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The 10 Favorite Tourism Destinations in Indonesia

Burhan Abe
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The 10 Favorite Tourism Destinations in Indonesia

WHILE a holiday abroad is indeed delightful, many Indonesians forget that domestic tours are equally unbeatable. Remember, Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world with over 17,000 islands and each certainly has its own unique plus points. Indonesia has five large islands: Sumatra with an area of 473,606 square kilometers, Java (132,107 square kilometers), Kalimantan (the world’s third largest island, 539,460 square kilometers, Sulawesi (189,216 square kilometers) and Papua with an area of 421,981 square kilometers.

The following are the 10 favorite tourism destinations in Indonesia:

1. Jakarta

Jakarta is Indonesia’s center of government and with a population of more than 11 million it is both an enchanting metropolitan city and a tourism destination. Jakarta has complete facilities and infrastructure to support it as a metropolitan city. Some of the tourism destinations and recreation centers available in the city are as follows: Sunda Kelapa port, various museums, National Monument (Monas), Ragunan Zoo, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah and Imax theater “Keong Emas” (Golden Snail), Senayan Park, Fantasy World, Ancol Dream Park with its Sea World and a lot more.

2. Bali

Tourism in Bali is one of the most advanced and developed in the country as it has various tourism sites, including natural, historical and cultural attractions. The island’s natural tourist attractions include the panoramic Kintamani crater lake, Kuta beach, Legian, Sanur, Tanah Lot, Nusa Panida, Nusa Dua, Karang Asem, Batur Lake, Bedugul Lake, Sangieh conservation area, West Bali National Park and the Menjangan Island Sea Park.

The cultural tourist attractions include 83 sites, such as the art related tourism in Ubud, the sacred site of Tanah Lot, the Barong ceremony in Jimbaran and numerous art shops and galleries that are cropping up over the entire island. Bali also has tourist sites of historical value, such as the heritage of Karangasem, Klungkung and Buleleng kingdoms.

3. Yogyakarta

In Indonesia’s tourism map Yogyakarta takes second position after Bali. It has a variety of tourist attractions and the province has well developed tourist facilities and infrastructure. There are no less than 70,000 handicraft industries here in addition to other supporting facilities, such as accommodation and various means of transportation. There are countless restaurants and foodstalls/vendors, travel agents and tourist guides as well as tourism security force locally known as Bhayangkara Wisata.

Yogyakarta also has a number of unique tourism destinations, such as the Sultan’s Palace (Kraton), Prambanan temple and silver craft work in Kotagede. Yogyakarta indeed presents a wide range of tourist attractions for visitors.

4. West Java

The West Javanese people are known for their religiosity, rich cultural heritage and traditional values. This province also has various natural, cultural and historical tourist attractions. Among the natural ones are: Puncak, Salabintana, Lembang, Tangkuban Perahu, Papandayan mountain, Bogor Park, Juanda Forest Park in Bandung, Gunung Gede National Park and Pangrango, Ujung Kulon National Park, Pelabuhan Ratu beach at Sukabumi, Pangandaran beach at Ciamis and Carita at Anyer.

Some of the historical-cum-cultural tourist sites are Cangkuang temple at Leles, Garut, the Baduy village and Sisingaan Tasikmalaya, and historical sites, such as Kasepuan Palace in Cirebon, Old Banten in Naga village, Serang, the stone age heritage (Megalithicum) at Cipari, Kuningan, and the Boscha observatory in Bandung.

5. East Java

Among the natural tourist attractions available in East Java are Sarangan Lake, Tretes, Mount Bromo National Park, Tengger, Ketanggungan mountain at Arjuna, Mount Semeru, Purwo forest and Baturetno in Malang, Pasir Putih beach at Situbondo, Popoh beach, Pacitan beach and Ngliyep beach.

The province’s cultural-cum-historical tourist sites include the following temples: Panataran, Jawi, Jago and Singosari in Malang. There is the Karapan Sapi (bull race) on the island of Madura, labuhan ceremony along the beaches of the southern coast, the traditional reog ritual at Ponorogo and ludruk (folk theater in which all parts are played by men).

Historical sites include the grave sites of Muslim religious leaders, such as: Sunan Ampel, Sunan Giri, Sunan Bonang, Sunan Mojoagung, Sunan Drajat and then there is the tomb of Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, in Blitar. There is also Trowulan, the remnants of the Majapahit kingdom as well as the Empu Tantular museum.

Trending Topic

Burhan Abe
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Trending Topic

More than one billion people worldwide interlinked to the Internet contribute to the birth of Web 2.0 Era, in which data communications with their applications known as social media play a crucial role in shaping the future of e-commerce.

