The road to Tanah Lot Bali, Indonesia, January 2000. What is it about Bali that makes it so special? Everyone seems to have their own reason for loving Bali, and I guess that's the secret to its success. There is so much about Bali, so much richness, so much to offer, that it appeals to many interests. Each visit to Bali brings new rewards and rekindles old loves. Love for the beautiful island and its charming people.

Galang Island's poignant past open to visitors Text and photos by A. Junaidi GALANG ISLAND, Riau (JP): Sadness, emptiness and horror are among the impressions of visitors to this island, where hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese boat people lived in a refugee camp in the 1970s. Today, it is being styled as a tourist attraction, with new, smooth roads on its 8,000 hectares situated south of Batam industrial island. But its haunting past still comes through.

Four roads to e-commerce development in RI By Christiani Tumelap JAKARTA (JP): E-commerce was only beginning to be discussed by certain interest groups here in 1995, when the worldwide web had already become popular and useful for many companies in the United States. There are various economic and social factors hampering the introduction of Internet use and Internet trade in Indonesia.

On Komnas-Ham reshuffle The Pancasila Youth Front (FPI) and the Maluku Muslim Young Generation (FORGEMMA) are right in demanding that the House of Representatives should urge the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham) to dissolve itself or at least reshuffle its members. There is an indication that Komnas Ham activists are not executing their duties properly. Viewing what they have done, it is obvious that they have conspired to drive the Indonesian Military into a corner.

Model surfboards ride a successful wave By Bambang Tiong YOGYAKARTA (JP): A breakthrough in the use of wood; this time not only is the product popular among foreign buyers, but it also is a good foreign exchange earner. In the hands of Sidik, a piece of wood which people would generally discard or at best use as firewood will be turned, thanks to his great creativity, into an attractive souvenir in the form of a miniature surfboard.

Adventures at sea in Sangir Text by Wahyuni Kamah Photos by Thomas Kiss MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): Since Merpati Airlines has suspended its flights between Manado and Tahuna from July of this year, visiting Tahuna on Sangihe Island in North Sulawesi now requires a trip by sea. There are only two choices to visit this island of nutmeg and cloves: by ferry or by jet boat, both of which serve the Manado-Tahuna route three times a week.

West Java's fragrant roots not as sweet as they used to be By Y.R. Prahista BANDUNG (JP): Throwing his tattered hat angrily onto the ground, Amin half cursed, "Akar wangi (a kind of fragrant grass) farmers are dying. The price of the akar wangi oil has slumped," he said. "Just look around, do you see any processing plants that are doing well?" he asked. His eyes wandered around, looking for confirmation.

Do you know the way to Galang? GALANG Island, Riau (JP): Since last year, visitors have been able to reach Galang by land, thanks to the development of six bridges connecting the islands of Batam, Tonton, Nipah, Setoko, Rempang and Galang. One of the bridges is constructed similar to the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. Tourists can view the surrounding islands and clean sea. Foreign tourists intending to visit Galang directly can enter through Batam.

Clinton gives strong support to Gus Dur JAKARTA (JP): U.S. Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard met with President Abdurrahman Wahid on Saturday at Bina Graha presidential office to convey a message of support for his leadership from President Bill Clinton. Clinton's message followed an earlier statement made on Friday by a U.S. senior diplomat who warned Indonesian generals not to attempt to thwart the reform process under Abdurrahman's leadership. In another token of U.S.

Iskak dies of heart failure JAKARTA (JP): Comedian Iskak died from heart failure on Friday night at the age of 67, Antara reported. Iskak started building his career as a comedian in Jakarta in 1958, forming a group with Ateng and Bagyo. Iskak and Ateng later joined forces with Bing Slamet and Edi Sud and formed Kwartet Jaya group.

'Angklung' made with fatherly love By Bambang Tiong YOGYAKARTA (JP): Seventy-year-old Sumitro, who lives in Tegiri, a small village in Yogyakarta, is a successful maker of the West Javanese traditional musical instrument known as angklung, a series of suspended bamboo tubes which percuss when shaken. He said that he began making angklung when his first child, who had been born blind and was then aged 8, was capivated by the sound of the angklung on the radio.

