Southeast Asia: Bargains galore in our own backyard Margie Mason, Associated Press/Hanoi When planning months or even a year ahead for "the next big trip", money is inevitably one of the top deciding factors and often keeps travelers from even thinking about straying too far from home.

Failing to dress to impress Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta ------------------------------------------------ Aside from checking out the audience for the local fashionista's desperate bids at oneupwomanship in the style quotient department, the 19th trend show presented by the Indonesian Association of Fashion Designers (IPMI) last week was nothing to get excited about.

ASEM backs stepped up UN role Associated Press, Hanoi Asian and European leaders endorsed a stronger role for the United Nations and a multilateral approach to issues including terrorism, regional security and trade as their two-day summit drew to a close in Hanoi on Saturday.

Nature's way far enough from the madding crowd Maria Endah Hulupi, Contributor/Jakarta =============================================================== STANDFIRST: Living in the crowded capital amid spiraling concrete edifices makes all of us yearn to return to the leafy embrace of nature. The design of this home in an exclusive North Jakarta housing complex shows that such a wish can come true.

'Rough Scientist' McCallie has Indonesia on her mind Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Whether it's trekking through a frigid ravine in New Zealand or making ends meet at the exotic end of the world in Zanzibar, it's perhaps always a case of "been there, done that" for Ellen McCallie.

House must not confirm Ryamizard as TNI chief: Analysts Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should not hesitate to exercise his prerogative to install a military chief willing to implement reform in the institution, observers said on Saturday.

A round of applause The month-long exploration of contemporary performances at Art Summit Indonesia is finally coming to an end. A performance by BlackSkyWhite theater troupe of Russia on Sunday evening will close the international festival, which has presented artistic creations of select artists from 14 countries.

'Soto': It's not just the famous chicken version Suryatini N. Ganie, Contributor/Jakarta Soto, the broth-based dish served with various tasty accompaniments, is definitely one of the most popular dishes in the country. The dish can be enjoyed not only at modest sidewalk stalls but is also found in the array of soups mentioned on the menus of the country's star-rated establishments.

A soup, and more, of many different names Soto Banjar Banjarmasin, a frequent port of call of Chinese and Middle Eastern ships in Kalimantan, has a uniquely spiced version of soto. 1. Soak 25 g glass noodles in 100 ml hot water, drain and set aside. 2. Peel and slice two boiled eggs. Boil 500 g chicken breasts in 1 lt water until tender, shred and set aside. 3.

Fired up by the freaky people next door Santi W.E. Soekanto, Contributor/Jakarta Dear house renters, some words of advice. Never live next to a kleptomaniac. If you have to, install strong bars on your window frames as well as good locks, and be sure to have only one set of keys. And never, ever live next to a kleptomaniac who is also a terrorist in the making.

TV Program: Sunday, October 10, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Children Show 9:00 Music: Delta 10:30 Sports: Antar Gelanggang 11:00 TV Drama 12:30 p.m. English for Fun 1:00 News: Berita Siang 2:00 Music 3:00 English News Service 4:30 Documentary 5:00 Robocon 6:30 Documentary 7:00 News: Berita Nasional 7:30 Music 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 10:00 Music 11:00 Puppet Show TPI 5:30 a.m.

Fences really do make for good neighbors Santi W.E. Soekanto Contributor/Jakarta Dear house renters, some words of advice. Never live next to a kleptomaniac. If you have to, install strong bars on your window frames as well as good locks, and be sure to have only one set of keys. And never, ever live next to a kleptomaniac who is also a terrorist in the making.

Dance duo joins creative forces Helly Minarti, Contributor/Jakarta Modern/contemporary dance is an art without boundaries, dance critic Jack Anderson once said, rightly pointing to its vast and rich array of forms of expressions. It's an eclectic sphere, where artists often master different styles and techniques of dancing, then mix, fuse and synthesize them.

Susilo wants smooth transition The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivered on Saturday a long overdue victory speech, with a smooth transition from outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri's administration topping his agenda.

Family also suffers when a relative has mental illness With tears streaming down my face, I craned my neck and tried to find, from the inside of a public transportation vehicle driving along a busy Jakarta street, the familiar, beloved figure of my brother. For the umpteenth time, he had gone missing, and I was scouring roads and alleys hoping I might find him and bring him home. It was a futile exercise and I went home, still weeping.

Giving care to the mentally ill -------------------------------- Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day, with more than 400 million people worldwide suffering from mental and neurological disorders, a large proportion of them in Southeast Asian countries. Despite the fact that five of the 10 most disabling disorders in the world are psychiatric in nature, the mentally ill continue to be isolated or ostracized from society. ------------------------------ Santi W.E.

RI bowlers spin to ABF tour semis Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Two Indonesian women bowlers advanced on Saturday to the semifinals of the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) tour final at the Jaya Ancol Bowling Center in Jakarta. Local hopeful Novie Phang beat Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia 246-196 to secure her berth in the semifinal, while teammate Putty Armein defeated Malaysian Tang Joh Six 210-155 to advance.

Indonesia handed defeat by underdog Myanmar Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta After relishing victories over Russia and Chinese Taipei, Indonesia was brought crashing down to earth against Myanmar by losing 0-3 in the U-185 World Volleyball Championship match on Saturday.

Birney's clash of cultures from within ----------------------------- Ikan Tanpa Salah (A Blameless Fish) Alfred Birney, Galang Press, 2004 277 pp ----------------------------- Sherry Samtani, Contributor/Jakarta Indonesia's fight for freedom from the Dutch in the last century was the driving motif behind all forms of arts, so much so that today many find the subject to be hackneyed.