Indonesia Expat - issue 286

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cr ip bs su ISSUE NO. 286 | JULY 7 – AUGUST 3, 2022

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Marco Hutterer Ensures Happy Cats and Dogs Indonesia Mid-Year Imports and Exports Broken House Blues …and many more

MARCO HUTTERER, PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF HAPPY CAT AND HAPPY DOG

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Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

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Dear Readers,

Contents

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SALES & ADVERTISING

BUSINESS PROFILE Marco Hutterer Ensures Happy Cats and Dogs

Dian Mardianingsih (Jakarta)

dian@indonesiaexpat.biz Wahyu Atmaja (Bali)

ads@indonesiaexpat.biz MARKETING &

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is optimistic that Indonesia’s economic growth in the second quarter of 2022 will be in the range of 4.8 percent to 5.3 percent, proving that Indonesia is not one of the countries whose economy is collapsing. Mulyani, as the state treasurer, said that the realisation of economic growth in 2022 is likely to approach the upper level, which is around 5 percent. However, this estimate is still waiting to be confirmed by calculations from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

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PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia 17th floor, Pondok Indah Office Tower 3, Jl. Sultan Iskandar Muda No. 29, Pd. Pinang, Kebayoran Lama,

In other words, business is picking up again. Tracking back to pre-COVID levels will most probably occur later than most businesses wish. Yet, behind every crisis comes innovative tactics. Indonesia Expat presents the Business and E-commerce issue this July. You’ll find enticing stories highlighting the country’s businesses and industries that expats can expect when venturing in this tropical country.

Don’t forget, we’re working on more digital content with our YouTube channel, Indonesia Expat. This includes our new series entitled “Welcome to Indonesia: The Series”, where we cover insights into food, leisure, community, travel, tips, guides, and plenty more. Stay tuned by subscribing to our channel!

Check out our daily news updates at indonesiaexpat.id, follow our Instagram @ indonesiaexpat and Facebook @indonesia.expat to stay up to date on regular COVID-19 case numbers and news, as well as find attractive promotions from your favourite hotels, restaurants, and schools across the country. Now, you can even access Indonesia Expat on the Tripper app, available on iOS and Android for free.

08 WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT Bundo Kanduang and Entrepreneurship

10 TECHNOLOGY Indonesia and E-Commerce: A Burgeoning Industy

12 BUSINESS PROFILE Max Choi Encourages Easier Car Rentals with TREVO

14 TRADING Indonesia’s Mid-Year Imports and Exports

16 OBSERVATION Broken House Blues

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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 BUSINESS Business Growth through Innovation and Creativity

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business profile

Marco Hutterer Ensures Happy Cats and Dogs

K

Cats and dogs need variety in food as well for a balanced and healthy life. so make sure you get the right food and a brand that offers options of different protein sources, so you can sometimes switch to alternative recipes, to make the “culinary experience” for your pet more amazing.

Would you want to eat chicken every day?

Hi, Marco! We’d like to know more about you. Please introduce yourself.

You’re currently residing in Jakarta.

Share with us your thoughts on expat life in the capital and the reason behind your move.

After my school year in Jakarta in 2005, I went home, finished university, and wanted to come back ASAP. Jakarta fascinated me from day one. You either love it or hate it – I still love it today. What a city it is: 30 million people, but all of them have a smile on their faces for you and enjoy their lives as much as possible. Together with the vibrancy of the city, it has an addictive feel for those that enjoy a dynamic lifestyle.

In 2011, I tried hard to get back and luckily had the chance to get a job at DB Schenker’s Jakarta office, a leading German logistics company. I sensed already back then that Indonesia was the place for young and ambitious people, since there were so many opportunities. I got started and built my network as well as my bahasa skills and simply enjoyed Indonesia while I travelled as much as possible on weekends.

Your company, PT Happy Pet Indonesia, is the main and exclusive distributor for Germany’s top premium brands, Happy Dog and Happy Cat. What can pet lovers expect from these German-based brands?

During my logistics career, I came across pet food for the first time and saw that in this industry, there was a huge lack of products and options for pet owners. As an entrepreneur, you would directly say, “what a great business opportunity”. There were only those few huge global brands that every kid knows, but nothing else, nothing special.

Being a cat lover myself, I remembered how picky my family’s cat back in Germany was and wondered what cat and dog owners in

food ready whenever they need it, we have significantly ramped up our warehousing capacities in the last two years with facilities in Jakarta and Surabaya. In total, we will be able to store up to 5,500 pallets by the end of 2022.

As a German yourself, why is it important for you to introduce these brands to the Indonesian market? Are you a pet lover too?

eeping a pet in Indonesia can be challenging, especially trying to provide the right nutrition.

Marco Hutterer is a pet lover who’s noticed this challenge and thought of a solution by providing Happy Cat and Happy Dog products through his company, Happy Pet Indonesia. As the President Director, Hutterer shares with Indonesia Expat the specialities of these German-based products and much more for fellow pet lovers!

Hi there, I am Marco Hutterer, a German national, originally from Weilheim, a beautiful little town just south of Munich, in Bavaria. I’ve been in Jakarta since October 2011 but I got to know the country way earlier, during my high school time, when I came to Jakarta to spend a year at “German International School” in BSD for a school year abroad. During that time, my uncle lived and worked in Indonesia, so it was the natural choice for me to escape from my – back then – boring countryside hometown.

Since I’m super passionate about travelling anyway, just like any aviation geek, I was up for an adventure.

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

Describe the specialities of Happy Dog and Happy Cat products that pet lovers won’t find in any other brands available in Indonesia.

Indonesia might experience with this very limited supply, especially in the premium nutrition segment.

It was during that time that an ex-colleague of mine joined Happy Dog and Happy Cat in Germany. It didn’t take long until he called me and asked if there is a chance to bring the products to Indonesia. “Hell yeah! Let’s do it” was my exact reaction and I guess that was the birth of PT Happy Pet Indonesia, as well as my farewell to the standard corporate career.

What can pet lovers expect from us nowadays? A huge portfolio of great dog and cat foods, all made in Germany, close to my hometown, by a dedicated and familyowned producer that sources as many raw materials and ingredients as possible locally from farmers in Germany. Needless to say, quality is our main focus and I like to sometimes snack on a warm kibble or two, when I am at the factory in Germany.

Complete this sentence: Your pets consuming Happy Dog and Happy Cat will be…

Your pets consuming Happy Dog and Happy Cat will be not only super happy but most importantly healthy because they get supplied with all essential nutrients and minerals that they need, day in and day out.

Pets often consume the same packaged food over a long period. They don’t have the variety of ingredients like us humans,

Many brands sell products based on one single protein source, mainly this is chicken.

We are here to change this, because, from a nutrition perspective, it is ridiculous to consume the same food with the same nutrients every day. Cats and dogs need variety in food as well for a balanced and healthy life.

Our product portfolio comes with a huge range of different protein sources, such as salmon, lamb, trout, or beef for cats. For dogs, we have even more exotic recipes such as an ostrich and potato meal for sensitive dogs with allergies (Happy Dog Africa). We also just launched our first vegetarian dog food recipe with plant-based proteins, called Happy Dog India. This product innovation recently got awarded in Germany as “product of the year 2021/2022” in the dog food category. You see, for every little gourmet, there is something in our portfolio.

Why are happiness, family, and quality made in Germany applied as the core values?

When our brand was established more than 50 years ago in Germany, it was the goal to truly convert pets into family members. This was, back then, not often the case. Now in 2022, even in countries like Indonesia, pets do play a significant role and are seen more and more like family members. Pets are an emotional topic, almost like babies, for many households. For your beloved pets, as much as for your own baby, you would want to make sure that they get nothing but the best. You need a brand that you can trust for baby milk, equally you need a brand that you can trust for your dog or cat food. That’s why our quality claim “made with love in Germany” is so important.

Run through the product purchasing process for our readers.

Being away 12,000km from our factory in Germany is not always easy. A closure of the Suez Channel, supply chain disruptions, and other external impacts do make it often difficult to supply the products on time to Indonesia. However, since it is our commitment to our customers to have the

Happy Dog and Happy Cat is produced around 60km away from my hometown and therefore for me, it is a highly emotional product. I’m proud to sell great quality products from back home here, on the other side of the planet. Therefore, when I was offered the opportunity in 2014 to start this business and to build up the brands in Indonesia, I immediately was in for it.

Unfortunately, since I moved to Jakarta, I have no pets anymore, since I was travelling a lot and there are so many restrictive apartment operators that don’t allow pets at all. I’m working more and more from Bali nowadays, so this may open the door to adopting a nice Bali dog, once my wife and I have fully settled there. By the way, making Jakarta and Indonesia overall a better place to live for pets is one of our local goals, since I have seen with my own eyes how challenging it can be to keep a pet here.

Marco, what’s next for the company?

We are currently full-speed expanding our team to have a nationwide sales force.

Our business is mainly B2B, so we supply our brands to pet shops and vet clinics but also e-commerce is becoming increasingly important. In Indonesia, the pet adoption rate has sky-rocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, so getting our products into every corner of the country, to every pet owner, is our current focus.

Besides this, we are now working increasingly together with many Indonesian veterinarians. Since 2018, we have had a dedicated “veterinary diet” product line, that only veterinarians, or petshop collaborating with veterinarians, can sell.

With this product line, we aim to really help those animals that are very sick and therefore have special needs, such as food for cats with urinary issues or for dogs with liver problems.

We have it all and the products work extremely well. Our team in Germany has done a great job in formulating those products. With this product line, we enable veterinarians in Indonesia to better help sick pets to recover from their respective diseases or even prevent them.

How can our readers get in touch with you and Happy Pet Indonesia?

Those readers that would like to know more can get in touch with me directly via email: marco.hutterer@happypet.biz We do also have a veterinarian team in our office in Jakarta as well as back in Germany, that is always happy to support you if you have questions related to your cats’ or dogs’ health, so feel free to drop me an email and I will connect you with our experts, to answer your questions.

Thanks for your time, Marco! Stay healthy and happy.

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women‫׳‬s empowerement

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

Bundo Kanduang and Entrepreneurship

BY DONNY SYOFYAN

from Jakarta who were paying the West Sumatra Regional Police office a visit.

Her husband was a police officer. Now, her catering business has three divisions of the business, including weddings with hundreds of computerised, quality recipes.

The business has grown and has even achieved ISO 9001 certification. For Suarni, her ability to understand the market’s needs is compatible with her love for cooking. It is a comparative advantage that makes her distinct when doing something by force.

People are dedicated when they are doing something as a hobby.