Marriage involves much more than timing By E. Effendi JAKARTA (JP): When you become a grown-up man, you realize that you have to worry about different things from those when you were younger. For instance, instead of worrying about whether your parents will let you come home late, you are now worrying about moving out from their home. Instead of worrying about your zip problem, you are worrying about unnecessary hairs that have started growing from every hole in your body.

Local designers and media start exploring the benefits of cyberworld By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): Daisy Windayanti, the fashion editor of Kawanku, a magazine for young girls, almost kissed her computer after she found the latest picture of Indonesian model Tracy Trinita on a catwalk in a Paris fashion show. "I am so happy because I found not only one but almost a dozen photos of her," she said. Daisy was just finishing an article on 17-year-old Tracy.

Spotlight Photo G: Ciputra Hotel Ciputra WINNING ORPHANS: Emmanuel Guillard, general manager of Hotel Ciputra Jakarta, hands over the prizes for winners of the Adzan (call for prayer) contest for orphans. The winner was Mohamad Akbar (far left), second Mohamad Yusuf (second left), both from At-Tahiryah Foundation, and in third place was Abdul Atiq from Raudhatul Foundation. The event was held on Dec. 27 in commemoration of the revelation of the Koran.

Violence in Dili as UN offers jobs DILI, East Timor (Agencies): Violence broke out in Dili on Saturday when thousands of poor and unemployed East Timorese scrambled to apply for jobs offered by the United Nations administration. Some in the crowd of about 7,000 threw rocks at a small group of international peacekeeping troops and UN police officers. Witnesses said they were frustrated that their applications for about 2,000 available positions with the world body had been rejected.

Traditional musical instrument 'kledek' nearly extinct By Margareta and Edi Petebang PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): A traditional song was heard drifting sweetly through the village. It was nice, but it could have been more beautiful if it had been sung to the accompaniment of kledek, a typical wind instrument in the Kebahan ethnic group. A blend of a trumpet and a flute, the kledek is now at the brink of extinction.

Ricky/Rexy cruise to Korea Open men's double final JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian veterans men's double pair Ricky Ahmad Subagja and Rexy Mainaky seemed to revive their glory days by cruising to the final of the 2000 Samsung Korea Open at Hanra gymnasium in Cheju Island, South Korea. Looking forward to performing in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney in September, the 1996 gold medalists outclassed their junior countrymen Flandi Limpele and Eng Hian 15-13, 15-8 at the semifinal on Saturday.

A day in the life of a 'bakpao' peddler By Santo Koesoebjono WASSENAAR, The Netherlands (JP): "Pao, pao," shouts Bambang one night on his way home from his stand in front of the SMP (middle school) 12 in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, where he sells bakpao. To him, home means the bakpao factory where 30 male workers and their boss work, sleep and produce bakpao. When the bakpao are ready these workers sell them as small entrepreneurs using their own pushcart.

Ulemas Council does about-face on jihad JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) defied President Abdurrahman Wahid's stern warning against a holy war, expressing its sympathy for the cry invoked by Muslim demonstrators for a jihad to defend their brethren in Maluku. In a statement issued on Saturday, MUI also called on Muslims throughout the country to foster unity, cohesion, solidarity and vigilance against any kind of trick and stratagem by certain groups who are anti-Islam.

Challenges and chances seen for RI economy WASHINGTON (Agencies): Indonesia has the potential to share in Asia's strong recovery from the financial crisis of 1997-99 but must still tackle problems of corruption and bad governance, U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said on Friday.

Indonesian artists reflect on past horrors By Astri Wright VICTORIA, Canada (JP): The staged and spontaneous riots with violent repercussions in Jakarta in early 1998, leading to Soeharto's stepping down, continue to reverberate through contemporary Indonesian art. While this was evident at home, throughout 1998 and 1999, it has become increasingly evident abroad as well.