One of the ‘less than 400 Sumatran tigers’ left in the wild… now in someone’s office!
Taxiderm Sumatran Tiger
The text below the paintings ‘…mereka juka memerlukan perhatian dan kasih sayang…'(They too need your attention and love)
Full View of Taxidermy Tiger
I think I need to go to the eye doctor and get my eyes checked. Lately it has been a strain sitting in front of the computer monitor for long periods of time. My close distance vision is definitely not what it used to be 🙁
While sitting in the car staring out at the fluffy white clouds in the distance it struck me why we have a better long distance vision – its because as we grow older we move from a close view of ourselves and the world around us to a larger point of view. From close up to a landscape view.
A constant reminder to look ahead at the bigger picture!
I remember the days when our annual trip to Lucknow always included the daily trip to the Paan Wallah. Every meal we feasted on Mom’s food and could barely move. Then after a lazy siesta, saunter down the lane till we happened upon a Paan Wallah sitting in a closet sized shop blaring loud music and smoke from the ‘dhoop’.
“Sada or meetha?” he would ask — plain or sweet?
“Meetha,” we would reply.
Array of Paan ingredients
The Paan Wallah smoothed a tender betel leaf. With lightning dexterity, his hands would fly over the containers crowding his shop. A little roasted fennel seed, some cloves, cardamom, betel nuts, tobacco paste, coconut flakes and rose paste all stuffed into the betel leaf, folded into a triangle and held together with a clove pierced through.
A normal paan is bigger than a large mouthful. The sweet juices burst in our mouth with a tantalizing mix of flavors and textures — the refreshing cardamom, peppery betel leaf, biting cloves, tangy fennel and sweet rose paste. The experience is as seductive and relaxing at the same time.
One needs to keep chewing to release the flavors; after about 10 minutes, all that remains is the leafy core. Then you can stick out your tongue to see if it is red. Search for the nearest garbage can and spit out the now stringy remains. In India, the potent sada paan is for those addicted to this amazing mouth freshner and digestive; most others prefer the meetha paan. I always ask for my meetha paan sans tobacco paste.
Back in Jakarta, with a big box of ‘Khajuri Paan’ (dates stuffed with paan ingredients) secreted in the fridge, I can still experience the taste from time to time but miss the ‘real’ thing.
Betel leaves are easily available in the vegetable section of supermarkets and the ‘pasar’ here in Jakarta. I have now found the best stop gap innovative paan in 3 simple steps:
1. Get a potted betel leaf plant for the balcony
Betel Leaf Potted Plant
2. Pluck a young betel leaf from the plant creeper growing in my balcony. Wash with cold water and wipe dry with a tissue paper.
3. Wrap it around a teaspoon of any sweet saunf (fennel) & supari (areca nut) mixture or ‘mukhwas’ available at most Indian grocery stores.
Betel Leaf with Saunf & Supari Mix
A great tasting paan with none of the fuss. Next time you have a party or watch an Indian movie or just feel nostalgic, make Paan!
Diya on Rangoli
The Indian community in Indonesia, comprising expatriate or non-resident Indians and ethnic Indians, has a population of less than 100,000, most of whom are concentrated in Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung.
They form a continuum between two extremes. Between short-term visitors with their homes in India at one extreme; and Indonesians of Indian descent who do not identify themselves as being Indian in any way, at the other extreme.
The relationship between India and Indonesia stretches back to two millennia. Indian traders first came to the Indonesia archipelago in search of spices, fragrant resins, aromatic woods and gold. The first Indian migrants came primarily from Gujarat in India during the first Christian era. Early trade relations were established between India and the islands of Sumatra, called Swarna Dwipa or “the island of gold” and Java Dwipa or “the rice island”. The influx of Indian settlers continued until the 16th century and this period is historically referred to as the Hindu-Indonesian period.
In the 19th century the Dutch brought Indians to Indonesia as indentured laborers to work on plantations located in particular around Medan, North Sumatra where there is today a large Tamil community. A second wave of Indian immigrants, mostly Hindu Sindhi families, made Indonesia their home after the partition of India in 1947. They set up prominent businesses in textiles, garments, entertainment, sports goods, chemicals and general trading. The garment trade is still largely controlled by them in Indonesia.
The inflow of major Indian investments into Indonesia starting in the late 1970s drew a fresh wave of Indian business people to this country. A very dynamic group of people, generally highly skilled and qualified, at the forefront of almost every major field from financial, engineering, marketing, information and communication technologies to advertising, media and entertainment, education, trading, etc across the range of industries.
