “Octopus Indonesia” in collaboration to donate food and personal protective equipment to enable them to continue working safely and continue their livelihoods, which is also crucial to protect the environment and support the circular economy.

To date, Danone-AQUA has donated at least Rp30 billion in the form of medical equipment and ready-to-eat meals. We supplied all the needs to referral hospitals, not only in Jakarta but also in other cities. To date, we have supported more than 15 hospitals across Indonesia. We also collaborated with companies like Grab — to create new ways to safely recycle from home, with the launch of the “AQUAGrabExpress Recycle program.” We must continue to adapt and find ways to support each other as a community and as a nation. What are your thoughts on Indonesia and its eagerness to save the planet? I’m very heartened by the intention of Indonesia’s much-needed shift towards a more environmentally sustainable economy, such as the aim to cut marine plastic waste by 70 percent within the next five years. Our company is continuously supporting the government's achievement targets to reduce waste to the sea. Danone-AQUA has launched a #BijakBerplastik movement which focuses on three commitments to tackle the plastic waste problem in Indonesia, namely the development of waste collection infrastructure, consumer education related to waste management, and product packaging innovations. Danone-AQUA also targeted in the year 2025 to collect more plastics than used, educating up to 100 million consumers, ensuring 100 percent of our packaging can be reused, recycled for compost, and increasing the content of recycled material in bottles to 50 percent. Single-used plastic is one of the highest contributing wastes in Indonesia. How does Danone-AQUA tackle this issue? We have been pioneering towards a circular economy since 1993 when we established our first recycling program. Our dream is to eliminate all plastic waste from the system, by reusing and reprocessing materials to manufacture new products. For example, we produced Indonesia’s first 100 percent recycled and recyclable plastic bottle.

To achieve these targets, we are currently conducting various initiatives including building unified waste management (TPST) with the government of Lamongan Regency, arranging the learning modules of “My waste my responsibility book” for elementary school children and storybooks for kindergarten, and continuing to conduct research and trials for more environmentally friendly packaging innovations. Since its launch two years ago, DanoneAQUA has educated more than 18 million consumers to be wise in daily consumption and waste management. Our Recycling Business Units collect more than 13,000 tons of plastic bottles every year, and in Bali, we are collecting more plastic than what we are producing. But the best innovation happens when we collaborate with others — for example, we did a “Bottle2Fashion” collaboration with H&M where recycled plastic f lakes are processed into recyclable polyester for H&M clothing. Yet, much more needs to be done! Our #BijakBerplastik movement is a call for multi-stakeholder collaboration to innovate solutions to solve plastic waste issues in Indonesia. Join us!

As an effort to reduce plastic bottle waste, bringing bottles or tumblers is preferable nowadays. Does Danone-AQUA provide some sort of water filling service across the nation? Seventy percent of our business model is already circular by the AQUA Jug; a refillable large water jug which can be reused and redistributed across the nation. We hope to expand this model to other convenient and smaller bottle products in the future. Danone-AQUA became the first fast-moving consumer goods company in Indonesia to receive the B Corp certification. What exactly determines a company to receive this certification? How was it receiving this recognition? This is one of my proudest achievements. A company is named a B Corp only if it displays great social and environmental responsibility, as well as public transparency and accountability. Receiving the certification is testament to Danone-AQUA’s commitment towards the health of people and planet. Our profit is balanced with purpose, so the growth of the business positively impacts employees, communities, and the environment. But we don’t want to stop here.

Beyond continuing to bring positive impact through our work, I hope to become a role model as a leading B-Corp to inspire other companies and spread the movement in Indonesia. The company’s program, AquaPeduli, was established in 1993. What are the next steps? As mentioned earlier, we have innovated and launched new technologies, systems and projects to tackle the plastic waste issue in Indonesia. We believe that full circularity is crucial to long-term sustainability as well as resilient, self-sufficient supply chains. Beyond plastic, Danone-AQUA has and will continue to expand its sphere of influence to positively impact other environmental issues like water conservation and climate change. For example, aside from the solar energy we already have implemented in a lot of our plants; we continue to innovate new ideas such as developing “Refined Used Cooking Oil (R-UCO)” as an alternative energy source for our industrial machinery. Would Danone-AQUA produce packaged infused water or any other innovation to remind consumers to be more hydrated? Hydration is so important – with poor hydration can have a disastrous effect on our sleep quality, cognition, and general mood. We have isotonic beverages, namely Mizone that has a great way to incentivise people to stay hydrated while supporting their active lifestyle as it contains varieties of vitamins and minerals needed. The coronavirus can stay on surfaces for quite some time, although the definite duration is still a debate. How does Danone-AQUA ensure the safety of its products? Because the purpose of Danone is all about protecting our health, everyone on the team understood the importance of implementing safe precautions and was incredibly rapid to implement processes such as physical distancing and protective equipment. Danone products are safe for consumption. The risk of infection arising from contact with food or packaging materials sourced from commercial suppliers is believed to be very low, as stated by relevant international authorities, including WHO, EFSA, ECDC, and the Indonesian government. Moving on to you, Corine. Please tell us about yourself. Well, one of the most important aspects of my life is that I’m a mother of four children. I was born and educated in the Netherlands, and have travelled and worked across the world from China, India, Australia, New Zealand and now Indonesia. I’m very grateful that I won the “Best Green CEO” at the 2017 Social Business Innovation Award, and hope to continue a legacy of pioneering the cross-section of environmentalism and business leadership.

You’ve continued the company’s tradition of promoting both physical and environmental health. What have been the biggest struggles you’ve faced in doing so? The challenges we face often involve many stakeholders coming from many different perspectives. The challenges we face, whether climate change, water conservation or plastic pollution, need to be tackled collectively. My biggest struggle is bringing everyone together to all be part of the solution. Oftentimes, there is a communication gap between non-profit, public and private sectors — but this gap needs to be closed if we are to solve the challenges ahead. My dream is to solve this challenge and invite everyone to collaborate and innovate for inspiring solutions. Personally, how do you contribute to help the environment? Aside from being a female role model to other young women wanting to use business as a force for good, I’m a big advocate for coral reef preservation — coral reefs are so vital because they are home to millions of marine organisms and are the key to protecting the biodiversity of the ocean. I also spend a lot of my time taking part in cleanups, because every little part counts! If you could give one tip to our readers who wish to contribute to the well-being of our environment, what would it be? I think it’s great if everyone can be more aware of their ecological footprint. Are we consuming more than what the Earth can sustain? Using free tools like the Footprint Calculator is a great way to find out! (www. footprintcalculator.org) We must never take more than nature replenishes, use water responsibly, and take time to appreciate nature. We must also remember that our own health is interconnected with the health of the planet! Staying healthy and hydrated is important to take care of your own health, so you have the energy and quality time to do purpose-driven work to protect the planet. What do you like to do in your free time? I’m a lover of the environment and our ocean, and one of the best ways to experience it is underwater! So I love to go diving with my family. I’m also an experienced equestrian, spending time in nature with horses overwhelms me with gratitude for this planet we share.

Thank you for your time, Corine! Hope you’re healthy and safe.

home gardening

Becoming a House Plant and Food Garden Parent BY MIRELLA PANDJAITAN

hen I grow up, I want to become a plant parent and harvest my own food garden at home! Does any child truly hold this wish?

too. City people can enjoy plants like in the countryside,” noted Putri. “Make sure to place your indoor plant near a window so it absorbs light and take it outdoors once in a while to replace the compost. Also, don’t let your pets munch on it since its sap will cause itchiness,” Putri added.

Millennials are going mad for filling their personal spaces with indoor house plants, essentially turning themselves into plant parents as they’re deemed as their children – like having a pet. Meanwhile, the positive buzz of organically grown food is getting louder and I’d love to consume more because of the saying, “you are what you eat.” I’m entering my mid-twenties but I haven’t jumped on these bandwagons...yet. House Plants For starters, house plants help you to breathe easier as the plant goes through photosynthesis – the process of plants converting light energy into chemical energy and water, CO2, and minerals become oxygen and energy-rich compounds. This means that adding plants to interior spaces can increase oxygen levels. “Placing a couple of plants together can increase the humidity of a room since roughly 97 percent of water is released, which helps keeps respiratory distresses at bay,” according to Bioadvanced. Not to mention, plants naturally purify the air and improve your health. Stated by Bioadvanced, “the Dutch Product Board for Horticulture commissioned a workplace study which identified including plants in office settings decreases fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore throats, and flu-like symptoms.” Putri Anugerahani owns Grow and Grow and she agrees about the benefits of having house plants. “I once read a journal from NASA which stated plants are natural air filters,” she said. Grow and Grow facilitates the urban society, encouraging plants being sold by the side of the road and desires to have their own green, big-city homes, offices or events. Initially an architect, Putri designed houses and their landscapes; she believes a building has no life without greenery. She then realised to install indoor plants was to naturally filter air and by a process of trial and error, she found which suitable plants can be placed indoors and their benefits. “Sansevieria plant reduces cigarette smoke and turns the room more humid,” she pointed out. Plastic and terracotta pots are used at the moment. “Boxes and paper have always been used for our packaging and we started using cassava plastic. We do want to have recycled pots. There aren’t many, or maybe we’re unaware of, pots that can be planted and turned into fertilisers but I’d love to learn how to make it and shape into cute forms,” she said. Putri believes that more green lands will automatically absorb more water hence, will be better for the environment. It doesn’t

Grow and Grow has three divisions, namely retail, projects for landscape, and rental services, with only retail available nowadays. Anyone living in apartments usually rents plants where they get replaced once every two weeks as a balcony isn’t always provided. House yards will be designed and built by the team and any themed parties involving tons of plants can be rented per day or weekly. Order your house plants or herbs on Tokopedia, WhatsApp 081283835583 or Instagram @ growandgrow.id.

We might think that we are nurturing our garden, but the reality is, our garden is nurturing us. © GROW & GROW

Mandira’s Garden was founded by Lisa Mandira in October 2016, planting more than 100 types of vegetables and herbs and a few local fruits. Lisa was adamant to shift her family’s lifestyle after her husband got sick, yet organic vegetables were relatively expensive at that time, thus hindering her family from consuming healthy food. She decided to grow her own vegetables instead. “I don’t have a background in agricultural education, I just have a strong determination to produce organic vegetables for my family’s health and learned online about herbal plants useful for health,” Lisa explained. Here, three concepts are maintained: “From Garden to Table,” having the cafeteria serving the harvested food, and using organic ingredients only. Used and scrap vegetables are recycled to make compost, reusing materials like milk boxes and plastic bottles to plant seedlings, not using shopping receipts and plastic straws, reducing plastic bag usage, and the purposeful lack of a smoking area are some of the environmental movements currently carried out in a small scope. “When home gardening in the city, pay attention to start from a healthy awareness and consistency in its implementation,” said Lisa. PSAs on the importance of every home to start home gardening with examples of environmental pilot areas which have started and felt the benefits of home gardening to inspire the community.

