Vol. 2 No. 39 I August 23-29, 2015
SAKDIYAH MA’RUF
stand-up sensation
easy riders
from sabang to toba
Soetjipto Hoeijaja
designs bending gender
woman in motion
race-car driver alexandra asmasoebrata changes gear
Editor's note
Check List
Two-lane blacktop Profiling Alexandra Asmasoebrata for this issue’s cover story was a true pleasure. Emerging from the cockpit of a race car after more than a decade, Alexandra tells us about life on and off the track. Continuing with the theme of motion is our “Table of Friends”, focusing on muscle cars and ways to beat the traffic-jam blues, and this issue’s Wanderlust article, by Tika Nohara. Tika, a travel blogger (and an awardwinning screenwriter) writes about two different road trips: A huge caravan-style trek from Sabang to Lake Toba and singlecar jaunt across Flores Island. Road trips evoke several ideas, such as Jack Kerouac’s novel, naturally; as well as a host of movies, from Easy Rider to Greg Araki’s The Living End to Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise. But at the core of a road trip are
two notions: Two-lane blacktop, running to the horizon; and locomotion, whether by car or motorcycle. Locomotion evokes for me my last trip to the Transportation Museum at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta, with exhibits like Garuda Airline’s first DC-3 (with weathered photos of flight attendants in groovy uniforms), the original horse-drawn DAMRI cart (the company later went on to operate minibuses) and an exhibit with the stuffed
crocodile (see photo). It tells the story of Jaka Tinkir, the first ruler of Padang, who managed to complete his assigned rounds despite storms, rushing currents – and crocodiles. Well, at least our commutes in Jakarta are less eventful. (By the way, I just learned that Galeries Lafayette at Pacific Place will be screening Araki’s latest film, Here Now, as part of its Kenzo pop-up store. Although the film is about fashion, and not road trips, it’s still a rare chance to see the latest from a dynamic artist). Whether you’ll enjoy the freedom of the (relatively) open roads on Sunday or indulge in car-free day (as our contributor Tessa Wijaya does below), have a great Sunday. Chris Razukas jplus@thejakartapost.com
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your tracks are the road
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Black as night, sweet as sin
JPlus Team mark my words
Editor Christian Razukas Art Director Budhi Hartono
On ONe car-free day A LITTLE ERRANT WISH FOR NEVER OUTGROWING THE SKATEBOARDS OF OUR YOUTH WORDS Tessa Wijaya
At some point in our lives, we all decide that we are going to be grownups, at which point we draw a line in the sand and decide what are the appropriate things for grown-ups to do and what are not. We let go of our childhood past and file them in the back of our minds in a folder called “memories”, only to be visited from time to time with blurry fondness. If you ever watched the Tom Hanks movie Big back in the day, what I mean here will be clear. Sleeping in bunk beds, an adult no-no. Playing with stuffed animals, a big red flashing "no" sign. Playing a floor piano at a toy store, definitely borderline obscene! At 33 going on 34, I have definitely drawn that line, stepped across it and left behind some things that I used to think I could not live without. Like playing with my GI Joe helicopter, stuffing myself with cotton candy, reading comic books all day and riding my bike downhill like there was no tomorrow. Then one fine day, my husband and I started talking about plans for car-free day and how fun it would be to zoom past everyone on a skateboard pulled by one of
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our (many) dogs. Flashback to fourteen-year-old me, with bleached purple hair that was turning green because the cheap dye had partially washed off, with a skateboard always under my feet, zooming to no particular destination. Was that the best time of my life? I think it might have been close. Of course the conversation then turns to the risk of injury that comes with your forehead or other parts of the body meeting concrete, but at 33 going on 34, I was not about to go on any skate ramps or slide on any sort of railings anytime soon. I just wanted to have a taste of the wind in my hair once more and the feeling of freedom that comes with not caring about the world and focusing on the road in front of me. So after much deliberation on board shape, wheel size and, most importantly, wheel color; a board was purchased and within the hour I was gliding, or more like hobbling, back and forth on my neighborhood street on my new cruiser. At least I provided the builders next door with some entertainment for the day. Car-free day came and went and what
Marketing & Advertising Sales & Marketing Director Ady P. Pamungkas
ady.pamungkas@thejakartapost.com
Marketing Executive Dewi Damayani
dewi.damayani@thejakartapost.com
@JPlusSunday could have been a complete disaster and an end to my adult skateboarding career was a resounding success. Fun was had by all, including the dogs, who got to take turns pulling one of us on the board. As adults, we think that to evolve we must shed our childhood skin and turn into serious people. But the great big truth is that most of us still feel exactly the same like that fourteen-year-old we shoved into the back of our minds, perhaps with a little more street cred from our extended experience. While I don’t plan on being one of those oldies who are still running around wearing baggy pants and wallets that need to be secured on a chain, sometimes it’s OK to get back to basics and enjoy the things you used to enjoy when the world was more carefree and all was bright and shiny when looking forward. So what does the skateboard symbolize? Well fun, clearly. Just because we are all grown up and responsible, it doesn’t mean we should stop enjoying ourselves. So next car-free day, I hope I’ll be seeing some of you gliding past me on your skateboards too!
JPlusSunday
SundayJplus jakplus.com
ON THE COVER Alexandra Asmasoebrata Photo Meutia Ananda Stylist Richard Theo Makeup Location Hotel Mulia Senayan Wardrobe Asky Febrianti; Natalia Kiantoro for Fashion First and ALIZE, Boite New York and Miss.Milne at Central Department Store.
table of FRIENDS
traffic in Jakarta, as we all know, is monstrous. People flout the rules of the road with abandon, streets are eternally congested and delays mysteriously come and go – and this is on a good day, without flooding. No wonder: There were about 13 million motorcycles and four million cars on the city's mean streets in 2014, up about 12 percent from the previous year. Some, however, remain undeterred, taking joy in specialty vehicles or in creative uses of the time when trapped in a jam. We spoke to four well-known denizens of the city about what they love about cars – and how they survive the traffic. +Sebastian Partogi
AFP/Lamborghini
Vespa ID/Vespa
Attorney at law @hotmanparis CC/Rat Rod
Chef and television host @chefharyo Everywhere in Jakarta is packed during rush hour, when people go to and from work. You shouldn’t get stressed out by it – just face it Haryo patiently. For me, it helps to cool my brain if I Pramoe stop by a mosque, perform ablutions and pray. When I drive, I’m not into speed. My dream car is a Rat Rod [above left], with a small and old Japanese engine. I also consider these the sexiest cars ever, as they're creatively and personally designed. They're also anti-mainstream and handmade. When I’m in Jakarta, however, I like riding small motorcycles, like the Yamaha Scoopy because they're more convenient. I’ve taken road trips in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Bali and Lombok. I like traveling on classic motorcycles at medium speed while marveling at the beauty of nature. I also like to make contact with local people when I’m outside Jakarta. I'm not an auto fanatic, because I am aware that Jakarta is clogged with vehicles. Jakarta’s road capacity is no longer adequate for the number of motor vehicles that traverse them every day. Jakarta is the worst example of road management in the entire world.
Singer @memes605 I used to drive on my own, but stopped doing so in 1998. At that time I moved to Pondok Labu in South Jakarta, and there were a lot of ojek [motorcycle taxi] drivers there. I somehow felt intimidated by them, MEMES especially during at the time when there were the riots going on. Now, I always use a driver. Most of the time, I sleep when it's macet [congested]. But sometimes I do constructive activities, like vocalizing or doing makeup on my way to the venue where I will perform to save time. Sometimes I also read newspapers, magazines or the Koran.
