Indonesia's golden couple courting success By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): Susy Susanti and Alan Budikusuma gained enduring national fame when they took gold in the women's and men's singles in badminton at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Their contribution of the country's first Olympic golds was made even sweeter by the fact they were a couple off the court. They married in February 1997 in a high-profile ceremony.

Experts see rising trend in apartments If a home is in a quiet neighborhood, surrounded by lush gardens, with a 24-hour security system, parking place and is close to the place of work, it is likely to be taken immediately. A lake covered in large lotus buds of myriad hues nearby has never done anybody any harm either.

Arts Agenda Pottery Exhibition Kendi-Kendi, Water Pots F. Widayanto, at Koi Galeri and Restaurant, Jl Mahakam I/2, South Jakarta, tel: 722-2864. From Oct. 9 F. Widayanto will again display his distinguished pottery works titled Kendi-Kendi, traditional water pots. Inspired by traditional terracota kendi, Widayanto develops various types, shapes and designs of water pots.

Links By Dewi Anggraeni "You cannot speak Cantonese, ah? How come?" was one of the questions frequently thrown at Dinah whenever she was in Hong Kong. She had tried to explain that she was Indonesian and had yet to learn Chinese. "Ha, you Chinese, but no speak Chinese!" was the usual reply, loaded with accusation, completely ignoring her explanation. Some even went as far as pointing out how remiss her parents had been.

Former athletes face tough times A sports career is no promise of a comfortable future in Indonesia. Despite huge bonuses for gold medals in multisports events like the Olympics, many also-ran athletes end up with little after their careers end. The Jakarta Post's Primastuti Handayani, Bruce Emond and Ivy Susanti examine what is being done to help athletes face the challenges of life.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 8:00 Cartoon 9:00 Sports 10:00 Music 11:00 TV Series: Dos Mujeres 12:00 p.m. Comedy 1:00 TV Drama 2:00 News 3:00 Sports 4:00 News 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Travel 5:30 TVRI News 6:00 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Sports 8:00 Music 9:00 News 9:30 Music 10:30 Performance Program 2 5:30 p.m. News 6:00 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:00 City News 8:30 Variety Show TPI 5:30 a.m.

Historical facts about coffee JAKARTA (JP): What was the historical route of the brew which perks up millions? Origins: Coffee is believed to have originated in the town of Kaffa in Ethiopia, writes Jane Pettigrew in Coffee, a 1999 tribute to the finest coffees of the world. Coffee's discovery is often attributed to a shepherd whose flock wandered over to a strange bush and were invigorated after consuming the beans.

Government has to guarantee our future, athletes say JAKARTA (JP): They stood on the stage carrying banners saying they received millions of rupiah in cash bonuses Saturday evening in a handing over ceremony at TVRI auditorium. The ceremony itself was broadcast nationwide by TVRI, TPI and ANteve. But as they stepped down from the stage, they still have one big question in their minds. What will happen to our future?

Police make arrests in truck hijacking JAKARTA (JP): Tangerang Police detectives arrested five suspects in the hijacking of a container truck loaded with 35 tons of iron. The arrests came about one hour after the truck was hijacked at about 7 p.m. on Friday, an officer said on Saturday. Jakarta Police spokesman Supt. Muhammad Nur H. Usman said the five men intercepted the truck on the Tangerang toll road between kilometer 12 and kilometer 13, injuring the driver and his assistant in the process.

Viewers waking up to new breakfast TV show By Bruce Emond Selamat Datang Pagi (Welcome the Morning); Hosts: Becky Tumewu, Ferdy Hasan; RCTI, 8 a.m. Weekdays JAKARTA (JP): It's hard to be heard amid the din of dangdut music shows on TV in the early morning hours, but breakfast television is finally making its appearance on local screens. There is already Dua Jam Saja (Two Hours) on state-run TVRI, with a mix of news, features, guests and a viewer call-in segment.

Leo Kristi: Turning from musician to painter By Aendra H. Medita JAKARTA (JP): When a musician holds a solo exhibition of his own paintings, it shows a daring process in achieving a new aesthetic expression because his works reflect the rhythm of the music he is usually identified with. He is, Leo Imam Sukarno the painter, better known as Leo Kristi, well-known musician whose popular concerts feature patriotic themes.

Balinese traditional textiles in tune with modern times By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): As the pencil thin model draped in a body hugging kebaya walked in, the audience let out a collective cry. Some thought that the outfit -- a combination of a lemon green songket skirt topped with a laced kebaya, below which the model wore nothing else except a little white bra embroidered in pink flowers -- was sexy. Some others felt blinded by the exposure of so much flesh.

The fall guy for the mighty who've fallen JAKARTA (JP): Last week I did not commemorate the victory of the Pancasila state ideology over the antigovernment coup plotters, who in 1965 helped put the then Gen. Soeharto into the country's saddle of power. However, I did spend my idle time on another important matter. I tried to ponder the fate of the smiling general's smiling youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, or Tommy.

26 people killed as Wamena's worst riots JAKARTA (JP): At least 26 people were killed and scores of others seriously wounded in a rampage by proindependence supporters in the Irian Jaya town of Wamena, police said on Saturday. Sources at the Wamena hospital put the number of fatalities at 30, with 45 others injured, as of Saturday afternoon, Antara reported. National Police spokesman Brig. Gen.

