Easy snacks for informal gatherings JAKARTA (JP): There are times when you run short of ideas as to what to serve at an upcoming family gathering. Consider the following fruit pastry and chicken meatball recipes. But wait! Take this note: make the fruit pastry a day before and keep refrigerated. The chicken meatballs can be prepared a day ahead. Deep fry them a few hours before your guests are due to arrive.

Tips for smart shopping JAKARTA (JP): Here are some tips for smart shopping from the Indonesian Consumers Protection Foundation (YLKI) and Ramayana department store: * Whenever possible, compare prices from different department stores, malls or supermarkets for the same product. * Be selective on the things that are sold on discount and investigate the reason for the price cut.

Ask your money to work JAKARTA (JP): Undoubtedly, there are still people consciously and continuously seeking out all business opportunities, even in such an adverse economic situation. A success story often does not require a born entrepreneur, but is usually the fruit of grim experience, or at least some sort of sacrifice. But we all believe that one cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs, don't we? In an interview on Friday with The Jakarta Post, investment observer Elvyn G.

Christie's to auction Southeast Asian and Indian art JAKARTA (JP): Southeast Asian art is becoming more and more popular among ardent art collectors in Asia and even worldwide. For Indonesian art collectors who want to add to their collections, on the 1st of April, Christie's Singapore will offer important Southeast Asian pictures and 20th Century Indian Pictures.

Edging toward recovery By Berni K. Moestafa After a disappointing 2000, and an unpromising start this year, equity analysts regained some confidence in the local stock market after its turnabout on the back of foreign capital inflow. The analysts said the overall prospects had improved, but political instability and a weaker rupiah could impede the recovery.

Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Light Ornaments, Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Phone: 5241069), until March 24. * Painting Hanafi 2001, Galeri Minima - Maxima, Jl. Sultan Iskandar Muda 88D, Arteri Pondok Indah, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., until March 20. * Photo: Light and Shadow, Galeri Foto Cahya, Wisma Surya Kemang, Jl. Kemang Raya no. 33, South Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until March 17.

Potatoes blight beauty of Dieng plateau Text and photos by P.J. Leo DIENG, Central Java (JP): White mists, the slaves of the wind, meander to and fro in the morning and afternoon and envelop the hills through which the winding road passes, adding to the charm of the Dieng plateau, a cool, nay, cold and mysterious area. With temperatures averaging about 15 degrees Celsius during the day and falling to 10 degrees Celsius at night, the Dieng plateau resembles Peru or Tibet more than tropical Java.

Worshiping albino, 'sacred' buffaloes at Surakarta palace By Bambang M SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): One morning at Kasunanan Palace, Surakarta, Kirmanto, 43, acting servile, approached a big albino buffalo, squatting and paying homage to the animal. Seven other people followed his actions. Don't think Kirmanto was losing his mind. He was doing what believers of the feudal court culture are supposed to do when bumping into the palace's buffaloes, which they consider sacred.

A Big Lie By Sori Siregar Recently people had been so kind. When I wanted to pay the remaining balance of my loan to the bank, the head of the credit department said that it had already been paid. I insisted that the balance of my loan was still five million rupiah. That's the amount I intended to pay. As a matter of fact the head of the credit department was as stubborn as I was. He kept on saying that the total loan had been paid.

Specialty shops become trendy in big cities By I. Christianto and Prapti Widinugraheni JAKARTA (JP): Increasing competition and the desire of retailers to meet the specific needs of customers have given rise to specialty shops selling single-category products that would otherwise be sold in general stores. Avid shoppers looking for fresh fruit no longer need to plow through the muck and garbage lining the alleys of traditional markets or haggle over prices with scruffy-looking vendors.

Saving the supermarket-queue culture JAKARTA (JP): "Antri dong!" (Queue up!) is not the sort of phrase one yearns to hear, it is, however, an oratory prompt that my ears are abuzz to audibly perceive. I discovered recently that along with the globalization of the last decade, there is a specific genesis of a nouveau generation of queue jumpers. A generation which believes that "who-jumps- ahead-gets-ahead" and are a social menace to some passively mute victims.

RI girl's doubles lose in final JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian duo of Sandy Gumulya and Septi Nindya Yutami failed to win the girl's doubles title, losing to the South Korean pair of Kim So-jung and Kim Su-jin 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the final of the 2001 Gas Negara international junior championships on Saturday.

East Timor's media striving anew amid many obstacles By Ati Nurbaiti JAKARTA (JP): You need to meet your relatives who are in Indonesia, and from where you are in East Timor the village has no telephone, let alone wartel (communications kiosk) or e-mail facilities. Don't worry, just contact the local radio station -- meaning coming in person to meet broadcasters -- and request them to convey arrangements on where and when to meet.

Tale of two shops: Markets and malls In recent years, customers have been spoiled by the ever- increasing number of modern shopping centers that often engage in price wars to win customers. The Jakarta Post's Maria Endah Hulupi, Ida Indawati Khouw and contributors Prapti Widinugraheni, I. Christianto and Tri Hafiningsih look into the issue of smart shopping. JAKARTA (JP): What makes a shop popular? Friendly staff, cheap prices, air-conditioning, ample parking space, after-sales warranties?

