From Ramadhan repasts to New Year celebrations

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.