A letter from grandmaDjoeweriah Poorwo S.Dear Santi,First of all, happy birthday. I wish you the best of health and happiness. I can hardly believe you've turned 14. I still vividly remember that morning you were born, and now the photograph you sent me reveals a fresh looking, pretty girl.

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Still playingTroy (War/Drama, 163 minutes) Starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox, Peter O'Toole, Sean Bean. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.Homer's epic poem The Iliad is "mortalized" in this disappointingly big movie which lacks emotional depth.

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EU to send 68 poll observers JAKARTA: The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will deploy 68 observers to monitor the country's first direct presidential election.

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The other face of the cityIt's a contrasting, almost schizophrenic existence: Literally a stone's throw from the glitzy skyscrapers and posh shopping centers -- the polished side of Jakarta that our leaders want to show to the world -- the real face of the capital for most of its residents can be ...

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Win at all costs the name of our gameLoud chatter came from behind me, as two young women talked like they were the only ones in the room.I inched closer to get a better view of them and, of course, eavesdrop on what was causing all the fuss.

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Now showingHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Adventure/Fantasy, 142 minutes) Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, David Thewlis, Gary Oldman. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.

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Police say evidence stacked against Ba'asyirP.C. Naommy, JakartaPolice said on Saturday terrorist suspect Abu Bakar Ba'asyir had planned a series of bombings that hit the country between 1999 and 2002.

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Workers may miss chance to vote GORONTALO, Gorontalo: Most workers of Rajawali sugar plant here may not be able to exercise their right to vote in the presidential election as they do not hold identity cards, nor transmigration letters.

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Students reject campaigns, Susilo singsA. Junaidi, JakartaMore students joined those rejecting on-campus presidential campaigns when Amien Rais was denied entry on Saturday to the 10 November Institute of Technology, Surabaya (ITS).

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More Indonesians buying Australian propertySudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Australia has become one of the favorite destinations for many affluent Indonesians seeking a house or an apartment either for living in or as an investment.

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Regulations for property purchases in New Zealand New Zealand, with its stunning ever-changing landscape, has become a major ecotourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region.Its natural beauty is one reason why many overseas people choose to make New Zealand their home.

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Bookstore moving on up to boost salesHera Diani, The Jakarta Post, JakartaIn the past two years, an increasing number of bookstores, both locally owned and franchises of foreign names, have opened their door.

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Bali: Sinking a slug on Seminyak's 'sunset' stripJim Read, The Jakarta Post, JakartaWell, that headline is a misnomer for a start! As few in Seminyak's expat community seem to get up before midday, and people rarely go out for a night's entertainment before about 11:30 p.m.

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Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, June 20, 2004Exhibitions* Japanese Calligraphy, Shoudou, Pusat Kebudayaan Jepang - The Japan Foundation, Summitmas I, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 61-62 South Jakarta (Tel. 5201266), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until June 30. * Painting, Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jl.

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Tia the people's choice in singing contestBruce Emond The Jakarta Post JakartaHeavily favored Theodora "Tia" Meilani Setyawati overcame some final-night jitters and uncharacteristic pitch control problems to triumph at the second Akademi Fantasi Indosiar (AFI) talent contest on Saturday night.

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Life's not just a beach at PangandaranLeony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Pangandaran, West JavaPangandaran has been a favorite destination of mine since I discovered six years ago that the beach offers more than just sand -- there are rivers, caves and a wildlife conservation area -- and for its fresh ...

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Tia the people's choice in 'AFI' singing contestBruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, JakartaHeavily favored Theodora "Tia" Meilani Setyawati overcame some final-night jitters and uncharacteristic pitch control problems to triumph at the second Akademi Fantasi Indosiar (AFI) talent contest on Saturday ...

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Taking matters into our own hands in an uncivilized societyKrabbe K. Piting, Contributor, JakartaThe Mysterious Gunman sounds like a cheap Hollywood summer offering, doesn't it?Unfortunately, that moniker carried a much more sinister history.

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Busway operating later on SundayINDONESIA: TransJakarta Busway vehicles will start running at 9 a.m. on Sunday instead of the usual 5 a.m. due to the running of the Jakarta International 10K in the busway lane.

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Didi Petet, an actor with the heart of a mimeHera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta"Shabby, huh?" said actor Didi Petet, catching my surprised look at glancing around the faded building and surroundings of the School of Performing Arts at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ), where he teaches and is an ...

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Diarrhea needs to be tackled quickly in the youngMaria Endah Hulupi, Contributor, JakartaWiwied was overwhelmed by fear when her babysitter told her on her return from work that her eight-month-old son had passed watery stools at least seven times during the day.

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Photographer sniffs out story of the 'Big Durian'Chris Holm, The Jakarta Post, JakartaWilliam Durman is passionate about Jakarta.

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Gambling not a risky pastime MEDAN: Chess gambling enthusiasts seemed unperturbed by the arrival of presidential election candidates Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla at a campaign rally at Merdeka Square, here on Saturday.

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FAQ on buying a house in Australia If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia, and want to buy real estate in Australia, you must obtain prior approval from the Australian government.

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Lolita Lempicka: An Alice in Wonderland fantasy -- at a priceHera Diani, The Jakarta Post, JakartaFirst Miu Miu, and now Lolita Lempicka: The recent opening of the two boutiques here shows that upper-end members of the fashionista have managed to deftly sidestep the pinch of the crisis.

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TV Program: Sunday, June 20, 2004.TB.30" .90"TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News7:00 Children Show: Pentas Ceria9:00 Music: Delta10:00 Sports: Otoscreen11:00 TV Drama12:30 p.m.

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Tips for a smooth trip* Secondhand books are available at the Magic Mushroom bookshop on Jl. Pasanggrahan.* Bring enough cash for the length of your stay unless you have a BNI card, the only ATM I saw there.

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Amien, a man who remembers his rootsBlontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, SurakartaThis is the third in a series of articles on the five presidential candidates in the eyes of their neighborsAlthough he spent much of his time lecturing at state-run Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, presidential ...

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Mega-Muzadi Betawi center opens JAKARTA: Hundreds of Betawi people from across Jakarta attended on Saturday the opening of the Mega-Muzadi Betawi Center (MMBC) at the M.H. Thamrin Museum in Central Jakarta.

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Home to fly for takes root in YogyakartaAsip A. Hasani, Contributor, Yogyakarta"Like standing in an open space among shady trees" is the perfect description for the feeling one gets inside this house in Tembi village in Bantul, Yogyakarta.

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