A folk story of noodles Amid the growing use of advanced technology in the nation's manufacturing industry, a cottage industry in Srandakan, Bantul, still employs men and beasts for the production of noodles -- locally known as mie lethek (dirty noodles). Local people call it mie lethek because of its grayish color. The dripping sweat from the men's bodies and the bellowing cow are all we can see in the production of the noodles.

Local band performs Malay music A band, Sagu, will perform at the Graha Bhakti Budaya in the Ismail Marzuki Fine Arts Center (TIM) on May 17. The group from Riau, is known for its competence in performing Malay music. The members are students with the Riau-based Malay Arts Academy (AKMR). The group, guitarist Ganni, bassist Widdi, drummer Itoy, and vocalist Jepri, have released an album Istana Kerinduan (Palace of Longing). Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl.

Some cry over cheaper Chinese goods... Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Local consumers certainly enjoy the influx of cheaper products. With the cost of living constantly going skyward, finding affordable clothing, electronics and even motorcycles is a relief. Consumers may be happy, but it is a different story for local traders and manufacturers of all sizes, whether small, medium or large.

Let's go shopping in adventurous markets of Jakarta Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Have the urge for some adventurous shopping? Prepare some cash, dash to the so-far-one-and-only busway corridor, get off at the Kota stop and take a bicycle ojek to Asemka Market or the Pasar Pagi Lama in West Jakarta. Certainly not Bloomingdales but the shopaholic icon Becky Bloomwood might have trouble stopping herself from drooling at the sight of all those products heaped before her eyes.

Lowly Kalila stuns Malang Avian Bima Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Kalila, playing with nothing to lose as a league also-ran, surprised an overconfident Malang Avian Bima Sakti with a 56-45 victory on Saturday in the seventh series of the A Mild Indonesian Basketball League 2005. Both teams played fast and loose throughout the game, making for an entertaining contest.

Ending poverty in 2025 Arya B. Gaduh, Contributor, Jakarta It was once said, poverty would always be with us. Jeffrey Sachs, a world-class economist and professor at Columbia University, does not fully agree: Poverty, at least the worst kind, can be eliminated. In The End of Poverty, he proposes a way for the world to achieve this, not in our grandchildren's or even our children's lifetime, but in ours.

Who is to blame for the culture of corruption in Indonesia? My mother-in-law was holding up some fine lace fabric and a beautiful sarong when my husband and I visited her last week as part of our obligation after recently getting married. The materials, apparently, were from the neighbor, a Navy General's wife, whose daughter was getting married in the near future.

China exacts revenge on Korea to reach Sudirman Cup final Agencies, Beijing Badminton powerhouse China is the strong favorite to lift the prestigious Sudirman Cup for the fifth time on Sunday when it meets Indonesia in the final of the world mixed team championships. The host nation booked its spot in the final with a convincing 3-0 win over South Korea on Saturday at Beijing's Capital Gymnasium following Indonesia's 3-0 sweep of Denmark in the other semifinal.

Timepiece as valuable as the time T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta Time is money. And for the busy wearer, a timepiece is invaluable and in some cases, priceless. A luxury watch may cost millions or even billions of rupiah. For most people, a watch is both functional and decorative; a device for which to negotiate the day, and a fashion accessory that enhances one's physical appearance. It can also be a precious item in a collection, and it is invariably a symbol of status.

Big quake rocks west coast of Sumatra Apriadi Gunawan and Sjofiardi Bachyul, The Jakarta Post, Medan/Padang Another big earthquake rocked western parts of Sumatra island on Saturday, sparking more fear among people in the areas affected. Panicked residents fled their homes and sought refuge on higher ground for fear of another tsunami.

JP/16/John Looking for John de Rantau Zhuang Wubin Contributor/Singapore Writer-director John de Rantau, 35, presented the world premiere of Mencari Madonna (Looking for Madonna) -- his first cinematic feature depicting the HIV/AIDS situation in West Papua -- at the 18th Singapore International Film Festival.

Aksara Records, the little label that could M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Disillusionment with major recording companies' penchant for meddling with individual band's artistic freedom has led musicians to go their own way by resorting to independent record companies, or `indie' labels.

Moral degradation: An ugly portrait of our society Setiono, Contributor, Jakarta Robohnya Moral Kami (The Degradation of Our Morals) Yayasan Obor Indonesia, 2005, pp 117 Amid the seemingly never-ending crises in Indonesia, we are facing the most serious social ailment: the degradation of morality. Moral degradation appears in every sphere of life -- politics, economics, education, law and many others. It has become a general phenomenon.

