IndonesiaPics.com

Vinegar Green Chillies

2011-11-29T22:00:00.001-08:00

When I am having noodles for lunch or dinner, I liked to add some vinegar green chillies to it. The vinegar green chillies taste great and it does makes me more hungry for food. Sometimes I find that some of the food outlets do not have vinegar green chillies even though they are selling noodles, soup or rice. But most of the Chinese restaurants in Jakarta will have it - and normally light soya sauce is added to it to enhance the flavor.

My friend told me that it is easy to make vinegar green chillies at home. His instruction was - get green chillies ( make sure that the chillies are firm, discard the bad ones) and sliced them. Remove all the seeds for better presentation and taste. Soak the green chillies in water with some salt for an hour.

Sterilised a glass bottle. Get a glass bottle with a non metalic cover and with a big mouth opening. Pour about a cup of white vinegar into a saucepan and add 2 tablespoon of sugar. Heat up and stir the vinegar till the sugar has melted and blend with the vinegar and then let it cool.

Rinse away the water from the green chillies and remove seeds or any impurities. Put the green chillies inside the glass bottle and pour the vinegar into the bottle. Seal the bottle and placed it in the fridge. Let it soak for 3 days and then it is ready to serve.

Try it at home. Vinegar green chillies taste great with noodles.

Teach Chinese Language to all Indonesia School Children

2011-07-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting news today on Sweden. The Swedish Education Minister said that Chinese language will be taught to all school children within 10 years. If this plan does get implemented, then Sweden will be the first Europe country to offer Chinese language to all its school children.

The reason why Sweden is doing this is because it recognized the global role that China is playing in world trade and politics; so learning the Chinese language will help its citizens to be more competitive globally. I felt that this is a smart move by Sweden in which the Indonesian government should emulate. Indonesia had seen a sharp rise in trade and investment with China. In fact there are now many Chinese firms investing in Indonesia; and in Jakarta you can see quite a number of Chinese nationals in the city itself. They are here mainly for business and as tourists.

Indonesia should not ignore the rising economic powers of China. In the next few years, thousands of Chinese will be setting up and operating their businesses in Indonesia; and also coming in holidays. The Indonesian government should start a program for its school children and citizens to learn the Chinese language. It would be good if the learning of Chinese language can be taught from preschool or elementary level; because young children can learn and pick up language skills easier and faster. For adults, the emphasis could be more on conversation skill in Chinese. I am sure many working adults especially those working in retail malls, restaurants, hotels, travel and other service industries would benefit greatly in learning to communicate in Chinese language - especially when there is now a huge surge in Chinese tourists going to Indonesia especially in Bali for holidays.

Therefore the Indonesian government should follow Sweden in stepping up efforts to let all the school children in schools learn the Chinese language. In this way, young Indonesians will have a competitive edge in the future when they work or transact businesses with the Chinese.

Selling iPads without Indonesian Instruction Manual is an Offence

2011-07-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

I read in the news that 2 Indonesian men have been arrested and detained in Prison for selling 2 used iPads bought in Singapore without Indonesian Instruction manual. The two men listed their iPads for sale on the online forum Kaksus. The potential buyer is an undercover police officer who arrested them for breaking the law of selling their items without Indonesian instruction manual. They would be charged under Article 62 of the Consumer Protection Law of selling electronic items without Indonesian instruction manual; and also charged under Article 52 of the Telecommunication Law because an iPad is not listed as an official communication gadget.

I think the action of the police has gone too far and overdone. The Consumer Law defines two parties - the Consumer and the Entrepreneurs. In this case I would not define these 2 men as entrepreneurs. If they were traders, then their primary activities would be to trade, sell or service iPads as a business. They are simply owners of this iPads wanting to sell off their personal stuff.

What if I wanted to sell my LCD TV, mobile phones or fridge that I currently owned and I advertised it either online or in the local newspapers. Added to this, I have already thrown away the instruction manuals and my mobile phone was bought in Singapore. Would this constitute an offence under the Consumer Law? These are personal items that I owned and wish to get rid because I am going to replace it with new models. Does the Consumer Law now defines me as an entrepreneur? I think the police should focus their attention on traders, distributors, retailers and manufacturers instead of owners who owned or bought these items.

By the way, I am thinking of selling off my LCD TV because I wanted to upgrade in buying a LED TV. Goodness I now have to find where is the Indonesian instruction manual for this LCD TV.

Organic Apples

2011-06-02T00:12:00.000-07:00

Nowadays eating organic fruits and vegetables is a new trend for many people. I think this is because consumers are fed up with pesticides and chemicals found in the fruits and vegetables. I have some friends in Indonesia who takes pride in growing some fruit trees, chilli plants and some vegetables in their backyard of their homes. I think this is very nice as there is nothing more pleasurable and healthy than eating what you have grown.

I enjoy eating apples and normally I will buy apples that are grown organically. Is there a difference between organic and normal apples? Well, the first difference is the price. Organic apples are more expensive than the norm. Secondly, organic apples do not look so attractive and shiny than the normal apples. The reason why I buy them is that the organic apples taste better. They are more crunchy, juicy and not so sweet. Now for this assessment, I am comparing New Zealand organic and non organic apples - which I normally buy them.

When I am eating organic apples, I simply rinse them with water and eat it with the skin. Now if I am eating non organic apples, I will rinse it longer or soak them in water before eating it. There are some apples from China which looks very shiny with a layer of wax on it - I will not buy them. I read from a newspaper which wrote that a study was done in United States found that organic fruits indeed have more nutrients than the non organic fruits. Well if this is true, then it is even more beneficial to eat organic fruits. But for me, I know that the organic apples taste much better and this is so even after keeping the apples in the fridge for more than a week.

The two photographs are organic apples that I bought - which are from New Zealand. There are no wax on the skin and the apples are delicious.

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Caterpillar outbreak in West Java and Bali

2011-04-15T22:05:00.000-07:00

There are reports of a caterpillar outbreak in West Java, West Jakarta and in the popular tourist resort of Bali. There is no clear reason for this caterpillar infestation in so many areas in Indonesia. Some people commented that this outbreak is the punishment of God for the sins that we have committed. While a more logical explanation is the change in seasonal weather that have the effect on plants and insects. Perhaps it is just a natural phenomenon and things will get back to normal again in a couple of weeks.