I love luxury sport cars, like Ferraris or Lamborghinis. For me, when driving a sports cars, the most stressful traffic conditions in Jakarta is not when it's gridlocked, but instead when it's congested. You've got to frequently switch from the gas to the clutch to the brake, causing the engine to heat up. Luxury cars will heat up when you drive slowly and cool down when you pick up speed. This is why I prefer to ride an ordinary car like a Jeep, versus a sports car, when I go to work. During the week, traffic is very bad. I'm surrounded by lots of motorcycles and I'm afraid that they'll bump my car. I use a driver during weekdays, so I can cope with traffic while finishing my work on the road. I never use a driver for my luxury cars, because I enjoy driving them. I am not afraid of robbers when I drive top down with my Lamborghini at midnight because most people on the streets are familiar with my face and this makes me feel safe. I don’t take road trips a lot. Sometimes I go to Bandung [West Java], at the normal speed. I don’t like driving my luxury cars at high speed, perhaps due to the age factor. Actually, it’s no use having a sports car with thousands of cc’s of capacity, because I never get involved with racing. I just like them because they’re comfortable.
Hotman Paris Hutapea
Author, filmmaker, cafe owner @richard0h
@litchap
I don’t drive cars at all. I don’t think I could stand it, considering Jakarta’s crazy traffic. I have a small Vespa motorcycle. It's very convenient to Richard Oh use, whenever I need to go places near my house in Kemang [South Jakarta], since it can squeeze through the packed streets. Now, I choose to do most of my business in places near Kemang, like Duren Tiga, Kalibata and Cilandak. When I need to go places that are farther from home, I choose to hitch a ride – or take a taxi instead. I think the best way to cope with traffic is to put on some good music on your car stereo or chat with friends. This is why the poorest people of all are those who have to cope with the traffic alone. We should learn to manage our tempers, as yelling, getting angry or getting in fight with other people in traffic will just increase your likelihood to suffer from a heart attack or stroke. The best you can do to leave a few hours before your appointment and just surrender to the traffic.
JPlus August 23, 2015
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talk of the town Ananda Sukarlan plans two concerts Ananda Sukarlan, the first Indonesian
pianist to make it into the International Who’s Who in Music, says he will give two concerts in September – on Sep. 8 at Usmar Ismail Hall at 7 p.m. and on Sep. 13 at the Bimasena Club at the Dharmawangsa Hotel at 4 p.m. The first concert is scheduled to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Peru. Sponsored by the Peruvian embassy, the concert will present Ananda's latest composition, Amistad (Friendship), which has been described as an intriguing fusion of Peruvian and Indonesian musical elements. For the second concert, which is a collaboration with the Rotary Club; Ananda is expected to perform three new numbers from his Rapsodia Nusantara (Archipelagic Rhapsody). Named “Tea with Ananda” the event will start with high tea at 3:30 p.m. as a charity fundraiser.
inagural Indonesian Ballet Gala
Dancers from Indonesia collaborated with their peers from Australia, the Czech Republic and South Korea for the Inagural Indonesian Ballet Gala at the Ciputra Artpreneur Theatre in South Jakarta on Aug. 22. The event, presented in cooperation with Ballet.ID, featured 11 pieces as part of two acts. The first act was opened by dancers from Indonesia's Ballet Sumber Cipta company, who performed a piece choreographed by the late maestro Farida Oetotyo. This was followed by The Journey, performed by the Marlupi Dance Academy troupe; and Nawang Wulan, performed by the Namarina Youth Dance dancers. The second act opened with excerpts from Giselle, Swan Lake and Don Quixote that were performed by the Australian dance duo of Juliet Burnett and Christopher Hill (right above); Czech dancers Barbora Kohoutkova and Lukas Slavicky and Koreans Lee Eunwon and Lee Jaewoo respectively. To complete the show, the gala continued with three contemporary pieces, presented by the Korean National Ballet, and closed with two excerpts from the Korean ballet Prince Hodong.
Indian Embassy hoSTS bali fusion dance drama
In collaboration with Bulantrisna Djelantik's Bengkel Tari Ayu Bulan and JNICC students led by Sindhu Raj; the Indian embassy presented on Aug. 15 a dramatic dance titled Arjuna Dibiasakti at the Balairung Soesilo Soedirman auditorium of the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry. The performance, which retold the story of Arjuna, the hero of the Mahabharata epic, fused Indian and Balinese dance. The Mahabharata, which is as popular in India as it is in Indonesia, describes the travails of Arjuna, from his marriage to when he acquires the Arrow of Pashupati (Dibiasakti), given to him by Lord Shiva. The first two acts – "Swayayamvara" and "Game of Dice" – were presented in the style of India's Bharatanatyam dance; while the third act, "The Exile of the Pandavas", was performed in style of Bali's Legong dance. Arjuna Dibiasakti is part of Sahabat India, the ongoing festival of India in Indonesia, which marks the long relationship between the nations.
travel tips
helpful hints and savvy secrets for the places you'll go “Quintessentially Vietnam” for the 1 percenters
HANOI: The "Quintessentially Vietnam" tour package, aimed squarely at the superaffluent, offers travelers 10-day stay in five of the Southeast Asian nation's most exquisite hotels. Guests, who will have to pay US $19,358 for the package, will be transported between hotels in Rolls-Royces, BMWs or Bentleys. Accommodations include two nights in a "Panorama Suite" at The Reverie Saigon, two nights at a pool villa at The Nam Hai, two nights in the "Resident’s Suite" at the La Residence Hotel & Spa, two nights in the "Legendary Suite" of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and two nights aboard a paradise cruise. “It’s the vacation of a lifetime,” Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, general manager of The Reverie Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, said in a statement.
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ANA launches 'Star Wars' themed planes TOKYO: ANA recently announced the addition of two more Star Wars themed planes to its fleet. The additions will showcase BB-8, a new character from the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie, on a Boeing 777-300; while the other aircraft, a Boeing 767-300, will have R2-D2 painted on one side and BB-8 on the other. The 777, dubbed the Star Wars ANA Jet, will serve domestic Japan routes starting in December; while the 767, dubbed the R2D2 ANA Jet, will serve international flights. All of ANA's Star Wars-themed planes will display in-flight decorations featuring characters from the Star Wars saga. And, to make that 11-hour-plus-Tokyoto-JFK flight more bareable for your inner nerd, the airline will offer passengers a chance to watch all six currently released Star Wars films on the planes' in-flight entertainment systems.
Haneda Airport gets 5 stars
Jetstar launches flights from Palembang, pekanbaru
HANEDA: Tokyo's Haneda Airport has secured a 5-star rating for the second consecutive year. As determined by Skytrax, an airtransport rating organization, the 5-star rating recognized Haneda Airport's excellent facilities and high-quality staff service. Skytrax said that the rating included an evaluation of factors including the quality of front-line areas for departures, arrivals and transfers; airport facilities; customer service; security; immigration; shop outlets and food and beverage facilities. The airport, popular due to its proxmity to downtown Tokyo, was also ranked as No. 5 on Skytrax's most recent list of the “Top 10 Airports of 2015”, up one slot from last year.
