From Ramadhan repasts to New Year celebrations

By Mehru Jaffer

With hands folded and a smile to melt even the most hardened of hearts, staff at hundreds of hotels across Jakarta are busy preparing for guests to usher in the new millennium at their premises.

Apart from putting together special recipes for cakes and pastries, the floors are being scrubbed and wall hangings dusted as streamers and balloons pour in, in unlimited numbers, in an attempt to offer the party of a lifetime.

Situated in the Senayan area, which has been the scene of many riots and demonstrations in the past, the organizers of festivities at Atlet Century Park Hotel are planning a gala buffet on the night of Dec. 31. The feast will be accompanied by dance performances after which a live band will play for all those who want to greet the new year with a dance of their own.

Any ticket to the bumper buffet also includes discount prices for children under the age of 12, gifts and a raffle number, the top prize of which remains a secret. "Hopefully airlines will agree to give a ticket for two as a prize," says Sylviani Djamin, public relations manager, who does not want to give away too much as she looks forward to giving her guests many surprises.

Being at the center of so much political activity on streets surrounding her hotel, Sylviani adds that she survives simply by being optimistic. She thinks positively as she goes ahead with all the preparations and plans to spend all of Ramadhan praying that nothing unpleasant happens anywhere in the city that might dampen the joyous spirit of any of the festivities, including Christmas, New Year and Idul Fitri.

At Hotel Borobudur, a superior room on New Year's Eve is available for Rp 1.5 million; it costs only Rp 750,000 on Christmas Eve at the sprawling premises of the hotel. There are special offers at the Bogor Cafe for all those who want to break their fast during the month of Ramadhan while the pious will be rewarded on Lebaran Eve with special treats. Christmas Eve sees a children's choir and a Santa Claus giving away the last of his presents.

Traditionally, it is thought that it makes a difference to one's luck throughout the coming year by what is eaten or done on the first day of the new year. Many cultures believe that anything edible in the shape of a ring is a good thing to eat as it symbolizes the coming of a full circle. At the completion of a year, the Dutch like to eat donuts on New Year's Day in the hope of being showered in good fortune. In other parts of the world black-eyed peas are eaten and cabbage is yet another good luck vegetable enjoyed on New Year's Day by many. It is also for luck that it is has become common for people around the world, especially in cosmopolitan urban centers, to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends.

Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of January 1, and it is believed that if the first visitor into the house is a tall, dark-haired man it is a lucky sign. All the singing, dancing, hugging and kissing done at the stroke of midnight today is a modern day version of celebrations held in ancient societies that spent a lot of their time appeasing the gods for good weather, fine crops and mercy, especially after death. In Greece, New Year's Day is also the festival of Saint Basil, who is famous for his kindness, and Greek children leave their shoes by the fire with the hope that the saint will fill them up with gifts.

Aston Hotel is yet another one of those premises whose outlets are getting a good polish. New year menus at each one reads like a banquet meant for a baron. Special Ramadhan, Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations are planned, including being able to stay in its luxury suites at special prices and packages.

To warm up for the big celebrations, Le Meridien has rounded up its staff choir to start performances from Dec. 20 with a brunch on Christmas Day and a traditional Christmas dinner at its La Brasserie.

Aprilisa Madewa, public relations manager, promises a hubbly bubbly corner at the New Year's Eve dinner and live entertainment galore. At the Tiga Pulu bar music will be provided by America's Star Band with the theme back to the 1970s.

The Pelange Cafe at Hotel Ambhara will serve traditional delicacies along with turkey with cranberry sauce and giblet gravy during Christmas, while throughout the fasting month of Ramadhan a wide range of combinations from light Buka Puasa Bersama (breaking of the fast) to more sumptuous meals is offered by the hotel's enthusiastic banquet and catering team.

The Regent will kick off its celebrations with an Arabian dinner bazaar at its Season's Cafe throughout Ramadhan, with special breaking of the fast menus, high tea, Sunday jazz brunch and Morroccan couscous. The highlight is a three-day cooking class after which Arabic food will probably make a permanent niche in many more kitchens.

On Dec. 1, a ceremony to light the Christmas tree will be held at 6.30 p.m. to the delight of children, followed by a children's Christmas party brunch the following Sunday and a choir in the lobby on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The Christmas Day turkey lunch at the pastry and deli shop costs just Rp 50,000 while the turkey brunch at the Steak House is Rp 180,000.

The last day of the year will see The Regent lobby resounding with jazz music when the Quartet will start playing from 7 p.m. The New Year's Eve dinner is organized under the canopy of the blue skies, some stars and whatever is left of a waxing moon.

"For those too tired to drive back home after all the eating, drinking and dancing the hotel offers accommodation at special prices," says Hanny Wahyuni, director public relations who offers to also answer all queries at 2523456.