Here we go :
1. PH_Alerts
I dream of no more traffic jam in Jakarta as we have already the MRT’s and its fastest vehicle/train http://bit.ly/cOqhzz

2. ariespurwo

I dream of Indonesians to be the top leader in world biggest companies.

I dream that UN will always waiting for our advice before release new policy or resolution.

I dream of no more traffic jam in Jakarta as we have already the MRT’s and its fastest vehicle/train

I dream of no more beggars, and zakat is administered properly to alleviate poverty

3. tasialarosa

i dream of indonesian language being taught in universities around the world as one of important languages alongside w/ jpanese&French

4. Rossantoy

I want ppl around the world to recognize our culture,cuisine,crafts,dances,songs, so they’d say in amazement “This Has To Be Indonesian!”

5. mtaufanrp

my dreams of Indonesia, led by a great leader, who could bring smiles to every face of Indonesian; that’s the root of my every dream

6.Ameliasimbolon

Indonesian tourism industry will be the largest source of fore reserve, and it is very popular worldwide

7. carissayufita

My dream is Indonesia enters and hosts the World Cup

9. BenyYusron

Indonesia will be a corruption-free country

10. AyoEHere

My dream is for Indonesia to have MRT facilities and admission-free toll road

11. alainbunjamin

i dream of no discrimination againts any race,tribe,ethnic, religion,soc class, realization of freedm in xperessin thoughts n opinions

12. jacobbashay

Indonesia to become world’s largest food exporter country

13. ariespurwo

I dream of Mandiri will be the world number one competitor for Citibank.

14. meatid

Indonesia will be one of the best education destination for international students

15. yuliatweets

my dream: waking up every morning watching a blue sky above Jkt (i.e. a pollution-free country )

16. My Dreams of Indonesia – Dian Harigelita Mochtar

I dream of an Indonesia, where every district has its own library.

I dream of an Indonesia, where the well-being of teachers are looked after by the government.
I dream of an Indonesia, where children are taught first to love Indonesia.
Finally, I dream of an Indonesia that realizes it is a people of hope, struggle, togetherness, laughter, pride, respect, faith, justice, and freedom.

16. Fuad_fufu_Helmi

my biggest dream is for Indonesia to have a walk of fame like in Hollywood so we know that we also have legends.

17. yotowordpress

i dream of all mining company in Indonesia are owned and managed by Indonesian people.

18. lucianancy

i hope Indonesia have MANY proper school buildings for all children instead of ONE magnificient building for House of Representatives.

19.ivan_patra06

I have a dream, someday a railway is built across the archipelago, connecting every provinces in Indonesia.

20.biyasbayu

my dream of indonesia is so simple, I really wanna indonesia without corruptor, and want to see FIFA world cup trophy in our hand..

21. amuliaw

i dream, if people in the world know ‘Indonesia’ better than ‘Bali’, not the opposite like today…

22. goe_gun

I wanna have trustworthy senators in the House of Representatives who love people they represent than their own

23. fisazahra

my dream is, Indonesia has many teachers to make their students feel happy to go to school to study!

24.haryoseptoria

develop agro techno in central java region to create an autonomous community based on resources they have

25. nhafiasara

starbuck use Indonesian coffee and consumers aware of its distinctive classy aroma

26. nhafiasara

Indonesians wud well aware of d needs 2 b a part of modern society w/ zillion tolerance n high dignity without harmless pride

27. Sauqina

Indonesia to become center of education where students from around the world study in Indonesian schools and universities

28. luly_joenoes

Security for it’s people on basic need such as food, health, education & the future

29. halloarie

indonesia has cutting-edge expertises in agriculture, farming and fisheries, this will propel the growth

30.Tia_aja

Indonesia to resume the spirit of Gotong Royong (collective works) and Musyawarah untuk Mufakat (compromise) to restore the national identity and dignity

We have the honor to share with you someone who left his comment to our last entry. He is Mr. Abdul Jalil :

Dear Mr Akhyari Hananto,

Let me applause for what you have written above, as I read them, everything is just like silent as I focused on every single words you put there…

I found some unusual words because of my vocabularies are lack, BUT still, I could catch the whole meaning of this writing, it’s just a very nice reading and it motivates me alot to do something or at least to love my country more

As what u wrote, I do agree that Indonesia has miles changed and it’s no longer become a country that can be really proud of, with all those internal problems still I cannot ensure myself to see Indonesia comes back as what it was or become even better…