TV stations gear up for school holidays JAKARTA (JP): School holidays start tomorrow. Forget homework, do outdoor activities like camping or fishing, and after a long and tiring day, you can watch some interesting programs on television during your weeklong holidays. Three local television stations, TPI, SCTV and RCTI have already prepared special holiday programs, which include cartoons, films and entertainment shows.

Tapping filmmaking talents in schools By Yusuf Susilo BANDUNG (JP): A month-long film workshop for high school students is being held in Bandung, West Java. The workshop, which was kicked off on Sunday March 4, involves 10 mentors and a number of experts, including Shanty Harmayn, Rayya Makarim, Harry Dagoe and Arthuro GP.

Protect your important data with backups and partitions By Vishnu K. Mahmud JAKARTA (JP): There is a small tech horror story circulating around Technical Support departments. The CEO of a popular Indonesian Internet Portal called up to complain about his laptop. It would not boot, showing instead an error message stating that one of the system files was corrupted or missing. One of the best things to do when a Windows system file becomes damaged is to format and reinstall the Operating System.

Pacitan's agate, long-lasting souvenir By R. Agus Bakti PACITAN, Central Java (JP): Pacitan is known as an arid, hilly regency. Although the land is unproductive, many residents prosper thanks to their craftsmanship of agate. Agate is available at regular and souvenir stores across the main town and recreation centers. Agate sellers make a lot of money during holidays and on the weekends when holidaymakers abound.

Madurese 'can return' to Kalimantan JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid assured Madurese on Saturday who had fled riot-torn Sampit of a safe return to the Central Kalimantan regency. Speaking in a dialog with the refugees on their home soil of Bangkalan in the East Java island of Madura, the President dismissed reports that Dayak natives bear resentment against the migrants and could no longer live in harmony with them, Antara reported.

Estrada scoffs at reports saying he would flee MANILA (AFP): Deposed Philippine president Joseph Estrada on Saturday laughed off reports he was seeking to flee the country and accused the government of President Gloria Arroyo of spreading rumors against him. "For the umpteenth time, I'll never the leave the country," Estrada told reporters, reacting to reports that the Arroyo government was trying to block him from seeking asylum abroad.

It's safe to go back in Pattaya Bay By Peter Janssen PATTAYA, Thailand (DPA): Pattaya beach resort, notorious for its sleazy nightlife and polluted bay, has been a tough sell for respectable hoteliers for the past decade or so. Now, with the completion of a 1.8 billion baht (US$42 million) waste-water treatment plant in November, 2000, Pattaya promoters finally have something "wholesome" to crow about - the resort's once polluted bay seems to be swimmable again.

Blue or black? By Riyadi JAKARTA (JP): In this time of uncertainty, only risk-taking investors with liquidity to spare would dare invest in equity to seek higher gains. But for those who are wary of taking a high risk but still want to benefit from potential big gains from stock markets would be advised to invest their money in blue-chip stocks.

TV today TVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Children's Program 9:00 Children's Film 9:30 Sports 11:00 Music 12:00 p.m. Traditional Comedy 1:30 Children's Program 3:00 News 3:30 Religious Teachings 4:00 Children's Program 5:00 News 5:30 Children's Program 6:00 Student's Program 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Film 9:00 Music 10:00 Variety Show 11:00 Health Program Program 2 5:30 p.m. Music 6:30 City News 7:00 News 7:30 News (in English) 8:00 Documentary TPI 5:30 a.m.

Student groups trade slurs on planned rally JAKARTA (JP): Student groups traded accusations on Saturday of being used by the political elite ahead of the massive antigovernment rally planned on Monday. The Forum for Action of Reform and Democracy (Famred) and the City Forum (Forkot), two student groups in Jakarta, accused Student Executive Boards (BEM) of several universities in Java and Sumatra of being used by the political elite as a political vehicle to topple President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Andrean and Nguyen draw 1-1 in chess JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian junior chess player Andrean Susilodinata failed to escape from a time predicament in two rapid chess matches which resulted in a 1-1 draw with Vietnamese Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son in the opening of their six-day duel meet on Saturday.

Indonesia's All England results deemed a disappointment JAKARTA (JP): The failure of Indonesian shuttlers to achieve the target of three titles at the US$150,000 2001 Yonex All England Open has raised concerns about the country's future participation in international events. The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) expected to win titles in the men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles. But Indonesia has only secured a place in the semifinals in the men's doubles.

Maruti dedicates life to Javanese dance By Yusuf Susilo JAKARTA (JP): As the culture of materialism takes root here, there remains a truly dedicated artist who fiercely clings to artistic values and humanity -- Theodora Retno Maruti. Maruti, 54, has devoted herself to classical Javanese dancing since she was 5. A dancer, a choreographer and a dance teacher, she is well-known at home and abroad.