THE term Web 2.0 basically refers to the second generation of Internet where collaborating, interacting and sharing information are allowed in a Web 2.0 site popularly known as social media. One of the mushrooming phenomena is the growing number of netizens (a portmanteau of internet and citizen) getting on the social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

While Facebook has turned to be the third largest country in the world with more than 500 million netizens, Twitter has become “home” to worldwide netizens with more than 100 million accounts sharing their millions of aspirations and opinions.

Facebook and Twitter are not the only choices. LinkedIn, Foursquare, Youtube, and even two Indonesian online communities Kaskus and Koprol – all contribute to ongoing revolution of social media. More interestingly, accessing to these sites can be easily done within a quick click of a button; not only from desktop equipment, but also from mobile devices such as BlackBerry, iPhone and iPad. 

The Power of Social Media

Do you know that the secret recipe behind the success story of the US President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign was his wit in utilizing the power of social media?

Obama was bolting together social networking applications to raise funds and increase supporters. The campaign was more than just a political movement, but creating millions supporters to help Obama topple the Republican John McCain.

And now Obama uses social media networks to govern. His e-mail message to supporters on the night he was inaugurated included the following line,” We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.”  His administration uses Change.gov, an Internet gateway that facilitates his transition mission toward fixing the US economy.

Meanwhile, celebrities and public figures from across the world have drawn myriad followers using Twitter. Unlike Facebook that limits up to 5,000 friends, Twitter with unlimited number of followers has become a great promotion destination.

Lady Gaga is dubbed Queen of Twitter with 11.3 million followers, followed by Justin Bieber (10 millions), Britney Spears (8.3 millions), Oprah Winfrey (6.4 millions); and in Indonesia, singer Sherina Munaf has more than one million followers. 

Adrie Subono, renowned promoter and owner of Java Musikindo, has brought in an array of International musicians using social media as a means of communications for inputs or even a medium for selling the tickets. 

Seeking Good Health and Beauty Care in the Lion State

Burhan Abe
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Seeking Good Health and Beauty Care in the Lion State

A rumor is circling that well-known singer Syahrini had plastic surgery to enhance her appearance for the stage. A source revealed that the singer of “Aku Tak Biasa” (I’m not used to it) spent millions of rupiah having surgery on various parts of her body, including the nose and buttocks.

The fact that many Indonesian celebrities have undergone plastic surgery is not unusual. Titi DJ, Becky Tumewu and Ruth Sahanaya have all admitted to having procedures, including tummy tucks and breast enhancements. Krisdayanti, another renowned singer, has also openly acknowledged having plastic surgery in Singapore.

Plastic surgery is no longer taboo for celebrities, especially for esthetic reasons. Singapore is the most frequently mentioned destination for such procedures. Indeed, the city-state, besides being a shopper’s haven, is widely known as a health tour destination. Many government officials and wealthy people from many countries visit Singapore for this purpose.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has even crowned Singapore for the quality of its healthcare in Asia and ranked it No. 6 in the world. The 707.1-square-kilometer city is widely known for its excellent hospitals and expert doctors and it has lots of international standard hospitals to serve patients from a large number of countries.

Patients not only from neighboring countries — still developing ones — travel to Singapore for treatment but those from highly developed countries also visit the country for its extensive medical services. This was previously quite unimaginable.

This is because high-tech medical equipment and professional doctors are no longer the monopoly of highly developed countries where the cost can be prohibitive. So Singapore provides quality services at a lower cost than say the United States. This has drawn a large number of patients to Singapore.

In view of the potential, it is unsurprising that Singapore strives to maintain the quality of its services. As a matter of fact, Singapore’s medical and healthcare facilities have been acknowledged as the best in Southeast Asia. In addition, both the Singapore government and private hospitals keep enhancing their service by making further breakthroughs through intensive research.

Singapore’s quality medical and health services, offered at an affordable price, lure a huge number of patients annually from many countries, especially Asian countries, including Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Malaysia should not be underestimated either as it has earned a huge amount of foreign exchange from medical services extended to patients from a number of countries. This sector has made a profitable contribution to Malaysia’s economy.

The Malaysia Hospitals Association estimates that the sector contributed as much as Rp 1.78 trillion in 2010 from about 625,000 foreign patients.  Frost & Sullivan’s Indonesian country director, Eugene van de Weerd, says that medical tourism has made a significant contribution to the economy of several Asian countries and has become an important component for the planning and development of their health and medical services.

According to a press release by Van de Weerd, the market value of medical tourism in Asia, especially Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and India, reached US$3 billion from 2007 to 2008 and is set to increase to $4.4 billion by 2012.

Tradisi, Budaya, dan Alam Asri di Gunung Geulis

Burhan Abe
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Tradisi, Budaya, dan Alam Asri di Gunung Geulis

JAKARTA adalah rimba bangunan modern, tapi siapa nyana hanya satu jam perjalanan dengan mobil, terdapat resor alami dengan pemandangan alam yang sungguh asri. Di kawasan Gunung Geulis, menjelang Puncak, Bogor inilah saya dan beberapa teman media menemukan Amalina, nama resor ini yang sebetulnya belum sempurna, karena belum menerima tamu untuk menginap, tapi hanya untuk function tertentu saja.

