Can Surabaya Become a Sustainable City?
Surabaya is probably not the first place you would have chosen as the preferred model for sustainability – its hot, busy, industrial and very developed… but as you will see when we examine all the reasons and criteria, it has an excellent chance of indeed becoming the first Indonesian city to be at least on
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
Moores Rowland: Profit from Tax Consulting and Auditing Services
The Ides of March are near and that can only mean one thing. It’s time to prepare your taxes. It’s the time of year when a trusted tax advisor is needed to navigate through Indonesia’s intricate fiscal frameworks. Enter Moores Rowland Indonesia’s expert team of tax consultants and auditors with their tailored solutions designed for
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr: Reflections on Spirituality, Community, and Gratitude
For Muslims around the world Ramadan is a special moment provided by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (SWT). It marks a month of virtue, more so than any other month. Muslims who sincerely take part in Ramadan worship commit to be pious behaviour and firm religious practice, and when the moment of Eid al-Fitr 1445 Hijriyah arrives
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
The Habibie Center: Indonesia’s Advocate of Democracy
The Habibie Center was founded by the former president of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie and his family as an independent, non-governmental and non-profit organisation. With a vision to advance modernisation and democratisation efforts in Indonesia based on morality, cultural integrity, and religious values. Indonesia honours Prof. B.J. Habibie not only as a technology pioneer but
The Ambassadors Round Table: Edition 1
The Ambassador’s Round Table highlights the important diplomatic relationships Indonesia has with the global community, made possible through well-established, Jakarta-based embassies. Hosted by NOW! Jakarta Founder, Alistair Speirs, this forum gives a platform for prominent Ambassadors to Indonesia to share more about their respective country’s programmes and on-going objectives here in Indonesia. Edition 1 welcomes
Indonesian Democracy in Process: A Historic & Contemporary Review
On 14 February 2024, Indonesia held its simultaneous general and presidential elections. This has attracted global attention as it is the largest democratic process of its kind in the world; whatever opinion one might have on its outcomes, the sheer scale of its process is without a doubt an impressive feat. The geographic and demographic
The Evolution of Chinese-Indonesian Rights and the Sign of a New Indonesia
In the Indonesia we see today, one might take for granted the freedoms and liberties we currently have. However, older generation Chinese-Indonesians are one group that certainly do not take this lightly, many of whom continue to live with the mental and emotional scars of the country’s darker, discriminatory past. The open cultural celebrations of
From Fantasy to Fact: The Making of the New Capital IKN
The debate over the transfer of the national capital from Java to Kalimantan ended with the passage of Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the National Capital (IKN Law). This law was signed and officially published on 15 February 2022, which established the Nusantara Capital Authority, a ministry-level organization that oversees the Special Capital Region
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
The Evolution of Jakarta’s Transport
Oh! We are all such suckers for nostalgia, but as they say ‘Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be!” Sometimes looking back, we tend to romanticise our memories. I will try not to do that, especially about transport, but you never know! Let’s start with the demise of the simplest, non-polluting, form of transport you