The thing about caterpillar is that it can cause a very irritable form of rash if you happen to touch it; or the caterpillar lands on your body and start crawling. I have suffered from a caterpillar rash before and it was definitely not pleasant. The rash will appear one or two days after touching the caterpillar and it will spread on your body. It is so itchy that you can hardly control the itch and then you want to start scratching it, which make it even worse. I have wrote a blog last year on my experience on the caterpillar rash and the cure ( medicine ) that the doctor has given me to cure this irritable rash. If you like to read it, just click the link below: -

Treatment for Caterpillar Rash

I think the authorities in Indonesia should not use so much insecticide to kill these caterpillars. The insecticide is harmful to the plants, trees, other insects, birds and soil. In fact we should protect nature and its environment as much as possible by not cutting down trees, trapping birds and animals and poisoning the soils.

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Restrictions on Motorcycles in Jakarta

2010-07-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

The Jakarta city administration is studying a plan to restrict the entry of motorcycles in certain areas during peak hours. As most of us know, the Jakarta traffic congestion is getting worse every year. The growth rate of motorcycles is about 900 a day. So based on this figure, the growth rate for motorcycles is more than 300,000 a year. And according to the city administration, the growth rate for new cars is 89,317 for the first half of this year. That works out to approximately 178,634 new cars a year; provided there is no significant jump in figures.

The Jakarta administration is also considering the use of the Electronic Road Pricing System ( ERP) that is now being used in Singapore. Under ERP system, motorists have to pay for the use of certain roads in certain hours. The Governor of Jakarta also mentioned that there will be improvement made to the public transportation system and plans for the Mass Rapid Transit system ( MRT ) to be implemented.

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In my view, the Jakarta city administration should focus its attention to plan and implement a good public transportation. They should start off with a efficient bus system that is clean, comfortable and punctual. If I am able to get a comfortable ride on the bus everyday to work or for leisure, then it make economic sense for me to give up my car and opt for public buses. And if the MRT can be built and implemented quickly, I am sure more people would love to use the MRT and buses as their means of transportation. Taxes that are collected from the ERP system should be use to improve the infrastructure of the public transport system. Take a look at the traffic lights, the roads and the pavements in the Jakarta and you see that it is in bad shape and in urgent need of upgrading and maintenance.

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The restrictions of motorcycles on the roads in Jakarta will not solve the current congestion woes. In fact it is unfair to just restrict motorcycles and ignoring other vehicles. All types of vehicles can contribute to congestion. The Jakarta city administration should resolve the congestion problems with a broader approach.

Pocari Sweat Indonesia

2010-04-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

   One of my favorite drink is Pocari Sweat, which is widely available in nearly all major supermarkets in Indonesia. Pocari Sweat is an isotonic drink which quickly replaces the loss of fluids especially after a vigorous exercise or physical work. Pocari Sweat that are sold in Indonesia are made in Indonesia by PT Amerta Indah Otsuka.

   In Indonesia, Pocari Sweat is sold in different packing. You can buy it in can, plastic bottle and in sachet. For the bottle, the content size is 350ml and for the powder sachet, it is 15g in net weight which is good for about 200ml of Pocari Sweat. My favorite are the bottle and the sachet pack This is because the bottle size of 350ml is totally sufficient to quench my thirst if I am perspiring after a work out or exercise. And for the sachet, I buy them to bring it along whenever I travel. It is hard to find Pocari Sweat if you are in remote places in Indonesia or in certain countries.

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Why do I like Pocari Sweat as compared to many other isotonic drinks that are available in the market? I like it simply because it is mild, gently sweet and easy on your stomach. There are isotonic drinks that are either too sweet or with taste of artificial flavors. And more importantly it works fast in replacing loss fluids and minerals in the body very effectively.

For my personal experience, Pocari Sweat works well for me when I am suffers from food poisoning which follow up with bad diarrhea. There were a few occasions that I suffered from really bad diarrhea while traveling. Dyhydration will take place when you have a diarrhea and worst of all I felt totally weak. My remedy is to drink Pocari Sweat to prevent dyhdration and follow up later with medicine. I will continue to drink Pocari Sweat for the next 48 hours and consume very little food. It normally work well for me. Also I will take Pocari Sweat when I am running a fever. I find it helpful in cooling down my body temperature. I normally drink it together with the medication that is given by the doctor.

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   Pocari Sweat is normally sold at a higher price as compared to other brands of Isotonic drinks. It is not the cheapest and definitely it is not the most expensive. But I have being drinking it for so many years and I have trusted it as an very effective isotonic drink.
My recommendation is to buy the sachet pack of Pocari Sweat and bring it along with you whenever you travel. There are 5 sachets in a box pack which would be sufficient for a one individual. If you have difficulty in the finding it at your local supermarket, you can order it direct online from Amazon.com - the link is below: -

   For more information/photos/videos on Indonesia, you can visit my website at -

       Indonesiapics.com

Video of Formosa Hotel Batam - Deluxe Room

2010-01-13T05:28:00.000-08:00

I have stayed in Formosa Hotel for many times. The thing I like about this hotel is the location and affordable room rates. The room is comfortable, clean and quiet. I have written a blog previously on my stay in Formosa hotel. If you are keen to find out my review of this hotel, just click the link below -

Review of My Stay in Formosa Hotel Batam

During my stay in January 2010, I have decided to make a short video of the Deluxe room of this hotel. So after viewing the room, you can decide for yourself whether it is a good place to stay. Do book in advance if you are going there on public holidays, as most of the time it is fully booked during such times.

