West Sumatra: Great attractions, shame about the rest Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Padang A recent vacation in West Sumatra made me realize how we Indonesians take things for granted all the time. In this case, our natural resources. Just like almost all the other regions in this country, West Sumatra is amazingly beautiful and has all that a visitor may desire. Fancy the sun? Go to the capital of Padang, with its relatively clean beaches a few kilometers away.

East Bengal takes LG Cup out of Southeast Asia Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta East Bengal of India has set an impressive record in its participation as an invitee by winning the inaugural LG Cup Asean Club Championship here, after beating BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand 3-1 in the final match at the Bung Karno stadium here on Saturday. When Indonesian referee Jimmy Napitupulu blew the final whistle, its supporters -- mostly of Indian descent -- were delirious.

Designer Farah making a name for herself Jock Paul, Contributor, Jakarta After a long and trying journey, the first Indonesian to debut an haute couture collection in Paris has come home to what she finds to be an unexpectedly warm reaction. "I am shocked that I am this well known here," said Farah Angsana, who returned last week for a short "research holiday" and to visit family.

Honda Accord: Taking the new version for a spin around town Primastuti Handayani and Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post Jakarta The opportunity to take a brand new car for a rip is always enticing. So when we got the offer to try the New Honda Accord, there was little chance we would say no. We were excited about cruising around in this car, which we believed was reserved for those who want elegance and class above all else -- like the bunch of executives we saw eyeing it.

Hanusz heralds new era in RI publishing Chisato Hara, Contributor, Jakarta The autumnal equinox, which falls between Sept. 21 and Sept. 23 each year, marks the moment when the sun is at its zenith and the hours of day and night are equal. In most agrarian societies, with the year's harvest gathered from the fields, it is a time of celebration to welcome a new season. In Indonesia, of course, there is no real equinox, as it is located only a few degrees south of the equator. However, Sept.

Rencong Maria Magdalena Bhoernomo My husband came back from the office, carrying a rusted old rencong about half a meter long. An avid collector, he would place it next to the many krises and spears of various shapes and sizes in our home. "There's no harm in collecting antiques. It's profitable because their value soars with each passing year," he would argue when I asked him about the expense of spending most of his salary on the purchases.

TV Program: Sunday, July 27, 2003 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:00 English News Service 9:30 Children's Program: Bando 11:00 Variety Show: Maskum Show 12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang 12:30 Traditional Comedy: Mustika Campur Sari 2:00 English for Fun 3:30 Religious Teachings 4:00 Sports 5:00 Music 6:00 News: Berita Petang 7:30 Music: Dansa Yo Dansa 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Traditional Performance Wayang Orang 10:30 Theater Teateronik TPI 6:00 a.m.

Flaws still exist in law enforcement in Aceh Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Nani Farida The Jakarta Post Lhokseumawe/Banda Aceh Entering the third month of the integrated military operation to quell the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), suspected members are still awaiting trial due to a shortage of prosecutors and judges.

New ID requirements heaps more misery on Acehnese Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak The Jakarta Post Lhokseumawe, Aceh Tengku Hanafi, 65, was back at the Baktiya district office in North Aceh for the seventh time this week desperately inquiring as to when he could get his new red-and-white identity card. As with other Indonesian sexagenarians, Hanafi, a resident of Matang Reudeup hamlet, actually no longer needs to renew his ID card, a privilege he was already aware of.

Expo offers stuff that motoring dreams are made of The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The annual Gaikindo Auto Expo is always eagerly anticipated, not only by those in the auto industry but also the public. It's a chance to see up close new models that are about to hit the streets, even if they are way out of the price range of all but the most affluent consumers.

Breathing a bit of life into a modern home Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The overall atmosphere in the house in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, is minimalist and modern, but it is also a place to live in. The designers have successfully accommodated the owners' love of art and the spirit of fun of their young family.

Flaws persist in law enforcement in Aceh Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post Lhokseumawe/Banda Aceh Entering the third month of the integrated military operation to quell the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), suspected members are still awaiting trial due to a shortage of prosecutors and judges.

Helping children overcome barriers to education Jock Paul, Contributor, Jakarta As soon as some children learn to overcome serious challenges in their young lives, other barriers -- these ones out of their control -- are erected in front of them. With the right opportunity and training, students with learning disabilities are proving that they can succeed alongside other students.

