Jakarta Expat - issue 61 - Gong Xi Fa Cai by Jakarta Expat

GO NG XI FA CA I!

Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

Indonesia’s Largest Expatriate Readership | 61st Edition | 18th Jan – 31st Jan 2012 |

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Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

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61st Edition | 18 Jan – 31 Jan 2012 Editor in Chief Angela Richardson angela@jakartaexpat.biz Assistant Editor Cecilia Forsman cecilia@jakartaexpat.biz Management Edo Frese edo@jakartaexpat.biz Sales Dian Mardianingsih ads@jakartaexpat.biz Distribution Efa Theodora efa@jakartaexpat.biz Graphics Adietyo Rukmono didiet@jakartaexpat.biz Finance Pertiwi Gianto Putri tiwi@jakartaexpat.biz Lini Verawaty lini@jakartaexpat.biz Contributors Terry Collins Jason Hue Dennis Kloeth Sebastien Laurent Juan G. Leysner Eamonn Sadler Vania Sampereru Antony Sutton

Dear Readers, The Spring Festival is upon us, marking the end of the winter season in China, and whether you have Chinese origins or not, most of us will be celebrating this occasion in one way or another (this year with a three-day weekend!). The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of solar and lunar movements and each lunar year is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. The current Chinese lunar calendar was developed during the Tang dynasty (AD 618 – 907) and each lunar cycle has a duration of 29.5 days. An extra month is added once every two to three years to compensate for the differences between the lunar calendar and the solar movements, which is why Chinese New Year falls on a different day every year. If you know nothing about Chinese New Year, you will after you’ve read this edition. We give you Chinese Horoscopes and what this year of the Dragon has in store for you. You will also meet some expats with Chinese heritage and see how they will be celebrating this Lunar New Year in Jakarta. Yeung returns with the dark side of China Town (Glodok) in a tale of

corruption and greed – a must read on page 10. Sutton is also back with a very interesting historical piece about a great Chinese Admiral, Zheng He, who was Muslim and a eunuch and travelled to Java in the 15th century on page 7. As this Chinese year’s element is water, we felt it fitting to include an article by Collins about flooding in our capital – please turn to page 6 to read all about it. Our resident grumpy French man, Laurent, also graces our presence once again with a humorous tale of enlightenment on page 13. As golf is a favourite pastime of so many Chinese expats, we’ve inserted an article by Kloeth on some hot spots in and around Jakarta on page 11. This and so much more… With the Dragon being the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac, it is also the most auspicious, meaning good news for us all. Here’s wishing you all a healthy and prosperous Year of the Dragon. Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone!

Angela Richardson

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 in this issue

 3 Enter the Dragon ´ A Splashing Good Time with the Water Dragon  4 & 5 Your Destiny ´ The Year of the Dragon  6 Let it Rain Floods of Excuses  7 History ´ Zheng He, The Chinese Muslim Eunuch  8 Meet the Expats ´ Christopher Bong & Tan Kok Tat  9 Food & Drink ´ Indulge at the Shang Palace  10 Revealed ´ Bye Bye Bunny, Enter the Dragons  11 Passtimes Tee off More  12 Personal Tech & Apps - The Chinese Mobile Phone  13 Grumpy Old Men ´ Enlightenment from my Chinese Friends  14 Light Entertainment - Apocalypse Next Tuesday  15 Opinion Page  16 Events  17 Recipes - Chicken Siew Mai  18 & 19 Classifieds

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Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

Enter The Dragon

A Splashing Good Time with the Water Dragon By Jason Hue

ver seen a mythical creature? No? Well, you’re in luck. Come 23rd January 2012, Chinese families around the world will be welcoming the Year of the Dragon. Over at the malls, paintings and figurines of the mythical serpent greet you at the entrance. The green Christmas trees have been replaced with pagodas, while Christmas stockings have made way for bright red lanterns. Some googling reveals 2012 to be the year of the Water Dragon. With increased rainfall and thunderstorms expected in Jakarta throughout the month of January, one can’t help but wonder if it’s the doings of the Water Dragon. I hope you received a swimming outfit for Christmas, Jakarta may experience flooding. To usher in the New Year, the Chinese desire all things new; new clothes, new phone, new hairstyle, new TV, new car, new wife (some really wish to)... While most retailers offer discounts to spur sales, hair salons cash in by raising prices akin to florists on Valentine’s Day. At this time of the year, the national Mint probably clocks in extra hours to churn out crisp new notes for the occasion. For most Chinese families, the family reunion dinner, usually held on the eve of CNY, is considered the most important meal of the year. Since it’s a big event, most affluent Chinese families opt to dine out instead. Established restaurants draw up fancy menus with auspicious-sounding dishes - Prosperity Chicken, 8-Treasure Soup, to attract the diners. Even the lesswealthy are targeted; many restaurants are quick to conduct promotional tie-ups with credit card companies. Heck, it’s probably the only time of the year where we are given the option to pay for our meal in 6- or 12-month instalments. During CNY, it is customary for the married or elderly Chinese to give red packets (Ang pows) to the juniors. These Ang pows contain money as a symbol of blessing for the recipient. It is also a time for childless couples to go M.I.A as it’s a loss of investment for them (only giving, no receiving). Many speculated this was the very reason my wife and I moved to Jakarta, but that’s for us to know and you to find out.

Since the birth of our daughter, we eventually came out of hiding 2 years ago. Now we (well technically my daughter) are on the receiving end too, hence we are able to visit Chinese households enthusiastically greeting them ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’. The proper hand gesture when extending the greeting is to place the opened palm of the left hand on a fisted right hand, similar to the gesture often seen in action movies when the thug cracks his knuckles after cornering the good guy. Throughout the 15 days of CNY, fireworks light up the night skyline. During the younger years, I used to enjoy setting off fireworks. Now, the thought of having to rock my crying, frightened toddler back to sleep deters me from doing so. If you’re stuck in the city during CNY, it is worthwhile to check out the performances lined up at some of the bigger malls, especially the Barongsai (Lion Dance). Their acrobatic skills and choreography are always acknowledged with thunderous applause. Celebrating Chinese New Year openly in Indonesia was never an option more than a decade ago. One man, one announcement changed all that. On behalf of all my Indonesian friends of Chinese descent, I would like to thank the hero who made it all happen, the late former President Gus Dur. And on behalf of my non-Chinese friends, I say thank you again for declaring it a public holiday. With Fun, Food, Fireworks, Friends, Family and hopefully Fortune coming together, CNY has always been and will always be the year’s top highlight for me. GONG XI FA CAI! 

Jason Hue

A milk bottle in one hand and a Blackberry in the other hand, Jason hails from neighboring Malaysia and currently resides in Jakarta with his better-half and chatty little princess. To get in touch email Jason.Hue@bda.co.id

Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

Your Destiny

Birth years: 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

The Culture of China is one of the world's oldest and most complex cultures and Zodiac symbols are important Chinese symbols that have deep meaning for the Chinese and many other people who are interested in horoscopes.

he key to the Dragon personality is that Dragons are the free spirits of the Zodiac. Conformation is a Dragon’s curse. Rules and regulations are made for other people. Restrictions blow out the creative spark that is ready to flame into life. Dragons must be free and uninhibited. The Dragon is a beautiful creature, colourful and flamboyant. An extroverted bundle of energy, gifted and utterly irrepressible, everything Dragons do is on a grand scale - big ideas, ornate gestures, extreme ambitions. However, this behaviour is natural and isn’t meant for show. Because they are confident, fearless in the face of challenge, they are almost inevitably successful. Dragons usually make it to the top.

will shift to their accomplishments and goals in the year 2012. They might be distracted by some frivolities and foolish activities, but ultimately their intuitive nature and intelligence will save them from distraction. They work very hard but they have a tendency to be job-hoppers as they get easily bored. Snakes tend to be a little stubborn and unyielding. Therefore, it is advisable to be more flexible and open minded in order to take full advantage of the opportunities coming your way, as there may be a few challenges to overcome on your path to success in 2012. Snakes should avoid hectic schedules and reserve more time to rest and relax after work, as they may be prone to lose energy more easily this year.

However, with Dragon people, be aware of their nature. Too much enthusiasm can leave them tired and unfulfilled. Even though they are willing to aid when necessary, their pride can often impede them from accepting the same kind of help from others. Dragons’ generous personalities give them the ability to attract friends, but they can be rather solitary people at heart. A Dragon’s self-sufficiency can mean that he or she has little need for close bonds with other people.

1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Those born in the Year of the Dragon can look forward to a year of flamboyance, new beginnings, and good fortune. For those seeking to start a new business, the Year of the Dragon will be a good time to do so. According to the 2012 Year of the Dragon horoscope, anyone who is born in the year of the dragon will be blessed with luck. That could mean the start of a happy marriage, the beginning of a successful business, or a lucky lottery win. Whatever happens, the 2012 Year of the Dragon horoscope says that it will be a flamboyant year.

1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 Snakes are very materialistic creatures, preferring to surround themselves with the finest that life has to offer. This is especially evident in the home, where luxurious furnishings and surroundings help Snakes seek the peace they need in order to thrive. Those born in the year of the Snake will be more sensible and intuitive as their focus

According to the Chinese Zodiac, Horses are extremely intelligent, energetic and outgoing. There will not be many dull moments in 2012 for those born under the sign of the Horse. There may be quite a few changes on the home front this year, whether it’s a new addition to the family or someone moving out of the home. In terms of career, you will do exceptionally well in the coming year with many opportunities to progress. It would be advisable for you to follow a proper diet and take adequate rest, with such a hectic schedule all through the year. If you allow stress and worry to take hold, it could affect your health. Financially, you need to be more careful as certain losses are indicated. These may be the result of hasty decision making on your part. It’s important that you don’t jump in without analysing even the minute details for a positive year ahead. Keep strong emotions like possessiveness and jealousy at bay to avoid tense situations.

1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 The Ram symbolises such character traits as creativity, intelligence, dependability, and calmness. This year will bring some challenges in your life

Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

Your Destiny

that can be overcome with your positive attributes. The Chinese horoscope for 2012 predicts that there will be some disputes and arguments but nothing too damaging. Expect periods of stress, but stay confident as your insecurities will be unfounded. It’s not a year in which to make major life changes. Stay on course and enjoy what you have. 2012 is a good year for Rams to resolve any past issues with friends and family, as your family and intimate relationships will be a great comfort this year. Take care with money, refuse to take risks and you’ll be fine. The middle of the year will be a challenging phase as your health will suffer and you will not be able to concentrate at work. What you can do to prevent this is take extra precautions as far as health is concerned. Do not let the pressures of life affect your well being in 2012. Face your problems with confidence and you will sail through. 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 Those born under the sign of the Monkey will be full of energy for most of 2012 but this may change as the year draws to an end. The Chinese horoscope for 2012 reveals that this year you will head towards new opportunities for success in your life. Almost all your efforts will be fruitful this year. Whatever field you’re in, your hard work and innovations will produce excellent results, but they’ll be slow in coming, and may materialise in 2013. It is advisable for you to take a well deserved break when you start to feel the pressure of your hectic work schedule. To stay financially safe, refuse to lend, invest or take chances. Luckily, those born in the year of the Monkey will enjoy a lot of love and support from their friends and loved ones this year. 2012 is the year for you to solidify and nurture relationships. This year will bring the tranquilly and serenity in your life needed to fix the mistakes of past years. 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 The Rooster symbolises such character traits as confidence, pompousness and

motivation. Roosters are extroverts. They are extremely sociable and love to meet new people. According to the Chinese horoscope for 2012, those born in the year of the Rooster can look forward to a wonderful year filled with opportunities to strengthen relationships and bonds. Rooster people can expect the prosperity of wealth, power of career, credit of reputation and happiness of love in 2012. Many career opportunities are wide open for them, but Roosters should try not to get carried away with their success and forget the people around them. If you show your arrogance, some people will be jealous or hurt and create obstacles for you. Those born in the year of the Rooster need to watch their health in the coming year. There may be issues arising from stress, fatigue, frustration, or quite possibly a chronic illness. Therefore it is advisable for Roosters to keep a close eye on their health otherwise they might miss the golden opportunities awaiting them in 2012. 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1982, 1994, 2006 The Dog symbolises character traits such as loyalty, compatibility and kindness. 2012 will be an excellent year for those born under the sign of the Dog, with significant improvements if you keep your tendency to criticise in check. You must look at this year with optimism and determination as there are quite a few challenges ahead of you. Expect to have to work hard to maintain your position and life style. People will seem uncooperative, and whatever field you’re in there’ll be competition. Many new, strong friendships will be formed. This year will also see a major increase in your finances which could also be due to an inheritance left by a relative or your parents. The Chinese horoscope for 2012 emphasises that those born in the year of the Dog must closely monitor their financial matters and transactions. It is very important that you read the fine print on all documents carefully as there are chances of mistakes taking place which may lead to substantial losses. 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 People born under the sign of the Pig enjoy leading peaceful lives and make the most of everything that life has to offer, including family and friends.

