Christmas storyClaudine Frederik Tia stepped forward with small, quick steps. She felt rain in the air. A cool wind blew in her face as she lifted her head and furtively looked behind. Except for passing strollers, nobody seemed to follow her.She had been looking out for Rollie all day long.

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Fernando Botero 'bullies' a willing SingaporeCarla Bianpoen, Contributor/Singapore The exhibition of 20 monumental outdoor sculptures weighing close to 1.

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Scaling the world's most famous wall in ChinaHarry Bhaskara, The Jakarta Post/Beijing The young Chinese tour guide lifted his hands into the air and clapped as hard as he could."No shopping, please.

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Girl fights for survival after accidentSonya Sandham, Contributor/Sydney The courage of a lion lies in the heart of a two and a half year old girl from Balaraja in Tangerang.

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Sumanto fails to escape second crashSlamet Susanto and Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post/Yogyakarta Residents of Pehserut in Nganjuk, East Java, could not believe that Maj. Sumanto was among the Air Force personnel killed in a helicopter crash in Wonosobo, Central Java, on Thursday.

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An homage to the founder of Buddhism in China Why are there so many monasteries in China? A very long history of Buddhism is one reason. Buddhism was founded in India in 500 B.C. and came to China around 65 A.D.

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Still playing Bad Santa (Drama/Crime, 91 minutes) Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham, John Ritter, Bernie Mac. Written by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa. Directed by Terry Zwigoff.

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'artconneXions' an arena for an exchange of viewsChristina Schott, Contributor/Jakarta "When I drive through Jakarta, my home city, I see it like my own house and I take a close look at the interior.

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EminemArtist : Eminem Album : Encore (Universal Music) The thing about Eminem is that while he makes a living and fame out of offending and making a fool out of people (and himself), there is still more to him as an artist than all the hype surrounding him.

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Dishes to bring in the New Year*SOP BUNTUT SAPI Oxtail soup is hearty fare on New Year's Eve and is enjoyed as hot as possible. One can easily make it into a filling meal by adding some steamed rice and season with some sambal! This soup is from Jakarta's southern suburbs.

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Jazz Goes to Campus needs fine tuningHera Diani, The Jakarta Post/Depok, West Java It was mighty hot and humid last Sunday afternoon at the University of Indonesia campus here, the kind of weather that not only leaves you sweating buckets, but also brings your temper to boiling point.

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Indonesian student comes close at Paris contestKunang Helmi, Contributor/Paris An Indonesian fashion writer commented recently that local designers never seem to renew their inspiration and live far from the innovative trends found on the international fashion scene.

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Deck the halls with bougainvillea As Christmas loomed high in my consciousness, I visited one of the many malls in Jakarta to do some present shopping.

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Now Showing Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Drama/Sci-Fi/Comedy, 108 Minutes) Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood. Directed by Michel Gondry. Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman.

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Seeing stars: The right color for a special timeColor plays an important supporting role at special occasions, and the presence of poinsettia is assured to perk up the festive spirit.

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Ayurveda survives test of time The growing popularity of Ayurveda in India is matched by its enormous growth overseas. Delhi-based Jiva Ayurveda was the first company to offer Ayurvedic consultations with qualified doctors and sell courses and medicines over the Internet.

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Some common ayurvedic therapies* Oil massage: designed to increase circulation, improve metabolism and detoxify the body, herbal oils are applied in large quantities; beneficial for stress related conditions, insomnia, migraines, arthritis and nervous system disorders.

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TV Program: Sunday, December 26, 2004.TB.30" .90"TVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings6:00 News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Cartoon: Maya The Bee7:30 Children Show9:00 Music: Delta10:30 Sports: Antar Gelanggang11:00 Christmas12:30 p.m.

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Gender bender: Those womenly matters I have been reading about violence against women, and wondering if the issue is not linked to other wider, prevalent issues in society.Several years ago I attended a conference in an Indonesian city, and stayed in an hotel on my own.

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Fernando Botero 'bullies' Singapore Carla Bianpoen Contributor/Singapore The exhibition of 20 monumental outdoor sculptures weighing close to 1.5 tons and over 70 paintings, drawings and charcoals of Colombian maestro Fernando Botero in Singapore opened on Dec.

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Christmas brings Indonesians togetherThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia celebrated Christmas amid heightened security late on Friday and Saturday due to reports of possible bomb attacks in the capital and vandalism in the conflict-torn regions.

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Spirit of the seasonSparkling Christmas trees decorated with ornaments, a parade of Santa Claus and carolers help put the city in the festive spirit.Although security has been beefed at many churches and public places across the country, people are in the mood to celebrate.

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Student detained for burning SBY photo INDONESIA: A student at the State Islamic University in Jakarta was detained on Friday for allegedly burning a photograph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a protest on Monday against fuel price increases.South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr.

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Ken Pattern: Seeking the truth in landscape around himBriony Kidd, Contributor/JakartaPopularly known for his black and white lithographs, Canadian artist Ken Pattern is giving freer rein to his creative spirit.

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Court rejects graft appeal INDONESIA: A West Sumatra court not only rejected on Friday the appeal filed by 43 West Sumatra councillors convicted of graft, but increased their jail sentences.

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From the old into the new with tasty fareSuryatini N. Ganie, Contributor/Jakarta Though we Indonesians actually have no special traditional celebrations for New Year's Eve and the first day of the new year, many people here have the custom of gathering with friends, family or close relatives.

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Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, December 26, 2004Exhibitions* The Hungry Box: the endless interiors of MVRDV, Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Tel. 5241069), Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., until Jan.

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Puppet master Ki Manteb pauses for thoughtBambang M, The Jakarta Post/YogyakartaHe has dedicated his life to the thing he loves most, the art of the leather puppet show, and in doing so is helping it become recognized as a precious cultural legacy.

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Traditional Indian medicine grows in popularityDavid Kennedy, Contributor/New Delhi d_kenn@yahoo.comMeaning "the science of life", Ayurveda lost its prominence during the British colonial period but is now popular as a treatment to treat what ails us at both home and abroad.

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