Cooking skills are closely attached to the image and dignity of Minang women. In West Sumatra, being smart at cooking means the capability to prepare gulai (curry). Rendang, asam padeh (a sour and spicy stew dish), kalio (watery and lightcoloured gravy), to mention just a few, are variations of Padang gulai. You are not said to be good at cooking for making fried chicken, griddling pancakes, or stirfrying vegetables. To many Minang people, ingenuity in cooking is synonymous with gulai cooking skills. Therefore, cooking skills have been glorified by turning them into a veritable source of economic income, which is a food business. That is why the Padang restaurants, dotted here and there, are tightly linked with the identity of Minang women, although many Padang restaurants now have more male than female chefs and workers.

© HALONUSA

T

he Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri expressed her concern that the Minang people had changed a few months ago. West Sumatra, from where Minang people derive, was historically laden with national figures and statesmen – even the country's founding fathers were mostly Minang personalities, like Hatta, Sjahrir, Agus Salim, Yamin, Natsir, and many others. It is believed there are few much-vaunted figures from West Sumatra that go on to become paragons at the national level.

Such criticism is valid and acceptable. This suggests that West Sumatra is still noticed though it ignores different facts developing in a more positive direction, which is the revival of entrepreneurship among bundo kanduang – Minang women. Literally, bundo kanduang means a true mother or a biological mother, but in general it refers to a female leader in Minangkabau. Nurhayati Subakat, founder of Wardah; Elidawati Ali Oemar, CEO of Elcorp; Evalinda Amir, owner of d’Besto; Suarni, AA Catering owner in Padang; and Eva Milza, Asese owner in Padang; to mention just a few represent assorted business activities and companies founded by Minang women that are leading the market.

The extraordinary endeavours of Minang women in business is accredited to two equally crucial factors; a pioneering attitude and comparative advantages. The character and choice to be a trailblazer is part and parcel of Minang philosophy, alun takilek alah takalam or before the light comes, the dark had already been there, meaning the ability to understand someone’s implicit

intentions, fathoming someone without him or her declaring it in an explicit fashion. In the context of social association, this manifests through the ability to read people’s tastes and market needs, getting into what people expect in their purview.

These abilities were central to Nurhayati Subakat when she started her business to make Wardah products. As someone with a pharmacist’s background, she captured the needs of young Muslims for beauty in line with Islamic principles. Her wish to help Muslim women along with her existing educational background has led her to create shampoos, which in turn developed into various halal beauty products.

ELIDAWATI ALI OEMAR

NURHAYATI SUBAKAT

Business remains to be an unschooled talent Minang women have. It calls for public support in our effort to generate as many young entrepreneurs as possible for this country so that they may score many big roles, today and tomorrow.

Probably, her pioneering story would never have occurred if two characteristics — desire and knowledge — were not strongly rooted. The work outcomes would be less optimal without her scientific knowledge or base. Equally, mere knowledge without desire is just a daydream. Minang women are committed to putting into practice a principle of “bapikia kapalang aka, baulemu kapalang paham” or thinking w ith rea son, understanding w ith knowledge; meaning that someone should not do anything without thinking and comprehension.

The same thing was seen when it comes to the establishment of AA Catering — the largest and best catering company in the province — back in 1978. Suarni, the founder, ventured to open a catering business following her preoccupation with providing food and beverages for those

Merantau or the migratory spirit of Minang people render them not to yield in the face of barriers, as the saying goes, “indak aie talang dipancuang, indak kayu janjang dikapiang,” or by hook or by crook, suggesting that any means possible should be taken to accomplish a goal.

This spirit was strongly held by Evalinda, the founder of d’Besto chicken and burger restaurant. Innovation is key to her success, through normal days and periods of crisis.

Carrying a different concept compared to its competitors from abroad which generally target the restaurant segment, d'Besto focuses on providing a fried chicken and burger menu in a simple, populist, and mini restaurant. Eva said that d’Besto releases a new menu every three to four months so that consumers do not get fed up. It has grown extensively, so far having over 300 outlets just across Greater Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and West Sumatra. She is scrambling to add many new branches throughout the archipelago.

Business remains to be an unschooled talent Minang women have. It calls for public support in our effort to generate as many young entrepreneurs as possible for this country so that they may score many big roles, today and tomorrow.

The writer is a lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, Andalas University

10

technology

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

INDONESIA AND E-COMMERCE

A Burgeoning Industry

BY DAVID NESBIT

A

s Asia’s most populous country, Indonesia is under constant pressure to continue the economic growth that has been its mainstay pretty much since the 1970s. With almost 280 million stomachs needing to be filled, the nation must continue to not only depend upon its natural resources and traditional market sectors for income and employment but also to be at the forefront of diversification and utilisation of the benefits of technology and globalisation.

The two-year COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for citizens to be techsavvy and to also maximise incomes in any way possible.

Although seemingly part of our lives since forever, the internet is still a relatively new phenomenon and some of us are actually old enough to remember the days before its advent (yes, really). Now, however, it is undoubtedly here to stay and a quick look at some of the figures related to Indonesia and digital awareness appears to bear this out.

It is estimated that of the population, more than 150 million citizens use the internet in general and social media in particular.

Figures such as these indicate the importance of e-commerce in modern society in both our daily lives and the economy as a whole. One definition of e-commerce is thus: the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, and the transfer of money and data to execute these transactions.

Those of us who have been able to work from home (WFH) over the last two years have then been able to utilise the basic concepts of e-commerce and to take the example one step further, there has been an increase in those who like to term themselves as “Digital Nomads”. These are people who make their living working independently via a laptop and are thus able to move around from place to place at short notice. Some of the services offered by such people include teaching, writing, and various forms of designing.

Indeed, in these economically uncertain times, as society gets ready to attempt a full recovery from the fallout of COVID-19, the Indonesian government has recently dropped much of its initial resistance to Digital Nomads and is now ploughing ahead with plans to introduce a Digital Nomad visa in an effort to encourage both travel to and investment in Indonesia.

However, e-commerce is far more than charging up a personal device and making do under trying circumstances. It is a multimillion dollar industry that if harnessed correctly can provide both individuals and businesses alike with both high profits and relatable convenience.

The world of e-commerce exists in various ways, with some companies simply offering up their products and services through

While one of the most famous e-commerce sites in the world is undoubtedly the American multi-national company eBay, there is a swarth of such sites here in Indonesia.

Some of the top e-commerce sites in Indonesia concentrate on one particular area or type of product. These may relate to such business segments as fashion, beauty products and cosmetics, computers and electrical gadgets, or baby care and family products and the amount of monthly “traffic” to these sites (or the number of hits each website receives) can be in the high millions. their own websites. Customers can browse online and then place orders accordingly and sit and wait for their deliveries. This is nothing particularly new and is tantamount to online shopping as these companies will usually have brick-and-mortar operations also.

A lternatively, other companies and businesses exist either primarily or totally online and it is the growth of these businesses in recent years that has led to significant changes in the way we shop and do business.

Even a notorious technophobe such as myself is now at least sufficiently tech-savvy to be able to take advantage of such outlets and services as OVO, Grab, and Gojek that enable me to order food and transportation online, and it is these sites and services that undoubtedly make our lives easier and more convenient.

E-commerce is far more than charging up a personal device and making do under trying circumstances.

It is a multi-million dollar industry that if harnessed correctly can provide both individuals and businesses alike with both high profits and relatable convenience.

As well as specialised e-commerce sites, there are others which are more generic and act as a marketplace for companies and individuals. In Indonesia, these include the Blibli, Shopee, and Tokopedia sites. These are essentially sites that enable those who wish to do so to open up their own online businesses and reach potential customers more easily. Rather than find the need to extensively market their products themselves, companies and individuals can simply sign up to these e-commerce sites and potential customers can find them according to the services and products they are offering.

It is estimated that Tokopedia, Indonesia’s most popular e-commerce site, receives almost 150 million hits per calendar month as people look to take advantage of its marketplace-type facilities. Almost any goods or services can be found at just the click of a button and long gone are the days when one would have to trawl for hours on end looking to fulfil a need or requirement.

Those with imagination and drive can and do take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the rise of e-commerce in Indonesia and around the globe. However, there can be some drawbacks, too. The advent of online businesses, in general, has led to the culling or vast reduction of certain jobs and industries, while others have flourished.

It will be interesting to see where the next decade or so takes us in terms of e-commerce and its knock-on effects.

Trip Planning with Buddies on Mobile Imagine that you have only a five-day leave from your work, and you want to plan a unique and memorable trip to Bali with best friends who you haven’t met for ages.

To make the best of our limited leave days and gain the most memorable experience with your buddies, we will need to plan the trip well in advance.

The first thing we do in the trip planning is to decide the trip days when most of your trip buddies can join the trip. A week-long trip in August could start from 6th to 13th August, for example.

When the dates are decided, it is important as well to note the budget of the trip – how much everyone is willing to spend for the trip, e.g. around Rp10 million per person. This can be done by roughly estimating the cost of transport, accommodation, activities, guides, food, and so on. This is important so that we don’t overspend and manage the expectation of everyone joining the trip.

After the schedule and budget are settled, we can explore interesting places and activities that are enjoyable for everyone on the trip. Some people on the trip may enjoy sightseeing and relishing in local food, while the others may enjoy sports and nature. We can shortlist the places and activities to do and then create a day-by-day itinerary.

After the itineraries are completed and the people joining the trip are confirmed, we can start the trip booking. The trip booking usually involves booking

flights or other means of transport and accommodation.

If we are visiting several places in a day that are not within walking distance, we will need to hire a car.

Some popular attractions, such as Bali Safari or Bali Bird Park may offer online ticket purchases in advance.

Adventure tours, such as canyoning at Lampah or ATV rides, can be usually booked in advance so that the tour operators can prepare the equipment before our arrival.

There are plenty of things to organise and coordinate among the trip buddies and also with tour agencies or operators. Therefore, we usually will elect a trip leader to make the decision and make the bookings.

Fortunately, the trip leader can use EzeeGo.app, a smart travel planner app to plan and book the trip.

EzeeGo.app can create a trip itinerary based on travellers’ time schedules, budgets, and activity preferences. Using EzeeGo.app, the trip leader can get the trip itinerary recommendation, adjust it accordingly, and then invite the trip buddies. Invited trip buddies can view the trip itinerary and trip budget estimates. When the planning is done, the trip leader can request a quote from the EzeeGo team. EzeeGo travel consultant will make the quote according to the requirements of the trip (e.g. flight, accommodation, car rental, attraction tickets, etc). If you accept the quotation, you can make the payment online and then just get ready for the trip.

Isn’t that easy?

12

business profile

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

Max Choi Encourages Easier Car Rentals with TREVO Indonesia’s major cities are quite populated with vehicles. Do you think TREVO is an alternative to combat the never-ending congestion issue? Why? We believe that TREVO can play an important role in contributing to Indonesia’s congestion problem. By renting cars, you’re freeing yourself from the burden of owning one. Why live with a hassle that will become a liability in five to ten years? At TREVO, you can rent cars with the convenience of owning one at any time. TREVO aims to reduce cars on the road not just for mobility’s sake, but for the future of our environment.