Your honesty and thoughtfulness will be appreciated by those close to you. For those of you born under the sign of the Pig, 2012 will prove to be active and full of challenges, just the way you like it. This year will raise your profile in business, career and among your social circle. You’ll gain respect and support for your ideas and efforts. You will not worry about things too much and face situations practically and without making much of a fuss. There may be additional financial pressure on you this year but you should be able to deal with this with a bit of planning. Be sure to take care of your diet as health issues are likely to arise. Your immune system may be affected if you don’t pay attention to your eating habits. On a positive note, this is an excellent year for making new contacts and friends, and if you’re single, for finding someone special. 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008. Occupying the first and most prominent position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Rat symbolises such character traits as wit, imagination and curiosity. The year 2012 will be a busy time for those born in the year of the Rat as new projects, personal relationships and existing work all demand time and attention from you. 2012 will prove to be a turning point in your life if you grab opportunities that come your way. The coming year will give Rats an abundance of energy and the chance to get back on track financially and career-wise. Overall, Rats are full of energy, talkative and charming but they have a tendency to become aggressive or stressed. This year will require you to demonstrate endurance in terms of withstanding the potential difficulties that await you in 2012. In terms of relationships, emotions, and feelings, the year ahead will test you and make you face situations out of your comfort zone. But keep in mind that in the end this will all be for your greater good. This year will give you much needed insight of incidents in the past year so that you can make rational and positive decisions in 2012. 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Your patience and strength take you far in 2012! Oxen are tolerant individuals who believe that the road to success involves hard work and scrupulous behaviour; they don’t believe in taking shortcuts. The Chinese horoscope for 2012 will see you being chosen to lead some important projects at work. Seniors have always appreciated the effort that you put in to your work and the year 2012 is likely to bring in rewards. You should take measured steps and be wise in terms of starting new relationships, investments and

seeking loans. The fact that you read the fine print and think things over helps you keep away from making mistakes. Your stubborn nature however, may come in between you and the one that you so deeply love. Even though you want to tell a special someone that life without that person is not complete, your pride stops you. Don’t let pride get in the way of your happiness. Having the upper hand is fine, but for the sake of your long term happiness you need to step down and accept things as they are. 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Tigers may appear cool and collected from the outside but beware as they are ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. According to the Chinese horoscope for 2012, this year will give ample opportunities for those born in the year of the Tiger to show their leadership quality to the world. They are natural leaders and have a deep sense of dignity and self respect. As a result, when their efforts are in vain or they receive criticism for their work, Tigers are often susceptible to depression. The Chinese horoscope for 2012 reveals that tigers will chase their objectives with full effort, but as a consequence, their personal health may suffer. Therefore, they need to proceed with care and learn to maintain a manageable pace to prevent exhaustion and an early burnout. The combination of intelligence, alertness and speed means that those born in the year of the Tiger are fast learners and will have the opportunity to explore their chosen careers easily in the year 2012. However due to their unpredictable nature, Tigers tend to make spontaneous purchases and should try and curb their inclination for impulse buying in the coming year. 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999. The Rabbit symbolises such character traits as creativity, compassion, and sensitivity. Rabbits are friendly, outgoing and believe very strongly in friends and family. For the Rabbit, your job and career will be the main priorities this year and you will remain focused all through the year 2012. Don’t linger on any mistakes made in the past. Instead, you need to stride forward and welcome new environments or situations with an open mind and attitude. Chinese horoscope for 2012 predicts that this year is going to be a sometimes confusing mixture of happiness and challenging or frustrating situations. Some of you may find it tough to cope with this year’s hectic schedule so you must not overdo it. Negative emotions, conflict and stress are detrimental to the overall health of Rabbits. The year 2012 may prove difficult for Rabbits in terms of relationships. Therefore, Rabbits may need to take extra care of relationships with friends or lovers in the coming year. 

Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

Let It Rain

Floods

of Excuses By Terry Colins

Floods by Pablo Neruda “The poor live on low ground waiting for the river to rise one night and sweep them out to sea.

I’m not going to stop now! Unless the lowlanders of Holland were to return and govern the city I can’t see any other solution but to abandon it to Mother Nature. However, even during the Dutch colonial times floods were common in Jakarta.

I’ve seen small cradles floating by, the wrecks of houses, chairs, and a great rage of ashpale water draining terror from the sky: this is all yours, poor man, for your wife and crop, your dog and tools, for you to learn to beg.

Historic floods in Jakarta

No water climbs to the homes of gentlemen whose snowy collars flutter on the line.

1699 Ciliwung river floods Batavia after Mount Salak erupts. 1714 Ciliwung river overflows after the clearance of Puncak forest areas. 1854 Batavia is a meter under water, caused by the “raging” Ciliwung. 1873 Most of Batavia under 1 metre of water. 1918 Extensive flooding. The Dutch colonial government begins work on the West Flood Canal. 1932 Flood caused by conversion of Puncak forest into tea and rubber plantations swept away houses in Sabang and Jl. Thamrin.

It feeds on this rolling mire, these ruins winding their idle course to the sea with your dead, among roughcut tables and the luckless trees that bob and tumble turning up bare root.”

ctually, that wasn’t 100% true last year as it was a “luxury housing complex” in Pondok Labu that bore the brunt of an overflowing River Krukut. The cause was not so much the heavy rain as that in March last year the marines reduced the width of the river from six metres to two in order to expand their shooting range.

1621 First recorded flood in Batavia, although construction of canals had started two years earlier. 1654 Flood ruined most mulberry groves causing shortage of Tonkinese silk.

The then Vice Governor Fauzi Bowo offered the excuse that there was nothing that could have been done to prevent it because “Floods happen everywhere in the world.”

Still, although more than 250 families have had to evacuate their homes, City Hall assured them that work to demolish the culvert would commence in late December and would be completed “before Jan. 30.” This seems to sum up the laissez-faire attitude of City Hall; their Public Works Dept. schedules ‘flood prevention’ work for the peak of the rainy season. I’m writing this in advance of the expected “exceptional” floods caused by La Nina which, according to Sri Woro Harijono, the head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), may not occur in a five yearly cycle. The UN World Meteorological Organization has stated that it’s already here. However, Ibu Sri has warned City Hall that this month, “There will be a high potential for flooding because nearly all areas in Jakarta are at high risk.” Indeed. Some 40% of the city lies below sea level and it is sinking at a rate of up to 10cm a year in north Jakarta thanks to the uncontrolled extraction of groundwater and the weight of new buildings. We can add to this the rising sea level, at about 6mm a year, and the neap tides which can be expected this year judging from this illustration.

Mind you, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo called on everyone to stop scaring people with predictions of massive floods this year. But I started a long time ago, so

1942 The West Flood Canal is completed, but Jakarta still floods.

2012 The East Flood Canal is supposedly completed and ....?

Governor Ali Sadikin (1966-77) kept the city virtually floodfree through a programme of cleaning, maintenance and construction of water channels with funds drawn from legal gambling.

The Post reported in the first week of this year that City Hall has finally woken up to “the extraordinary risk that disastrous flooding poses to the capital” and is “drafting a contingency plan.”

1973 Sadikin’s administration completed the Master Plan for Drainage and Flood Control of Jakarta, which included the East Flood Canal.

“We are planning to provide evacuation maps and flooding-mitigation guides in each community unit across the city.”

Since the 1990's ........

“Drafting”? “Planning”? Are they referring to this year or to a 5, 10, or 30 Strategic Plan? 

1996 A flood sweeps through the capital and approximately 10 people die. 2000 Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso spoke about the need to dredge the West Canal and to build the East Canal. “Although we have had the master plan of the canals since 1975, due to budget problems (corruption?) we could not build them.” 2002 It is the largest flood in Jakarta’s history, 25 people died. 2007 The greatest flood in the last three centuries inundated about 40% of the city (528.8 sq.km), killed 80 people and forced about 340,000 to flee.

Jakartass BBC Interview 2007 http://www.archive.org/details/FloodingInJakartaFebruary2007

Terry Collins

Terry Collins writes the Jakartass.net blog and is co-author of Culture Shock! Jakarta (pub. Marshall Cavendish)

Photo by Hardi Winarso

Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

History

Beijing Xi'an Nanjing

Hormuz Medina Jedda

Sunargaon Pandua

Mecca

Kunming

Quanzhou

Ayutthaya

Lasa Quillon Mogadishu

Beruwala Galle Semudera

Malindi

Changle

Qui Nhon

Calicut

Aden

Liujiagang

Malacca

Palembang

Zheng He, The Chinese Muslim Eunuch

Semarang

Surabaya

By Antony Sutton

heng He is renowned today as a great explorer, honoured by both Chinese and Muslims throughout South East Asia. But while his name may be familiar, details of his exploits remain less so. In the early 15th century, while Europe was slowly emerging from the Dark Ages and Native Americans were unsullied by claimants to their ‘New World’, Zheng He, backed by the might of the Ming Dynasty, set out from China on seven mighty voyages that spanned Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Sub Continent, the Middle East and the east coast of Africa. These journeys would number some 300 ships, with the largest more than four times the size of the vessels Magellan used to circumnavigate the globe decades later, and were manned by something like 30,000 crew.

Maulana Malik Ibrahim, the first of the Wali Songo, arrived in Java in 1404, the year before Zheng He’s first journey and spent most of his time in East Java, including Gresik where he was ultimately buried in 1419. It is tempting to think that the great explorer and the propagator of the faith met but there is no known record of them having done so. Interestingly the treasure fleet passed by Palembang on their first journey in 1404. The fall of the Sriwijaya Empire at the end of the 13th century had left a vacuum that the Siamese in the north and the Majapahit to the south east rushed to fill, effectively bypassing Palembang. A few years before Zheng He sailed the Malacca Straits for the first time, Java had installed a puppet on the throne in Palembang, effectively turning the one time seat of an empire into a vassel. The locals weren’t too keen and kicked out the usurper and into the chaos that followed a Chinese pirate named Chen Zuyi took over, making the waters treacherous for vessels using them. The treasure fleet would wait for the journey back before taking on and defeating the pirates in battle.

Setting out from Nanjing, Zheng He’s Treasure Fleets were designed to project Chinese power to the world and ensure loyalty to the throne in Peking. The fleet carried gifts from the Chinese emperor to show his munificence while they returned laden with the exotic from rulers wishing to show their respect to the ultimate power. These ships were not built to destroy but to impress. Such a mighty fleet demanded a larger than life leader and Zheng He, a eunuch, was certainly that. Standing seven feet tall, he was born in Yunnan province in the south west of the country in 1368, far from any maritime influence. As a member of China’s Muslim community, Zheng He was born Ma He. Nearly two centuries before the Europeans arrived to stake their claim on the regions’ souls and spices, Zheng He and the Chinese were intimately familiar with the waters around what was to become the Indonesian archipelago. He would make frequent stops at well established trading ports like Gresik (which had a thousand Chinese families living there and was ruled by a Chinese from Guandong province), Semarang, Cirebon, Palembang and Aceh at a time before the Wali Songo (nine Islamic saints widely accepted as having introduced Islam to Java) were starting to propagate Islam.