SINGAPORE: Jetstar Asia says it plans to launch direct flights between Singapore and Palembang, South Sumatra, as well as to Pekanbaru, Riau, and Da Nang, Vietnam. The routes, slated for launch in November, will offer three direct flights a week each to the second and third largest cities on Sumatra Island. “Having more affordable flights from Singapore to Palembang and Pekanbaru will also mean greater convenience for travelers to explore the beauty and hospitality of the people of Sumatra,” Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said in a statement.
inspiring MIND
Strong Convictions
STAND-UP COMEDIAN SAKDIYAH MA’RUF STANDS UP FOR HER BELIEFS
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WORDS SEBASTIAN PARTOGI Photos courtesy sakdiyah ma'ruf
woman meets man who refuses to look her in the eye because he is not muhrim, e.g., a close relative with who a Muslim man may associate. “What? Are you talking to me or are you looking at my boobs?” she says. “You keep on looking down! Don’t make me feel bad, OK? There’s nothing in there, I’m only like 32A, OK?” The humor – self-depreciating, with a tinge of gender – is typical of Sakdiyah Ma’ruf, one of the alumni of Kompas TV’s Stand Up Comedy Indonesia (SUCI). The 33-year-old, who made her bow with the first batch of comedians for the series in 2011, famously riffs on hot-button topics, such as rising fundamentalism in Indonesia – a topic that has given the jitters to local intellectuals, activists and artists alike. However, while her use of humor in a social context won her the Vaclav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent; you won’t find her religious-themed routines on Kompas TV’s YouTube channel. “People are wary about speaking openly about religion, because they are still affected by the New Order prohibitions on discussing issues related to SARA,” Sakdiyah says, referring to the acronym for suku (ethnicity), agama (religion), ras (race) and antargolongan (community relations). “It’s a government tool to maintain the status quo,” she says. Sakdiyah, who expects to graduate with a master’s degree in American Studies from Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University in August, says she’s not making fun of religion in her routines. “Maybe this is because I always base my jokes on my own personal experiences, like that one about breasts. So I am not necessarily aggressively bashing cleric Felix Siauw or the FPI,” she says, referring to the hardline Islamic Defenders Front. “Women have been my constant source of inspiration. When we are considered as not only second-class citizens but also as less capable and more emotional, we are dehumanized and prevented from being the humans that we can be.” Sakdiyah, who was born in the Arab community in Pekalongan, Central Java, grew up in a religious
Hadrami-Indonesian community. Her mother worked at an Islamic hospital and her father was a seafarer. Comedy, however, was always in her blood. Sakdiyah said that she grew up watching situation comedies such as Full House, Seinfeld and the local Srimulat show on TVRI, the only television station when she grew up in the 1980s. “The shows were funny and realistic, unlike the Mexican soap operas, which sold unrealistic romantic dreams,” she says, laughing. She started to perform sketches in front of her class or at university events while studying English literature as an undergraduate at 11 March University in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java. However, Sakdiyah says that she decided to pursue stand-up comedy in 2009, after watching Robin Williams in Live on Broadway. When Kompas TV opened applications for SUCI in 2011, she leapt at the chance. The experience of a relative is another source of inspiration for her routines, which typically focus on the marginalization of women, Sakdiyah says. “I met one of my relatives [who] was forced to drop out of school in order to get married when she was 17 – and she told me something that resonated deeply with me ‘Diyah, enak ya bisa sekolah’,” she said. The phrase roughly translates as “Diyah, it’s good you can go to school.” “It seems to be a meaningless sentence, but is very meaningful to me, as I can see the despair and sadness but also the energy, the aspirations,” Sakdiyah says. “The dream is still there. She is very smart – was always first in her class – but tradition failed her.” She said that it was common in her community for girls to drop out and marry at 17 or 18, as men in her community preferred younger and uneducated women.
“I always say that at 33, by the standards of Arab men, I’m already expired,” she laughs. “Most of them can’t stand women who are equal to them. Especially me, who chose to be a comedian. Funny men are attractive. Funny women? They consider you as nothing more than just a big mouth,” said Sakdiyah, who works as an interpreter and translator for local and international NGOs. “Comedy is when it’s so painful that you can no longer cry,” she adds, smiling. “Tragedy is when you cut yourself. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.” Still, comedians comprise some of the most depressed people, according to Sakdiyah, mentioning Robin Williams' suicide in 2014. “Imagine yourself in Jakarta’s traffic. You get caught, you’re forced to pee in a plastic bottle, you’re hungry but can’t eat anything other than fried snacks sold on the sidewalk […] Then you get a stomach ache but can’t find any toilet […] When you get home, can you still cry? At the end of the day, there’s nothing you can do but laugh about it.” She continues. “I always make fun of my own weaknesses, which might be other people’s weaknesses too, and vice versa. We’re all in this together. All of our lives are equally screwed up, so I invite people for a celebration of laughter with me, to just laugh our heads off at ourselves.”
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her racing heart ALEXANDRA ASMASOEBRATA IS GETTING OUT 'FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL. WORDS Mariel Grazella PHOTOS Meutia Ananda
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Alexandra Asmasoebrata has been steering herself down new paths in recent months. “This is the only time in my life where I don’t know where I will be in the next five years,” the celebrated racer said. Since she has been 13, Alexandra’s has life revolved around a rigid and rigorous schedule of race training and competitions. Now that she has decided to decelerate, the 27-year-old finds herself at a point where she has the chance to reinvent herself. Alexandra recently tried her hand at becoming an anchor on a sports program, but has yet to find a way to cure her need for speed. “I still haven’t found my fix. Watching races makes me sad instead, because I wish I was the one in the race.” Slowing down after a career spanning 14 years – and made brilliant by the many times she ascended the winners’ podium – has been no easy feat. Alexandra, over a fluid conversation at the Hotel Mulia one afternoon, looked back at her career, and spoke of the possible routes ahead. Start your engines Alexandra began her career around 2001 as a teen. She called herself an “ordinary girl” whose father, the famed racer Alex Asmasoebrata, just happened to be ardent about rally racing. Alex is a contemporary of several other noteworthy Indonesian racers, such as Tinton Suprapto, Dolly Indra Nasution and Aswin Bahar. “My dad had always pushed me to take up sports, and so he introduced me to all types of sports. I ended up getting hooked on racing,” she said. Alexandra started grabbing medals not long after hitting the track. In 2002, she won first place at a national go-kart competition, an achievement
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I am competitive, but in a sporting way. I compete when it is time to compete, and keep the competition clean.
she repeated in 2005. Her victories on local circuits propelled her to a bigger stage. “You have to win first place at the national competitions to be eligible for international ones,” she said. “So I was sent to represent Indonesia at the world-level go-kart competitions in 2005 and 2009, which took place in Malaysia and Italy, respectively.” She finished 13th in the 2005 competition, but accidents in 2009 kept her from reaching the finals. Alexandra names 2011 as her best year, when she won 14 trophies after a slew of competitions. Her ultimate highlight was finishing in overall second place at the Asia Formula Renault championships. “I even ended up in the pole position in the pre-race.” However, starting at a young age called for sacrifices, Alexandra says. While her peers spent after-school hours at play, Alexandra was burning the rubber on the track. “My weekend was my work,” she said. “Sometimes, I wish I had had a normal childhood but I realize that I should not be complaining. You have to sacrifice to achieve.” High gear Alexandra said that it never occurred to her to make a career of racing when she was young. “I had not thought of getting this far when I started.” She drove without pressure and her early competitions were a simple affair. “I hit the gas, after that I hit the brakes, then I won.” Her laid-back approach changed over the last five to six years, when it became evident that racing had become a career that she had to build with professionalism.
