It's party time to mark the millennium

JAKARTA (JP): Count Jakarta in among the world's major cities where party organizers are gearing up to put on the biggest bash of all time.

Time to quell those fears about computer systems dying on the big night and instead size up the choices for the once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to bring in a millennium.

Jakartans who want to spend the night at Ancol Beach in North Jakarta will be in for a rare treat in marking the celebration. The rollover to 2000 will be marked by the sounding of a giant gong.

Visitors are free to continue their fun along the beach where there will be rock music concerts and other entertainment until the sun rises on Jan. 1, 2000.

Hotels will also be the places to be. Hotel Mulia Senayan will present a special gala dinner, a classical music concert by Twilite Orchestra and operetta by Guruh Soekarnoputra.

Le Meridien will also feature a New Year's gala dinner with a fashion show by famous designer Harry Dharsono, plus a magician.

For those who plan to spend New Year's Eve in the comfort of home, local television stations have prepared special programming.

Indosiar will air Bali Artventure 2000 on New Year's Eve and Jan. 1. The event marks the inauguration of the spectacular 146- meter-high Mandala Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue in Bukit Ungasan in Jimbaran, Bali.

In cooperation with Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park and Humanity's Broadcast, this millennial program will be broadcast live by 152 TV channels around the world.

The 12-hour Bali Artventure 2000 will be divided into two stages, with the first starting at 4 p.m. (West Indonesia Time ) or 5 p.m in Bali on Dec. 31, 1999. It will involve 550 artists and 80 crew members, led by executive producer Wisnutama, Gerry Guata, Jufrianto and Kamil Wahyudi.

Among the shows will be a performance by KLA Project, a parody by Project P, movie-musical show, Bali percussion, Gekare Jalanan Seniman Bali, Gelar Musik and the jegog dance.

Artists from Jakarta include teenage trio AB Three, Warn music group, Chrisye, Iis Dahlia and Edo Kodolangit.

The second stage of the program, called Countdown, will commence at sunset between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m (in Jakarta) until the rollover to the new millennium at midnight.

The program will be preceded by prayers for peace and colossal dance by members of the Anak Agung Gede Oka Dalem dance group and musical performances by noted artists like Kris Dayanti, etc.

The Countdown to the millennium will be marked by the sound of Tifa and Bia in a percussion performance from Irian Jaya.

RCTI will cooperate with WGBH Boston from the United States and the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) to air the 25-hour millennium day broadcast on television channels in 44 countries.

The program covers cultural events performed at various sites around the world including the Taj Mahal in India, Great Wall of China, Luxor in Egypt, Borobudur Temple in Central Java and Gunung Kawi in Bali. The program will start on New Year's Eve at 10:30 p.m.

SCTV will broadcast new year's coverage from around the world. The station will also air a special New Year's program called SCTV Goes to Metropolis featuring artists like Shakila, the Groove, Chrisye and other artists and comedians.

For movie buffs, SCTV will screen Die Hard 2 on Dec. 31 (7 p.m.), Kung Fu Kid 3 on Jan. 1 (8 p.m.) and The Last Don.

SCTV also plans to broadcast music programs like Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th Birthday, A Celebration and the 1999 Billboard Music Awards (Jan. 1, 9:30 p.m.)

ANteve will present Bursa Musik Indonesia and programs looking at political, legal, economic, sports and cultural events in 1999.

TPI welcomes the new millennium with local programs including a wayang performance, music program Malam Gemerlap Bintang shot in Jakarta and Denpasar in Bali.

The station will also roll out imported fare like An Audience with Elton John (Dec. 31, 8 p.m) and Boyzone (Jan. 1, 8 p.m.) to get music-loving couch potatoes moving in their armchairs.

Keep the kiddies content with Snow White (Dec. 31, 8 a.m.), Cinderella (Jan. 1, 7:30 p.m.), The Jungle Book, (Jan. 1, 8 a.m.) and Jack and the Beanstalk ( Jan. 2. 8 a.m.)

Various religious leaders will also be shown delivering New Year's greetings. (raw)