Ma Huan accompanied Zheng He on one of his journeys and much of what we know today comes from his chronicles. He describes the Javanese population as being divided into three groups: the natives who clung on to their Hindu Javanese beliefs, Muslims and the Chinese, many of whom he described as being Muslim. While trading with the local population, Zheng He and his crew proved astute observers of local customs. One remarked that the wayang performance was similar to story-telling traditions they were used to back home. Other local customcs seemed less familiar. A bout to the death attracted their attention. Advancing and retreating to the beat of drums, two combatants armed with spears would attempt to conquer their opponent and receive, as a reward, the new widow or the deceased man’s slaves. One stop saw Zheng He put in at Semarang when his vice commander, Wang Jing Hong, fell ill. After more than a week and Wang still hadn’t fully recovered so Zheng He continued with his journey leaving his second in command behind, expecting him to catch up later. Legend has it Wang never did follow his chief. He liked Semarang so much he decided to stay. Semarang figures largely in the Zheng He story. Another tale says he stayed for a while in a cave near the city. His legacy lives on today with a temple on the outskirts of the city, Sam Po Kong (or Gedung Batu) dedicated to his

memory. Just one of several such places throughout South East Asia that recall the eunuch’s travels.

Following Zheng He’s death, leaders of Semarang’s Chinese community entreated their people to ‘Javanise’ themselves, adopting Javanese names and following a Javanese lifestyle. Many Chinese became very influential and married into local, dominant families including one who was married to a regent of the Majapahit Empire. Zheng He’s legacy today is far greater than a few temples dotted around the region. That he was a Muslim explorer working for a Chinese emperor shows us that the 15th century Asia was a far more cosmopolitan place than we give it credit for and the fact that he is so highly revered by both the Chinese and Muslim communities of South East Asia show that he is a figure who transcends the petty politicking and nationalist point scoring that too often scours relations between countries. Zheng He should be a role model for integration and tolerance. Instead he has become a sideshow in history, little understood by the Chinese Diaspora and all but ignored for his role in the spread of Islam through the islands. Perhaps it needs a Hollywood movie to finally give this giant of a man the respect and honour he fully deserves. 

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

Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

Meet the Expats

Ni Hao Christopher Bong. The Singaporean expat with Indonesian roots who can't wait to experience the Lunar New Year 'A-la-Jakarta'.

Where are you originally from? I am from Singapore and am 3rd generation Singaporean with Indonesian roots. My grandfather was originally from Pontianak, Indonesia. Just before the 2nd World War, he brought the whole family to Singapore. When did you move to Indonesia and where were you living before Jakarta? I have been in Jakarta for over a year now but this is my 2nd job posting to Indonesia. I was in Surabaya from 1997 to 2001 with my previous employment. My stay in Surabaya was extremely interesting during the difficult years in Indonesia. When I left Indonesia, I never thought I would be posted back to this country again so soon. Before Jakarta, I was the General Manager of Fraser Place Shenzhen, China and just before Shenzhen, I was living in Bangkok and Manila. What is it you do here? I am the General Manager for Fraser Residence Sudirman Jakarta, the city’s newest international serviced residence. Fraser Residence Sudirman is the first footprint into Indonesia for Frasers Hospitality, the world’s leader in serviced residences, and I was assigned to open the property here in the shortest possible time frame of three months from renovation to soft opening. What drew Frasers Hospitality to Jakarta? The steady growth in foreign investments and the political stability which directly increases the number of foreign expatriates seeking the ultimate level of accommodation drew us to this beautiful capital city. Frasers Hospitality saw the opportunity to meet the unique needs of its corporate clients and residents – both locally and globally through its innovative lifestyle offerings and customer-centric service culture. What would you say makes Fraser Residence Sudirman Jakarta stand out from the competition?

Fraser Residence’s design is distinctive; contemporary and minimalist from the interior the overall décor of the property. Its location is in the Central Business District but still gives one a feel of a sanctuary and a quieter environment that’s ideal for the extended corporate stays. Fraser Residence is designed to complement the lifestyles of its guests with the highest levels of personalised, intuitive service from dedicated Fraser associates. We are committed to providing a home-away-from-home where every resident is treated as part of the Fraser Family. In summary, our strong reputation amongst the global fortune 500 companies in particular, in the extended stay market, made us stand out immediately from the rest of the local players. How are you enjoying life in Jakarta? Were there any aspects you found particularly difficult to adjust to? Having lived in many major cities in Asia, it is very easy for me to adjust to life in Jakarta. It is a capital city full of pleasant surprises in every corner one turns; be it its rich culture or wide array of food choices. Traffic jams are probably the most difficult for me to adjust to as it makes exploring the city so much more challenging and time consuming. The public infrastructure as well as the speed of how things are done needs to be much improved. If you were to move out of Jakarta, what would you miss most? I guess it will be the traffic jam but on a more sincere note, the warmth and friendliness of the locals and the many wonderful friends I have made here and of course, my golfing, which is my weekend ritual that I look forward to. Do you celebrate Chinese New Year? If so, what are your plans for this year? Yes, Chinese New Year is big for me and my family. To me, this is bonding time especially as this is one occasion where all my family members come together from all corners of the world to join in the celebration. This coming Chinese New Year is the year of the Dragon, one of the most auspicious amongst the 12 animals under the Chinese zodiac. It is believed to bring in good tidings for all. This year celebrations will be in Jakarta as I would like to experience it “a-la-Jakarta”. One of the advantages of my job is to be able to enjoy the diversified cultures across the globe and how the same festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the world. Very enriching experience indeed and I am sure that I will enjoy my Chinese New Year in Jakarta. 

Meet Desmond Tan Kok Tat.

The Malaysian expat born in the year of the dog who's married to a Dragon. Desmond, what Chinese Zodiac sign are you? I was born in the year of the Dog (1958). Do you follow the Chinese horoscopes religiously or not at all? Actually I do not follow it at all, because if you are born in the year of the Dog, you shouldn’t marry someone who is born in the year of the Dragon. My wife Yen Ting however, was born in the year of the Dragon! What do you know about the upcoming Year of the Dragon? The year of the Dragon is the most popular Chinese Horoscope and from what I’ve gathered, more babies are born in the year of the Dragon. Do you speak Mandarin? I don’t really speak Mandarin. Basically I speak English and for dialects, I can speak a fair amount of Hokkien, Cantonese and Teo Chew. Where in Malaysia are you from and what’s it like there? Does it suffer from traffic congestion like Jakarta does? I was born in Seremban, small town that barely has any traffic jams or traffic congestion. But I have been away for the last 30 years and only go back for Chinese New Year as my parents live there. Life was kind of slow back then where we do not have the X box or the Playstation 3 and no computers. All we needed was a ball and a piece of flat ground and we can have a game of football or catch some fish by the river. How long has Jakarta been your home? Do you love or hate it or sit on the fence? I’ve been in Jakarta for the last nine years and I have enjoyed my stayed here. Occasionally I do miss going out with some old friends (back in KL). However over here I spend more time with my family, so it is only work and family time. I do manage to sneak out for a couple of hours for a good SPA and an occasional game of golf though.

How will you be celebrating Chinese New Year this year? As usual together with my family we will fly back to KL and back to Seremban for the CNY Friday evening 20th Jan. We will have my traditional game of golf a day before CNY. On the 1st day will be the usual visits to Uncles and Aunties and on the 2nd day we will visit friends and other relatives, and as usual a game of majong with my brothers and aunties. Does the whole family get involved in Chinese New Year celebrations, including your two high school kids? All will be involved, as for us parents we will be distributing ang pows whereas our kids will be collecting as many ang pows as possible. CNY is also a time for all our family to get together and catch up on events and update on the latest gossip. How much do you normally put in each ‘Ang Pow’ envelope to your children, nieces and nephews? Standard practice is RM10 per ang pow, which has been agreed by all my brothers so that there will not be any unequal distribution. Do you and your wife miss receiving Ang Pow? Is it a burden on the purse strings this time every year now? Ang Pows to children are not damaging, only the ones that we give to our parents and aunties (old folks) will be expensive. Anyway it’s only a once a year affair. I hear you love to read. What’s the latest book or magazine you’ve read (Playboy included)? I have read the series on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (three books) and I target to read two books a month minimum as I have a large collection on books mostly on sales and motivation. You work for Generali – can you give us a bit of background on your job and the company you work for? I have been in the Insurance Industry for the last 22 years and am mostly involve in agency development and training. I was with AIA, Prudential, Great Eastern and ACE before joining Generali. I help to set up the training department, recruiting the right trainers and preparing training modules. At times I am also involved in helping to recruit agents and managers for the company. 

Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

Food & Drink

verybody knows the Shangri-La Hotel, but have you tried their Chinese eatery? As the hotel is originally Chinese, this established restaurant must be authentic and live up to expectation. Authentic it is. After extensive renovations in 2011, this opulent restaurant’s decor flavour is red and gold, which is classically oriental. The carpets are red and so are the walls, supposedly to increase one’s appetite, and are decorated with beautiful large-scale Chinese paintings. Of course, no Chinese restaurant is complete without its aquariums of purgatory for the fish, prawns and lobsters awaiting their fate as fresh seafood. Patriotic Chinese music also tickles your eardrums in this massive dining hall of a restaurant.

Indulge at the Shang Palace By Angela Richardson

Shang Palace Kota BNI. JL. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 1, Jakarta 10220, Indonesia. T: (62 21) 570 7440. F: (62 21) 570 3530

Shang Palace has three authentic Chinese chefs, with Executive Chef Benson Fok heading the team. He came out to meet us and his smile made up for his lack of English. Lost in translation, but not lost in flavour. Chinese people enjoy lavish meals of 16 courses lasting several hours, but luckily on our visit, we sampled a mere 7 or 8 dishes. “It’s always a feast when you come here,”

our host, Ami tells us. This is a typically business restaurant and customers around us dine whilst making calls in their suits. Shang Palace fits 327 seating and also has six private dining rooms along with the Lotus Ballroom, which can accommodate 200. Staff members are all well-dressed in Cheong-sam and service is impeccable. In the land where you never age, we sampled China’s most famous dish, Peking Duck, which is presented on a tray accompanied by two waiters, one who carves and one who assembles. First, the crispy duck skin is carved and wantons are filled with cucumber and plum sauce. Then the duck meat is taken away and re-cooked with black pepper sauce. This style of Peking Duck is typically Beijing we’re told. As we sampled an array of Chinese delicacies, our tea cups were continuously refilled with delicious Jasmine Tea. I was particularly impressed with the Palace’s large selection of vegetarian cuisine, normally a rarity for Chinese food. We sampled some vegetarian ham and vegetarian duck meat, which had the texture and flavour of the real

thing making it difficult to believe they were soybased. A special dish, not on the menu, of Salted Duck Egg Yolk covered Prawns was sampled and although interesting, wasn’t our favourite however I can see how it is a hit with Chinese diners. Between 16th of January to 6th of February 2012, you will be able to enjoy a very special and precious dish to the Chinese community during the Lunar New Year, called Yee Sang. This is a colourful salad served with raw fish, with the fish symbolising new life. Diners gather around the table and participate in the mixing of the Yee Sang using chopsticks. Once the salad and the fish have been mixed together, guests raise the food in their chopsticks and shout out, “Lo hei,” which means, “to mix” and “for a never-ending fortune”. Something you won’t see everyday. If you fancy joining in on the Lunar New Year festivities this year and want to do it in style then take a trip to Shang Palace where you will feel immersed in all things oriental, enjoy the traditional Barongsai dance and maybe sample a Monkey Head or two (mushrooms, that is). 