Beginners can start by planting what they like because gardening shouldn’t feel like a burden. Lisa observed the morning sun produces our foods. The area should be under the sun every morning with herbs and green vegetables basking in for about four to six hours. Those who have smaller plots of land can use pots or take advantage of outdoor walls. “Nothing is too difficult as long as we like it and have the determination to achieve it. Don't be shy to ask questions and seek information or help. We might think that we are nurturing our garden, but the reality is, our garden is nurturing us,” said Lisa.

Keep in mind you need to identify where you’d want to place your house plant and the amount of sun exposure the area receives to determine the type of plant to get. Cacti are good for excessive sunlight, meanwhile, Heuchera is ideal for shady areas. Next, ask yourself whether you’d want to rigorously water the plant or you won’t be so reliable? Thirdly, decorate your plants with rattanmade pots, for example, to make your plant look even more aesthetically pleasing. “Gardening is not just a hobby for women since the youth and men have picked it up

Home Gardens Take it up a notch by having your personal, at-home garden. Environmentally, it uplifts the ecosystem as well as reduces air and noise pollutions. According to Patio Productions, “investing time in your own garden can effectively help the collective effort to reduce the amount of C02 in the Earth’s atmosphere. A concerted effort in areas known to contain high levels of air pollution and smog can benefit from this.” You’ll also eat healthier, build self-esteem, and boost your vitamin D intake.

Home gardening helps to save the planet, namely in terms of no longer using shopping bags, depleting the waste that can’t be recycled. “Imagine how much plastic waste would be reduced if each family grows their food and shops using recycled bags?” Lisa expressed.

necessarily have to be ornamental plants that decorate our homes; rosemary, pandan leaves, bay leaves, and other herbs are beneficial for cooking. So is making DIY, zero-waste fertilisers from dried eggshells and DIY pest sprays from a mixture of garlic and chilli, boiled and then filtered. Unfortunately, plants can’t communicate their needs and thus show us their symptoms, such as wilted or yellow-coloured leaves, indicating they must be watered or have their soil replaced. Likewise, leaving for a long vacation or business trip isn’t great for the well-being of the plants. Putri suggested using hydro-gel in the pot because it's similar to a grain of water absorbed by the plant to prevent it from dying while you’re away.

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

Buy fresh organic vegetables and fruits at Mandira’s Garden on Jl. Kemang Timur Raya no. 55, South Jakarta or contact 081802037555 and Instagram @ mandiasgarden.

Perhaps my time to become a plant mother and have my own food garden is near after all.

Sustainable Solutions in Bali – CCS Students Taking Action Take a moment to visualise Bali. Most visualise lush rice terraces, pristine beaches, or intricate offerings and temples. While Bali is a place of incredible natural beauty, Bali is growing and changing rapidly, creating challenges now and in the future - plastic pollution, water shortages, and economic disparity, to name a few. How do we address these problems? How can Bali be sustainable? How can we shape a better future? Canggu Community School (CCS) in Canggu, Bali is a community exploring these questions and challenges. We believe our students will be leaders in the future, and they can start now. While students complete a rigorous curriculum including Cambridge and International Baccalaureate, we focus on putting learning into action! In June, CCS celebrated our first students completing the Program of Sustainable Design which focuses on finding sustainable solutions to today’s challenges right here in Bali. This year, students explored how they could improve the environmental footprint of CCS. They looked into water usage and how this affects the depleted aquifer in Bali. Students explored ideas with guidance from teachers and experts, including ram pumps, reverse

wells, and water turbines. As the projects grew from research to design and into construction, students decided to integrate their ideas into a system: a perpetually irrigated vertical garden with filters to remove pollutants from the river water. Students built a three-part system together: a spiral water wheel to pump water, a natural filtration system made from plastic water bottles, and a vertical garden using recycled plastic bottles. Students developed functioning models to show that research, teamwork, and creativity can help solve our local issues. Next, students will share solutions and inspire others in Bali to implement similar projects. Students in their first year of Sustainable Design focused on the problem of waste in Bali. With more people and tourism, waste is becoming a significant problem in Canggu and the rest of Bali. Students explored worm farms, using recycled plastic for building materials, recycling paper into building insulation, and a bio-digester to create energy from waste. Next year, they will begin building models, including building our own bio-digester. These projects will be used as models to support local community issues and sustainable solutions across

Bali and Indonesia. By using locally available and recycled materials, we can focus on practical solutions that make a real difference! CCS students also plan to put their sustainable solutions into practice on our new Primary Campus, opening in August. Further, IB Diploma students are engaged in developing a “Green Warung” project to help our community warung be more sustainable. Others are working with local restaurants and orphanages to use left-over bread and food for income generation and reducing waste. All of these students live out CCS values: Learning, Engagement, Balance, and Respect. Students are grounded in the highest quality international education available, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. By putting their learning into practice and engaging in local issues, young people can help find sustainable solutions that make the world a better place for everyone.

Jason Green, CCS Sustainable Design Leader Keegan Combs, CCS Head of School

sports

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

Leave Your Cars at Home, Cycle and Longboard Instead BY MIRELLA PANDJAITAN

Jakseli often promotes the idea that cycling is a lifestyle, not just a form of exercise. Their social media account (@jakartasepedalipat) is full of encouraging posts to gather cyclists and non-cyclists to do activities together at a public space to be seen by many people. “The more people who see, the more people would want to cycle, therefore the bike will become a lifestyle and a social indicator," said Haris. Founded in September 2017 in Tangerang’s Godzilla enclosure, the community began to help single riders make biking friends in Jakarta and surrounding areas, noticing the number of single rider folding bike users and the lack of folding bike communities in Jakarta. Jakseli’s members are primarily those who possess folding bikes and the numbers keep on rising. To date, there are no expat members; however, Jakseli welcomes expats who want to join. They usually have a riding agenda around Jakarta on Sunday morning with a gathering point in front of FX Senayan, and Wednesday night in the Kendal tunnel and front of the HI roundabout police post. Gatherings in Bogor, Bandung, and Yogyakarta have also been done, even conducting the Jakseli Tour De Jogja 2019. Cycling shouldn’t be deemed as just hype since it can form new friendships. Haris suggested that anyone keen to cycle on Jakarta’s busy roads should always use their helmets and switch on their rear lights.

he Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, is an advocate for cyclists to use the capital’s main roads. Anies encourages Jakartans to cycle as an alternative mode of transportation for the daily commute during the period of transitional large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). Healthwise, cycling helps to lower your blood pressure, increases muscle strength and flexibility, increases your energy, and lowers your stress levels. Cycling also creates safer and calmer roads. Even better, cycling also heals the planet. Having more vehicles off the road means greater chances of having lower air pollution levels. Choosing to take your bicycle to go to the nearest Indomaret or even get to work on Jalan Sudirman cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. According to Biofriendly Planet, “cycling requires no gasoline, no antifreeze, and doesn’t need many of the other fluids vehicles need to operate. Therefore, no harmful vehicle emissions or smog are released into the air when a person is riding their bicycle.” Research done by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Centre states, “transportation emits large amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere, as 80 percent of the carbon monoxide in the atmosphere came from motorised vehicles that operate on gas and diesel. These sources also contribute 55 percent of the nitrogen oxide pollution in the air.” Hence, cycling not only creates zero pollution, but petroleum consumption also reduces. Parking lots are a problem for the environment too, especially with the increasing number of motorised vehicles on the road, according to SF Gate. Jakartans usually have at least one car and/or one motorbike at home. “The asphalt, roadway tars, and other chemicals poured to make parking lots also release pollutants into the air and create heat islands that contribute to global warming,” notes SF Gate. Noise pollution and congestion lessen, so does the need for new parking lots as more green spaces can instead flourish when you hop on your bike. If you’re environmentally conscious and care about your ecological footprint, cycling reduces it. A local biking community called Jakarta Sepeda Lipat (Jakseli or Jakarta Folding Bike) agrees that cycling contributes to Earth’s fresher air as well as significantly minimising air pollution and fossil fuel consumption when it becomes part of your routine. More and more Jakartans have had the pleasure to cycle around the city since outdoor sports activities have once more been allowed. Haris Kurniawan represents the cycling community as their public relations officer; he reckons the COVID-19 pandemic has driven people to increase their bodies’ immunity to

COURTESY OF DITA

lower their chances of transmitting the virus. People got bored staying at home for too long, hence they are now looking for activities that are still allowed by the government whilst following health protocols. The public’s anxiety about using public transportation has also compelled the increasing number of people who prefer to use bicycles as a mode of transportation. “Jakseli is still

trying to understand whether caring for the environment is one of the reasons for many people to ride a bicycle, or if they’re simply following the hype of cycling nowadays,” Haris mused. “We petition members to always bring their own tumbler or reusable water bottles to reduce the use of disposable plastics like bottled water,” he added.

COURTESY OF JAKSELI

Second, they should always obey traffic rules and not act arrogantly on the road, such as skipping a red light. Use the bike lanes or try cycling on the leftmost lane when there aren’t any specifically designated lanes to prevent endangering other road users. “Jakseli always applies the principle of sharing the road because road users are not just cyclists,” Haris said. Third, try to cycle with other people – unless you’re forced to ride alone to the office or school, choose a busy lane by other road users. And finally, don’t take out or play with your phone while you’re cycling. Avoid placing mobile phones on the handlebar bracket or any part of the bike that can invite street crime, Haris advised. Besides cycling, a longboard can get you to places without harming the environment. Dita Novita Maharani, a longboarding enthusiast in Jakarta, has been using her longboard more now than before the pandemic, though she’s still limiting herself to around her housing complex, like heading to food stalls, the local vegetable seller, and taking her dogs on walks. “I really want to use my longboard as a mode of transportation on the main roads because, aside from making my body healthy, longboarding is also environmentally friendly. Maybe someday, if the streets of Jakarta become friendlier for longboarding, more people will use one as an alternative mode of transportation,” she said. Dita reckons to cruise on a longboard can also make people more sensitive to their

Longboarding is a fun hobby for me because it gives the sensation of feeling free as the wind blows. When I feel bored or stuck doing a job, sometimes I glide for a while to clear my mind again. surrounding environment, for example, the importance of maintaining environmental cleanliness by not littering and maintaining trees as protection from the sun. Besides, fuel isn’t consumed thus, again, reducing air pollution. “During the Global Climate Strike in 2019, some friends from the longboard community were also motivated to support this activity by wearing t-shirts bearing environmental preservation messages while gliding on their longboards and posting them on social media,” she said. Dita initially liked to surf after taking a surfing class with an Indonesian surfer named Gemala Hanafiah at Pelabuhan Ratu in 2016. There were days where she longed to surf but living in Jakarta hindered her wish. To sate the need, she learned to longboard with the friends she met during her surf lesson. Longboarding is similar to surfing – the only difference is that you’re “surfing” on concrete waves. She finally bought her first board, a surfskate, which is included in the longboard category but is more suitable for carving manoeuvres. “Longboarding is a fun hobby for me because it gives the sensation of feeling free as the wind blows. When I feel bored or stuck doing a job, sometimes I glide for a while to clear my mind again,” said Dita. As a sport, longboarding trains the core muscles, tightens the body, and trains balance, besides of course breathing and stamina. As with any sport, longboarding helps maintain mental health too, as peace is derived from doing outdoor activities and being close to nature. Always make sure to be safe at skate parks, sports arenas, and non-crowded places by wearing protective gear. If you feel alone, meet like-minded people and you’ll feel more relaxed cruising on the road by joining a longboard community like Dita – she joined the Longboard Girls Crew Indonesia (LGCI) community in 2019, routinely practising and playing at Semanggi’s interchange roads during Car Free Day Sundays with the JKT CFD Longboard community. LGCI hold events and competitions like “Girls Can Ride” to celebrate World Women's Day on March 8, 2019, simultaneously held in Jakarta, Bali, and Yogyakarta. Think about it; cycling and longboarding have health, environmental, economic, and societal benefits besides considered as mere hobbies. Infusing these sports in your daily lives may not only benefit your health but also our dearly beloved Earth.