Memasuki Amalina serasa back to nature, jauh dari hiruk-pikuk kehidupan Metropolitan Jakarta. Bangunan tradisional, dengan fasilitas modern, membuat kami bisa berlama-lama di sini. Tidak perlu AC, karena udara sekitar sungguh sejuk alami. Ditemani dengan makanan ‘desa’ –  nasi putih, sayur asem, ikan goreng, tahu, tempe, dan sambal tentu saja, lengkap sudah kenikmatan siang itu, Kamis, 26 Juli 2011.

Amalina berasal dari kata dari bahasa Arab yang berarti “berkah yang terus menerus mengalir”. Konsep yang diterapkan di Amalina adalah pelestarian lingkungan dan budaya yang diaplikasikan dalam bentuk rumah-rumah tradisional warisan leluhur bangsa Indonesia yang akrab dan menyatu dengan alam sekitar.

Saat ini Amalina memiliki tiga rumah tradisional Indonesia, yaitu Rumah Bali, Rumah Jawa tipe Joglo dan Rumah Banjar tipe Bubungan Tinggi. Ketiga rumah tradisional ini dibangun dengan tetap mempertahankan keaslian dan karakteristik daerahnya, namun dengan mengakomodir kebutuhan kehidupan moderen.

Ketiga bangunan di Amalina dibangun tanpa merusak lingkungan. Setiap batu yang ditemukan saat pembangunan diletakkan ditempatnya atau dijadikan ornamen bangunan. Bangunan juga didirikan di lahan yang tidak ditumbuhi pohon-pohon besar agar kelestarian lingkungan dapat terjaga.

Danau yang ada di kawasan Amalina ini dahulunya adalah sawah milik pribadi yang kemudian dialihfungsikan menjadi sumber pengairan bagi penduduk sekitar karena di luar area ini sumber air tidak mudah didapat. Air yang mengisi danau berasal dari 9 mata air yang berada di kawasan sekitar Rumah Bali.

Rumah Bali – Amaputri

Kompleks rumah Bali yang diberi nama “Amaputri” adalah bangunan yang pertama kali didirikan di Amalina, yaitu tahun 2004 – 2005. Konsep arsitektur Bali sengaja pertama kali dipilih karena Bali telah dikenal luas, baik dalam skala nasional maupun internasional. Oleh karenanya dari mulai gerbang depan Amalina, konsep Bali sudah diterapkan.

Ada tiga bangunan Amaputri, yaitu “Wantilan” yang merupakan bangunan tempat berkumpul, kamar tidur dan mushalla. Semua bangunan didominasi material alami, yaitu alang-alang, bambu, rotan, kayu dan batu, yang semuanya merupakan kekayaan alam Indonesia. Atap bangunan menggunakan alang-alang dengan buluh bambu yang diikat dengan rotan. Alang-alang merupakan tanaman sejenis rumput liar yang dikeringkan dan kemudian dijalin untuk disusun menjadi atap.

Wantilan

Struktur bangunan Wantilan menggunakan kayu ulin dari Kalimantan Selatan. Pemilihan kayu ulin dikarenakan curah hujan di area Amalina sangat tinggi dan sifat kayu ulin, semakin terkena air, akan semakin kuat. Sedangkan untuk lantai, menggunakan kayu Bingkirai, juga dari Kalimantan Selatan.

Lapisan dinding Wantilan menggunakan batu paras Bali. Sedangkan ornamen Bali di belakang “gebyok” menggunakan batu candi dari Jawa Tengah dan dindingnya menggunakan batu “Krobogan” dari daerah Krobogan – Bali. Keunikan batu “Krobogan” ini adalah, batu ini ditumbuhi sejenis lumut tertentu yang tidak hidup di batu lainnya dan lumut ini akan memperindah tampilan batu tersebut hingga kelihatan antik. Pemandangan ini banyak dilihat pada bangunan-bangunan di Bali.

Area toilet menggunakan material batu terazzo, yang dikerjakan dengan cara “polished finishing” maupun “rough finishing”.

Sebagian besar furnitur terbuat dari kayu. Topping untuk Coffee Table merupakan kayu jati tua bekas bantalan kereta api jaman Belanda yang dipadu dengan kaki pohon. Papan bangku berasal dari Timor, Nusa Tenggara; sedangkan meja lampu yang ada di Wantilan dulunya merupakan lesung untuk menumbuk padi yang diberi topping kaca.

