Serving up a taste of Bali Bregedel Tempe (tempeh fritters) * 150 g tempeh * 2 tablespoons fried shallots * 3 kaffir lime leaves * 1 tablespoon flour * 1 egg * 1 cup oil for frying Spice paste * 3 large chilies, seeds removed * 3 small chilies * 2 red shallots * 2 cloves garlic * 1/2 teaspoon chopped turmeric * 2 teaspoons chopped galangal * 1 candlenut * 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds * 1/2 teaspoon sea salt * 1/4 teaspoon shrimp paste 1) Mash the tempeh with a fork or place in the bowl of a...

Author De Neefe tells of a life in Bali, with recipes Bruce Emond The Jakarta Post Jakarta Amid the flurry of preparations for the opening of Janet De Neefe and her husband Ketut's first restaurant, Lilies, in Ubud, Bali, 1987, an employee stepped forward with a sheet of paper in his hand. It was a local government edict about what should be served up to foreign tourists -- potatoes, boiled food -- and what should not ("the tourist does not like chili").

Scaling the heights on their own The smiling faces of the 50 women taking part in the Kartini Climb this year belied their determination to reach the top of 2,958-meter-high Mount Gede in West Java. Organized by the GRESPALA nature lovers group to observe Kartini Day, which fell on April 25 in commemoration of the Indonesian women's rights pioneer, it was the fourth annual climb. Participants came from Bandung, Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

Author tells of a life in Bali, with recipes Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Amid the flurry of preparations for the opening of Janet De Neefe and her husband Ketut's first restaurant, Lilies, in Ubud, Bali, in 1987, an employee stepped forward with a sheet of paper in his hand. It was a local government edict about what should be served up to foreign tourists -- potatoes, boiled food -- and what should not ("the tourist does not like chili").

I know Bahasa, really I do I can still vividly recall the words of a friend -- "Edwin, you will enjoy living here because Bahasa Indonesia is so easy" -- told to me back in 1980. Since then my proud declaration of "I know Bahasa" -- meaning that I can speak the local lingo and get by in it quite nicely, thank you -- has been my constant hang up and, occasionally, downfall. We left Indonesia in 1997 and are now back on a short visit.

Meditation: Growing popularity for stress relief, spirituality David Kennedy, Contributor, Jakarta d_kenn@yahoo.com In the last month, no less than three major spiritual leaders -- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Amma and Dadi Janki -- have visited Jakarta and Singapore as part of their world tours. Known around the world for their powerful messages of peace and love, they attract hoards of followers and encourage hundreds to take up meditation and prayer regardless of religion.

A change of pace or a life-changing experience? Curiosity is the main reason for most people initially taking up meditation. What people get out of it invariably depends on what they are looking for -- for some it may be a major life change but for others just a little respite from the stress and strain of daily life. Several practitioners told The Jakarta Post what meditation provides in their lives.

Chinese culinary enjoys popularity T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta Many people eat not just to survive. Eating for them is much more than putting some food into their mouths and swallowing it. They taste every bit of the meal, savoring the flavor and feeling the delight of chewing it. Eating out has become a pleasure of relaxation. People enjoy not only the food, but also the way they are served while taking into consideration the ambiance of the eating place.

Serving up a taste of Bali Bregedel Tempe (tempeh fritters) * 150 g tempeh * 2 tablespoons fried shallots * 3 kaffir lime leaves * 1 tablespoon flour * 1 egg * 1 cup oil for frying Spice paste * 3 large chilies, seeds removed * 3 small chilies * 2 red shallots * 2 cloves garlic * 1/2 teaspoon chopped turmeric * 2 teaspoons chopped galangal * 1 candlenut * 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds * 1/2 teaspoon sea salt * 1/4 teaspoon shrimp paste 1) Mash the tempeh with a fork or place in the bowl of a...

Military rescues two GAM hostages INDONESIA: Military troops rescued two boatmen held by Aceh separatist rebels on Friday, a military spokesman revealed on Saturday. "The two hostages are from neighboring North Sumatra province and have been identified as Subur Mardi, 42, and Zainal Abidin, 53," military operation command spokesman Lt. Col. Asep Sapari said in Lhokseumawe. "The two men were held hostage for over two weeks on Langsa waters in East Aceh regency.

