Grapevine Newsletter 2015 April/May

NEWSLETTER APRIL/MAY 2015

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CONTENTS FEATURES

Bloggers Breakdown Macro Nutrients Meet the Committee BWA Fashion Show: Makeup Partners Hair Stylists The Designers Bussiness Class Doggie

07 12 14 20 21 23 31

Two Weddings and a Funeral

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REGULARS

Editor’s Note Chairwoman’s Message Social Welfare Report Newcomers Message Report Back: AGM May Coffee Morning Indian Cookery Book Reviews Restaurant Review Recipes Weird & Wonderful News Social Dairy: St.Patrick’s Ball BWA Bazaar Registration Day BWA Fashion Show Ticketing Day Batik Workshop Teddy Bears’ Picnic Notice Board

TRAVEL

Kalimantan Borneo Suadade Baltistan

02 03 04 06 09 11 17 18 19 27 29 39 40 41 42 46 47

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EDITOR

Grapevine

April/May 2015

FROM THE EDITOR

This is my first message as the Grapevine editor. It is a new beginning, I have some big shoes to fill but I am on board with a delightful group of ladies so I am looking forward to this endeavour as an Irreplaceable learning experience. I intend on delivering the same quality Grapevine has always put forward and hopefully add to its potential.

This months Grapevine has an introduction to the committee with a few new faces, including mine. We have the new Chairwoman’s report from Louise Mcdonald, the Social Welfare report from Jackie Buchanan, head of Social Welfare. In addition we have the report on the ticketing day for the BWA Fashion Show Extravaganza, the April coffee morning, the registration day for the BWA bazaar, the round up of the amazing team of makeup partners, designer and hair stylists for the BWA Fashion Show, and more. The monthly round up of some interesting news, including a report on the Teddy Bears’ Picnic by Kathy Chambers.

We have an interesting insight on the dangers and prevention of Dengue fever, a marvellous piece on healthy eating from Sunshine Biskaps and a travel read up on the forests of Kalimantan from Stephanie Brooks showcasing the skilled photography by David Metcalf. Also there is a little insight into my end of the world from a recent trip back home.

I would like to give a big thank you to all the contributors for their time and work. A huge thanks also to the proof readers; ‘the errors will be for my being new on the job.’

Thank you Soma Mitra-Chubb for your direction and constant help. Hopefully I will keep the goodness in your faith that the newsletter is in good hands.

And finally I wish you safe travel and good health wherever you may go.

Regards, Rabia Ahmad.

THE GRAPEVINE TEAM

EDITOR

Rabia Ahmad

PROOF-READERS

Lorraine Gibbons, Hannah Faveere, Soma Mitra-Chubb, Gillian Wenman, Wendy Shariff, Suki Brar-Khangura

CONTRIBUTORS

FRONT COVER 2

Tamzin Bianchi, Miriam Bilalas, Jackie Buchanan, Soma Mitra-Chubb,Kathy Chambers,Annali Hayward,Karen Turner,Sunshine Biskaps,W Tavers,Sephanie Brookes,Elaine Tucker,Nell Costello,Eszter Redmond, Sana Umar

Li-Ha Lu

CHAIRWOMAN’S MESSAGE BWA COMMITTEE 2015-2016 Honorary President Rachel Malik

Postal address: P.O. Box 7923 JKSM Jakarta 12079 email: bwa@bwajakarta.org web page: www.bwajakarta.org

Chairwoman Louise Macdonald Vice Chairwoman Suki Brar-Khangura General Secretary Sonya Jayne Carr Berkieta Treasurer Melinda Mai Hawkins Grapevine Editor Rabia Ahmad Social Welfare Coordinator Jackie Buchanan Newcomers’ Coordinator Lorraine Gibbons Bazaar Coordinator Laura Thompson Membership Coordinator Jane Fraser House Manager Karen Turner Programmes Coordinator Nell Costello Events Coordinator Noreen Hussain Website & Communications Coordinator Ezster Redmond This Publication is the newsletter of the BWA, for the benefit of members of the British Women’s Association (BWA) in Indonesia.

It is available online at www.bwajakarta.org/newsletter

I first arrived in Jakarta in April 2008, spent the first 2 weeks settling my two children into JIS and then thought what now? I tried out all the expat women’s organisations and by June found myself in the BWA having been snaffled by the, then Chairwoman, Susan Whistler, who used her powers of persuasion to get me to join the committee as General Secretary. By the time we left Jakarta in June 2011, I had also served as Newcomers’ Coordinator and Vice Chair and various roles on the Fashion Show committee. When we returned in February of last year,I thought this time my interest would be Social Welfare. Well as you can see that thought did not quite go to plan! So here I am writing, rather late, my first Chairwoman’s message! This decision was not taken lightly but after several discussions with David, my husband, and a variety of BWA members I thought I might as well give it a go. The AGM on 2 March was certainly the liveliest I have ever attended and I thank everyone for coming along, expressing their opinions and support in electing me as Chairwoman. We did not quite manage to achieve a full Committee that morning but I am delighted to say that we are almost there.

Thanks to everyone who stepped up and filled the vacant positions, I genuinely think we now have a great committee teaming with ideas to move forward and continue the great work the BWA does, both in providing help and support for its expat members and the local community through our social welfare projects. As always March and April see the release of the tickets for the BWA event of the year, the Fashion Show.

Inside this newsletter you shall read all about our wonderful designers and our hair and makeup teams.

In March we said good bye to our one and only Berni Crockford; she and her husband Jim have returned to Hong Kong. We shall miss them both and thank them for providing great entertainment on quiz nights. Berni has been succeeded

by Noreen Hussain, who has several new ideas to keep us entertained over the next year, so watch this space. Also coming up this month we have our summer bazaar on the 27 May, ideally timed for all those last minute gifts to sneak into your suitcase before you travel home for the summer. And all you budding golfers we have our Texas Scramble at Matoa on the 20 May, no real golfing expertise required and speaking from experience its a fun day out.

May is a great month for the BWA hope it is for you too.

Louise

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SOCIAL WELFARE On The Road with Social Welfare

The Social Welfare team has had yet another busy month. I would like to share with you some of the things that we have been up to.

Pusaka 22 (Mitra Bhakti) 25 local residents receive nutritious meals on a daily basis. Pusakas are much more though than feeding programmes as they also provide an essential community hub. The ladies that we met at Pusaka 22 were not only collecting their tiffin boxes but also enjoying a good chat and a giggle before returning home. The meals are delivered by bicycle to those too frail to collect for themselves.

Puspita This is a home for ex street children and economic orphans. Puspita not only provides a safe family environment for these children but also ensures that they can attend school. We usually visit on a Saturday when we can meet the children, however we popped in on a weekday as we were in the area. There were only two children there who could not attend school that day due to illness.

They happily showed us around the place they are proud to call home.

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SOCIAL WELFARE Kamal Muara Kamal Muara is classed as a “fishing village�, however in reality the current land reclamation program in the Ancol Bay means that there are now very few fish in the area.

Luckily this is an industrious, entrepreneurial community and they are turning their hands to a number of different ways to raise a few Rupiah.

The BWA donated an overlocking machine and we were so pleased to see it in action. The ladies are really creative and are currently making these amazing hijabs. The pink clasp is actually made out of noodle wrappers!

These Ladies spend their days shelling mussels. Their labour is rewarded with a mere 2,500 Rps per kilo of shelled mussels.

If you would like to know more about any of these projects or if you would like to join us on the Social Welfare team please email us on socialwelfare@bwajakarta.org.We would love to hear from you!

Jackie Buchanan

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NEWCOMERS’ COORDINATOR MESSAGE FROM THE NEWCOMERS’ COORDINATOR Welcome to Jakarta. And an even bigger welcome to the British Women’s Association.

Wherever you live there are small quirks that amuse you that are unique to the location. When we moved to Jakarta,I had already been told about some of the brand names that are on products available to buy here that can, definitely, not be used in international circles.

One of my funniest shopping trips was a family venture to Hero. Like many of us, we were placed in a temporary serviced apartment; in our case it was Hotel Kristal. Just down the road there is a Starbucks and Hero supermarket. Some of the brands we came across had my husband and I laughing out loud.

I’ll list some of them shortly. If you don’t ‘get’ them, please do not embarrass me by asking to explain.

When I went to look for a water dispenser at Carrefour, I could not bring myself to buy a Denpoo, even though the store staff were telling me that they were really good quality.

Here are just a few; Pocari Sweat, Love Juice, Knockers, Dung Dung, Collon, Fatigon and NAD. I’m disappointed not to have found the actual ‘Poo’ brand yet. I’m reliably informed it’s out there somewhere and it appeals to my lavatorial humour.

Hope this goes some way to amusing those of us who might be going through the doldrums stage of the relocation process. We all do it to more or less to an extent and it can happen at different times after you start settling in. I’d suggest going along to some new activities, getting involved at school, voluntary work or just getting out there to meet people. There’s no harm in trying out some new things and you might be surprised to find you enjoy it. I have started to play golf and enjoy the social side more than trying to get the ball heading in the right direction!