When you mentioned about your past memories, I also recalled some of the sweetest memories of my young, though I was not from well-off family but at that I was very reach with smiling, no burden, affection from parents and relatives and many others things…

You have nice dreams to this beloved country and I believe that lots people out there are also dreaming of the same things So from this comment, personally, I want to say that it is a very good news to hear that there are still people like you who are still dreaming and expecting for Better Indonesia and I do hope to hear more and more from you and any other Indonesian in order to keep me motivated day by day! Nice to read your writing

Best regards,
Abdul Jalil”

Thank you all

(Akhyari Hananto)

The Boston Consulting Group said more than 610 million people in the “BRICI” markets currently use the Internet regularly but that will grow to 1.2 billion by 2015 — over three times more than the United States and Japan combined.

Annual growth will be between nine to 20 percent, driven predominantly by young users who “will form the digital-market eco-systems that will be in place for generations to come”, the US-based management consulting firm said.

“Right now, 60 percent of BRICI Internet users are under the age of 35,” said the report, entitled “The Internet’s New Billion”.

“As they earn even higher incomes and develop more complex online needs, there will be a colossal opportunity for digital companies to monetise services and products.

“Those companies that manage to do so will reap the tremendous benefits of this massive digital revolution.”

The study highlighted wide-ranging differences in the ownership of personal computers in the five countries, from five percent in India and Indonesia to 20 percent in China and about 32 percent in Brazil and Russia.

But while it suggested that Brazil and Russia would see a far greater take-up of PCs in the next five years, Internet users in other countries could skip the PC ownership stage and move straight into the mobile Internet market.

Mobile phone ownership is already high in BRICI countries, making web-enabled smartphones a potential growth area as networks expand.

Source: AFP

It is also world’s most diverse country. There is not a single country in this world with so much diversity. I am still aware of many mysteries and I am sure my whole life won’t be sufficient to know everything about Indonesia. Indonesia is my country, and I am proud to be Indonesian, so very proud.

I was born in a village called Wonosalam, at the slope of Merapi mountain in the north of Yogyakarta town. I can still clearly recall how simbok simbok (elderly women) walking for long in the mist of a dawn going to traditional market, selling vegetables, eggs, or kerupung. I can still recall I went to Kuning river and jumped on river stones and into the fast-flowing clear water. I can still recall my village was surrounded by green paddy field, I can still recall cows and sheep were released freely to on the farm, i can still recall, people were laughing, smiling, joking, talking about how good Indonesia was. I can still recall people in my village always working collectively to build new homes, clean up roads, or to prepare community events, i can still recall many many many beautiful memories.

Now… things have changed, everything is different now. I have lost my strength to say what have changed, i can only say that we must go back to the line which will lead us to our national dream.

I was asked by a pedicab driver in Surabaya few days ago, “Do you think we can restore the good old days?”. “Certainly, we can build better new days”, I replied. As I expected, he continued by asking “HOW?”. I smiled to him, because it’d be too long to elaborate on how to develop such a big country like Indonesia.

The next day, a preacher in a mosque said to its audience that if it’s too hard to plan something, dream about it first. Aha… Dream!

My dream for my country is for it to become prosperous and peaceful and a pacesetter in all aspects of nationhood in the world. We have the resources – both human and natural – to become a great nation, if only all of us would put our minds and hearts into getting this country to where it belongs.

I dream of a peaceful and progressive country; contented smiles on people’s faces everywhere; a government free of corruption.

I wish for Indonesia to further strengthen its bilateral democratic relations with other countries; to make itself progressive in the local, national and international economies, in the United Nations, for the Indonesian economy to boost itself; for Indonesia to have a brilliant and strong government who is without the stain of corruption and will emulate high qualities of honest and quality governance, good spiritual foundation, and good visions towards prosperity; for Indonesia to reach the stature of highly-developed, highly progressive and affluent countries; and for Indonesia to emerge and become a stronger force in the whole world.

I dream of Indonesia entering World Cup.

I dream of Garuda Indonesia acquiring Qantas or British Airways.

I dream…

(Akhyari Hananto)

Each of my interviewers was incredibly thorough, preparing and framing questions, discussing with producers and calming guests all at the same time. Each interview was a unique scenario.

