Mien takes life's twists and turns in stride Carla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta When Minarshi (Mien) Soedarpo wakes up on her birthday this Sunday morning, her first thoughts will probably be about her late mother, whose spiritual and morale strength have guided Mien throughout her life. Mien's two books titled Reminiscences of The Past were written as an homage to her beloved mother, Sjarifa Nawawi.

Home Sri Mulyanti Goenawan Where is my home? It is right here with me. It is not much. In fact, most people would take pity on me and say that I am poor, impoverished, but so many times I feel rich. I am rich because I have my family is right here with me. I always have them close by and they know how much I love them. Before we came to Jakarta we were not yet really a family.

Monkeying around in the spirit of renewal The glorious color red reigned as Jakarta celebrated Chinese New Year, known locally as Imlek, to usher in the year of the monkey. One of the most important of the Chinese customary festivals, Imlek, which fell on Jan. 22 this year, is celebrated in the first days of spring to signify renewal. This year also marked the second time Imlek was designated a national holiday.

German freed after night in detention INDONESIA: The Indonesian Military (TNI) released on Saturday a German freelance journalist who had been detained overnight. Cradow Cascha, 35, was arrested after he entered the troubled province of Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam without proper immigration documents, said Lt. Col. Asep Sapari, the spokesman of the TNI's Operation Command in Aceh.

Sutiyoso song a vehicle for self-promotion? Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta April 1 is still a ways off, but some Jakarta residents might be excused for assuming that an online news report is nothing but a piece of clever tomfoolery. Tempointeraktif reported on Saturday that Governor Sutiyoso is set to release his first solo album, Transjakarta, with the song Busway as its main claim to fame.

Home Sri Mulyanti Goenawan Where is my home? It is right here with me. It is not much. In fact, most people would take pity on me and say that I am poor, impoverished, but so many times I feel rich. I am rich because I have my family is right here with me. I always have them close by and they know how much I love them. Before we came to Jakarta we were not yet really a family.

Health ministry yet to carry out bird flu checks The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With the regional death toll from bird flu rising to seven with another confirmed death in Vietnam on Saturday, the Ministry of Health acknowledged it has yet to carry out a nationwide check to determine if an outbreak exists in the country.

RI, Bangladesh move to up economic and trade ties Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia and Bangladesh signed on Saturday agreements aimed at boosting economic and trade ties between the two countries. The two agreed to establish a joint commission for bilateral relations, promote comprehensive trade and economic partnership, and cooperate on tourism.

A rosier account of RI-Australia relations Dewi Anggraeni, Contributor, Melbourne, Australia Australia and Indonesia, Partners in Development Published by ACFOA, Melbourne, November 2003 A4 Paperback, 16 pp (English), 16 pp (Indonesian) Relations between Indonesia and Australia are often likened to a roller-coaster ride, and we often hear, whenever we dip into one of the troughs, the situation remains good on the people-to- people level.

Home sweet home, another theme to lure tenants Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta High-rise serviced apartments in town show their concern for family tenants by providing them facilities tailored to their specific needs, such as the need for entertainment and fun, leisure, socializing, learning and keeping fit. "Home sweet home" has become the theme of the country's serviced apartments.

Gus Dur leaves hospital INDONESIA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid was discharged from state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital on Saturday after being treated for high blood pressure in the past 10 days. Wearing a brown batik shirt, Gus Dur walked out of the hospital, aided by daughter Zannuba Chafsoh. "I am alright and am prepared to run in the coming presidential elections," he said as he walked to his waiting car.

Business getting better as economy shows its strength Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta As the country's economy begins to show signs of recovery and the security situation has improved, more and more businesspeople and expatriates are coming to Jakarta, making the serviced- apartments business a lucrative venture. Major serviced apartments, particularly in Jakarta, reported an occupancy rate of between 80 percent to 100 percent in 2003.

Busway balks at rehiring drivers Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The operator of the capital's TransJakarta Busway service, PT Jakarta Express Trans (JET), confirmed on Saturday that it would not reemploy five of its drivers who resigned, although they were now considering working again for the company. "It would be quite impossible to accept them back since it was they themselves that decided to leave," PT JET operations director, Payaman Manik Raja, told The Jakarta Post.