...while some others cheer on their arrival Evi Mariani and Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Consumers across Greater Jakarta have welcomed the arrival of "made-in-China" products to the Indonesian market as they feel they have benefited from cheaper prices, albeit concerns over low quality remains. Customers of various consumer products, from sewing kits, textile fabrics, snacks, and motorcycles, say that cheap Chinese products save them money.

Made in China: Here, there and everywhere Evi Mariani and Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The influx of Chinese products has caused concern in Indonesia as it has in other parts of the world. They have brought quick profit and joy to traders and consumers, but, on the other hand, forced local manufacturers to lay off workers and pushed many into bankruptcy. This cover story looks into the issue.

Why are Chinese products so inexpensive? Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A set of "Made-in China" needles is sold for Rp 1,000 (about 10 U.S. cents). Taking into account the raw material cost, the shipping cost to Indonesia and margin for distributors, what is left for the Chinese factory workers? Interesting question. And, here are some answers The Jakarta Post compiled from numerous equally curious local businessmen, who have visited China to see the situation in person.

Mechanical watches, esoteric timeless timepieces Evi Mariani The Jakarta Post/Jakarta On a cold day in Moscow, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, an old Russian woman sold her beautiful mechanical watch to a foreigner for just US$4. It was a Russian timepiece, a Poljot watch, certainly far less costly than the astronomically expensive Patek Philippe of Switzerland, but surely worth more than $4.

Indonesia polio cases hit 8, one treated in Jakarta Indonesia has detected two new polio cases, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country's first outbreak of the crippling disease in a decade to eight children, a senior health official said in Jakarta on Saturday. All cases so far come from villages near the West Java city of Sukabumi, but one of them is now being treated in a Jakarta hospital.

Cultures reconciled: Butterflies and phoenixes Helly Minarti, Contributor, Jakarta Dragons might be the ultimate Chinese icon, but when it comes to batik or textile arts, butterflies and phoenixes play a much greater role. So the newly released book Butterflies and Phoenixes (published by Mitra Museum Indonesia) established its bold argument, unraveling a trajectory rarely taken in presenting batik by other authors: Chinese inspirations in Indonesian textile arts.

'Warna Trotoar' -- colors of urban community Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Suwito, 42, blinked his eyes after the Jakarta deputy governor Fauzi Bowo officially opened "Warna Trotoar" (Sidewalk Color), a painting exhibition by Jakarta sidewalk painters on Sunday evening. When I met him on Tuesday at the exhibition venue, Galeri Cipta II in the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center complex, he still expressed his disbelief. "This is a dream come true. We are very proud of this exhibition.

Special brunch at JW Marriott Anticipating an increasing demand for Sunday brunch, the cozy JW Marriott is offering Jakartans special cuisine at its restaurants. Families can enjoy brunch at the Sailendra Restaurant with an international buffet, at Pearl with dim sum selections, and at Asuka's Moet Chandon Brunch. JW Marriott, Lingkar Mega Kuningan Kav.E1.2 1&2, Jakarta, Phone: 021-5798 8889. -- The Jakarta Post

Ritz-Carlton greets Jakartans Luxurious U.S. hotel chain, the Ritz-Carlton, has opened a hotel in Jakarta in May. Located in the city's Mega Kuningan commercial district, next to its sister JW Marriott Hotel, Jakarta's Ritz-Carlton is surrounded by commercial office buildings, residential towers and the developments of upscale retailers. The hotel offers 333 guest rooms, including 33 one-bedroom suites, one Presidential suite and three special Ritz-Carlton suites.

Mechanical watches, esoteric timeless timepieces Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta On a cold day in Moscow, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, an old Russian woman sold her beautiful mechanical watch to a foreigner for just US$4. It was a Russian timepiece, a Poljot watch, certainly far less costly than the astronomically expensive Patek Philippe of Switzerland, but surely worth more than $4.

Archibition at the Peak The Architecture and Interior Exhibition, or "Archibition", will be held from May 11 through May 29 at the Peak apartments viewing gallery in the Sudirman business complex. The exhibition will show off the architecture and interior designs of buildings and rooms at the Peak -- one of the world's best 50 apartments, according to Images Publishing.