Good News From Indonesia

Someone sms-ed me this morning from Jakarta (thanks, bro!), he said that Indonesia’s finance minister, Ms. Sri Mulyani had been appointed as Managing Director of World Bank. I followed the news until just now, and eventually the president gave approval.

I understand that this has brought waves of twitter messages, along the the pros and contras. To me, I put it simply this way… “The world needs her”. This selection highlights the rising global role of Indonesia, the fourth most-populous nation and a member of the Group of 20 emerging and developed countries.

She is arguably the one who has guided economic policy for Indonesia, navigating successfully in the midst of the global economic crisis, implementing key reforms, and earning the respect of her peers across the world. That’s what people out there say about her.

Aviliani

Sandiaga Uno

Anggito Abimanyu

In fact, I am sure, there are many other individuals in Indonesia whose capacities are at the same level with Sri Mulyani’s, and are ready to replace her position as finance minister. To name a few, there are Ms. Aviliani, Mr. Anggito Abimanyu, Cyrilus Harinowo, Sandiaga Uno, and many more. These people are certainly capable enough to take that position, and I am sure, they’ll again amaze the world.

Sri Mulyani, YOU GIVE US SO MUCH PRIDE. Indonesia thanks you!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Chart of the Week – Indonesia’s Good Position in BEI Index, BusinessEconomy, IDX, Indonesia Shares, Indonesia Stock Market.

Indonesia’s favorable demographics, natural resources and relatively stable political environment have set up the country for what could be a very strong decade of growth.

Indonesia’s economy doubled in the past five years and GDP growth was faster than that of India, China and Brazil. In greater Jakarta—the world’s second-largest urban area with roughly 23 million people—GDP per capita grew by 11 percent each year from 2006 through 2009.

More importantly, this growth was driven by the private sector, not by government spending – the private sector accounts for roughly 90 percent of the country’s GDP. In addition, commodities account for only 10 percent of economic growth, which insulates the country from the volatility in commodity prices.

Indonesia’s strength is in its consumers. Over the past five years, the average income has doubled to $2,350 a year and Deutsche Bank thinks that can figure can reach $3,400 by 2011.

Despite this income growth, Indonesia still has the lowest unit labor costs in the Asia-Pacific region (chart), according to JP Morgan, and this has driven manufacturing activities from China into Indonesia.

A Deutsche Bank survey of 50 companies showed a 5 percent jump in employment over the past year. Low wages should help continue Indonesia’s industrial recovery.

Source: Indonesiastockmarket.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

Hadi Soesastro, 1945-2010

Many, many people throughout Asia and the Pacific will be saddened to learn that Dr Hadi Soesastro died at 5am Jakarta time this morning (4 May 2010). Last Friday was his 65th birthday. Hadi was the inspiration of much that is good in Indonesia’s policies towards her neighbours in the region and in the cooperative arrangements that have been built in Southeast Asia, within East Asia and across Asia and the Pacific.

From CSIS in Jakarta, of which he was the distinguished Executive Director for many years, he provided the intellectual foundations for Indonesia’s positive regional and global engagements. In the contest of noble against less noble ideas, he was among the most noble and gracious of contestants. After this Forum was established, he naturally became one of its most influential contributors. He never rested in the search for the Holy Grail. In the past year, despite his illness, he seized the moment in defining the way forward for Indonesia, and other Asian players (among which he always included Australia), in global governance through the G20 and continued to work on this mission until his death.

There wasn’t a major constructive initiative in regional economic cooperation over the last several decades in which Hadi did not play a key role, in his quiet, persuasive, unassuming but decisive way. He was one of Indonesia’s finest sons. And we all claim him as our own – because he was, in so very many ways.

Thanks to Peter Drysdale!

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When was the last time you visited Ace Hardware stores? I went to Ace Hardware store in Surabaya about 5 months ago, but I did not realize that some of the prominent hardware products sold in that store are made in Indonesia.

KRISBOW. Perhaps only few people know that KRISBOW stands for Krisnandi and Wibowo, who own the company producing Krisbow tools and machinery. The products are varied in the following list:

You may find ’em in any Ace Hardware stores worldwide, or other machinery stores.

