A Christmas Message: Will We Go Looking For Him?
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king. Soon afterwards, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the
British School Jakarta Rocks the Stage with “We Will Rock You”
British School Jakarta (BSJ) recently captivated audiences with their vibrant production of We Will Rock You (WWRY), the hit musical based on Queen’s iconic songs, written by Ben Elton. Performed at the BSJ World Theatre in Bintaro Jaya, the show ran on November 25, 26, and 28, showcasing the remarkable talents of BSJ’s students through
Best Charities in Jakarta: Where to Give This Christmas Season
The Christmas season is sometimes called the ‘season of giving’, and whilst that certainly has to do with the practice of giving Christmas presents, this also stems from a tradition of charitable giving at the end of the year. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, it doesn’t matter —what better way is there to show
Reviving Batik in Jakarta: Preserving The City’s Textile Artisans
Unlike Solo, Pekalongan, Yogyakarta, Cirebon or Lasem, Jakarta is not on the radar when we think of batik producing regions. At least, it’s no longer on the radar, as Jakarta was once one of the main hubs for batik-making, complete with its own motifs and styles. So, what happened? Here we explore the history of
Barnyard Jakarta: An Urban Nature Reserve in the Heart of Kemang
Experience the perfect harmony of nature and creativity at Barnyard Jakarta, an Urban Nature Reserve nestled in the vibrant neighbourhood of Kemang, South Jakarta. Once a bustling hub of activity, Kemang has lacked engagement in recent years, but the newly opened Barnyard aims to revitalise the area’s sense of community and creativity by offering a
A Window into the Art, History & Culture of Kota Tua Jakarta
“The Art, History & Culture of Kota Tua of Jakarta” was an outstanding event hosted by the Indonesian Heritage Society on 21 August 2024. The event took place in the soon-to-be-opened House of Tugu, Kota Tua, granting participants a sneak peak into an extraordinary destination found in the historic heart of the city. With a
Vox Populi: What Are Your Hopes for a Non-Capital Jakarta?
In losing its title as Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta must spread its many feathers to show the world what it has to offer. So, NOW! Jakarta asks prominent figures what their hopes are for a Jakarta without its title, asking them to answer about their field, industry or community. Here’s what they had to say:
Room to Read: Scaling Access to Libraries and Storybooks in Indonesia
Founded in 2000, global non-profit organisation ‘Room to Read’ has brought the magic of reading to children in marginalised regions across the world. The organisation’s core belief is that by designing and providing reading materials and programmes, educational outcomes will significantly improve. They continue this mission here in Indonesia. Working in 24 countries, since its
The Menteng Heritage Society and the Fight to Preserve Jakarta’s Historic Homes
On Saturday, 20 April 2024, the Menteng Heritage Society, Indonesian Heritage Society and Tugu Kunstkring hosted the first ‘Menteng Open’, a walking tour and lecture event focused on the heritage houses of one of Jakarta’s oldest districts, Menteng. ‘Minting’, as it was then called, was already scribbled onto old Dutch maps back in 1695. What
Kartini Day Commemoration: Beyond the Ritual
Based on a Presidential Decision issued by President Sukarno in May 1964, 21st April is celebrated as Kartini Day in Indonesia, to honour the national heroine recognised as a pioneer for female emancipation in the country. School girls and sometimes female office workers would dress up in kebayas, to go to school or work, similar
East Meets Wines: Pairing with Asian Cuisine
Leading up to this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations I received many questions about what wines pair best with Chinese food. As you can imagine, many dishes from this rich and flavourful cuisine won’t find a good pairing, but a handful result in some surprisingly delicious combinations! Firstly, let’s get to back to the fundamentals
Skal Spectacular at Singosari
Skål is a professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Skal members, the industry’s managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional and international levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest. History
Preserving Linguistic Heritage: An Interview with H.E Padraig Francis, Ambassador of Ireland to Indonesia
“Tír gan teanga is tír gan anam”, a country without a language, is a country without a soul. This age-old Irish proverb in the Irish language, or Gaeilge as it is called in that language, carries a profound truth that is often overlooked by the world. Far beyond the assumption of a predominantly English-speaking Ireland,