A breathtaking journey through the land of coconut trees MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): If you happen to be in Manado, North Sulawesi, and plan to go on to Gorontalo, don't miss the Manado-Gorontalo road trip. The journey takes more time than traveling by airplane, however, fantastic vistas await you along the way. Allowing for time to view the panorama and to take photographs, it is much better to leave for Manado early in the morning.

Ramadhan this year a time for hope Muslims around the world are observing Ramadhan, the month in which they perform their holy obligations. Indonesian Muslims have greeted the fasting month with hope for a better future after the many traumatic incidents of the recent past. More stories on Page 3 and Page 6. JAKARTA (JP): When the new crescent moon became visible last Thursday, almost 200 million Indonesian Muslims warmly welcomed the holy month of Ramadhan.

E. Timor's governing council meets DILI, East Timor (AFP): A former supporter of autonomy with Indonesia sat down with independence leaders and UN officials on Saturday for the first meeting of East Timor's governing council. Salvador Soares, of the East Timor People's Front, was the lone autonomy representative at the first meeting of the National Consultative Council (NCC), a type of cabinet for East Timor.

Paul Taylor dance troupe shares American culture By Edi Sedyawati JAKARTA (JP): There must be good reasons for the selection of Paul Taylor's Dance Company by the White House Millennium Council in the U.S. to become the official "Cultural Ambassadors of the United States". The U.S. ambassador to Indonesia has expressed his hope that the two-day performance of that group at Taman Ismail Marzuki (Dec. 3 and Dec. 4) provided an opportunity for "sharing American culture".

Myanmar wins SEA canoeing c'ships BANGKOK (AFP): Myanmar has scooped the pool at the Southeast Asian canoeing championships in Yangon, dominating rivals from six other nations, a junta statement said Saturday. Myanmar took top honors in the men's 1000-meter single kayak event, followed by Indonesia and Vietnam in third place, the junta said.

Umar Kayam on literature, life and communism By Chris Brummitt JAKARTA (JP): Umar Kayam is one of the country's most respected fiction writers, if one of its least prolific. In over 25 years of writing he has published approximately 20 short stories, three slightly longer ones and one novel. This long incubation period is evident in his work, which is consistently well-crafted. He was born in 1932 in a small East Javanese town. His parents were both teachers and "were into the arts".

Former long-distance runner takes on Jakarta's rat race By Ivy Susanti JAKARTA (JP): Martha Kase used to run for victory in her days as one of the country's top long-distance runners. Today, she runs a small food stall in the Senayan sports complex, the place where she once trained and competed.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Sunday Maghrib 6:03 p.m. Monday Imsak 4:00 a.m. Subuh 4:10 a.m.

Tomohon -- Minahasa's City of Flowers Text by Wahyuni Kamah Photo by Thomas Kiss TOMOHON, North Sulawesi (JP): When one thinks about Minahasa, a district in a North Sulawesi province, one often thinks of cloves, kolintang (a traditional bamboo musical instrument), the Bunaken sea garden, or bubur Manado (Manado porridge). Though the beautiful landscapes and the distinctive Minahasan villages are not easy to get to, they are in fact the attraction of this mountainous district.

Balinese NGO workers cope under pressure By Degung Santikarma DENPASAR, Bali (JP): At a small seaside hotel in Kuta a barefoot parade of sarong-and-bikini clad tourists wandered through the hotel lobby in search of the beach beyond.

Restaurant checks stepped up KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Islamic officials in a Malaysian state have been told to step up checks on foodstalls and restaurants to ensure Muslims observe the fasting month of Ramadhan, a report said Saturday. Stern action including bringing offenders to religious courts will be taken against those found eating openly in public places, the New Straits Times quoted a senior official in the Malacca State Islamic Religious Department as saying.

Lithuanian artist comes to Yogyakarta By Sri Wahyuni YOGYAKARTA (JP): During the election, people associated specific colors such as blue, red and yellow with different political parties. But this is not the case for Lithuanian visual artist Sigitas Staniunas, who is holding an installation art exhibition here at Cemeti Art House from Dec. 4 to Dec. 17. Blue, red and yellow are dominant colors in his mostly monochromatic art work.

Indonesian documentary films: A sinking Noah's ark By Antariksawan Jusuf JAKARTA (JP): When film producer Shanty Harmayn asked for a definition of a documentary, her students at the Jakarta Art Institute (IKJ) answered in various ways: films with no story lines, flora and fauna and even boring films. Documentaries have often been misunderstood in Indonesia. Among film producers, documentaries also mean government propaganda films. "The driving power of documentaries is the story," Shanty said.