SENSATIA BOTANICALS THRIVES IN NATURAL BEAUTY MOVEMENT AND SUPPORTS LOCAL COMMUNITY

The GMP-certified cosmetic company is poised to have over 70 percent of its personnel originated from the east coast area of Bali, Karangasem since 2000. It started as a small production facility in 2000 that focused on manufacturing natural coconut soaps exported to buyers outside of Indonesia. The short supply of natural-based cosmetic products in the market during that period triggered the company to grow into more than a soap-making business as it began to add skincare products into the portfolio. To date, Sensatia Botanicals has more than 150 assortments in the line, ranging from skincare, hair treatment to sun protection; all of which are officially registered at the National Agency of Drug and Food Control of the Republic of Indonesia, also known as BPOM. From its humble beginning, Sensatia Botanicals has been actively hiring local Karangasem residents resulting in over 70 percent from the total number of employees. In its continuous effort to support the local community, the company also established a profit-sharing system making its employees 20 percent shareholders of the principal production company, PT Sensatia Botanicals. This plan allows the company to facilitate personnel with additional income depending on the business’ profitability to promote equality amongst workers and administrators. Dedicated to excellent product quality, Sensatia Botanicals sources high-quality commodities for the products’ ingredients from around the world. Especially for essential oils, the company pays specific attention to the country of origin that plays a big role in the fragrance, bioactivity, and the quality of the oil. In 2013, Sensatia Botanicals was granted GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, making it the first GMP-certified company in Bali. Owning this certification means the manufacturing facility runs a thorough system to ensure products are consistently produced and controlled according to strict quality standards. It is designed to minimise the risks involved in any pharmaceutical production that cannot be eliminated through testing the final product. Every time a product is made, the documented proof is provided to ensure correct procedures are consistently followed at each step in the manufacturing process.

For more information about Sensatia Botanicals, please visit www.sensatia.com.

Sensatia Botanicals also received halal certification No. 08150009520218 issued by the Indonesian Council of Ulama Bali in 2018. The certification was issued after Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Council of Ulama Bali (Komisi Fatwa MUI Bali) affirmed that all Sensatia Botanicals products are officially halal-certified. Other than focusing on Sensatia Botanicals retail products, the manufacturing facility also fulfils industrial orders providing excellent leisure amenities for various businesses. The company also provides custom product creations allowing clients to create their own signature scents in various forms of amenities. Sensatia Botanicals has worked with over 70 corporations ranging from upscale hotel groups such as Alila Hotels and Resorts and Karma Group, up to eco-resorts and professional spa facilities. While committing to give back to the local community, Sensatia Botanicals also targets to minimise its environmental footprint and reaffirms its commitment to fight climate change. The efforts include refraining from palm oil usage as more large areas of tropical forests and other ecosystems with high conservation values have been cleared to make room for vast monoculture oil palm plantations. It also embraces the absence of animal testing and harsh substances such as parabens in the product manufacturing process, fully knowing how everyday consumer choices can affect their health and the state of the planet. The company also actively encourages customers to bring back empty Sensatia Botanicals bottles to one of the stores for recycling. Every 12 empty bottles will be rewarded with a shopping voucher worth Rp100,000 for the next purchase. In industrial levels, it encourages clients to collect empty amenities bottles to be picked up free of charge by Sensatia Botanicals, then are distributed to recycling centres where the plastic waste is turned back into useable recycled plastic items such as industrial pallets. Sensatia Botanicals welcomes natural beauty products enthusiasts by running 19 physical stores in Bali and Java areas, featuring beauty consultants to assist customers in finding a suitable skincare regime addressing an individual’s unique skin concern. The company also accommodates customers across the globe by providing worldwide shipping service through the official website.

business profile

Sip on Sustainable Wine by Giotto Castigliono, Creator and Developer of Isola Wines How does Isola Wine help the environment – perhaps any sustainability efforts or programs you’ve established? We believe in deglobalisation. Quality wine can be made here if you have a vision and put in some effort, as can any product you could imagine such as agricultural products, cheeses, motorbikes, and services. Transporting products all around the world before they are consumed is not ideal for the planet.

GIOTTO AND GIACOMO ANSELMI AGRONOMIST AND WINEMAKER

nding the day with a glass of wine is divine. Whether you’re a fan of red or white, the search and curiosity for a splendid quality bottle of wine are always on. Giotto Castigliono is an Italian, and yes, he’s a wine lover. He claims to be no wine expert but he has pushed the table by developing local wine in the tropics of Bali. Giotto runs his wine business differently, using organic ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. Not to mention, he believes in the philosophy “less is more” making Isola Wine sustainable and delicious. Indonesia Expat had the chance to learn more about Giotto and his unique approach to create wine.

grapes and make the wine, then training the farmers how to maintain the quality, surviving at the beginning, being such a small boutique winery, and then the fact that we had issues to convince the market that such a project was even possible. But that’s what we’re looking for. We were not wine experts when we started this project, we couldn’t have been. Our project was considered impossible and suicidal from all of the traditional wine experts; we are becoming tropical wine experts, a brand new field in the wine sector, and we’re doing that by solving every problem that comes at us. The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity is!

Aiming to bring Balinese wine to a global standard, what is Isola Wine and how does it plan to achieve that goal? Isola Wine is a new Balinese wine brand created by Cantine Balita. We started our mission with one goal in mind: quality. We started with where the wine comes from and the grapes. We’ve even developed new grape varieties, all grown in the Buleleng coast of North Bali by creating a brand new agronomy program specialising in studies on the tropical environment of the island. This means that the grapes produced are of comparable quality to the ones grown in famous wine-making countries in the world.

There are a variety of local wine brands in Indonesia. So what makes Isola Wine different? You have to try the wines to understand. We plan to elevate the reputation and knowledge of Balinese wines not just in Indonesia, but worldwide. We are very proud to be a 100 percent Balinese wine and eager to help promote tourism in Buleleng.

From that, we moved on to the actual winemaking to maintain our philosophy of “quality first.” We decided to follow the European Regulations and Guidelines for organic wine; that’s what we have been doing so far. The next step will be to present and introduce our project to international wine countries and bring Bali onto the wine map of the world. Have there been any challenges to developing wine from scratch in Bali? Yes, many! The most wide-ranging and unexpected challenges started with ourselves, having to understand how to develop the

Are there any adjustments the company had to make to face the “new normal” in Bali? Yes – with any changes in the market, like during the Mount Agung eruptions and the earthquake in Lombok. Never saw one as big as this but no one did. Our first thought was on our employees and ways to guarantee their jobs and payrolls as the market has changed and our sales had to switch from restaurants and hotels to private and retails so we can survive while many of our clients are still shut. But I try to stay positive and focus our efforts on a long-term vision. Surviving this crisis will make us stronger. From your perspective, how has Indonesia been in terms of saving the planet? In all honesty, even though there have been quite a few organisations that are trying their best – there aren’t many.

Then, we are addressing the issue of people. Being able to produce fewer grapes per hectare and less time per year so it will be of a certain quality, making the farmers earn more than before, work less, and overall have better knowledge and philosophy regarding the quality in agronomy are our goals. We also try to transform our waste in fertilisers for the vineyard and we use an environmentalfriendly paper label on our bottles. Why is it important for Isola Wine to use organic ingredients? For the quality of our product. We are a boutique winery, really small if you compare it to all the other local wine producers. Not being in the mass market allows us to concentrate on the quality only. Going organic simply means putting much less and much better additives in during the winemaking process. This means a better taste. Walk us through the typical development of a bottle of wine from farming the grapes and packaging it, to shipment. It takes one and a half to two years to plant and produce the grapes’ first harvest. After the harvesting, we transport the grapes to the winery where we crush them and start the

Isola Wine is a new Balinese wine brand created by Cantine Balita. We started our mission with one goal in mind: quality.

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

fermentation process for about a week. Then, everything is pressed out and it starts the long conservation period that lasts between eight to 12 months, depending on the wine. Gradually, the wine will be bottled and stored for about two to three months until it stabilises inside the bottle and finally gets shipped out from the factory upon requests from distributors. Where can a wine connoisseur get their hands on Isola Wine’s products? How can they become more sustainable by purchasing the products? Think global and drink local for a sustainable philosophy! For Bali, we provide free home delivery through our website, isolawine.com, and we can ship across Indonesia for any private requests. For Eureka, the wines are now being distributed by PT. PAN all around Indonesia and are available at almost any retailers still open in Bali and Jakarta. Moving on to you, Giotto. Please tell us about yourself. I’m a young entrepreneur specialised in management and marketing strategy. My main philosophies are “less is more” and “problems equal opportunity”. I’ve been to Bali since 2012 and I started to think about the project in 2013. Why did you decide to develop wine in Bali and not in Italy? Because doing it in Italy for me was a crazy thing. I wanted to do something new, fun, challenging, that’s never been done before, and full of opportunities. Starting a wine company in Italy was never in my mind as it didn’t check within that parameter. Doing it here in Bali did – some with double checks! Being an Italian, you sure do know your wine. What do you wish consumers would consider when they take a sip of wine? It’s true; I do love wine and I am Italian. But I’m 34 and have never been in the wine business before Bali so I guess that doesn’t make me a wine expert, just a lover! For me, it’s not about a glass; it’s all about a bottle and the next bottle. It’s about how wine makes you feel as nothing else gives the same effect whilst tasting so good. That’s why we started. We wanted to make a Balinese wine that when you drink more, you’ll want more of it. Personally, how do you contribute to help the environment? By trying as hard as I can to not make the situation even worse. I do what should be done such as recycling, choosing sustainable products, and trying to pass my thoughts to the people around me. It would be nice to develop a new project in the renewable energy sector since I believe that it is the key doing something concrete to reverse the damage made to the planet and to satisfy the need of both developed countries and most importantly, developing countries.

