H.E. Joseph R. Donovan Jr. Talks About Maintaining Diplomatic Relations Between US -INA for Seven Decades
Indonesia and the United States have had strong diplomatic relations for nearly seven decades. NOW! Jakarta spoke to U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Joseph R. Donovan Jr. about this relationship and the opportunities for fostering this connection. U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Joseph R. Donovan Jr. Photo courtesy of US Embassy to Indonesia/NOW!JAKARTA As far as

Now, A Guide to Deciphering the Ecosystem of Startup Companies
The “Insiders’ Guide to Jakarta Startups”, which was developed as a guide for aspiring entrepreneurs who are interested in joining the burgeoning startup ecosystem, was officially released on 6 June. Dila Karinta and Bettina Herz launched the book “Insiders’ Guide to Jakarta Startups” as the guide entrepreneurs who want to develop startup in Jakarta. Photo

The List of Expatriate and Intercultural Community in Jakarta for Social Networking
Once the business of settling into life in Jakarta is done, it’s time to find a community to socialise with, to network with, and to establish one’s roots, even if temporary, in the city. One of the ways to explore the country is to join the intercultural club or organisation. NOW!Jakarta has curated a list of

Saved by the Smell: A Trip Through Northern Europe with an Unhappy Ending – Almost!
In the summer of 1984 a friend and I decided to take my beloved but ageing Datsun 260Z over into mainland Europe from England for a seriously low budget two-week motoring holiday. At the Dover ferry terminal nobody took much notice of two clean cut young men in a shiny sports car and we cleared

AmCham Indonesia: Connecting Companies and Finding Solutions
The American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia aspires to be the “advocate of choice” for US companies doing business in Indonesia, according to our internal strategic plan. Simply put, this means that we promote a more conducive business environment in order to help Indonesia realise its full potential. A. Lin Neumann, Managing Director of AmCham

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

Kota Tua: The Cultural Heart of Jakarta?
Few who know the history of the “KotaTua” saga were surprised by the rejection of UNESCO to declare Jakarta’s old city (plus four islands in Pulau Seribu) a World Heritage Site. The qualifications for acceptance into this elite category are very strict and very clear, and to even the least technically minded people (myself included)

Pasar Baru’s Street Art Community is Alive and Well
In the 1980s and 1990s, Pasar Baru, or Passer Baroe, in Central Jakarta was a bustling area where one came to place orders for greetings cards for various occasions. Those days, calligraphers , who were seated near the river, received several orders everyday and were busy year round, and especially so during the holiday period.

2018 World Cup: Surprises, Disappointments, Highs and Lows
After a whole month of football frenzy, the World Cup 2018 in Russia saw France lifting the coveted trophy for the second time after twenty years. It was a well-deserved win as “Les Bleus”, among the top favourites to win the World Cup this year, showed a string of assured and effective performances throughout the

Wisma Cheshire Indonesia : Helping Differently-Abled Individuals Achieve Success
Yayasan Cheshire Indonesia, also known as Wisma Cheshire Indonesia was founded in 1974 offering residential care for paraplegics. It has developed programmes such as vocational training, advocating for the rights of disabled individuals, development plans and helps find accommodation for differently abled individuals. Wisma Chesire programme, The Young Voices Indonesia (YVI) works to strengthen the

Chat with General Manager of The Sultan Hotel and Residence, Fintan O’Doherty
The Sultan Hotel and Residence Jakarta’s General Manager spoke to NOW! Jakarta about the hotel’s latest developments. General Manager of The Sultan Hotel and Residence, Fintan O’Doherty. Photo by Raditya Fadilla/NOW!JAKARTA You’ve been here in Asia for quite some time now and Jakarta for about two years. What can you tell us about the changing

Author Laksmi Pamuntjak Talks About Her Upcoming Novel and Embracing Duality
Laksmi Pamuntjak’s novel “Amba” or “The Question of Red” made waves both in Indonesia and abroad. The author is currently working on the sequel, which will be published in Germany in August. At the same time, the movie version of her book “Aruna dan Lidahnya” or “The Birdwoman’s Palate” will be released in Indonesian cinemas

Java St Andrew’s Society
The Java St. Andrew Society (JSAS) was founded in 1919 and has had a continued active presence in Jakarta since—bar of the interruption of World War 2. The Society aims to celebrate Scotland and all things Scottish here in Jakarta and is open to everyone who wishes to joins in such celebrations. From smaller gatherings for