Visit the home of Krisbow at http://www.krisbow.com/.

So, after Indonesia’s global fashion brands, now you know we have Indonesian-made tools to rely on when fixing your home or automobile.

Stay tune as we are proudly presenting more Indonesia’s Global Brands!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Indonesia has arguably very large and potential human resources; one of them even gets achievement as America’s youngest professor. Prof. Nelson Tansu, Ph.D. is a native Indonesian. Nelson Tansu is the second child of Iskandar Tansu and Lily Ow who are domiciled in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Nelson Tansu’s achievements have been recognized internationally. The man who was born in Medan, October 20, 1977, already won 11 awards and has three patents for his research findings. At the age of 25 years, he earned his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and then directly taught students of doctoral level. He became a professor at prestigious American universities, Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, teaching students at the masters level (S-2), doctoral (S-3), even post-doctoral in Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

More than 84 researches and his writings were published in various international scientific conferences and journals. Frequently, he was invited to be a keynote speaker at various seminars, conferences, and meetings of intellectuals, especially in Washington DC.

Although Nelson Tansu’s name has been widely known throughout the world, few people know that this young professor is from Indonesia. On several occasions, many Turks think that Nelson has family relationship with former Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. Some also thinks that Nelson is from East Asia, specifically Japan. That is why some universities in Japan even openly asked Nelson to “return” to teach in Japan. Viewed from his name and face, Nelson Tansu is like those from Japan.

Credit: Indo Travel Tips blog

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Indonesia’s global brands for bag, shoes, and lifestyle items: Delia Von Rueti, Nilou, Sabbatha, and Bagteria.

They are Indonesian brands which are currently known world wide as luxurious life style items.

Delia von Rueti

She is a handbag and jewelry designer, her collections use exotic materials like corals, reptile skins, sheep skin. All shows bold and excellent craftsmanship.
She opens her flagships in Zurich, Geneva, New York, La Jolla and Milan. Her high profile clients include Ani Yudhoyono (SBY’s wife), Michele Yeoh, Brit Bluebloods, and Al Fayeds. Visit the website here: http://www.deliavonrueti.com/.

Nilou (Niluh Djelantik)

Comfort and quality are prerequisites in all Niluh’s designs. Years of wearing high heels have taught her exactly what women wants in a shoe. The platform is made of rubber, embedded in the shoe structure. This ensures even weight distribution, regardless of heel height. Triple leathers are used with leather stacked heels. Niluh Djelantik shoes end up as beautifully crafted pieces of wearable art. No wonder women like Uma Thurman and supermodel Gisele Budchen wearing her high heels

Sabbatha

Every one of Sabbatha’s bags tells its own story with its arrangement of icons – the mix may include semiprecious stones, beads, and freshwater pearls, pieces of carved deer antler and buffalo horn, tassels, even antique coins. Produced in quantities of 5 to 10, each comes with its own certificate of authentication and a card bearing Sabbatha’s philosophy of life – retail from USD 500 up to Rp 2,500. They have already reportedly found favor with Hollywood celebrities, let say: Katie Holmes, supermodel Elle Macperson, and singer Helena Paparizou (one of his video clip use Sabbatha’s cover dress). Sabbatha may be found in Indonesia, Mumbai, Hawaii, Roma, Amsterdam, Milan, Cannes, Florence, Sydney, St. Tropez, Tokyo (Aug 09) and Moskow (Nov 09)

Bagteria

Bagteria was founded in 2000 by designer Nancy Go, Nancy uses traditional handcraft techniques such as embroidery, beadwork, and croche to craft the unique and collectible bag with their exquisite intricacy and quality. Many famous and well known ladies like Paris Hilton, Emma Thompson, Princess Zara Phillips, and Martine McCutcheon have been spotted with bagteria handbag to further enhance the beauty of their outfits. Bagteria’s stores are located in Italy (7) , Germany (4), Russia (1), Switzerland (1), Spain (3), Kuwait (4), Saudi Arabia (1), United Kingdom (2), France (2), Taiwan (1), Belgium (1), Japan (6), Malaysia (1), Korea (3), Hongkong (2), and Indonesia (2).