Thank you for your time, Giotto! Stay safe and healthy.

GREEN SCHOOL BALI

The School of Now For far too long, our progress as a civilisation has remained unmindful of the world around us. We have developed our cities, industries, and road networks and mined for resources without care for the impact on the planet we inhabit. The result is the undulating march of climate change and impending ecological disasters that we can no longer ignore. As the world we know comes to a standstill, many around the world are taking this time to reflect on how we ended up here and how we can equip our children to deal with the unknown. But many are also realising that traditional models of education are inadequate in preparing the future generation to meet the challenges of today. Too often, schools remain narrowly focused on textbook knowledge and instill an individualistic concept of success, unmindful of the natural and social world. Now, more than ever, our world needs curious,

creative, and innovative young leaders to lead us out of crises we face. For over a decade, Green School has been equipping students with the skills and values they need to navigate this ever-changing world, and helping them become green leaders and changemakers. At Green School, education goes far beyond books as they look to bring the world into the classroom and the classroom into the world. The Green School learning journey starts from the nature-immersed bamboo campus on the banks of the Ayung River. The classrooms have no walls so students learn surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. Students are encouraged to explore their surroundings and form an empathetic relationship with the environment they live in. This compassion for the environment is nurtured at an early age for students of Green School because of their

focus on sustainability and care for the environment. It all starts with a sustainable campus – made from locally sourced bamboo – which runs on about 85 percent renewable energy. Students are involved in renewable energy projects and are innovating to create new, sustainable ways of generating electricity. The classrooms are surrounded by permaculture gardens, where students learn first-hand about growing their own food sustainably. The school’s waste management system collects and recycles 1.2 tonnes of trash each month. The Bio Bus, another studentled project, is Green School’s very own transportation system with seven buses running 100 percent on biodiesel made from used cooking oil. Students collect used cooking oil from restaurants around Bali to turn it into biofuel. The only school in Indonesia with its own B100 biofuel station, Green School Bali’s Bio Bus is able to reduce CO2 emissions by eight tonnes each month. With its aim of nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious young leaders, students at Green School learn about the United Nations

Sustainable Development Goals and their individual and collective responsibility towards the planet. The curriculum focuses on building skills, values and knowledge and an understanding of environmental issues and building empathy for the planet and its inhabitants. Instead of testing and grading, students from primary through to high school work towards solving real-world problems in a project-based setting. But all this is just the beginning of Green School’s journey. With the freedom to explore and innovate, the community at Green School strives each day to come up with solutions to the planet’s more pressing issues. Last year, at the World Economic Forum, Green School was termed the School of Future, a school which is preparing the next generation to meet the challenges of tomorrow. But the COVID-19 pandemic shows us that the future is here already. Now more than ever, our world needs creative thinkers and problem solvers who help make our planet sustainable. The future suddenly seems too far away, the world needs action today. It needs a school of the now.

Join the change. Join Green School. A School for Now. Find out more about the Green School global movement at www.greenschool.org/bali @greenschoolbali

climate change

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

The “Action” in Climate Action BY PRAMOD KANAKATH

here is an uncertainty prevailing over the willingness of governments and individuals all over the world to respond to calls for climate action. Governments find economical and business interests weighing the climate factor down by such huge depths that they cannot dream about raising the alarm over icebergs melting. The US President’s consistent mockery (and often confusingly supportive statements) of climate change facts is said to have sprung from a series of causes relating to trade competitiveness based on his tweet, “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive,” written on November 7, 2012. Even when he seemed to half accept the global warming fact, he did not make it obvious, but rather chose to shy away from it in a New York Times’ article.

The marathon Brexit imbroglio in 2019 intermittently put a hold on the EU’s planned climate action as it led to strengthening countries denying climate change, according to The Independent. In addition, authorities at world-class companies have toed the line of governments in order to cause concerns for activists. The British Airways’ revelation last year of the attempt to save money at the expense of the environment is not a stirring of a hornet’s nest in the climate campaigners’ quarters but is an aggravation of a problem where irresponsibilities tend to persist. Oliver Bate, the CEO of Allianz, made an open secret even more open when he remarked that unlike a few years back, the business establishments are holding sway over governments in most countries. This may put those in power in a stalemate situation, practically impeding possible actions to cut the CO2 emissions based on the Paris agreement. Like in every mission, in every task, many hands working together is the quintessential pre-requisite to victory. In our time, it cannot be said more of anything else than climate action. Unfortunately, there are two unfounded thoughts or beliefs among individual citizens playing spoilsport. These two are conspicuously evident in both developed and developing nations. One is the scepticism over theories on global warming. Recently, a colleague shot me a question on our company’s drive to abolish single-use plastic. Though the administration was planning to encourage the employees to go green by making the canteens free of single-use plastic, the colleague’s eye-winking suggestion of “ten-dollar” penalties for breaking plastic rules verged on stinging sarcasm. The colleague went on to question the effectiveness of a few organisations attempting this through his half-hearted question on penalties. Not all individuals may be aware of repercussions caused by climate change. Many of them may not have devoted enough time to gauge the realities the earth is facing as few read authentic papers prepared by climate experts. It is the convenience of living that presents itself incognito in the form of a sceptic. Going to a mini-market and buying some drinks and snacks requires a plastic bag. That fast-food joint where

fried chicken and french fries are bought needs a styrofoam box and a plastic bag. Bringing your eco bag (if you have one) everywhere takes time to remember, enforce and achieve a rhythm that can be life-changing. Here lies the rub. Taking climate action is equivalent to changing your lifestyle. The second reason is shyness. You heard it right. Going to a beach clean-up or carrying a Tupperware lunch box to their canteen or a nearby restaurant for takeaway food is shame shame puppy shame. Recently, The Guardian carried an article that discussed how men are shy to join anti-plastic campaigns for fear of being branded as feminine and even gay! It mainly referred to a situation in Europe, but instances of which can easily be seen all over the world, especially in Asia. To someone sitting in Asia and watching progressive thoughts in the western world gaining fruition through organised activities and campaigns, this may come as a big surprise. At first, my instinct was to share the article with my students and advise them not to be cowed down by such feelings. I reversed the decision, thinking it better not to show it at all. Even information on such human infirmity may pave the way for an abrupt change of minds as teenagers have theirs convoluted with transparencies of fast-changing ideas and misgivings. We are not short of summits and forums taking place worldwide, sharing thoughts and ideas on the impending danger posed by climate change. It is good to hear from school and university students who are probably more concerned about the earth’s future than the millennials and the senior citizens. Most students are particularly interested in learning about things related to the preservation of life on another planet in the event of a wipeout of the beautiful earth. Many of them would love to see and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef before it disappears. But they all need to go a long way in order to sustain a lifestyle that will cater to the interests of the environment. The lessons learnt at summits need to be taken to the campuses and classrooms and pledges taken need to be kept up for the entire school life before they take it further to the bigger life outside. It is worthwhile to note that the Swedish school campaigner Greta Thunberg used the words “to panic” in her address to world governments to take climate action. Our usual pieces of advice direct the listeners to think, to contemplate, to mull, to decide and then do. Greta’s to-infinitive call obliterates all those steps by step tips and opens our eyes to a world clamouring for instant action.

Sources: twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/265895292191248385 nytimes.com/2018/10/15/climate/trump-climate-changefact-check.html independent.co.uk/environment/brexit-uk-eu-climatechange-crisis-net-zero-sheffield-a9110071.html theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/08/manstraight-recycle-men-environmental-gay-homophobia

info for expats

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

Your Guide to Understanding Business Tax Obligations in Indonesia

ndonesia continues to be a huge attraction for entrepreneurs, business owners, and international companies due to its wealth of resources and its burgeoning population. Unicorn businesses are starting to become more prominent and many tout Indonesia as the future powerhouse of Southeast Asia. Many will agree, now is the perfect time to set up a business in this promising climate. One issue many new businesses face is understanding their tax obligations due to the unfamiliarity of Indonesian regulations, paired with varying prices and service levels from Indonesian agencies. In this article, Amanda Stevanny of LetsMoveIndonesia answers your most common questions about tax liabilities for new businesses in Indonesia. What is the first thing that must be done to carry out tax obligations in Indonesia? The first thing individuals or businesses must do is obtain an NPWP (Tax identity number). The NPWP essentially provides the capacity to report tax to the Indonesian government. Obtaining a Tax ID is mandatory for all businesses, as well as Individuals (both foreign and local) who earn any form of income in the country.

For foreigners to obtain an individual tax identity number, they must also have a KITAS. Additional documents required to start tax reporting include tax relief certificate (SKT) which you should obtain when setting up your business. Furthermore, if your business has a gross revenue of Rp4.8 billion you will also need to obtain an (SPPKP) VAT Registration Number. Once your business has all of the above, you may start tax reporting. Should my company be VAT registered? If your business has a gross revenue of more than Rp4.8 billion, you must become VAT registered – this is done by obtaining PKP certification (Certification of Taxable Enterprise). VAT is generally charged at 10 percent in Indonesia and you must report transactions monthly. For tax reporting, when is this done and how frequently? Tax reporting needs to be reported both monthly, as well as annually under the following guidelines: Monthly: WHT art 21/26, WHT art 23/26,