T

he world is back to being mobile.

Using a travel alternative that exudes comfort and effectiveness are a couple of considerations while on holiday, on business or throughout daily activities. TREVO is that alternative, and Indonesia Expat has chatted with Myounghwan (Max) Choi all about this car rental app available in Indonesia.

Hi, Max! We’d like to know more about you. Please introduce yourself.

Hello, Indonesia Expat! I’m Myoung-hwan Choi, the CEO of SMM Group which is the holding company of TREVO Indonesia. But please, you can call me Max. I’m a South Korean who has been living in the SEA region for more than ten years, travelling back and forth between Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Seoul.

Being a sceptic, I’ve always raised an eyebrow whenever my colleagues tell me stories about Indonesia. Besides the natural beauty, one point in particular that is always brought up is Indonesian hospitality and passion. As a traveller at heart, I sought to come to Jakarta and Bali for my first visit to Indonesia years ago. After years of travel and experiencing the culture myself, now I can say that this sentiment toward Indonesia is true. Indonesia and its people have earned a very special place in my heart.

That, and soto betawi!

Briefly explain TREVO. TREVO is a car rental app that aims to change the way we travel with rental cars.

We bring convenience to people who need a rental car service by using a mobile app to find and rent various car options for any activity from the car host communities inside the TREVO ecosystem.

With this solution, we’re bringing a new standard to the rental car industry with better service, easier processes, price transparency, and various car options compared to conventional rental car business models.

As the CEO of TREVO, what initially sparked the idea to introduce the company in Indonesia?

We see that in Indonesia, there is a fastgrowing business in the car rental segment of the transportation industry. Indonesia already has a great market in tourism supported by its demographic advantage, which is directly related to the car rental business.

Furthermore, along with the rapid economic growth, the main movement market centred on large cities is transitioning from twowheel vehicles to four-wheel vehicles, which makes Indonesia an attractive market.

How does TREVO ensure privacy, cleanliness, safety, and any other concerns users might have?

We use machine learning to validate the authenticity of the documents submitted by our customers to manage risk. Cars also have inspection stages before being sent to customers to provide a car in good condition and a great experience for all parties – between car owners, renters, and TREVO itself.

What sets TREVO’s services apart from the rest?

Compared to the other players in the market, our brand experience matters most – and this is what makes us different from the rest.

Breaking down the elements of what makes us able to deliver a great brand experience, there are; the supply of car options, great product experience, and service excellence.

The first is the various car options available.

Since we work and maintain a great relationship with a network of car hosts around Indonesia, we are strong in variety and supply. For example, users can rent an Alphard or a Fortuner for a family holiday, or rent SUVs for a trip with friends, an Innova for their daily business operations, for a honeymoon, cafe-hopping with friends, etc. With a wide variety of hosts that offer different cars, customers can enjoy any experience within a single app on their smartphones.

When we deep dive into the car rental business in Indonesia, it’s quite traditional in terms of how business is done; how the car hosts promote their business and how the customer searches for and books rental cars.

The second element is that we build a great product experience through the mobile app.

We make sure that our product can answer the challenges customers face when they need to rent a car. We’ve built a smooth and easy registration process when they sign up without taking too much effort, and after the verification process, they can go search for any car in any city in Indonesia. It’s that simple.

That’s why TREVO aims to disrupt the traditional car rental industry by digitising it through our solution. Car hosts and customers can benefit from each other without having the hassle of doing a car rental transaction traditionally.

The last element is our service excellence.

We always see from our customers’ perspective first. What kind of information do they seek from our product, what kind of service they need, and how do they interact with our business? This matters to us.

According to a study by SOCAR, Korea's No. 1 car-sharing company, sharing a car can remove seven individually-owned vehicles from the streets. In essence, the more cars we share via the TREVO platform, the more we can reduce the number of cars on the road.

In essence, the more cars we share via the TREVO platform, the more we can reduce the number of cars on the road.

To add, this spirit of competitiveness comes from the know-how accumulated on Malaysia’s side of the business for years prior.

Run through the guest booking process at TREVO. It’s very simple. First, you need to download our app, sign up and do the simple verification process – submit a selfie, ID verification, etc. After that, you can search for car options based on the city. Tap on the car you want, set how many days you are going to rent, and then proceed to the payment process.

As soon as you’re done with the process, you’ll get a confirmation about your booking from our system and the car host.

What are the requirements to become a “host” at TREVO? To become a host at TREVO, you’ll need to submit the required documents. Those documents are; your national ID, your vehicle’s registration, interior and exterior pictures, and your vehicle tax information.

You then wait for TREVO’s approval. This usually takes five minutes for our staff and machine learning to verify your credentials.

After we approve your submission, you can start your journey as a TREVO host and earn extra money from your car!

Complete this sentence: With TREVO, you and your loved ones will…

Have a much easier time renting any car, anytime!

Do you have personal experience using TREVO? If yes, tell us about your experience.

I am using TREVO every day while I’m in Malaysia or Indonesia. No matter if it’s in the capital or Bali, whatever the reason for my travels, TREVO has proven time and time again to be the most trustworthy and practical option for me. I usually opt to rent a car that includes a driver, and for the rest of the day, I’m pretty much set. I’m not very fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, so it’s nice to have the peace of mind that I can travel freely with the help of the driver.

It’s also very convenient that you can choose from a variety of car types that are perfect for all of your travel purposes. Vans for family travel, executive sedans for important client journeys, compact cars for convenient transportation in the city centre, etc.

For a scenario I’d love to try, I would love to fly over Bali in a helicopter. Yes, if you didn’t know, we offer helicopter trips that you can book in the app – now you do.

Max, what’s next for TREVO? Our focus for TREVO in Indonesia now is to grow and strengthen our presence nationwide. We are currently available in 23 cities with over 5,000 listed vehicles available, but we feel more checks need to be marked. Growing a strong supply to meet the ever-growing demand, building a strong relationship within our car host community, and overall building a better experience for our customers - this is what we plan to achieve.

How can our readers get in touch with TREVO? You can follow our social media accounts on Instagram and Tiktok (@trevo.indo) or email help@trevo.id if you need any support from our teams.

Thanks for the chat, Max! Stay safe and happy.

14

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

trading

Indonesia’s Mid-Year Imports and Exports

BY MIRELLA PANDJAITAN

I

ndonesia is a country working with an open economy. Therefore, it conducts international trade through routine exports and imports of commodities to meet the needs of the people and support the domestic economy.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) defines imports as the entry of goods and services purchased by residents of a country from residents of other countries resulting in an outf low of foreign currency from the country. On the other hand, exports are shipments of goods and services sold by residents of a country to residents of others to obtain foreign currency from the buyer's country.

Adrian Sutedi, in his book “Import Export Law”, stated that export and import transactions are important economic activities. He wrote the following purposeful benefits of exports: • Increase company profits through market expansion and obtain better selling prices (profit optimisation) • Opening new markets abroad as an expansion of the domestic market • Utilising excess installed capacity • Export transactions of goods and services bring in foreign exchange for the country.

The foreign exchange itself is a financial asset and liability that can be used in international transactions in the form of foreign exchange, gold, securities, foreign notes, etc • Increasing domestic industrial growth • Growing domestic industries As for imports, according to various sources, countries tend to: • Meet domestic needs in the form of raw materials, capital goods, and consumer goods • Acquire modern technology • Prevent price increases triggered by shortages of goods • Reduce foreign exchange • An increase in imports of raw or auxiliary materials and capital goods indicates that there is demand from the domestic industry; in consumer demand and has a positive impact on labour absorption

Imports Imports of raw materials and capital goods indicate that the country’s economy is moving. Indonesia’s import value was recorded at US$18.61 billion in May 2022, down 5.81 percent month-on-month compared to April 2022, when imports were valued at US$19.75 billion.

The declining value of imports monthly was driven by a 12.07 percent drop in oil and gas imports to US$3.35 billion. Non-oil and gas imports also fell 4.31 percent to US$15.25 billion.

Oil and Gas Crude oil, oil products, and gas are imported to Indonesia. Global crude oil prices in May 2022 were recorded at US$109.6 per barrel.

Monthly, it's up 6.92 percent and annually up 67.35 percent, year-on-year.

Deputy for Distribution Statistics and Services Setianto said on 15th June 2022 that the decline in Indonesia’s import per formance throughout May was contributed by both non-oil and gas as well as oil and gas imports reducing. This period reached US$3.35 billion, as reported by Bisnis.com.

Non-oil and Gas

1.Machinery and mechanical equipment Non-oil and gas imports are dominated by machinery and mechanical equipment — for example, precision machinery and automotive — used to support the domestic industry. Setianto added that the value of non-oil and gas imports in May 2022 was US$15.26 billion, while in January, machinery and mechanical equipment was recorded as the largest portion of imported goods valuing US$5.55 billion, contributing 30.46 percent of total national imports.

The Central Statistics Agency noted that Indonesia imports from China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Germany, Italy, Australia, and more.

2. Electrical equipment Indonesia also imports electrical equipment and parts thereof. In May 2022, the lack of value of imported electrical goods contributed to the decline in non-oil and gas imports which stood at 11.16 percent.

3. Food Imports of food commodities include garlic, shallots, sugar, beef, buffalo meat, soybeans, salt, milk, and more. Indonesia's imports according to the use of goods had decreased monthly, said Setianto. Consumer goods decreased by 10.77 percent, driven by fruit and vegetable commodities. However, the largest increase in commodity imports was sugar and confectionery (HS 17) which increased by US$106.8 or an increase of 18.22 percent as more goods came from Thailand, Brazil, and Egypt.

4. Plastics and plastic goods Other Indonesian imported commodities are plastic and goods made of plastic used for packaging in the food and beverage industry as well as raw materials used for the automotive industry.

5.Cereals Cereals or grains are a group of plants grown for their seeds or grains to be harvested as a source of carbohydrates and starch. Cereal commodities that are still imported include wheat, corn, sorghum, and so on. Indonesia imports these cereal commodities from Australia, Canada, Argentina, the US, Brazil, and Ukraine, to name a few. Wheat imports are used as raw material for bread and instant noodles, which are popular among Indonesians, while corn is used for animal feed and consumption.

6. Organic chemicals According to the Industry Ministry, imports of organic chemicals include those sourced from oil, sourced from agricultural products, organic chemicals for dye raw materials, organic chemicals that produce chemicals, and so on.