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A WORLD APART

Thousands shoot photos of Bromo’s dawn chorus each year. As Luke Clark reports, one group of Indonesian photographers is now determined to give back to an area that has provided so many memorable images. Photography by Barry Kusuma

It is four in the morning at the edge of the earth. Below in the distance are the dark lines of a vast super-volcano. Above, an impossible universe of stars paint the night sky, as a stray one leaves the pack and dashes northwards.

Photographer Sigit Pramono first discovered this scene as a university student. Now aged 51, the banker and amateur photographer says the landscape still stuns him, even after so many exposures.

They say it is always darkest before the dawn. Add to that, coldest. Having left the township of Probolinggo an hour ago, the jeeps wind upwards into an industry of dawn, a mini-city of small stores selling warm-weather clothing. Then comes a short but labored walk in the high altitude to claim the darkened real estate near the look-out point from Mount Penanjakan. An excited throng of people gathers each morning, chattering like the volume might ward off the cold. Thankfully, free enterprise conquers even mountains, and cups of hot, sweet coffee center you again.

Suddenly a light cuts the eastern flank, as the first rays of fire flood down into a vast valley below. The iconic view creeps into sight, as a handful of volcanoes start to wake up. There it is: the tortured white-grey edges of Bromo having its morning puff. Next door, the perfect conical shape of Batok, with the looming older brother, Semeru, making up the trio. Below it all, a carpet of mist wraps around them like cappuccino foam. From pitch black, there’s now a brilliant blue dawn.

“I still believe this is a theatre of nature,” says Sigit. “For me, this is one of the most beautiful spots to see how mother nature starts her day.” Yet despite being one of Indonesia’s most iconic scenes, with thousands visiting each year to photograph the idyllic spot at dawn, the protection of Bromo and its people are not guaranteed by day-trippers alone. Indeed, the area and its residents are worthy of a longer stay, and a deeper experience of this haunting landscape.

Rather than being a single mountain, the area commonly known as Mount Bromo is in fact the remains of Mount Tengger, a “super-volcano” which geologists say blew its top millions of years ago. In its wake is a neighborhood of smaller or “children” volcanoes and a massive caldera.

The Tenggerese inhabitants are Javanese-Hindu, and said to be direct descendents of the Majapahit Kingdom. At the base of the volcano is one of the most significant Hindu Temples, Pura Agung Poten, adding even further mystique to this primeval scene.

As you hurtle down the steep mountain road from Mount Penanjakan, descending into Tengger’s massive heart, the ferocity of the stone and sand below feels eerily similar to the alpine drama of JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Then, blazing across the valley floor along the Sand Sea, summons a sense of exhilaration that feels almost like pre-battle.

Seen from Bromo’s base, you have a chance to admire his sister, Mount Batok, up close. So often mistaken for Bromo, she may well be the perfectly-shaped volcano, like an enormous crinkle cut potato chip rolled perfectly into a cone. Yet Bromo is the one that steals the thunder in terms of fame; especially during the annual Kasada Festival, when the Tenggerese bring offerings to throw into his vast open mouth to appease and honor it for another season.

Known for its dazzling diversity and rapid changes in scenery, a drive through this valley takes you from a panorama of patterned sand one moment to a carpet of green savannah hills the next – as if traversing from Saudi to Switzerland in minutes. This is a center of extreme weather variances too – from dry scorching heat one moment to thick frosts the next – making for a photographic nirvana. In summer, the rippling sand, now steel grey, turns a brilliant red. As a backdrop for horse riding, hiking, 4WD-touring and mountain-bike riding, there are few more stunning locations.

Sigit Pramono has produced four books on the area in and around Bromo. A banker with BCA Bank and chairman of the Indonesian Banking Assosiation, Sigit and his friends opened a café and photo gallery, which later became a lodge. Just two hours drive from Surabaya, the area around Probolinggo makes a perfect spot for setting off along paved streets by foot, or on mountain bikes. In and around the village is some of the region’s best agricultural land, hugging the misty hills.