Beach Party @ The Acacia Anyer

Burhan Abe
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Beach Party @ The Acacia Anyer

DULU organisasi untuk profesi wartawan hanya satu, yaitu Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (PWI) yang pada masa Orde Baru sangat ‘powerfull’.  Tapi setelah reformasi lahirlah berbagai organisasi tandingan yang tidak kalah bergiginya, lebih independen dan mempunyai tujuan lebih jelas.

Salah satunya adalah Himpunan Anak Media (HAM), yang menghimpun para wartawan dan anak-anak yang bekerja di media. Saat ini diketuai Hadi Suwarno. Organisasi, tepatnya paguyuban ini, memiliki tujuan yang lebih praktis, menjembatani antara media dan nara sumber – yang kebanyakan bergerrak dalam bidang hotel dan hospitality. Maka, jangan heran kalau agendanya, yang terkesan di permukaan, adalah makan-makan dan jalan-jalan.

Salah satunya adalah Trial Media Gathering Beach Party @ The Acacia Anyer, 22 – 23 Juli 2011. Selain mengenal lebih jauh properti yang baru dibuka tahun ini, tentu saja pesta pantai!

Acara yang diorganisasikan oleh manajemen dan staf The Acacia Jakarta ini diawali dari di Fountain Bar The Acacia Jakarta sebagai tempat keberangkatan dan berakhir di tempat itu pula. Bis mewah White Horse membawa 27 orang dari 18 media menuju Anyer dan mengembalikannya ke Jakarta tentunya. Selain White Horse , acara ini juga didukung oleh Grand Odiseus Fitness & Spa The Acacia Jakarta, Elite Club Episentrum Rasuna.

Pesta sebetulnya sudah berlangsung di sepanjang perjalanan, karena bis yang pertama kali digunakan Zbuss buatan Eropa ini dilengkapi dengan karaoke. Para wartawan yang pekerjaannya menulis itu ternyata juga jago menyanyi – tidak penting suaranya merdu atau fals. Yang penting fun! Keceriaan itu berlanjut sampai ke resor, mulai dari BBQ party, nyanyi-nyanyi, hingga water sport.

The Acacia Anyer adalah salah satu properti baru The Acacia Hotels & Resorts yang berlokasi di Jalan Raya Anyer – Carita KM 28, Serang, Banten. Berkonsep resort & lounge properti ini memiliki 30 kamar berbagai tipe, mulai dari deluxe, executive, junior executive hingga family suite. Desain interiornya adalah paduan seni dan kemewahan ala Eropa dengan pelayanan keramahan khas Asia, khususnya Indonesia. Kenyamanan, kesejukan suasana pantai, dan indahnya panorama alam menambah daya pikat dan keistimewaan hotel ini.

Untuk mendukung sebagai hotel pilihan untuk bisnis maupun liburan, The Acacia Anyer menyediakan fasilitas ruang pertemuan royaljasmine yang berkapasitas hingga 30 orang serta ruang terbuka upper room serba guna yang cocok untuk berbagai pesta dapat mengakomodasi hingga 300 orang. Di lantai ini pula terdapat ruang executivekaraoke. Riverside Fountain Bar adalah bar utama untuk bersantai atau berbisnis sambil menikmati berbagai varian minuman dan makanan ringan. Promenade Café menyuguhkan hidangan tradisional, western, dan international. Kapasitas tempat duduknya mencukupi hingga 80 tempat duduk.

Kolam renang untuk berbagai generasi dari anak – anak, remaja hingga dewasa. Serta menyediakan berbagai fasilitas olah raga hingga arena bermain anak atau playground ala pantai.

Yang menginginkan layanan pribadi,  hotel ini juga menawarkan lima privateroom yang disediakan bagi tamu yang menginginkan layanan ekslusif. Di dalamnya terdapat fasilitas private, seperti lounge, bar,  ada ruang  yang berfungsi sebagai ruang makan juga bisa berfungsi sebagai ruang rapat, dan privatekaraoke.

Menurut  PR Manager The Acacia Jakarta, Sidik Kadarsyah,  Acacia Anyer  mengupayakan melayani dan menyesuaikan layanan standar hotel bintang empat. Lokasinya berada dekat dengan beberapa objek wisata favorit di Anyer, kawasan industri Krakatau Steel, serta tak jauh dari pintu keluar tol Merak.

Sampai saat ini The Acacia Hotels & Resorts mengoperasikan sejumlah properti di berbagai kota besar beberapa provinsi di  Indonesia antara lain: The Acacia Jakarta, The Acacia Batam, Batam Hill Golf & Resort, Bukit Darmo Golf (Surabaya), dan tentu saja The Acacia Anyer. Dalam waktu dekat Acacia juga akan memperluas ekpansinya ke Solo, Jawa Barat, dan Bali.