What must athletes do for their future? JAKARTA (JP): Life can be thick or thin for athletes after their competitive days are over. The Jakarta Post asked several athletes and an official from the National Sports Council (KONI) about what athletes should do to plan for their retirement. Syamsul Anwar Harahap, 48, former boxer, now a commentator and columnist: We have to look at the situation in Indonesia today.

Male menopause not all gloom and doom By Clare E. Urwin SURABAYA, East Java (JP): Thanks to modern science and medicine, men can look forward to a satisfying and vibrant life in their later years. This was the main message of a two-day symposium, Management of Erectile Dysfunction and The Aging Male, at The World Trade Center here last weekend. There were six guest speakers, covering various aspects of the male aging process, and generally there was an optimistic theme throughout the day.

New Korea WCup OC appointed SEOUL (AFP): South Korea's 2002 World Cup Organizing Committee on Saturday named Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-joon and Seoul Olympic Sports Promotion Foundation chairman Lee Yun-taek as new co-heads. The two replaced Park Seh-jik who stepped down in July after a row with Chung, a vice president of the International Football Federation (FIFA) and previous culture and tourism minister Park Jie-won.

Spilling the beans on perking up coffee culture JAKARTA (JP): The mere mention of java is enough to get the juices flowing for coffee lovers around the world. The export from the central island in the then Dutch East Indies was so coveted by 19th century Europeans that they came to know it by its place of origin. Trouble was that a cup of the dark stuff was hard to find for the average Indonesian.

A day with a Kuta beach lifeguard I Made Kariasa, better known as Brenk, 30, has been a lifeguard at Kuta beach on Bali since 1989. Born in the island's capital Denpasar, he made straight for the beach after finishing high school and continues to live at home, with his parents, one sister and a brother. He relates his day to The Jakarta Post's contributor William Furney. I get up at about 6 a.m., have a shower and some coffee. Then I feel refreshed.

The long and winding road to spectacular Lake Maninjau By Simon Marcus Gower MANINJAU, West Sumatra (JP): Local people will tell you it's better to visit on a sunny day. Guidebooks warn against traveling there when skies are gray and clouds are low. But local people and guidebooks do not always consider the possibility that inclement weather might be appealing.

CJava, Jakarta compete in ASEAN SEMARANG (JP): The Central Java men's volleyball team and the Jakarta women's team will represent Indonesia in the ASEAN Junior Volleyball Championship in Namcamrat, about 200kms of Bangkok, from Oct. 22 to Oct. 27. The Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) Central Java chapter Sofyan T Dolo said that both teams were appointed due to their success in the National Junior Championship in Yogyakarta in May. "We haven't set any targets for the championship.

Finding a solution to Jakarta's lack of adequate housing From a center of intensive agricultural activity, Jakarta graduated to manufacturing and is redefining itself as the financial and commercial capital of Indonesia. For decades, city planners have been involved in housing programs to cope with the growth of urban populations while kampong improvement activities are in full swing to improve conditions in existing areas.

Apartment market surges after suffering decline JAKARTA (JP): More middle-class people are choosing to live in high-rise residential buildings, kick-starting the apartment market in the capital again after a tough time with the economic downturn. Apartments are a relatively new concept here. It was not until the late 1980s that the city started to see the development of high-rise apartment buildings.

Home Movies JAKARTA (JP): Many older Jakartans may miss the little movie house from the 1950s that was located next to the Garden Hall theater, inside what was then the city zoo -- now Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center. Nowhere near as plush as some of the movie theaters of today, it was capable of seating no more than about a couple of hundred at a time. Films were projected onto a small, almost square screen, which was common practice in the days before the advent of the wide screen.

Agus, Saurip may face disciplinary charges JAKARTA (JP): Controversial Army officers Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah and Maj. Gen. Saurip Kadi may soon face disciplinary action, as rumors swirl that the pair will be brought before an Officers Honorary Council. Both men were summoned by the Army leadership on Tuesday to explain their recent actions: Agus for being absent without leave (AWOL) and Saurip for publishing a book about the military's activities without the Army's permission.

Jakarta: From humble harbor to modern metropolis Everybody would like to have an apartment here as Jakarta is known to be a city of a thousand dreams. Like a loving mother, Jakarta embraces thousands of people each day with open arms. It is for this reason that to everyone who has lived here Jakarta is Ibu Kota (the mother city). The continuous flow of newcomers is not made up of only tourists, but also immigrants who stay permanently or come as visiting musiman (migrants).

A webtoon that is 'User Friendly' on the Net By Vishnu "Ramius" Mahmud JAKARTA (JP): As a child, I always grabbed the newspaper in the morning to read my favorite comics: Garfield, Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes. Now (a few years on) as an information junkie, I troll the Net for news, views and reviews. But sometimes I get bored after reading 16 different news sites from five different countries.

RI told to curb forest fires KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (Reuters): Southeast Asian environment ministers urged Indonesia on Saturday to take steps against forest fires which sparked a regional smog crisis in 1997, with dry weather was expected again next year. The ministers also said ASEAN was preparing a Transboundary Haze Pollution pact, expected to be finalized within a year, to tackle the smog problem. No details were available.

Indonesia beats Taipei to join Group I JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia crushed Chinese Taipei 3-0 at the Davis Cup Group II Asia Oceania zone and was promoted at the same time to compete in Group I next year. Host doubles Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo proved their superiority over contenders Cheng Wei-Jen and Chen Wei-Ju in the second day of the tie to win 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in nearly two hours at the Kemayoran Tennis Center.