Fraser Residence Sudirman Luxurious LIVING in the Heart of Jakarta

Located in the centre of the city’s financial and commercial business district, just ten minutes away from some of Jakarta’s finest restaurants, premier shopping malls and entertainment attractions, Fraser Residence Sudirman Jakarta’s luxurious comforts of home and intuitive personalised service meets the needs of the most discerning business professional. Beautifully appointed and thoughtfully fitted for comfort, convenience and pleasure, each of the 108 apartment unit comes complete with a fully equipped kitchen, daily housekeeping, a state-of-the-art home entertainment system and high-speed Internet wireless access. Individual lift landings, personal key-card lift access, in-room safes and our 24-hour reception, concierge and security services ensure you enjoy privacy and peace of mind. Being pet-friendly has also made this property the preferred extended stay accommodation for many animal lovers. Balancing work with leisure comes naturally with an impressive range of facilities and services right there at your doorstep. This includes a well-equipped gym, Olympic-sized swimming pool with hot and cold dip pools, steam, sauna and massage rooms, Jacuzzi, table tennis, squash, basketball and tennis courts, an outdoor reflexology garden and jogging track. There are also special indoor and outdoor play areas for our younger guests and the added convenience of room service, an all-day dining Incanto Restaurant, a private Residents’ Lounge complete with pool table and library corner, and daily laundry and dry cleaning services. Experience the Fraser Difference at Fraser Residence Sudirman Jakarta, and come home to the Gold Standard award winning service that has made Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd an international leader in serviced residences.

Fraser Residence Sudirman Jakarta, Jl. Setiabudi Raya 9, Sudirman, Jakarta 12910, Indonesia. Tel: +62 21 2927 2888 | Fax: +62 21 2927 2999 Email: reservations.jakarta@frasershospitality.com

Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

Revealed

Bye Bye Bunnies, Enter the Dragons By Kenneth Yeung

s the Year of the Rabbit nears an end, hundreds of expatriates in Jakarta’s Chinatown are preparing to return home for a month-long holiday. Most are young women from rural towns in southern China, many of them making a living in Indonesia as high-class escorts. Not all are sex workers. There are also singers, beauticians, qualified masseuses (whose services are strictly non-sexual), hairdressers, health practitioners, cooks, garment traders and small business owners. Indonesia’s annual pulang kampung (going home) ritual for the post-Ramadhan holiday of Lebaran involves about 30 million people. That’s peanuts compared to the exodus from Chinese cities and abroad ahead of Lunar New Year, with over 230 million people travelling to their hometowns. It is the world’s largest human migration and involves about 3.2 billion passenger trips, as people generally have to travel by train, bus and/or boat to get home. Mei Zhen (not her real name), a 29-year-old Chinese woman living in Jakarta’s main Chinatown district of Glodok, will not be going home for the holidays. She works as a singer and hostess at an upscale karaoke bar, and plans to travel back to China in March when her current visa expires and airfares are lower. The daughter of farmers from Hunan province, Mei completed high school but could not afford higher education. Her first full-time job was in a food processing factory, working 12-hour shifts plus compulsory overtime for only 500 yuan renminbi (US$80) per month. She married when young and divorced after eight years, saying her husband was “abusive and irresponsible”. She has a 7-year-old son, who was born deaf and thus requires specialised speech therapy. Mei sends him to a special school, which charges monthly tuition of 2,000 ($320). That’s nearly double Hunan’s minimum monthly wage of about 1,020 ($165). The government provided some assistance for the first two years of her son’s education but then terminated the support, leaving Mei in a quandary. Her solution was to move to Jakarta, where she now earns at least $1,110 per month, doing a 35-hour week. Her work generally involves singing love ballads to ethnic Chinese Indonesian businessmen and pouring them whisky and cognac. After covering rent, food and other expenses, she is able to send home about $700 a month. Mei enters Indonesia on a six-month socio-cultural visa arranged by her employer, who keeps her passport for the duration of her ‘contract’ to ensure she does not leave the country prematurely or work for someone else. If she wants to get her passport back before the six months are up, she must pay her boss a fine of Rp.1.5 million for each remaining day of her contract period. As many expats know, if stopped by police late at night and unable to produce a passport or residency permit card, a bribe is usually required to quell spurious threats of legal action. When Mei gets caught at a random police check, she can negotiate a bribe on the spot – anywhere from Rp.100,000 to Rp.1 million, which is better than being hauled down to Jakarta

Police Headquarters, where her employer will be summoned and asked to bring her passport. Then, depending on the offense determined by police, there will be a fine of anywhere from Rp.3 million and Rp.10 million, and at worst, deportation for violating the terms of her visa (under which she should not be working). Mei’s inability to speak Indonesian or English makes her – and hundreds of other Chinese working women - vulnerable to crooked immigration officials, who can demand up to $100 for allowing entry and exit. Mainland Chinese tend not to complain about this routine victimisation, although an exception occurred in May 2011, when a Chinese man filed a complaint with airport police after immigration officers assaulted him in a back room when he refused to pay a HK$100 bribe. Apart from the occasional raids to satisfy the media’s craving for images of frightened females, police and immigration officials tend to turn a blind eye to the Chinese women working illegally in Jakarta. A self-professed “big boss” in the sex trade said this is because police, immigration and municipal authorities are all paid to leave certain venues alone. Seated in a bar alongside a bevy of leggy Chinese women in high heels and revealing outfits, he claimed he is always alerted in advance of any raids. But with hundreds of cashed up Chinese women now preparing to go home, a few police are keen to get their hands on some of that money. In the second week of January, police began visiting some of the residential buildings occupied by Chinese women, accepting bribes from Rp.400,000 and upward from those unable to produce their passports. Mei is fairly happy with her life in Jakarta, earning good money and living among friends, but there are cases of sex trafficking and slavery involving Chinese women. Some are sold by debt-ridden or unscrupulous relatives to syndicates that put them to work in Jakarta’s most opulent brothels, which are thinly disguised as hotels specialising in sauna, spa, karaoke and massage services. A few of these hotels also offer gambling and drugs. They do provide the women with routine health checks and have a policy of mandatory condom use, although some men pay extra for unprotected sex. Chinese sex workers, known locally as cungkok, can be indentured to the tune of $3,000 or more when they arrive, being overcharged for airfares, visas, sexy clothing and initial accommodation. That means they have to work for nearly three months or more before they can start earning for themselves. Even then, they still have to pay above average rent, ostensibly to ensure their residences are immune to raids by authorities seeking illegal foreign workers. Jakarta’s high-class brothels, many located in or near Glodok (China Town), charge up to Rp.2 million for an hour of ‘massage-plus’ with a Chinese woman. Of that amount, the woman gets only Rp.400,000. Still, it’s more than Indonesian prostitutes are making in similar

upmarket establishments, where the rate for an hour of sex is about Rp.300,000, of which the woman receives only Rp.100,000. Mainland Chinese prostitutes are considered “more desirable” than local sex workers because of their lighter skin and taller stature. But underneath the alluring outfits and the makeup, the young women are hardly sophisticated creatures. On arrival, many have no idea how to use a modern shower, an elevator or even a rice cooker. They are real village girls, brought to Jakarta because of their height and good looks. When clients ply them with spirits, they totter about in their high heels and some fall down by the time they get home at 5 am. They sleep during the day and emerge in the evenings, transported to work in minivans, SUVs or cabs provided by their employers. Those who are not indentured are looking forward to going home for Chinese New Year. Everything required for the celebrations can be obtained in Glodok, but Chinese expats shopping there sometimes have communication problems with Chinese Indonesian traders. That’s thanks to former dictator Suharto’s policy of banning the Chinese language, alphabet and culture for over 30 years. The ban on Chinese characters was lifted in 2000 by former president Gus Dur, but many Indonesian Chinese have grown up unable to speak their ancestral language. Gus Dur also declared Chinese New Year an optional public holiday and his successor Megawati Sukarnoputri made it a national holiday in 2003. In addition to the feasting and boozing, colourful decorations, dragon dances and fireworks are let off throughout the night. Children are given ang pao – red envelopes containing cash. Although Glodok now seems harmonious and festive, it has a long history of violence. In October 1740, the Dutch colonial government sponsored a three-day massacre of anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 Chinese in and around the old city of Batavia, purportedly to quell riots and rebellion over unemployment. After the massacre, the surviving Chinese were forced to relocate outside the city walls to Glodok. In May 1998, Chinese were targeted in the deadly mass riots that hastened Suharto’s downfall. At least 168 ethnic Chinese women and girls were victims of organised mass rapes, while hundreds of Chinese houses and shops were looted and burnt. In the case of the 1740 massacre, the Dutch Governor General Adriaan Valckenier was recalled, arrested and eventually died in jail in Batavia in 1751 awaiting trial. There was no such justice after the 1998 riots, with successive governments being too spineless to punish the masterminds of the carnage because of alleged military involvement. Today’s young mainland Chinese women in Glodok know little of this history. They only hope the Year of the Dragon will bring them good fortune. 

KENNETH YEUNG Kenneth is a part-time sinophile.

Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

Passtimes

Tee off more.... By Dennis G. Kloeth

akarta is probably one of Asia’s best golf destinations and certainly when judged from the amount of courses that can be played in and around the city, thirty eight in total. Next to fabulous golf, Jakarta also offers a thought-provoking package in “after” golf, meaning those pretty awesome things you can do once you’ve made your final putt. From night clubbing to shopping and café’s and tantalizing food places to interesting tourism spots, Jakarta has it all and is in a class all its own. Golfers should check out the Jagorawi toll road alongside which one can find no less than 17 courses that vie for patronage of golfers from Indonesia, Asia and beyond. Starting at the top of this 45-km thoroughfare that stretches from Jakarta South all the way into the Sentul Highland and Pre-Puncak area, we find the courses of Emeralda and Riverside, two fabulous golf clubs that offer play on layouts of international standard and that were designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus & Arnold Palmer (Emeralda) and Greg Norman (Riverside). Less than 5 miles further down the road and right at the exit of Gunung Putri, we find the entrance to the Jagorawi Golf &Country Club, Indonesia’s premier golf club that

offers golfers 45 holes of championship golf. The two 18 holes layouts of The Old and The New course were designed by five-time Open winner Peter Thomson, while the 9 holes Z-Nine course was designed by owner Zakir and US course designer the late Max Wexler. Shortly before we arrive at the city of Bogor and at the exit of Sentul Circuit on the left, we find the courses of Permata Sentul and Palm Hill, the latter is located adjacent to the international race circuit of Sentul. When we take the Sentul Selatan exit some 5 miles further down, we enter the Sentul Highlands, a modern-day self contained residential area that is home to attractive gated (residential) clusters as well as to the 18 holes course of the same name and a layout that was designed by South African golf legend Gary Player. When we leave Sentul Highlands Golf Club and we simply follow the signs that will take us up “the mountain” to Rainbow Hills, or Bukit Pelangi, the course’s Indonesian name. This most impressive layout is situated in an equally impressive natural setting that is located some 600 meters above sea level and in a pretty rugged terrain that can only be found in the prePuncak mountainous district of Gadog.

From Rainbow Hills, we can actually see the two 18 holes layouts of Gunung Geulis. Located at about 900 meters above sea level, the West and the East course are testament to the extremely high quality of courses that can be found in Indonesia and that offers the seasoned and avid and well-traveled golfer something to come back for. Standing on the first tee box of the West course, golfers are offered a bird’s eye view on Bogor’s hinterland in the distant horizon. With surgical precision golfers are required to land their tee shot on a fairway that is situated some 60 meters below the tee box. Pretty daunting and certainly no small feat, I can assure you.

All in all, you could say that the Jagorawi toll road is “the perfect drive down golfer’s lane”. Many clubs alongside this toll road offer special weekday golf deals such as Ladies’ Days golf or Senior Citizen days or Wednesday Golf Specials. Given the fact that, generally, weekday golf green fees never set you back more than Rp.400,000, golf in this part of greater Jakarta area is most affordable. And given the fact that we just entered a brand new year, if you’re a golfer, your resolution for this coming year should be to tee it off more…  All pictures by Dennis G. Kloeth.