Please do contact me if you have any questions or need a chat. One of the newcomers’ team is at the weekly coffee every Tuesday morning. The BWA was set up to offer support to you. Please join us, get to know your fellow expats and how we can help.

Regards Lorraine Gibbons Email: sheppardlorraine@hotmail.com Mobile: 08111 803 657

GREAT BRITISH COFFEE MORNING First Tuesday of the Month

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Every Tuesday - Coffee Morning (plus 1st Tuesday of the month is The Great British Coffee Morning including speaker, raffle prizes and vendors) Wednesday - Yoga, Canasta Thursday - Playgroup, Mahjong Friday - Rudolf ( yoga instructor ) is thinking of doing a class on a Friday too. If anyone is interested please contact chairwoman@bwajakarta.org

FEATURE THE BLOGGERS FASHION BREAK DOWN With the BWA fashion show having flown by, it’s interesting to take a look at the styling from the audience point of view and what better place than the Oscars red carpet. Here is an interesting read on the fashion pitfalls to watch out for and the looks to follow. Undoubtedly the stuff of nightmares for stars and stylists all over Hollywood.

Pitfalls galore must seem to loom at them, tempting the unwary to falter with a shoulder pad here or a latex trim there. Designers pick their gals and some gals get to pick their designers. Money changes hands and contracts are made, renewed, honoured and probably sometimes, regretted. It is the highlight of the red carpet calendar – affording us the occasional gasp of wonder in the face of sheer beauty. And, of course, an absolutely wonderful excuse to lampoon the sartorially unfortunate.

TOP OFFENDERS Nicole Kidman in Louis Vuitton I’m sorry, but what actually is this?! It looks like Nicole found a washed-up mermaid’s tail, took the scissors to it, stuck some electrical tape around her waist, picked up a toolbox, threw on some ugly ’90s silver shoes and went ‘Yep, ready to go!’ The colour is indescribable – being that it has none – which makes the garish red in the middle clash even more with her skin tone and hair colour. All of this could be stylist error so far, but in fact there is no discernible shape to the thing, either.

Just because it’s sparkly doesn’t make it right, Nicole. Nil points.

Naomi Watts in Armani Privé Another blundering antipodean, and none other than Kidman’s best mate, Naomi Watts. Now, I can get on board with the hair and make-up – nice dark lip, well-tousled tresses – so far, so passable. But from a modest distance this frock looks like metal shop-front fencing, and not the kind found on South Molton Street, darling – we’re talking Croydon corner shop here. Naomi seems to have been locked in next to the crisps and the drinks fridge. And yes, midriffs and cutaways still feel fresh on and off the runway, but this one suggests she came from the gym and just plonked her dress on over her sports bra. Nope. It just won’t do, love.

Sienna Miller in Oscar de la Renta The fash-pack will have my guts for garters for this, but I’m sorry as stunning as it was on the runway and as impressive as Peter Copping’s first collection for the brand was, this doesn’t work for me on hippy queen Sienna. It might actually just be the irritating way she holds her face for the cameras that’s throwing me off, as if simultaneously preparing for minor cheekbone surgery and saying the word ‘womble’. The dress is too boring, both for such an occasion, and for her. It bisects her at odd heights, it is not a flattering shape from the front, and lace work gets lost. She was going for elegance, but she served it up cold.

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FEATURE ON THE FENCE Julianne Moore in custom Chanel I like the cut of the neckline, and it’s hard to deny the craftsmanship of the embellishment. But the black things kind of remind me of fried eggs (ok, black ones, but still) and it’s another case of slightly odd proportions with the horizontal lines. So I’m torn – she is beautiful and I think the hair and make-up is right. But the dress is a ‘meh’ for me.

Reese Witherspoon in Tom Ford Reese is a beautiful woman, and her understated hair and make-up are lovely. But this is just a very plain, black and white dress. It really is taking minimal to the maximum. I just can’t find anything that interesting to say about it.

THE SUCCESSES Rosamund Pike in Givenchy Couture There was lots of red on the red carpet this year, and this English rose did it best. Both Reese and Julianne tried to do this type of shape in the neckline, but Rosamund has actually got it right. This is head-to-toe stunning. The way it nips the waist is divine and only part clever illusion. The way it falls away from the sexy front slit is perfect, and the red shoe that could have been too much wasn’t. Minimal accessories and a pretty, swept - up do let the intricacy of the dress do the talking. Nailed it, lady.

Felicity Jones in Alexander McQueen This feels like a dress that does the occasion justice. Felicity Jones was nominated for best actress and she dressed like it. This Sarah Burton number is an elegant, classy dove-grey, and I love the contrast of the warrior-style neckline with the princess-y skirt. The skirt was made less prissy by the unmistakably McQueen detail at the hips. Love the blunt fringe, too. Mrs. Jones has a thing going on.

Annali Hayward for more by the autor, please visit https://mycornersoftheworld.wordpress.com.

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REPORT BACK

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2015 On Tuesday 3 March 2015 the Annual General Meeting of the British Women’s Association was held at the BWA house. It was good to see so many members gathered together for what is always such an important day in the Association’s calendar. This is the opportunity to thank the outgoing committee for their hard work and dedication over the past year.It also ensures the continued success of the Association, as its organisational reins are handed over to a newly-elected committee for the forthcoming year.

With the quorum achieved, the meeting was declared open at 10am. It was chaired by the Vice-Chairwoman, Suki Brar-Khangura, who, after a brief explanation of how the meeting would proceed, relayed the agenda to be adhered to and thanked the outgoing committee. She then read aloud the Chairwoman’s report.

Outgoing Chairwoman Elaine Tucker was unable to attend in person, having only very recently moved on to pastures new. Heartfelt thanks were extended to Elaine for her tireless efforts at the helm and for leading the Association for the duration of her tenure. After this, Jackie Bchanan delivered the Social Welfare report, followed by the Sponsorship report from Sareena Barnes and the Treasurer’s report which, in Zem’s absence, was read out by Nell. All reports revealed the BWA to be in good shape moving forward although 9

not without certain challenges, particularly regulatory which are being addressed. These were followed by a general membership vote on several constitutional changes. Election of the new committee came next and to a resounding burst of applause; everyone was delighted to approve Louise Mcdonald as our new Chairwoman for 2015. We all wish Louise, who has lived here in Jakarta twice and has been a part of the BWA on and off for many years, well. Anyone interested in serving on the main BWA Committee as Sponsorship Coordinator is invited to contact Louise. Being a Committee member is highly rewarding for the volunteers who serve. At the same time it is a much-needed and appreciated service to our community. Any members willing to help keep the Association strong for the future and enjoyable for new arrivals and long timers alike, please do get in touch. The BWA needs you! Following the elections were A.O.B. and a Q & A session when members were able to put forward questions or comments to the outgoing committee -- and there were several! Listening to members’ opinions and suggestions is taken seriously and the incoming committee will do their utmost to address them openly and effectively during the coming months.

Berni Crockford, who has served as our wonderful Events Coordinator for the past year and is leaving Jakarta, gave a short address explaining how much she had enjoyed her time here, especially at the BWA and how much the Association has helped her to make friends. She closed by inviting members to step forward to support the club in any way they can, no matter how small. As the meeting drew to a close, everyone returned to the remaining vital business of the day: chatting, sharing experiences, making new friends, drinking coffee, eating cake and even shopping from the vendors present! The retail therapy served as a welcome stress-busting antidote to the morning’s business. I’m sure the whole collective membership thanks the outgoing committee for their hard work and wishes the new committee every success for the forthcoming year.

Karen Turner

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REPORT BACK COFFEE MORNING APRIL 2015 On 7 April we held our usual monthly Great British Coffee Morning (GBCM) at the BWA house in Pejaten.

We were not expecting a great attendance as so many members were on a very jolly Easter break still; off to far flung places. We decided to hold the coffee morning in true British spirit and our ship was not empty on that day.

Our speaker for the morning was Culinary Queen of Jakarta, Petty Elliot. As always, anything related to Indonesian cuisine is always popular, especially if there are samples to be tasted and expertly delivered. Petty explored the tastes and flavours with us, preparing a delightful dish of ribboned and sliced native fruits with a sweet and spicy sauce. Absolutely delicious, simple and beautifully presented. We relished the food knowledge imparted from across the Archipelago. There was a lot of audience participation in tasting and identifying the core ingredients for Indonesian food, and a few items were not chilli based, which is something not everyone can digest.

Her new book "Papaya Flower" which features Manadonese recipes was well received and we wish her every success with this venture.

Vendors for the morning included Honorary BWA member Chris Laurence, with a tasteful display of collectibles and unique items from across Indonesia. Chris has spent half a lifetime in this country seeking cultural treasures from a bygone era. We were lucky to be able to buy items without the need to haggle on the roadside after a long journey. Many thanks to Chris for the generously donated raffle prize.