Artinya, media gathering party agaknya tidak berhenti sampai di sini. Yeaaaahh…

Cosmo Launches iPad-Only Magazine for Men

Burhan Abe
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Cosmo Launches iPad-Only Magazine for Men

Cosmopolitan, long the resident authority on heterosexual dating and mating for teenage and adult women alike, has launched its first magazine for men, CFG: Cosmo for Guys. Men won’t find this guide to women by women on newsstands, however. Instead, CFG is launching solely on the iPad, available via the App Store [iTunes link] for $1.99 per issue, $3.99 per month or $19.99 per year.

Cosmo Editor-in-Chief Kate White believes there is a demand for the product. Approximately 7.4% of Cosmo‘s readership is male, according to data from MRI. And more than one-third of visitors to cosmo.com every month are men, White says.

Since White arrived at the magazine in 1998, she says she has received hundreds of letters and emails from men who confessed that they were stealing their girlfriends’ or their wives’ copies when they weren’t around. “They said it was like having the other team’s playbook,” she recalls. “And a fair number of those emails said I ought to do something for guys.”

White says she mocked up a cover for a men’s Cosmo years ago, but couldn’t imagine men actually purchasing it. But when the iPad came along, she realized that it would allow men to read privately, in a way that was more interactive and engaging than what a website could offer.

Furthermore, the iPad has enabled Cosmo to test out, in a cost-efficient manner, what is still an arguably volatile market for magazines. With the exception of one “special projects” hire, White was able to leverage Cosmo‘s existing editorial and design resources to produce the magazine, which is scheduled to publish 12 issues over the next year.

The app itself is strong. In fact, with its moving flowcharts, resizable video and compactly designed features, it’s much more interactive and engaging than the bonus issue Cosmo released for the iPad this spring.

Working in conjunction with Hearst’s digital team, Cosmo‘s design department has departed from the magazine format a little, especially from a navigation standpoint. Instead of a traditionally crowded table of contents, for instance, the app’s home screen features five pairs of section titles and thumbnails to choose between. Users can hold down one of the thumbnails to display all of the stories in that section.

I was particularly impressed with the “Will She Like It?” and “Read Her Mind” features, which pull in live poll data from cosmo.com to help men understand what fashion trends women find appealing, and what movie they are going to want to see this weekend, among other things.

Whether the app itself succeeds, White intends to build out the CFG franchise. This fall, the team is launching both a CFG radio show on SiriusXM (channel 109) and a book bearing the CFG label.

As for the original Cosmo? White says it’s coming to the iPad soon. Meanwhile, it’s enjoying strong sales on Barnes & Noble’s Nook ereader alongside many other women’s magazines on the device. (Lauren Indvik)

Turkish Flavors

Burhan Abe
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Turkish Flavors

SUASANA Ramadhan di Indonesia selalu identik dengan Timur Tengah. Memang tidak tepat, tapi ini adalah salah satu cara umat Muslim di dunia mengidentifikasi dirinya – tentu saja di beberapa negara berbaur dengan kebudayaan setempat.  Maka jangan heran kalau masuk Ramadhan banyak restoran-restoran di Indonesia yang menghias diri dengan pernak-pernik yang berbau Timur Tengah, bahkan menu-menu yang dipilih pun berasal dari khasnah dunia Islam.

The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place, adalah salah satu contohnya. Ramadhan tahun ini, hotel yang berlokasi di Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD) ini telah mempersiapkan serangkaian acara berbuka puasa dimulai dari Pacific Restaurant & Lounge yang menghadirkan Turkish Chef Ismail Donmez dari The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul dan beberapa paket berbuka puasa untuk perusahaan ataupun corporate iftar di meeting room dan ballroom dengan total luas 7.800m2.

Seperti biasa, saya dan teman-teman wartawan mendapat kesempatan untuk mendapatkan preview, alias icip-icip makanan, 29 Juli lalu, yang nantinya akan dihidangkan sepanjang Ramadhan. Bersama Chef Ismail Donmez kami dapat pelajaran memasak ala Turki, dan tentu saja mencicipi hidangannya. Di antaranya mantarli biorek– fillo pastry isi, kasarli kofte– domba atau ayam cincang dengan campuran bumbu rempah, chicken yayla kebab, dolmasi disertai dengan hidangan penutup istimewa baklava dan sultan lokmasi– buah ara kering Turki yang direndam.

Hidangan itulah, dalam acara yang disebut Turkish Flavors, mulai tersedia sejak 31 Juli hingga 29 Agustus 2011 di restoran, yang berlokasi di lantai 6 hotel. Berbagai hidangan Turki, Timur Tengah dan Indonesia siap menyambut para tamu berbuka puasa bersama dengan keluarga, kerabat ataupun rekan bisnis. Harga paketnya Rp 258.000++ per orang termasuk free flow jus, sedangkan anak-anak berusia 5-12 tahun dapat menikmatinya dengan harga Rp 158.000++ per anak.

