A celebration of Indonesia's new architecture By Reita I. Malaon JAKARTA (JP): To feast your eyes on an object d'art is an enriching experience, particularly when what one sees is not customarily presented in this country as an art form. This time, the creative energy was aspirated through the hands of architects. The enchanting realm of Indonesian architecture is currently being exhibited at Erasmus Huis. The exhibition, which was opened on Dec.

Trishaw ride down memory lane in Malaysia By Sean Yoong MALACCA, Malaysia (AP): On a blazing afternoon here in the narrow streets of Malacca, five aging monks in fading orange robes are chanting in front of the altar at the Cheng Hoon Teng, Malaysia's oldest Buddhist temple. Dozens of devotees around them are praying in silence. Curious tourists are looking on.

Malaysian group Raihan gains popularity here By Endi Aras JAKARTA (JP): Why are Malaysian songs easily accepted by Indonesians? The answers are varied. It might be because the melodies presented by Malaysian musicians are in tune with the feelings and emotions of most Indonesians, or because its language, which is similar to Indonesian, is easily understood. Another reason might be because the Malaysian dialect sounds strange but is nice to utter.

A long day spent around and about Central Java By Philip McCausland BOROBUDUR, Central Java (JP): It was still dark, not yet 4:30 a.m, when my driver and I left the Central Javanese resort of Amanjiwo. The limestone hills of Menoreh flickered with scattered lights: villagers either climbing the hills to their fields or making their way down for the morning market. A few minutes along a one-lane country road, I heard the first call to prayer.

Diamonds are a villager's best friend in Martapura By Erma S. Ranik PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): Diamonds, very precious stones, are unequivocally familiar to all and Martapura in South Kalimantan is one of Indonesia's most famous diamond-producing areas. Diamonds of a comparable quality are also found in the river basin of the Landak river in Landak regency, West Kalimantan.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Sunday Maghrib 6:10 p.m. Monday Imsak 4:06 a.m. Subuh 4:16 a.m.

Home Minister's firm stance From Suara Karya A newspaper reported recently that Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja stated that the government is consistent in rejecting the option of seceding from the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia, as voiced by a number of provinces.

Robber arrested as he tries to sell hot car JAKARTA (JP): The tables turned on a man when he tried to sell a stolen Mercedes Benz to a car showroom owner, who happened to be the elder brother of the owner of the car who was murdered and his car stolen on Jl. Bintaro in Kebayoran Lama, on Friday morning, South Jakarta Police chief of detectives said. Maj.

RI's television industry hopes to tune in to good times By Antariksawan Jusuf JAKARTA (JP): In a free television landscape, where size, of advertising expenditure, does matter, 1999 was considered a turning point for Indonesian stations, from the doom and gloom of 1998 to a brighter, rosier future. Research firm AC Nielsen Media International found Indonesia recorded the highest increase in terms of percentage of the gross advertising expenditure from 12 Asian countries surveyed.

Wiranto denies TNI played role in E. Timor chaos JAKARTA (JP): Former military commander Gen. Wiranto, after being queried by an inquiry commission, argued that violence by militias in East Timor after the Aug. 30 ballot was an emotional outburst which was neither premeditated nor controllable. He contended that the Indonesian Military (TNI) did not plan nor endorse any of the violence that took place.

Carmel set to keep on contributing By Helly Minarti LONDON (JP): Few of us have had the privilege of witnessing a vital part of history taking place, and not many of the few who do manage to survive to see the tables turn. British-born Carmel Budiardjo, founder of Tahanan Politik (political prisoners, Tapol), is one of the few caught in the middle of the most turbulent times in Indonesian modern history in the mid 1960s and lived to see things change.

Christmas celebrated in peaceful and calm mood JAKARTA (JP): Peace and calm was the prevailing mood in local Christmas celebrations conducted from Friday evening to Saturday. About 100 students of the Doulos school of theology and residents of Cipayung in East Jakarta celebrated Christmas on Friday afternoon on the second-floor of the hall, located in the center of the school complex, which was attacked by arsonists on Dec. 15. The half-empty room was decorated with paper streamers.

Celebrations and hopes for 2000 The hype and the mood is all there for welcoming the new millennium, although there have been misgivings over whether we are celebrating this a year too early. The Jakarta Post asked various people whether welcoming in the New Year of 2000 involved any special plans and hopes. JAKARTA (JP): Which party to attend or which dress to wear are two hot topics being talked about in greeting the new millennium, especially among youngsters. Controversy?

Spotlight Photo H: Borobudur Hotel Borobudur INSIDE TOUR: Dressed as a firefighter, Hotel Borobudur's general manager, A. Antonio Zamora, pushes a Millennium-theme pedicab with one of his staffs as passenger. The event took place during a recent party to celebrate a number of hotel staff birthdays. Photo I: Visa Visa FOR THE GOOD OF ALL: Visa International country manager for Indonesia Ellyana C.