In the Mahjong room we held a pre-loved sale with good quality (some unused) clothing, shoes, belts and bags for the coffee morning attendees to purchase. This was quite popular and we hope to repeat this on another occasion through the year with your support. Thanks also to Dani Glass and to all the members who attended on the day. The BWA values all of your support and continued commitment to events like this.

The Monthly Coffee is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 9.30 (unless otherwise advertised). Our informal Tuesday drop in coffee mornings continue weekly. If you wish to participate as a vendor please email at programmes@bwajakarta.org.

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HEALTH

Macro nutrients: The Importance of Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats in our Bodies What are macro nutrients? Are you getting enough of each? A proper balance of each macronutrient (in addition to micro nutrients such as vitamins and minerals) is extremely important for overall health.

Specifically, macro nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and are necessary for growth, metabolism, tissue repair, immune system function, hormone and enzyme production, the make-up of the body organs and nerve cells, and protection of our vital organs.

First of all, carbohydrates are your body and brain’s preferred source of energy. Carbs contain 4 calories per gram and serve as energy storage in the body, and allows communication to take place within the body, and also helps fat metabolism and prevents oxidation of protein. Healthy sources of carbs include oats, grains, seeds, fruit and vegetables. Less nutritious carb choices include French fries, candy, and baked goods. Beware of sugars and sugar substitutes in food as these will spike the insulin levels in your blood and since your body loves to maintain equilibrium, spiked insulin levels is not a good thing. It’s important to read ingredients lists to check to see what is in your foods. For general health, carb intake should fall between 30-50 percent of your total caloric intake.

Meanwhile, protein is the primary component of our muscles, nails, skin, eyes, and internal organs.

Proteins form all enzymes that stimulate metabolism, and many of the hormones that regulate our body chemistry. They are needed for antibodies that fight off infection. They also help to maintain normal sodium and potassium balance in our bodies and stabilize the acid-alkaline pH balance by acting as buffers. Proteins in cells help to keep the correct balance of water in cells and proteins in plasma help maintain blood plasma. Your red blood cells are made of iron-bearing proteins called haemoglobin, which carries oxygen to tissues of the body. There are essential amino acids, which your body cannot create, so you need to get it from food sources, and nonessential amino acids, which your body can make. Good sources of complete proteins include beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and turkey.

Plants can be a source of protein, however, vegetarians need to consume a variety of beans, legumes, nuts, seeds and vegetables to ensure that they get all the essential amino acids. On average and depending on your fitness goals, you should be getting 25-40 percent of your total daily caloric intake from protein sources. Although, bodybuilders and fitness competitors (like me) generally prefer to take

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in more protein to build muscles compared to the general population.

Lastly, fats contain 9 calories per gram and are important to our nervous system. Fats are energy-storage compounds, insulate us and protect our vital organs, and regulate our body’s temperature. They also transport nutrients, such as the fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Fats are also important in the manufacturing of steroids, sex hormones and the hormone-like prostaglandins.

Fats stimulate chemical reactions that control growth, immune function, production and other aspects of basic metabolism.

Healthy sources of fats include those high in Omega-3 fatty acids such as flax seeds and their oils, pumpkin seeds and their oils, chia seeds and their oils, walnuts, wheat germ, and cold-water fish. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in higher amounts in processed foods, while Omega-3 fatty acids are not eaten enough today.

The current ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids is between 10:1 or 20:1, where optimally, the ratio should be closer to 2:1.Fats are important for our bodies and people should not be afraid to eat quality fats found in whole foods.

Also, please watch out for low-fat products as many manufacturers like adding additives to make the foods taste better since satiating fats have been removed.

Also, it’s the quality of the fats that matter, not really the quantity. For instance, it is far better to eat a large amount of walnuts than it is to eat a moderate amount of greasy fried foods. For general health, limit fat intake to 20-30 percent of your total daily caloric intake.

Overall, there are many great food choices to get the proper proportions of carbohydrates, protein, and fats that your body needs in order to function optimally. When you make nutritious food choices, your body will be able to deliver nutrients to your cells, fight off infections, produce necessary hormones and enzymes, trigger nerve responses, and protect all your important organs. On the other hand, if you completely avoid eating an important macronutrient, your body will start to slowly break down.

Experiment with your body and see how it responses to different ratios of macro nutrients in various quality whole foods. With a complete nutrition program and a good cardiorespiratory and strength-training program, you will not only feel better, but also look your best!

About the Picture: When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. Here is a typical example of meals prepared in advanced with healthy macro nutrients selections of chicken prepared in coconut oil, brown rice, and a variety of steamed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, and daikon).

Sunshine Biskaps, RDH, CPT, WLS.

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THE COMMITTEE

MEET THE COMMITTEE In light of the inductions of the new members and of the people that are responsible for the working of the British Women’s Association we invite you to meet the members.

BWA Committee for 2015 / 2016: Chairwoman - Louise Mcdonald I have lived in Jakarta since February of last year. This is our 7th posting and I have to say that Indonesia is one of our favourites. Second time around is proving more challenging though with ageing parents and both children at university in the UK. Before being Chairwoman I served on the committee in various roles, as Newcomers Coordinator, as General Secretary and as Vice Chairwoman. Taking on the role of Chairwoman this time will be a challenge and will certainly keep me busy!

Vice Chairwoman - Suki Brar-Khangura I arrived in Jakarta in August 2013 with my husband and 5 month old baby, Yuvi.

I joined the BWA playgroup, became playgroup leader and then joined the main committee as vice chair. I have also been a part of the sponsorship team and have sat on the Fashion Show Committee. Definitely a big change from working as a criminal lawyer in the UK. Grapevine Editor - Rabia Ahmad Salutations, I have been in Jakarta for 18 months now. Some good friends motivated me to attend the BWA coffee morning. Soma the recent editor for the Grapevine has left me with big shoes to fill. I take up this position under her much needed tutelage, providing coverage for all the work the BWA does in many fields. I also hope that Grapevine improves further on. I am from Pakistan and with an M.Phil degree in Literature. We welcome contributors and sharing of ideas.

Bazaar Coordinator - Laura Thompson Hi, I’ve been in Jakarta with my husband Scott and my 16 year old daughter Kyra for 13 years now. I have been part of the BWA and its various committees for longer than I can remember. More recently I have Produced the Fashion Show three times in the last four years. This year I have signed up to run our two Bazaars. Hope to see you all there.

Social Welfare Coordinator - Jackie Buchanan I have lived in Jakarta for 16 out of the previous 20 years. I have helped out either backstage or manning the raffle at the Fashion Show for at least eight years. It is quite unbelievable to me how the show has evolved from when I was first backstage in 1996. I have sat on the BWA Social Welfare Committee for about 10 years and do not regret a day. It is my absolute honour to now be the Coordinator of Social Welfare.

Jane Fraser – Membership Coordinator I’m originally from Aberdeen, Scotland and have been in Jakarta just over one year.

I have a secretarial background having worked 25+ years in the Oil and Gas industry, which makes life easier doing the membership coordinator job which I have been doing since January of 2015.

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THE COMMITTEE Newcomers Coordinator – Lorraine Gibbons My expat life began in 2001 with a fabulous two years in Kuala Lumpur. I had been working for Vodafone in the marketing department and found plenty of time on my hands. I became involved in voluntary roles, plus some sports lessons. With our two beautiful daughters. I love being an expat and love the idea that my children will have a better understanding of the world having lived in different cultures and having sen things they would not have otherwise.

Programmes Coordinator- Nell Costello Greetings friends old and new, I’m here with my husband. We have been in and out of Jakarta for well over two years now. As a periodical expat, this hasn’t been my life forever, back in the UK I’m still a working nurse. My BWA role is to organise the great British Coffee Morning which is usually held on the first Tuesday of each month. I coordinate some daytime events and can link up members to our very relaxed Jolly Golfers, which is a great way to get outdoors in the city.

Events Coordinator - Noreen Hussain Having lived the expat life for 12 years now, being a member of the BWA has certainly helped me. Professionally my experience is very much within sales and marketing. However, in recent years during our stay in Dubai I have gained experience of event management both in the corporate world as well as heading the PTA Events Committee at my children’s school.

House Manager – Karen Turner Some will know me already as this is my fifth year here in Jakarta. My husband, Tony and I have three grown-up children -- a son and twin daughters. I have been on the BWA committee once before and have helped out at the Fashion Show a couple of times in the past, which is always a great experience. My BWA committee role this time round is House Manager.

Website & Communications Coordinator – Eszter Redmond My family and I moved to Indonesia eight months ago. Having been involved in the board of international schools and expat clubs before, I know from experience how important The BWA can be for the members in order to create a social life in a new country as well as making a difference. My working career is extremely diverse due to the constant moves. Delighted to be involved in BWA and assist in any way I can.

Treasurer -Melinda Mai Hawkins My family moved to Jakarta one year ago from Singapore. We have four children.

I have worked as the Operations Director for my family’s business in Kuala Lumpur.

Here in Jakarta, I learn and work alongside the wonderful people of Wisma Cheshire and the BWA and Anza Social Welfare committees. I now look forward to a fun, interesting year ahead with the BWA Main Committee.