Leaving Gunung Geulis, we drive down the mountain towards the city of Bogor where we head for Klub Golf Bogor Raya or popularly known as KGBR. Set up as a genuine garden course, KGBR not only offers fabulous golf but it also offers golfers a most enjoyable round amidst a wide variety of botanical plants, flowers and bushes and trees that are all identifiable by small sign boards depicting the name of the respective species. It’s pretty educational, to say the least. KGBR is located in the self contained residential area of Bogor Lake Side that is also home to Novotel Bogor, a friendly family hotel that during the weekends turns into a weekend getaway for many Jakartans.

Dennis G. Kloeth

The writer is the founder of Golf Promo Indonesia, www. indogolf.com and is the publisher of the Golfer's Guide Indonesia. For all relevant information on golf in Jakarta and/or Indonesia go to www.indogolf.com.

Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

Personal Tech & Apps

The Chinese Mobile Phone this year, but for real excitement and mobile madness, China is on track to surpass a billion mobile connections by May of 2012. That’s one billion. For comparison, the U.S. has about 303 million mobile connections. Taking into account that 26 billion messages will generate a lot of money and that sending out greetings to wish prosperity, health and happiness there are also ringtones that will wish you good fortune. These Chinese websites will allow you to download ring tones which can bring you good furtune, prosperity or just for fun. But they do not come cheap. Check out some of their ringtones and pricing:

hinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Celebrated in places with significant Chinese populations such as China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and in Chinatown, it marks the end of the winter season and is considered a major Holiday for the Chinese, known as "Spring Festival". The celebration is often marked with festive parades and glorious fireworks displays and sending out greetings using the mobile phone. Chinese cell phone users send 26 billion messages during the Spring Festival New Year greetings using mobile phone messages remained popular in China. Last year Chinese mobile phone users sent 26 billion messages during the seven-day Spring Festival holiday ending on Feb. 8, 2011. The figure sees a 13 percent increase over the same period the year before, according to a statement posted on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Short messages have become one of the most popular ways to exchange greetings during the traditional Chinese New Year, a time for family reunions. According to MIIT figures, 15.6 billion mobile phone messages were sent last year on the eve of the Spring Festival and during the Lunar New Year’s Day. The number sees an increase of 20 percent over the same period the year before. China reported 859 million mobile phone subscribers at the end of last year, which represents about 74.5 percent of total phones use. A total of 92.44 million new mobile phone users were registered last year. We get terribly excited that the U.S. will have more smart phones than feature phones later

1) Wish you good fortune ringtone @ $ 17.95 USD 2) Little dragon ringtone @ $ 49.95 USD 3) Joyful Chinese new year ringtone @ $ 169.95 USD 4) Chinese new year ringtone @ $ 193.95 USD

China dominates mobile phone sales in Indonesia

have a local distributor in Indonesia. Fourth, the phone will come to Indonesia as a black market product, meaning there is no warranty from the local distributor. Here are some types of Chinese mobile phones which are circulating in Indonesia and are high in demand: • Dual SIM Card. Two phone numbers can be active at the same time. • Cell Phone TV. Free movies with no pulse. • Touch Screen. Chinese mobile phones have now occupied the number two position after branded mobile phones in terms of sales. I guess it is safe to say that they are here to stay. Rest me to say Gong Xi Fa Chai! 

China has become a supplier of more than 50% of mobile phones in Indonesia. Underestimating China’s mobile phone would be a fatal mistake to make for branded phones that previously controlled the market in Indonesia. Already we can see that there are so many different types of Chinese made mobile phones circulating in shopping centres such as D-One, Hi-Tech, Nexian, Beyond, Taxco, Huawei, and many other brands. China has a production centre for mobile phone spare parts so that they can provide a much cheaper price for their mobile products. Consumer demand is always increasing every year. For instance ITC Roxy Mas in West Jakarta is always full of visitors every day who sell mobile phones and also buy Chinese mobile phones in bulk for later resale.

Not a BB But a Chinese lookalike the 'Beyond' China has four ways of marketing for mobile products. First the assembly of mobile phones is made in Indonesia by using spare parts from China. Second, the installation of local brands on products originating from China. Third, products and brands come from China and

fujengtang.com

chinesezodiachoroscope.com

Advanced and holistic Traditional Chinese Medicine. Fu Jeng Tang is a Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic offering a complete range of medical services, some of which include acupuncture, acupressure (Tui Na), fire cupping, hydrotherapy and steam therapy. All their medical specialists are highly qualified doctors in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with years of experience behind them. They treat everything from sports injuries to chronic back pain, gout, arthritis, women’s health and stroke rehabilitation. They provide a vast array of services in one location and most importantly, their specialists work as one team starting from the initial patient diagnosis to the design of a complete Medical Treatment Plan, ensuring the patient receives the best treatment from various specializations in harmony with one another.

Legends and mythology are a big part of Chinese culture, especially in relation to the Chinese Zodiac. If you’re interested in learning more about the Chinese zodiac and what it says about you, pay a visit to chinesezodiachoroscop.com. They offer extensive information on the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Once you’ve entered your birth date into the sign calculator, your daily and weekly Chinese zodiac sign will automatically appear on the homepage each time you visit.

Fu Jeng Tang also provides services to overseas patients seeking Traditional Chinese Medicine and offer assistance in organising accommodation and transport for the duration of stay in Jakarta. They have had a variety of patients ranging from local Indonesians, Expats and clients from China, Singapore and Malaysia. 

For more in depth information, simply click on your zodiac sign. There you will find a wealth of information ranging from general sign descriptions and astrology (western zodiac sign, eastern gem stone, lucky colours etc.) to a 2012 quarterly forecast of outlook, love, career, health and finances. In addition to the personal sign calculator, there is also a ‘Find a Friend’s Sign’ calculator, which allows you to view specific information on different zodiac animals without altering your default zodiac sign. Visit www.chinesezodiachoroscope.com to find out what 2012 has in store for you! 

Juan G. Leysner Juan G. Leysner has lived and worked in Jakarta for over 10 years and is the founder of 2 db.mobi. www.2dbarcodesolutions.com

Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

Grumpy Old Men

have been living here for a while now, but I realised that I am totally ignorant about the Chinese New Year celebrations. Except good food, some red lanterns hanging everywhere and a special animal per year, this is basically my only knowledge. Thank God we have BlackBerry so I broadcasted a message to 38 of my Chinese friends. My question was simple:

What represents Chinese New Year for you? After a few minutes, my BB started to blink like a Christmas tree and here were the answers:

“Seb, as I am not married yet, I will receive many red envelopes from all of my family.”

This means if you are Chinese, it’s better that you marry as late as you can because apparently as soon as you get married, uang habis (you run out of money)!

“Food, food, food and pulang kampung.”

Which means, that the Chinese New year is basically the same story as Idul Fitri (in one sentence, I’ve lost already 50% of my Chinese friends and 50% of my Muslim friends).

“Holiday with family and the red envelope.”

Second time I heard about this magic envelope.

“Dragon power!”

Knowing this guy, it’s something to do with girls! The Chinese always have some powerful medicine made of dragon claws, or maybe this is only in the Jackie Chan movies.

“I look Chinese but my blood is American.”

Very strange answer from Mr. B... This means that the Yankees should get scared! The Chinese are now vampires!

“I don’t celebrate CNY as we don’t speak Chinese anymore.” M:

So you have to speak Mandarin to celebrate? That means there will be ten people in the streets this year in Jakarta - what a party!

“Raise the red lantern, it brings luck.”

P: As most of my friends are quite successful, I will ask my satpam (security guard) to buy hundreds of red Chinese lanterns. And as I am the only foreigner in my Muslim street, then I will make new friends!

Photo by Vania Samperuru

“Such good memories before I got married.”

S: Now I know, no more envelopes?

“Five kilos gained in three days.”

L: Ah, finally a common point with my Western New Year.

“It’s something very special and beautiful. We are finally all together, all over the world with our common roots, our traditions, our beliefs. We enjoy every minute with fantastic food and we pray together.” V:

OK this one is living on planet Walt Disney! She confuses Christmas at the church with the Chinese New Year. And poor her, she didn’t mention any red envelopes despite not being married! There’s something wrong with V. o, basically I learned a lot from all those friends. First, you have to speak Chinese to celebrate, you have to get married very late, you need to buy this medicine named “Chinese dragon powder claws”, you have to hang hundred of lanterns if you want a new car this year, you will be fatter after the celebration, you can have American blood and still you can celebrate CNY. But the most important is this red envelope (Ang Pow). I received many envelopes from my family when I was a kid, mostly empty or with a post card inside. Our parents were in panic with the “red” because it was the colour of communism. Once again my parents lied to me and once again it was western capitalism propaganda! The very good news is that I am a Rat in the Chinese horoscope. Rats are not compatible at all with the Rabbit of 2011 and I deeply felt it, but it seems very compatible with the Dragon of 2012. Don’t ask me why. Please also note that I am not married yet and that I am totally OK to be adopted by one of you, my Chinese friends. I just hope that Pak Santo who owns the toko listrik (electricity shop) next door won’t be my next father, I still prefer to be adopted by Mister Djarum or Mister Ciputra to receive a BIG red envelope! 

Happy New Year to all my Chinese friends!

Sebastian Wijaya Lee (I look like European but my blood is Chinese, just like Mr. B)

“Red envelope, Seb.”

W: This is the third time I heard about this fantastic envelope.

“Same as the normal new year.”

Well, I never spend New Year surrounded by red lanterns, red dragons and red envelopes. Not sure this one is a real Chinese ya.

Sebastien laurent Sebastien is an antiques dealer. To rant and rave at him email: sebastienlaurent@hotmail.com

Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

Light Entertainment

Apocalypse Next Tuesday S by Eamonn Sadler

ome people are saying that the Mayan calendar predicts that civilisation as we know it will end at 11.11am GMT (that’s 04.11am Jakarta time) on December 21st this year. Well I enjoyed this Christmas and I was keen to know if there is going to be another one, so I had a quick Google around to find out what’s what. One boffin I came across explains that, actually, the Mayan calendar is much like the Gregorian calendar, in so far as when it reaches the end it starts again. When we get to 00.00 on December 31, there is no cataclysmic event, we simply start again at 00.01 on January 1. The Mayan “long count” calendar is apparently WAY more complicated than our Gregorian calendar and a HELL of a lot longer (5125

years longer to be precise), but it basically does the same thing, merely signalling the end of this era (whatever they thought “this era” might be) on December 21 at 11.11am and the start of a new one at 11.12am on the same day. Some people interpreted that “end of this era” to mean the “Apocalypse”. Well, it’s not. I remember in late 1999 computer geeks the world over were making fortunes out of companies and individuals who were desperate to protect themselves against “the millennium bug”. Everything with a chip in it was going to malfunction in spectacular fashion, power grids were going to crash, planes were going to plummet from the sky and every car with a computerised ignition

Last Edition’s Winner…

system was going to chug to a halt on the stroke of midnight, all supposedly because early computer whizzkids had neglected to make provision within computer clocks for the digits in the year “2000”. It even had a cool nickname - “Y2K”- which seemed to give it an ominous personality and made it sound more like a hard-to-catch serial killer than a high tech balls-up. Authorities across the globe even flew their best and brightest minds to parts of the South Pacific and New Zealand (where the new year technically arrives first) to observe what happened at the stroke of midnight 1999 / 2000. I guess the idea was they could then call their home countries to tell their bosses what happened and say goodbye (presuming the phones were still

working). What a great scam. I am sure there are unscrupulous people all over the world right now trying to figure out how to relieve us of our hard-earned by exploiting our naïveté and stupidity over this 2012 nonsense. In fact, Hollywood has already fleeced the public of the world out of over three quarters of a billion dollars with the dreadful movie 2012, which in my opinion brought new meaning to the term “disaster movie”. So I urge you people of the modern world, next time you receive emails telling you about how the Justified Ancients of Mumu predicted long ago that a plague of locusts is going to devour every living thing on earth starting next Tuesday tea time, or informing

To find out more about live stand-up comedy in Indonesia please e-mail jakarta@thecomedyclub.asia text or call 0821 1194 3084 or register at www.thecomedyclub.asia

This Edition’s Competition…

Caption Competition

“Do you realise that if you run away we’re all out of a job...”

you that there is a (another) new virus that is going to wipe your hard drive clean if you click on the attachment, or letting you know that a certain Dr. Hanjacashova (who doesn’t even know your name) wants to share millions of dollars with you, just remember this; if it sounds too good OR too bad to be true, it probably is. Failing that, just Google it. It’s all out there. 

