‘The Garlic Peanut Story’ and the Power of Forgiveness
In ‘The Garlic Peanut Story’, author Jonathan Rachman hopes to convey how powerful unconditional love can be. He shares through his memoir lessons of letting go, of releasing ones grudges, and how to fully appreciate the special people in our lives. A world-class interior designer, whose fame in the field has reached international renown, Jonathan
Devina Konatra, Designing Success in Hospitality
Tanly Hospitality is one of Indonesia’s rising stars. It is a growing hospitality management company with three hotel brands under its umbrella, including VASA Hotel Surabaya, one of the city’s top five-star destinations. Leading the charge is Devina Konatra, CEO of Tanly Hospitality, whose success in the business is proving to be an inspiration for
Metta Murdaya: Championing Jamu and Indonesia’s Herbal Traditions
In this far-reaching and diverse interview, NOW! Jakarta publisher Alistair Speirs talks about enterprise in both the cosmetics and jamu businesses with a lady who is a New York-based Indonesian, but really beginning to go worldwide, entrepreneur. Her name is Metta Murdaya and she has recently published a great book called Jamu Lifestyle, which attracted our
What Makes a Successful Woman? Answered by the NOW! Jakarta Community
Everyone’s measure of success is different, but people always look at successful women in a different way to men, sometimes questioning why they have done so well. Publisher Alistair Speirs’ first boss in the City of London was a German lady who succeeded in the cut-throat, public-school, English dominated insurance industry despite all her disadvantages,
A Splendid Chaine des Rotisseurs Dinner at The Orient Hotel
The fine dining group La Chaine des Rotisseurs got their culinary year off to a brilliant start in the beautiful surroundings of The Library at The Orient Jakarta. Since The Orient has two very different restaurants on its premises (actually there are several more but these are the selected ones!) Furusato Izakaya and Caspar, serving
The Era of Suspicious Sustainability
Yes, finally it’s the time for everyone to claim “sustainability” as their new mantra, new passion, or in many cases, just their latest marketing campaign. “Surely not“, I hear you say, “doesn’t sustainability have to be real, certified, audited or something to prove the claimant isn’t just giving us a load of hot air?” (or
Love in Indonesia: Redefining Valentine’s Day
In Indonesia, Valentine’s Day has been somewhat of a ‘taboo’ celebration. As someone raised in a Muslim family, I was never prohibited from celebrating Valentine’s Day, but it was something that was frowned upon by my parents, or those more religious than myself — many of us were told that the origin of this observation
Can’t be Bothered to go to Work? Here’s why.
I don’t know about you but I honestly believe that governments are elected – and paid – to look after their citizens, exercising their judgment as to the right path of course, but basically looking at the essential elements in the lives of their people and saying: “right we’ve got to fix this or make
Celebrating Imlek, Embracing Identity
It’s not that many years ago that anything even vaguely Chinese was absolutely forbidden in Indonesia, even though for literally hundreds of years there has been a strong presence of ethnic Chinese people here. There was no visible Chinese language anywhere public or published, and certainly celebrations were not allowed in public places. Even the
Rebound and Revival, but no Rethink or Redesign.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but life in Jakarta has rebounded to pre-covid levels, and perhaps more. Cafes and restaurants are busy, with the tables quite often full of laptops and notepads, as people take their negotiations to their favourite coffee shops. And there are more and more of them: PIM III is bursting
Unpacking the Controversial New Criminal Code
This is a rather more serious article than we normally publish but since it is focused on correcting (we trust) the waves of misinformation spreading around the implementation of the new Criminal Code, we thought it would be useful to read some background information that purports to clarify. We hope it does, and it is
A Discussion with Paul Bartlett: Director of Katalis
IA-CEPA ECP Katalis (Katalis) is a unique, five-year (2020-25) government-backed business development program unlocking the vast potential of economic partnership between Australia and Indonesia. Established under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Economic Cooperation Program (IA-CEPA ECP). Katalis complements existing Australian development program activities with a commercially oriented, bilateral approach, placing gender equality and social inclusion
Interview with Sally Deane: Senior Trade Commissioner at Indonesia Australian Embassy
Sally Deane is Senior Trade Commissioner and Minister-Counsellor (Commercial) for Indonesia, based in Jakarta. In this role, Sally is responsible for leading an experienced Australian-based and locally engaged team to promote and facilitate trade, investment, education and tourism ties between Australia and Indonesia. Prior to taking up her posting in Jakarta, Sally held a number
