Sustainability Matters: Wasted Opportunities
Who can blame President Prabowo for getting upset and angry, as he did recently, when he was embarrassed by foreign leaders about the state of Bali’s all too visible garbage problem? But hold on, why didn’t he know before? Is no one brave enough to tell him the truth since the rest of us have
Sustainability Matters: The Big Screen Dilemma
Welcome to our new column exploring sustainability issues in our lives, and in the context of Jakarta. Almost everything we do has an impact on the environmental, social or cultural sustainability of a city, even the seemingly mundane, and so this column brings these less obvious factors to light. We start with an area that
Archipelagic Landscapes of Taste: Indonesia’s Culinary Advantage
‘Nusantara Gastronomy’ is a series by Helianti Hilman that explores Indonesia’s food biodiversity and the cultural wisdom that sustains it, from forest to farm, heritage to haute cuisine. New article in every edition of NOW! Jakarta Magazine | Subscribe Now What if Indonesia’s greatest advantage in global gastronomy is not a dish—but a landscape? At
Why We Need It to Take It Slow (and How) Part 1
In this two-part feature, Edward Speirs (Part 1) and Widia Arianti (Part 2) explain why our efforts to keep pace with our fast-moving world are counter-productive, and how we can integrate slow living practices into everyday life in Jakarta. Read: Part 1 | Part 2 Part 1: Fast is good – right? Think back to
Why We Need It to Take It Slow (and How) Part 2
In this two-part feature, Edward Speirs (Part 1) and Widia Arianti (Part 2) explain why our efforts to keep pace with our fast-moving world are counter-productive, and how we can integrate slow living practices into everyday life in Jakarta. Read: Part 1 | Part 2 Part 2: Choosing to Pause From meditation apps to wellness
Jakarta as a Global Dining Destination: What’s Missing?
Jakarta is already a city with a serious dining scene. From bustling street stalls and food courts to high-end restaurants and bars, the capital’s culinary offering is vast and diverse. Yet while individual venues often shine on their own, the city as a whole has yet to make the leap into being recognised as a
The Role of Food in Society
Times have changed, and keep on changing, and we need to reassess the entire role of food in our lives. We used to – very, very, long ago when we were ‘hunter/gatherers’ – have a nicely balanced diet based mostly on fruit, nuts, forest products, small animals and fish, and occasionally a major hunt would
Is Jakarta ‘Fit for Fitness?’
With more and more Jakarta residents adopting active lifestyles, the city’s urban landscape must adapt to its citizens’ needs. What’s driven this massive increase, and is Jakarta ready to accommodate this new culture? Strength in Numbers In April 2025, the fitness tracking and social networking application, Strava, introduced Bahasa Indonesia as an official language on
Why Jakarta Needs Cultural Collaboration, with Bambang Prihadi of Jakarta Arts Council
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Bambang Prihadi of Jakarta Arts Council talks to us about cultural collaboration. For the past five decades,
Why Jakarta Needs Music, with Nathania Karina of TRUST
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Nathania Karina of TRUST Orchestra talks to us about music. Nathania Karina and the Trinity Youth Symphony
Why Jakarta Needs Art Communities, with Ayu Utami of Salihara Art Centre
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fostering and developing specific areas of culture. Ayu Utami of Salihara Art Centre talks to us about art communities and festivals.
Why Jakarta Needs Literature, with Laura Prinsloo of Pulau Imaji
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Laura Prinsloo of Pulau Imaji talks to us about literature. Did you know that Jakarta
Why Jakarta Needs Contemporary Art, with Venus Lau of Museum MACAN
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Venus Lau of Museum MACAN talks to us about art. London has the Tate Modern,