Ambon braces for President, Vice President's visit AMBON, Maluku (JP): Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela and Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina on Saturday made final preparations for Sunday's visit of President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. Security was of paramount concern in the riot-torn city and much of the preparations focused on getting the nation's leaders from the airport to Ambon.

Guess What? Putu Wijaya It would appear that the issue of disintegration is not only giving headaches to top politicians, but also noted theater actor and director Putu Wijaya. And he is planning to use his talent to discuss the issue. In January next year, he will begin production of Nyanyian Laut (The Singing of the Sea), the work of scriptwriter Budiati Abiyoga. "The film is about humanity.

Rescue team calls off search for survivors of landslide PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): Search and rescue teams have ended their attempts to find the remaining 35 people believed to still be buried in Thursday's landslide at the foot of Lantiak hill in Seberang Palinggam subdistrict, South Padang. Family members of those still missing initially resisted the decision to cease the search on Saturday.

Millennium trend welcomes colorful hair By Emma Cameron JAKARTA (JP): Forget bags darling, so passe. The newest fashion accessory is not a handbag, a pair of shoes or even a boyfriend -- it's your hair. L'Oreal launched a first last Monday for Indonesia at the Fashion Cafe: a nationwide competition to celebrate the art of hairstyling with a special focus on coloring. The 15 finalists came from all over Indonesia -- Tulung Agung, Semarang, Bali, Bandung, Medan, Surabaya and Jakarta.

Bomer breaks ground on Indonesia's labor front JAKARTA (JP): For many years, Indonesia's unemployment rate has been put officially at less than five percent of its labor force, now estimated at 100 million. Even during the peak of the economic crisis in 1998 and 1999, the government still insisted that unemployment remained low.

Spotlight Photo A: Barli JP/leo WORK OF ART: Painter Barli Sasmitawinata (right) presents a work to former minister of education Fuad Hassan during the opening of Barli's painting exhibition at Bentara Budaya Jakarta on Jl. Palmerah Selatan, Central Jakarta. The exhibition runs until Dec. 12.

School's out -- but not all are happy going home By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): The loud ring of the bell that marked the end of school time on Wednesday had a different meaning for students. Most of them were entering a long vacation as many schools are closed during the fasting month of Ramadhan, which started on Thursday. Nina greets the vacation with delight. Early on Wednesday, she and her friends had already planned what they would do on Thursday.

Reality check on the holiday season By A. Suhandojo JAKARTA (JP): "Holiday Season? Frankly my dear I don't give a damn." Part of that sentence is from a Scarlett O'Hara line when she wanted to get back together with her on-and-off husband Rhett Butler in the famous motion picture Gone with the Wind. But that was not the reason why I used the line as the lead in this article. The reason was because I felt that it could whole heartedly represent my personal sentiments toward the holiday season.

PDI Perjuangan holds meeting to size up its poll showing JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is holding a three-day meeting to evaluate its performance in the June 7 general election and October's General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Guess What? Ichlasul Amal No one ever though that Prof. Dr. Ichlasul Amal, the prominent political observer as well as rector at Gadjah Mada University, was also a humorous poet and poetry reader. Not until last Tuesday when he read his own compositions during The Art Performances for Peace held at the University's Graha Sabha Pramana auditorium to celebrate the university's 50th anniversary.

Presumption of guilt for bank looters Once again, we have to contain our fury with the disclosure of the Texmaco scandal. Meanwhile, in the Bank Bali affair, the authorities have not succeeded in jailing any of the wrongdoers. One bank scandal after another will emerge because cases similar to Texmaco, Bank Bali and Bapindo have certainly taken place at other banks, including the private banks in which Bank Indonesia has shares.

Colorful Muslim dresses to light up new millennium By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): The millennium euphoria, which seems to be everywhere, has also struck nine fashion designers who concentrate on Muslim outfits. The designers from the Indonesian Fashion Designers Association (APPMI) held on Wednesday the 2000 Tendance Show at the Sahid Jaya Hotel in Jakarta. Their creations displayed a funky spirit in rainbow colors.

Komaruddin says fasting not a time for show By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Komaruddin Hidayat is one of Indonesia's most prominent Muslim intellectuals whose thoughts and opinions have frequently stung the ears of many traditional ulemas. Born in Muntilan, Magelang, Central Java, Komaruddin, 46, has written a number of books on Islam and edited Islamic journals.