The Indian community is generally well regarded, prosperous and well integrated in Indonesia. This can largely be attributed to the warm and friendly environment provided to them in Indonesia. The similar family, moral and ethical values enable people from both countries to understand and relate to each other easily and also work and interact together amicably.
Indians are social people with strong community ties and tend to group together for functions around events and religious festivals. They still maintain their cultural traditions as is evident during Diwali and other festivals. Several social and professional associations serve the Indian community in Indonesia.
This year yet again, the festive season is frantic with ‘Navratri’ Celebrations, ‘Dandiya & Garba’, Diwali celebrations at temples, India Club and bhajans at individual homes. Sizzling DJ dance events with Bollywood beats, fabulous private parties and more. The few Indian restaurants will do roaring business with unending orders for sweets and catering for parties. Diwali indeed will sparkles brightly on the Indian community in Indonesia every year.
Offline Social Media Marketing
So how does this benefit the brand???
Graffiti of Banana Tree and Monkey
Check out the graffiti in Jakarta. Mobile phones are so pervasive in Indonesia that even the monkey has one and is listening to music through headphones.
Planning a trip to India and don’t know where to start?
Is your vision of India the Taj Mahal, glowing like a pearl in moonlight? Beautiful women in flowing sarees with big bindis on their foreheads right out of Bollywood, piping hot Naan bread and chicken tikka? Look deeper and you will find ‘God’s own country’ in Kerala, although the ‘Abode of Gods’ is in Uttarakhand and ‘Paradise on Earth’ in Kashmir.
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It is confusing, amazing, inspiring and really intimidating – all at once. India is a vast country (similar in size as Europe); with over 1.2 billion people spread over 28 states and 7 union territories. Erstwhile kingdoms and princely states stitched together. It is a kaleidoscope of languages, dialects, religions, races, customs, and cuisines, and cannot be defined — only experienced.
There is so much to see and do, it’s difficult to decide on top ten travel destinations in India. Here is my pick of the top ten travel destinations in India as we go from North to South.
Leh, Ladakh
Pangong Lake, Ladakh
Ladakh lies on the Tibetan plain and is one of the most magical places on planet. The serene white expanse of the mighty Himalayas and the mystical valleys of Ladakh are the heaven-on-earth incarnate. The rugged and arid landscape juxtaposed against blue skies and turquoise still lakes, fluttering monastery flags provides endless photo opportunities.
Qutub Minar in Delhi
Delhi, capital of India is built on the ruins of seven previous cities. A local idiom says ‘Dilli dilwalon ka shehr,’ which means Delhi belongs to the large-hearted. A city of spectacular contradictions, ancient and medieval monuments that stand proud in the midst of contemporary infrastructure and modern malls with regal dignity.
Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Taj Mahal, Agra
Taj Mahal is an ode to love, built in the memory of his wife by grief stricken Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. A white marble mausoleum with intricate carvings and inlay work of semi-precious stones, Taj Mahal is a huge complex housing several magnificent structures, and a World Heritage Site. There are other beautiful and must see attractions too.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Hawa Mahal - The Castle of Wind
A city built in pink sandstone. Relive a bygone era, in the lap of Rajputana luxury. Explore Jaipur’s intimidating fortresses, lavish havelis, and royal cenotaphs. Shop for colorful textiles and intricate jewelry. Enjoy folk dance and music performances and see puppet shows as you listen to legendary tales of valor and love.
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Gateway of India
The gateway to India, fondly called ‘amchi Mumbai’ or my Mumbai is a melting pot of different cultures, religions and wealth extremes. It is the business and entertainment capital of the country. The tinsel capital, Bollywood, churns out the song-and dance romances much loved the world over. Visit the Elephanta caves, museums and other structures.
Goa
Goa Beach
Looking for a honeymoon destination? Come to Goa, the smallest state in India. A tropical paradise influenced by the Portugese, with the most beautiful beaches, East-meets-West cuisine, and the carnival. It is a New Year party destination for a really good time.
Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
In the ‘Heart of India’ visit the 1200 year old Hindu and Jain temples- Khajuraho Temples, known for its erotic sculptures. The temples are famous for the exquisite work of art and sculpture on the walls devoted to love and its expression.