7. Pharmaceutical products At least 90 percent of the raw materials for Indonesian medicines still come from imports. Indonesia remains reliant on supplies from China, India, and others, although the government has begun to map out efforts to reduce imports of pharmaceutical raw materials and encourage domestic production amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The commodities that experienced a decline in May 2022 were cereal commodities (HS 10) minus US$62.5 million, machinery and mechanical equipment and parts thereof (HS 84) which decreased by US$65.2 million, pulp and food industry waste (HS 23) US$103.5 million, and iron and steel (HS 72) down US$254.4 million,” explained Muzhar.

Exports Records from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) indicate that the value of Indonesia's exports in April 2022 reached the highest in history, at U$27.33 billion. "The previous record was set in March 2022, which was US$26.5 billion," said Central Statistics Agency Head Margo Yuwono as quoted by Antara on Tuesday 17th May. Yuwono explained that the value of Indonesia's exports during April 2022 rose 3.11 percent. The largest increase in non-oil and gas exports occurred in mineral fuel commodities, which amounted to US$642.8 million (13.88 percent), while the largest decrease occurred in goods made of metals and jewellery or gems, which amounted to US$525 million (47.84 percent).

The export value in May 2022, however, reached US$21.5 billion. This figure is higher than Indonesia’s imports during the period, thus Indonesia recorded a trade balance surplus of US$2.89 billion – a fall off from the April 2022 surplus of US$7.56 billion.

Every month, this value decreased 21.29 percent compared to April 2022’s export value of US$27, 32 billion caused by diminishing non-oil and gas exports by 22.71 percent month on month or US$20 billion. Meanwhile, oil and gas exports rose 4.38 percent month on month, or US$1.49 billion.

Based on data from the Industry Ministry, until the end of May 2022, as reported by Kumparan, exports of the pharmaceutical industry, chemical drug products, and traditional medicines reached US$62.32 million. The pharmaceutical, chemical, and traditional medicine industries are considered to have great potential for development, given the large domestic market in Indonesia, as well as for increasing exports of pharmaceutical products. The pharmaceutical industry is included as one of the priority industries set out in the 2015-2035 National Industrial Development Master Plan (RIPIN).

Export-import value increases in 2022 Indonesia’s export-import value had decreased on a monthly basis, nevertheless, annually it had increased. In comparison between May 2021 and 2022, the value of exports in this year rose 27 percent year on year. Cumulatively, Indonesia's exports during the January-May 2022 period reached US$114.97 billion, or 36.34 percent compared to the previous year, in 2021 at US$84.32 billion.

The value of non-oil and gas imports in May 2022 also increased annually by 25.33 percent over the year. The January-May 2022 period reached US$95.17 billion, rising by 28.93 percent year on year compared to the same period last year of US$73.82 billion. Half of 2022 is left – where shall the monthly and annual export-import value lead to?

Finding Accommodation in Jakarta The local support from Crown Indonesia Crown Indonesia offers a home search service to all who plan to relocate to Indonesia, short- or long-term. With our Home Search service, we’ll impartially explain the options available to you. Advising on different residential areas, community facilities, safety and entertainment—keeping in your needs and budget.

Jakarta, a huge and bustling metropolis, located on the most populous island of Java is home to over 11 million people of diverse backgrounds. Jakarta is not a city officially, but a province with special status as the capital of Indonesia. It is divided into five cities: Jakarta Pusat (Central Jakarta), Jakarta Utara (North Jakarta), Jakarta Barat (West Jakarta), Jakarta Timur (East Jakarta), and Jakarta Selatan (South Jakarta).

With its many suburbs, Jakarta has become a megapolitan city with its unique cosmopolitan flavour and a diverse culture.

Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and this megapolitan of Jakarta has charted impressive economic growth, thus attracting a good number of foreigners to live and work here over the years. Similar to other destinations in the world, Jakarta offers a wide range of accommodation styles to suit the needs, lifestyle and budget of every expatriate. However, finding the right fit for you and your family can take a lot of time and effort, and finding the right home is a critical part of making your relocation a success.

But even with a massive of some 28 million people packed into this megapolitan city, finding accommodation in Jakarta is never a complicated process. There is a wide variety of residential types in Jakarta for expatriates to choose from based on their preferences, lifestyle, and budget. Housing complexes, townhouses, services apartments, non-services apartments, detached homes, and villas are widely available, depending on the neighbourhood in which expatriates prefer to settle.

Jakarta boasts a number of family-friendly neighbourhoods.

Central Jakarta is a great location for expats who want to get the most out of city living, while South Jakarta has more suburban neighbourhoods with large houses and villas. Some of the areas also offer easy access to some of the city’s international schools, making these locations an ideal choice for expat families.

For expatriates who just arrived in Jakarta, the language barrier might pose a problem in their journey of property search. It’s important that expatriates connect with a reliable local contact like Crown Indonesia who can assist them in finding the right accommodation.

We are prominent in local housing markets and able to negotiate favourable contract terms, as well as coordinate all the formalities in securing a new home. Our Home Search service can include: • Pre-arrival needs analysis or support • A tour of residential areas customised to your lifestyle and budget • Researching listings and arranging inspections of available properties, fully accompanied property visits by a consultant of Crown Indonesia • Assistance with understanding the lease and property condition report • Assistance with property handover and getting moving-in organised • Settling-in services to make the process of setting up a property as simple as possible during those overwhelming first weeks.

• Setting up home and we’ll advise on organising basic utilities, banking matters, driving licenses, insurance services, and local registrations.

Accommodation is easily and fairly arranged Use our inside knowledge and partner network for all kinds of temporary and permanent accommodation, we’ll help you find the best locations as well as the best deals. Our access to a mix of furnished or semi-furnished corporate housing, extended stay hotel partners, and private rentals ensure you get the right balance of quality, location, and price.

Crown Indonesia is independent and able to work with all realtors and major landlords. You will benefit from truly independent and objective information and advice. For expatriates who are under corporate relocations, you can be assured that your company’s relocation policy and housing allowances are adhered to.

Preparation is everything, but there will always be surprises.

Contact us or WhatsApp chat with us to learn more about our home search support for your relocations.

Scan and Whatsapp chat with us

Contact us: E-mail jakarta@crownrelo.com Phone number 0617945342

16

observation

Broken House Blues

BY DANIEL POPE

C

OVID immigration regulations have largely been lifted and foreigners are being allowed back into Indonesia. This includes for business purposes. Should you be planning a lengthy visit and fancy a grass-roots cultural experience, one of your options is to ignore Jakarta’s luxury high-rises and instead rent a clapped-out house in a kampung (cheap inner-city housing area), placing yourself down among the common people.

I’d like to go through what condition you can expect this kind of “rumah” to be in, that’s to say the quirks and features that you might not find in your UK or Australian home. So let’s go inside. Watch your step. That stream of sludge running under your doorstep might look like a magical free-flowing mix of custard, chocolate and peanut butter but hold off with the spoon, since it’s actually the contents of the open sewer.

The first thing you’ll notice about your new house with its battleship-grey walls and ineffective air conditioning is that it isn’t empty. And I’m not talking about the rats, mosquitoes, red ants, cockroaches, geckos, and other freeloading creatures that thrive here. There may be an elderly woman lurking inside waiting to greet you with the one word of English she knows.

Don’t worry, she’s not an intruder. She is your pembantu, or maid, and she’s awaiting your instructions, most of which she won’t understand.

It’s the pembantu’s job to mop the floors and do the laundry among other tiresome chores.

This kind and friendly woman usually lives locally, perhaps even next door, and custom dictates that she comes with the house like any other fixture, just as her mother did, and her mother before her, going back generations to when her distant ancestor first turned up and offered to extinguish the campfire in exchange for some scraps of dinosaur goreng.

Some sensitive westerners who dare to live in the kampung are deeply shocked to learn that they have inherited what could be considered a servant (in name at least). At the centre of this guilt trip is the misconception that domestic help is so cheap that the position must lack dignity.

This belief is usually rendered immaterial by the realisation that washing machines are rare and piles of tropically sweat-stained clothes can become mountainous.

Employing maids is normal practice in Indonesia. Just be sure to remember they are only human and can make mistakes like anybody else. This was demonstrated when my former Canadian housemate was handed a large dripping clod of sodden paper by the pembantu. It was the remains of his passport, which had gone through the wash and hidden in the pocket of his jeans.

Next, let’s shoulder this door open and check out your bedroom. Reclined seductively on your bed you will find your new wife. Or more precisely your Dutch wife, or “istri Belanda”. This soft cylindrical bolster is not a common feature of Western beds.

The popular story is that it was invented

by lonely Dutch settlers who arrived in Indonesia a few hundred years ago. Lie down and give it a hug. Feeling sleepy?

Not far from the bedroom is your bathroom.

Careful of how you tread. There are no shagpile carpets in Indonesian bathrooms. The f loors are tiled and inevitably wet. The shower, or if you’re unlucky the “bak mandi” (a tub of cold water and a ladle), splash directly onto the floor. If your toilet is also in the bathroom, you’ll spend a lot of time shedding your socks and drying your feet going in and out, or else forgetting to and getting your socks soaked.

Don’t think that this bareness makes the bathroom fireproof. My housemate once left a candle burning on top of a plastic bathroom cabinet when he departed at dawn for the airport (yes, this is the same calamitous housemate as before with a new passport). Unfortunately, it burned right down as everyone slept and set the cabinet alight, toothbrushes and soap dishes and all, filling the house with black acrid smoke and the thumping footfalls of all the other occupants casting aside their Dutch wives and f leeing their beds in fear of being roasted.

And remember, the house doesn’t come with a fire extinguisher as standard, only a stomach pump (located in or near the kitchen). One last warning.

The bathroom amplifies sound to an alarming level. Don’t break wind in here.

The ceiling might collapse.

Now come along to the kitchen, and mind that wire. Don’t trip over it. Some non-traditional items you won’t find in this room are a microwave oven, a popup toaster, and cutlery other than spoons.

What you will find is a glorified camping stove fuelled by a large Calor gas cylinder, and more frying pans than you can shake a spatula at. Stop looking around for that washing machine. You won’t find it, just a bucket and a scrubbing brush. And don’t feel all guilty again when you see your pembantu perched on a stool not much bigger than a mushroom while she’s doing the laundry.

You’ll feel different when she’s ruined all your shirts with that brush.

Now step out into your magnificent back garden. Gaze at that mango swamp, those tall trees with their ripe bananas. Just kidding! You’re unlikely to have something as rare and precious as a back garden. You’re not the president! You might get a small swamp, depending on the extent of that year’s rainfall, but it won’t have any mangos in it. Talking of rainfall, your house will have basic flood prevention measures, such as a roof, but I’d advise you to check your contract to make sure.

Now let’s take a look at the living room. If like me you grew up sitting unblinkingly in front of a TV set after school was finished, you’ll feel perfectly nostalgic here. And by sitting I mean with crossed legs on the floor the Asian way, not on a chair.