Police top brass fired after protest turns ugly Andi Hajramurni, Makassar, South Sulawesi At least 61 students sustained serious injuries here on Saturday after the police stormed their campus following a protest against the rearrest of a controversial Muslim cleric. Police said they stormed the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) campus to rescue a police officer who had been being taken hostage by the students.

Batavia through the eyes of painter Brandes Christina Schott, Contributor, Jakarta How do a gecko's feet look? What makes him able to run up the walls, hang on the ceiling and even stick to glass? Dutch Lutheran pastor Jan Brandes was obviously fascinated by these common household animals and became the first to paint their feet -- and everything else -- while watching them under the microscope in 1784.

Wife, daughter of Manuputty arrested M. Azis Tunny, Ambon, Maluku A joint police and military team arrested on Saturday the wife and daughter of Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) leader Alexander Manuputty, as security personnel struggled to bring under control renewed religious fighting in Ambon in which at least 35 people have lost their lives.

Choosing to be in or out of the family circle Sondang Grace Sirait, Contributor, Jakarta Family gatherings can go either way: simply a banal routine, or an extravagant venue where proud mothers exchange stories of how successful their sons and daughters are. In such a family- oriented society as here, however, it has largely become a combination of the two. And some families in particular always seem to find yet more reasons to celebrate.

I know Bahasa, really I do I can still vividly recall the words of a friend -- "Edwin, you will enjoy living here because Bahasa Indonesia is so easy" -- told to me back in 1980. Since then my proud declaration of "I know Bahasa" -- meaning that I can speak the local lingo and get by in it quite nicely, thank you -- has been my constant hang up and, occasionally, downfall in making my way around. We left Indonesia in 1997 and are now back on a short visit.

Goodwill hunting: Profiles of the students Muhamad Syafril (Pii to his friends), 24, comes from Bangka Island. His father is a tin miner, his mother a homemaker. The eldest of four graduated in 2003 from University of Indonesia (UI) School of Dentistry. In 2002, he was awarded the 2002 national award for academic excellence. He practices every Monday at Global Doctor and tutors two Gandhi Memorial International School students every evening.

Spreading a legacy of hope through Goodwill Chisato Hara, Bogor/Jakarta Their beaming grins and enthusiastic demeanor are not the only similarities binding the young adults gathered at Wisma Kinasih in Bogor, West Java. They have all been at the top of their classes since elementary school, and their parents -- farmers, civil servants or factory workers -- managed to save enough to support them through high school.

No paper The Jakarta Post will not be published on Monday due to the official observance of Prophet Muhammad's birthday. However, news updates can be obtained from our website www.thejakartapost.com. The Post will return on Tuesday. -- Editor

Police arrest wife, daughter of Manuputty M. Azis Tunny Ambon, Maluku A joint police and military team arrested on Saturday the wife and daughter of Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) leader Alexander Manuputty, as security personnel struggled to bring under control renewed religious fighting in Ambon which has left at least 35 people dead.

99 percent of the vote counted Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) has completed the manual ballot counting in 64 of the 69 electoral districts, with the Golkar Party continuing to dominate the House of Representatives with 117 seats.

What's up with lackluster ready-to-wear? Muara Bagdja, Contributor, Jakarta The local ready-to-wear industry is best described as dormant. While we think we have Indonesian fashion, in reality it is quite difficult to find dresses bearing the brand names of our designers in most places in this country. It is true that almost every month there is at least one fashion show featuring the work of a particular Indonesian designer.

Malaysian designer pays tribute to Carrie and co. Kee Hua Chee, ANN, The Star, Kuala Lumpur All the designer brands worn by the four stars on the hit HBO TV series Sex and the City enjoyed huge popularity. Now, Malaysian designer Rizalman Ibrahim has also gotten into the act. His collection for KL Fashion Week 2004, which ended on Sunday, was nothing less than chic and sexy. To create an entire, giant-slam collection dedicated to a television series, a designer must be an avid fan.

Workers celebrate May Day with huge street rallies The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan/Surabaya Thousands of workers across the country took to the streets on Saturday to demand the government revoke rules and regulations that fail to protect workers and their welfare. More than 5,000 workers assembled at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta at 9 a.m. Saturday, where union leaders and labor activists took turns voicing their demands.