Till tiaras do us part: Kim Thong's bridal gowns don't die By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): Three things happened at the Kim Thong Exclusive Bridal House Bridal show last weekend: a lot of wedding gowns were modeled by pretty girls on the arms of even prettier boys, a lot of salespeople tried to sell their wedding organization services to prospective brides and grooms, and a lot of people just wandered around looking for free food and entertainment.

More great Mexican meals from Amigos JAKARTA (JP): Mexican cuisine's exquisite smorgasbord of dishes warrants some more previously unpublished recipes from the kitchen of Amigos restaurants in Jakarta. Chef Suwarno from the Amigos outlet at the Setiabudi Building, Kuningan, South Jakarta, prepared the following two recipes exclusively for The Jakarta Post's readers. He said the two dishes emerged as top choices recently among the restaurant's patrons.

Book depicts Javanese puppet world Leather Gods and Wooden Heroes: Java's Classical Wayang By David Irvine Times Editions, Singapore, 1996, 360 pp Rp 175,000 JAKARTA (JP): For newcomers to this country who know little, if anything, about traditional cultures, David Irvine's book is a good place to start learning. The book focuses on Java's classical wayang purwa. For the uninitiated, this is the fascinating world of traditional Javanese theater.

What's special about June 22, 1527? By K. Basri JAKARTA (JP): Jakartans celebrate the city's anniversary today as they have done for decades. Authorities, businessmen and residents spend billions of rupiah every year for the event. The activities include a special fair, a series of exhibitions and a variety of competition. As part of the festive mood, neon signs and colorful banners adorn many major roads in the city.

Julius Caesar walks the runaway By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): "Let me have men around me that are fat," said Julius Caesar in Shakespeare's eponymous play. But when the play comes on stage in Jakarta next month, the girths of Caesar's men will hardly be noticed underneath this staging's outlandishly colorful costumes. Who's behind the flamboyant drama?

More soccer coaching clinics needed By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): Nearly 500 boys packed South Jakarta's Soemantri Brodjonegoro stadium wearing colorful soccer costumes. Some even wore colorful shoes. They all there for the same reason - Alan Kennedy's soccer clinic. Kennedy, a Liverpool player from 1978 to 1985, said "I see the boys are smiling everyday and it pleases me. Look at them, they are very enthusiastic in joining my school.

On the trail of the treasure of Betawi's culinary secrets JAKARTA (JP): Betawi food, the native cuisine of Jakarta, has traditionally been put on the back burner when praise over Indonesia's culinary riches is handed out. Its counterparts from Padang (West Sumatra, laid out before you as soon as you take your place at the table), West Java (Sunda) and exotic North Sulawesi (Manado) have grabbed the biggest share of plaudits for their delicious fare. Name one Betawi dish?

Great sales puts items up for grabs until July 14 JAKARTA (JP): Attention ardent shoppers. The Jakarta Great Sales '97 is underway, and about 50 shopping centers and malls around the city will offer tempting discounts ranging from 5 to 70 percent until July 14. The month-long event, the first in Jakarta, is organized by the municipality in celebration of the city's 470th anniversary today.

Rong By Gendut B. Riyanto Rong, a famous Indonesian poet who is a chronic alcoholic notorious for his disgraceful social behavior, took his very sick wife to Doctor Rajit one evening. He had to trundle four kilometers over heavy slick mud in a storm, with a flashlight as his only means of illumination. In addition to all that, he carried Rah, his wife of the last 30 years. She felt like a broken doll in his arms.

Man killed in beauty salon fire JAKARTA (JP): A 78-year-old man was killed yesterday in a fire which destroyed a beauty salon in the Harmoni shopping center on Jl. Suryo Pranoto, Gambir, Central Jakarta. A witness, Diki, said the victim, Pau Husen Thamrin, the owner of May May Salon and Bridal House, arrived in a sedan at the salon at about 7 a.m. Pau entered the salon to open it while his driver, Iwan, parked the car.

Infertility is not just the woman's problem JAKARTA (JP): Not so long ago, the finger of blame was almost always pointed at women when a couple was unable to conceive. This is changing today as medical authorities confirm the problem lies with the man in 35 percent of cases. Some even put the estimate higher at 40 to 50 percent. The most common reason for infertility in men is the failure to produce adequate amounts of healthy sperm.

Bali to build world's tallest statue to woo tourists By Pandaya UNGASAN, Bali (JP): About one hundred Hindus, deeply engrossed in prayer, sat on mats in the open next to a 1.4 hectare, 15- meter-deep pit on the peak of the Memedi barren lime hill. At the right end of the front row of those praying was Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave, a non- Hindu who clumsily struggled to follow every move shown by a Balinese woman by his side.

Does Bali really need US$83 million statue? DENPASAR (JP): No word of objection was spoken and no protests were staged as government officials marked the beginning of construction for the colossal Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue on the Memedi hill top on June 8. There was no heated polemic in the local newspapers, Bali Post and Nusa, like one that raged five years ago.

Ramayana ballet show goes on before tiny audiences Text and photos by Lucia Idayanie YOGYAKARTA (JP): Despite the fire burning in his body, he does not step back. Hanoman, the sacred white monkey, is undaunted as he courageously fights his enemy. Thus ends the second act of the Ramayana Ballet, which is regularly staged at the open theater of the Prambanan Temple, Yogyakarta.

Bar on service passport entry to Taiwan needs review JAKARTA (JP): Last month, when I wanted to accept an invitation from the Taiwanese government to visit Taiwan, I had difficulties because of my service passport. As a researcher with a government research institute I travel on a blue service passport and not on an ordinary green passport. Anyone traveling abroad must pay a Rp 250,000 fiscal fee. But a service passport holder on an official visit does not have to pay the fee.