“The more sponsors I had and the more prestigious the event, the more pressure I felt because I did not want to disappoint anyone,” Alexandra said. The increased tension, however, made victory sweeter. Alexandra said that she felt indifferent about her victories when she was younger because competitions felt “more like play”. “But now that I have to deal with more pressure, winning brings so much elation,” she said. Another big difference between then and now is her ability to control her emotions. Alexandra said that every race put her on an emotional rollercoaster. “The hardest part is right before the race, when all your emotions are stirred up.” The tension, she says with a chuckle, turns her into “the meanest person ever”. “I could say that I don’t even want to meet myself,” Alexandra said, adding that her parents know to better stay away from her during these moments. But after the flag drops and Alexandra guns down the track, serenity sets in. “All thoughts slip away – except for winning,” she said. She added that maturity improved the way she dealt with losing as well. “Eventually, I learned the way to deal with losing is to focus on the next race. Alexandra said that her lowest point was ironically when she was posting win after win. “In 2011, I was easily winning competitions. And then, I lost one race and I suddenly felt like I couldn’t do this anymore.”
She pulled out of the curve by becoming more laid back about the results of her races. “Winning all the time can be dangerous, because it makes one forget how to handle losing.” Behind the wheel Alexandra said people on the track treated her differently as a women. Men would not chat with her, even although racers typically love to goof around with each other. “They [boys] would not approach me unless they were teammates,” she said.
Like a charm
Alexandra, like other athletes, has her own pre-competition rituals and good luck charms.
Getting in her race car
“I always have to get in the car from the left side.”
Special clothes
“I avoid wearing a black racing suit,” Alexandra says, adding that she always put on her “lucky” undergarments. “It’s like a superstition.”
Good vibes
While there’s no hard evidence that doing all this will bring victory, it does put her at ease. “I feel good when I do these things,” she said. “If I didn’t, I would blame myself if I lost, so I just do them to avoid regrets.”
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She pointed out that she eventually got used to the lack of amity, although this was not the case in the early days. “When I was on the track in the past, I always tried to look like a boy, by putting on lousy t-shirts, shorts and sneakers. These made me comfortable, because I felt like I was blending in,” she said. “But I did keep my long hair, as a girl.” She said that this partiality against women drivers made it hard to develop a career. “Even though we are confident in ourselves, it’s hard to grow without the trust of sponsors and spectators. “I am not trying to say that women drivers are better than men. What I am trying to convey is that women should enjoy the same opportunities as men do,” she adds. In Indonesia, there are about 10 women racers, for cars and motorcycles combined. Women on the track are usually “umbrella girls”, not those who put the pedal to the metal. Unfortunately, regeneration in the sport for women drivers is almost negligible. Young girls are not taking up racing in greater numbers, although Alexandra has helped blaze the way for them. “Girls who try racing usually quit when they feel that they have not attained much, or they become traumatized after accidents,” she said. “Whereas I have experienced it all, but never quit trying.” Alexandra underscores the importance of family and team support in fueling her engine. She said that she would frequently turn to her
Off the track Alexandra said that she does not treat the streets as a race track. Instead, she is a very disciplined driver – just another habit that became instilled in her from her days as a professional racing.
Character building
“I feel that racing has shaped my character more than school has.”
Time discipline
Out of all the traits she picked up in racing, time discipline is most pronounced as drivers cannot fool around on the track. “I am very precise about time. When I say three minutes, I mean three minutes.”
Respect for the rules
Racing is filled with rules, and breaking the rules means disqualification. “I’m too conscious about breaking the rules, although people say that rules are meant to be broken. The rules in racing are always non-negotiable.”
Good sportsmanship
Athletes have to deal with wins and loses with a cool heads and open hearts. “I am competitive, but in a sporting way,” she said. “I compete when it is time to compete, and keep the competition clean.”
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I am not trying to say that women drivers are better than men. What I am trying to convey is that women should enjoy the same opportunities as men do. "
father for advice, since he has experienced similar ordeals. “It’s tough to motivate ourselves when we are so tired. In those times, you need people around you who cheer you up.” Victory lap Alexandra has put the breaks on her racing career, although she says the sport is still very much in her blood. “I think it is time to move on,” she said. Part of the reason is because at 27, her chances to compete at the Formula 1 level are moving further down the horizon. “It’s better for me to try something else.” Alexandra is currently giving television a try and is set to be an anchor on a sports program on one of the local television channels. She still gets nervous about the idea of being an anchor, as this is her first venture. She added that her drive to come up front remained unchanged. “It’s not like I do not have a goal. I still want to be a successful person,” she said. However, she has not completely let go of the wheel. If a good offer comes her way, Alexandra might reconsider revving up the engines – and has the support of those close to her. “My husband will not to say no, because he knows what I’ve done before,” she adds. Alexandra also is filling her time with traveling across the country, recently visiting Yogyakarta and some other places that are not too mainstream. This is something that she was unable to do much of in the past, since most races were abroad. “A long time ago, I could travel up to three times a month to different countries. My friends would said they were envious of me, but I did what I did for work,” “Now, the mood is different,” she says, smiling.
Ace of Spades
in the SPIRIT
IS JAY Z’S NEW ALL-PINOT CHAMPAGNE WORTH US$760 A BOTTLE? WORDS Elin McCoy PHOTOS Via Bloomberg
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apper Jay Z’s latest venture, an all-pinot Armand de Brignac “Ace of Spades” Champagne, will be released in October. A few tastes were doled out at Vinexpo in Bordeaux in June, but alas, Shawn Corey Carter didn’t drop by the booth as everyone hoped he would. This blanc de noirs is the brand’s most expensive and exclusive fizz yet, so when I finally sampled it last week, my first thought was: How much of the US$760 price tag is for bling? Short answer: much of it.
Don’t get me wrong. This new Ace of Spades bubbly is full, rich, and tangy—and way better and more elegant than it has to be for a wine that may end up more status symbol than collectible. The buxom fruit flavors hit you right upfront and then reverberate like an insistent rap beat. And it’s definitely too good to splash in a hot tub, as Beyoncé did with
the brand’s all-chardonnay blanc de blancs during "Feeling Myself, a video collaboration with Nicki Minaj that premiered in May. (By the way, that fizz is also too good to splash in a hot tub.) The Ace of Spades Line The blanc de noirs joins a lineup of five other Ace of Spades Champagnes, with similar flashy packaging that definitely exudes, well, excess. Like the others, the new bottle is coated with a metallic finish and hand-embossed with an Ace of Spades symbol hammered out in pewter. (The original brut, which retails for $300, is gold. The blanc de blancs, shiny platinum; the rosé, bright pink; the rare gold cuvée, bright green; and the slightly sweet demi-sec, dark pink.) I’m not sure why they chose a subdued gunmetal gray, like storm clouds, for the blanc de noirs. Maybe it signals the conquest of a category? The bottle design, created by French fashion designer Andre Courreges, one of the inventors of the miniskirt, gives the entire Ace of Spades line the requisite luxe fashionista connection. And all of the bottles come in smooth, lacquered black boxes lined in black velvet. So what’s different about the blanc de noirs? The high price reflects its rarity: Fewer than 3,000 bottles will be released, according to Armand de Brignac Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Besson. He says the brand doesn’t really plan to pour them in Jay Z’s 40/40 Clubs— or create an ostentatious 30-liter Midas bottling weighing 100 pounds, as it did with the brut rosé, which was uncorked in Las Vegas for $275,000. Like Krug’s Grande Cuvée, the blanc de noirs is “multi-vintage” (a more upscale way to say nonvintage), based on the years 2008, 2009, and 2010. The former, though, goes for a trifling $150 to $200.