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COOKERY

THE BWA INDIAN COOKERY COURSE Nowadays it's all about food secrets, achieving a great taste and serving wonderful dishes from around the globe.

We all want to know the ingredients and how to do it at home. This month the BWA hosted an Indian cookery course with food writer and blogger Jhoomur Bose. Coming from Glasgow,the birthplace of chicken tikka masala, I was eager to participate in this. As with all cookery classes it was fun, light-hearted and experimental, certainly hands-on and sleeves up. A lot of tasting was involved, no complaints there. JB introduced us to the perfect raita, which sounds easy, but through sharing her knowledge exploring the different tastes and levels of spicy sweetness, we could all make to our own preferred flavour. It was surprising how different our palates can be. Then we moved on to crispy pakoras which of course once we start deep frying we can't stop eating, so the take home supplies were dwindling fast.

We finished with Indian ginger milky tea which some of us were hesitant to try but were impressed with by the smooth delicious flavour which really did work. The day was longer than we expected, we ate more food than we ought to have done. We all enjoyed it, thanks very much JB! W. Travers

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BOOK REVEIWS

The Maze Runner Trilogy By James Dashner

The Maze Runner Trilogy in four parts (there's a prequel) is yet another instalment of Young Adult fiction in a rather crowded market.

In the first eponymous book, Thomas, a teenager, finds himself in a group of other boys with no memory of who he is, or what happened to him before he got there. It is explained to him that he is in the 'Glade,' a large area enclosed in a Maze where, every day, the fastest runners among them have to battle the mysterious but deadly Grievers to try to find an escape route. How they eventually escape the maze takes up all of the first book and they discover that they have been placed there by an organisation called WICKED who are carrying out experiments on the children for a shadowy reason.

The two subsequent books, Scorch Trials and Death Cure, continue to put them in danger, again for no verifiable reason apart from the promise that, eventually, they will understand everything. Detractors have pointed out that Dashner treads ground already trodden by both Suzanne Collins and Victoria Roth and at first sight, it would seem so. Substitute the Gladers for either the Tributes or the Divergents, and WICKED for either the Capitol or the Bureau for Genetic Research and it seems suspiciously similar. In defence of Dashner, though, most young adult fiction does revolve around the themes of a solitary person or small group of people against an uncaring world, and Dashner is certainly far more bleak and more 'grown up' than either of the two other authors. The feeling of frustration at WICKED's constant attitude of "we won't tell you what's going on but it is all for your own good, really" does, in fact, mirror the feeling of teenage angst against seemingly uncaring adults. And it does make you want to keep reading, if only to find out how it ends. On the whole, a good series for teens, though I doubt it will be as much of a hit with the adults.

Soma Mitra-Chubb

The King's Curse

By Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory is known for her historical novels, the most famous being The Other Boleyn Girl which was, inevitably, made into a movie. She has written extensively about the Tudors and the Plantagenets as well as having several 'non-royal' series both historical as well as fictional. This book, published late last year, deals with the little-known Margaret Plantagenet, daughter of George, Duke of Clarence and the last York princess. During the rule of Henry VII, Plantagenet is "the most dangerous name in England."

Anyone bearing it could have a claim to the throne and when the book opens, Margaret's brother, Edward has just been executed, ostensibly for his participation in a plot against Henry. This, however, is Margaret's story, told through her eyes, It covers over 40 years of her life, beginning in 1499 with her brother's execution and ending with her death in 1541.

Much of the book deals with Margaret's life under Henry VIII. She is married off to a minor peer, is sometimes in favour, sometimes cast out of favour in the ebbs and flows of English Court life. Margaret becomes a Lady in waiting to Katharine of Aragon eventually, governess to Princess Mary and the focus of the book is on the significant events that affect them.

It is also, in the author’s own words, a study of Henry himself who "was a serial killer and this book traces his steps towards psychosis."Gregory has written this book with her usual meticulous research, bringing history to life. If you enjoy reading historical novels, you'll like this one.

Soma Mitra-Chubb 18

RESTURANT REVEIW SUSHI FOR LUNCH Itacho Sushi Address: Grand Indonesia Mall, floor 3A, Skybridge, Thamrin, Jakarta Phone: (021) 23581228 As an avid lover of all that is food, I have recently been introduced to the magical flavours of Japan. So when my Japanese friend suggested the newest Japanese chain Itacho Sushi for lunch, I was all for it.

We went on a weekday around 1130 am and surprisingly, it was packed. I guess after 3 years in Jakarta I'm still not used to the concept of lunch at this early hour.

The restaurant was welcoming with an authentic Japanese feel but it's a bit cramped, almost impossible not to bump into the other table. Their menu is tremendous, it was a task just deciding what to order and everything looked so good! I ordered the roasted salmon roll and grilled salmon with mayo, which were both really good but then how wrong can a Japanese restaurant go with that! The salmon was cooked to perfection though I am used to a larger serving.

My Japanese friend ordered the Bara chirashi jyu, it look beautiful but was disappointing, the taste just did not live up to her standards. My other friend ordered the deep fried oysters, spicy salmon hand rolls and the soft shell crab salad. The salad is the only thing worth writing about, it tasted really fresh and the crab was crunchy and sweet! The spicy salmon rolls were decent. The deep fried oysters had the desired creamy/crunchy contrast and were a treat.

The service was very slow and kind of confused. Probably because it's new. We had to pay at the cashier (also Japanese style) which also took a long time because it was so crowded. We were expecting more from Itacho sushi given that it is a reputable chain in Asia. Worth a try, if you are a Japanese food newbie like me. For a true connoisseur, I suggest you give it a pass.

Mariam Bilalas

Seven Day Bali Photography Tour and Workshop presented by Mark Rayner and David Metcalf 30 June to 6 July 2015 Book now to secure your spot on this amazing photography workshop and tour!

David Metcalf and Buffalo Master (Mark Rayner) are pleased to announce their next Bali adventure photography workshop and tour. Your 2 tutors will take you to the next level of your photography.

Individualised tuition from the experts. See website for details www.davidmetcalfphotography.com

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MAKEUP PARTNERS

Creating some super special looks for this year’s SPACE ODYSSEY theme we have our amazing first time ever Makeup Partners NYX COSMETICS who are providing us with all makeup products and professional make up artists for the show.

You can find their products in various malls in Jakarta, including SOGO, Lotte Shopping Avenue and Matahari, not forgetting their outlet store in Lippo Mall, Kemang. You will be amazed not only with the quality of the make up but also the wild colours and range of shades available.”

Supporting them with eyelashes and artists is WINK and KISS, and to add some creative genius we also have makeup artist EKO JARDI from Jakarta Arts. Can’t wait to see the crazy stuff these guys come up with!

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THE HAIRSTYLISTS

Since 1992, Hair Club has been specializing in colouring, perming, hair cutting, styling, hair loss and micro-mist treatments, manicures and pedicures, while ensuring that their qualified stylists only use the highest quality products.

021 570 0545 Mid Plaza Building I, Basement Floor Jl Jend Sudirman, Kav 10-11, Jakarta

BY JONKI PIT OI

Tel: 570 0545

HAIR STUDIO & BRIDAL M AKE UP

Jl Kemang Selatan Raya No 5-6 Jakarta Selatan Tel: 781 0373 Email: hairstudioGRACE@ gmail.com

Jonki Pitoi heads a team of 20 stylists, all with more than 10 years of experience. They have worked with celebrities as well as in TV and fashion shows, and are featured in many magazines.

021 781 0373

AMA2GEE AMA2GEE offers an oasis of serenity to reward your beauty. It is a full service salon offering both hair and beauty treatments by a talented and experienced team.

021 719 4709/10

Tarra’s Salon Tarra’s Salon is owned by an Indonesian and an expat and opened in 2014. The one-stop salon caters to both the expat and local communities, offering services such as highlights, keratin smoothing, cream baths, and reflexology, among other things. They also do makeup, nails, facials, waxing,massage and eyebrow/lash tinting.

081 808 990 845

Dinda Rella Dinda Rella Hair and Beauty Salon was established in 2012 to support the already successful Dinda Rella Boutique. The salon team offers friendly service, both for women and men, in a comfortable environment in the center of Kemang.

021 7179 2915

THE DESIGNERS

BIASA Founded in Bali by Italian designer Susanna Perini in 1994, BIASA’s signature style includes the combination of creative cuts, artisanal details and natural materials perfect for tropical havens and warm weather. This season, BIASA presents a stark monochrome elegance, a soft blend of sweet pastels and harvest shades of rustic chic. www.biasagroup.com

Dini Pratiwi Irawati Dini Pratiwi Irawati is a Jakarta based emerging designer, always putting an ethnic and cultural touch to her designs.