Last issue's very seasonal competition attracted some very interesting entries, but by far the best was this from Robert W. from Permata Hijau. Thanks Robert! Your free comedy vouchers are on their way! SEND YOUR ENTRY BY TEXT TO:

0811 999603

Across

1 Frank (6) 4 Distant view (5) 7 Island, part of the Malay archipelago (6) 8 Grunts (anag) - stretched (6) 9 Leg joint (4) 10 Way of transporting passengers up mountains (5-3) 12 Track down (3,2,6) 17 Troubled (8) 19 Sort (4) 20 Dried grape (6) 21 Figure (6) 22 Happening (5) 23 Soldier on watch (6)

Down

1 Singer of quiet songs (7) 2 Buff-coloured cotton fabric (7) 3 German war medal (4,5) 4 Essential (5) 5 Small amount (7) 6 Prophesy (6) 11 Kind of social event with traditional music (4,5) 13 Republic bordering on the Black Sea, capital Kiev (7) 14 Of uncared for appearance (7) 15 In a thick manner (7) 16 Attack - cost (6) 18 Speedy - bird like a swallow (5)

{ Answers in the next edition! }

12 13

16 17

16 18

19 19

Scan the barcode and answer the 10 questions to have the chance to win a Duck King restaurant voucher worth Rp.300,000 courtesy of RoomService.

*Answers for Edition 60 Across:

1. Abnormal 5. Offa 9. Muggy 10. Lounger 11. Paving stones 13. Indigo 14. Effete 17. Smallest room 20. Rotunda 21. Oxide 22. Port 23. Newsreel

Down:

1. Army 2. Niggard 3. Rhyming slang 4. Allege 6. Fagan 7. Arrested 8. Multifarious 12. Airstrip 15. Ebonite 16. Escape 18. Alter 19. Seal

Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

Opinion Page

ur o Y

s? n o ni i Op

The Manpower and Transmigration Ministry says it will stop sending maids abroad by 2017, following numerous cases of murder, abuse and executions involving Indonesian workers. However, Minister Muhaimin Iskandar has said that should Indonesia decide to continue sending domestic workers overseas, they had to be treated the same as formal workers (limited working hours, days off, a minimum wage and insurance). The plan is part of the ministry’s Domestic Worker Roadmap which ultimately aims to raise the skills of the thousands of Indonesians going overseas to work. However if it is carried out, it could mean a massive shortage of maids for places such as Singapore and Malaysia, both of which rely heavily on domestic workers from Indonesia. Some have criticised the idea as being hard to implement. There are several challenges to face, including providing alternative jobs in Indonesia and the fact that some 45 percent of the country’s 120 million-strong workforce have no more than a primary school education.

Is it realistic for Indonesia to stop sending maids abroad? • Send us your opinions at letters@jakartaexpat.biz and we’ll publish the best of the bunch right here!

Last week’s Opinion: In response to last issue’s Opinion Column:

Will Kim Jong-un follow in his father’s footsteps? “One huge question is what will their military leaders do? His son is taking over but the separate heads of state may have some words and make the son toe the line. We need to wait and see...maybe the son will not be another dictatorial Kim like his father. The real question is, when the regime ends (history shows that dictatorships always end sooner or later), what will happen to all the people who have been brainwashed into hating the west. If we look at reunification of Germany we still see the old generation of people who grew up in the east still having trouble adapting to the new ways. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.” Darren Krueger “Kim Jong-Il’s health had been weak for quite some time, although he would make the appearance that he was in good shape every once in a while, so this transition has been expected. Kim Jong-Un has been educated and decorated with a four star general title, he has even been groomed to look like his late grandfather Kim Il-Sung. The succession looks like it’s just more of the same nightmare, as the cult of personality seems to be passed down from generation to generation. Though Kim Jong-Un is quite young, Kim Jong-Il was not that much younger when he succeeded Kim Il-Sung. This lack of experience can lead to two things: more benevolence and compassion, or more unpredictability and brutality.” Regina

Letters to THE EDITOR: “What an excellent addition to the expat news scene that your magazine is proving to be. Such a diverse range of excellent, informative and interesting material. As a resident of Beverly Towers Apartments, I look forward to getting each edition when it arrives here. Thanks for the efforts you put into this very worthwhile publication and all the best for the future.” Hugh Collett

“I hope that 2012 is off to a great start for you and all the team at your publication!” Tasha May “Being a newcomer to the Jakarta expatriate community, I’ve found your publication to be not only an interesting diversion but a wealth of information for newbies like myself. To the Jakarta Expat: Great job, I haven’t missed an issue yet!” George

PopularTweet @gandrasta

“Chatty woman in front of meat Yoshinoya’s cashier; “aduh apa lagi ya, lupa..” and now I think I have to do murder”

Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

Business & Networking

BritCham Business & Social Gathering Thu, 26 Jan 2012 BOOK NOW! events@britcham.or.id Location: TBA on RSVP Web Site: www.britcham.or.id Email: events@britchams.or.id

ICCC BIZTRO Networking Cocktail January 2012 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 RSVP : iccc.secretariat@gmail.com Location: TBA on RSVP Web Site: www.iccc.or.id Email: iccc.secretariat@gmail.com The ICCC brings Canadian and Indonesian business together Join us for a night of networking and fun. Catch up with friends and business acquaintances over food and drinks Everyone welcome… Please pass on this message to friends… Contribution: * ICCC, Calindo & CWA Members : Rp 150,000/ person * Non-Member: Rp 250,000/person Membership forms available at the door Membership Period February April 1st 2012 to March 31st 2013. * Individual Membership (Rp 500.000,-/year) * Corporate Membership (Rp 5.000.000,-/year)

Our first Business & Social Gathering Of 2012 Cost: * Members: Rp. 200.000 * Non Members: Rp. 320.000 Located at the heart of a vibrant citycentre hub,voted our most popular business networking platform, this is an excellent opportunity to exchange views, solicit information, and seek out business opportunities. Light snacks will be served throughout the evening together with a 2.5 hour free flow of wine, beer, soft drink, and juice. We encourage all BritCham Members to bring along their colleagues, guests, and friends to take full advantage of this month’s Members’ Business & Social Gathering. These Business & Social Gatherings drive intra-membership business!

Sport events

Ultimate Frisbee Every Sunday 4pm Web Site: www.UltimateIndonesia.com Email: jakarta@ultimateindonesia.com

AWA ‘’Bourbon Street Bash‘’

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 7pm onwards Adults Only For tickets and more information please contact: American Women’s Association (AWA): Phone: +62217181877 Email: specialevents@awajakarta.org Location: TBA on RSVP www.awajakarta.org Shrimp boil, free flow beer, music… Entrance fee: Rp 650,000

Ultimate Frisbee is a competitive, non-contact, self-refereed team sport played with a Frisbee or similar flying disc most commonly weighing 175 g. It is played by thousands of people around the world. Ultimate mixes the best features of sports such as Soccer, Basketball, American Football and Netball into an elegantly simple, yet fascinating, and demanding game. Ultimate is distinguished by the “Spirit of the Game”, the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, and the joy of play. Jakarta has had a regular team, called DiscIndo, since 1997 who play every week at the Senayan Complex. DiscIndo have also annually hosted the now world-famous Bali Nusantara Cup since 2000,

that is traditionally held during Easter Weekend in Bali, the Island of the Gods. DiscIndo is comprised of expatriate (70%) and Indonesian men and women who work in both the private and public sector, from all ages. In fact, at last count, the professions DiscIndo members had covered included lawyers, communications consultants, journalists, economists, bankers, stock analysts, social workers, PHD students, advertisers, television professionals, environment protectors, finance managers, president directors, teachers, sales and marketing managers, embassy employees, gamelan players, etc. As Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia is still largely made up of a culturally

homogenous population, the DiscIndo team reveals a refreshing glimpse of a cooperative global tomorrow. Membership is open to men, women and children of all nationalities. Current number of members is approximately 40. A small fee per session, which is mostly held in English, goes to supporting the cost of the pitch. They play on the hockey turf fields in the Senayan Sports Complex (www.ultimateindonesia.com/ play.html) on Thursdays at 8-10pm and Sundays at 4-6pm. Please contact us first to confirm field availability. As the name suggests, Ultimate is the greatest sport ever played and invented by man. PLAY ULTIMATE!

Jakarta Expat足足揃 1足 8 January - 31 January 2012

Recipes

Chicken Siew Mai

Feel like getting into the Chinese New Year festivities spirit? Try this easy recipe at home and impress your friends and family! Ingredients :

15 wonton wrappers, diameter: 8-10cm 1 carrot, grated for topping

Filling:

150 gr minced chicken 150 gr shrimp, peeled, chopped 50 gr chopped bamboo shoots 50 gr chopped hioko mashroom 50 gr chopped waterchestnut 2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 spring onions, chopped 2 tbsp tapioka flour 1 white egg

Seasoning Sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 tbs angciu (Chinese wine)

The Recipe: 1. Mix all seasoning sauce ingredients in a

4. Sprinkle the top surface with a little

2. Place the filling ingredients in a larger

5. Boil water in a steamer, put the Siew

bowl and stir well.

grated carrot. Do the same thing until the dough runs out.

bowl, combine the sauce ingredients, stir until blended completely. Then store in a refrigerator for 1 hour. Divide the filling dough into 15 parts.

Mai +/-2 cm of one another. Steam the Siew Mai over high heat for 10-15 minutes until cooked, remove from heat.

portion dough filling in the middle. Pull the edges by using the five fingers, then press the top with your fingers soaked in water first.

