AKA – HARD BEAT

By: Kees Schepel

In 2011 Canadian record company Strawberry Rain Records released Hard Beat (available on cd and on vinyl), an anthology of the Indonesian band AKA. This fact in itself is nothing out of the ordinary. We live in a world that is getting smaller and smaller, thanks to Facebook, Twitter and all other forms of cyber communication. No surprise therefore that I first heard of AKA through Facebook.

Nashville’s coolest band, Those Darlins, posted a Youtube film (well, film... more a song, accompanied by stills of record sleeves) of the song Crazy Joe on their Facebook wall. From Surabaya 1975  to Nashville 2011, and from there and then to the freezing Lowlands... easy!

The Indonesian Cinematheque

By: Labodalih Sembiring

Indonesians are more familiar with the term “Sinematek Indonesia” when referring to their cinematheque, not that it is that well-known outside certain circles such as film researchers and students, film festivals, and television stations. Despite its significance — it holds about 2,000 film titles and stores over 3,000 film reels and videos — one will soon feel its somber atmosphere upon visiting the facility.

In the words of its founder, while the Indonesian film industry was blossoming throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the cinematheque was dying because of its meager budget. It does not look so much different today.

Leasing Culture: from Cars to Sunglasses

By: Emma Kwee

Malls are the playground for most Indonesians. families, teenagers and couples spend their free time increasingly indoors, (window) shopping, lounging around at foodcourts or loitering around at arcade halls. It's not just window shopping though these days. Those who have visited Indonesia recently will probably have noticed the shiny, spanking brand new wagonpark that cruises the cities' congested thoroughfares. Small Japanese hatchbacks overtake imported 5-door Mercedes Benz, while bajaj (the traditional three wheeled taxi) seem to have become a rare sight.

What has happened? Have Indonesians suddenly all become rich?

Travel to the Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s Ancient Temples

By: Vijay Khurana

Short of a time machine, you couldn’t find a better way to lose yourself in the past than by visiting Cambodia’s Angkor temples. You’ll see immaculately preserved carvings made a thousand years ago to honor gods and kings. You’ll see nature and man fighting their eternal battle as jungle slowly overruns haunting stone ruins. Most importantly, you’ll see Cambodia as it once was.

The temples are commonly referred to as Angkor Wat. In fact, they’re a sprawling collection of over a dozen temple complexes, built by different kings in different time periods. Angkor Wat itself serves as the stunning centerpiece. This enormous city-like temple with its pools, walkways and bas-relief carvings is ingrained in the national identity. Its iconic towers feature on many a picture postcard in the country, as well as adorning the Cambodian flag.

(Mis)Understanding Indo Lingo

By: Jason Hue, first published in Jakarta Expat

The Indonesian language teaches its speakers to be respectful, hence people are often addressed with the salutation of Pak (men) or Ibu (women), usually if they’re notably more senior (in age or company seniority).

From a business perspective, this is really helpful especially for a person like me who is always very forgetful with names. Imagine meeting a roomful of people and immediately forgetting the person’s name right after shaking his hand. By using these salutations, it saves me from embarrassment of forgetting their names.

Indonesian Batik: A living Heritage, Jakarta & Solo

On January 25th, 2012 the exhibition "Indonesian Batik: A living Heritage" opens its doors for Batik enthusiasts at Galeri Nasional, Jakarta.

Galeri Nasional
Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur No. 14
Jakarta 10110

From 13-19 February the exhibition will be shown in Solo, at the City Hall (Balai Kota):

Pendapi Gede
Komplek Balaikota
Surakarta

Christmas in the Philippines – A testament of tropical rejoicing!

Joan Mae Soco-Bantayan

The Philippines, being the only Christian nation in the whole of Asia, takes joy in the celebration of the Yuletide Season. It is the time of the year when Jesus Christ is believed to have been born by Mary, with Joseph, in a manger.

But unlike in other Christian countries where solemnity is the ‘it’ word for the occasion, this country celebrates with laughter, booze, karaoke, and yes, with fireworks in many homes!

Christianity in Indonesia

By: Antony Sutton, first published in Jakarta Expat

No-one can be quite sure when Christianity first reached the Indonesian archipelago. The earliest hint comes from a kind of handbook for early travelling Christians. Though published in the twelfth century in Egypt by an Armenian historian and geographer, the idea of a manuscript providing information about churches and monasteries in Africa and Asia had been around for several centuries and many had been used as source material by Salih.

The Armenian had mentioned a community of Nestorian Christians living in Fashur, trading in the highly prized camphor. The actual location of Fashur in the texts is vague but there was a port called Fanshur which was famous for camphor and it has been placed on the west coast of Sumatra near Baros, itself a town of some importance as it would receive many traders from southern India who would stop off there on their way to and from other entrepots.

Malaysian Artist Shieko Reto: ‘Sembur with Style’

By: Melissa Lin

Shieko Reto’s drawings, paintings and illustrations are whimsical, humorous and bittersweet. They are records of daily life experience, interactions and nuggets of experience to inspire and convey stories and meanings as seen through her eyes. Her stories and cartoons as told through her zines and her art invite us what it means to live a life of courage, and of being a dreamer from the different depths and dimensions. On Latitudes she shares her personal stories and views on art, and being an artist in Malaysia with us.

Sheiko’s art can be viewed on her blog. She is available for commissions, collaborations and correspondence.

ASEAN Film Festival Focuses on Developing Film Industries: ‘Film is business’

By: Yvette Benningshof

While outside the streets were buzzing with traffic and guarded transport because of the 19th ASEAN Summit in Nusa Dua, inside of Galeria 21 Cineplex in Kuta there was a comfortable coolness. The two day ASEAN Film Festival took place in this cinema, where at the same time BALINALE International Film Festival was held. Bali was the place to be for film lovers this month!

The ASEAN Film Festival (16-17 November) was initiated by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu themed: ‘The Global Film Connection’. The minister recognizes the importance of film festivals as a means of promoting culture and to support the country’s potential as a film location. ‘Film affects many area’s: how people think, talk, act and it influences their ideals and dreams. On a larger scale it creates jobs and it has a mulitplier effect on other sectors such as music, design, fashion and technology.’