Coconuts bring livelihood to Menoreh By Ahmad Solikhan YOGYAKARTA (JP): The arid and barren land of the Menoreh range of hills is not suitable for tilling. Only cassava, coffee, clove and second crop plants can grow on it, but the harvest of these plants is not very lucrative for farmers. Only coconut trees can be relied on to grow abundantly and to provide for the farmers' daily needs, but it is also not very promising because there is an interval of three to four months between harvests.

Exquisite wallets made of chicken skin By R. Agus Bakti YOGYAKARTA (JP): A wallet is a friend on many occasions. It holds one's identification, driver's license, car license number certificate, photographs and, of course, the all important money. Not surprisingly, the design and shape of wallets in the market is varied. And the material comes from a wide range of sources: from sheep, goats, cows, crocodiles and ostriches. And it turns out that chicken's skin can also be used to make wallets.

In Indonesia, ad regulations are created to be violated By Emma Cameron JAKARTA (JP): The brother and sister bicker. The brother tells his sister she can't be an astronaut because astronauts can't eat chocolate. But the mother comes in with her calming influence and saves the day, telling the boy he can be an astronaut and eat chocolate -- as long as he brushes with toothpaste of the advertised brandname he won't have bad teeth. It's a cute advertisement and one that's famous in Indonesia.

Andrian loses in 12-round IBF bout JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian IBF Continental featherweight boxer Andrian Kaspari bowed out to Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym of Thailand in a 12-round match in Bangkok on Friday evening. In the match, Andrian lost in points after judge Winai Poodpraw of Thailand gave 117-115 and John Wright of Australia gave 116-115 to the Thai boxer. On the contrary, Indonesian judge Rustam Honowu gave 117-115 to Andrian.

Few takers as local designers put on bazaar By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): It is an unusually busy December this year, with Christmas, the fasting month of Ramadhan and the New Year, with its added punch of the turn of the new millennium. For many, it's time to splurge on new clothes. Malls and fashion designers are bringing down the ax in a war of prices and discounts.

Earning forex with coconut fiber By Bambang Tiong YOGYAKARTA (JP): Coconut husk fiber used to be ignored because it wasn't considered useful. It was mostly used simply for fire wood, mats or sofas. But thanks to one person's creativity, it is now capable of yielding foreign exchange. Johny Susanto, 37, and a Yogyakarta resident, has succeeded in making a breakthrough in making good use of coconut husks; he turns them into colorful flowers. "Coconut husk has in fact a high-potential.

Don't waste this New Year's Eve JAKARTA (JP): This is the time! This is the end of the year, the end of the decade, the end of the century, and it is the end of the millennium. So at this great moment of history, let us spend a little time alone to ask ourselves about the true meaning of New Year's and how it will affect us. Well, I don't know either. Recently, I and a group of friends were discussing what we would do on New Year's Eve this year.

Doctors warned of millennium births BANGKOK (AP): Thailand's Health Ministry has warned doctors they could end up in jail if they perform Caesarean operations to time baby births with the onset of the new millennium. The warning came amid reports that some mothers wanted to have their babies born as close as possible to the turn of the century. "Doctors should not do so even though they might be pressured from parents-to-be," said ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Supachai Khunaratanaphreuk.

Sujono taps into a profession all his own YOGYAKARTA (JP): A dark complexioned man lugs dozens of bamboo tubes tied with a plastic rope, a sharp sickle strapped to his waist. He looks into the distance, his gaze piercing through the coconut leaves in search of something. The sun sinks in the west and a drizzle falls, wetting his body. He stops under a 50-meter- tall coconut tree and begins an agile climb, his hands and feet clinging to its stem.

Newly empowered Erna: 'Just do it' By Endy M. Bayuni JAKARTA (JP): For more than two decades, she has been fighting on behalf of the people against adversaries who have almost always been the government or the powerful corporations. Erna Witoelar built her professional career and reputation by working and leading various non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Guess What? Popular dangdut singer Camelia Malik is happy. The sinetron (television miniseries) Camelia that she stars in was finally aired by private television station SCTV on Monday. "It's natural if I feel proud. It's not because the title is the same as my name, but because it's good," Camelia said in her house in Cilandak, South Jakarta. "I get to the play the antagonist Dahniar." She said that in Arabic, Camelia means perfect.

Guess What? Noted singer Iwan Fals' popularity is far from declining. It is rumored that a monthly magazine will soon publish a special edition consisting of Indonesia's Top 20 People, and Iwan is listed to represent the artist circle. If the rumor is true, it will certainly boost his popularity at the right time, just when he plans to release a new album. His new album will cheer up fans who are turned on by his love songs, because the new album is a compilation of his old songs.