Finding true freedom by being a free spirit in all we do "Are we going to discuss the Bali bombings over Christmas lunch?" exclaimed 12-year-old Jacqueline. Her voice, with the sharpness of a blade, interrupted the adults talking about the horrors of the Bali bombings around the table in a home in a suburb of Sydney. A sudden silence fell over, before conversation slowly resumed on more mundane topics of food and Christmas pudding.

Sutiyoso 'Busway' song a vehicle for self-promotion? Bruce Emond The Jakarta Post Jakarta April 1 is still a ways off, but some Jakarta residents might be excused for assuming that an online news report is nothing but a piece of clever tomfoolery. Tempointeraktif reported on Saturday that Governor Sutiyoso is set to release his first solo album, Transjakarta, with the song Busway as its main claim to fame.

Shows must go on, please, for Korn, Toto and Carey Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Let us hope no more travel bans will be issued and there will be no more cases of security paranoia to stymie the much-anticipated concerts of three American artists in February.

A rosier account of RI-Australia relations Dewi Anggraeni Contributor Melbourne, Australia ----------------------------------------------- Australia and Indonesia, Partners in Development Published by ACFOA, Melbourne, November 2003 A4 Paperback, 16 pp (English), 16 pp (Indonesian) ------------------------------- Relations between Indonesia and Australia are often likened to a roller-coaster ride, and we often hear, whenever we dip into one of the troughs, the situation remains good on the...

TV Program: Sunday, January 25, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Children's Program: Dongeng Anak 9:00 Children's Program: Pentas Ceria 10:00 TV Drama 11:00 Variety Show: Maskum Show 12:30 p.m.

Sophie Martin's French chic is in the bag David Kennedy, Contributor, Jakarta, d_kenn@yahoo.com If you visit Hero supermarket on Jl. Gatot Subroto in Central Jakarta, take a look on the third floor. On just about any day of the week, you will witness scenes of frenetic activity as slips of paper quickly change hands and orders are called across the shop floor in a manner reminiscent of a stock exchange. The cause of the commotion is trade in Sophie Martin handbags and fashion accessories.

Park caught in the flow of garbage Other problems plaguing Bunaken are the plastic trash that drifts in daily from Manado city and increasing development on the 800- hectare crescent-shaped island, fueled in large part by the tourism trade, particularly in the past five years. The island is now home to 10 dive operators and numerous cottages for tourists to rent.

Ups and downs of a visit to the Genting Highlands Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Genting Highlands, Malaysia The crisp, invigorating air welcomed me as I arrived at Genting Highlands Resort, perched atop a hilltop just 50 kilometers northeast of Kuala Lumpur, or about a two-hour drive from the capital. But I gasped for more oxygen as I saw hundreds of people with their luggage swarming the lobby of First World Hotel.

Name's the same but where is the creativity quotient? Aida Greenbury, Contributor, Jakarta Indonesians are so innovative and creative with names, whether it's their own or ones for their business. They are so innovative that sometimes I think they are being a bit too blunt. There is one brand for a male aphrodisiac in this country that basically sounds like "erect", and nothing could be blunter than that. Viagra? It's no contest.

Fight goes on to safeguard Bunaken's riches Maria Lisa K., Contributor, Bunaken, North Sulawesi The rich coral reefs around the five islands 1.5 km northwest of Manado are North Sulawesi's center of attention. Yet the struggle to keep Bunaken National Park's reefs intact from local fishermen straying into protected zones and the threat of overdevelopment on Bunaken island has spawned a set of challenges for its guardians.

Three dead, 12 lost in boat accident INDONESIA: Rescuers are searching for 12 missing passengers after a boat carrying 35 people capsized in stormy weather in the waters off North Maluku, leaving three people dead, a port official said on Saturday. A pregnant woman was among those who died when the Cantika sank early this week 50 kilometers west of Taliabu Port in North Maluku province, said Abraham Lestusa, a port official in Ambon, the former provincial capital.