Designer Yunita Harun breaks out from the pack Muara Bagdja, Contributor, Jakarta Amid the numerous fashion shows during November, young designer Yunita Harun tried to draw the attention of fashion lovers in Jakarta by displaying her debut collection at Kertanegara House in South Jakarta.

Couple build dream home step by step Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Change is good, goes the adage, and that is what Antonio and Maya Rana believed when they decided to remodel their South Jakarta home. While maintaining the structure of the two-story house, the couple have plans to gradually remodel it into their dream house.

Little things matter most at Ramadhan Breaking the fast, like all things connected to Ramadhan, becomes a major topic for discussion for Muslims during the fasting month, as well as a grand business opportunity for restaurants and hotels. Last week a bookstore in Jakarta organized a buka puasa (breaking of the fast) event in conjunction with a book discussion, kind of a clever ploy to sell the newly released book during a month when it's better to do some reading and less talking.

Jakarta couple builds their dream home ---------------------- Maria Endah Hulupi The Jakarta Post Jakarta ---------------------- Change is good, goes the adage, and that is what Antonio and Maya Rana believed when they decided to remodel their South Jakarta home. While maintaining the structure of the two-story house, the couple have plans to gradually remodel it into their dream house.

Muslim society battles stigma attached to 'madrasahs' Mehru Jaffer, Contributor, Jakarta To mention the words Muslim and madrasah today is to watch a chill run down the spines of many people. After all, Muslims from madrasas, or schools of religious learning, are held responsible for the terrible attacks on Manhattan and Washington. Madrasahs have always existed in Muslim society.

Managing Bank Indonesia: An insider's look at the crisis Vincent Lingga, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Mengelola Bank Indonesia Dalam Masa Crisis (Managing Bank Indonesia During the Crisis); By J. Soedradjad Djiwandono; PT Pustaka LP3ES Indonesia, 2001; 398 pp What was the main cause of Indonesia's economic crisis, which many analysts have described as the most dramatic reversal of fortune the world has seen over the past 50 years?

A land of time-honored traditions and rapid lifestyle changes What do many Indonesians have in mind when they think of the United Arab Emirates? Its oil? Sand? Dates? Football? Emirates airline? The teasing prices at its airport duty-free shops? Or simply as one of the richest countries in the world? Many of us might not know, for example, that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of seven emirates, or principalities.

Tommy hullabaloo taking the spotlight off Buloggate II JAKARTA (JP): The latest installment in the high-profile detention of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra centered on Saturday on the visit of his two elder sisters to Jakarta Police Headquarters and efforts by his lawyers to drag former president Abdurrahman Wahid into the drama.

Activist a voice for people with AIDS Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Do not ask Suzana Murni how she contracted the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). "I've never been interested in finding out from where I got it. I don't know and I don't want to know. It could have been anything, except inherited from my mother," said Suzana, who was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1995 when she was 23.

Jakarta couple builds their dream home ---------------------- Maria Endah Hulupi The Jakarta Post Jakarta ---------------------- Change is good, goes the adage, and that is what Antonio and Maya Rana believed when they decided to remodel their South Jakarta home. While maintaining the structure of the two-story house, the couple have plans to gradually remodel it into their dream house.

Mind your nutritional intake when exercising during Ramadhan The Jakarta Post, Jakarta If there is one thing that has set Heidi's spirits soaring over the last couple of weeks, it has been the fasting month of Ramadhan. As a defiant woman who exercises for the sake of looking attractive in a tanktop, and not to improve her health, she also approaches the holy month from the other point of view.

Now Showing Jelangkung (Horror, 102 minutes). Starring Winky Wiryawan, Melanie Ariyanto, Rony Dozer, Harry Pantja. Directed by Jose Purnomo and Rizal Mantovani. Four students visit supposedly haunted locations in Jakarta, in a quest to prove that ghosts really exist. But when their project proves to be a disappointment, they go to a small village where residents reportedly killed a five-year-old boy in a gruesome ritual in the 1940s.

Students in Medan moonlight as food vendors Apriadi Gunawan, Contributor, Medan, North Sumatra "Stop for a moment, sir. Choose your favorite!" cried Sarah with a smile. She was standing by the side of the street shouting out to motorists, trying to drum up business for the snacks she was selling. Sarah's approach to selling delicacies for breaking the fast was bold and unique.

City museum offers tantalizing clues to former glory Zulkifli Mohamad, Contributor, Palembang The caretaker-cum-guide at Sultan Machmud Badaruddin II Museum kept on apologizing about the poor state of the museum and its collection as he took me around. The city museum, named after the sultan who was arrested by the Dutch and sent into exile in distant Ternate in July 1821, was formerly the Palembang Sultan's Palace and part of the Keraton Kuto Besar.