Styled after a Danish ski lodge, Java Banana Resort (named after its specialty, coffee with deep-fried banana) was designed as a photographer’s retreat, including an embryonic museum of antique cameras. The first attempt at a boutique resort at Bromo, Sigit wants it to be a focal point for visitors and photographers to the area. He and his-fellow owners, all photographers or lovers of the art, hold annual jazz concerts and photographic exhibitions here, in a bid to give visitors more reasons to stay longer.

For those who do, the national park not only has numerous other viewing spots for the volcanic plataeu, but the rich soils have produced a wealth of biodiversity, from rhodendron strands and primary rainforest, to Javanese Edelweiss, a local varient of that found in the Swiss Alps. Sigit says the Tenggerese people live in close harmony with the mountains. “Bromo can at once be destroyer, with its terrifying eruptions, and creator – the material spewed out is the reason for the fertility of the Tengger area.”

Through the resort and books, Sigit wants to play a small part in protecting Bromo, inspired by American landscape photographer Ansel Adams. “He provoked his people and the government to conserve nature, by presenting his beautiful photographs about the landscape of Yosemite, Yellowstone and Utah. I’ve tried to follow that track.”

Information/ Informasi
Climate: Night temperatures drop to zero in the summer, and rarely above 5°C in winter.
Nearest town: The township of Probolinggo is 45km from Bromo-TenggerSemeru National Park.
Flora and fauna: Higher elevations are largely covered in casuarina trees. Within the park, it’s possible to find Java rusa deer, muntjac, marbled cats and wild boar.
Bromo walk: From the Poten Temple, take the steep path of 250 steps to the edge of the crater. The walk takes up to 90 minutes.
Mount Semeru: Serious trekkers can climb Semeru over two days. A permit must first be obtained.
Madakaripura Falls: In the foothills of the park, these beautiful waterfalls are easily accessible by jeep: but do bring dry clothing.

Contacts/ Kontak
Java Banana Bromo
Jln Raya Bromo , Wonotoro, Sukapura, Probolinggo Jawa Timur, Indonesia , tel: (o)335 541 193, www.java-banana.com

Sigit Pramono Photography
12AB Jln Anggrek Lestari, Blok M, Lebek Lestari Indah, Jakarta, tel: (0)819 3211 5688

Mandala Airlines Surabaya
91 Jln Diponegoro, tel: (0)31 561 0777

Panorama Tours
Panorama Building 4th floor, 63 Jln Tomang Raya, Jakarta tel: (0)21 569 58585 www.panorama-tours.com

East Java Tourism Office
Jalan Wisata Menanggal, Surabaya, East Java, tel: (0)31 853 1815

Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park
6 Jl Raden Intan, Malang, tel: (0)341 491828

Source: Mandala inflight magazine

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My Cambodian friend sms-ed last week, he planned to go to Indonesia sometimes in the 2nd half of 2010. He was aware that Indonesia has so many islands, he just didn’t know how many, so he asked me if it’s possible to spend 2 weeks in Indonesia, and see all.

On my way to office this morning, I kept on thinking… (and smiling), if he’d like to spend a day in each island, then he will need 48 years to visit the all the islands… (that excludes the transportation time).

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Indonesia has launched an ambitious plan to tap the vast power of its volcanoes and become a world leader in geothermal energy, while trimming greenhouse gas emissions.

The sprawling archipelago of 17,000 islands stretching from the Indian to the Pacific Oceans contains hundreds of volcanoes, estimated to hold around 40 percent of the world’s geothermal energy potential.

But so far only a tiny fraction of that potential has been unlocked, so the government is seeking help from private investors, the World Bank and partners like Japan and the United States to exploit the power hidden deep underground.

The government’s aim to add 4,000 megawatts of geothermal capacity from the existing 1,189 megawatts by 2014 is truly challenging. One of the biggest obstacles is the cost. Indonesia currently relies on coal-fired power plants using locally produced coal. A geothermal plant costs about twice as much, and can take many more years in research and development to get online.

But once established, geothermal plants like the one built in Kamojang, Java, in 1982 can convert the endless free supplies of volcanic heat into electricity with much lower overheads — and less pollution — than coal.