Kumarakom backwaters, Kerala
Kerala Backwaters
Rejuvenate with Ayurveda, ‘the science of life,’ an ancient treatment method based on diet, massage, herbs, meditation and yoga, popular in Kerala. Kumarakom, is a small scenic village with cluster of little islands is situated on the bank of crystal clear blue Vembanad Lake. Explore the beauty of the Kerala backwaters with a romantic houseboat cruise.
Mysore, Karnataka
Dasara Festival, Mysore
The cleanest city in India, Mysore is famous for the 10 day Dasara festivities. Buy the silks, paintings and inlay work and eat the rich Mysore Pak. The state is popular for eco-tourism locations and has 25 wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks.
Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Kanyakumari
This is the very tip of the India, the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. This results in spectacular and unique sunrise and sunset. On balmy, full-moon evenings, and one can view the moon-rise and sunset are at the same time – on either side of the horizon.
Bollywood, Slumdog Millionaire, the Bangalore call centers—all obscure the ‘real’ India, with its natural beauty, amazing monuments, colorful history and culture, mysticism and cuisines. Plan the trip that’s right for you, whether you’re traveling to soak up India’s spirituality, chill out on the beaches, or live like a king in the land of princes.
Yet another school year and a pile of freshly covered new notebooks to start off. What about the unused pages from last year’s notebooks? Here is a simple way to create your own unique eco-friendly journals for class notes etc. Transform an ordinary journal or notebook into a handmade creation that will be both beautiful and unique. Handmade notebooks can be used to journal thoughts, class notes and as gifts.
Gather all old notebooks from the previous year and neatly cut out all the blank notebook pages. Organize into piles by paper size. Visit the neighborhood photocopy store and have the note pages bound into spiral notebooks.
Recycled Fabric Covered Folder
Design a unique front cover. Use a cardboard or thick paper of the same size and cover with fabric, gift paper or make a collage with photographs or knick knacks and have it laminated. A one of a kind custom spiral notebook.
Transform this notebook into a secure personal diary with antiqued metal hinge lock at a hardware store. Super glue the hinge lock to the front of the notebook, and allow the glue to set for two minutes.
Recycle, and also have fun in the process.
The greatest wealth is health. ~Virgil
Heading to Singapore for medical treatment? You couldn’t have chosen a better place. The tiny island of Singapore has built a huge reputation as the healthcare destination for patients from its neighboring ASEAN countries and especially Indonesia. Just 2 hours flight time from most places in Indonesia lets you access ‘top-of-the-line’ quality medical services and facilities, serviced by English-speaking and internationally trained medical practitioners and staff. This demand is led by Indonesia’s growing economic importance and an expanding middle class seeking facilities beyond their local healthcare services.
I have heard many medical horror stories from long term residents and locals in Indonesia. Stories of wrong diagnosis and medication, botched procedures and even invasive operations when there was no need for the same. This coupled with communication issues for non Bahasa speakers is really a recipe for disaster. While researching for this article, I bumped into friend who shared that her son was put into plaster after a soccer accident and after a few years during a job medical, discovered that he had never had a fracture! Her husband had been diagnosed with dengue and was prescribed drugs for typhoid and had to be treated in Singapore. She has since stopped looking at local medical care in Indonesia.
Another friend had her daughter’s scoliosis corrected in Singapore as she felt more comfortable with the specialists advice and treatment. Post operative care was very good too. Despite the fact that Indonesia is the world’s fifth most populous nation, most expatriates prefer to go back to their home country or to Singapore, even to have their babies. All this word of mouth advice and sharing of experiences is a major influence on health decision making.
Last year a patient in Jakarta, who sent an email to her friends regarding her less than satisfactory treatment at a private hospital was imprisioned for defamation and fined a hefty sum. Senior journalist Kornelius Purba at The Jakarta Post writes ‘In Indonesia, doctors are always right and never wrong. And even when they are wrong, they are always right’.
At present foreign doctors and nurses are not permitted to practice in Indonesia. Counterfeit drugs remain a big problem, despite the presence of a strong Drug Regulatory Authority, responsible for the registration of medicines as well as quality control and inspection. At the same time, the use of traditional medicines such as ‘jamu’ and traditional healers are popular and widespread in Indonesia.
This travel across international boundaries for medical services with an enjoyable recovery period at significant financial savings is often called medical tourism, but I guess the ‘tourism’ bit is only for the accompanying family members. Beyond excellent clinical services, affordable costs and good customer service, patients and their families need a safe and comfortable environment, and even opportunities for recreation and shopping for their travel companions.
