Indonesian Independence Day

By: Emma Kwee

August 17 is Indonesia's biggest day of the year: Independence day. This day marks the celebration of Indonesia’s independence from the Dutch.

On Friday 10:00 AM, August 17, 1945 the official proclamation was made to the world by first president Sukarno and Hatta (only to be denied by the Dutch, who soon returned to 'restore order'). It took 4 more years to defeat the Dutch. Read more about Indonesia's struggle to independence in this wonderful piece written in 2010 by Ed Caffin 'Merdeka, 65 Years of Indonesian Independence.

August 17th is a joyous occasion for all Indonesians. The nation is decorated in red and white and festivals, parades, games and entertainment will get everybody out on the streets.

Ramadan

Ramadan has been underway since July the 20th and will end on August  18 2012. Idul Fitri will take place on August 19. Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar. It is a belief that in the month of Ramadan the Holy book of Muslims, Quran was sent down from heaven as guidance for men and also as a direction and a means to Salvation.

Ramadan is the month of fasting. The entire month Muslims fast and have no water and food during the daytime. Muslims have food only before the sunrises and after the sunsets. The day starts with eating the suhoor. Suhoor is the meal eaten by the Muslims before the sun rises. Once suhoor is done Muslims cannot eat or drink the whole day. In the evening when the sun sets then they have another meal called If tar. To open the fasting they pray and eat. Once Iftar is over Muslims visit their relative’s house and early in the morning sets back to the fast.

Splendid Isolation: Southeast Asia’s most Alluring Islands

By: Simon Hare & Emma Kwee

As a Brit, a love of island life is in my DNA and like many of my fellow countrymen I was brought up on island holidays: The Isle of Wight, Jersey, and for the more adventurous, Mallorca, Malta or even Cyprus. As if that wasn’t enough our literature is peppered with island-based fun and fantasy: Swallows and Amazons, Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe and of course Kirrin Island, scene of many an adventure for Enid Blyton’s Famous Five.

It’s hardly surprising, then, that the draw of Southeast Asia’s idyllic islands has proven too much to resist as an adult. There are thousands to choose from, but here’s the lowdown on just a few of our favourite tropical islands and some ideas on where to stay when you get there…

Penang: Malaysia in miniature

If Malaysia is a symbol of a (mostly) harmonious multi-cultural society then Penang, and UNESCO world heritage listed Georgetown are the perfect microcosm of the nation as a whole, and therefore a really quick and easy way to see many of the facets of this amazing country all in one small area.

Cross-Cultural Couples: Gerard and Komang

By: Emma Kwee

This next portrait in our cross-cultural couples series came to us from an unexpected corner of the world. Yours truly was enjoying a nice mother-daughter weekend on a small, windy island in the Netherlands, Ameland! While on a cycling trip we decided to stop for lunch in the village of Nes. The girl working there looked decidedly Indonesian. That's how I met Komang, from Bali, who turned out to be married to Gerard. They met on Bali 9 years ago and one thing led to another. Now they divide their time between their two most loved islands: Bali and Ameland.

Do you have an equally inspiring story to share? If you want to be part of this series, all you have to do is e-mail info@latitudes.nu!

Introduction to East Java

By: Emma Kwee

East Java (Java Timur in Bahasa Indonesia) is the easternmost part of the island of Java. it includes the island of Madura and some other smaller islands in the region. The capital of East Java is Surabaya,  the second largest city in Indonesia and a major industrial center and port. East Java is the second most populated province in Indonesia, after West Java. The population consists of Javanese, Madurese and a sizeable Chinese community.

East Java's Star Attraction: The Bromo

Most visitors to East Java only see the Bromo volcano, the star attraction in the region, located around 70 kilometers from Surabaya. The Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park it sits in is a popular hiking destination. Typically, people will stay near the bromo overnight and hike or ride on horseback to the volcanoe at sunrise. While its views are indeed spectacular, East Java has a lot more to offer.

The Call of Modern Living

By: Emma Kwee

A man with a strong resemblance to Elton John strokes the hair of his son, while his other kid sits on a bicycle wearing a protective helmet (a dead giveaway that this is not a real life scene). The house is an ultra modern minimalist building with two floors. It has 4 bedrooms, a pond and an open air dining space. It is one of 22 similar houses, in a tree lined street. There is no traffic, no kaki lima's, no trash on the street. Another couple walks hand in hand toward the horizon.

Such is life, or so will life be, in Kota Baru Parahyangan, near Bandung."

On the backside of the brochure, the facilities of this new town to be a listed: a hospital, international school, Islamic school, Western language academy, mosque, hotel, bicycle lanes, fire department, shuttle bus service, a sundial and a 4D theater will be ready to complete this oasis of modern living.

Arriving & Getting into Jakarta

By: Emma Kwee

Jakarta is serviced by Soekarno Hatta International airport, located about an hour driving (20 kilometers) from central Jakarta. The airport is often called Cengkareng by Indonesians, after the subdistrict it is located in. Many international airlines from Europe, Asia and Australia make Soekarno-Hatta their turnaround airport, while a number do continue on to Bali and Australia.

This airport is also the hub of Indonesia’s own Garuda Indonesia as well as home for most of Indonesia’s regular domestic airlines and low-cost carriers (LCC).  The airport consists of 3 terminals, with the newly built low cost terminal being the latest addition.

For most international visitors a visa on arrival is mandatory (25 USD). Make sure you have USD, Euro or Rupiah at hand, otherwise you’ll have to ask permission to visit the ATM that conveniently is located after customs!

Best Time to Travel to Indonesia

By: Emma Kwee

Indonesia is a tropical country and has two main seasons: the dry season that runs roughly from April to October and the wet season from November to March. That doesn't mean it never rains outside of the wet season, but the heavy monsoon rains mostly fall in the wet season (with possible floods, mudslides and so on).

Best time to visit Indonesia is during dry season between April and October. The humidity is slightly less and weather is pleasant at this time of the year. Even though generally speaking the dry season is hotter, the climate differs from island to island (which makes sense if you consider that there are more than 18.000 of them). The average temperature is 28°C and the humidity ranges from 70 and 90%. Don't be fooled however, up in the mountains it gets fairly chilly!

Indonesian Parties: From Awkward to All Smiles

By: Emma Kwee

I find most Indonesian parties and celebrations starting off pretty awkward. People seem to be hugely uneasy around people they don't know. Case in point is when you invite someone over. Chances are they will first enquire who else is there. More often than not they will bring an (uninvited) chaperonne to accompany them. Sniffing each other out, newly aqcuainted guests will then spend the first hour or so chit chatting: Where are you from, what do you study, where do you live (no exactly where? 'do you know that statue in the shape of shoe? Yes, the second on the right and then next to the warnet). Only once common ground has been reached (this might take several meetings) will people delve into more personal stuff. Politics, religion, dislikes and likes are often kept to oneself for as long as possible.

Because Indonesians don't often drink (publicly), they can stay tight lipped all night long. Even though always friendly and talkative, actually nothing much is being said. So what breaks the ice? Karaoke and food. But to get there, first there is the hurdle of who starts first.

CinemAsia Festival Filmtour 14-15 April

By: Yvette Benningshof & Emma Kwee

Did you miss the CinemAsia Film Festival in Amsterdam? Blast! But luckily, CinemAsia is going on tour with a few selected films. Don't miss your last chance to watch Arisan!2 in The Netherlands, as well as other Indonesian and Chinese films, during the CinemAsia Festival Filmtour.