For more videos/ photos/ blogs on Batam and Indonesia, do visit our website at -

Indonesiapics.com

Video of Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall in Batam

2010-01-10T03:20:00.000-08:00

   I went to Batam on January 2010 and make a point to visit the Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall. I will not go into detail to write on this mall as I have written a comprehensive blog previously. You can read it by clicking on the link below:

Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall - Blog

   The Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall is still the favorite mall among the locals and tourists. There are still lots of food outlets with a wide variety of food to choose. I notice that there are more cafes nowadays serving their own version of exotic coffee. Food prices remains affordable and you can see lots of people enjoying their meals or drinking coffee and watching the world goes by.

   I have done a short video on the Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall. So you can have a visual impression on this mall, so enjoy;and do visit this mall when you are going to Batam.

For more videos / photos and blogs on Batam and Indonesia, do visit our site at -

Indonesiapics.com

Spat between Indonesia and Malaysia

2009-09-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

   Just a few days ago I received an email from a young lady from one of a social networking site. It was from an Indonesian lady. In her email she asked me whether I am a Malaysian. If this answer is Yes, then she will delete me as a friend from her profile. She wrote further that she has no choice but to take this measure because of what Malaysia has done to Indonesia. She was going to delete all friends who are Malaysian and so she wanted a confirmation from me about my citizenship via email.

   Did I respond to her email? Yes I did. I told her that this was the dumbest thing to do, Such an act is totally irrational and I was disappointed with her act of deleting all her Malaysian friends. I reminded her that spat between Indonesia and Malaysia has been going on for so many years. It is up to the government of both countries to work out their differences and to promote friendly ties. Personally do I care whether she delete me from her profile? Not at all. Because if I were to add up all the friends that I have from the major social networking sites - such as myspace, facebook, etc, I would have close to 3,000 friends; and this is list of friends is growing every month.

   I read in the papers that Indonesian youths and groups have done many stupid things because of this spat which in this instance arises from the origin of a balinese pendet dance, which appears in an advertisement on the promotion of Malaysia. Youths in Indonesia burn Malaysian flag, throw eggs and bottles at the Malaysian embassy, stop traffic and people - demanding to see IDs of people on the streets to determine their nationality. These are all illegal activities which I hope that the Jakarta's police will act strongly to put a stop to such stupid acts. The police in Jakarta should not allow these groups to roam in the streets threatening innocent people.

   How long will this recent spat between Indonesia and Malaysia last? I believe if there can be constructive dialogue and meetings between the two countries, this spat will fade into background very quickly. For me, it is important to treat everyone with respect - irregardless of his nationality, race, status or color. That is the essence of friendship.

   For read my other blogs, photos and videos on Indonesia - go to my site at - Indonesiapics.com

   And for photos, blogs and videos on Singapore and Malaysia, you can visit our site at - ImageSingapore.com

89 Hotel in Batam Indonesia

2009-06-09T23:45:00.000-07:00

There is a hotel in Batam that is called the 89 Hotel. It is located in Penuin area in Nagoya. The nearest mall to this hotel will be the Plaza Top 100 and also the BCS Mall - the Batam City Square Mall. Walking distance to these 2 malls is approximately 15 - 20 minutes.

I have taken some photos of this 89 Hotel and posted it in my website at - Indonesiapics.com .I have not stay in this 89 Hotel before so I will not be posting any comment about the room or services. I was there relatively early at about 11.30 am wanting to check in but was told to come back in about 1 hour time. Not wanting to wait, I went to visit the BCS Mall and Plaza Top 100.
Thereafter, I decide to move on from there. I will try to take some time to stay there in the near future.

Overall, the exterior of 89 Hotel looks well maintained. However, the location is slightly remote - you need to take a cab if you want to go to the town center of Nagoya. Next to the hotel there are no convenience store if you want to buy some food or drinks. Plaza Top 100 is on the left of this hotel and you need to cross the road first.

For more information about Batam and Indonesia, visit our website at - Indonesiapics.com
For information about Singapore and Johor Bahru Malaysia, go to our website at - ImageSingapore.com

Sekupang Ferry Terminal in Batam

2009-05-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

I do not normally land at Sekupang Ferry Terminal when I go to Batam. Like most people, I will land in Batam Center Ferry Terminal. But on one particular occasion, due to a peak demand, I have decided to take a ferry trip to Sekupang Ferry Terminal.

If you compare the two ferry terminals, Sekupang Ferry Terminal is much quieter. There are much less people landing at this terminal. Years ago, it used to be a worn out building. But now it is clean, modern and the custom clearance is efficient and fast. So why is it attracting less traffic than Batam Center Ferry Terminal? My answer is that in Sekupang, when you step out of the terminal, there is practically nothing interesting. The only thing that you can do is to a cab and head straight to Batam main town center. However if you land at Batam Center Ferry Terminal, you have the option of going the Mega Mall, which is just opposite this ferry terminal. It is a good mall with lots of food outlets and a major supermarket.

The distance to town from both ferry terminals are almost the same. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the town center from the both ferry terminals. I think the authorities of Batam should look into developing the areas near to the Sekupang Ferry Terminal. Add a major shopping mall, a hotel, a post office, a bank and perhaps an office building. This is definitely drive more traffic to this quiet ferry terminal. There is a taxi counter just outside the ferry terminal, prices are fixed depending on the location where you are going. Because it is relatively a quiet terminal, I do not recommend anyone to land there during the night, unless you have someone to pick you up from there.

I have posted some photos of Sekupang Ferry Terminal here, for more photos of this ferry terminal or locations in Batam, visit our website at - Indonesiapics.com
If you need to know more about Singapore and Johor Bahru Malaysia, go to our website at - ImageSingapore.com

Billboards In Jakarta

2009-04-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

It seems that the Jakarta administration is studying whether the traditional billboards that are currently seen and used in Jakarta can be replaced by the newer version - the LCD billboard. They wanted start it off to see whether the LCD billboards can be used on the top of the buildings, because traditional billboards collapsed during stormy weather or persistent strong winds.

You can see thousands of billboards in the city of Jakarta. It seems that the advertisers have the mentality that the bigger the billboard, the better will be the results. The billboards are there to catch the attention of drivers and pedestrians on the road or walkways. Many of these billboards have very colorful and distinctive visuals and catchy witty slogans. Sometimes too many billboards on the road may give the impression of untidy and chaotic streets or highways. Perhaps it is because these billboards are not properly organized or layout on the roads or buildings. Personally I like billboards as they add color and vibrancy to the place. If I am stuck in the congested traffic in Jakarta, I do glance at the billboards around me.