Big budget 'Fatahillah' is in the spirit of Islam By Yenni Kwok JAKARTA (JP): Fatahillah has resources that are but a dream for other local film producers. Big, important names are behind the making of the historical epic. Imam Tantowi and Chaerul Umam, two experienced filmmakers, directed. Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja and Johan Tjasmadi, the chairman of Indonesia's Movie Business Association, are the producers.

Fadhillah Khan, the founder of Jayakarta By Wisnu Pramudya JAKARTA (JP): It was dawn on June 22, 1527. Fadhillah Khan, the young ulema who led the stunning military operation to expel the well-armed Portuguese forces from Kalapa port, now Jakarta, addressed his men. "Let's change the name of Kalapa to Fathan Mubiina (manifest victory)," he shouted. Some of the 1,500 men under his command, including recent Hindu converts to Islam, looked on in bewilderment at use of the Arabic name.

Jakarta's child musicians relax classical conventions By Yenni Kwok JAKARTA (JP): The classical music performance suddenly lost its usual stiffness. Little children smiled, trying not to giggle on stage. Even the older audience, mostly parents of the young performers, could not help smiling as they watched the children show off their musical skills. Laughter filled the air when a little boy and a girl entered the stage, holding hands.

Lisbon, Jakarta agree to continue Timor talks UNITED NATIONS (AP): Portugal and Indonesia agreed Friday to continue talks next month at the "senior official" level in hopes of building momentum to resolve the 22-year dispute over East Timor. The decision was announced at the end of two days of talks by the foreign ministers of Portugal and Indonesia, the first under UN auspices since Kofi Annan became secretary-general last January.

Jakarta city of cars is bursting at its seams By Rita A. Widiadana and Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Start looking for environs far from Jakarta if you cannot stand winding traffic jams, being squashed cheek to jowl with others on fetid public buses and pollution which ranks among the worst on the globe. With 9.8 million people at night and 12 million during the day, Jakarta is literally bursting at its seams.

Many happy returns, Jakarta Today is Jakarta's 470th anniversary. To mark the event, The Jakarta Post talks with people to find out what they think about their city. Related stories are on Page 2, Page 9 and Page 13. JAKARTA (JP): It is hot and crowded. The traffic jams are unbearable and the air is heavily polluted. Despite all the grumbles, Jakarta's popularity as a metropolis never fades.

Bird market chirps with discount fever JAKARTA (JP): Discount fever is flying high in the bird market on Jl. Pramuka, East Jakarta. Traders say they are offering 10 to 20 percent discounts on particular species every Sunday during the month-long Jakarta Great Sales '97. A diverse menagerie of birds, including imports from Hong Kong, the Netherlands and South Korea, are available in the market, located on a two-hectare plot of land behind Pasar Pramuka.

Former prison island takes on tourist identity By Wahyu Mandoko NUSAKAMBANGAN, Central Java (JP): The gloomy pall has lifted from Nusakambangan, an island south of the Cilacap coast in Central Java. Mention of its name once drew shudders, as it was notorious as a penal island for hardened criminals serving long sentences. Nusakambangan has taken on a new, friendlier identity since its opening for tourism at the beginning of last year.

Long road to Puncak From Merdeka It appears that Saturday and Sunday traffic jams on the Puncak road are hard to overcome. Travelers to the mountain resort find their patience sorely tried, despite the presence of traffic officers along the route. The same goes for visitors to Taman Safari Indonesia in Cisarua, in which traffic is congested from the toll gate right through Puncak Pass. Drivers have to resist the temptation to squeeze in front of other drivers.

TIM stages operatic Javanese dance drama 'Dewabrata' By Sal Murgiyanto TAIPEI (JP): Jakarta dance-goers are in for a real treat. Highly respected Javanese choreographer Retno Maruti will present her latest composition Dewabrata, an operatic Javanese dance drama, at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), on June 28 and 29. Maruti is famous for her thoughtful, finely detailed and elegant works.

Govt denies reports on additional seat for PDI JAKARTA (JP): The government dismissed yesterday reports that the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) obtained an additional House of Representatives' seat for its North Sumatra legislative candidates. Suryatna Subrata, secretary general of the General Election Committee, said here that final poll results would be revealed tomorrow and data from other sources was invalid.

Health of parents key to fetal development By Elvina Karyadi JAKARTA (JP): All parents wants their children to be fit and healthy. Many focus on eating well, obtaining sufficient calories and nutrition, for their reproductive health. Yet many other factors, involving both the father and mother, must be taken into account in determining the outcome of the pregnancy. Sperm from a man's body unites with a woman's egg to create a totally unique and genetically irreplaceable human life.

City museums are not best place to learn about Fatahillah By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): This year, Jakarta celebrates its 470th anniversary. In grade schools, Jakarta's school children are taught that Jakarta was founded on June 22, 1527, the date when Fatahillah seized Sunda Kelapa from the Portuguese and founded Jayakarta -- City of Victory -- and most school kids would take the information for granted. In fact, there is much to learn about Jakarta's history.

Success on the menu for Toastmasters By Paul Franks JAKARTA (JP): When thinking about the communication skills of medical practitioners, the first thing that comes to mind is the undecipherable scribble that appears on most doctor's prescriptions. Unfortunately for the majority of pharmacists and patients the priority of Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, founder of Toastmasters International, was on improving verbal communication. In 1924 in California, U.S. Dr.