WHT art 4(2), WHT art 15, and VAT Yearly: Corporate Income Tax Return (CITR) and Individual WHT art 21/26 CITR: Should be filed by the latest 30th April the following year Individual WHT art 21/26: Should be filed by the latest March 31 the following year How much does tax should I pay? Each WHT has a different tariff of Tax. For example: VAT: 10 percent from tax (imposition) base WHT art 23 for services: 2 percent from tax (imposition) base (if you have NPWP), or 4 percent from tax (imposition) base (if you don’t have NPWP) WHT art 4(2) for rental building: 10 percent from tax (imposition) base WHT art 21 for employee/taxpayer that received an income, the progressive tariff are: • Five percent for yearly income tax up to Rp50 million • 15 percent for yearly income tax in between Rp50 million–250 million • 25 percent for yearly income tax in between Rp250 million–500 million • 30 percent for yearly income tax more than Rp500 million Please note tax tariffs are the same throughout Indonesia. If you employ workers, what should you do? You are obliged to calculate the tax, deduct their salary (or maybe your company will bear the tax), pay the tax, and file the report of WHT 21/26. What is withholding tax and who pays it? A withholding tax, or a retention tax, is an income tax to be paid to the government by the payer of the income rather than by the recipient of the income. The tax is thus withheld or deducted from the income due to the recipient. How does the reporting process work? From July 1, 2016, tax reporting is done via an online system rather than manually. To do so, you will need an EFIN number (Electronic Filing Identification Number). The EFIN is issued by the Directorate General of Taxes, and in order to obtain

it, the individual taxpayer or agency can submit directly to the relevant tax office by preparing legality documents and also the EFIN registration submission form. Once registered, all reporting is encrypted to ensure confidentially is guaranteed. If you do not adhere to the rules, what are the potential consequences? If you do not file your taxes accordingly, you will be charged an interest penalty for late payment and an administrative penalty for late report filing. How much does tax reporting cost? Outsourcing your tax reporting to a reliable agency is recommended and generally more cost-effective than employing a full-time consultant. Fees between agencies vary; many will have a standard rate, but the fee will rise depending on the number of transactions, whilst others will vary their fee based on the size of the transactions. At LetsMoveIndonesia we are proud to be the first agency in Jakarta to advertise our prices for all services, so you can clearly see the costings. Our monthly reporting starts at only Rp2.5 million. What are the benefits of using LetsMoveIndonesia to prepare my taxes? Our tax team has decades of experience in reporting taxes and we value promoting reliable and ethical services in everything we do. As described by previous news articles from Expat magazines, LetsMoveIndonesia is often referred to as Jakarta’s Most Trusted agency, due to our ethical practices and reliability of service. Since its inception in 2016, we have quickly become the trendsetters in Immigration, Company Establishment, Tax and Accountancy and Real Estate Services. If I have more questions or need assistance, how can I contact you? If you have a question or would like to know more, then feel free to contact me for a free consultation: E: info@letsmoveindonesia. com T: 021 300 297 27 or come and visit me in our office in Bellagio Mall Mega Kuningan – the only walk in agency in Jakarta.

FABELIO

Addressing Sustainability in the Furniture Industry

As global campaigns to raise awareness of saving the planet from climate change arises, sustainability comes to the picture. Eco-friendly fashion, footwear, even food brands start to voice the trend, gaining mainstream followings in the process. This sparks hope of furniture brands following the same pace. What is sustainable furniture, exactly? It is the process of creating pieces with minimal negative impacts on the environment. The decision of investing in sustainable furniture not only affects the environment but also your comfort at home, as they usually made with carefully selected and high-quality materials that will last for years. Fabelio is a reputable furniture e-retailer based in Jakarta. Operated in the home and living industry, Fabelio offers a vast range of quality furniture and interior design services, these include design consultation, styling advice, along with specialized furniture recommendation. Having one vision in mind—turning houses into homes—Fabelio believes that each one of us should have access to build our dream home, make every idea come to life with its purity intact. Fundamentally, they strive to create an impact. One of the ways in creating an impact for Fabelio is through supporting local communities. For them, creating an impact is not only limited to the homes you live in, but also to the environment. Consequently, they work closely with local communities of craftsmen— resulting in a variety of furniture with the finest craftsmanship. Over 80 percent of Fabelio’s products are made in the Java region.

Another way is through sustainably produced furniture. In addition to supporting the local community, Fabelio made sure that every product they sell is sustainably produced and eco-friendly. They only work with suppliers who comply with the Indonesian Legal Wood Certification, a system and procedure designed to pursue the legal verification for Indonesia wood and wood products. Fabelio uses high-value speciality crops found in forest farming like Mindi, Rubber, and Mahogany woods. Sustainability is regarded as an important matter. They trust in developing a fine piece of furniture, one should consider ecological balance in mind. Fabelio understands the importance of giving back to nature and has been planning ways to actualize it. Starting this year, the Indonesian e-retailer encourages plastic waste reduction by moving to eco-friendly, recyclable packaging for every product. Another plan moving forward is to plant a tree for every furniture sold in the coming year. By and large, spending on sustainable furniture has never been a wrong move. You can contribute to saving the planet—and turning your dream homes into reality, all at the same time.

Fabelio helps to make everything easier for you. Find beautifully crafted furniture with curated designs only at their website, www.fabelio.com

deforestation

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

Yes! We Have No Orangutans. BY DANIEL POPE

was delighted when Indonesia Expat invited me to submit an article for the Green and Sustainability issue. Green happens to be my favourite colour. Why green above other colours? When I was nine years old, I decided I needed a favourite number (because a pretty girl had asked me what it was) and chose my age. This worked out well, so when it was time to allocate myself a favourite colour (which the same girl had asked me about next time I saw her), I settled on a similarly convenient strategy and decided to choose the colour of the next thing I looked at. Unsurprisingly, this was the girl’s eyes. And so “green” it was. I might instead have looked haughtily up at the sky and chosen blue, or bashfully down at the dirt in the driveway and been lumbered with brown as a favourite colour. Or even the drab grey of the tarmac to the side. As it was, I think things turned out alright. Indonesia has many associations with the colour green. It, for example, is the colour of Islam, which is the country’s “favourite” religion. Some of the associations might be only in my mind admittedly, but I intend in the rest of this article to run through a couple of them. First, green is the colour of Indonesia’s rain forests, the largest in all of Asia. Sadly, this lush habitat, containing 300,000 wildlife species including Sumatran tigers and pygmy elephants, has been dwindling rapidly as bulldozers are set to work making way for palm oil plantations and other high-profit enterprises. The last time I flew over Kalimantan, I looked down and saw an island gutted. It is said that conservationist David Attenborough’s horrified face can be made out in the brittle and barren surface of Kalimantan from 30,000 feet up in the same way that some people see Jesus’s face in a bowl of

cornflakes or a slice of burnt toast. I guess only the volcanoes of the Ring of Fire stop Java suffering the same fate. But not by much.

Goldblum in his role as the human fly from the 1986 film should be summoned to take command of them. He’d need to wear his climbing boots though, all six of them.

Years ago, an orangutan used to inhabit my favourite restaurant in the city of Tanjung Pinang, Bintan, an island that also has its glory days of greenness behind it. This endearing creature, which wore a shiny green silk waistcoat, was the establishment’s mascot and chief entertainer. It used to lumber around like a wise if taciturn old man, cadging bananas off guests, along with the occasional cigarette, and perhaps even mixing cocktails when not confined to its cage in the centre of the bar area. This, of course, was a dull lifestyle for a creature whose ancestor had reached the giddy heights, higher than any forest tree, of starring alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1978 classic movie “Every Which Way but Loose.” This orangutan, in contrast, was stuck in a real-life down-and-out movie, reduced to scraping a living in a restaurant. At least it was looked after. Many orangutans in the wild might feel like they are starring in another Hollywood classic, “King Kong,” with encircling biplanes trying to shoot them to the ground like they did the giant ape in the film’s final scene. Orangutans are an endangered species in Indonesia, (as I guess they are in Hollywood too these days) largely because of their disappearing habitats, a tragedy that enables us to enjoy margarine, pizza bases, and the hundreds of other products that use palm oil. One study concluded that the island of Borneo lost 100,000 orangutans between 1999 and 2015, another that the population had dropped by a quarter in a decade. Leaving aside the sad plight of orangutans for a moment, green is also the colour of Bintang beer bottles. No, I’m not going to gush cheerfully on about beer again. I’ve done that too often in these pages. I’m going to discuss the place where empty bottles which escape the recyclers end up. The mounds of waste

It’s easy to imagine mountaineers coming from all over Indonesia to practice on “Mount” Bantar Gebang, clambering along the most solidly packed routes, (just follow the cockroaches and their sherpas), to reach the 40-metre summit. It wouldn’t be advisable to scale this mountain without oxygen, mainly because the stench would be overpowering.

Joking aside, the Bantar Gebang landfill is an example of how waste management can reach apocalyptic proportions. You might think this is only to be expected from a city of 13 million wasteful, littering people. that Jakarta produces each month could probably be spread evenly over all the land stripped of trees throughout the archipelago. Why not go the whole hog? Just saying. Most of Jakarta’s waste contributes to the upkeep of Indonesia’s best-known artificial mountain, Bantar Gebang, in the district of Bekasi 20 kilometres outside Jakarta. This behemoth of a landfill is the largest in Asia, covering more than 200 acres. It’s said to support 3,000 families, most of whom work picking metals, electronics and plastics out of the squelching mass of rubbish, which they then sell. This army of scavengers, including young children, works among assorted vermin and pests, chief among them being f lies in numbers so huge that actor Jeff

It is said that the first orangutan to reach the peak was King Louie from “The Jungle Book” film, who then proceeded to sing about being the king of the swingers. However, the only witness to this event was an unemployed cinema usher high on industrial glue that had leaked from tubes poking out of the rubbish. Joking aside, the Bantar Gebang landfill is an example of how waste management can reach apocalyptic proportions. You might think this is only to be expected from a city of 13 million wasteful, littering people. My last Indonesian association with the colour green is the humble banana. No, that’s not a mistake. While bananas might be bright yellow in the consistency-loving West, where during the depression in the USA a shortage of bananas was celebrated in the song “Yes! We have no Bananas” by Frank Silver and Irvine Cohn, in Indonesia, they are often green. In fact, bananas aren’t always curved and tapered either. They can be squat like buns. Bananas of any shape and colour are considered the typical food of orangutans, which in fact eat all kinds of fruit along with leaves, insects, and soil. That doesn’t mean you can chuck a handful of dirt at a hungry captive orangutan and consider it a good deed done.

sustainable businesses

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

Modern Movements in the Ancient City BY JOANNE RUSHTON

he sustainability movement is strong and growing in Yogyakarta, a home of innovation and culture in Indonesia for centuries already. These three businesses exemplify the work that’s being done to bring new products to market, using old and traditional materials.

Driving each of these businesses is the desire to bring about a change in attitudes and a return to what Indonesia does best; Filistay harnesses the use of the materials around us, Talking Scrap takes scrap batik and creates stunning fashion, and Aruna Bamboo takes advantage of the most traditional of materials to create products that solve modern problems. Talking to the owners of each of these projects is an inspiration in itself, and they’re ready to take on the Indonesian and international markets with their products that rival anything you’ll find the west.