I do hope that the traditional billboards that are around will still be used for a long time to come. It will be disappointing to see LCD billboards replacing the current ones. In fact, I see that the LCD and traditional billboards can co-exist in harmony. LCD billboards need electricity for it to work and this may drive up advertisement costs and eventually the cost of the product itself. The Jakarta administration has to remember that just last year, the cost of fuel and electricity had shot up to the roof, before tampering off because of the global recession. Also, there is the common problem of frequent power failures and disruptions in this city.

For photos and information on Indonesia, visit our website at - Indonesiapics.com

If you are looking for information/photos/videos on Singapore & Johore, go to our website at - ImageSingapore.com

Lottery Scams

2009-03-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

The global economy has been flushed into the toilet. Millions of people around the world have lost their jobs. Businesses are losing money or simply gone bankrupt. In this difficult times, many people have turn to religions for comfort, while many more have turn to buying lottery tickets - it is their only glimmer of hope to get out of their financial misery.
Most of us have heard of the Nigerian scams. They promised to pay you big money if you agree to help them recover their so called cash locked in some banks overseas. Yet thousands of people around the world still became prey of these scams. And many of these people who are swindled are well educated professionals. Why? One of the main reason is because of GREED. It is greed that drives rational people to make irrational decisions. It is the desire to want more and the fear of losing out; that turn intelligent men into clueless clowns.
I receive scam mails very frequently through my mailbox. One of the most frequently used method of scam is the Lottery Scams. Here is one of the example that landed in my mailbox:-

Subject:
YOU HAVE WON US$820,000.00
From:
"CANADIAN LOTTERY (lotto lore)" (Add as Preferred Sender) ?
Date: Sat, Mar 14, 2009 2:09 am
To:
YOU HAVE WON US$820,000.00

Canadian National Lottery (Lotto lore)
Address: 2nd Floor Chiltern House
St Nicholas Court
25 - 27 Castlegate
Nottingham NG1 7AR,
United Kingdom

WINNING PRIZE NOTIFICATION

CONGRATULATIONS!

Dear Lucky Winner,

We happily announce to you the result of the National Lotto 6/49 lottery draws held on March 4, 2009 in Nottingham United Kingdom and Ontario, Canada. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,00 companies and personal e-mail addresses.

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B95647560 4545 100 with serial number 046560 drew the winning numbers 15/18/19/21/24/35 and Bonus 37

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum $820,000.00 in cash credited to file EAAL/9080118308/08. Please note that your lucky winning numbers fall within our West Africa booklet representative office in Cote D`Ivoire as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, $820,000.00 would be released to you by an accredited commercial Bank in Cote D`Ivoire. Our Cote D`Ivoire agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact their office.

To file for your claim, please contact our corresponding agent in Cote D`Ivoire immediately you read this message for quick and urgent release of your fund,

Contact information is as follow: -

Contact information is as follow:
Name: Mr. Eric Johnson
Email: xxxxxxx
Tel: xxxxxxx

Maybe one day, I shall write back and tell them to credit US$800,000 into my bank account and thereafter I will credit 1o,000,000 into their bank account. That 10 million will be in Indonesian rupiah. It is my way of saying thank you to these idiotic pigs who goes around doing evil things. To these evil devils who make a living out of scamming innocent people, I have a message for you - May You Rot In HELL. And to those people who have fallen into these scams - Serve You Right for being GREEDY. Now take this expensive lesson as a learning experience; and never have a GREED mentality again. You can be as successful as you want to be, it is a gift that God has given you; and the name of this gift is called WORK.

People must realized that there is no such thing as easy money. Cash does not fall into your lap. Schemes or businesses that promise lucrative and easy cash in return for your investment are mostly scams. In this difficult times, it is paramount that you must protect your savings and assets. If you have decided to try your luck in lottery, make sure that you are buying a legitimate state lottery ticket. And do not spend too much money on buying lottery ticket. If you do, then you are gambling. I always advice those who buy lottery tickets not to spend more than $50/- a month. For myself, I do not gamble, I do not buy lottery tickets and I have no interest in visiting casinos. I firmly believe that LUCK is always with me so long as I work diligently and stay focus on my goals.

For more information about Indonesia - visit our website at Indonesiapics.com. For information/photos on Singapore, visit our website at ImageSingapore.com

Indonesian Food - Asian Top Cuisine

2009-02-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

Indonesian food is so popular that in many countries of the world, you can find restaurants claiming to serve authentic Indonesian cuisine. The wonderful thing about Indonesian food is that there is no single cuisine that is the representation of Indonesian cuisine. In fact it is so diversify that you will be perhaps overwhelmed by it. However, there are certain food in Indonesia that are very common and popular. Examples are nasi goreng, satay, bakso, rendang, tempe, tahu, otak otak, chendol, etc. Indonesian food has a unique spicy flavor, however it does not mean that it is a hot and spicy.Coconut milk, sugar and spices are commonly used in the preparation of Indonesian food.

There are people who asked me whether Indonesian food is extremely high in cholestrol. I think it depends on what you are ordering. You can order food that is steam or non deep fried food. There are chicken or fish soups that are clear ( just like chinese soup) without adding coconut milk or sugar. Put it this way, a trip to a fast food restaurant serving beef burgers and french fries are high in cholestrol and salt. I think the best solution for those who enjoy eating good food is to do physical exercise. Make sure that you follow a routine to exercise at least 3 or 4 times a week. I enjoy taking a stroll, so I do it almost everyday. I find that physical exercise is good not only for the body; more importantly it relaxes the mind as well.