Interestingly, a British TV health programme claimed that an indication of your life expectancy was the number of times you placed a hand on the floor for support while getting up from a cross-legged position. Fewer was better. Zero times was best. This seemed unfair to me, seeing that Westerners are at a disadvantage from being more used to rising from chairs. But you might want to put in some practice if only to reduce the risk of your becoming stuck while using your squat toilet and having to call out to your pembantu to come and haul you to your feet.

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

DESTINATION: LOMBOK

PARADISE AWAITS Indonesia is now open and it is time to jot down your travel plan. There are limitless beauties waiting for you in Lombok, from the stunning coastline and new world-class circuit in Mandalika, jaw-dropping landscape in Mount Rinjani, scenic landscape for the cyclist, and the magical white sandy beach of Sire Beach, where Hotel Tugu Lombok is located.

A holiday destination currently on the rise, just like its neighbouring island Bali, Lombok has so many to offer -and many, many hidden gems. Explore the island's miraculous wonder in every corner. Dive into the depths of Gili Islands waters, go through the forests and look for bewitching waterfalls, or go into a culinary adventure sampling the best flavours of Lombok.

While there are a lot of things to do in Lombok, a stay at Hotel Tugu Lombok is definitely on the bucket list.

Hotel Tugu Lombok is located on the pristine, miles and miles of the virgin white sand beach of Sire, on the northwest coast of the island. Neighbouring this tropical haven is a beautiful 18-hole-golf course and virgin landscapes, traditional thatched roofed huts and empty green fields where local life continues

Carrying the Tugu signature in its mission, style

Those travelling with kids, need not to worry.

in today’s age much the same as it has done for

and atmosphere, Hotel Tugu Lombok stands as

There are plenty of activities to keep them

centuries. With individual spacious villas dispersed

a monument for the forgotten history, art and

happy; from cooking class, beach sports, running

over six hectares of tropical lawns; with sea and

romance of ancient kingdoms, where at the same

around the tropical garden, and most importantly

mountains of Lombok everywhere you look, enjoy

time provides heavenly tropical luxuries like no

the amazing staff who always play with the kids

the luxurious feeling that you have the whole

other resorts do. Hotel Tugu Lombok features

(parents beware your kids will hardly remember

resort and its most beautiful staff all to yourself,

hundreds of original, beautiful artworks and

you all day!). End the day on a high note with

pampering you as if there is no tomorrow.

antiques painstakingly collected and assembled

stunning sunset-watching drinks and a beach

as a loving testament to the long-forgotten,

barbeque.

original culture of the isle of Lombok.

Get active this holiday and bring your own bike and venture the island on wheels. Comb through the green paddy fields with giant mountains towering behind and don’t forget to take in the fresh, clean air as you move along.

If you’re in the mood for more cultural things, let the hotel team take you to traditional terracottamaking centres. You can also visit the artisan ladies behind Lombok’s treasured fabric, Tenun Songket, all woven meticulously by hand.

www.tuguhotels.com lombok@tuguhotels.com +6281937995566 tuguhotels

18

getaway

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

Feed Your Soul and Breathe the Freshest Air at Ubud’s Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

BY ANASTASIA MILENA

P

aradise island; that’s what they say about Bali. This island offers so many amazing things and culture, all of which make Bali one of the most famous Indonesian brands.

Nowadays, Canggu is known as the place for expats. If you want to experience bustling Bali, throw parties, and chat in bars, the crowd is there. Some people find it fun.

Sometimes, some people tire of being in tourist spots and want to be in a quiet place.

Ubud offers you that option.

For two days, I was enriched in a sanctuary, a luxury village, to escape from busy city life and deadlines. With the hotel’s tagline, “A sanctuary to relax one’s mind, body and soul", Mandapa, which is located along the majestic Ayung River and meets the lush forest in Ubud, offers you a different experience. You’ll stay in a blend of rural atmosphere in a luxurious place. It’s definitely a great getaway from the bustle of busy streets and sparkling city lights. “That's exactly what I need,” I told myself.

Mandapa is a resort with 35 spacious luxurious suites and 25 private pool villas, designed to magnify and embrace the surrounding tropical landscape. Equipped with facilities such as a spa, sauna, gym, vitality pool, relaxation room, and eight treatment rooms including for singles and couples. Considering this place is very spacious with complete facilities, you’ll get a stronger urge to stay in rather than explore since everything you need is literally here!

I arrived in the afternoon; it was hot outside and I followed where my map took me. That led me to a residential alley. Wait, am I in the right place? Having a moment's hesitation as the location is hidden from the surrounding area, I decided to just move forward and finally, I arrived. Someone was standing in front of the lobby and led me to come in.

And wow, the lobby is on the highest level of this five-hectare hotel and I had a clear view of the rainforest from there. I took a deep breath, feeling my lungs being cleansed of the polluted air below.

Not long after I set foot in the reception area, a green refreshing drink came; their signature welcome drink Loloh Cemcem, a traditional chlorophyll juice along with the cemcem leaf. It’s a little bitter but very refreshing – I loved it. This traditional drink must be familiar if you have been to Penglipuran Village. To be very honest, I preferred the one served here.

When I got to my room, I didn’t interact with many tourists here. I guess they had the same agenda on their minds: being away from hecticness. A buggy car is ready to take guests to every corner of the hotel. Any plans to lose weight? Skip the buggy and get your daily steps in.

Entering my suite, a king-sized bed with wood surrounding gives a romantic yet classy ambience, the rooms truly represent a village with their wooden interiors and dim yellow lights. A bathtub facing the bed and rainforest just pushed me to take a dip to relax.

It’s equipped with a fully stocked minibar, an espresso machine, a hairdryer, and air conditioning. What’s fascinating is the bathroom – where the shower, toilet, and bathtub are in a separate place, and two sliding doors separate it from the bedroom.

It's a unique way to control privacy which other accommodation doesn't normally

Considering this place is very spacious with complete facilities, you’ll get a stronger urge to stay in rather than explore since everything you need is literally here! offer. For me, I kept open the sliding door to be able to soak in the bathtub while enjoying the view that is directly visible from my bedroom. Facing the bathtub, there are two large round mirrors with aesthetic lights that make it impossible for anyone to just take one mirror selfie.

Named after the entrance to a traditional Hindu temple, Mandapa offers individually tailored spiritual, wellness, health, and detox programmes, complemented by the fulltime personalised attention of a dedicated Patih (king’s assistant) or butler, the retreat is designed to be a sanctuary to relaxing one's mind, body, and soul naturally.

The Balinese way of living is the concept of this hotel. As the name implies, Mandapa Village truly represents a village. The interior is made mostly of wood and bamboo,

natural surroundings, and no plastic. I remember when I ordered a drink, the straw they used was made from lemongrass stalks.

“Wow, they are very serious about promoting sustainability,” I thought to myself.

One thing that really caught my attention here is a temple by the river that belongs to a family, where several times a year, traditional ceremonies are held. The best part is, you can be a part of the ceremony!

The rooms at Mandapa are equipped with kamen and selendang – traditional Balinese bottoms and belts – that you can use when you want to join. Wish yourself luck as the ceremony is held on certain days such as Piodalan, Galungan, and other special days.

Don’t worry about your kids, they’ll be welloccupied. In accordance with their “back to nature” concept, Mandapa provides a Kids Club built with bamboo for your “mini explorer” to play within nature. There’s no such thing as a Playstation or any other electronic game. Children are invited to play with the concept of nature and socialisation such as playing with puppets, reading books, playing ball, and feeding animals like the resident chickens, ducks, and their two superstar cows, Manda and Dapa. It’s not over yet – the unique activity here is planting rice. You can keep your child away from gadgets and have them play in the mud for a while.

I had breakfast at Sawah Terrace restaurant, this place is above the Ayung River. I sat in a corner where the view was clearly visible without anything blocking my way, allowing me to enjoy my food while looking at the flowing water – this aroused my appetite.

19

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

The food choices here combine buffet and a la carte, Indonesian and western for breakfast.

Mandapa Village is home to several restaurants that have their own speciality.

Kubu Restaurant serves EuropeanMediterranean dishes, Sawah Terrace with their Balinese and Indonesian cuisine, and The Pool Bar and The Library, where guests can spend an afternoon enjoying beverages.

The next day, I joined John Hardy’s master class jewellery making programme, which is an additional Mandapa package called “Time to Reconnect”. I was very excited as this was my first time. I got there and did a little touring around. I didn't mean to overdo it – but I was amazed by the whole process. I never imagined making a silver bracelet would take days with such a tedious process where everything is made with great care and attention.

Unforgettable new experiences were unlocked!

Only 30 minutes from John Hardy, I arrived at the hotel and went straight to my room. It was raining outside and my stomach started growling. I rushed down to go to the Sawah Terrace restaurant; serving authentic Indonesian foods for dinner. I sat in the same place where I had had breakfast. Well, I couldn't see the river anyway, but I think it's my favourite place.

The view of the river in the afternoon turned into a romantic atmosphere, “what a perfect place to overcome hunger and calm my mind before I head off to my bed,” I whispered to myself.

I ordered sate languan, oxtail soup, and bebek goreng bacem. I was thinking of ordering dessert but I’d already filled my stomach with all the main dishes that

I’d ordered earlier. “Let’s try tomorrow,” I told myself. I returned to the room in a happy mood and rushed to fill my bathtub with warm water and bath salts – dipping myself while watching TV, relaxing my tense muscles and my full stomach.

I had planned to wake up early in the morning for a walk, but I failed to do so – I peacefully slept in and felt unbothered to wake up at 8:20am. That was fine because no matter what time you wake up, you'll wake up to nature – maybe a little late to hear the birds whistling, but the fresh atmosphere overlooks the rainforest and the sound of the Ayung river can still be heard clearly all the time.

Having slept like a baby and woken up fully charged, I decided to grab the buffet for breakfast that morning. Heaven on earth!

Everything from nasi goreng, bubur Bali, bread, pastry, sushi, chicken buns, sashimi, and many more - made me confused about which one to take first! I glanced at the various pastries and was tempted to pick up the doughnuts later as yesterday I didn't have space in my stomach to order any dessert.

Surprisingly, the chef prepared a special smoothie for me. Its soft texture is worth competing with gelato - but of course, this one is healthier. A scoop of smoothie inside a greenish-white coconut, made me take a few pictures before forcing myself to eat it right away.

While I was busy admiring and falling for the comfort of this place – I didn’t realise it was already my last day. I filled my soul with gusto for the next few days and was ready to get back into the routine. Sad to say goodbye but see you again soon, Mandapa?