On the Shelves The King, the Witch and the Priest: A Twelfth Century Javanese Tale; As told by Pramoedya Ananta Toer; Translated and edited by Willem Samuels; Equinox Publishing, 2002; 127 pp An English translation of Pramoedya Ananta Toer's Calon Arang, a 12th-century Javanese tale that he retold and published half a century ago, has now seen the light of day. Originally intended as a reader for junior high school students, the story is nevertheless interesting for adults as well.

Breaking the fast on the street Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta There is nothing more pleasurable than breaking the fast at home surrounded by family. Everyone rushes to the table when the adzan (call to prayer) is heard in the gathering dusk. Water or hot sweet tea is passed around, then tajil (snacks to break the fast) are enjoyed. After the snacks, people either pray or immediately sit down to a big meal of delicious food specially prepared for Ramadhan.

Marchers urge public to avoid threat of AIDS Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta This year's observance of International AIDS Day in Jakarta was marked by revelry, parades and music on Saturday. Students carrying banners paraded through the capital, the President released white balloons into the air at the National Monument (Monas) and young people played music -- with anti-AIDS messages.

TV Program: Sunday, Dec. 2, 2001 TVRI 3:00 a.m. Ramadhan Program 5:00 Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Cartoon 8:30 Children's Program 9:30 Music 11:00 Regional News 11:30 Documentary 12:00 p.m. Traditional Comedy 1:30 Religious Teachings 2:00 News 2:30 Children's Program 3:30 Documentary 4:30 Cartoon 5:00 Documentary 6:00 News 7:00 Comedy 7:30 Songs and Dances 9:00 News 9:30 Music 10:30 Sports Program 2 5:30 p.m.

Sadness mars Papua celebration R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura Unlike last year, the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) celebrated Papua's 40th anniversary of independence in a modest but solemn ceremony in memory of its leader Dortheys Hiyo Eluway, pledging that it would continue to fight for the Papuan people's political aspirations.

Chinese dishes for breaking the fast The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It is always enjoyable to share light delicacies when breaking the fast with family members. If you want to serve new flavors for loved ones, instead of the delicious but standard kolak (fruit compote in coconut milk) or rice porridge, try preparing some Chinese delicacies to warm up an intimate gathering. Chinese cookbook writer Mary Winata suggests mung bean with water chestnut porridge or black sesame balls with almond syrup.

On the Record Artist: Krisdayanti Album: Konser KD (Warner Music Indonesia) Despite makeup that can be spotted miles away, bizarre costumes and hair, one must admit that singer/actress Krisdayanti, or KD, fits the criteria of a pop star. She has a great voice and sells a lot of albums. And her solo concert last September at the Jakarta Convention Center was such a success that Warner decided to put out a live album of it.

Plain and simple facts about common STDs The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Your best protection against being infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is adopting responsible sexual behavior. This, according to physicians, also includes performing safe sex with a steady, healthy partner. Some STDs show no symptoms, meaning the infected person can transmit the diseases to others without knowing it.

Cut from different cloth Muara Bagdja, Contributor, Jakarta Regeneration in fashion, like in all aspects of life, is inevitable. Young designers emerge and display the talent necessary to do business and survive in a new era. Some of them become the trend-setters of their generation. In Indonesia, five generations of designers have emerged since Peter Sie pioneered the profession in the country in the 1950s as a haute couture designer.

An adventure of the most rapid lifestyle changes What do many Indonesians have in mind about this country? Its oil? Sand? Date? Football team and leagues? The Emirate Airline? The teasing prices at its airport dutyfree shops? Or simply as one of the richest countries in the world? Many of us here might not know that, for example, the United Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates, or principalities, and President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has ruled the federation for 30 years.

Urgent call made for teen sex education Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The 18-year-old "Maya" thought the world had ended for her when her doctor confirmed that she was pregnant. She thought she was just having her first ever intimate relationship. She was depressed and hopeless and didn't know what to do. She worried about how her boyfriend and her parents would react and what the neighbors would think.

Seeking the onetime 'Venice of the East' Zulkifli Mohamad, Contributor, Palembang, South Sumatra "Why Palembang?" a colleague asked when I told of my plans to spend a weekend in the capital of South Sumatra. My obvious comeback was to look for the remnants of Sri Wijaya, the famous maritime kingdom of Southeast Asia, which led to its being called the "Venice of the East" from the 7th century to the 9th century.

Local painters explore 'The Hidden Art' An abstract painter meets an expressionist counterpart in a gallery in Jakarta. The works of Hanafi, 42, and Yunizar, 31, greet art lovers and visitors with bright colors that speak about hidden meanings. Hanafi, who was born in Purworejo, Central Java, painter, produced smooth expressions through sweeping stroke on broad canvass to speak out his impression about many things, such as the sceneries of the sea, dessert and certain objects.