When you are in Indonesia, you don't have to go to fancy Indonesian restaurants to enjoy good Indonesian food. Of course if you can afford it, by all means do so. But do bear in mind that some of the best Indonesian food that I have tasted are being served in a humble small food outlets or by the street vendors. The prices of food from these humble food stalls are so low that it will put a broad smile on your face. Most of the Indonesian food that you order will be served together with rice. Rice is the staple food for all Indonesian irregardless whether you are super rich or poor. You can see white rice, fried rice, yellow rice, rice wrapped in leaves, rice used in deserts, etc. Just take your time to try them. Don't forget to try the deserts as well such as Es Chendol, cakes ( lapis ) crackers made from fish, prawns or vegetable ( krupuk ), tempe ( made of soya bean ), and many more delicious snacks.

For more information on Indonesia, visit our website at - Indonesiapics.com. For information on Singapore, check out - ImageSingapore.com

Planting Trees in Indonesia

2008-12-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, there was lack of awareness on the importance of planting trees. In Jakarta, you can hardly see trees on the pedestrian walkways; and there is a total lack of greenery and parks in the city. Recently I can see the sense of change in the attitudes of the government towards the importance of having more greenery.

Recently the First lady of Indonesia of lead the way towards the campaign of tree planting. She was quoted - "In the future, the number of trees in Indonesia should increase as rapidly as its population. " She encourage parents to plant a tree for every child that is born. Now that is a wonderful thing to do. The Governor of Jakarta has also embarked on a green plan of planting more trees and the creation of parks in the city. The creation of parks in Jakarta will definitely be welcome by the people staying in the city. Right now, you get to see lots of shopping malls, hotels and tall offices but you can hardly find any parks.

In Balikpapan, Aceh and Bandung the local governments have make it compulsory for young couples to plant a tree before they can get married. Is that to extreme? I don't think so. Because planting trees is not an expensive thing to do and it reinforce the principle of caring for the environment.Young people in Indonesia should be taught on the importance of trees. Trees is an essential component to our environment, it adds value and beautify the landscape. It provide us with shade and cleans up the air. Trees also acts as a effective sound barrier and is the best solution towards the fight against soil erosion.

For more information about Indonesia, visit our website at - Indonesiapics.com. For information on Singapore & Malaysia, visit our site at - ImageSingapore.com

By-Laws and Challenging the Real Problems in Indonesia

2008-08-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to read from the news that the newly appointed Court Chief of Indonesia, Mr Mohammad Mahfud has called for a scrapping of Syariah based by-laws. In his views, these by-laws are not constitutionally or legally correct; and these by-laws clearly discriminate against the minority groups in Indonesia. Furthermore, he added that these by-laws threatens national integrity and are against the Principles of Pancasila.

The late President Sukarno who saw the need to unite a huge and diversified archipalego with different cultures and practices created the Principles of Pancasila. This set of principles provides the platform for unity and justice among all people in Indonesia. However, the Pancasila is being interpreted in many different forms from different groups in Indonesia. These groups are there primarily to serve their self interest and promoting their own agendas even if it clearly contradict the principles of national intergrity, social equality and justice.

Thousands of by-laws have been passed by regional states in Indonesia. There are by-laws for Islamic dress codes and behavior, anti-littering, anti-busking, anti-prostitution; a by-law that banned begging on the streets and making it a criminal offence for anyone who give money to beggars. The regional lawmakers seem to have this strange beliefs that by creating by-laws, all problems will be gone and resolved. If the lawmakers are sincerely keen in resolving pressing issues in their regions, perhaps they should passed the following by-laws:-

1) a by-law to ensure that every child gets an education and proper medical care. There is no excuse for young kids to be roaming the streets begging or picking up usable garbage or selling stuffs. Regional government must ensure that every kid has an opportunity to go to school; irregardless of social status or level of income.

2) a by-law to ensure that the people staying in their region have access to clean water, electricity and affordable medical care.

3) a by-law to tackle corruption practices and red tapes that are rampant especially in the regional government bureaucracy itself.

4) a by-law to actively promote investment and tourism in their region, so that there will be more job opportunities for the people and the creation and support of small micro-businesses for the unemployed and women.

These are just some of the real pressing problems that are facing the people of Indonesia. With soaring fuel and food prices, the poor and even the middle class people are finding that life have become a daily struggle. May I suggest to these regional states lawmakers and officers to get out of their comfortable offices and get in touch with the people on the streets; especially the poor. There are lots of work that needs to be done; and these lawmakers have the burden of responsibility to work for the people.

Bus Trip From Jakarta to Bandung

2008-05-10T23:02:00.000-07:00

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Upon arrival at the Sukarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta, I was trying to decide how I should proceed to go to Bandung. There are a number of transportation operators at the Airport that can offer to take me by car or passenger van to Bandung. After going through their service packages, I decided to make my first trip to Bandung by bus.

I approached the Prima Jasa counter and purchased a bus ticket to Bandung. The Prima Jasa counter is located next to the Macdonald restaurant. If I can still remember clearly, I paid RP60,000 for a one way trip to Bandung. The journey takes about 3 hours and the bus is air-conditioned. The lady at the counter issued a ticket to me and asked me to wait near the counter for the bus to arrive.

As the bus embarked on a non stop 3 hour journey, I took the liberty to go to the toilet (attending to nature's call) at the airport and also bought a bottle of mineral water before boarding the bus. When the bus arrived, I showed my ticket to the bus attendant and boarded the bus. It was a coach bus, comfortable and spacious enough. At that time, there were only 11 passengers on board. So I have the liberty of choosing any seat I want.

The journey on the bus was smooth and unassuming. When the bus traveled on the toll highways, it was speeding away on the road. You get to see many beautiful hills, landscapes, rice plantations, bridges and houses. The bus also passed through small towns with congested roads. On congested roads, this bus literally had to crawl itself out of the traffic mess.

The final destination for the bus is Bandung SuperMall ( BSM ). When the bus arrived at BSM, it stopped just right in front of the office of the bus operator. I alighted and picked up my luggage. I saw people waiting at the office perhaps to take the bus back to Jakarta. I took a stroll inside BSM and it is a beautiful and spacious mall. There are many food outlets in this mall if you are hungry. However, when I wanted to take a taxi to my hotel, I found out that I have to wait for about 20 minutes to get one. Perhaps it was due to the fact that it was a Sunday afternoon and there were lots of people. When I finally board the taxi, the cab driver initially did not want to use the fare meter. I insisted on it and reluctantly he agreed to it.