FILISTAY Filistay at first seems to burst with wondrous chaos, yet take a seat on the upcycled bathtubs and you’ll see walls variously bamboo, hydroponic systems, and eco-bricks in a rainbow of colours. The concept of Filistay can seem equally disparate at first glance – lots of projects and products scatter the cafe area and flow forth from Josh with energy and passion. Listen closely, and everything ties together. “We were tired of trashing,” is the reason behind everything. Josh and Fili, both originally from Muntilan, Central Java, moved to Kasongan, a small village south of Yogyakarta city, nearly ten years ago. “We were the trash family!” he laughs. “We started collecting plastic that was thrown into the river and dumped on the street.” The community watched with curiosity until slowly they began to understand what the pair were doing and began to follow suit. People soon realised that looking after the environment made things more pleasant. Fili helped instigate a trash bank project, educating the women in the village about separating their rubbish and making cash from their recyclables. Now, trading waste plastics for cash is second nature to most people. “I met a farmer from Gunung Kidul, he’s selling bamboo flutes. I asked if he had a smaller size and he said “yes,” and he was shocked when I said I wanted it for straws,” explains Josh. The concept of what they do here is to bring together the wares of local craftspeople and sell them in an eco-shop. Their product range includes deliciously scented, all-natural and handmade soaps, made with coconut oil made by a lady in the village, along with bamboo crafts, and reusable tote bags – all made locally to support the concept of Kasongan as an eco-village. The shop is due to open soon and you can place orders for products now through their Instagram account.

rumijogja

rumijog

TALKING SCRAP Ney and her shining smile burst into the coffee shop, resplendent in a fuchsia, coral, and powder pink blouse to match her pink hair. As she sits, she presents me with the prettiest facemask I ever did see. “It’s all made from scraps that I sew together,” she tells me enthusiastically. The fabric is a mix of complementary and contrasting colours and a clear nod towards the heritage of Indonesian batik. Originally from Malang, East Java, Ney came to Jogja to study French and spent years as a private French teacher before moving into fashion. “I’m so tiny, I couldn’t find nice clothes to fit me. And I used to make and sell my own jewellery, so I decided to study fashion.” The brand Talking Scrap has been selling online for a little while. The concept is to make fashion sustainable by recycling scrap fabric and making something beautiful and unique; there’ll never normally be more than ten of any one piece. “I want everything I do to be sustainable. I go into boutiques and fabric shops and offer money for their scraps, but usually, they just tell me to take it!” With free raw materials and her creative flair, beautiful dresses and blouses are created. Most of the customers so far come from Europe, but Indonesians are slowly starting to understand the value in her work. Dedicated to the cause of developing sustainable fashion, Ney also helps women in a village in Kulon Progo. They make patchwork dresses from scraps that would normally be sold on Malioboro Street. “I’ve put their dresses online and around 400 have already been sold,” she keenly tells me. Talking Scrap is set to have an official launch at a show in Solo in August, all things being well. Ney is still developing her social media presence for this side of the business and can already be contacted for orders through her accounts, with content incoming soon.

talkingscrap.by.ney

wedhanesarindhi

ARUNA BAMBOO “Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet, therefore it’s very sustainable and available when we need it,” explains Jessica. She’s set up Aruna Bamboo from the ground up, finding craftspeople and sources of bamboo in Central Java. Aruna Bamboo specialises in creating thermoses, drinking straws, toothbrushes, cotton buds, and cutlery from this magical material. Orders come in from as far away as a field as Australia, India, the US, Germany, and Switzerland. “We specialise in customising the bamboo products with their own name,” bringing interest from all over the world. The sustainability of their products doesn’t just derive from their base material, the business model is also rooted in ethics. Jessica’s relationships with local people crafting products, rather than mass-producing in factories, not only reduces pollution but also creates an income for rural areas. Everything is thought through with the products, “especially the bamboo straws, we educate our crafters to create highquality products. Along with being ethically processed, we do regular quality control, with a focus to reduce plastic; we try to not use plastic during production, packing, delivery.” Jessica is young and dynamic, harnessing the power of Instagram to market her beautiful and minimalistic products to Indonesians. There’s a growing awareness of environmental issues that are driving people towards the products she brings to market. Orders can be made through the Aruna Bamboo Instagram page, where you can also request your personalised orders.

arunabamboo

+628952711133

homecoming

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

Expats in Indonesia Stuck Elsewhere during COVID-19 Pandemic nature of projects has changed towards digital transformation projects or costs reduction.

OVID-19 was first detected in Jakarta on March 3, 2020. Since then, the number of positive cases in Indonesia has risen dramatically to over 1,000 cases per day. Large-scale social restrictions in the capital took effect on 10th April, international and domestic f lights have been restricted, foreign missions in Indonesia urged their citizens to return home – considering the continuing rise in the number of cases and concerns over the country’s healthcare systems – and the fate of employments for both locals and expats became uncertain. The global pandemic has taken a toll on everybody’s livelihoods. Sometimes, it’s best to return home – and this is what some expats who had been living in Indonesia have done. Indonesia Expat has spoken to three expats from Europe; Sander van der Meer (SM), Rodrigo Gallego Abad (RGA), and Annonymous (A) who have decided to quarantine away from Jakarta, a place that turned into a ghost town. Let’s get a glimpse in on their lives at home and whether they’ll continue their pre-pandemic lives in Indonesia. Where are you from and where did you stay in Indonesia? SM: I’m from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I’ve been living in Jakarta for almost 11 months with my wife and two daughters, Nola who’s three and Louen who’s one. RGA: I’m from Madrid, Spain and I stayed in Jakarta because of my work and professional projects. A: I’m from France, and I lived and worked in Jakarta. When and why did you leave Indonesia? SM: Around the end of March, my family and I temporarily went back to the Netherlands due to COVID-19. In that time, flights were closing and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta advised everyone to travel back to The Netherlands. RGA: I left in March, before COVID-19 exploded, due to a work project in Spain for 15 days. After that business trip, I found myself trapped in Spain.

A: I didn’t leave Indonesia. I left Jakarta in April with no intention to stay for a long time, but flights had started to be banned. Therefore, I’ve been stuck in Bali. Did you leave with your whole family or alone? If you left with your family, how are your children coping? SM: I left with my family. We told our threeyear-old daughter that we were going on holiday. Luckily we were able to get her to NAS (North Anglia International School, formerly known as NIS) in Rotterdam which was re-opening again. This majorly helped us as it gave some structure to our daily activities as we both work full-time. RGA: I don’t have kids and my wife is luckily in Spain at the moment. From a personal point of view, it’s been easier than expected. I’ve been able to share the lockdown in my hometown with my wife, be near my family, and not live a solo-expat-life. A: I left alone as I’m still single. What happens to your accommodation in Indonesia while you’re back in your home country? SM: We urged and requested our helpers to stay at our house instead of their hometowns because we feel it’s safer for them, especially for our helper who’s over 60. Ibu Desi and Ibu Ida are our second and Indonesian family. It’s very important for us that they remain in a safe and healthy environment. Also, their relatives, like their siblings, have been staying at our house during our time in The Netherlands. RGA: Actually, I was just moving to a new place. My personal belongings were just recently moved to the new house and are still in boxes since four months ago. A: My accommodation has been sat empty for the past few months. What have you been up to since you left? SM: Our headquarters are based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and partly reopened after the Dutch government released the restriction measures. I’ve been working at the office for a few days a week and been working from home on other days for the past few months. This works pretty well for

me as I’m now able to meet my colleagues in The Netherlands for longer periods, which is quite a positive experience. My wife, Karen, is working for the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta so she works from home. RGA: I’ve been working from home, trying to innovate and create new projects related to football and focusing on new digital projects. Now, my objective is to catch up with all my contacts in Indonesia and start setting up some face-to-face meetings hopefully soon. A: Actually, I’ve been working very hard from home. I’m working on a project for an Indonesian client. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your job or business? SM: I’m working for TOS (Transport and Offshore Services) as the commercial manager. TOS is a worldwide supplier of personnel services within the maritime and offshore industry. In simple words, we provide seafarers who are working worldwide on vessels or in the offshore industry. This is a niche market which isn’t very well known to the general public. Furthermore, we provide staffing services and provide turnkey ship deliveries while serving around 1,500 crew members daily. Due to all the travel restrictions, we weren’t able to mobilise our crew to our worldwide projects. We see projects being postponed or cancelled which will have a direct impact on our business. This resulted in a drop in our turnover and crew on board with 25 percent compared to the previous months. Not good, but compared to other companies, it could be much worse. We feel and see our clients are getting used to the “new normal” and requests for the crew are slowly coming again in the last several weeks. Travel restrictions will be partly lifted soon. RGA: There’s been a big impact. I’m working for La Liga, a Spanish football competition, and we’ve been directly affected and suspended for the last three months. Luckily for us, we are going back to normal and we can play again following new protocols for the rest of the 2019/2020 season. But overall, it’s been a big challenge for the company. A: Obviously, there’s a business slowdown and we can predict that it will last for another few months. However, I also noticed that the

Indonesia’s confirmed COVID-19 cases are consistently increasing despite welcoming the “new normal”. Would you consider returning to Indonesia anytime soon? Why? SM: We will travel to Jakarta on July 4. We have set some personal conditions before we return. International f lights should be regularly operating, offices are reopening again, and in case of any emergency for ourselves or our children, there should be the opportunity to fly out to another country. Flight regularity from The Netherlands to Jakarta are increasing again. The Jakarta office is partly opened since last week and our insurance company confirmed we can fly out in case of a medical emergency. RGA: Yes. I need to be back for several projects that I have pending for the 2020/2021 season. I trust with the proper medical precautions, I can go back to my normal professional life in Indonesia. A: Yes. I’ll go back to Jakarta this week as I might be requested to go back to the office soon. If you do return, what extra precautions or changes will you instil in terms of health, job, children’s education, and property? SM: First of all, we will stay at home and self-quarantine for 14 days according to the Indonesian government’s requirement after someone travels in from abroad. We will then set some measures at our office such as hand sanitisers, thermometers, 50 percent occupation, splitting teams into shifts, and so forth. I think we should also use common sense by wearings masks, keeping safe distances, washing our hands, not attending meetings when it’s not required, unnecessary travels, etc. RGA: I’ll be practising physical distancing, wearing masks and gloves everywhere, as well as avoiding mass events. A: I’ll be careful on a day-to-day basis, making sure I properly wash my hands, and practice physical distancing. The chances of a COVID-19 second wave in Indonesia is high, referring to other countries which have lifted their lockdowns and then experienced second waves. Will you leave Indonesia again and will it be a firm move? SM: I can`t say yes or no on this one as it depends on many factors such as f lights, medical care, measures from the government, etc. Luckily my company supports us completely in the decision we make, be in staying in Indonesia or returning to The Netherlands. If we do move back, it’ll be a temporary move as we have our business and life in Indonesia and Asia. RGA: I don’t think so. In the end, the lockdown and the precautions are the same in all the countries. Next time, I will stay and accompany my expat friends in Indonesia! A: I will stay in Indonesia since I have my work and personal life here, and I know the good hospitals in case I need care.