Bagi para tamu yang memilih berbuka puasa dalam suasana yang lebih santai di area terbuka, Turkish Chef Ismail juga mempersiapkan hidangan panggang spesial Timur Tengah, antara lain Shawarmas, Arabic grilled fish, Egyptian beef kebab di 8 Lounge, yang berlokasi di lantai 8 hotel dengan setting taman dengan minimum pemesanan untuk 30 orang. Harganya dimulai dari Rp  288.000++.

Untuk corporate iftar, departemen Catering & Conference Services dan tim culinary yang dipimpin oleh Executive Chef Sean MacDougall telah mempersiapkan sejumlah pilihan hidangan menu Indonesia, Chinese dan Timur Tengah untuk disajikan pada waktu berbuka puasa pada saat ataupun sesudah corporate gathering. Harga dimulai dari Rp 228.000++ per orang.

Ramadhan pun ternyata bisa dilalui dengan ceria, apalagi kalau di sebuah venue yang berkelas.  Pacific Restaurant & Lounge merupakan kombinasi dari restoran dengan lounge dan bar yang nyaman dengan pemandangan kesibukan kota Jakarta yang dinamis.

Desain dengan dekorasi suasana nyaman oleh Hirsch dan Bedner Singapore, restoran ini terbagimenjadi tiga area yaitu area lounge, bar serta area restoran termasuk empat ruangan privat untuk bersantap. Desain restoran merupakan gabungan elemen marmer dan perabotan kayu dengan warna tanah dengan jendela kaca yang besar, memberikan keleluasaan tamu untuk menikmati pemandangan terbaik dari Jakarta.

Pacific Restaurant & Lounge yang elegan dapat mengakomodasi lebih dari 100 tamu untuk bersantap dengan area lounge yang akan menjadi tempat untuk berkumpul yang eksklusif dan elegan untuk acara formal maupun informal.

Restoran dengan konsep a la carte buffet, yaitu prasmanan namun dengan presentasi porsi personal yang ditata dengan detil oleh tim kulinari di bawah pimpinan Executive Chef Sean Macdougall dan Chef de Cuisine Reuben Winantyo, menawarkan pula berbagai menu yang special dengan menonjolkan premium grills dengan memperlihatkan kelezatan dari Asian dan Mediterranean dipadukan dengan tapas style.

Area lounge merupakan tempat yang cocok untuk menikmati acara minum teh sore ala tradisional inggris dengan berbagai pilihan makanan ringan, resepsi koktail, dengan beragam koleksi cerutu serta berbagai racikan cocktails untuk dinikmati dengan mitra bisnis, teman atau keluarga.

Marhaban Ya Ramadhan!

Wine for Asia 2011

Burhan Abe
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Wine for Asia 2011

YOHAN Handoyo, Indonesian restaurateur and Wine Director of Decanter Wine House, has joined an elite panel of judges, comprising of established international and regional wine experts to select award winning wines in The Wine Style Award (WSAA), the wine competition held in conjunction with Singapore’s Wine for Asia 2011 (WFA) show.

This will be announced at the Wine For Asia (WFA) 2011 road-show which will be organised on Thursday 21 July at 7.30 pm at Decanter Wine House with the support of the Singapore Trade Development Board Jakarta Office. The road show will also preview the new wines and wineries that will be featured at the ninth edition of WFA in Singapore in October.

Professionals and business figures from Indonesia’s wine and F&B industries have been invited to see, hear (and in some cases) taste for themselves some of the upcoming highlights of WFA 2011 and learn about the marketing campaign in place to make this one of the most comprehensive exhibition for the wine business in the region.

Indonesia’s participation 

In welcoming Handoyo onboard to the WSAA panel, WFA Programme Director, Malcolm Tham, said: “WSAA is unique because it celebrates top quality wines for the Asian palette and market and we are very happy to have Indonesia represented on our panel by such an experienced hand in the business such as Mr Yohan Handoyo.”

For the last three years, Handoyo has been the General Manager and Wine Director of Decanter Wine House and he is also an award winning author of Rahasia Wine (The Secret of Wine) which was voted the Best Wine Education Book in the world by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in London in 2008. He has been credited for doing much to educate and introduce wines to a larger base of consumers in Indonesia.

The WSAA panel of distinguished wine experts which includes Master of Wine Kym Mylne MW consists of both international and regional judges. The former brings their international judging experience while the latter represents the expectations of the Asian markets.

Another new highlight at WFA 2011 which is also aimed at the regional market is the introduction of the South East Asia Wine Pioneer Recognition Award. Tham said: “Over the last 10 years the wine market has matured greatly and WFA has been at the forefront of this development since the first exhibition in 2003. We wanted to take this opportunity – before they retire – to pay tribute to the wine pioneers who have made significant and important contributions to the growth of the wine industry in the region.”