Dirt Off Its Shoulder Jay Z now owns the Armand de Brignac brand, but its backstory is complicated, complete with a feud. The wines are made by the Cattier Champagne house, in the village of Chignyles-Roses in the Montagne de Reims area of Champagne. The family company has been growing grapes since 1763. The official tale says they registered the brand name back in the 1950s and revived it in 2006 with the help of U.S. distributor Sovereign Brands. After “discovering” the brut gold cuvée, Jay Z hyped it in his lavish 2006 music video Show Me What You Got. In the video, as Jay Z peruses his cards at a gaming table in Monte Carlo, a waiter presents a bottle of Cristal. The rapper waves it away, then accepts a shiny gold bottle of then-obscure Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades from the silvery briefcase he’d carried into the casino. That was payback aimed at Frederic Rouzaud, managing director of Louis Roederer, the maker of Jay Z’s former favorite fizz, Cristal. Jay Z felt insulted by Rouzaud’s response to a question about Cristal’s popularity in the hip-hop community. “What can we do? We can’t forbid people from buying it,” Rouzaud told the Economist. “I’m sure Dom Pérignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business.” So Jay Z banished Cristal from his 40/40 nightclubs, boycotted the brand, and latched on to Armand de Brignac. What’s never been clear is what kind of marketing or financial involvement he had at the beginning. A Brand Opposed Think of his new blanc de noirs as the anti-Cristal. For one thing, it costs three times more. Its opaque bottle is the antithesis of Cristal’s clear one, which is wrapped in translucent yellow cellophane to protect the wine inside against ultraviolet rays and bright lights. It’s a blend of vintages, while Cristal is vintage-dated and made only in top years. Ace is all pinot noir, while the latest vintage of Cristal is a subtle, complex blend of 60 percent pinot noir and 40 percent chardonnay. The Cristal is worth every penny of its $200 price tag, while at least $400 of the new Ace of Spades blanc de noirs is for reputation. How to drink it? Despite his lyrics in the remix of 50 Cent’s “I Get Money”, in which he explains “Ace of Spade bubblin’ / Drink it from the bottle, who the [expletive deleted] need a bucket?” Jay Z prefers his Ace of Spades blanc de noirs in a tulipshaped wine glass.
JPlus August 23, 2015
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wanderlust
Four-wheel odysseys ROAD TRIPPING ACROSS THE ISLANDS OF THE ARCHIPELAGO WORDS Swastika Nohara Photos Swastika, Courtesy Cory Tjendrakasih
The words "road trip" might give the impression of spending days or weeks far away from the city – which is not always the case. A road trip can also mean a brief escape from your routine and a chance to savor the beauty of another island of the archipelago. Here are stories of two women taking trips: One to Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, and my own trip, from Sabang to Merauke.
On the road in Flores…. Cory Tjendrakasih, an office worker in Jakarta, wanted to escape from her daily routine and explore Flores – an island she had long been enchanted with. With a traveling partner, the 28-year-old started her a five-day road trip in May. Here’s her story. Flores has always been a dream destination for me, especially Waerebo traditional village. Since the first time I saw the village’s picturesque cone houses on a travel show, I was determined to see their beauty with my own eyes. Most people go directly to Labuan Bajo and see the Komodo dragons on Rinca Island –and that’s it. I wanted more, but I didn’t know anything about the region. Renting a car with a local driver seemed the best option. We left on a Monday and traveled during the weekdays, expecting the popular spots in Flores would be less crowded with visitors. After stopovers in Bali and Labuan Bajo, we landed in Ende on the southeast corner of Flores. Our itinerary was as follows: Day 1: Fly to Ende, driving to Moni for a night in Moni eco-lodge; Day 2: Visiting Lake Kelimutu at sunrise, driving to Bajawa for the night; Day 3: Visiting Bena traditional village, a quick stop at Blue Stone beach, driving to Dintor for the night; Day 4: Trekking to Waerebo, driving to Labuan Bajo; Day 5: Enjoy Labuan Bajo. Winding roads made the trip fun, while beautiful scenery along the way made the long hours memorable. There were no streetlights on the road, however, so evening driving was rather tricky, to say the least. The first leg of the trip was a sevenhour drive from Moni to Bajawa. We hit the road at 11 a.m., right after a short trek
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to Lake Kelimutu. We stayed at a place in Bajawa that I found on AirBNB, called Mountain View Villa, which, unsurprisingly, was located on a mountain and offered spectacular views. Bena was a traditional village where we could enjoy tranquility at its best. Visitors were expected to give a donation, which went to village maintenance. We wanted to spend more time there, but had to hit the road for an eight-hour drive to Dintor, the last stop accessible by car before Waerebo village, my main destination. Heavy rain welcomed us at Dintor, making our time at a local homestay memorable and our sleep more sound in preparation for the long trek the next morning. We started right after sunrise, guided by a local ranger, who we paid Rp 150,000. A fellow traveler from Bandung, West Java, joined us, and we split the ranger’s fee. I’m a casual trekker, so we went slowly. It was a challenge, given the slick conditions after the rain. We crossed a river and walked up the
illustration by budhi button
hill for 4 kilometers in almost 4 hours. However, when we reached Waerebo village, it was world full of gorgeous landscapes. The local residents welcomed us at the main house with a ritual (we left a donation of Rp 50,000). The strenuous trek left us hungry. So I was excited when we were served lunch, which comprised rice, a fried egg, salted fish, local chilli sauce and sautéed pumpkin, with sliced avocado for dessert.
I wanted to spend the night and do some star gazing, but unfortunately, again, we were on a tight schedule. We returned to Dintor and drove to Labuan Bajo after a short walk around the village, watching the residents play sepak takraw. Our last day in Flores was pent at Plataran Komodo Beach resort in Labuan Bajo where we could relax and pamper ourselves, with a beautiful view of the beach right in front of our room.
wanderlust
…and from Sabang to Toba My own road-trip experience took me on a journey of more than 1,200 kilometers, from Sabang, the westernmost point of the nation’s westernmost province of Aceh, to Lake Toba in Samosir, North Sumatra. I did the trip with a bunch of friends last year: 15 of us in a motorcycle convoy, while I and a few others followed in a car, along the west coast of Sumatra. We started from the point that marked the zero kilometer of Indonesia in Sabang on Weh Island. It is a beautiful small island with an atmosphere that is relaxed when compared to more strict Banda Aceh. Our convoy attracted quite a lot of attention from the local residents. Obviously, this was not a common sight on the quiet island. We hopped on a ferry to cross to Banda Aceh and started the 1,200-kilometer journey heading south. The first leg was from Banda Aceh to Meulaboh, with a short break in Lagen. Most of the roads were meandering, with holes here and there in various sizes, so we had to be careful. So it was a relief when we encountered a long, smooth and straight stretch running into Meulaboh. In addition, it was located right next to the beach! Needless to say, we riders were having fun on this segment of road. The excitement did not last for too long. Rain started to pour heavily, making the road slippery and dangerous. In addition, it started to get foggy. The motorcycles slowed down, and so did we. We reached the town of Tapak Tuan in the late afternoon for a short, before heading to Subussalam, where we spent the night. Travelling on the road for several days gave us the chance to taste popular local cuisine, such as mie Aceh (boiled or fried noodle in thick spicy sauce) and ayam tangkap (fried chicken cooked with lemon grass and soaked in pandan and turmeric leaves). My personal favorite was timphan, a sweet brownish soft snack wrapped in banana leaves and usually served during holidays or celebrations. It goes really well with a cup of hot Gayo coffee, the pride of Aceh. The province is famous for its coffee stalls, where local men can sit and talk about politics and current affairs for hours, even all night long. But don’t expect to see women in the audience, as it is considered
Road rules Know your route
Prepare for what lies ahead, including overall road conditions, having a reliable map and looking at the weather forecast. Estimate how many kilometers you can cover in a day and then plan which town to spend the night in.