Traveling to Bandung by bus in my opinion is economical, fast and comfortable. If you hire a private car for the trip, it would definitely cost much more. However, the disadvantage is that it would not stopped at your desired destination such as at your hotel lobby. To me, alighting at BSM is no problem, as it gave me an opportunity to take my lunch at the mall and do some shopping. However, getting a cab is a slight problem during weekends.

For more information about Bandung and Indonesia, please visit our website at Indonesiapics.com

Rumah Mode Factory Outlet in Bandung - Indonesia

2008-05-02T04:49:00.000-07:00

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Bandung is a well known for its numerous factory outlets located mainly in the city center. Among the most popular factory outlet is the Rumah Mode Factory Outlet. Ask anyone in Bandung with your queries regarding this outlet, you will definitely get some answers. Some are positive - obviously they are the ones that love this place. And some feedback will be negative - perhaps they feel that there are better factory outlets offering better value and merchandise. Whatever the reasons may be, in my opinion it is a worthwhile place to visit even if you do not buy anything. I will explain why.

Getting to Rumah Mode is easy. It is located in 41 Jl. Dr. Setiabudi. If you are still clueless, then just throw away this address and tell the cab driver to take you to Rumah Mode - that is it. Any cab driver in Bandung who doesn't know where is Rumah Mode is not worthy to be a cab driver. Do remember to take a cab that uses the meter, otherwise you may be paying a lot more than the usual fare.

I would advise you to visit Rumah Mode during the day and preferably not on a weekend, that is Saturday and Sunday. I was there on a Sunday late afternoon at about 5 pm. The place was crowded with people and therefore the shopping experience is less pleasant - unless one prefers to shop with a large crowd. And also when I left the place in the night after taking my dinner at the restaurant there, I find difficulty in getting a cab back to my hotel. I waited about 45 minutes before being able to get a cab. The cab driver refused to use the meter - so do I have a choice at that time? To cut the hassle, I negotiate a price with the cab driver. With a smile on his face, he drove me back to my hotel knowing that he got a good deal. So my advice is that it is easier to get a cab during the day and also not on weekends.

Rumah Mode gives me an impression of a laid back cottage like resort. You see a single storey houses spread across the entire compound. The first thing that catches me eye was the rows of restaurant and food outlets as well as the small car park. As I looked across the entire compound, I can see the factory outlet as well as the fountain with the figurine of a beautiful Javanese lady. What attracted me more is the Javanese lady figurine. So the first thing I did is to take photos of it before proceeding to the factory outlet. There is a emphasis on greenery around the compound. But I feel that they can improve on it further to make it look like a beautiful garden.

Once I entered the factory outlet, the first section was the ladies section. I saw lots of ladies - young and old jostling and helping themselves with the clothes on the racks, shelves and bins. There are countless number of international brands to choose. I just wonder how does so many world class branded ladies wear ended up here. I was told that the clothes were either past seasonal or rejects due to QC (quality control). Anyway, it doesn't seems to matter to at all to the many ladies who were happy with their purchases. There is a section for men and children. In the men section, I am not able to see clothes with Size S (small). The clothes are mainly Size M (medium) which looks like Size L (large). As for the range of merchandise, I feel that it is definitely adequate. The prices seems to be reasonable too - considering that you are buying famous branded wear at a huge discount of more that 60% and more. The entire floor is clean and clothes are arranged neatly. There are many staff there who can also attend to your queries if you have any.

There is a restaurant there which serves Java coffee, fruit juices and hot meals. The food selection is quite limited but the atmosphere is quite relaxing. There is a mini pond inside the restaurant where you can see beautiful koi fishes. However, the restaurant seems to be quite empty when I was there. Perhaps people are too focus on their shopping and forget about food.
Personally, I did not buy any clothes from
Rumah Mode when I was there. But I do enjoy the having dinner at the relaxing restaurant and walking around the compound. I saw plenty of happy faces with their shopping bags, for them it is definitely a good catch and a worthwhile trip.

For more information and pictures on Bandung and Indonesia, visit our website at Indonesiapics.com

Ayam Penyet

2008-03-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

I am not a big fan of the food called Ayam Penyet even though I am aware that it is quite a popular dish in Singapore and Malaysia. There are some people who swears by it (delicious) and I can see many stalls sprung up to sell Ayam Penyet, with each stall claiming that their version is the authentic Indonesian style or is simply the best. There are some food critics that say that Ayam Penyet will be as popular as the local nasi lemak. Is this food a just a passing fad or here to stay, I don't really know.

Ayam Penyet is claimed to be originated from Surabaya, Indonesia. . Brief facts - Surabaya is the second largest city in Indonesia. It is a city with about a population of 5 million people, a city with a busy port and it is also a home to the Indonesian Navy. Most of the people staying there are Javanese. The unique feature about Ayam Penyet is that the chicken meat is flatten - smashed with using a pestle or wooden mallet. That is why this dish is also refer to as flattened or crushed chicken.

Most of the time this chicken meat is prepared in a deep fry manner. The entire chicken meat looks crispy and golden light brown after being deep fried, served with some vegetables, sambal chilli sauce and sometimes tofu or cut tomatoes. However for this version, the chicken meat have the tendency to be rather dry in taste. My preference is to eat chicken meat that is crispy and yet juicy. I was in luck when I stumbled upon a stall selling this dish in a local coffee-shop in Indonesia.

This obscure stall in a small restaurant serves really good Ayam Penyet. It is served with a hot stone plate ( so unique) unlike your regular plastic plate, and it is sizzling hot when it arrived at your table. The chicken meat is a thigh or drumstick that is fried but not covered with crispy flour. When I tasted the chicken, it is both crispy and juicy. That to me is the perfect chicken dish. Personally, I dislike the dry chicken meat. The sambal chilli sauce is not too hot, with a taste of sweetness and also light sour in flavor. The fried tofu is also crispy on the outside and juicy inside. I have also ordered a plate of Kai-Lan vegetable to go with it. Kai-Lan is a also known as Chinese broccoli, a green vegetable that is normally stir-fried with ginger, garlic and oyster sauce. It is a great vegetable - very easy to prepare and eaten commonly by the Chinese and Vietnamese. The stall owner had added cut mushrooms and red chillies into this dish and it taste really wonderful. To compliment the meal, I have ordered a cool lime juice - to cool myself on that hot sunny day.