She started her career in 2013, and has already presented her collection as a listed designer at the Jakarta Fashion Week, Indonesia Fashion Week, and High End Magazine Masterpiece. www.dinipratiwiirawati.com

Erika Weinzinger Indonesian fashion designer Erika Weinzinger started her own design line four years ago. She designed the outfit of one of the 2013 Miss World contestants and did many major fashion shows around Indonesia. erika.maru@yahoo.com.sg

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Ivan Gunawan Ivan started his career as a fashion designer in 2004. He has launched – amongst others – a Muslim wear line (Miss to Mom), a wedding gown line and boutique (LOVE) and a ready-to-wear clothing line (IG IVAN GUNAVAN). During the past decade of his career, he took part in over 20 well-known fashion shows around Indonesia. www.ivan-gunawan.com

Galeries Lafayette Galeries Lafayette is one of the world’s leading department store brands and legendary fashion institution, and just recently announced the opening of its first department store in Indonesia. It is home to various international and local brands of cosmetics, accessories including leather goods and shoes, perfumeries, as well as fashion for both women and men. very.waloeyo@galerieslafayette.co.id

House of Q by Kiki ODonell After working overseas for 15 years, Kiki ODonell moved back to Jakarta 18 month ago to pursue her dream career in fashion design. With House of Q, she designs quality clothes that are fashion-forward and affordable. www.houseofq.kiki.net

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Kiky Adam After participating in “Dancing with the Stars Indonesia” for the entire season in 2011, Kiky Adam launched his own label for fashion design. Even nowadays, his designs are still inspired by the dancing dresses he started to create many years ago. kiky.adam@yahoo.com

by

LAISON by Aurelia Santoso LAISON offers a full range of high quality women’s ready to wear. The label aspires to create timeless pieces that show the different facades of one’s personality, ensuring each woman who wears them displays her own unique voice. www.laisonbyaurelias.com

Laxmi Tailors Established in 1949, Laxmi Tailors have served its loyal clients with gratifying service in bespoke tailoring. They provide modern suiting with the best fabric options and superb cutting and fits, for both men and women.

Please note: they will rent and supply Tuxedos for the BWA Fashion Show. www.laxmitailors.com 25

Marline World Marline World specializes in designing affordable fashion for night and cocktail couture as well as eye-catching ballroom gowns and dresses. The label – founded in 2012 by Marline Henriksen – has been invited to many fashion shows, presenting its ever-expanding collection at Jakarta’s high society nightspots. www.marlineworld.com

TBL The TBL debut collection is a stunning combination of leather, suede, jersey, silks, chiffon and Swarowski elements. In creating TBL, designer and stylist Tori Bannerman has come full circle having always customized her clothes she has now built a collection of beautiful pieces including vintage finds. www.toribannermanlondon.com

YUDHISTIRA

Yudhistira Yudhistira is an Indonesian designer who started his label in 2002. His designs are an eclectic mix of funky luxe sportswear, sexy cocktail dresses, traditional as well as flamboyant suits, sumptuous ball gowns and simple shift dresses that can take you from day to evening. yudhistira2705@hotmail.com

26

RECIPES

Cheeky Coffee Time treats

TAMZIN BIANCHI

There are so many fab cafes here in J Town that serve some amazing pastries and cakes but sometimes a good old fashioned coffee morning or afternoon at someone’s is a refreshing and relaxing change. I share my food with my friends because I love to cook and ultimately it is a gift from me and I feel very privileged when a friend takes the time to create something yummy to share with me! Here are a few goodies I have made and taken to coffee mornings to share.

Fruit and Coconut Custard Tarts Makes 18

(An alternative no cook base is below) • 375g whole wheat flour • 60ml vegetable oil • 45g packed dark brown sugar • 45ml honey Pinch of ground cinnamon Pinch of salt For filling: • 400ml coconut milk • 1 x vanilla bean • 110g cup sugar • 40g cup cornstarch/ cornflour • 200g fresh blueberries and / or strawberries chopped • Toasted Slivered almonds and Icing Sugar for decoration Method: • Preheat oven to 175C and lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin • Prepare the crust by stirring the flour, oil, sugar, honey, cinnamon and salt together until it is a rough, crumbly texture. Press it into the bottom and sides of the individual muffin cups. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool to room temperature.

• Pour the coconut milk into a saucepan and scrape in the seeds of the vanilla bean. In a bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch and whisk into the coconut milk. Turn the heat to medium and whisk until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens, about 6 minutes. Scrape the custard into a bowl, cover the surface of the custard with plastic wrap and allow to cool to room temperature.

• Once cooled, spoon the coconut custard filling into the mini tart shells and top each with three blueberries. Chill for at least two hours in the tin before popping them out to serve.

Alternative no cook Crust: This makes up to 20 tarts depending on how thick you want the base.

• 250g Biscuits, crushed – digestive, etc • 100g Butter, melted • 1-2 TBSP Golden Syrup (Can also use pancake syrup) Amount depends how sweet your biscuits are. Blend biscuits to fine crumbs, add melted butter, mix and put into cupcake/small muffin pans.

Press evenly so the biscuit mix covers the base and slightly up the sides. So it looks like a little bowl to put the custard in. Chill for an approx an hour before spooning in custard.

27

RECIPES Bailey’s Irish Cream Cupcakes

Ingredients: • 100g caster sugar 100g butter 100g self raising flour 2 medium eggs beaten 50g White choc chips Pre heat oven to 180 Method: • Cream the butter and sugar together, mix in the egg a little at a time, beat well.

• Fold in the flour using metal spoon, mix well then mix in the choc chips.

• 3 - Spoon into 12 cases and bake for 20 mins.

• 4 - Once cooled pierce tops with fork and pour 1/2 teaspoon of Bailey’s on each.

Icing Recipe: • 300ml double cream • 60ml Bailey’s • 50g icing sugar • Method: Whisk the above ingredients until light and fluffy then either spread or pipe onto the cupcakes.

• Use 50g White choc chips to decorate.

Lemonade Scones

Ingredients: • 4 cups self-raising flour, sifted • Pinch of salt • 300 ml cream • 300 ml lemonade or soda water Method: • Preheat oven to 220°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.

• Sift flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well. Pour the cream and lemonade or soda water into the dry ingredients and mix together to form a soft dough.

• Turn the dough out onto a well-floured bench, dust lightly with flour and gently roll out into a rectangle. Cut into approximately 12 pieces and lift each onto the baking tray.

• Bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and cool inside a clean tea towel to help keep their freshness.

• Serve with butter or your favourite jam and whipped cream.

Notes: • To make cheese scones, add grated cheese and a pinch of cayenne pepper. To make sultana or date scones, add ½ cup of sultanas or chopped dates.

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Qubec’s Sucre a la Crème

Ingredients: • 1 cup of white sugar • 1 cup of brown sugar • 1 cup heavy cream Method: • All you do is mix all the ingredients together and cook in the microwave at full power for 10 minutes then let stand for 5 minutes. After that you mix it with an electric beater for 4 minutes then pour into cube shape containers and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL NEWS A SKELETONS’ TEA PARTY? A snorkeller raised the alarm after finding what he thought were human remains - only for authorities to discover fake skeletons posed in an underwater tea party scene.

Police sent a diver with a video camera to the bottom of the Colorado River near La Paz, Arizona, after the alarm was raised.

The footage soon revealed it was not a crime scene.

Instead, the video shows two fake skeletons sitting in lawn chairs.

One of them was apparently wearing aviator shades and a bib.

The other holds a partially legible sign, which when river sediment is wiped away seems to include the word “Bernie” and the phrase “Dream in the River”.

The sign also includes a possible clue about the prankster - the date, 16 August, 2014.

TOO GOOD LOOKING ?

I’m too sexy for Saudi Arabia: Actor Omar Borkan has been ordered out of the country because his good looks might drive women to distraction.

Omar is a poet, actor and photographer from Dubai. It has been reported that he was removed from a festival in Riyadh by religious police in the Islamic Kingdom. The internet is awash with speculation that he was kicked out of Saudi Arabia for being too handsome; the commission for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vices in Saudi Arabia – where there are strict rules governing interaction between men and women who aren’t related – allegedly the man, along with two others were deported back to Abu Dhabi in case women should fall for them.

HUMAN’ MUSHROOMS DISCOVERED IF you're a fan of Fantasia, you'll be aware of the scene where little toadstools come to life and experts have now discovered species of mushroom that could bring the Disney movie alive. With fleshy heads, arms and legs, these magical mushrooms look like little humans.

Discovered by Jonathan Revett in Cockley Cley, Norfolk, the fungus has just been classified as a new species in the world.They have been named as geastrum britannicum to reflect them being unique to the UK. Jonathan, 49, said: “They do look like little mushroom men.“It’s really strange how their shape makes them look like they have a head and arms.’