MANDAPA, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE Jalan Kedewatan, Banjar Kedewatan, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, 80571 +62 361 4792777 https://www.ritzcarlton.com/ @mandapareserve

20

staycation

Manhattan Hotel Jakarta Fosters Business and Quality Time

BY MIRELLA PANDJAITAN

Manhattan Hotel has always been an idyll for business travellers. Whether you’re on a government-related agenda or taking a trip to Jakarta to meet clients, this hotel is the perfect place for business because of its strategic location and dining goodies.

Smaller-scale meetings can be conducted in the various meeting rooms accommodating 20 people. Up to 500 attendees are diverted to the ballroom for grander meetings and wedding receptions. You can be a hybrid worker, someone who needs a shuttle service to your Jakarta-based office, or a long-stay resident acquiring additional facilities like WiFi - Manhattan Hotel caters for your business purpose splendidly.

H

ave you heard of the song Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys? That song where Keys goes: “New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can’t do now you’re in New York. These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you!” I consider Jakarta as a concrete jungle broken down into streets and big lights filled with opportunities, just like Keys sings.

Take a glance at Kuningan, South Jakarta; a modern skyscraper-filled business district comprising residential areas, offices, and entertainment hubs. Sure, Kuningan isn’t entirely similar to the United States’ Big Apple but looking closely, glimpses of New York City (NYC) are noticeable when you decide to stay here. Several hotels and serviced apartments have made their homes in Kuningan. One of them is Manhattan Hotel Jakarta.

Situated amongst shopping centres and offices, Manhattan Hotel Jakarta viewed from the streetside can be mistaken for another workplace, standing up 36 floors.

The dreamy appeal of Manhattan, NYC has inspired this hotel to have a lively modern air and breathtaking metropolitan city views are at your disposal. In short, guests will be in awe of the modern business domain as well as desired R&R facilities presented. The hotel has 255 rooms paraded in minimalist and contemporary design. Currently, ongoing enhancements are being delivered to further elevate the urban touch of NYC, comfortable enough for guests on business trips and families on staycations.

I stayed in the Mars and Venus suite, spanning 62 sqm with panoramic views of the capital’s skyline from the 25th floor. A LED TV, a bathtub with a walk-in shower, and a kitchenette (including a microwave!) are all part of the fixtures. The view is undoubtedly spectacular, especially at night as tall glass windows give intimate sight of city lights glimmering and vehicles on a flyover swiftly pass by. It truly brings forth a local feel of Manhattan.

Families seeking a short sweet escape on the weekend can benefit from the weekendonly Family Package. Your little ones can lay in and play around in a tent filled with comfy small pillows and a teddy bear while you laze around on the bed. I actually tested the tent - as a grown woman, I felt comfortable laying inside until I eventually took a nap on the bed in front. This package has recently been introduced this June and is priced at Rp900,000 nett for a minimum of two children, which can be booked any day throughout the week. Walk-in bookings are also possible as long as the room is available. As the munchkins arise the next day, they’ll be served with a speciality kids’ platter at breakfast; the chef creates creative presentations. An example is an “under the sea” platter of a cereal sand-like spread holding a crab made of a croissant and sausage fishes swimming atop.

Speaking of food - the way to a lot of people’s hearts including myself - Manhattan Hotel currently offers a selection of three eateries.

First is Central Park on the third f loor.

Buffets for breakfast, along with a la carte options, feature Indonesian, Asian, and Western cuisines. Dendeng batokok and iga bakar Manhattan both being smothered in sambal, are worthy to expand your spicy range as a virgin pina colada and watermelon juice can alleviate the chillies.

At NYC, a bar and lounge where you can spend your time casually chit-chatting over some coffee or beer accompanied by snacks as you get off of work and wait for the horrendous “normal” Jakarta traffic to subside or upon heading upstairs to your suite, has more innovative coffee selections coming soon. Opt for a classic like a cafe latte while biting on the pepperoni pizza crisps and fish and chips while you see people dreading to get home as soon as they can.

Last but definitely not least is Man Aur Tan, a restaurant serving authentic Indian cuisine specifically highlighting India’s northern region specialities crafted by Chef Sidharth Kumar. Stepping out of the elevator, you’re presented with a breathtaking mural behind the bar. The U-shaped restaurant hangs artwork of Indian women in sarees and

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

cold-coloured furniture against thick glass windows beholding Kuningan and beyond.

Best of all is the outdoor balcony available for dining too!

To my astonished discovery, Man Aur Tan is the only rooftop Indian restaurant found in Jakarta, being located on the 36th floor.

It’s not a fusion Indian restaurant despite the New Delhi-born and raised chef who has been in Indonesia for the past 12 years.

He adamantly ensures the taste is identical to his homeland. A lot of die-hard fans will testify.

The soft opening was held in early June stay tuned for its grand opening! I had the pleasure of eating murg seekh kebab (chicken), gosht dum biryani (mutton), chicken tikka masala, and garlic and cheese naan while sipping on Indian masala chai and butter milk. Two words: f lavourful rollercoaster. In a good way though.

Balancing out the strong spices was an imported candy, looking similar to chocolate sprinkles. It’s a sweet, colourful rice-like refreshment. Careful of getting hooked!

My stomach surpassed its capacity. I took a warm bath at 11pm, peaking at the night skyline and simultaneously blasting soothing music. The heavy rain poured down, transporting me to a deep slumber the next morning. My agenda that morning: breakfast at Central Park and relish the infinity pool, Double D Spa, and a sauna before check-out.

The sun blared. Families, including myself, were splashing in the waters. My spa appointment at 11am approached. A few minutes in the Dahlia room, my masseuse, Raya, greeted me. I laid face-down as my body covered in batik fabric was gently (then fiercely, upon my request) pressed by Raya’s resilient fingers as she did a Balinese massage treatment for the next hour. This marked my first spa treatment at a hotel since the pandemic. My body most definitely needed a massage and Raya delivered extraordinarily - I could feel all the agitated muscles in my shoulders, lower back, and hamstrings paved into relaxation.

“It’s done,” she whispered. “Oh no,” I said to myself. I wish it lasted longer since I was about to fall asleep. I took a moment to gather my consciousness and quickly get dressed for the sauna, beside the fullyequipped gym. About 15 to 30 minutes inside and my detoxified body was drenched in sweat.

The bed was calling me but I had to, unfortunately, grace the congested midafternoon roads. Anyone looking forward to getting business done, celebrating special occasions, dining luscious tastes in immaculate views, and releasing tensions ought to visit Manhattan Hotel Jakarta.

MANHATTAN HOTEL JAKARTA Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav.19-24 Karet Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan 12940. +62 21 30040888 booking@hotel-manhattan.com www.hotel-manhattan.com @manhattanhoteljakarta

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business

Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

Business Growth through Innovation and Creativity

BY ANASTASIA MILENA

this place also makes many innovations in terms of the taste and type of martabak being sold.

Baban, the owner of Mr. Kebab Martabak, shared his efforts to survive in the midst of a pandemic. He’ll admit that he’s not very good in the digital realm, but he began to look for tips one by one to maintain his business by adding variety to the menu as well as trying to register his shop for online food deliveries such as Gojek and Grab. By reducing direct interaction and physical touch during payments that were usually made before the pandemic, the business was slowly improving; customers who were afraid to shop for food became more comfortable with the online food delivery apps.

C

OVID-19 has, without a doubt, had a drastic impact on every field and walk of life. The long-lasting effects of the pandemic have changed the way business is conducted and will have a strong impact on business models as well.

All business sectors have felt a massive effect, none more so than in Bali. Bali, which is known as a world tourist destination, teetered on the brink of collapse during the global crisis. As people connected with tourism lost jobs, businesses started losing profits due to declining sales.

In fact, many businesses weren’t able to survive, the few that did are still limping due to the pandemic. One of the deeply affected sectors has been food and catering.

The culinary industry generally has high prospects considering that food is one of the basic human needs. However, there were many challenges facing culinary businesses due to the pandemic, especially during the lockdown period. People started to hesitate to buy food outside, considering the level of hygiene of the food, plus the restrictions on going out of the house. In this situation, it was the street vendors who had the most trouble.

What is food innovation and why is it important?

Food innovation is the development and commoditisation of new food products, processes, and services. Right now, it's happening fast. Food companies are looking for ways to make offerings not only attractive, but also accessible and unique, and sustainable. Especially during the pandemic, innovation has been a way for organisations and business people to make adjustments to the situation. Difficulties and circumstances can force business people to think productively and seek innovative ways to discuss new opportunities. One of the interesting culinary businesses to discuss is the Martabak seller.

Martabak is one of the must-try snacks for tourists. Served with various toppings such as peanuts, milk, cheese, chocolate, and bananas, this thick Indonesian pancake is

very popular not only locally but also abroad because of its sweet taste and rich taste.

Don't be fooled by the name every time, though. If you’re looking for a thick sweet pancake, some regions in Indonesia call it terang bulan. But if you prefer something savoury and crispy, you can order the egg martabak: spicy folded omelette pancakes with bits of vegetables.

Martabak sellers are scattered throughout Indonesia. With so many, the competition is getting tougher to survive and be different.

Of course, innovation is needed to stand out more than others. One of the creative and innovative martabak sellers can be found in Ubud.

Located right across from Pura Dalem Puri Ubud, Mr. Kebab Martabak is always crowded with visitors, especially at night, because it doesn't just sell ordinary martabak. Since the pandemic, this street food seller has innovated far ahead of its surrounding competitors. Not only is it trying to use online food delivery such as Gojek and Grab Food to expand its reach,

“We have to keep up with the times if we don't want to be left behind. During a pandemic like now, digital is the saviour of every business. For those who are still hesitant to make direct contact, payments can now also be made with a digital wallet. everything always has a way, only we must work to learn,” explained Baban.

What steps can be taken to improve in the culinary industry?

In order to be able to move forward and innovate, we must have the courage to take steps and even have to change the existing system. Don't be afraid to take your business against the popular trend. Who knows, maybe in the future your business will be the centre of attention of many people?

One example: changing the recipe. Most entrepreneurs are afraid to change what has been around for a long time so they are always left behind by those who dare to make changes. Not all innovation requires change to the basics, but if it is necessary for greater success, why not?

That's one of the steps taken by the owner of Mr. Kebab Martabak. What make him different from the martabak sellers around the Ubud area is that the menu offered here

is eye-catching. He not only adds to the list of toppings to choose from, this martabak seller also innovates in terms of the colour and taste of the martabak itself.

Mr. Kebab Martabak offers a menu with original, red velvet, black forest, and pandan flavour pancakes with dozens of toppings.

You can choose from basic toppings such as nuts, chocolate, cheese, and bananas to premium toppings such as toblerone, tiramisu, nutella, ovaltine, and others.

“We thought about what would set our martabak apart from others. We were a little scared to try at first because not many in the Ubud area have done it, but again I thought if we never try we will never know, " he said.

