Sari Widiati
Taman Bacaan Pelangi: Developing a Reading Culture in Eastern Indonesia
Books are the windows to the world and reading is the key to knowledge. It is the dream of every nation to have a smart generation. It is also a dream for Indonesia, but there is a lot of homework that remains, especially to equalise the quality of education in remote areas of eastern Indonesia.
Christiane Doris Wasfy: For the Love of Tourism
Christiane Doris Wasfy, general manager of Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya, has been in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years. NOW! Jakarta spoke to her about her passion for the tourism and hospitality industry and her thoughts on tourism in Surabaya. Christiane Doris Wasfy, general manager of Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya. Photo courtesy of
Sleep Well at Westin Singapore
With sleep playing a vital role in leading a happier, healthier and more productive life, Westin Hotels & Resorts prioritises helping find solutions for underprivileged children, especially with regard to the quality of their sleep. A special programme produces pajamas for them using recycled material. Westin’s social programme demonstrates that the role of a hotel
Making Jakarta a More Favourable Tourist Destination
The tourism sector significantly contributes to Jakarta’s revenue. There has been a positive trend with an increased arrival of tourists, both national and international. Even so, Jakarta’s government needs to understand that there are many locations within the city that are in need of improvement to attract more tourists. Tinia Budiati, the Head of the
A Conversation with William Wongso: “Food is Not about Investment”
Chef and food expert William W. Wongso is a very busy man. In between his tours around Indonesia and the world, NOW! Jakarta had the opportunity to talk to him about the culinary scene both here and overseas. Indonesian renowned chef and culinary expert, William W. Wongso at his office. Photo by Raditya Fadilla/NOW!JAKARTA Can
The Angst of Youth Examined Through Photography
The Salihara Community, Indonesia’s first multidisciplinary arts centre, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut showcased a collection of photo essays of 12 young photographers from eight South-East Asian Countries. It focused on contemporary social issues. Two Indonesians photographers exhibited work on a cultural phenomenon and on mental illness among youth. Photo courtesy of Goethe-Institut Indonesian/NOW!JAKARTA Photographs
“Tapas Around the World” at Keraton at the Plaza
Diners have the choice of either a personal or serving portion. The options for cold tapas are Wagyu Thai Beef Salad, Lounge Shrimp Caesar Salad Jar, Peanut Lime Chicken Salad Jar among other options. Diners have the choice of either a personal or serving portion on “Tapas Around the World” dining experience. Photo courtesy of
Kaum Jakarta Brings a Touch of Pasar Papringan to the City
During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Kaum Jakarta presents its take on Java’s famous bamboo garden market with a selection of authentic Pasar Papringan dishes. Pasar Papringan at Kaum Jakarta. Photo courtesy of Kaum Jakarta/NOW!JAKARTA Papringan in Javanese means bamboo garden. It is an outdoor market in Temanggung, Central Java. The market is set up,
Cafe Gratify is Truly for the Love of Good Food
Run by a mother-daughter duo, Fira Sofyan and Claudia Sofyan, Cafe Gratify, which held its grand launching in May, serves both gourmet Asian and Western comfort food. Binte Soup is good food on Cafe Grafity's menu, served with the freshest ingredients and cooking techniques, the flavours of the dishes are bold and tasty. Photo courtesy of
Deciphering life at “The Meeting Point”, Celebration Art Palette of Eight Painters
From 5 to 26 May, Rumah Jawa Gallery presented a painting exhibition titled “The Meeting Point”. Artists Afdhal, Giring Prihatyasono, Hono SUN, Januri, Katirin, M.S. Wawan, Tjokorda Bagus Wiratmadja (Coki) and Tofan M.A. Siregar displayed the beauty visual of their skills in scratching palette blades and sweeping the brushstrokes with thickness of various colours on
Walk with Ngopi Jakarta to See A Different Side of City
Ngopi Jakarta or NgoJak (which translates to ‘drinking coffee in Jakarta’) was founded in 2011 as a blog about the history of Jakarta. It first compiled stories about daily life in the city, stories about book sellers, coffee sellers, dangdut street singers, etc, from various angles. Essentially, it provided a snap shot of the city
Special Olympics Indonesia: Can Sports Unite Communities?
The Special Olympics is a global movement to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities through training and competition. It has been recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the only Olympics organisation for people with intellectual disabilities. On 9 August 1989, Indonesia joined the organisation that is accredited by the Special Olympics International (SOI) to
Indonesia Spartans: Race Against the Odds
In recent years, obstacle course racing (OCR) has become increasingly popular, and events that feature the sport have seen a large volume of participants—often filled to capacity. The Spartan Race, one of the world’s biggest obstacle course races, took place in Singapore in 2015. Held for the first time in Southeast Asia, it inspired five