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THOSE BAGS UNDER YOUR EYES LADIES: Why you might want to think about getting those bags under your eyes removed. REMOVING the bags under your eyes may not only give you a more youthful face, it could also make you appear more TRUSTWORTHY, according to new research. A new study has found that certain facial surgical procedures can change for the better how people perceive you. The Georgetown University School of Medicine compared how people were perceived after having either a face lift, upper and lower eye lifts, brow lift, neck lift or chin implant.The study involved using the before and after cosmetic surgery portraits of 30 white women, and then measuring the responses from 170 people.The respondents were asked to rate their perception of attractiveness and femininity, as well as personality traits such as extroversion, likeability, social skills, risk-seeking behaviour, aggressiveness and trustworthiness. No reviewer knew if plastic surgery had been performed, but those who had surgery saw their scores improve for social skills, likeability, attractiveness and femininity.

MAN FINDS DOPPELGÄNGER The retired Anglican clergyman spent months wondering why everyone hailed him like a long-lost friend – albeit with the wrong name. But the mystery was solved after Neil, 69, finally asked a shopkeeper the reason. Only then did it emerge that he is the spitting image of community stalwart John Jemison, 74, who has lived in Braintree, Essex, for half a century. Although strangers and with a five-year age difference the pair could pass as identical twins – and they also share an astonishing number of similar interests and history.

Speaking yesterday as he sat alongside his doppelganger, Neil said: “Twice a month I would have someone pass me in the street and say ‘Hello John’.“I brushed it off at the time but then I realised that the cafe owner always referred to me as John as well. “One day I took him to one side and said, ‘Can I have word with you please?’

But when I explained my name wasn’t John he just wouldn’t believe me. “I ended up having to show him my driving licence and credit card just to prove it. “I googled ‘John Jemison’ in the meantime but couldn’t find anything until I heard someone say the name on a coach trip.” “We hit it off immediately and it has just gone from there.”

Neil, who moved to Braintree from west London 18 months ago, joked that he and John are now thinking of a life of crime.He said: “If one of us stays at home and the other robs a bank we will always have an alibi!”

BLINKY BILL: KOALA’S DAY OUT An impromptu visit by a koala to a hospital's A&E department has become the talk of the town. Hospital chiefs in Hamilton, said the inquisitive marsupial appeared "very casual" as he wandered through the corridors.

Video of the episode has gone viral and the koala has been nicknamed "Blinky Bill" after a mischievous cartoon koala popular in Australia in the 1930s. Western District Health Service chief executive Rohan Fitzgerald said: "He was a koala that knew his own mind. He came in around about 3.27am, the electronic eye on the doors picked him up and he accessed the waiting room by himself. He walked around the waiting room for three minutes and then propped in front of the external doors and the eye of the doors picked him up again and he exited the waiting room.”

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FEATURE

BUSINESS CLASS DOGGIE We moved to Jakarta in 2008, in the same year that my only son went off to university. Before the move I had worked full time, had a big house and a son to look after and was also a gymaholic!

Therefore, I was a bit lost when I first got here with hubby at work and also travelling a lot. Our son returned to Jakarta for the Christmas holidays and could see how much I was missing him and my busy life.

He said “Mum you need a dog!” My Bahasa Indonesia teacher was a real dog lover and she recommended a place for us to go and look for one, so off we went. We both instantly fell in love with Zitta, the cutest little Shih-Tzu puppy ever! She has been an absolute delight and made the house in Jakarta feel like home.We all absolutely adore her, and she is such a timid, nervous little thing that when the time came to leave Jakarta and move back home we couldn’t bear the thought of sending her home in the hold of the plane. We did some research and realised it was possible to take a dog under 8kg in the cabin of the plane, however, it’s not allowed to fly directly into the UK as they don’t have the manpower in place to carry out the checks on all of the pet export paperwork etc. Animal Clinic had a valid Rabies Titer test in place - this costs approximately 5 million (See the DEFRA website for information on time scales) The only airline that would take us to Europe in Business Class was Lufthansa. This meant flying first to KL, then on to Frankfurt and then finally to Charles de Gaulle,so we went ahead and booked with them.

It only cost $100 for our dogs ticket and after all the fuss of checking her in at Jakarta airport, we finally managed to get away without paying any excess baggage for our 4 huge suitcases. I was impressed with the service and flight from Lufthansa, although the beds weren’t as comfortable as Etihad. Also the staff were amazed by how well-behaved Zitta was. On our second stop Zitta was allowed out of her bag for a stroll in Frankfurt Airport and she really enjoyed running along the long corridors. We then passed through German Immigration without any problems and then we proceeded to go on our final flight to Paris. When we arrived in Paris, we arranged for Pet Moves to collect us from Charles de Gaulle and take us through the immigration process and then to Eurotunnel.

Overall it was a success and we were dropped off in Dartford, where we had arranged to rent a hire-car for the long drive back to Middlesbrough. If we did it again, I would probably stay overnight in London before setting off on the long drive as we were so exhausted.

All in all it was a mammoth journey, but it was worth the peace of mind and having our little darling with us all the way.

Elaine Tucker

Bali private villa in the rice fields.

Villa Damee, Ubud is a splendid place to chill out and recharge the batteries. A private 3-brm 3 bath beautifully designed luxury villa set in the rice fields located in an ancient Balinese village and only 4.5 kms out of Ubud. This beautiful villa comes complete with a cook, AC and WI FI. Breakfast included. The villa has a huge pool, free complimentary village tour and guided walk to the beautiful pristine river adjoining the villa with hidden temples in the rocks. http://www.villadamee.com 31

TRAVEL

KALIMANTAN JUNGLE TREKKING

story by Stephanie Brookes, pictures by David Metcalf

A trip into the Kalimantan jungle is a true wilderness experience. It puts you right in the heart of orangutan country. These huge six-foot great apes are living in the world’s oldest rainforest and it’s so exciting to come into close range and observe them in their natural habitat.

These ancient lands of Kalimantan are a staggering 130 million years old and the biodiversity of the forest is on a scale not seen anywhere else on the planet.

I set out for my jungle trek at dawn to maximise my chances of seeing the people of the forest (orangutan) and shadowed my trusty guide, as per my briefing, in complete silence. It’s follow the leader when you go trekking and when the guide stops, you stop. To maximise our chances of seeing an orangutan, we followed the fruit trails on the forest floor, which also meant a bit of off-trail bushwhacking.

I spotted my first orangutan high up in the trees next to a stand of giant old growth trees towering 30 meters into the sky.

My guide was so excited to be able to point out not one but three orangutans. It takes a trained eye to spot an orangutan. Unless they are on the move, these masters of camouflage blend perfectly into their environment wrapping their reddish-brown limbs around the branches. They sit very high in the treetop canopy where they are safe from predators and are ever so still. They make very little noise. Within minutes of spotting our three orangutans, a family of gibbons joined us. Gibbons are actually a lesser ape, but often mistaken for a monkey. Their high-pitched lyrical calls cut through the trees. Next minute our guide pointed to the east and there gliding through a gap in the trees a magnificent lone hornbill cruised gracefully on a steamy jungle air stream, her large wingspan brushing either side of the foliage.

Kalimantan is on the island of Borneo and covers 73% of the island. The Borneo rainforest is 70 million years older than the Amazon rainforest and is a garden oasis with 15,000 species of flowering plants including the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia. This flower can weigh up to 10 kilograms and sits inside the tissue of forest vines.

32

TRAVEL

The flower looks and smells like flesh and is known locally as “corpse flower” or “meat flower” because it smells like rotting flesh. Forest mammals eat the fruit and disperse the seeds, so you can come upon one of these flowers at random in the forest.

Everything is giant in the jungle.

Huge elephant ear size leaves greet you at every turn and with 221 species of mammals and 420 bird species, it is one of the most diverse forests on the planet.

Next, I was off to meet the Dayak people, many of which live in traditional villages along the riverbanks. Village life for many involves hunting and fishing direct from the source; fruits and root vegetables and wild game from the forest and fish from the river. Dayak people can catch fish with their bare hands – no lines or nets required!

The Kalimantan forest is alive and teaming with animals, flowers, plants and prolific bird life, so if you are a nature lover, a forest trek will most certainly tick all the boxes.

Story by Stephanie Brookes Author of Indonesia’s Hidden Heritage –Cultural Journeys of Discovery www.travelwriter.ws Photos by David Metcalf http://www.davidmetcalfphotography.com Author of Looking for Borneo http://www.creatavisionpublishing.com Kalimantan Documentary Film http://www.thejourneyback.info Fact File: Where to go trekking in Kalimantan • Sebangau National Park • Tanjung Puting National Park • Gunung Palung National Park A Jungle Camp Experience: Interested in staying with the Dayak people, living in a jungle camp and kicking back in a hammock by the river? A remote stay in North Kalimantan, Setulang Village Eco Camp. Join a group or make your own group and set your own time. Fully escorted by English Speaking guide – daily activities. http://www.davidmetcalfphotography.com/setulang-adventure

33

FEATURE

Two Weddings and a Funeral Of Partings And Departure The trip back home was enlightening to say the least. I play it back often and have come to call it 'two weddings and a funeral', like the movie. But no 'funeral blues' from W.H Auden was read aloud. The trip was mainly to be a part of a most beloved sisters wedding, a dear cousin's wedding, but as all things in life, the passing of my husband’s father was not in our control.