SNA media club column

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

How Plastic Pollution Destroys Our Environment and Ways to Overcome It BY PATRICIA DJOJO SURJO (SNA MEDIA CLUB)

WAYS TO PREVENT PLASTIC POLLUTION 1. Avoid disposable plastic materials Try bringing your utensils instead of using plastic utensils. The plastic forks, spoons, cups, and plates are there for us to use, but we only use them for a short time. By bringing your utensils, less plastic forks, spoons, plates, and cups will be used and will eventually lead to an overall decrease in the amount of plastic used. 2. Avoid plastic packaging Like plastic utensils, plastic packaging can only be used once. The plastic used for packaging is usually single-use which will most probably end up irresponsibly disposed of in water bodies. 3. Don’t buy water in plastic bottles Buying water in plastic bottles is not recommended since these plastic bottles are single-use plastics and will harm our environment. Try refilling your reusable plastic bottles or f lasks. If everyone plays a part and does this, it will make a big difference to the environment. 4. Ban single-use plastics By banning single-use plastics from your life, this huge plastic pollution problem wouldn’t be as big as it is now. Single-use plastics are the main cause of plastic pollution and most people are using these items daily.

lastic pollution is one of the worst problems faced by our planet. In recent decades plastic use has exponentially increased. Single-use plastic bags and plastic packaging are mainly the cause of it. Right after we use it, it gets thrown away. Sadly, some people irresponsibly litter, therefore triggering the start of our plastic pollution issue. Even though some may think that littering isn’t a problem at all, the effect isn’t just on the people who litter; it affects innocent ones who are trying to keep their environment clean. This is completely unfair to those who try to make this world a better place. Plastic isn’t biodegradable, it’ll stay where it lands and won’t decompose as most materials do. Don’t get me wrong – plastic is one of the greatest inventions ever made, but we need to cut down on its usage, especially for singleuse plastics. The use of single-use plastic bags has been rapidly increasing over the past few years which makes our plastics issue even worse than it already is. Unfortunately, over half of the people living on this planet don't care about our plastic-polluted environment. Yes, plastics do help us to carry things, but we can use other materials such as fabric bags. Not only can fabric bags be reused, but but fabric is also harder to tear so we can use it more often.

Plastic bottles are another cause of plastic pollution. Plastic bottles are often used once and never again. These bottles usually end up in water bodies such as the seas and oceans, which, in turn, affects marine life. Just one small piece of plastic could change the pollution rate, not only nationally but globally as well. The act of littering has a snowball effect. The longer it goes on, the bigger the problem becomes. Like the plastic issue, it grows rapidly as thousands or maybe even millions of people living on Earth are littering at this very moment. There are already a few existing plasticsbanning companies such as 4Ocean, The Ocean Clean-up, and many more. Some of the world’s biggest companies, such as McDonald’s, American Airlines, Guinness, United Airlines, The Walt Disney Company, Nestlé, Starbucks, Hyatt, Marriott International, IKEA and various others have recently started to reduce the usage of plastics. Countries such as Singapore and Canada have come up with solutions for their plastic pollution. Singapore burns wastes such as plastic into ash, but the waste material doesn’t affect the air at all. These ashes are then collected and shipped to an offshore landfill site called Semakau. The ashes are

The act of littering has a snowball effect. The longer it goes on, the bigger the problem becomes. buried in special water bodies that don't affect sea life in any way. Canada’s plastics get recycled and they are in the process of banning plastics that are toxic or hard to recycle. Canada is stopping companies from making single-use plastics from virgin fossil resources and the country makes its big producers responsible for cleaning up their plastic mess.

5. Participate in beach clean-ups We can reduce the environmental problem by taking part in local beach clean-ups which are really helpful. By just helping out with the plastics floating around the beach, not only will you definitely enjoy the beach more, but you’ll also have a clean environment. 6. Remember the 4Rs - refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle These four words are beneficial to address the plastic pollution problem. When faced with whether to use a piece of plastic or what to do with a piece of plastic, just run these four words through your mind and make the best decision. We believe that plastic pollution can be addressed successfully with a combined effort from people all over the world, working hand in hand to address this plastic problem once and for all.

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

BALI

Limited Time Offer Package at The Apurva Kempinski Bali

JAKARTA

The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers the epitome of beachfront luxury with its location standing atop the majestic cliff of Nusa Dua, overlooking breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and tropical garden. This five-star hotel in Bali presents itself as a majestic, open-air theatre; an embodiment of Indonesian elegance. A collection of 475 iconic rooms, suites, and villas are showcased, with the majority of the accommodation featuring private plunge pools. From a unique culinary journey and indigenous spa treatments to the spacious meeting rooms and alluring chapels, The Apurva Kempinski Bali is a spectacular stage. Book now before July 31, 2020 and choose your stay, valid until August 31, 2020. LIMITED TIME OFFER For Grand Deluxe rooms Experience the resort’s iconic accommodation starting from Rp2,299,000++, including daily breakfast for two people and a resort credit of Rp600,000 nett per stay for a minimum two-night stay (terms and conditions apply). For Iconic Suites The Iconic Suites offer a wonderful mix of privacy and comfort. Each suite features a private plunge pool, spacious balcony, and generous living space starting from Rp3,686,000++ including suite privileges, daily breakfast for two people, and a resort credit of Rp800,000 nett per stay for a minimum two-night stay (terms and conditions apply). For Residential Villas Discover the best of the resort’s residential villas starting from Rp4,854,000++ including exclusive access to the Villa Lounge, daily breakfast for two people, and a resort credit of Rp800,000 nett per stay for a minimum two-night stay (terms and conditions apply).

Rapid Tests Held at ASTON Kartika Grogol Hotel and Conventon Centre ASTON Kartika Grogol Hotel and Conference Centre has prepared a health protocol to welcome returning guests by conducting rapid testing for COVID-19 for all employees coming back to work. Employees are one of the biggest assets of the company. The rapid test event was held at the Edelweis Meeting Room, divided into two groups. All 87 employees who took the test received their results at 3pm, all of which returned negative results. The COVID-19 rapid test program is inseparable from Archipelago International's direction as a hotel group management company that has been first to implement this program on a large scale. “As we always say: work and stay together with people you trust. By still paying attention to their safety, this will strengthen the trust of the guests because they know that a safe and clean environment awaits,” said John Flood, the President and CEO of Archipelago International. Please visit grogol.astonhotelsinternational.com for more information.

Book now at kempinski.com/bali or contact +623612092288.

BOGOR

Discover Pullman Ciawi Vimala Hills Resort Spa & Convention’s New Villas Experience the brand new villas dedicated to offering the perfect setting for quality enjoyment at Pullman Ciawi Vimala Hills Resort Spa & Convention. The 21 newlylaunched villas are elegantly designed with subtle, Indonesian-touch ornaments, handcrafted furniture, and artwork from Indonesian artists. Vimala Studio is sized at 70 m and is the perfect choice for couples seeking seclusion and relaxation, with a view of a tropical paradise. In the two-bedroom villas, families on holiday with children get the space they need for a serene stay. It’s also great for friends travelling together, with a size measuring 152 m2. 2

When privacy and space are of the essence, a three-bedroom villa is an excellent choice as the perfect home-away-from-home. At one end of the five-star resort, the Presidential Villa is the largest and most luxurious accommodation with a bold design, vibrant colours, and contemporary touches filling 473 m2 of fabulous space. Outline and Comfort All of the villas are furnished with spacious bedrooms with a king, queen, or twin beds along with superb marble bathrooms fitted with a bathtub and rain shower. Sun-drenched decks at the three-bedroom and Presidential villas will give the ultimate heavenly holiday experience.

Exclusive Services and Immersive Resort Facilities The resort welcomes guests at the villa reception, located at the main building. A 24-hour butler service, an exclusive invitation for afternoon tea and pre-dinner mocktails at Panorama and a private entrance to enter and exit the villas will spoil guests and encourage them to embrace the extraordinary features the resort offers. Activities and entertainment programs for guests of all ages are also available. A three-kilometre in-hotel jogging track with five outdoor fit trail points, a nature walk to our 500 m2 herb garden and two-hectare paddy fields, along with a buggy tour to the integrated Vimala Hills premium residential area are among the most popular activities. Enjoy the resort’s swimming pools, numerous dining options, Pullman Wellness (Fit and Spa) along with a kids’ playground and kids’ club. Enjoy your villa stay with rates starting from Rp2,843,500 nett per night for room only at Vimala Studio. Book your stay at www.all.accor.com/9061 or call +62251 8306888. You may also email your enquiries to H9061-RE@accor.com.

How to cope with COVID-19? Can I still see my doctor? COVID-19 testing? Health certificates? A lot of information is available on COVID-19. For those of us who are living in Jakarta or elsewhere in Indonesia it is important to stay as healthy as possible. GOOD PRACTICE provides regular reliable information on COVID-19 to patients and potential patients. Send us an email if you want to be included in our mailing list.

swabs and Rapid COVID-19 tests and serological antibody testing. GOOD PRACTICE is open as usual. We provide house calls and we also provide COVID-19 testing (we can also come to your house for testing). HEALTH CERTIFICATES can be provided by GOOD PRACTICE.

GOOD PRACTICE PROVIDES NON INFECTIOUS STERILE CONSULTATION HOURS. Are your vaccinations still up to date? Did you get a FLU vaccination? How are your other conditions controlled? If you are suffering from hypertension or diabetes for instance, you have to make sure those conditions are managed well. Please make sure you have your regular check-ups and that your supply of medication is sufficient. You can even consider an immune boost, which we can also provide at GOOD PRACTICE Identify a clinic that you can turn to with your concerns. A clinic that can advise you about your symptoms. Now it is especially important that the communication between your good self and a trusted medical practitioner is well understood. So what to do if you have any symptoms? Talk to a trusted medical practitioner. Also if you consider that you need COVID-19 testing, you should talk to a medical practitioner. Please note that we offer both PCR

Dr Steven Graaff,MD,MRCGP, the founder of Good Practice Clinic is a graduate of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Before completing his formal training in General Practice in the UK, he worked in several hospitals, occupational health and general practice in the Netherlands and the UK. As a medical professional with international experience,Steven decided to start his own clinic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Good Practice, in Jakarta

HOUSE CALLS ARE PROVIDED FOR EVERY CONDITION INCLUDING VACCINATIONS AND CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATIONS.

Best of all is that you now can have a consultation with anyone of our medical team from whatever location. We have introduced TELECONSULTATIONS. Via an app, GP Now, you can connect with us directly. Just send GOOD PRACTICE a simple email to info@goodpractice. co.id and we will send you the link. Basically you let us know what time you would like to consult a doctor and we will appear online at the desired time. If any medication needs to be provided, we will arrange this to be sent out to you. GOOD PRACTICE can help you with all the above. We now also provide you with direct contact to our medical practitioners from any location in this world! It is important that you identify a clinic that you are comfortable with. GOOD PRACTICE has patients from 69 countries (Luxembourg and Cyprus were added to our list). Our all English speaking team implements international guidelines. We provide highly personalised care. Try us!