Recipe from: Adventurelicious@v-recipes.blogspot.com

3. Take a piece of wonton skin, place 1

Classifieds 18

Jakarta Expat · 18 January - 31 January 2012

Classifieds

Have something to sell? Looking for something to buy? Looking for staff? Selling property? Or need a place to live? Why not place your classified ad with Jakarta Expat ! Your classified will be placed once for 2 weeks online and once in our printed version which has a circulation of 15.000 copies bi weekly. Conditions: Personal classifieds: free of charge | 50 words max. Commercial classifieds : RP. 100,000 | 0 - 50 words : RP. 200,000 | 50 - 100 words For adding an image / company logo in our printed issue another RP. 150,000 needs to be charged. Send in your classifieds to ads@jakartaexpat.biz

Property

0818830381 or 08999908691 - email: lowprofil3.girl@yahoo.com.sg

For Sale For immediate Sale. 2 Bedroom Apartment in Kuningan City/ Denpasar Residence. Size 81.13 sqm. 2 toilet, 1 kitchen, 1 living room. View to Sudirman. Fully Furnished. Payment Structure, pay the Down Payment to the direct owner and the remaining 34 installment @ 30 million idr/month to the Developer, Agung Podomoro. Strategic Location near many embassy and Big Mall, Ready to deliver Early 2012. The similar units are all sold out from the developer. Great Piece of Investment. Direct Owner, Contact: Ivonne at +6287 8848 999 08. For more info: http://www. kuningancity.com/

ARYADUTA SUITES / SUDIRMAN TOWER CONDOMINIUM. Jl. Garnisun Dalam 8, very close to Plaza Semanggi. There are 3 units for rent, Fully furnished, min 6 months upfront, @ 85 square meters, 1 living room, 1 dining room - in open space , 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 maid room/laundry room.. 2 AC in each bedroom. Price @USD1,100/mo. Free access to swimming pool. Lots of restaurants nearby. Further detailed and pics for each unit will be emailed to you by email. Contact: Mieke J at mieke.juwono@resources8.com, 0811843541. FOR RENT: 2 bedroom + 1 bath apartment at Essence Darmawangsa. Fully furnished. Equipped with AC, water heater, and washing machine. Unit is located on the 9th floor tower A. Rent cost: Rp 10 million/month (includes maintenance fee). Call 0813 802 333 99 (Mahmuda - owner) For Rent: Senayan Residence, 3 bedrooms + 1 maid’s room. Contact 0813 1101 4567

SALE Full Furn. Condominium Hotel unit in Bali, Canggu-North Kuta, near & beside Echo Beach, The Kirana. Unit 26,7sqm, Leased Hold for 50 year, just Rp.680 million (negotiation & installment payment).Beach is good for surfing, cause many surfers came and play the wave. Call directly; nRicko +6282144833550. APT KUNINGAN PLACE, For Rent/ Sale, New, 60m2. (2BR-2Toilet1FR), Mid-up Facility, Strategic, Furnish, HP/SMS 0816 786811 Small Convenient Healthy Environment

For rent APT KUNINGAN PLACE, For Rent/ Sale, New, 60m2 (2BR-2Toilet-1FR), Mid-up Facility, Strategic, Furnish, HP/ SMS 0816 786811 – Small Convenient Healthy Environment” To rent a 2 storey hos in Bona Vista Residence. 2bdrm 3 bathshower. Close to SIS JORR Tb simatupang,15 min to Pondok Indah. Usd 1500/mo 2yr term. Call owner 0812 100 9326 Houses for rent at Kemang, Cipete, Cilandak Pejaten Barat. Pondok Indah. Big garden, S’pool, Complex, with 4/5 Bar. Ph. 0816859551 081287488717. Sunday open For rent: the kuningan place apt, jl.haji rasuna said kuningan, south jakarta, 1, 2, 3 br,fully furnished, price 7 million up 15 million, contact: nova

House For Rent. Casamora Residence - Cilandak Area, South Jakarta. With Private Swimming Pool. Newly Renovated Minimalist House, SemiFurnished. 3 levels, 3 + 1 bedrooms, with 3 luxury bathroom in every bedroom + guest toilet. Quiet neighborhood, Convenient location, right behind Cilandak Town Square. Available Immediately! Rent USD $2400 per month (negotiable). For more information, please email Fedie (direct owner) at fediemulia@yahoo.com

A four star apartment in strategic location at Kuningan Aston Rasuna Residence, 91sqm, 3+1 bedrooms, 2+1 bathrooms, almost new, with wooden antique furniture, at lower level.Strategically located in a safe neighborhood on the main Kuningan road, the complex is in close proximity to the MMC International Hospital, Rasuna Epicentrum eMall, Pasar Festival Food Court and Club Rasuna sports center. Residence at Aston Rasuna Residence puts you right in the heart of Jakarta ‘s Golden Triangle, just minutes away from most office buildings on Jalan Rasuna Said, Jalan Thamrin or Jalan Sudirman. Facilities : 24 Hour Front Desk, Lounge, Dining & Entertainment, Restaurant 24 hours, Sports & Leisure, Outdoor Swimming Pool, Health Club, Jogging Track, Tennis, Fitness Center, Concierge Desk, Babysitting/Child Services, International Hospital / Doctor on Call, Laundry Service, Phone Service, Security, Private Parking. Rental price $1500/m. Call owner 0896 9020 2895.

House for rent: JATIPADANG BARU KOMPLEKS. Land: 300 m2 | Building: 250 m2. 3 Bedrooms | 1 study room | 2 bathrooms 1 Maid on 2nd floor | Car park (2 cars). Fully Furnished Condition. Location : situated at South Jakarta with quiet environment & convenient. Near to Pejaten Village, Kemang area, Cilandak, Blok M & Pasar Minggu. Rent Price : IDR 63 Mio /Year (nego) For rent: gading pelangi indah a1 no. 42 , kelapa gading near al azhar school ,land area 134 sqm, building area 94 sqm, unfurnished, 2 floor, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom. Located in a safe neighbourhooda area, quite area, free from flood. contact: (nova / lowprofil3. girl@yahoo.com.sg) 0818830381 or 08999908691 or maria, 0817120168, 08998109451, price 40 million/month Apartment for rent fully furnished, microwave, stove, TV @ Rp. 6,000,000 per month. The price is not included maintenance service charge Rp.515,000 only, plus electricity and water bill. Parking is Rp. 150,000 per month. Attached are the pictures. For further info please contact me @ my cell 08129054627 - see image in your e-mail.

Villa Saraswati, a luxury 3 bedroom villa, is set in beautiful tropical gardens above rice terraces 15 minutes from Ubud, Bali. There are superb panoramic views from every room. Near to the well knownAlam Sari Hotel, guests can use all hotel facilities including restaurant, bar, pool and spa plus transport while enjoying the ultimate privacy the villa offers. Special rates for KITAS holders. For more information, rates and booking visit www.alamsari. com/villa-saraswati

42 inch TV, cable, and broadband internet access. A range of concessions at Nirwana club and Pan Pacific hotel is available just by asking. Wayan -charming and welcoming in that unique Balinese style - will shop, cook, wash clothes, iron, clean house and make beds. Secure your booking for an idyllic stay. $150 per night (low season), rising to $200 at peak. Phone Renee on 0898900700. No animals, sorry. Mega Kuningan Bellagio Apartment For Rent, with Jakarta Sky Line View, 200sqm 3 HUGE BR Wonderful - furniture and equipment with reasonable price for only US$ 2.700/ monthly for min 12months rent. DC Bellagio Master 0838 1177 9000.

Apartment for SALE or RENT 2/3 Bedroom, corner position with city and garden view, full renovation with modern kitchen, built in surround sound, 170 sqm. Kemang Jaya Apartment, Tower Alpinia. Strategic location within walking distance to Kemang restaurants and shops, extensive gardens, tennis courts, large pool, futsal, gym, sauna, mini supermarket, function room, 24 hour technicians, security and reception, plenty of parking. Must see to appreciate this unique residence in the heart of Kemang. Interested? For Enquiries Mobile - 0815 3516650 or 0812 98399920 Looking for a Villa in Bali? Book our newly built villa in Sanur (near Batu Jimbar Cafe). Price: 360 USD/day. A single bedroom only is 100 USD/day. For more info, email wybe. valkema@gmail.com For rent: Apt Kemang Mansion, 1 bed, 2 bed. Fully furnished. Minimum 1 year lease. Call 0813 1101 4567

jobs looking for work

Unique bed and breakfast in the green foothills of Mount Merapi. A beautiful 100-year old Javanese joglo, fully restored to a high standard with original antiques. 3 double bedrooms, big lounge and garden with barbeque. Clean air and natural well water. For further details please go to www. jogloago.com or call 08123563626. For rent Apartment Marbella residence - 2 bed/2 bath., fully furnished. Rp. 95million/year call/sms 0815 11102574 Convenient and spacious 4 bedroom apartment (199 sqm) in Puri Casablanca available for rent. Mostly furnished but still leaves room for your special favourite items. Recently refurbished to high standard throughout with 3 new bathrooms and luxurious kitchen. Facilities include cable, broadband internet access, swimming pool, tennis courts with instructors, jogging track, kindergarten and children’s playground, first class mini market, laundromat, and excellent gym. Rent $2,250 per month for one year in advance. Longer lease qualifies for discount. Regret no animals. Phone Renee on 0898900700. Beautiful Bali apartment recently refurbished for rent in spacious 2 bedroom upper floor duplex, overlooking twelfth tee at Nirwana (Tanah Lot) with breathtaking Indian Ocean views. Refitting includes a new

Excellent nanny/cook/pembantu available for immediate start. Ibu Suwarti has been working for expat families in Singapore for the last 8 years. She recently came back to Indonesia to be closer to her family. She would like a full time, live in, position. She can work on her own but is equally comfortable working as part of a team. Excellent references from former employer. Very good English. If possible Kemang, Cilandak, Pondok Indah area. Interested families can call her directly: 0857 41295357 Budi (Budiyono) worked for me as my company provided driver for the period October 2009 until September 2011 when I relocated to Bali. During this time I have found Budi to be an excellent and trustworthy employee, a safe and caring driver and a trustworthy companion on the many hours spent sitting in Jakarta traffic. Budi was entrusted with the safe delivery of our personal vehicle from Jakarta to Bali and this was accomplished without any incident. I have no hesitation in recommending Budi for employment within either a personal or company based environment and would welcome any enquiries on his behalf. Budi can be contacted directly on: 085217322177 / 087885909452. budi200576@ymail. com. I am able to be contacted on: 0817122755. tony_hermecz@yahoo. com Excellent driver available: From September, 2009 till January 2012, Mr. Dedi worked for me as my personal

driver. Dedi has proven to be not only an excellent and careful driver, but as well a very trustworthy staff for me and my wife. Dedi showed an excellent attitude and a willingness to go for the extra mile when needed. We often asked Dedi to run errands for us. Frequently involving sums of money. Full heartedly I can confirm that Dedi can be completely trusted and has a great personality. As a hard working, good English speaking and trustworthy person, I can recommend Dedi to any person, family or company who wants to employ him as a driver. You may contact Dedi directly on his mobile +85217032242 or alternatively contact myself on the mobile phone number below or via my private email address timklappe@hotmail.com Looking for a job as maid. I am Yuni 34 years old.looking a job for full time / part time. i can do general cleaning,washing, ironing,cooking, and general shopping. I have 3 references letter from my experiences. My English is excellent (speakingreading-writing). pls contact me at 0812263990 Hi friends. We have temporary maids available, for 2-3 months only, they have been trained and waiting to be departed to Taiwan as domestic workers there. Admin Fee Rp500,000, salary min. Rp 600,000/month. Kindly inform me asap if you are interested, to : mieke.juwono@resources8.com, ph : 02190386339, +6287888630997 Native English speaker in Jakarta looking for a job as English teaching or a job where English is primarily used. To start working immediately. BA Journalism, Microsoft and internet. 8 years working experience. Worked in retail, distribution and midway entertainment. Managerial positions. Worked in 2 countries, 2 provinces (South Africa) and 3 states (USA). Organized, reliable, self motivated, confident, creative, enthusiastic and hard working. E: dawidbrunette@yahoo.com or phone +62 856 9189 4828. Well trained and experienced live in maids and drivers available. For maid, it’s guaranteed for 3 months and I will get her replaced if she doesnt fit in. We will send her/him to your place by appointment. SMS Mieke at 0811843541

vacancies Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program is looking for a Development Director, based in Ketapang (Kalimantan Barat). The ideal candidate will have experience in fundraising, conservation, capacity building, native English and strong Indonesian language skills. See www. savegporangutans.org or contact

usgpocp@gmail.com information.