Interested in the concept offered, I went to this martabak seller in the afternoon. I ordered a pandan martabak with cheesebanana-tiramisu toppings. Even though it is unique compared to martabak menus, the price is still affordable. I paid around Rp 25.000 and you can pay an additional Rp3,000 to get special f lavours such as pandan (green colour), Red Velvet (red colour), and black forest (black-brown colour).

I definitely learned why people love this martabak so much; the sweet, salty, soft taste when bitten, plus the crunchy edges that melt in the mouth, instantly increase endorphins for anyone who takes a mouthful.

That's what I felt when I tried this martabak, the slight pandan taste gave a new sensation than eating the original martabak in general. It's not that far from anywhere in Bali, so it's worth trying at least once!

Since adding variety to the menu and joining online food delivery services, sales are increasing and stable. This stall is able to stay ahead of its surrounding competitors by carrying out these two innovations.

With distance being removed as a barrier and many variations on offer, customers no longer hesitate to order anything at Mr. Kebab Martabak.

Innovation through simple and practical food menus is a product innovation strategy. Meanwhile, another product innovation made by business owners is digital dominance. With the presence of online food delivery in every food business, anyone who is not around can still place an order. Coupled with the existence of a digital wallet, the risk of transmission of viruses and bacteria can be reduced because customers and business owners or employees do not come into direct contact with each other.

There are so many innovations that can be done depending on the type of business being run. There will always be risks at every step, but rather than just sitting in one place and being left behind, isn't it better to step up and adapt to the ups and downs?

Have you thought about what innovations you can make in your business?

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Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

insight

Made Sulemdra: Making Dreams Come True What are your latest projects and how are you integrating new or alternative ideas in the designs?

Right now, I’ve got three main projects. The first one is Kemetug Eco Village which is located in Kemetug, Gunung Salak in the hills of Tabanan. As per our standard procedures in taking jobs, the first thing we do before starting the design is to conduct a survey on the site to get more ideas about the site itself in terms of its history and its surroundings.

The village of Kemetug is a beautiful place with magnificent scenery along with historical heritage. With this kind of site, it’s very important to design something which is in harmony and in line with the history and the surroundings, so we decided the most appropriate type of construction to build was a prefab house in which the main building will be constructed from old recycled wood and other materials like stones will be sourced from the surrounding area itself. This prefab house will have a modern interior and by taking advantage of the beautiful location we can ensure all rooms are exposed to the views around them. In addition, we also decided to design 30 percent of the total site as a building area and leave the rest of the site as natural as possible.

O

ur Seven Stones Indonesia podc a st s a nd i nt er v iew s cover a broad range of topics including, doing business in Indonesia, entrepreneurship, real estate and property, the latest legal advice, opinions, and much more because we believe in driving positive change by delivering intelligent and relevant value-driven services that help our clients become more effective, efficient, and successful.

The latest interview was with Made Sulendra, an inspirational Balinese architect, who passionately believes in creating eco-friendly projects that combine form and function with Balinese tradition and culture. Here’s what he had to say when we caught up with him on the site of a proposed Eco-Village in Kemetug, Gunung Salak, in Tabanan.

Tell us about Ade Bali Interior Design and Architecture.

We are a team of passionate and talented architects, interior designers, and landscape consultants who have a great deal of experience in our fields. With dynamic and up-to-date designs, we’re able to maintain high-quality services to meet market demands.

What motivated you to become an architect?

I come from a family who spent a great deal of their time working in building and construction. It wasn't just my father, but also the community he was involved with.

It seemed when I was growing up everyone was doing it!

I knew from a young age that before you could build anything, anything at all, someone must have come up with the idea and then designed it. This fascinated me because it was like making ideas and dreams come true.

For me, being an architect is all about creating that bridge between an idea and reality. There’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a client saying, “this is exactly what I want!” or “this is my dream house!” I know I can do that, and that’s what drives me.

Who’s been your biggest inspiration?

My father is the most inspiring figure in my life journey, especially in my career.

He is a local builder who always aims at constructing practical and functional buildings, which are also easy to maintain. I always bear in mind that whenever my team and I work on any designs, we always make sure that they can be built and maximised in terms of their functions as well as easy to maintain. This is a very simple value, but it could help many of my clients to set their objectives when deciding to build their own houses, villas or resorts.

What do you enjoy most about being an architect in Bali?

I enjoy meeting new people and clients.

Everyone has different ideas and different tastes and that's a challenge. But being able to interpret their ideas and needs and then create designs around them is a great feeling. It takes time, patience, and understanding, which can be challenging sometimes for sure, but I like that.

The second project is H-LT 88, an ecoresort located in the commercial area of Tumbak Bayuh, Pererenan. We will use bamboo material, adapting natural shapes like the shape of a shell for the lobby and restaurant; a lotus shape for the gym and spa areas; and the shapes of leaves for the roof of the building. All swimming pools on the rooftop will be made out of acrylic panels to enjoy the sky roof.

The third one is Sore Tropical Living 2, also located in Tumbak Bayuh, Pererenan.

This is the second project that we handle from the same owner. It started from designing Sore Tropical Living 1, then the owner decided to hire us again for designing and building the Sore Tropical Living 2. As a commercial property, the second concept is more accommodating in terms of market demand compared to the first design.

We’ve had more clients asking us to incorporate solar power and smart ways to use rainwater into their homes. And even those who want us to use all recycled materials.

Bali was hit quite hard by the pandemic.

How has this impacted your business?

We are very grateful that during the pandemic we received more projects, both for designing and building, which came from both repeat clients and new ones.

It’s really encouraging to know clients are satisfied with the quality of our work and keep coming back or referring us to others.

Where do you see Bali in 10 years?

Bali is going to get more advanced, especially in the areas of alternative energy, water management and using recycled materials. We’ve had more clients asking us to incorporate solar power and smart ways to use rainwater into their homes. And even those who want us to use all recycled materials. We welcome this, as it’s important to think of ways to be environmentally sustainable in this business, especially in Bali, which is such a beautiful and natural place.

My prediction is that we will see more and more of these eco-friendly initiatives in the next 10 years.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities in location and style in Bali?

There are two promising locations in Bali in terms of business and style that I think are worth noting, and these are Uluwatu and Canggu. We’ve seen that during the pandemic there were more investments made directly into these two areas.

What advice do you have for people looking to buy land and build their own property in Bali?

I would suggest buyers make sure the land status is not under dispute and is actually legal for you to build on. That means no building in greenbelt areas! Period! Also, make sure you have everything clean and legal, especially with building permits (PBG/SLF) before any construction starts.

It’s worth having professionals run due diligence before you invest.

What are the highlights of your career?

For me, my highlight is just the satisfaction of seeing my designs constructed into buildings. I am very grateful to be trusted by clients to build in such promising areas, such as Canggu, Sanur, and Ubud. These things encourage me to keep improving my knowledge and skills in architectural design and building constructions so we can maintain our high-quality services.

How can people get hold of you to learn more?

The best way is to email me at info. adebaliarchitect@gmail.com after you have a look at our company’s Facebook page.

We’re also on Instagram.

You can watch the podcast with Made on the Seven Stones Indonesia YouTube channel. If you’d like us to do podcasts and interviews with more of Indonesia’s movers and shakers, feel free to send us your suggestions at hello@sevenstonesindonesia.com.

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Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

JAKARTA

Bai Yun Restaurant Launched Weekend Dim Sum Brunch

Bai Yun, the Chinese restaurant at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, launched its new Weekend Dim Sum Brunch offer featuring over 31 assortments of homemade steamed, fried and sweet dumplings, as well as gluten selections. This special menu is available at Rp468,000++ per person from noon to 3pm. Guests will also gain access to the 60-metre infinity pool and children’s slides, family watersports programme, and beach activities.

The chef’s specialities, for example, the peking duck, are offered in addition to everyone’s favourite shrimp dumpling and shumai, fried selections such as wagyu spring roll and sweet plates and desserts. Side dishes such as congee and crab meat soup will complete the Cantonese experience.

“We are excited to share this new programme with the guests,” shared General Manager Vincent Guironnet. “This all-you-can-eat experience offers more than just crafted Chinese specialities; it is

a way for families to spend time together at our resort. It is very focused on creating an intimate moment for family and friends, and we hope that our guests will be able to enjoy it to the fullest.”

BAI YUN RESTAURANT An ideal place for casual gatherings or family celebrations, this signature Chinese restaurant is part of the resort’s diverse culinary experience, presenting dim sum for lunch and delectable hot pot with various top-quality ingredients. To have a

fully authentic dining experience, guests can also enjoy the traditional Chinese liquor known as baijiu at the restaurant, or opt for more modern cocktail creations by the restaurant’s talented mixologists.

Bai Yun is open every day from noon to 10pm.

WhatsApp 081138209541 or email restaurants. bali@kempinski.com to make your reservations or to discover more.

JAKARTA

Business Mixer: Investment and Visa Discussions Thursday 30th June marked the second Business Mixer held in Jakarta. The Business Mixer was entitled “Updates on Visa Regulations and Investment Promotion from BKPM” and provided information regarding government programmes in the context of achieving inclusive investment in Indonesia and the regulations for visas.

The Business Mixer is a mini-seminar and networking event organised by Seven Stones Indonesia where entrepreneurs, investors, and other business people gather over light bites and beverages. From 5 to 8 pm at Seven Stones Indonesia's office in Noble House, South Jakarta, speakers from various business backgrounds engage with the event’s attendees, discussing relatable and informative topics beneficial for expats and Indonesians alike regarding businessrelated issues in the country.

Saribua Siahaan from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and Diah Ajeng, an expert on Indonesian visas filled in the speakers' slots. Attendees voiced their concerns and listened to the latest updates by Siahaan and Ajeng over wine and snacks.

The upcoming Business Mixer will be held in Bali, with further details soon to be announced.

Stay tuned for news on the next Business Mixer by following @indonesiabusinessmixer and @ sevenstonesindonesia both on Instagram and Facebook!

JAKARTA

A Night of Music at Indonesia Expat Mixer - June Edition It’s the other side of Eid. Guess what that means?

The Indonesia Expat Mixer returns with the June edition!

one winner. Three winners won a goodie bag from Jika Chocolat. Furthermore, the grand prize was a complimentary stay at Mesastila Resort & Spa.

Treehaus Bar & Grill provided their spacious bar area as the venue between 7 and 9 pm for a night of effortless networking! Participants from various backgrounds gathered whilst enjoying free-flow beer from König Ludwig Weissbier and Karltenberg Royal Lager, as well as wine from Isola, while scrumptious light bites were whipped up by Treehaus. A special thanks also go to Jika Chocolat and Mesastila Resort & Spa for providing the lucky draw prizes.