Check your vehicle
inappropriate. I got a lot of weird stares every time we entered a stall. But judging from my casual clothing, I think it was clear that I was not from the neighborhood. We hit the road again soon after sunrise, planning to cross the line between Aceh and North Sumatra on the third day. The scenery changed significantly as we entered North Sumatra. Mosques were ubiquitous in Aceh; in North Sumatra, there were a host of small churches along the way. Soon we reached the town of Sidikalang, which is also famous for its coffee. As a lover of java, I indulged myself throughout this trip, sipping on the delicious Ulee Kareng or Gayo coffee in Aceh and Sidikalang coffee in North Sumatra. It’s difficult to choose which one is the most delicious because each has a unique flavor. However, I limited my coffee intake to only one cup per day – it would be troublesome to use the toilet too often while on the road. I even seriously calculated when to drink water. Staying hydrated is a must, but we have to plan bathroom breaks accordingly. The best time to drink is right after waking up in the morning, and just 30 minutes before each meal break. A highlight of the trip was the Sipisopiso waterfal in Karo, not so far from Lake Toba, our final destination. The weather was getting chilly as we arrived a few minutes after three, just in time for afternoon tea with the mouth-watering fried cassava enjoyed by the lake –a sweet close for our road trip.
Make sure the car is in good working order. Make sure you have a spare tire, a first-aid kit, a pillow and blanket and, of course, (non-salty) snacks and some drinks, but not too many - finding toilet can be an problem when on the road, especially for women travelers.
Learn the lingo
Indonesia’s a big country, and Indonesian is often a second language, even on Java Island. It might come in handy to know how to say “thank you” in Batak in North Sumatra or “excuse me” in Manggarai on Flores, just in case you need to ask for some directions.
Where to stay
Make reservations in advance online or on the phone. This is important when traveling during the high season, such as during the Lebaran mudik (holiday exodus).
Kindness of strangers
In case of emergency, the local mosque or musholla may be a good option for a weary traveler. They’re always open, always have a toilet and can provide fresh water to wash your face. Very likely a caretaker is there or lives nearby. Just share your story and ask permission to rest. It’s likely that the caretaker will extend the mosque’s hospitality to you. +Swastika Nohara
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at your LEISURE
Bean there, done that Step up your coffee game
WORDS SEBASTIAN PARTOGI photos courtesy Kolt Bruh, ABCD, Anomali
W
Western-style coffee culture has taken root in Jakarta in recent years, with more cafes and stores offering various single-origin coffee beans from Indonesia, as well as cafes serving drinks prepared using an array of roasting and brewing methods. There are now so many more choices than kopi tubruk, or “accidental coffee”, where finely ground coffee is added directly to hot water. But don’t be confused. JPlus recently spoke to several brewers and connoisseurs about how to get the best out of your morning cup. Here are their tips:
KNOW THYSELF
Before deciding on a particular coffee, you first need to answer these questions: What kind of coffee drinker are you – and what do you expect to get from your cup of coffee? Norwegian coffee roaster Trish Skeie classifies coffee drinkers into three types: First-, second- and third-wave drinkers. First wavers don’t worry about the quality of coffee, often drinking brews made from robusta beans, known for their bland taste, or pre-sweetened powdered coffee. They look at java as a quick stimulant or a conversation companion. For these people, instant coffee or drinks sold in regular coffee shops might suffice. Second-wave drinkers pay attention to coffee quality, preferring arabica beans, which are rich and subtlety flavored. They may add ginger or milk, but they will not dilute their coffee’s taste by adding sugar. Meanwhile, third-wavers are the
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most sophisticated, appreciating the subtleties of brews made from beans from many different origins. For those types of drinkers, the Liputan Kopi blog, @ klinikkopi twitter account and the Bean Hunter iPhone app might be helpful resources in finding the best coffee shops in town.
KNOW WHAT INDONESIAN SINGLE ORIGINS CAN OFFER
Hadi Lesmono owns Graha Kopi, in South Tangerang, Banten. Given that his cafe sells more than 30 single-origin Indonesian coffees, Hadi says that asking the right question is important. “People often ask me which single origin is the most delicious,” he said in a recent interview. “I will answer, ‘What kind of taste are you looking for: Acidic, bitter or sweet?’ Because the first question is simply not specific enough for me to pick the right coffee for them.” Hadi says that the taste of a single-origin coffee differs according to how it is planted, roasted and brewed. Typically, coffee from Sumatra is bitter, he adds, while Papuan coffees are acidic. “Further, single-origin coffee planted within the same province but in different areas will have subtle taste differences, as is the case with Toraja and Kalosi
beans, both which come from South Sulawesi.” Meanwhile, the owner and brewer of Kolt Bruh cold brew coffee, Wulantri Oktaviani, suggested Flores Bajawa, Sunda Arumanis or Bali Kintamani beans for those who loved coffees with a sweet flavor. “Don’t be afraid, however, to try a different single-origin coffee. After all, how can you tell whether you like something or not when you haven’t even tried it?” Hadi said.
EXPERIMENT WITH BREWING TECHNIQUES
Your choices don’t end when you’ve chosen the right bean. Different brewing processes and equipment also play roles in determining a coffee’s final taste. “While V60 equipment reduces bitterness and the Kalita Wave [dipper] reduces acidity, the Vietnamese drip, French press and moka pot emphasize the subtle chocolate or cinnamon flavors of a particular arabica coffee,” said Eko Kunto Pambudi, a member of Tempo magazine’s amateur brewing community #ngopidikantor. Another #ngopidikantor member, Ijar Karim, suggested experimenting. For traditional kopi tubruk, Hadi suggests not stirring the grounds. “It will disrupt the chemical process where the richness of the coffee flavor dissolves into water.” You can also enjoy your coffee cold. “The cold-brew technique reduces acidity, which results from the chemical reaction between coffee bean oil and hot water,” Wulan of Kolt Bruh explained.
Cold-brew coffee, however, is different from instant coffee, as it is brewed with cold water using a 24-hour fermentation process and does not use preservatives or additives.
Learn more
If you love coffee, why not move on to the next steps: Making and appreciating your own coffee? Here are a few places in Jakarta that offer classes:
Kopi Kina
This coffee shop in Tebet, South Jakarta, runs free coffee cupping sessions where people can learn to appreciate coffee of different origins on Saturdays at 3 p.m.
Anomali Coffee
Located in Kemang, Senopati and Setiabudi, South Jakarta, and Menteng, Central Jakarta; Anomali offers barista training classes, from the basics to advanced espresso to manual brewing, with fees ranging from Rp 1.5 million ($US111) to Rp 3 million. anomalicoffee.com/coffeeclass.
