Return of expatriates helps boost apartment sales Grace Emilia, Contributor, Jakarta After a more than four-year slump, the apartment sector is showing signs of life again thanks to the return of expatriates, according to property consultant Koll IPAC. Lynnette Johnson, an expatriate coordinator of the property consultant's relocation services, says the increase in the number of expatriates in Jakarta has had a positive impact on the Indonesian apartment business.

BRI 14040 offers quick and easy banking transactions by phone Executives, professionals, academics and businesspeople who are always on the move can now make banking transactions by phone anywhere and anytime through Bank BRI, Indonesia's only bank which has offices in almost every town across the country.

Taking a break from oppressive Jakarta Sudibyo M. Wiradji Contributor Jakarta With serene and peaceful ambience, resorts surrounding Jakarta witness regular customers wishing to spend their weekends or holiday breaks. Staying in a resort has become an alternative getaway for Jakartans, especially revelers wishing to avoid the hustle bustle of the city. Most of the retreats are situated outside the bustling metropolis but not too far away. It only takes a few hours drive to reach the sites.

Jakarta, Dili has out remaining issues Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia and East Timor have identified a number of residual problems that they will attempt to resolve following the new country's independence which was finally declared on May 20, 2002. The remaining unresolved problems since East Timor's decision to separate from Indonesia were discussed in a day-long parallel meeting between the two countries' high-powered officials in Dili on Saturday.

Aston International: Hospitality based on the spirit of family More and more international travelers are seeking a lodging experience that offers a family-like environment and a high level of intimacy and comfort at affordable room rates, according to a market survey conducted by Aston International Hotels and Resorts. This growing trend, many believe, may be a reaction against the 'cold' frantic lifestyle that characterizes modern life.

Indonesian poetry: Revealing the truth that lies beneath Lie Hua, Contributor, Jakarta Secrets Need Words: Indonesian Poetry 1966-1998; Edited and translated by Harry Aveling; Ohio University Center for International Studies South-East Asia Series No. 105, Athens, Ohio, 2001; xiv + 375 pp; Rp 364,000 Harry Aveling is not a new name in Indonesian literary research and translation.

Fire hits BTN Tower JAKARTA: The 14th floor of Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) Tower on Jl. Gajah Mada No. 1, Central Jakarta, was gutted by fire early on Saturday. The fire also caused an electricity blackout in the building, said Soeryanto, the bank's credit director. All tenants in the building were forced to temporarily halt their weekend activities, including Ramaco radio station whose offices are on the 19th floor of the building.

What's in Sunday kredit foto: JP/K. Basrie Style Counsel: His background is in economics, but Jaya Ibrahim found that a life of number crunching was not for him. Instead, he went into a career in interior design, learning at the side of one of the top names in the field and eventually establishing his own reputation. Jaya fills us in on his design philosophy, how mixing and matching styles can be a recipe for disaster and what he dislikes about that uniform look of modern hotels.

Manulife clients, employees in state of uncertainty Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian saying, "When two elephants fight, the deer in the middle will die", aptly describes the fate of customers and employees of PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia. They find themselves in the middle of a two-year legal battle with the company's former partner and 40 percent stakeholder, the now defunct Dharmala group, which was declared bankrupt in 2000 and lost its stake in Manulife.

Tourists yes... but environment first Dean Yates Reuters Selemadeg Kaja, Bali Staring at the terraced green rice fields that drop away into the distance, Putu Mahardika ponders how to tap the tourist trade on Indonesia's Bali island without harming his village's pristine environment.

Living in a cheap apartment an inspiring experience Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, The Jakarta Post Just like people on high incomes, many in the middle- to lower-income bracket seek the same advantages from living in an apartment. I was among those who wished to avoid the inconvenience of living in a house. However, while some can afford to rent an apartment at thousands of dollars a month, I had to find one at a rental I could afford.

PALYJA to double investment to improve clean water supply PT PAM Lyonaise Jaya (PALYJA), a subsidiary of ONDEO Services of France, will more than double its investment to improve and expand the supply of clean water in western Jakarta.

PALYJA to double investment to improve clean water supply PT PAM Lyonaise Jaya (PALYJA), a subsidiary of ONDEO Services of France, will more than double its investment to improve and expand the supply of clean water in western Jakarta.

Retreat islands in Singapore's backyard Fadli Contributor Batam The hotel business, including the resort hotels on Batam and the nearby island of Bintan, has been booming in the past three years despite a setback in the hotel industry in the other parts of the country. While many hotels are struggling to survive amid the downfall in the number of foreign tourists, the hotel industry on the two islands is doing quite well.

Bali resorts are heading for a more promising year Rita A.Widiadana The Jakarta Post Nusa Dua, Bali The word "resort" always conjures up a picture of a serene and integrated holiday site surrounded by white sandy beaches or a lush mountainous panorama where you can escape from your hectic life in the city and take a deep breath to rejuvenate your body and mind. And Bali offers dozens or maybe hundreds of such resorts across the island, from beach areas to secluded sites high up in the mountains.