Barelang Bridge - Batam

2008-02-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

I have decided to visit Barelang Bridge after taking my breakfast in Hotel Nagoya Plaza in Batam on a Monday morning. It was a sunny morning with clear blue sky. But I have a problem and that is transportation. I approached the hotel staff and they arranged for a taxi to take me there.

The trip to Barelang takes about 40 minutes from Nagoya town. Henry ( which is the name of the driver) drove slowly and pointed out the places of interest. We drove passed malls, schools, industrial estate, reservoirs, military camp and so on before reaching our final destination. At last we arrived at Barelang Bridge. I must say I was filled with excitement.
The Barelang Bridge in Batam is a suspension bridge built to link the main island of Batam to Galang, Rempang and other smaller islands. Its main purpose is to spur the development of these smaller islands, which was a great idea during the Former President Habbie era. But somehow the idea never really took off and was not translated into action. However Barelang Bridge is still an icon in Batam and certainly thousands of tourists must have visited the Bridge.

I got out of the car and stand on the bridge and the beauty of this place behold my eyes. The view of the sea and islands were spectacular. The surrounding seems to be so calm and I can feel the strong wind blowing constantly around me. The steel cables appears like web, running down from the cable towers to the concrete floor of the bridge. I was quite surprised that there were hardly any vehicles crossing this bridge. Most of the time the bridge is empty and quiet.

You can see street vendors selling food, mineral water and gifts. I spend my time walking on the bridge all alone while my driver prefer standing near to his car chatting with the street vendors. Being alone on this bridge gives me a rather therapeutic effect on my mind and body. I feel refreshed and recharged and at that moment, my mind is just empty. I was simply admiring the beauty of the vast sea and the pocket of islands. Occasionally, you can see a slow fishing boat just moving by at its own pace - no mad rush, no deadlines.

I read an article that efforts are on the way to develop the islands of Galang and Rempang into a tourist development site. There will be resort hotels, golf courses, malls, etc. I do hope that they do retain the charms of this place. I think some people do not understand that it is the simple simplicity of a place that gives out it unique charm. Perhaps they do understand, but profits override everything. Anyway, I was happy that I took the time to visit the Barelang Bridge, it is definitely a worthy trip. I be back for more.

Hotel Nagoya Plaza - Batam Indonesia

2008-02-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

I have decided to stay in Hotel Nagoya Plaza on my next trip to Batam. The hotel is located at Jalan Iman Bonjol, which is in the center of Nagoya town. The journey from Batam Center Ferry Terminal to the hotel takes about 20 minutes.

Upon arrival of the Hotel Nagoya Plaza and going to the check in counter, I noticed that the hotel lobby is rather old, perhaps it has not been renovated since the day it was built. But checking in was quick and efficient. The staff at the counter did not request to keep my passport, unlike some other hotels in Batam. But then a deposit in the form or cash or credit card voucher is needed for petty expenses. After checking in, I proceed the lift ( which also looks old) to my room.

I was not expecting much from my room, judging from the first impression at the hotel lobby. But when I opened up the door to my room, it was a pleasant surprise. It looks very spacious, clean and relatively new. I must say I liked the room. So don't judge the book by its cover - I reminded myself. The bed was clean and comfortable and the air-conditioning is working fine. I don't know why there are so many hotels which have problems with the air-condition in their rooms. There is the usual mini-bar - that is a mini fridge and kettle, with complimentary coffee/tea sachets and mineral water. The bathroom is really fantastic. It is totally clean, I mean it is spotless. I think the hotel must have renovated the bathroom. Every thing seems so new. Even the bathtub and the tiles on the wall is clean and spotless.

There is a distinct advantage in staying in Hotel Nagoya Plaza and that is - it is next to the new mall which is the Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall. All you need to do is to walk out from the hotel lobby and turn left. Proceed to walk pass a row of shops and in less than 5 minutes, you will arrive at Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall or some called it the Nagoya Hill SuperBlock. If you intend to go to the old shopping mall like Lucky Plaza or Centerpoint, just cross the road and walk straight. But do beware of the heavy traffic on the road. There are 2 coffeeshops selling local food. I have tried one of them and the food is delicious and cheap.

Breakfast at the hotel is served at the restaurant next to the hotel lobby. The breakfast is standard like most hotels in Batam. You have bread/buns, rice and noodles with vegetables and meat. It is sufficient for me. If you intend to eat something different, then head down to the mall - there are plenty of food outlets there. There isn't much to do within the hotel itself as there is no swimming pool or fitness center. For night entertainment, there is the GG club or Golden Globe nightspot that is located in the hotel premise itself. The GG club is quite well known in Batam. There are local bands playing at this club. An important note - if you are walking from Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall and intend to use a shortcut back to the hotel, there is no short cut. There is no back entrance in the hotel - it is totally block. So just head down to the main road and use the only main entrance. It is safer, especially during the night.
On the whole, Hotel Nagoya Plaza is a good place to stay. I like the clean room and the central location of this hotel. Breakfast can be improved with more variety of food. Taking a cab/taxi from the hotel is slightly more expensive than picking one from the road, but then it is safer and without hassle.

For more information and photos of Hotel Nagoya Plaza Batam - visit Indonesiapics.com

Nasi Goreng - Indonesian Fried Rice

2007-08-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

Nasi Goreng in simple English means Fried Rice. Rice is a basic staple food in Indonesia and Asia. Most of the time when we eat rice, it is plain white rice. With plain rice, you can add soup or curry to it and it taste delicious. Or you could convert it easily into porridge.