The Indonesia Expat Mixer is a monthly event that brings together both Indonesians and expats to expand their social network in an informal, relaxing ambience whilst also releasing some mid-week steam with appetising food, beverages, and music.

Every event is presented in a different and unique setup.

We had plenty of lucky draw prizes towards the end of the night. Those who placed their business cards in a tray passed around during the event stood a chance to win exciting prizes. Treehaus awarded a dining voucher worth Rp500,000 to

To stay updated about the upcoming mixers, follow @indonesiaexpatmixer and @indonesiaexpat on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to Indonesia Expat on YouTube to watch the soiree’s recap.

See you at the next one!

New to Jakarta? Look for a Doctor!

a plan for the regular follow ups. Your family doctor can facilitate the communication with your specialist. Monitoring your condition on behalf of the specialist can also be done by a good family physician.

You and your family might be in good health, but in general everyone needs some medical input at some point in time. I think it is very important that you at least identify a clinic that you are comfortable with.

Look for a group of medical professionals who you can turn to, with any concerns. I would like to share some information to make life a bit easier.

Discuss any concerns with your trusted medical practitioner. It I important that you identify a clinic that you are comfortable with.

GOOD PRACTICE provides house calls and COVID-19 testing (we can also come to your house for testing).

Common health problems for expats living in Jakarta There are three things to expect when you are living in Jakarta; infectious diseases, non-infectious diseases and accidents/injuries.

Infectious diseases, like foodborne, air borne, or even body fluid transmitted diseases are common to get in Indonesia. Non-infectious diseases, or chronic diseases are sometimes unavoidable depending on your risk profile. Accidents and injuries can happen anywhere.

Rhesus negative blood is very rare in Indonesia. Join our registry: Rhesusnegative@goodpractice.co.id What to do when you are sick Feeling unwell can be a challenge for someone who is new to Jakarta. First advice would be to seek an opinion if you are unsure about your condition. You may use Dr Google, talk to friend or even a medical professional back home. If possible, visit a clinic that you are comfortable with. In an ideal world you should have an assessment by a trusted medical practitioner. Your medical practitioner will give a possible diagnosis. A management plan needs to be mutually agreed upon. You need to voice your expectations and ask for possible options. (Are you expecting a referral? Do you think further treatment should be done abroad?)

Preventive actions To avoid diseases from happening, you need to know how to manage avoidable risks. For infectious diseases, there are lots of

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

vaccinations available to protect you, including vaccinations against Covid-19. Food prepared under unclear circumstances, tap water, and mosquitos should be avoided. Identify a clinic that you are comfortable with! You can discuss your own your risk profile with your trusted physician.

In a tropical country like Indonesia, there are a lot of infectious diseases. Infectious diseases can be spread by water and/or by food such as traveler’s diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever and amoebic dysentery. Insect bites can spread diseases like malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, zika and chikungunya.

Tuberculosis, influenza and also Covid are transmitted by coughing and sneezing. Body fluid transmitted diseases like STI’s, HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis B & C are also common in Indonesia. There are possibilities of getting Rabies and Avian influenza if you are exposed to certain animals.

Best of all is that you now can have a consultation with anyone of our medical team from whatever location. We have introduced TELECONSULTATIONS. Now, you can connect with us directly.

Good Practice Clinic has patients from 77 countries. We have added Mongolia, Tobago and Madagascar to our list. Our English speaking staff implements International guidelines.

We provide highly personalized care. Try us!

Chronic disease management If you are suffering from a chronic disease, we advise you to have a list of your regular medication. You should identify a doctor who can regularly check upon your condition and someone who can advise which (specialist) doctor you should see. Make

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 – Good Practice, in Jakarta

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

www.goodpractice.co.id

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Indonesia Expat Issue 286 | July 7 – August 3, 2022

Expat Advertiser

Send your classifieds to: info@indonesiaexpat.biz Next Deadline: July 27, 2022

JAKARTA Automotive

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

PORSCHE CAY MA N 7 18 LAVA OR ANGE LOW KM, FIRST HAND LIKE NEW! 2019. VERY LOW 3000 KM. Contact Adi Jaya (serious buyer on ly). W hat sapp: +6287860076777.

Jobs Available Ur g e nt l y required f or Academic Year 2022/2023, Mathematics Teacher for IB Diploma and Cambridge A Level for Sampoerna Academy located in Pancoran, Jakarta Selatan. Job description: Te a c h i n g Mathematics A nalysis and Approaches HL and SL and Mathematics A-Level, Pure Mathematics and Mechanics. Qualification: Bachelor or Master's Degree in Mathematics preferably with teaching certification and having teaching experience minimum of 2 years. Please contact me at virastuty@ sampoernaacademy.sch.id.

HIRING!!! New Teaching job oppor tunities at the Pr ima r y level in West Jakarta, Indonesia. 1. Native English 2. English (local) 3. Science (Expat) if you have VP experience would be an advantage. Send your resume to: recruitment@ kanaanglobal.sch.id.

Services I am a private teacher who can help both international and national plus high school students in the subjects of physics, chemistry and mathematics. I have previous experience in coaching and tutoring students from the following schools: SPH, IICS, ACS, Raff les, and Binus to quote a few. I am willing to give a few teaching sessions for free as a trial and can teach both online and off line. For more information, please contact me at: helen.mariani25@gmail. com Drum lessons at your home?

Please contact Pak Ading at +6281291001984. 35 years of experience, English speaking, beginners-advanced, electronic or regular drum kit. References available upon request. Email: nmstewart@cbn.net.id I am a private teacher who can help both international and national plus high school students in the subjects of physics, chemistry and

mathematics. I have previous experience in coaching and tutoring students from the following schools: SPH, IICS, ACS, Raff les, Binus to quote a few. I am willing to give a few teaching sessions for free as a trial and can teach both online and off line. For more information, please contact me at: helen.mariani25@gmail. com Bonjour, I offer private French classes in Jakarta. Beginner or advanced level. I’m a French native with a college background that includes 3 years of Modern Literature (Paris X University Nanterre) and a Master in International Relations. If interested, please feel free to contact me by private message. A bientôt – Philippe: +6281380085031.

New in Indonesia? Keen to learn the language and speak like a local? Weekend classes only. For more information & appointment: bahasaprivate@ gmail.com Personal Trainer For Fitness & Fat Loss After 35. Hi, I'm Andri. I’m an NASM certified personal trainer and Precision Nutrition Lv. 1 certif ied nutrition coach with close to 10 years of coaching experience.

I’m looking for men and women ages 35 and up who are looking to lose weight, feel great and boost their immune systems in safest and most enjoyable manner from their homes.

If you’re struggling to keep up with regular exercise and healthy eating habits during the pandemic, or you’d like to optimize your current health and fitness regime while living in Indonesia, then I might be able to help you. I offer both virtual and in-person coaching.

Rate starts from Rp. 250K for a 30-minute 1-on-1 virtual coaching session. For more information about my services and booking a free consultation (or trial lesson,) go to: https:// www.jakartafitnesscoach.com

Property

For rent: Apartment Gandaria Height, connecting to Gandaria City Mall. 1 Bedroom, 40 sqm Fully Furnished. Asking price US$ 850/month. Minimum 6 months rental. More info Call/ WA: Rima +62811 954016.

Land for sale in Senggigi, Lombok. The land has a certificate and the sale is through the owner, who lives in Tangerang, and there is no agent fee involved. The

land is at the back of Senggigi town and is about an eightminute walk from the beach.

It is accessible by road It is 17 Are (1700 square metres). The price is negotiable. Senggigi is an ideal retirement location but the land could be used for villas or a small hotel. Contact person: Yudha Asmara (owner) +6281319499445.

NOW AVA IL A BL E FOR R E N T. Kema ng V i llage Apartment. Tower Empire.

Size 73sqm, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, fully furnished, very nice unit. IDR 18 million / month. Email jakartalinks@ gmail.com

For rent, Senayan Residence Apa r tment . A high- end community with easy access to Senayan, Thamrin & Sudirman.

Private elevator - 151m 2 , 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, Maids quarters. Fully furnished.

This apartment is available for rent at US$2,250/month, nego, min 1-year. For further information contact me directly at +6281219598537.

Balinese style garden in Kemang. South Jakar ta , Value lease and sale, Family Haven residence. Strata title apartment, Apartment Kemang Jaya for rent or sale.

Located in strategic area in kemang SELATAN VIII between kemang and antasari, easy access to scbd and TB Simatupang. With 5 ha filled with lawn, palm trees and beautiful f lowers. Available KPA, Bank: danamon, bni, mandiri, niaga, panin. Unit details: 144 Sqm, 3 Bdr, Renovated, Unf ur nished, Cityview, Morning sun. FAST Sale price Rp2.4 Billion, Rent price IDR 20 million and Penthouse 256sqm-3 Bdr, 2 Floors, ethnic design, for Rent US$2,200 / sale Rp6.5 Billion, Email to jakartalinks@gmail. com Household Staff Available Due to our relocation, we are extremely sad to say goodbye to Ibu Maria and Pak Suratno after almost 4 years. Ibu Maria speaks very good English. She and her husband worked in expat families for many years.

They are a live-in couple.

Pak Suratno is kind and very hardworking. He took care of our gardens, pool, and general maintenance and he helped around the house when needed.

You can contact Ibu Maria and Pak Suratno directly: +6281389577556.

Our former driver Sukardi is looking for a new position after his last boss moved away recently. He was our driver for 3,5 years between 2009-2012 and a family friend since. We were very lucky to have him assisting our family. Since 2012, we even visited him and his family when on holiday in Indonesia. Therefore I'm helping him to find a new position. Interested? Please contact him directly on: +6285210711563. Or if you have any questions, please contact me: Eline Wessels-Vinken, email ewessels@gmail.com.

PEMBA N TU AVAIL A BLE after 22 June: Ibu Murien has been a great pembantu for the past 2.5 years. She cleans, launders, irons, basic cooking, and watched over our elementary kiddos. She also took care of our cat while on R&R/vacations, and I believe she has dog experience from a previous family. WA her at +6281310600548.

Friendly and Trustworthy Driver: Pak Randy was a backup driver for us and a fulltime for another U.S. Embassy family. He is punctual, safe, extremely courteous, and great with kids. He took care of maintenance and cleaning the car and is always willing to do overtime. Knows the streets well and is a quick study. Only speaks some English so some Bahasa Indonesia is ideal.

Contact: Pak Randy via WA (+6281319945313). My contact details: yetterjr@gmail.com.

BALI Property

Takeover restaurant. Rent Rp275 million. Prime location at Kartika Plaza (Bali). Full Equipment, Ruko 3 f loors (4x12m). Electricity 23,000 Watt, Water PAM, 1 line phone.

Good prospect for the future.

Plea se DM for f ur ther information: +6285935097457.