It's not all fun at the fair for visitors Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Thousands of people from Greater Jakarta visited the 2002 Jakarta Fair at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on the first day of the month-long event on Saturday. However, some of the visitors complained about the difficulty of getting to the venue. Many visitors with children said going to the fair was an annual family tradition. They did not care too much about what was on offer.

On the record Artist : Iwan Fals; Album : Suara Hati (Musica) This album, Iwan's first studio album for years, opens with some chanting from his wife Yos, before the living legend himself sings about the beauty of nature in Kupu-Kupu Hitam Putih (Black and White Butterflies). Then there is Hadapi Saja (Just Face It), a contemplative song about the death of Iwan's son, Galang Rambu Anarki, several years back. "Relakan, yang terjadi takkan kembali/Ia sudah bukan milik kita lagi ...

'Eliana-Eliana': The film we have been waiting for Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Eliana Eliana *** (out of ****); Drama, 83 minutes; Starring Rachel Sayidina, Jajang C. Noer, Henidar Amroe, Arswendi Nasution, Marcella Zalianty; Directed by Riri Riza; A Miles Films production (Indonesian language) Will we be able to say "finally" at long last? That was the big question before seeing this much-anticipated movie, a winner at the recent Singapore Film Festival.

World Cup bonus for South Koreans Zeno Park, Agence France-Presse, Seoul South Korea's soccer heroes got a World Cup bonus on Saturday when the government announced they would be exempt from the obligatory 26-month military service. The defense ministry decision came on the day after the Koreans downed Portugal 1-0 to reach the World Cup finals' last 16 for the first time. The win sparked wild celebrations throughout the country with an estimated million people thronging the streets of Seoul.

PALYJA to double investment to improve clean water supply PT PAM Lyonaise Jaya (PALYJA), a subsidiary of ONDEO Services of France, will more than double its investment to improve and expand the supply of clean water in western Jakarta.

TV Program: Sunday, June 16, 2002 TVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Quiz 8:30 Children's Program 11:00 Maskum Show 12:30 p.m. Comedy 2:00 Entertainment News 3:00 Documentary 3:30 Religious Teachings 4:00 Sports 6:00 News 7:00 Comedy 7:30 Music: Dansa Yo Dansa 9:00 News 9:30 Comic 10:00 TV Drama TPI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 7:00 Cartoon 8:30 Chinese Food 9:00 Entertainment News 10:00 TV Champions 11:00 TV Series 12:30 p.m.

Siti Nurhaliza: Keeping matters plain and simple Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Unless she has a split personality, singer Siti Nurhaliza is unbelievably nice. It is not the kind of ingratiating nice that makes you say "oh, puhleeeze" and roll your eyes. It is just unfailingly nice. Nice nice, that girl-next-door niceness. At a recent media conference in Jakarta to promote her new album, Sanggar Mustika (House of Precious Stones), she smiled a lot and answered thoroughly and politely.

RI a champion in celebrating soccer fiesta Christina Schott, Contributor, Jakarta Jakarta without traffic jams is suddenly a reality, something city planners have been trying to accomplish for years. It is rush hour and you can race down Jl. Jendral Sudirman, free of the usual start-stop nightmare. That's if you are lucky enough to find a taxi, which have suddenly become a rarity. Is it because of a fear of new bomb attacks? An impending oil crisis? Far from it: It is 6:30 p.m.

Indonesian dads get no appreciation "Dad, what do you want me to buy you for Father's Day?" asked Herry, Pak (Mr.) Zul's oldest son, all the way from another continent. Pak Zul was speechless, unable to give an answer. As far as he knew, there was only Mother's Day, Children's Day and No-Tobacco Day. He had never heard of Father's Day. "June 16 is celebrated around the world as Father's Day," Herry explained impatiently. "Who celebrates it?" asked Pak Zul absentmindedly.

Bank Rakyat Indonesia BRI 14040 offers quick and easy banking transactions by phone Executives, professionals, academics and businesspeople who are always on the move can now make banking transactions by phone anywhere and anytime through Bank BRI, Indonesia's only bank which has offices in almost every town across the country.

PALYJA to double investment to improve clean water supply PT PAM Lyonaise Jaya (PALYJA), a subsidiary of ONDEO Services of France, will more than double its investment to improve and expand the supply of clean water in western Jakarta.

Jaya Ibrahim: Designer translates tradition for our time K. Basrie, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "I am not an architect by schooling," admitted Jaya Ibrahim. He studied sociology and economics at York University in England, but it is his fashionable and exotic interior design creations that have made him the talk of international architectural circles. In January this year, he was named among the world's 100 top interior designers and architects by Architectural Digest maga zine.

A high standard of comfort and privacy There are no other apartments in Jakarta with location, facilities, services and security like those of Apartemen Golf Pondok Indah. After nearly seven years of operation, Apartemen Golf Pondok Indah has successfully maintained its unique blend of apartment and hotel hospitality management that caters to the needs of expatriates requiring family residences.

Your 30-day home-finding guide Deden Sudarbo, Associate Director, Residential Department, PT Procon Indah Ever hear someone ask "However did you manage to find such a nice apartment or house so quickly - I looked at over 70 properties before I found even one I liked!" Well there is a smarter approach to secure your home in Jakarta, even as a newcomer. Allocate your time to options-finding, negotiations and lease execution.