Some of the WFA highlights that will be touched on at the road-show include:

1. SEA Wine Pioneer Recognition Award Appreciation Lunch, 27 October, 12 – 1pm. Pioneers in the industry helped build the region’s wine industry in the 1970s. This award recognises and honours the contributions from the pioneers.

2. Wine Style Asia Award, 26 October, 7 – 10.30pm. Launched in 2004, the Wine Style Asia Award (WSAA) has gained much recognition. The panel of judges comprises an international and regional mix of influential wine personalities and there is a stringent judging system that ensures only top-quality wines receive the award. This year, the organisers expect 500 entries from overseas wineries and local importers and distributors. The awards will be presented at a high-profile gala dinner.

3. F&B Industry Forum, 28 October, 2 – 4pm. This forum brings together a panel of eminent industry players to share their experience in the rapid developments seen in the F&B industry in the past five years.

4. F&B Familiarisation Tour, 28 October, 7 – 11pm. This tour, which includes stops at popular night spots Clarke Quay and Dempsey Hill, provides participants an insight into the latest F&B concepts in Singapore.

5. Wine Master Classes, during WFA 2011. Wines from France, Australia, Chile, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece and Germany will be showcased.

In addition, during WFA 2011, there will be a signature partner event organised by The Wine Review, which is headed by wine consultant and reviewer Ch’ng Poh Tiong. This high-profile wine dinner will feature wines from well-known chateaux in Bordeaux.

WFA 2011, organised by MP International and Wine Resources, will be held from October 27 – 28 at Suntec Singapore. Spread over 5,000 sqm, it will showcase more than 300 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions, and 10 pavilions, and will represent wines from Australia, Chile, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Singapore and Spain. It is expected to attract about 4,000 visitors, mostly from Southeast Asia.

What Trucks Will Look Like in the Future

Burhan Abe
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What Trucks Will Look Like in the Future

THESE transportation vehicles are indeed inseparable from our daily activities, with trucks being vital to the wheels of the economy.  The smaller types are pickups, while the larger ones with three axles (one in front and tandem at the back) are heavy-duty trucks and those carrying containers are trailers.

The world’s total truck production according to Global Insight increases every year. For instance, four major truck manufacturers were recorded in 2009, namely Daimler AG (Germany)  229,000 units,  Dong Feng Motor (China) 193,000 units, FAW Group (China), 182,000 units and Sinotruk (China) 125,000 units.

In line with Indonesia ‘s economic growth and business demand for trucks, demand for these commercial vehicles has never subsided. Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) data indicates that in February 2011, a total of 1,025 units of trucks and buses were sold, which is 46 percent more than in the previous month when only 702 units were sold.

Trucks manufactured by various countries are sold in this country, including from Europe, Japan and China. After the entry of China’s Beiqi Foton Motor Co, Sinotruk Shandong Jixin Auto Sales Co is planning to enter the same segment. However, Hino is still the market leader in truck sales with its robust 60 percent share. PT Hino Motors Sales Indonesia, the authorized distributor in Indonesia, has targeted 23,400 truck sales by the end of this year.

During the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2011, Hino exhibited a number of new variants, including its latest Hino 700 series. What is most interesting is the question often asked: What will future trucks look like? Some believe that in the future, long distance transportation vehicles will be trucks or buses moving in a convoy that will cruise at a constant speed and be controlled by autopilot. It will be almost non-stop auto driving while the front and rear parts will almost be attached to each other.

The fantastic thing is the convoy of trucks will be on a special lane called the green corridor, similar to Jakarta’s busway. The difference will be that that the convoy will have no driver and the green corridor will be able to flow and turn by itself. This concept of future trucks or long distance transportation is the brain child of Rikard Odel, design director of Volvo Truck Corporation, and is mentioned on the company’s website.

Apart from the transportation concept, Odel has also written about the form, design and technology of the truck, called the Volvo Truck Concept 2020.

He elaborates that the realization of the autopilot truck is progressing much faster than his initial calculation, and he claims it will be applicable within the next 10 years. He also says that trucks will look very different from what we are familiar with today.

This concept will supposedly render commercial transportation, both long distance trucks or buses, much safer and more efficient. The plus point is the convoy cruising like a train at an average speed of 90 kilometers per hour will not need a track or a special joint to attach the trucks as a wireless system will be used.

For us in Indonesia, when the trans-Java toll road is completed, this concept can be considered for future transportation. Furthermore, it would be more efficient when the Sunda Strait Bridge project becomes a reality. All this will reduce traffic congestion due to trucks that move slowly! (Burhan Abe)

The Jakarta Post, July 26, 2011

Menjajal Harris dan MaxOne

Burhan Abe
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Menjajal Harris dan MaxOne

TAUZIA Hotel Management makin menancapkan kukunya di Indonesia. Jumat 14 Juli lalu mereka meresmikan Harris Hotel & Conventions yang berlokasi di Festival CTLink Bandung.  Inilah hotel yang kedelapan dan hotel kedua yang mereka buka di tahun 2011.