ABCD School of Coffee
A Bunch of Caffeine Dealers (ABCD) school of coffee in the Pasar Santa traditional market in South Jakarta offers private and semi-private classes as well as consulting for those wishing to start their own business. Prices rangr from Rp 500,000 to Rp 5 million. abunchofcaffeinedealers. wordpress.com
Università del Caffè dell 'Indonesia
Universita del caffe dell’Indonesia equips bartenders and coffee professionals with the skills necessary to work in the coffee scene. There are two types of courses at UDC: Espresso Expert and Creative Coffee. Each course lasts only two days. The classes use coffee beans and coffee-making devices from Illy. sales@bahanagv.co.id.
at your LEISURE
Adventures in home dehydrators T
he dehydrator has always been a provision maker, rewarding the do-aheads. This may explain why I’ve never wanted one, and why the most patient, proficient users of dehydrators tend to be trail cooks. To most of us it’s a toy, but the trail cook desiccates with purpose: to make food small, light, and durable so it can be transported and consumed efficiently, with low risk of spoilage. My friend Logan, who works to repair broken trails in upstate New York, uses his little Nesco Snackmaster dehydrator about once a month to make different meals in bulk, like red curry (a dried paste built from scratch, to which he adds coconut cream powder and dehydrated precooked vegetables). I’ve always found this impressive, but I’d never considered adding a machine to my family of appliances—too big, too specialized. Then I tasted a delicious salad at Upland, in Manhattan. The chef, Justin Smilie, is one of many using the machine to intensify flavors in restaurant dishes. He’d dusted the leaves with an umami-rich powder made from dehydrated anchovies so the dish had all the rich flavors of a classic Caesar, with none of the weight. (So good, we even re-created the recipe for home cooks.) Convinced, I called up Excalibur, a manufacturer based in Sacramento, and— doorbell sound effect—a shiny steel beast weighing about 20 pounds arrived at my apartment. It was the height of mulberry season in New York, and the wild, wonky tree in my courtyard was full of berries. I arranged them in the perforated trays, turned the
thing on, and waited. In about 12 hours they were tiny, nearly black, and still faintly chewy (ideal for
smattering over yogurt for breakfast, mixing into granola, or baking into a cake). Later, while my neighbors lit their grills, I stayed inside to slice flank steaks. I marinated the meat in soy sauce and black pepper and watched the pieces turn very, very slowly into sweet, tender jerky. I was pretty pleased with myself, but meat and fruit are the most basic of basics—Dehydrating 101. The process isn’t complicated, and of course it isn’t new: The sun was the protodehydrator, preserving things on and off the vine. The electric dehydrator, which gained popularity in American home kitchens of the 1970s, hasn’t evolved much since then. It’s still a small, warm room that strips food—slowly and steadily—of all its moisture, like one endless sunny afternoon. A fan circulates air, to avoid the growth of
WHY TOP CHEFS ARE TAKING A PAGE FROM THE BACKPACKER HANDBOOK WORDS Tejal Rao PHOTOS VIA BLOOMBERG
mold and bacteria on the warm food, and as the moisture evaporates, some flavors concentrate. The colors often darken and deepen. The smells change and, in some cases, almost vanish. The main difference between a $30 machine and a $300 one is material, looks, and quality of air circulation. The more luxurious models circulate air more evenly, so you don’t have to flip foods over in their trays, and they boast a more precisely accurate thermostat. Although you can accomplish many of the same things in a lowtemperature oven, mine will not maintain temperature evenly, so I have to flip foods and rotate trays frequently. A microwave can dehydrate as well, and in a fraction of the time, though it can also heat aggressively. In my borrowed dehydrator, I found success with black olives drained of their brine, ripe grapes, and sliced nectarines. I mashed some potatoes with Old Bay and spread them on parchment paper, thinking I could replicate reconstituted potato chips of some kind (nope, awful!). And the yogurt I’d mixed with honey turned powdery, not at all like the chewy candies I’d hoped for. I followed a “cookie” recipe I found on a raw food forum, using dates and sesame seeds, which was essentially a fancy fruit rollup. From the same forum, I learned it’s the perfect environment for sprouting mung beans (and other things you might want to sprout).
If faintly warm drying doesn’t sound as fun as cooking, it’s because it isn’t. I was getting ready to return the appliance until I got on the phone with the San Franciscobased spirits writer Camper English, who had recently presented his research on dehydrated liqueurs at the annual industry event Tales of the Cocktail. English has been experimenting with the process since 2011, which he’s written about on his website, Alcademics. “I first heard about the technique from bartenders in Australia, who were dehydrating green Chartreuse into a sugar and using it as a rim,” he said during an interview. (The result shouldn’t be confused with the powdered alcohol that caused a stir last year.) English has since dehydrated dozens of spirits and liqueurs, and he’s found that some work better than others. “The downside to dehydrating liqueurs is you lose some of the aromatic properties,” English says. When it comes to Campari, for example, he adds fresh orange zest back to the sugar to revitalize it. “You can then use these sugars for anything you’d use regular sugar for.” English has used it to make rock candy, along with Campari-flavored fruit leathers (by mixing it with applesauce and dehydrating it again) and nonalcoholic mixers. Instead of returning the machine, I imagined a world in which I always have a dozen bottles of cold Champagne in the fridge, and my stock of sugar flavored with Chartreuse and Campari dust would come in super handy to make last-minute cocktails for all the friends who stop by unannounced. Never mind that this never happens, that the dehydrator barely fits in my apartment, that my fridge is mostly full of old condiments. I guess whether you’re making jerky or Angostura flavor pills, the dehydrator is a big, slow dream machine. You buy one so you can think ahead, and plan for some other day.
JPlus August 23, 2015 13
a la mode
Rebel with a Cause Soetjipto Hoeijaja on individual style, logos and gender Words Willy Wilson photos courtesy Soetjipto Hoeijaja
provoking. Conformity is in vogue. Enter Soetjipto Hoeijaja, better known as Nono, a Makassar-born-andbred man who defies the excessively feminine, flamboyant and at times, heavy-handed designs favored by Jakarta’s creme de la creme. His is the new wave, purported by cool, young designers that are the anti-thesis of the old-world
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Bright colors, rich ethnic prints and womanly silhouettes have been dominating the Indonesian fashion scene in the past decade. Then you came out with your genderless designs. Did you worry about how the market would receive them? No. During my college years, I couldn’t find clothes that resonated with my way of dress in Jakarta. I gravitated toward unisex apparel. Realizing that the clothes that I was looking for did not exist, I taught myself design. So staying true to your aesthetics is crucial?
I
f you’ve ever been to any of the fashion week circuses, you would know that apart from Biyan, Edward Hutabarat and Tri Handoko, most established homegrown designers are one-trick ponies. A little history: Technology, globalization and the rise of the Asian middle class shaped post millennial fashion as we know it now. Having just recovered from the late 1990s recession, Indonesia – along with Thailand and South Korea – was infatuated by fashion. The textile factories and nofrills, made-in-Bandung readyto-wear drove the tail end of the fashion train, while the Jakartabased ateliers were responsible for oozing glamor and fantasy for the privileged few. This was an exciting time for the Indonesian fashion industry - a time when fashion editors and designers could agree on creating an aesthetic unique to Indonesia. Designers, both veterans and newbie, exhibited a newfound confidence, despite the unstoppable force of Western fashion brands. Fast forward to 2014, when the fashion industry has become a vital sector of the national economy, contributing US$11.78 billion to Indonesia’s total exports according to the last official report. But this incredible progress wasn’t without its downside. Designers who elevated the nation’s fashion industry in the early and mid2000s have been stuck in that era: Exquisitely made but predictable glamorous gowns at almost every show, European knockoffs with batik appliqué. Nothing’s new, let alone thought-
makes the La Salle graduate tick.