I hardly ever think of things and their significance, probably because I believe they do not effect me but they do; some partings are bitter sweet and some departures are hard to deal with.

The funeral The trip started with dealing with the news of my father-in-law’s passing. It is immensely difficult to understand the absence of a person and it’s almost funny that we manage to somehow move from that difficulty; we adapt and we put this down as a memory in or minds and revisit it in silence and in private. This departure is hard and painful and sadly permanent.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead, W.H Auden, Funeral Blues.

The Weddings But some memories we visit with many people. Like the two weddings that followed.

Pakistani weddings are big affairs; it is about the clothes, the venue, the matching and the photos. They are also about a father’s worry and a mother’s apprehension and when all is said and done it is the facing of the absence of something to worry about. I suppose children, when around, are a cause of lot of happiness but also worry, many a ‘what ifs’ and ‘should bes’ and a lots of ‘I wants’, keep parents up at nights. So when 34

FEATURE the last and the eldest of my mothers three daughters left home , my mother missed and still misses that worry that she had mostly allocated to her unmarried daughters, espescially my eldest sister who has always wanted things to be her way.

After many battles of wills and reasoning, a compromise was made and something both parties are happy with; a daughter married and a sister married when she met the right person and found her happiness. However the enlightening part follows; my brother in law’s family is not from Pakistan, they are from Australia. His mother is from Brunei whilst my parents are Pakistani.

Somehow two completely different worlds have managed to make one home. So to see two people find their homes and in the process make a home for many more was a pleasing thing to see.

For my brother in law, coming to a decision concerning faith and family very different from what he grew up with. To do that for yourself is not an easy decision and not an easy mountain to scale, for it is a mountain making him a very brave person. It restores faith in people, in their goodness and perseverance. To gain them as family is even better. I know that my sister will not be readily coming home when my mum would want her to or when I am visiting, she now will be a visitor. This was our bitter sweet parting for such is life and it is both.

The second wedding had a little lesser pensive undertone. It was loud. It was Lahore and it was Punjabi. It was Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd ! It was being part of the crowd and it was traditional. This was one more of a bitter sweet parting. Further from serious thinking, it was what every wedding in Pakistan looks like; a huge family affair. The bride is the object of extreme scrutiny, the groom a bundle of nerves. The fattening food, loud music, clothes and the emotional grandparents and the occasional burst of energies that makes the attendees break out in dance, a moment of silence, and in good faith you sign over your life to the other person. The folks cry a little, you panic a little and then it’s celebrations all around.... you sir/madam are married.

To use Tolstoy’s quote after a rendition 'all families resemble one another, each family is busy in its own way' Here’s to wishing everyone the best kind of things to keep busy with.

- Pictures by Ahmad Rasool.

- Hafza Sarfaraz.

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TRAVEL

SAUDADE ‘We are homesick most for the places we have never known.”

Carson McCullers Sometimes these places are from where you come from. It is true we hardly ever compltly know who we truely are. It is good to step back and look and take it in.

Shigar Fort

Although Miss McCullers talks about a place one has not been to. I would like to transgress a bit and use for a place I visited a few years ago but it has stayed with me ever since. The picture that you see is of Shigar Fort in Baltistan, Pakistan. Shigar Fort also known as Fong Khar in the local language which translates into ‘Palace on the Rock’ it is located on the famed route to the world’s second highest mountain K2.

This erstwhile palace of Raja of Shigar is more than 400 years old. The present Raja of Shigar entrusted the fort to the people of Baltistan and to the Agha Khan Trust for Culture for its restoration. I must admit that they have done a marvelous job in its renovation.

Old Fort Palace

As you enter the fort through its gates, you will be immediately transported to a bygone era of splendour and magnificence.

The stone and wood structure boast of the excellent engineering and designing skills that people of Shigar possessed in the 17th century.

Our guide told us that the palace had been built in three phases and after the restoration was made to look like its ancient majesty. The noble appearance of the castle is prominent especially in the Old Fort Palace where one finds rooms ranging from the kitchen to the central audience hall.

Central Audience Hall

The wood carvings in the central hall were testament of the attention to detail that the hard working people of Shigar possessed. It was also extremely contradictory of the hard times the current population of this locality has fallen into.

The part of the palace that simply took my breath away was the Amacha Garden and the Baridari. It reminded me of The Secret Garden as it looked like it was meant for the person standing in it at that 36

moment. The surrounding mountains were looking down upon the exquisite marble pool in this decorative garden.

Even the colour of the water boasted of its uniqueness and the random ripples were nothing but mesmerising.

The Baridari in the Amacha Garden

As I strolled through this garden I realized how at peace I was. The majestic peaks reminded you of how tiny one was in front of nature and it also ran parallel with how small our problems become, in that moment. This handsome composite made of basic timber wood was surrounded by everything that nature can speak of.

The singing and chirping birds, water gushing in the streams nearby shadowed by weeping willows bowing down, as if take a sip, the fruit laden trees ready to be plucked. Outside the walls of the fort is the huge Shigar river that splashes over the rocks and rugged terrain it pierces through.

Shigar River One leaves the fort wanting more because mere hours are not enough to do justice to this place. The lull of the watery song of the Shigar river brings on a stupor of melencoly and rememberence. The seats placed under the shades of the apricot and cherry tress in the numerous orchids that flank the river beds are extending invitations of rest.

The word saudade sums up all that one feels; a deep feeling of melacholy and nostalgia.

Sana Umar 37

SOCIAL DIARY

ST PATRICK’S BALL Great craic at the St Patrick’s Charity Ball On March 7 2015, the St Patrick’s Society of Jakarta hosted a sell out Charity Ball at Le Meridien hotel.

Attended by over 300 people, including dignitaries such as the newly appointed Ambassador of Ireland to Indonesia, it has proved to be one of the social highlights of the year so far.

Attendees enjoyed an array of Irish fayre and offerings including energetic Irish Dancers, superb session players and fine Irish whiskey as well as Guinness on tap all the way from St James’ Gate, Dublin.

On arrival the guests are greeted with a landscape of green, not forgetting also the flag themed drinks of green, white and gold.

The St Patrick’s Charity Ball was the first for the St Patrick’s Society for a number of years and anticipation was great and fully satisfied with good food, great music and entertainment by Craic A Tau, Irish Inspirational Dancers from Singapore, Junior Dancers, Javanese Dance Group, Superkustik and most importantly, the Irish craic.

Money was raised for four carefully selected charities - KDM, Goodwill International, Lestati Sayang Anak and Rawinala Foundation. With over 300 million IDR collected your generosity will make a huge difference to those in need in Jakarta.

A massive thanks to all our sponsors and guests for making this event such a resounding success. Go raibh mile maith agat.We hope to see you again at next year’s ball which will no doubt be another fantastic night of craic!

Eszter Redmond

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REPORT BACK / SOCIAL DIARY BWA BAZAAR REGISTRATION For the forthcoming bazaar the doors to the BWA house opened early in the morning. There were expectant vendors who wanted to register their names for the BWA bazaar. The BWA ladies were working diligently to facilitate, making sure that everyone got the chance to showcase their products. As the doors opened for the registration to begin, vendors were handed out tokens in the order of their arrival. The BWA team was ready and as the vendors were called in the order of the tokens, registration was done according to the sort of stall they preferred.

The team was hands on in making sure that everyone was satisfied. The vendors could see what stall they could be offered as the floor plan was laid out for them to see and availability of electricity and extra tables were made clear. It was a very busy day. All in all the BWA bazaar is not an event to be missed out on, so mark 27 May on your calenders and hope to see you there.

Grapevine Team

BWA MOVIE QUIZ NIGHT As a BWA quiz first timer, and a visitor to Jakarta I had no idea what to expect at all for this event. The theme was movies and I have to say, it was a genre that appealed to all.

Luckily there was no need for my anxieties as complete strangers welcomed me in and treated me well. It turned out to be a really enjoyable evening and plenty of hoots were had at our table, seemingly all the others did too.

At times you could hear a pin drop from the intense concentration. But also you couldn't hear for the raucous cries when we missed the answer we all know. The Quiz master Jim and his lady Berni were superb, they ran the night smoothly and gave us all plenty to giggle at or shout about, with occasional bursts of song and impersonations. Suffice to say, if Sale of the Century returns, I'd vote these guys in as the hosts, well done. I'm sad to report that we came second to last, but well done to the winning team, who clearly are very knowledgeable on the movies from all genres and ages. A well timed interval served up a fabulous curry, vegetarian lasagne and chilli. My compliments to the chef. The Rugby finals were rigged up in the bar area, so that kept the fans happy. All in all a great fun night for everybody and thanks to BWA for welcoming me so warmly.

W Travers

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REPORT BACK TICKETING DAY Preparation for Day 1 of ticket sales for the BWA Fashion Show Space Odyssey 2015 Beyond Space and Sound started with a hive of activity at the house the day before!