for

Chef needed to manage Mediterranean / Italian restaurant in Jakarta. Expat preferred. Must have experience. Please email inquiries / CV to rahulgioia@yahoo.com Expanding company seeking native English speaker to fill a full-time editing role. Hukumonline (en.hukumonline. com) is the premier provider of Indonesian news and analysis to prestigious law firms and corporations both here and aboard. Experience in journalism and legal practice are valuable assets but not necessary. The team’s working language is English. Please email your CV to Editor-in-Chief Davidson -davidson.samosir@hukumonline.com. Looking for Account Executive. Interest? send CV to nina@maximillianindonesia.com Looking for an extraordinarily gifted and creative writer / translator / editor / resume writer for scientific texts, novels, poetry etc. (German/ English/Indonesian)? You have found the right person here! Contact me via email: sabrina.hypnotiques@gmail. com or call/text: 081237011701. One of the world’s leading garment retailers is looking for fitting models. We need female models for our fitting session that is done once-three times in a week. Payment will be done twice per month. The product includes Underwear, Swimwear & Outerwear. The face will not be captured in the fitting session. Requirement : - Size B75 and 80C.- Minimum height 160 cm. - Body weight is normal and proportional. Send your data and body pictures to recruitment_puls@yahoo.com

services Traveling? Let us help you! As your partner in business, we aspire to provide service standards that are faster, more accurate and more reliable. Contact us now to assist you for all your travel needs. PT. Amazing World Explorer T&T. Kemang Square, 3rd floor unit III-12. Jl. Kemang Raya no. 5. Phone: 7179 4722 awe.tours@gmail.com Jakarta Home Tutoring Service www.chemieprivat.wordpress.com. 12th Years Experienced in All Int?l School Curriculum. Primary ? Middle ? High School Level Available. MATH, PHY, BIO, CHEM, ECO, Languages, Computer (In English Instruction). Tutors Come to House (Pls Call 08111988887/ 08161939330)

Classifieds Jakarta Expat · 1 8 January - 31 January 2012

Classifieds are still FREE! Send in your classifieds to ads@jakartaexpat.biz Next issue deadline 25 January, 2012 contact me at jlteahen@gmail.com or sms me at 0852-1030-7026. For sale Matoa golf membership Rp.23 juta and subject to transfer fee“ contact: Mr.roh (081519010575) - rohki@centrin.net.id

items have been checked recently by Kristal Clear Dive Shop and were used after the check. Selling because diving is generally too cold in Europe. 1.500.000 rupiah. For Information please contact: Ivo Claassen at ivoclaassen@gmail.com or 0815-10295098, Cilandak Timur. For Sale: beautiful and original batik bedspreads with matching pillow cases. K-size set: 400,000.Q-size set: 300,000. S-size set: 200,000. We also make to order. phone: Desi HP: 08128295914

Relax we carry the load. Your peace of mind is our highest priority. One company Allied to Allied, over 800 locations worldwide. Your specialist in household goods moving services. Jakarta (021) 780 7851, Surabaya (031) 749 8377, Email: info@alliedpickfords.co.id Website: www.alliedpickfords.com LEARN INDONESIAN LANGUAGE FOR EXPATRIATE. PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS COME TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE. CONTACT: Jl. Albezia VI. Blok B No. 22 Cipinang Kabembem Jakarta Timur 13240. 0219602950 2/08979332879/087885296161/0 85781173576 - PIN BB : 300A2424. Bandung - Jl. Banjarnegara No. 13 Antapani Bandung. (022) 7203042 +6281394624172 - Pekalongan (0285) 9104091 - excellentprivat@gmail.com http://expatriateindonesia.com/

removes ammonia from your pool, reduces odour, enhances chlorine performance, no more burning eyes and extends plate life of salt water chlorinators. Reducing back washing and saving water, reducing pump pressure and saving on electricity consumption, absorbs ammonia and reducing chlorine demand. Please contact us at Tel. +62 31 5026554 or Fax. +62 31 5020595 or email: petruswibowo@gmail.com, see more products at www.tokokolamrenang.com

others HORSE FOR SALE. I have to sell my horse, as we soon will be leaving Indonesia. He is a six year old bay gelding, height 160 cm, local breed. I have mainly been training him for dressage, but he also has talent for jumping. Interested? Contact me on line.brogaard@gmail.com or on hp 081510364453

ABC Acai Berry Soft Gel (Double Effects) is a 100% natural product, which helps on fast fat reducing and also beautifying your skin. ABC Acai Berry Soft Gel with its Unique formula on Pure Acai Berry and many other carefully selected Chinese herbs will benefit you like never before. 1 bottle containing 30 capsules for Rp. 250.000 to be delivered for free in Jakarta. Info: 081317722271

Professional Property Agent. Experience agent - excellent services. French and English speaking agent. Finding a home can be stressful - HOMES MIMI makes it easy and convenient. 0815 840 422 91 - 083873143672 or homesmimi@ gmail.com Special Education Needs (SEN) Support. If anyone needs SpEd/SEN Support at Home for your child or if you have questions related to Special Education and related support-services in Jakarta, Singapore, Shanghai and Manila, please feel free to contact me at teacher.specialeducation@gmail.com. and I will be happy to be of help. Learn Mandarin. With Native Chinese Teacher. Please Call : 0897-8143-855 Looking for a tai chi teacher. Please contact me @ 082111943084. ZELBRITE High Perfomance Pool Filter Media - 15 Kg / bag. Keeps your pool sparkling clear; manufactured in NSW, Australia. Zelbrite porous structure provides a huge surface area capable of filtering particles down to 1 micron. Use Zelbrite for the finest filtration,

For sale: Hand-made designer batik bedspreads King, queen and single at 450,000. 350,000, 250,0000. We also make handbags, cushion covers and shirts all made by hand from vibrant and original batik. Contact Desi 08128295914. Trampoline for sale. Rp 2 million. Please email Annoek at annoek@ healthyfuturesasia.com for more details

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL tickets at the Macau Venetian, book now! Veronika 021 - 2993 0707 veronica.tarigan@sandsvenetian. com Looking for a second-hand clothes dryer. Does anyone have a dryer they want to get rid of? Rainy season and new baby on the way is not looking good for laundry these days! Any leads, please email naomi.bolderhey@gmail.com or call 08111253838. Thanks!

Learn Hatha Yoga at home, flexible schedule. Certified teacher from the Yoga Institute Santacruz, Mumbai. Call 081218121304

Medical evacuation health & life insurance. Let us diagnose your needs. Contact paul beale, mobile: +62 816 137 0663, office: 021-5220990 E: paulbeale@gms-financial.com

iPhone 3GS (White, 32GB, Factory Unlocked, Near-perfect condition) with Mophie Juice Pack Air (external battery - worth Rp 1 juta) with iOS 5. Comes in original box with all accessories. Rp 5 juta or best offer. Pick-up in Kuningan. Please email hanusz@gmail.com.

FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC. Professional health-care with experienced practitioners. Careful assessment and individually designed treatment plans. Excellent results with low back and neck pain, shoulder problems, sciatica, disk herniations, headaches and migraine and other musculoskeletal disorders and wellness care. Don’t suffer another day call us today. HOTEL KRISTAL (021) 7507090 Second hand sonny tv 32 inch , in good condition price rp.500.000 , phone 0818830381,08999908691

NEED A HOME FOR A CAT. I am looking for a good home for a cat that I have been taking care of. She is at least 5 years old, and her name is Lightning. She was left by a former resident of my housing area. She showed up at my door shortly after our arrival, looking scrawny. I have been feeding her for about 1.5 years. Recently another female arrived at my doorstep and had kittens. Apparently the second female does not like this first cat and has been chasing her away. I’d like to find her a home where she can feel safe. She stays outdoors, and is very low maintenance. It would be ideal to find someone with a yard that can let her stay outside and feed her a couple of times a day. According to the gardener she used to be an indoor cat before she was left behind, though she makes no attempts to come in the house. She has been spayed and is current on her vaccinations. I am very allergic to cats so cannot keep her permanently. If you have space for her please

WANTED. 1 double bed (with good and clean mattress) - king or queen size, 2 single bed and/or mattress. 1 electric treadmill (for me and the dogs), 4-6 nice table lamps, 1-2 freestanding floor lamps, 23 inch or larger LCD for a PC (eg Samsung, LG), 42” - 46” plasma TV ((eg Samsung, LG), E: chaspoll@gmail.com Looking for a set of left handed gold clubs (second hand) please contact: lia_frese@yahoo.com Baby toys and accessories for sale. Some hardly used. Fisher price toys, playpen, high chair, play mats and lots more. email jason.hue@gmail.com for details Moving Sale – household items: · Refrigerator /freezer combination with automatic ice cube maker. Hitachi RM80-GGD8. Content 584 liters. Color silver. Price in 2009, 22.000.000 rupiah. Now 13.000.000 ·Bed, massive teak with box-spring mattress, 160 X 200cm, as new. 4.500.000 rupiah. ·US Divers regulator with octopus, compass, depth gauge and pressure gauge, and BCD. Both

Jakarta Memory Game by Werkgroep ‘72. Charity Organization.Price IDR 100.000. 40 colorful pictures of Jakarta. For sale: JICC or contact www.werkgroep72.org Jakarta viking welcomes players from all over the globe. As well being a football clup, we offer a social base for our player, most of who come from outside indonesia and we find that our differences in background give us a strong sense of unity. For the coming season 2011/12 we have a team for 11 a-side playing in jakarta international football league (jifl). The club´s home pitch is in south jakarta (cibutat area). We will practice there every saturday at 15:00 hours unless we play matches in jakarta area. For more information, please contact our head coach jan gramm; grammjv@yahoo.dk or peter teglbjerg; pett@flsmidth.com See you at the pitch

For Sale: Brand New SONY e-Reader, T1, silver, touch screen, with option borrowing Free public library eBooks over Wi-Fi. Price Rp 2 M, also HTC TyTN II, used, but in excellent condition, in original box and all equipment, Skype is installed and its working properly. for Rp 1,8 M. Contact 085780001265. FOR SALE: Tempered glass shopfront, 12 mm thick, 420 cm wide, 280 cm high incl 2 door panels. Rp. 10,000,000,Call 081317058000 We are moving and need to sell the following: Appropriately 5 month Couples Golf Membership at Emeralda - Value 21M IDR sale for 10M IDR. Various Potted Plants with beautiful pots worth a fortune - from 100,000 to 500,000. Phillips Cordless Phone set of 2 - Originally 1M IDR- sale 400,000. Rosetta Stone - Bahasa- Originally 2 M IDR- sale 500,000, King size bed set with headboard and frame - Originally 10M IDR- sale 3 M. Suggested prices will consider all reasonable offers E: movnwest@aol.com for photos.

Receiving orders for homemade layer cake, yummy... Full Wysjman Butter. Size 20x20 5cm thick. Lapis Legit Polos - 300rb Lapis Legit Prunes - 320rb Lapis Legit Cheese - 320rb Lapis Legit Brown - 320rb Legit Lapis Surabaya, 22x22 »325rb SPECIAL OFFER. Lapis Surabaya Jumbo Size 30x30 = 300rb. (minimum of 3 trays) Can be packaged securely and neatly packaged. Orders 2 days in

Love Jakarta Expat? Guarantee a copy every fortnight and become a subscriber! 6 months only Rp. 260.000 1 year only Rp. 500.000 Includes delivery to your door!

CALL US NOW! t: (021) 7179 4550 e: ads@jakartaexpat.biz www.jakartaexpat.biz advance, All fresh from the oven. Order sms 08128070 8828 Tel. 02182482587. Flexy. 0213678 4334. Bbm pin: 26A33E54 TRX Suspension Training Kits for Sale - Rp1Mil each (Brand New)The TRX® Suspension Training® is the best-inclass, lightweight, total body training system trusted by top trainers, pro athletes and physical therapists all across the world. Boost your fitness with up to 300+ exercises you can do anywhere. (See www.trxtraining.com for more information). TRX Pro Pack +

Door Anchor – Rp1Mil (Retail US$200). Kit Contains TRX Suspension Trainer + Door Anchor + Training DVD + Workout Guide + Exercise dvd + Mesh Carry bag. TRX Force Kit + Door Anchor – Rp1Mil (Retail US$220) Kit Contains TRX Suspension Trainer + Door Anchor + Training DVD + Military Fitness Guide + Exercise dvd + Mesh Carry bag. SMS 0816 139 6000 or email TRXIndonesia@live.com for more information For sale infra red camera EOS 1000D, good condition. Call 08111 88 1214

Jakarta Expat足足揃足18 January - 31 January 2012