There are many versions of Nasi Goreng in Indonesia itself. It seems that every restaurants, food stalls and individuals have their unique way of preparing it. I guess it is this flexibility in preparing this food that makes it unique. When I am in Indonesia, I will try to have nasi goreng at least once a day. I have also try cooking it myself when I am at home and this is my version.

1) You need to prepare 2 to 3 cups of white rice and cook it. When it is done, just let the rice cool off. Take the cooked white rice and place it in a large bowl and allow it to cool. Rice that is totally cooled is best for preparing nasi goreng.

2) Get some medium size prawns, wash and remove the heads and shell, then devein them. Normally about 20 - 25 medium size prawns will be sufficient, unless of course you are totally crazy with prawns.

3) Take some eggs (3 to 5) and beat them up nicely until it is totally blended. Fried them in omelette style ( thin ) when it is ready, just sliced them and put it aside.

4) Put in some mixed vegetables. This consists of green peas, carrots and corns. It comes in a bag and you can easily buy them from any supermarket. It comes frozen, so what you do is to boil them for say 5 minutes.

5) Heat up the frying pan or wok ( with cooking oil of course) and put in the fresh prawns, mixed vegetables and some garlic and onions that has been sliced thinly, and stir fry them for 5 minutes,

6) Add in the rice and fry them evenly. You can now add in the sambal chilli sauce - this again you can get it in the supermarket. It is normally packed in a small jam bottle. If you cannot take spicy food, then just skip the sambal chilli sauce. You can alternatively add chilli sauce to your nasi goreng after it is ready. It is flexible. Your style and your choice.

7) As you are frying it, just add in 2 tablespoon of dark ( black) soya sauce - you can dilute it first with some water an pour it evenly into the rice. Just continue to stir fry the rice. Add in a little water into the pan if you find that it is too dry. The dark soya sauce will give the rice the unique brown colour. You can also add in 2 or 3 tablespoons of light soya sauce. Put in some spring onions if you like them, and continue to stir fry them thoroughly until it is totally heated up.

8) Now it is ready to eat, serve it in plates - then add in your egg omelette on top and enjoy the delicious Nasi Goreng.

If you get it quite right the first time cooking it, just try again and again. It is quite simple to cook nasi goreng - controlling the heat in the frying pan is essentially the main element in getting it cook right. Try it and share it with your families and friends.

Bajaj - Orange Power Wheelers of Jakarta

2007-04-29T00:53:00.000-07:00

The Bajaj is a three wheelers vehicle that can be commonly seen in the streets of Jakarta. It is painted bright orange, and is in fact a motorbike with a cabin. The driver sits in front of the cabin while the passengers can ride on the rear of the cabin. The thing about this wheeler is that it is very compact in size. But it can accomodate 2 passengers quite comfortably.

The bajaj can only be found in minor roads in Jakarta, as they are banned from travelling in main roads and highways. The distinct advantage is that because of its compact size, it can zip in and out any road and small alley with ease. So when there is a heavy traffic congestion on the road, the bajaj is relatively speaking - the King of the road.

If you are someone looking for comfortable ride, then forget about taking the bajaj. It is noisy and non airconditioned. During a hot day in the afternoon, you will sweat it out in the streets riding a bajaj. You will be breathing pure street air, combining with fumes from other vehicles and plenty of dust. Also your safety as a passenger is dependent upon Captain Orange - which is the bajaj driver. The cabin of this vehicle is not made of strong armour of steel. To me, the cabin seems like been carved out from an oversize beer can or a biscuit container.
Before you ride on this wheeler, first thing first - fixed the rate ( $) with Captain Orange. Tell him your destination and make sure you fixed the fares. You see, there are no meters nor fixed rates - it is the free economy at work. I normally do not bargain even if the rider quote a slightly higher rate. As I see it, these people are not having an easy life making a living riding these wheelers and also I do not ride on them often. But I do make it a point to tell them to go slow and not to speed. Safety is paramount.

To some people and groups, the bajaj is a menace or perhaps an eyesore on the roads of Jakarta. They are lobbying that these wheelers be taken off the roads permanently. Recently the government was trying to implement a law for them to switch from using gasoline to natural gas. The bajaj drivers protested. They stage a protest on the roads with their wheelers; causing mass traffic congestion. So what does the future holds for Captain Orange? No one knows. But if you are in Jakarta, why know try riding on a bajaj. Take a photo of yourself beside or in the cabin of this wheeler. It will give you fond memories in the future, that I am sure.

For more information on Jakarta, visit IndonesiaPics.com

Jakarta Restaurant - Baso Malang Karapitan

2007-04-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

If you are in Jakarta and would liked to try Indonesian food as part of your overall traveling experience; where can you go if you are traveling on a tight budget?
One of my favourite restaurant is called Baso Malang Karapitan. Over here, you can have a good meal without burning a hole in your wallet. It has six outlets in Jakarta, located in shopping malls.

My first impression of this place is that it is clean and the decor is simple and functional. It looks also like a fast food restaurant. The staff crew work fast and efficient. Taking down your orders is quick and your meal will arrive at your table in minutes. If you are clueless of what to order, ask for the menu or simply try their house special. My personal recommendations are as follows: -

1) Baso Malang Super Komplit - which is basically noodles in soup with meat balls and crispy crackers.
2) Nasi Sop Daging Iga - sliced meat in clear soup and rice.
3) Nasi Goreng - which is simply known as Fried Rice
4) Nasi ayam Bakar Komplit - chicken rice.
5) Ice Lemon Tea - very refreshing
6) Es Kelapa - coconut served with cold ice.
7) Bubble Tea blue coral - if you love sweet drinks, this is it

A meal for two persons can cost about US$10/- - depending on what you order and of course how much you want to eat. Nice isn't it? What is more, you are enjoying your meal in a nice, clean and air-conditioned environment. Avoid lunch and dinner peak hours - as it will be crowded.

Location in Jakarta
1) Blok M Plaza
2) Sarinah Dept store - at the podium
3) Mal Ciputra
4) Plaza Atrium
5) Supermall Karawaci
6) Mall Metropiltan.

For more information on this restaurant and Jakarta, visit Indonesiapics.com