Jl. Bangka Raya #106B Jakarta 12730 Tel. +62-21-7183140 info@goodpractice.co.id

www.goodpractice.co.id

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

BALI

Marco Groten, Grand Hyatt Bali’s New General Manager and Area Vice President for Indonesia TANGERANG

Rinno Widjaja Appointed as Parador’s New Human Capital Director Parador Hotels and Resorts have strengthened their corporate management team with the appointment of Rinno Widjaja as the Human Capital Director effective from June 2020. Graduated from National Hotel Institute Bandung in 2006, Rinno has more than ten years of experience in the hospitality industry. His career started in international cruises then he continued in the hospitality industry which developed him into a training manager, before becoming a Regional Director of Human Resources for Golden Tulip Indonesia. Rinno also officiated as Cluster Director of Human Resources for Aryaduta Jakarta and Aryaduta Suite Semanggi before joining Parador Hotels and Resorts. “We are always innovating and developing the recruitment process and employee training as best as we can. I am very enthusiastic about Rinno joining the company and I believe that he could superintend the human capital sector well and bring a significant change to it,” said Chief Operating Officer of Parador Hotels and Resorts, Johannes Hutauruk.

Grand Hyatt Bali has announced the appointment of Marco Groten; a passionate and persevering man who has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, as the General Manager, starting July 1, 2020. Beginning his career as a Front Office Manager in Bandung, Marco then worked in various hospitality roles overseas, and eventually returned to Indonesia in 2009. In 2018, Marco became Head of Operations for Alila, based in Hong Kong, working on the integration of Alila properties within Hyatt. “Current circumstances are far from ideal, but despite the dire outlook on immediate business, I look forward to immersing myself in this new role and making sure that we all come out of this stronger. I am honoured to join this hotel with a proud legacy of 30 years and to be working with an exceptional team as well as the owners to write a new chapter in the great story of Grand Hyatt Bali,” said Marco.

Parador Hotels and Resorts was established in 2012 and has flourished in expanding its business at their ten hotels which spread across Java and Bali, which operates four-star hotels and two food and beverage outlets.

Marco will also take on the responsibility of Area Vice President of Hyatt Indonesia where he will oversee Park Hyatt Jakarta, Andaz Bali, Alila SCBD, Alila Villas Uluwatu, Alila Seminyak, Studios at Alila Seminyak, Alila Ubud, Alila Manggis, Alila Purnama, Alila Solo, Grand Hyatt Jakarta, Grand Hyatt Bali, Hyatt Regency Bali, and Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta.

Please visit www.parador-hotels.com for more information.

Please visit www.grandhyattbali.com for more information.

Indonesia Expat Issue 262 | 8 July – 4 August 2020

Expat Advertiser JAKARTA Automotive

Kawasaki D-tracker 250cc for sale. Beautiful bike, in very good condition. Imported new from Thailand 2013. STNK until January 2023. Asking Price Rp37 million. Location in Kebayoran Lama, Jakarta. Contact: +6281807922680 (WA Only) Jobs Available

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 businenss 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 affordability flexibility." Jl. Raya Casablanca Kav88 | Phone: 021-29631688 Email: sales@88office.co.id | Web: www.88office.co.id

A company is searching for a Senior Finance Manager for an Indonesian company listed at IDX, with foreign shareholders. Preferably a senior foreign professiona l who spea k s Indonesian, educated in finance, and who has an understanding of the local Indonesian market, culture and ta x system, currently staying in Indonesia. Interested? Please send a short email before June 30 to info@ indonesiaexpat.biz. Looking for a Division Controller - An international company with an ambitious growth strategy. Asia is a potentially growing market and thus becoming one of the focus. Responsibilities: In this key position, the Division Controller acts as a sparring partner for the local Management Team and you’re the economic conscience for the organisation. The Division Controller also provides valuable performance analysis to support the management in making the right business decisions, Managing and supervising the Finance team, Being an active business partner for the divisional Management Team. For more information get in touch with rena.carissa@rgfexecutive.com Services HAPPY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR DOG THIS SUMMER. My young daughters love dogs so much but owning one is a big commitment. If you need a place for your dog to call home for a few weeks (until mid July) we have a nice yard and patio he/she would enjoy…we would do daily walks as long as ow ner provides food and toys. WA: +62811193548 (RD) My name is Apin. I'm an Indonesian tutor. I've been tutoring Indonesian lessons to foreigners for 7 years. I'm available for online classes. I’m also a Pranic Healer. I’d like to contribute to help heal people with Covid-19. I offer free distance Pranic Healing to people who suffer from it. According to the data I got, 114 people recovered and

discharged from Cov id-19 with distance Pranic Healing in the Philippines. Feel free to WhatsApp me +6281916766080. Fitness Trainer- Covid19 Free! I can come to your Gym Complex or to your home gym. 15 years experience. NSCA Certified. Fitness First for 7 years, now freelance. Strength Training, Flexibility, Posture Alignment, Senior/ Youth Fitness, etc. Good English and Indonesian. Pandemic? No problem! Time to get in shape at your home gym. Nunung +628119555806. Property House for sale in Kebon Jeruk (West Java). 5 minutes access to Jl. Panjang. Close to Permata Hijau and TOL road gate. Walking distance to McDonalds, Holicow, Pizza Hut and The Harvest. The house is a combination of 2 houses put together (86m 2 + 87m 2). Freehold. Asking price: Rp3.95 billion (negotiable). Contact via WA: +6281290070037 (direct owner). House for rent by owner, it’s completely renovated. Jaya Mandala, Patra Jasa, South Jakarta. Size 1,600sqm, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 1 main house, 1 granny house, pool, garage 4 cars, carport for 2 cars. Close to The Australian Embassy, Kuningan, off ice building, Mall Kokas and Lotte. Access to the toll ring road. Contact +6285811353237 or +62218298402 or email to bakpiaoke@hotmail.com Apar tment For Rent in Setiabudi Residence, Sky Garden Apar tment , Pur i Casablanca Apt, Bellag io Residence 2 BR and Jakarta Residences with furnished conditions, a strategic area with very cheap rent fee. Contact : +628118755588. For rent apar tment the Pakubuwono sig nature 4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms with 385sqm, best view and unique design and fully furnished. Pls call +628118755588 or email banysiregar@yahoo.com For Sale We are selling our diving school here in Gili Trawangan. Included: legal papers of the company, boat, diving equipment, lease with the hotel Location at Gili Trawangan. Please contact Alejandro Barros: +6285339338098. Blueair air purifiers available: Blueair Classic Smokestop Filter 680i (for 72m 2) Rp10 million. Blueair Classic 205x3 (for 26m2) Rp5 million. Blueair Classic 205x1 for 26m2) Rp4.5 million (slight brown stain – works fine). Contact Karen Barlow v ia WhatsApp at +61417242615 or email directly to karenjanebarlow@gmail.com

Send your classifieds to: info@ indonesiaexpat.biz Next Deadline: July 30, 2020

We are selling preloved refrigerators and cloth dryer. R e f r ig er at or. L G . g o o d condition. Rp3 million. Used for 3 years. Dryer. Electrolux. Great condition. Rp3.5 million. Used for 1.5 years. Please WhatsApp me for photos: +6287860689128 (Isabella). Household Staff Available We are looking for a pembantu for cooking and cleaning live out) from morning to evening. We live in North West Jakarta (near Kota / Mangga Besar). We are a couple. Ideally, the cook should be able to make some western dishes but we can always teach her a few things; knowing English would be a plus. Please get in touch with Abhishek through Whatsapp: +6287784073000 or email: abhishekg.indo@gmail.com. Please only message if available to work in the Kota or Mangga Besar area.

BALI Jobs Available Career Opportunity - Resort and Cafe General Manager. The Entrepreneur Resorts Group is excited to announce the exceptional career opportunity of a Resort and Cafe General Manager overseeing 2 locations with a potential for this to locally grow within the next few years to 3-5. The Beachfront Genius Cafe in Sanur (capacity over 100 people) and the Vision Villas Resort Accommodation (16 villas) and Genius Cafe in Gianyar are both consistently rated top in their areas by Trip Advisor and offer a unique, highquality experience attracting local, expat, international and MICE clientele. Qualified candidates will thrive in a hospitality environment and be highly focused on attracting and providing an exceptional guest experience. This role will have the key responsibility for developing a new business under the Entrepreneur Resorts brand, with a focus on great client experiences and profitable growth through managing costs, creating and implementing marketing initiatives, leading the sales team and driving both local and international bookings. All Applications to cecilia@ entrepreneurresorts.com Experience in real estate business, good knowledge on computers, outgoing personality, hard working and able to drive. Please send CV to info@ realestatebali.com Property

500m from Legian Beach Kuta. 3BR private pool villa. Rp15 million per month with

electricity. Superb location, escape to beach is 2-5 minutes away. Private pool larger than your previous villa. 3 spacious bedrooms all with king beds. 3 Lux ensuite bathrooms all have bathtub and standing showers. New furniture, new 2019 villa. Open space liv ing room. Equipped Kitchen and Dining Room. Free Wif i & T V Channel. Private Parking Space. Housekeeping ever y week. Optional: add up to 3 single beds when 7 to 9 people stay. Breakfast option. WhatsApp: +628520634003 or call: +6285829152991.

Luxury villa for rent or sale. Location at Pererenan, land size: 1200sqm, 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, guest toilet, kitchen, dining area, living room, swimming pool, garden, storage, staff area, parking area, the property is furnished. Price : US$95,000 / year or leasehold 29 years US$1,050,000. For further information please contact: +6281246607787.

4 bedroom cliff front in Ungasan Rp35 million / month. Specification: 4 Bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, daily cleaning including dishes, 2X /week Linen Change, electricity, internet, cable TV, no Pet, not for Sublease. Rate: Rp35 million/month. Security Deposit Rp5 million. More info, please contact: +6285937038503 or WA +6282122220001.

Brand new villa for rent. Location at Perenenan, land size: 300sqm, building size: 225sqm, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 public toilet, swimming pool 3x7, electricity 7700VA, the property is furnished. Rate:Rp285 million / year. For further information please contact:+6281246607787. 3 bedroom villa in Batu Belig for rent. 5minutes to the beach. Facilities: wifi, private pool, big green garden, fully equipped kitchen, 4 bathrooms. Walking distance to all bars and shops in Batu Belig. We have more great deals on 5 star Airbnb in Canggu, Seminyak, Umalas, Uluwatu, and Ubud. Available for monthly, weekly and daily rent. Photos and prices can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/balivillas-monthly-rates. PM or WA +6282147042573.