Our dedicated ticketing team worked their magic and transformed the house into the wonderland we discovered very early the next morning, BWA member sales day. The house was abuzz from 6am on Tuesday and the atmosphere was electric with our ticketing team keen to start selling tables for an event they are all incredibly excited and passionate about. Buyers were at the house a little before 8am and were welcomed as they got out of their cars by the very professional G4S and Hill and Associates Security teams. The team were fantastic, helping direct traffic to ease congestion and their professional and friendly manner eased any angst felt by those arriving clutching their purses tightly!

Once in the house our members were elated with the decorations and the overall relaxed feel of the house. While they waited they were able to watch last years show playing on the big screen and enjoy some tasty morsels sold by the lovely Nell, Amanda and Karen with their little pop up refreshment stand.

We were also lucky to have Jhoomur Bose from Pretty Special Cakes, selling some pretty special cakes, chocolates and macaroons! Our first ticket sold was a table of 11 which walked out the door prior to our 9.30am kick off due to our highly efficient ticketing team and our super keen buyers!

By the end of our first day we had sold over 300 tickets and I am sure you will all agree, a smashing effort by all involved!The second day of sales to non BWA members was a fabulous success also with a couple of ladies sneaking in earlier than expected but once again our team’s efficiency meant the lovely and very happy ladies left very quickly with their tickets tightly in hand!

Since these early days our delightful ticketing queen Zem has had a very successful pop up ticket sale counter at a number of venues and has been at the BWA House for the busiest mornings of the week!

Tamzin Bianchi

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REPORT BACK

BATIK WORKSHOP BATIK workshop – Thursday,12 march Sulis Hajadi, who owns a batik business in Slipi, was kind enough to extend an invitation to the BWA for a morning lesson on batik. They learnt about batik and then made some, accompanied by Indonesian snacks . This was held at Batik Hajadi, a leading exporter of Indonesian batik, furniture and art. The ladies who participated had a keen interest to learn this Indonesian heritage and a very enjoyable morning.

BWA WELCOMES ON BOARD

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HEALTH : COMMUNITY

RECOGNISE DENGUE

How do you face a disease with no known cure or vaccination, threatening more than 390 million people, and affecting more than 100 million people, in more than 100 countries worldwide?

Dr. Rudolph De Wet, MD, Medical Advisor for Medical Services Department International SOS Indonesia answers some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Dengue Fever; one of the fastest growing mosquito-borne diseases in the world.

Q: If I had Dengue before, do I become immune to it?

A: The answer is both yes and no. Yes you would have immunity against that particular strain of Dengue. Unfortunately there are 4 different strains of Dengue. Immunity to one strain of Dengue doesn’t mean immunity against the other 3. You can think of the 4 strains of dengue as 4 different criminal gangs. When one of these criminal gangs enters your ‘city’ (body), the ‘police force’ (your immune system) doesn’t recognize it as criminal as they haven’t seen it before. Once this gang starts their crime spree the ‘police observers’ (part of your immunity) sends mug shots (Antigens) to your police force, who will now train an elite unit (Antibodies) to recognize this specific criminal and destroy it. The initial battle for the city will cause this elite unit to remain on guard in your body and you will be able to identify and destroy the same gang quickly when confronted with it again. But when a different gang enters, the whole process will start again as the ‘police force’ will again initially not recognise it as a criminal entity.

Q: Do all mosquitoes transmit Dengue?

A: No. The female A.aegypti mosquito acts as the primary dengue vector, and she will only bite you when she wants to reproduce. The male mosquitoes actually prefer nectar! However, there is a secondary vector, Aedes albopictus, in Asia. This mosquito can survive in sub-zero temperatures and man-made micro habitats and this is why the virus is able to spread to Europe, the US etc. The mosquito is only a vector. This means that the mosquito does not produce the virus spontaneously. The mosquito needs to first bite an infected human, followed by an incubation period within 4-10 days before the mosquito can spread it to other human beings. It is therefore important to quarantine confirmed dengue patients to avoid creating a loop of ever increasing numbers of patients and vectors.

Q: How to recognize Dengue?

A: Dengue should be suspected when a high fever (40°C/ 104°F) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or a rash similar to that of measles. Symptoms usually last for 2–7 days, after an incubation period of 4–10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito.

Q: What are the best ways to prevent Dengue?

A: The best way to avoid getting Dengue is to avoid the vector. There are the general precautions to adhere to: avoid dark colour clothing, take extra precautions during dusk and dawn—which are the times of day when you are most likely to be bitten. Use mosquito nets. Spray holes found in vents and nets with DEET, and turn over any buckets or stagnant water sources outside. Mosquitoes love body odour caused by the bacteria cultured in old (2-3 days) sweat, so staying clean is a big yes! Create your own windstorm with a rotating fan as winds of 10km/h and up have been proven to inhibit mosquito movements. It also helps dissipate the carbon dioxide you exhale which has been found to attract mosquitoes.

Q: Is it safe to use DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) products?

A: DEET unfortunately remains the most effective choice to avoid mosquito bites. The safest way to use DEET is to apply a repellent containing between 30 – 50% DEET every three hours. When you need to 44

HEALTH : COMMUNITY apply both DEET and sunscreen, always apply DEET first, then sunscreen next. Otherwise, DEET lowers the effectiveness of your sun protection.

Care should be taken to only apply lower concentrations of DEET to children, and only for short periods of time. Consult to your doctor prior to using products containing DEET on infants. When used as directed in low doses, DEET is relatively not harmful. The low toxicity of DEET compared to the danger of dengue makes applying DEET to repel mosquitoes a sensible choice, even for pregnant women.

Q: Is Dengue lethal? What are the danger signs?

A: Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication. It causes plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, or organ impairment. Warning signs occur 3–7 days after the first symptoms in conjunction with a decrease in temperature (below 38°C/ 100°F) and include: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, fatigue, restlessness, blood in vomit. The next 24–48 hours of the critical stage can be lethal; proper medical care is needed to avoid complications and risk of death.

Q: If you can summarize, how would you prevent deaths from Dengue?

A: Early detection is paramount. Maintain a high index of suspicion regarding unexplained fever in an endemic area like Jakarta especially during and after rainy seasons and consult your doctor early. The only way to ‘treat’ a disease for which there is no cure, is to prevent it.

For further information, contact: International SOS/ SOS Medika Klinik sos.indonesia@internationalsos.com Phone: +62(21) 750 5973

BWA WELCOMES ON BOARD

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REPORT BACK TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC

Tuesday the 19 March was the day that every bear that ever there was went round and round the garden until they gathered at the BWA House for a fine Teddy Bears’ Picnic with the playgroup. The wheels on the bus went round and round to get people there, some came by row, row, rowing the boat, even Insy Wincey Spider made it to the woods.

Being Jakarta, there was a pitter patter of raindrops and sounds of thunder. I was wet through, but spirits were not dampened. There was gadding about and everyone managed to catch and take home a baby bumble bee.

There was lots of marvellous food to eat – Lachlan brought teddy-sized cakes and Abi had very popular pop corn. We said fond farewells to Pat and Karishma who were leaving for England and then the mummies (without the daddies this time) took the tired little teddy bears home to bed, or lunch or whatever was happening next.

In memory of wonderful, smiley Esther Stokes, previous playgroup mummy who loved that sort of thing!

Kathy Chambers

BWA POSTNATAL CLINIC FOR MOTHER AND CHILD The postnatal clinic is held on the last Thrusday of every month, during the baby and toddler group, on a Thursday morning. It is open to all mothers with babies/toddlers.

We have scales, a measuring mat and a wealth of knowledge. We have a registered midwife from London and a health visitor. We are incredibly happy to share our knowledge and expertise, but must make it clear that we are not registered as health practitioners in Indonesia and, as such, the advice given at the BWA Playgroup can in no way substitute for seeking medical advice if concerned about your child.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO: www.bwajakarta.org

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NOTICEBOARD INFORMATION FOR EXPATRIATES IN JAKARTA

http://www.expat.or.id

Young children? Want to know� Schools and sport Where can I buy?

Keeping them busy

Family Guid e to Jakarta is available as a book (great for the car) and now on the internet at http://www.familyguidetojakarta.com

THE EXPLORERS

YAYASAN WISMA CHESHIRE A Home in Cilandak, South Jakarta for 30 paraplegics of both sexes and any religion.

Wisma Cheshire is part of the British worldwide Leonard Cheshire Disability organisation.

VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED to help with Woodwork, Handicrafts, stock taking and admin.

It need take no more than a few hours of your time each week and is rewarding and interesting work.

Please contact: Petty Elliott 0816 922 099

at The Indonesian Heritage Society meet on Wednesdays for tours, talks, taking part in Indonesian daily activities.

Join one of several groups who meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly CanÊt make Wednesdays? Explorers also has a monthly Saturday group.

Sessions start in September, February and June.

www.heritagejkt.org

for more information

explorers@heritagejkt.org or call 021 2572 5870 The IHS is a non-profit organization o ffering the opportunity to learn more about cultural heritage of Indonesia .

WhatÊs new? Latest business ?

Social & Sport ing Event s

http://www.whatsnewjakarta.com

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