French Disconnection
I was 18 years old when I went to what is quaintly known in England as “the Continent” for the first time. “The Continent” means mainland Europe, and the part of it I went to was Calais, France. I was so excited about my first trip “abroad” that I could hardly sleep the night before.
Jakarta A Liveable City In The Future?
Having fallen prey to my third cold of the year made me recall a recent conversation on air quality in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and London, and so on. While the major cities of China have some of the worst air pollution in the world, that in Jakarta is well above accepted world
Moving Forward on Jakarta’s 490th Anniversary
In its 490 years of existence, Jakarta has gone through a lot. Just like any other birthdays, its anniversary calls for not only celebrations, but also a reflection on milestones and moments that have passed. Some key inflection points, as discussed below, mark high moments in the current period of transition. Looking ahead, here’s hoping
Jakarta Through The Eyes Of Its Residents
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Jakarta? Ask 100 different people, and you will surely receive 100 different answers. Jakarta, to some, is a city of hope, a place where they strive to make their dreams come true. Others feel that life in Jakarta is too exhausting,
An Interview with Rami Hajjar, Country Manager for Philips Lighting Indonesia
Rami Hajjar, the newly appointed Country Manager for Philips Lighting Indonesia, only arrived in Jakarta in March but already feels at home in the big Durian. Originally from Lebanon, Rami studied in Beirut and Paris and worked in different fields before moving to Dubai where he joined Philips in 2010. For the last
An Interview with H.E. Kyle O’Sullivan Ambassador of Ireland to Indonesia
Ambassador Kyle O’Sullivan came to Asia for the first time in 1988, when he worked in Hong Kong and later in Beijing for a couple of years. After short stints in Dublin and spending some time in the Middle East on various jobs, his first Ambassador post saw him relocate to Nigeria, West Africa. When
An Interview with Alexander Nayoan Chairman Of The Jakarta Hotels Association
Alexander Nayoan is a busy man, not only as the Managing Director of The Dharmawangsa Jakarta, but also as Chairman of the Jakarta Hotels Association (JHA). Fortunately, he still found time in his hectic schedule to speak to NOW! Jakarta about his role within the association and what kind of challenges the hotel industry in
Daisy Luck Strikes Again
I love the way the Indonesian language and the English language have blended over the years. For example, many non-Indonesians would have heard of the infamous spy Matahari long before they learned that her name is the Indonesian word for the sun (literally “the eye of the day”). And those who have not heard of
Indonesia At Play-Calendar 2018 Photo Competition and Exhibition
The Indonesian Heritage Society (IHS) held its annual competition earlier this year to select the 13 photographs that will grace the pages of our upcoming calendar. The theme for our 2018 calendar is “Indonesia at Play”, and the entries from our members certainly lived up to expectations with images of adults and children alike, in
An Interview with H.E. Peter MacArthur, Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia
H.E. Peter MacArthur arrived in Jakarta last September and sees great potential in the relationship between Indonesia and Canada. The Ambassador spoke to NOW! Jakarta about shared goals, areas of interest and his personal focus during his tenure in Indonesia. How would you characterize the relationship between Indonesia and Canada over the past year? It
ICCC Connects Indonesia and Canada
The Indonesia Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) is dedicated to serving the Indonesian-Canadian business community. The organization represents the general interests of Canadian businesses to the Indonesian government. Furthermore, ICCC provides information and analysis on business trends in Indonesia, hosts events that allows participants to gain more insight and discuss business in the two countries
Introducing Christophe Bernard Keramaris
Balinese hospitality meets exclusivity at Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, a destination resort which is a mere 20-minute drive from the airport. The resort’s new General Manager Christophe Bernard Keramaris had a chat with NOW! Jakarta about the challenges of the hospitality industry and the uniqueness of Bali as a tourist destination. How did you become
Making the World a Better Place, One ‘Strand’ at a Time
Back in April, two girls were inspired to do something: what they wanted to do wasn’t an original idea but the concept was new to most people here in Jakarta, and it touched many. Let me introduce you to the girls first: they are two fantastic people who I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. The