While many outsiders tend to see media outlets as vessels that are ready to spring on the ill-prepared and foolhardy, I’ve always viewed it — especially in Indonesia — as an intensely competitive, individualistic environment. In short: You generalize at your peril.

Najwa Shihab, the host of the Metro TV current events program “Mata Najwa,” is delightful and extremely gracious. Rosianna Silalahi, formerly of SCTV, has a razor-sharp mind acutely honed toward politics.

Her new production, the “Rossy Show” on Global TV, is not for the evasive.

Meanwhile, TVOne’s Tina Talisa is indefatigable — buttonholing Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan for an interview upon meeting him.

Karim in one interview session

I should add that she was also in the middle of interviewing three other guests on Indonesia-Malaysia bilateral relations.

So, Indonesian journalists are obviously as diverse as the rest of the country. They can also be pretty demanding. While they strive to put you at ease, the expectations for guests are high.

Indeed, in the background, you can sometimes see the producers and assistants shaking their heads when someone misses the point or pontificates.

Having completed four separate sessions on Indonesian television in the past few days, I have to confess that the experience was as challenging as it was enjoyable.

The reason behind my sudden exposure to the world of TV news began on Aug. 13 when three Indonesian fisheries officers were detained by Malaysian police. I had initially expected the matter to be settled amicably.

However, the timing was very unfortunate, just days before Independence Day celebrations on the 17th.

Understandably, Indonesia’s media went into overdrive and the issue quickly developed its own momentum.

In the ensuing controversy, the public became increasingly incensed at what was perceived to be a series of deliberate slights.

The first was the perceived “barter” transaction — that the Indonesian officers had been released in exchange for seven Malaysian fishermen who were detained earlier.

Subsequently, it was alleged that the Indonesian officials had been poorly treated while being detained.

In the following weeks, certain Malaysian politicians unfortunately chose to adopt aggressive tones just as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono seemed to step back from taking stern action.

At the same time, Malaysians were disturbed when demonstrators threw human excrement at their country’s embassy in Jakarta and by the apparent belligerence of Indonesia’s media.

Amid this highly volatile environment — and because Malaysians were in short supply — I made my halting and ungrammatical appearances on national TV.

In the past I’ve tended to see these bilateral problems as the preserve of politicians and diplomats. However, this time around, I felt I had to add my voice to the debate.

At the same time, friends in Jakarta-based media were desperately looking for a Malaysian — any Malaysian — who could provide an alternative perspective.

So what did I learn? Well, for starters, TV, especially live TV, is about human emotions. Yes, you must be clear in what you say, but the way you say it and the reactions from your fellow guests as well as the all-important interviewer are critical.

Second, you have to remain calm, however provocative or heated the discussion might get. Equanimity is critical.

Third, when you are in someone else’s country you have to pick your words very carefully — all the more so since you’ve still got to return back to Kuala Lumpur at some stage and Malaysians, especially the government, are less tolerant of critical views in the media.

Sadly, back in Kuala Lumpur we’re still in an era similar to Suharto’s New Order — with no reformasi on the horizon.

Which brings me to the last point: namely that the vastly different political cultures of our two countries make a swift resolution of outstanding bilateral issues difficult if not impossible.

In Indonesia, media are mirrors of the nation’s complexity. In Malaysia, control and regimentation mean we often forgo our diversity in the quest for discipline. Still, one must hope that cooler heads will continue to prevail.

Karim Raslan is a columnist who divides his time between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Source: The Jakarta Globe

Baliem Valley, inhabited by the Dani tribe, is the most fertile part of the highland covering the west of the New Guinea Island – Papua (Irian Jaya). Baliem Valley lies about 1800 m above the sea level, and it is surrounded by a crest of mountians some of which reach up to 4500 m. There are even some fish in the Baliem River which flows through the valley. The area covered by the Baliem valley is not large, roughly 60×30 km.

If somebody dies, Dani women color their body with mud Mrs. Jitka peeling sweet potatos with Dani women in Baliem Valey

The first missionary, Loyd van Stone, parachuted there as late as 1954. Only then did the civilization of the Baliem valley, and Dani and Lani tribes, begin. Since then, the Baliem valley has become a gate for discovering the west of the Papua highland. No road has been built there yet, but in Wamana a large airport was built, and supplies are now transported by large freight airplanes. American Hercules planes brought vans and construction machinery. Thanks to this, a large network of asphalt roads could emerge, brick houses were built, etc. Despite all these developments, the Baliem valley is still dominated by the straw roofs of the Dani tribe.