The World Health Organization ranks Singapore as the best health system in Asia and much higher than the United States and Canada. Many hospitals and medical centers in Singapore have international accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), ISO and OHSAS. A growing number of hospitals and specialty centers catering to medical travelers offer ultra-high quality healthcare in complex cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, organ transplants, cosmetic and dental surgery and other medical treatment. Popular medical procedures include knee and hip replacements and cardiac surgeries. The most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures are breast augmentation, liposuction and rhinoplasty.
Most healthcare facilities in Singapore have dedicated International Patient Service Centers to attend to international patients’ needs, from their first inquiry and ‘meet and greet’ at the airport, to interpreter services and support for accompanying persons, to the final send-off and post-treatment follow-up when patients are back in their home country. Singapore’s top healthcare providers have facilities that are comparable to five-star hotels. Patients are treated and recuperate in private and exclusive environments.
So if you are living in Indonesia and need urgent and complex medical care, Singapore with its excellent infrastructure is the logical destination, not only for business and leisure, but also for world-class, affordable and safe healthcare. Singapore’s well-trained and experienced medical staff work to deliver the best healthcare experience and treatment providing them and their families peace of mind when health really matters.
As published in the Jakarta Post Sept 30th 2011
Destination Health: Singapore
Do you remember when literacy meant the three Rs — Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic? These essentials skilled were taught to students in a batch process through an assembly line education system geared to the industrial society. At the end of the academic year, an exam was conducted to check if the lessons had been learned. Soon the brain came to be thought of as a library and knowledge equated by number of books read and the memorization of the same. However, with the advent of the World Wide Web this has been transformed. Knowledge is no longer something to be stored in the brain; rather it can be accessed through the internet.
In the 21st century, we are bombarded with information ranging from the insignificant to the important constantly, and what has become important is the ability to access relevant information and application of the same. According to Don Tapscott, author of the bestselling books Wikinomics and Growing Up Digital, the existence of Google, Wikipedia, and other online libraries means that rote memorization is no longer a necessary part of education. ‘Teachers are no longer the fountain of knowledge; the internet is,’ says Tapscott, considered by many to be a leading commentator on our Internet age, who believes the age of learning through the memorization of facts and figures is coming to an end. Instead, students should be taught to think creatively and better understand the knowledge that’s available online.
We are immersed in a multi-tasking world of digital experiences. We text and surf the net while listening to music and updating our social network status. Are we constantly distracted with this ‘continuous partial attention’ or have our brains adapted to the incoming stimuli?
The internet too has transitioned from a collection of static Web sites containing information to a more dynamic, interactive, and social, participatory culture. Services like blogs, wikis, podcasting, photo, video, and music-sharing sites, RSS, online gaming, real-time messaging, social networks, social bookmarking, mashups, and virtual worlds are now being used daily by millions of people around the globe to connect, communicate, collaborate, create, and share content with each other.
The transformation is also hardware driven, where hand-held computing devices such as smartphones and tablets, which provide anytime communication, access to the internet, and a variety of applications.
To be able to read and write through written language is no longer enough. To be ‘literate’ today demands a deep understanding of all media technologies and their potential for human interaction, communication and expression. In this sense, a truly literate person today must not only be able to create, communicate and distribute one’s own messages with new technology tools but also be able to analyze, interpret and evaluate the messages that one receives in a technology-mediated environment.
Educational methodology increasingly leverages technology as a catalyst to enhance teaching and learning in this dynamic scenario. Top Universities such as Harvard, MIT and Carnegie Mellon among others, have Open Learning Initiatives to provide online open digital publication of high quality university-level educational materials organized as courses of self-guiding materials and activities– often including syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, and exams, to learn at your own pace!
Another example is E-tutoring, which brings together groups of students who have never met face to face, online, to discuss and learn from materials they have downloaded from the Web. The possibilities of videoconferencing, virtual laboratories, simulations, and frequent opportunities for assessment and feedback builds courses that are intended to enact instruction – or, more precisely, to enact the kind of dynamic, flexible, and responsive instruction that fosters learning.
So what is 21st century education? It is bold. It breaks the mold. It is flexible, creative, challenging, and complex. It addresses a rapidly changing world filled with fantastic new problems as well as exciting new possibilities and technology is the key.