Our convenient memory loss about the July 27 tragedy If you live in Jakarta, I suggest you visit an old building on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, next to the United Development Party (PPP) headquarters, on Sunday. It was here that dozens of supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri were killed or injured, and many others went missing, on this date seven years ago, when hundreds of hoodlums attacked the building during a standoff.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo: Taking his own path to success Carla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta ------------------------------------------------- Soedarpo Sastrosatomo: Against the Currents By Rosihan Anwar, translated and edited by Toenggoel P.

Edward Hutabarat: Keeping cultural riches at center stage Murdani Usman, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali Amid the flood of western styles into the local market, Edward Hutabarat is a holdout who has refused to be swayed by the fashion current.

Exhibition hopes to scrawl something new Caroline Cooper, Contributor, Jakarta Art for little people can indeed draw a big crowd. The current exhibition at the British Council, titled Magic Pencil, has brought together children's illustrations from the UK and Indonesia, displaying examples from both cultures while also prompting debate about how local artists can develop more creative and marketable works.

Gunmen kills man, wounds his wife in Aceh Besar The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh It was probably intended to be a romantic-evening-walk home for the newly wed couple, but fate, or the war in Aceh, decided otherwise. Zaini, 24, and his wife Cut Zuraida, 20, arrived home, in Tanah Abee, Seulimum district, Aceh Besar regency, to the shots of an unidentified gunman.

Rebel leader on 'secret' mission in KL Agencies, Jakarta A senior Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel leader who is also the group's spokesman said on Saturday he had escaped the Indonesian military's security cordon and was now in Malaysia on a "secret" mission. "I didn't flee," Sofyan Daud told AFP in Jakarta by satellite telephone.

Gunawan inquired how to obtain arms, police says Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A key witness told police that Gunawan Santoso, a fugitive who escaped from Kuningan Penitentiary in Cirebon, West Java, may have played a role in the recent shootings of a computer firm businessman and his bodyguard. "The witness told investigators that G (Gunawan) had asked him how to get firearms before the shooting when they shared a cell in Kuningan," city police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Petrokimia salvages some pride in LG Cup The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Petrokimia Putra of Indonesia made amends for its failure to get into the final of the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship -- LG Cup -- by taking third-place after defeating Perak FC of Malaysia 3-0 at the Bung Karno stadium here on Saturday. Zaenal Ichwan gave two goals, in the 67th and 68th minutes, and Brazilian Rivaldo Costa Amaral Filho scored the other in the 35th minute.

Architects determining Jakarta skyline's future form Thor Kerr, Contributor, Jakarta Architects lose sleep over expected demand for functionality and fashion, as well as trends in traffic, flooding and civil strife while planning the future form of Jakarta. But this form is taking shape as construction work begins on at least a dozen major projects around the city and many more approach construction. The designs of many of the capital's future buildings will be on display from July 31 to Aug.

Hometown girl Dian takes Puteri Indonesia title The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega on hand to witness the crowning, hometown favorite Dian Krishna was named Puteri Indonesia (Miss Indonesia) on Friday night. The 25-year-old Jakarta representative was a surprise pick over second-place winner Sisca Amelia from West Kalimantan and third-place finisher Melissa Yasmin Kapitan of Maluku at Teater Tanah Airku, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta.

Police find bombs in Gorontalo INDONESIA: Gorontalo Police in northern Sulawesi have detained two men following the discovery of 18 homemade bombs in rented houses in the Moodu and Tamalata subdistricts of Gorontalo City, the capital of Gorontalo province. Gorontalo Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Rozimi said on Saturday that the 10-centimeter-long bombs were found on Friday by local residents, who reported their discovery to the police.

Heading into the bat cave With their backs straining under the weight of bulging sacks, a file of men traipses up and down the hill leading to Goa Lawa ("bat cave") in Sladi, Gunung Kidul, Central Java. The sacks are not filled with some hidden treasure stashed away in the dark recesses of the fetid-smelling cave: They contain guano, the excrement of thousands of bats that inhabit the area.

Peugeot debuts two new SUV models in different price ranges The futuristic design of Peugeot's latest SUVs, the 807 and the Partner, caught the eye of onlookers at the Gaikindo Auto Expo at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, July 27, 2003 Exhibitions * Contemporary Art Childhood Objects, Cemara 6 Galeri (kafe), Jl. HOS. Cokroaminoto 9 - 11 Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., until Aug. 18. * Fashion Jewelry and Accessories Drops Of Sunshine From Paris, at Fusions, Saberro House Jl. Kemang Raya 10A (Tel. 7194403), South Jakarta, until July 30. * Painting by Irawan Karseno, Galeri Milenium, Diamond Plaza, Blok B-23, Jl. R.S. Fatmawati No. 15, South Jakarta (Tel. 7507828), 10 a.m.