Alistair Speirs
Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra Put on a Magnificent Performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor
Jakarta music lovers were given a very special treat recently when the Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra and the Jakarta Oratorio Society put on a magnificent performance of Bach’s Mass in B minor at the Aula Simfonia in Kemayoran. Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra and the Jakarta Oratorio Society performed Bach Mass in B Minor on 20 April at Aula Simfonia Jakarta. Photo courtesy of Aula
Democracy in Action
Welcome to crunch month, when the country decides who will lead it for the next five years. The debates are over, the pollsters are making money – sorry – predictions and forecasts, everyone has become an expert on government, on the economy, the leaders, the powers behind the thrones, the spouses behind the powers, the
Rooftop Villas at Le Meridien Jimbaran Bali
Le Meridien Jimbaran Bali is tucked away halfway down the beach right next to the amazingly popular seafood restaurants, and is ideally located for access to the South: Uluwatu, Nusa Dua and Garuda Wisnu Kencana, and the North to Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, as well as being very convenient for the airport.One of the best, safest and
Just Another Brick in The Wall
It’s amazing how much affect the built environment has on us and just how little attention we pay to it here in Jakarta. I have written here many times about the absolute delight of walking through a beautifully designed, built-and maintained-city. It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, Paris and Rome are
What’s Love Got to Do with It? The Answer is Everything
“What’s love got to do with it” asked Tina Turner many years ago. The answer: everything! Love should be a part of every single thing we do or think. But so often it simply is not, and we struggle on more hating our jobs then loving them, more putting up with our places where we
Introducing The Wines of Argentina
Argentina is famous for its vibrant culture, passion for football and beautiful landscapes. Perhaps lesser known is the fact that the country is the eighth largest producer of wine in the world. Recently, Bistro Garçon at Plaza Senayan hosted an exclusive wine pairing dinner that showcased a selection of wines from Bodega Norton, a 19th
Alistair Speirs: My Journey to Work
NOW! Jakarta begins a groundbreaking series called “My Journey to Work” which will combine a real look at the city’s arteries but also help the Jakarta City Government realise that almost every commuter suffers from a myriad of small but solvable problems on their journey every day. Jakarta commuters are not stupid, they are long
An Interview with H.E. Stig Traavik, Ambassador of Norway to Indonesia
The Norwegian Government is already amongst Indonesia’s strongest supporters in the fight against climate change and the work for forestry protection but now they are adding the whole maritime sector to their areas of interest so they cover both the “green” and “blue” economies. Alistair Speirs has the pleasure of speaking to the highly committed
The Age of Technology
Welcome to 2017, a brand new year and another step in the great advance towards the era of technological dependence. That sounds a bit negative, doesn’t it? After all, these advances in technology are a huge benefit to mankind, are they not? Don’t they greatly enhance our lives, making them more efficient, more worthwhile, somehow
The Best Restaurants in Jakarta and Bali
One of the great things about being in the media business is the fact that it brings me into contact with professionals in so many fields: airlines, taxis, hotels, retail, schools, apartments, art and culture, and of course restaurants! Food is such a pervasive element in our lives (being rather essential to our health and
A Triumph at Kunstkring
It was a fitting end to an excellent year of dining as the members and guests of La Chaine des Rotisseurs Jakarta assembled in the gilded splendor of Kunstkring Paleis Restaurant in Jakarta for their final dinner of the year and the induction of new members in a marvelous “Chapitre Gala”. Tugu Hotels, Indonesia’s iconic
Hollywood in Jakarta
“If you have not yet heard of, and not therefore actually heard, Avip Priatna’s work then you are missing a piece of history in the making. Avip is the conductor of The Jakarta Concert Orchestra, Batavia Madrigal Singers and The Resonanz Children’s Choir and under his talented leadership has brought them to absolutely international standard,”
Romance, Hong Kong and Central Java: What’s the connection?
These are the three themes we are pursuing in this issue, so what possible connection can there be between these astonishingly different subjects? Actually the connection is in the first word: romance, which we are featuring here in its inter-personal form; the couple coziness, lovie-dovie, coochie-coo, kissy-wissy stuff that we roll out to celebrate Valentines