This is the pay-off the government is hoping to sell at the fourth World Geothermal Congress opening Sunday on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. The six-day event will attract some 2,000 people from more than 80 countries.

An investment of 12 billion dollars is needed to add 4,000 MW capacity, putting into context the recent announcement of 400 million dollars in financing from lenders including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Field exploration can take from three to five years, suitability studies for funding takes a year, while building the plant itself takes three years.

If there is any country in the world where geothermal makes sense it is Indonesia. Yet despite its natural advantages, it lags behind the United States and the Philippines in geothermal energy production.

Southeast Asia’s largest economy and the world’s third biggest greenhouse gas emitter exploits only seven geothermal fields out of more than 250 it could be developing.

The case for geothermal has become stronger with the rapid growth of Indonesia’s economy and the corresponding strain on its creaking power infrastructure.

The archipelago of 234 million people is one of the fastest growing economies in the Group of 20.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s pledge to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent against 2005 levels by 2020 has also spurred the push to geothermal.

Many of the best geothermal sources lie in protected forests, so the government aims to allow the drilling of wells inside conservation areas while insisting that the power plants themselves be outside.

Geothermal fans welcomed the recent completion of negotiations between a consortium of US, Japanese and Indonesian companies and the state electricity company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), over a 340 MW project on Sumatra island.

The Sarulla project will be Indonesia’s second biggest geothermal plant, after the Wayang Windu facility in West Java.

The Sarulla project is a perfect example of how Indonesia can realise its clean energy and energy security goals by partnering with international firms.

Several firms such as Tata and Chevron have submitted bids to build another geothermal plant in North Sumatra, with potential for 200 MW.

Source: Zenews Perspective

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The island of Bali is generally thought of as an island full of life. When and where death does encroach, it often becomes a spectacle of cremations and elaborate ceremonies.

One small part of Bali however upholds an unusual and apparently quite ancient tradition pertaining to death.

Sitting at the edge of Lake Batur in Northern Bali is a small cemetery known as Trunyan, where people from the nearby village of Kuban “bring” their dead to rest on top of the ground.

This unusual practice has become something of a macabre tourist attraction. Perhaps it is not really an “attraction” but a place that pricks peoples’ curiosity. The local people, though, have clearly become used to tourists coming to this site and so haggling and near constant pestering for “donations” has to be dealt with.

One can only reach this site by boat, a small fleet of which awaits visitors at the end of a wooden jetty where the stunning Mount Batur looks on.

Crossing the lake to Trunyan takes between 20 and 30 minutes and upon arrival a small huddle of men awaits any arriving boats.

The cemetery is small and there is little need or sign of maintenance. Although this is the final resting place for a number of people, a sense of respect for the dead does seem to be in short supply here.

Human skulls are lined up on stonewall shelves, which makes for a quite eerie sight to begin with but then the men here will invite visitors to pick a skull up and presumably pose for a photo; all of the visitors to this site on this occasion were quite quick to decline this invitation.

The views across the lake to Mount Batur are quite stunning and despite the annoying attendants, this is a peaceful place.

In this final resting place, the bodies of the deceased are just covered in cloth and rudimentary bamboo cages. These cages are flimsy and practically leave the body out in the open to the elements.

This creates an obvious concern; dead bodies left out in the open will of course decompose and the potential for unwelcome odors and even health concerns is real. However here, apparently, the presence of a banyan tree, described as holy, has warded off such concerns.

The huge banyan tree seems to stand as a guarding and protective figure of this cemetery. Its leafs carpet the ground around the gravesite and presumably this is part of the way in which the tree keeps the area free from unwelcome odors and so on.

Even with the hassle and haggling from the people that wait and wander about the cemetery, this is still a peaceful place that enjoys beautiful and powerful scenery. The lake dazzles in the Balinese sunlight and Mount Batur watches somewhat broodingly in the distance.

Returning across the lake local people are traveling by boat to the cemetery, it seems to pay their respects to the dead. They smile and wave as their boat glides on by; they seem to realize what a pleasant part of the world they live in and may rest in peace in one day.

Source: The Jakarta Post

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