Dani Tribe – West Papua Head-hunters

Danis are an indigenous tribe, which dwelled in the Baliem valley in the time of its discovery. Danis belong to some the “most decorative” tribes in the west Papua.

Their fondness for “dressing up” shows the most during the time of war. You have probably seen the famous photos of Dani tribe members with boar tusks in their noses, and headdresses made of Paradise birds feathers. Dani men only wear long and thin kotekas. The women Danis wear short skirts woven from orchid fibers, decorated with straw, and with indispensable woven bags called “noken” across their backs. Similar to the women of the Yali tribe, the Dani women wear short skirts below their butts.

Despite the fact that Danis were discovered quite late – in 1938, they became one of the best known tribes in New Guinea. Dani occupied one of the most fertile parts of Papua. As a result they often had to fight for their territory. There were also frequent wars among the Danis themselves. They were the most dreaded head-hunting tribe on the island, which is even more remarkable if we consider that they did not eat their enemies, like the majority of other Papuan tribes did.

Dani build round or oval huts, and their villages are enclosed by fences. They are farmers, and their small fields are distinctly bordered. This is what helped Richard Archbold spot them from the plane. The Dani tribe’s customs and culture are very rich and interesting. Several pages could be written on these topics.

The main reason that the Dani tribe is so well known, is that the Baliem valley where they live, is relatively easy to reach these days. Wamena was a point of departure for many expeditions. The Dani villages are visited by virtually every tourist who sets out in west Papua. Some villages even show their original customs and hold mock wars.

Another thing which brought fame to the Dani tribe are the several hundred years old ”smoked” mummies of famous tribesmen. Two of them can be seen in the Baliem valley – in Akima and Jiwika villages.

Extracting salt by immersing banana stems in salt lakes is another relatively well known custom. The Dani tribe is also notorious for the following custom that if someone dies in the village, then each of his female relatives will have a segment of their finger cut off. The mutilated hands of women can still be seen in Dani villages, despite the fact that missionaries tried to purge them of this custom.

Source : http://www.papuatrekking.com

The grand facade of the House of Sampoerna Museum in Surabaya

Despite its common name, the House of Sampoerna Museum as it’s properly called is actually devoted almost entirely to the history of Sampoerna, one of Indonesia’s largest companies and of course primarily involved in the production of cigarettes. It’s a classic “rags to riches” story revolving around the company’s founder Liem Seeng Tee. The orphan Tee started out selling snacks on trains as a young boy. After saving up enough money for a bicycle, he used it to go into the charcoal business. Eventually he founded Sampoerna, which was recently purchased by international tobacco giant Philip Morris for a staggering 5.2 Billion dollars.

inside

When you first enter the museum, you’re hit not with the smell of tobacco, but the aroma of cloves. The main product of Sampoerna is the uniquely Indonesian kretek cigarettes, made from a blend of tobacco and cloves. The museum displays various memorabilia from the company’s past, such as the push-carts originally used to sell products, old printing presses and even that old bicycle that got Mister Tee his start in the charcoal business.

The view from the second floor of the museum, out to the factory where cigarettes are still made by hand

Curiously, the old factory building which houses the museum actually started out as an orphanage built in 1858. There are three long buildings which must have originally been dormitories as part of the complex. In between the three factory buildings are two small structures. When Sampoerna acquired the compound in 1932, the smaller buildings were used as the family homes, and one of them continues to serve that purpose to this day. The other house is now a cafe and gallery.

The building that now serves as the museum was surplus to requirements when Sampoerna first purchased the factory, and so was turned into a theater. Charlie Chaplin performed there some time in 1932, and it was here that the future president Sukarno made speeches in 1932. The museum is laid out over two floors. The first floor is a series of galleries covering the history of the family, the company and memorabilia from the company’s early days.

The second floor holds a surprise. On reaching the top of the stairs, you’re faced with a large glass wall that looks out over a still functioning factory where the House of Sampoerna still makes its premium cigarettes by hand. The scene is a little bit surreal, as the hundreds of ladies’ hands move faster than the eye can follow. A small area of the second floor allows you to see a smaller group of ladies work close-up as they roll, clip and box cigarettes at the rate of about 4,000 per person per day.

The museum is open every day. Admission is free.

For more information, you can visit the museum’s web site at www.houseofsamperna.com.