glamour such as Alexander Wang, J.W. Anderson, Olivier Rousteing and the Olsen twins. Nono’s genderbending, monochromatic and highly cerebral cuts are not meant to create cheap controversy, but to reflect higher artistic pursuits. JPlus finds out what
I believe that the one basic concept that works in fashion – or in any other business, for that matter – is that a great environment produces great products. Pure and honest artistic pursuit gives me the most joy, and in turns makes me creative. I wouldn’t have been able to come up with [his labels] no’om | no’mi otherwise. Apart from no’om menswear and no’mi womenswear, what other lines do you have? There are two lines under no’om I no’mi. The first being
“Black Labe”, exclusively designed for Fashion First boutique in Jakarta. The second is Daily Line, which is available in various department stores, such as LOTTE and Central [Jakarta] as well as SATU Beachwalk and W Hotel [Bali]. My most recent project is soe.hoe SPACE, an art space dedicated to emerging Indonesian contemporary artists. Quality Indonesian fashion is largely concentrated in Jakarta. Wouldn’t it be better for the industry to make pieces accessible in other parts of the country? Jakarta is a big market. But over the years, we have had a client base in Surabaya , Makassar, Medan and Bali. It isn’t uncommon for these out-oftowners to fly to Jakarta only to buy my collection. That’s an indication that fashion doesn’t know geographical boundaries. Which is why moving forward, all creative elements must focus on educating the public about lifestyles fashion, designs, the arts, etc [....] We are still at an early stage and therefore it is a good time expose the market to different kind of aesthetics. The more they see, they more open minded they become. The last thing we want is to have people wear [designer] clothes like uniforms with no knowledge of their history and significance. Do you think your menswear background influenced your womenswear? At this point, I think both genders influence my design. My womenswear forges masculinity, as my menswear hints typically feminine elements. But I always try push the envelope with respect and honor. What qualities are you looking for in a garment when you go shopping? I have a soft spot for understated garments - I despise logos. I tend to pick garments in white, green or black, especially those with unique cuts. I usually will make it a point to inquire about the philosophy behind the garments and their fine craftsmanship, as they just add more value to what I wear. How do you define a personal style? Personal style is an appreciation of individuality, intellectualism, and consistency.
tasteBUD
Peppery Beef Stir-fry Words & Photos Theodora Hurustiati
C
hinese style stir-fries are my go-to choice every time I feel like eating something tasty and hearty. They also make excellent weekday dinners, since they involve little washing up afterwards. I partially cook the vegetables in a separate pan to save some time; but if you don’t mind staying in the kitchen for a while longer, you can actually cook everything using just the wok. Just blanch and drain the vegetables first, wipe the wok dry with a kitchen cloth and reuse it to stir-fry the meat. Make sure to choose a steak-grade beef for this recipe. Inexpensive cuts with lots of muscles aren’t suitable, as they need to be braised and slow cooked to become tender. Chicken breast, squids or tofu are more affordable and are great alternatives. Serves 3 300 g beef loin, flank or rump 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon sesame oil 2 tablespoons of corn flour 1 zucchini 1 carrot ½ red bell pepper ½ yellow bell pepper 1 red onion 1 clove garlic 20 g ginger Black pepper, to taste Vegetable oil
Jakarta-born chef Theodora Hurustiati, a 12-year resident of Udine, Italy, was the runner-up in the TV cooking program La Scuola – Cucina di Classe (The School: Classy Cooking) in 2011.
• Slice beef into 3-mm thin strips. Season with soy sauce and black pepper. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes. • Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables by cutting them diagonally into diamond shape or lozenges to make them look prettier. Feel free to just cut them into squares or thin rounds. • Peel and cut the onion into 6 to 8 wedges and separate the layers into individual petals. • Blanch them briefly in salted boiling water starting from the toughest vegetable, in this case, the carrot. Insert bell peppers after two minutes and, finally, zucchini and onion after 3 minutes. Let everything cook for the total of 4 to 5 minutes until they’re slightly wilted but still retain their crispness. Drain and set aside. • Peel and finely chop (or grate) garlic and ginger. Fry in a wok with a bit of vegetable oil for few seconds until fragrant. • Dust and cover marinated beef strips with corn flour and insert quickly into the hot wok. Add oyster sauce and sesame oil. Stir-fry for a couple of minutes until the edges are slightly golden brown. • Include the vegetables. Add extra pepper and salt if needed. Stir-fry for further two minutes before adding about half a glass of water to create a bit of sauce. • Cook for another minute or so until the sauce comes to boil and thickens. • Transfer beef stir-fry into the serving plate and garnish with some sesame seeds for extra crunch. Serve immediately with steaming hot rice.
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OMEGA SEAMASTER 300 ‘SPECTRE’ FOR JAMES BOND
Omega has always been part of James Bond’s DNA. This October, timed to the release of the latest James Bond movie, Spectre; Omega will release its Omega Seamaster 300 “Spectre” Limited Edition for the movie. Only available in 7,007 pieces, the watch is ultra modern and historically themed. There are some notable changes, though, such as the 5-stripe black and grey Omega strap along with the 007 gun logo and a “lollipop” second-hand that ends in a circle. As a final touch, each Omega Seamaster 300 will have its unique serial number engraved on the back along with the James Bond Spectre film logo. A perfect collectible for a Bond enthusiast.
With the impending release of Star Wars Episode VII and the announcement of Star Wars World at Disneyland, it’s Sony’s turn to let the Force flow. Gear up to make your Star Wars battle fantasies come true with the Limited Edition Star Wars Battlefront Playstation 4 Bundle. With an etching of arch-baddie Darth Vader profile on the front, this limited edition series will come with two different bundles: one with a deluxe edition of Star Wars: Battlefront, another with a “saga starter pack” edition of Disney Infinity 3.0. Both versions come with four classic Star Wars titles: Super Star Wars, Star Wars: Racer Revenge, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter and Star Wars Bounty Hunter. Patience, young padawans: This limited edition will make its bow on Nov. 17.
Boys with Toys
BAUBAX TRAVEL JACKET
It first started as a local Kickstarter project, but now the Baubax Travel Jacket is the most successful clothing-related project ever on the crowdsourcing funding website. Its unique design has at least 15 features, including a built-in detachable neck pillow, an eye mask and gloves, an insulated pocket to hold a beverage, a zipper that doubles as a pen and stylus - and other pockets designed for earbuds, sunglasses, smartphones and even a tablet! This multifunctional jacket will be available in 4 styles, ranging from cotton sweatshirts, water-repellent windbreakers, fleece-lined bombers and wrinkle-free blazers. It’s awesomely suited to solving all those travel-related problems centered around keeping stuff organized while trying to get comfortable on a long flight. The project’s designers say that the jackets will help regular commuters and campers who want to keep their gadgets close by. +Banyubening Prieta
of bikes, biros and bond
UBCO 2X2 Utility Bike
Here comes the UBCO 2X2, a green versatile bike that is suitable for everyone, from city denizens and farmers, as well as trail riders and police. The disruptive New Zealandmade bike is equipped with power outlets for USB plugs that can charge your smartphone on-the-go, as well as a rugged frame that can carry up to 200 kilograms. Also built for survival, the 2x2 is equipped with an engine powered by a lithium battery that will take you approximately 100 kilometers. It’s cost effiecient and low maintenance, thanks to a minimalist design. While there’s no clutch, the buke’s better accelaration and traction in slippery conditions and on unpaved roads guarantees you a comfortable ride on any terrain. This piece of technology will redifine the way you work outdoors.
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JPlus August 23, 2015
MONTBLANC M
Go sassy with the inagural collaboration of Montblanc and celebrated Australian designer Marc Newson: the “Montblanc M”. Combining design and function, the Montblanc M offers several new features for the series’ fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoints, toucscreen styluses and fine art and fineliners for technical drawing. What makes the pens a sensory experience to use are incredible design, such as a magnet that ensures a perfect alignment of the body and hood; a plateau at the end crafted through milling by a diamond tool; and Montblanc’s iconic emblem, put into place using ultrasonic welding. As a finishing touch, the luxurious pen offers a gold nib in a two-tone finish of rhodium and ruthenium.