To move from one treetop to another through avariety of challenges can be an exciting outdoor activity for energetic kids and adults. BandungTreetop, an adventure park which is located within acool and hilly area of Cikole, Bandung, offers exactly this--which makes the park a great option for a short family getaway outside Jakarta.

I had to think hard before doing this article because: a)Is it true? b) Are people still interested? c) Is anybody inthe government paying any attention?

To: a) I’ll let you decide if there’s any merit in my ideas!b) People are passed being interested, they are desperate.For c) I don’t think so. Certainly not if it doesn’t involvehuge capital expenditure. But as my last column of theyear let’s return to Jakarta’s biggest hassle: traffic.

I love Christmas Carols. Do you?

Christmas Carols evoke manyresponses in us; they makeus remember our past, theyremind us of other places, theyprompt our memories of funtimes and sad times. We evensing along with Carols, whensinging outloud is somethingwe rarely do in public...

“Shall we have a cup of tea?”  To three-year-old me, the question was so much more than an offer to share a cup of brown, flavored water and cookies. Couched in my grandmother’s crushed velvet tones, it was a magical ticket, a charmed elixir inviting me into her world. Nodding eagerly, I’d wiggle onto one of the smooth wooden benches lining the breakfast nook to watch the ritual unfold. First came the service, chosen from the assortment of cup and saucer sets holding a place of honor in the front row of the china closet. Nanny called them friendship cups, recalling a ladies’ club she had belonged to once. On special occasions, birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s and May Day, members would exchange these flowery cup and saucer sets. My favorite was a gaudy combination of hot pink, lavender and gold leaf. To my puzzlement, Nanny favored a plain, white set with a fluted edge and a single violet blossom. She called it delicate. Next, a plate of cookies, napkins, spoons, the sugar bowl and creamer found their way to the table. Finally, when the kettle called, Nanny lifted her teapot down from its perch at the back of the stove.

The city police tell us that we are heading for gridlock in 3 years. Every day several column inches appear in the press about some traffic issue or another. The city government says it is doing its best, but this is not a statement with which many of the citizens of the city would agree.