Terletak hanya 5 menit dari keluar tol Pasir Koja, 20 menit dari Bandara Hussein Sastranegara dan 30 menit dari stasiun kereta, hotel ini merupakan salah satu hotel di kota Bandung yang juga menyatu dengan mal, yaitu mal Festival Citylink. Hotel yang dominan warna oranye dan hijau ini memiliki 180 kamar dan 7 meeting room ditambah juga dengan Convention Center yang merupakan Conventions Centre terbesar di Bandung, dengan luas sebesar 2.500 meter persegi dan dapat menampung hingga 4.000 orang.

Beruntung saya bisa menghadiri launching hotel tersebut, sekaligus menjajal kamar dan fasilitasnya. Bergaya minimalis, tapi tidak mengurangi fasilitasnya yang maksimalis, Harris Hotel menawarkan cara unik menikmati kota Bandung sisi selatan.

Yang menarik, harganya pun cukup terjangkau, karena ditargetkan kepada pasar menengah, khususnya pasar Asia. Asal tahu saja, Air Asia sekarang terbang dari Kuala Lumpur – Bandung empat kali sehari. “Harris adalah jawaban dari permintaan para tamu-tamu kami di kota yang terus berkembang ini,” ujar Christophe Glass, Director dari Tauzia Hotel Management.

Harris mempunyai motto ‘simple – unique – friendly’. Simpel diwakili oleh desain bangunan dan interior yang sederhana dan minimalis. Unik dengan menjadi inovatif dalam bentuk komunikasi (pemasaran), pendekatan pelayanan kepada tamu serta desain. Friendly (ramah) yang ditunjukkan dengan penggunaan warna, suasana hotel yang hangat, serta sikap karyawannya.

Menurut Budi Yanto Lusli sebagai perwakilan dari owning company menambahkan, dengan mulai dibukanya Harris Hotel dan juga convention yang berada dalam kawasan, tentunya semakin mengukuhkan Festival Citylink sebagai kawasan dengan konsep mixed-use terbaik di kota Bandung dan sekitarnya. “Bahkan bisa dikatakan sebagai satu-satunya di kota Bandung dan sekitarnya yang mempunyai konsep mixed-use sebagai mal, hotel dan convention,” katanya.

Asal tahu saja, Harris Hotels, terdiri dari 10 hotel di akhir 2011 dan saat ini 17 hotel lagi dalam tahap pembangunan. Sejumlah 27 hotel dengan 4.549 kamar akan beroperasi pada tahun 2013.

Tauzia Hotel Management, yang didirikan tahun 2001 adalah perintis dari konsep hotel dan produk sejak tahun 2002 dari merek-merek, selain Harris Hotel, juga ada Worldhotels dengan satu properti dalam taraf pembangunan,  Label Preference Hotels dengan satu properti dalam pembangunan.

Tren permintaan hotel bujet yang marak belakangan dirasakan oleh Tauzia Hotel Management, sehingga mereka juga sekarang sedang mengembangkan second line products-nya, yakni POP! Hotels, jaringan hotel yang terdiri dari 16 hotel dan 2.455 kamar yang akan selesai tahun 2013.

Design Value Hotel

Sebelumnya saya juga pernah mencoba MaxOne Hotel yang bertarif murah, kita hanya membayar yang kita pakai. MaxOneHotels.com @ Sabang, nama lengkapnya, dibangun oleh grup baru di bidang perhotelan, Milestone Pacific Hotel Group, pada 29 April 2011.

Inilah sebuah hotel berancang arstistik yang menyediakan akomodasi bergaya metropolis sekaligus berorientasi pada nilai, dengan perhatian khusus pada kebutuhan profesional yang dinamis.

MaxOneHotels.com yang berlokasi di lokasi strategis kawasan Sabang Jakarta ini berkonsep online booking hotel (maxonehotels.com/web/id) dan siap menjawab gaya hidup pengguna saat ini yang cenderung “mobile” dan menuntut servis terbaik, praktis dan ekonomis dari sebuah hotel. 

Kamar tidur yang ditawarkan dengan ketentuan semakin awal Anda memesan, semakin murah Anda membayar ini tersedia sebanyak 87 kamar dalam tiga tipe pilihan yaitu; tipe Happiness (standard room) dengan luas 14m2, Warmth (deluxe room) berluas 25m2 dan Love (suite room) yang berluas 27m2.

Menurut Daniel Sulaiman, Chief Operating Officer, Max adalah pengurus hotel yang ramah dan penyayang. Dia mendedikasikan dirinya untuk melayani teman-teman dan para tamunya dengan sikap dan layanan terbaik. Dengan cintanya terhadap industri perhotelan, dia menciptakan usaha perhotelan yang berpusat pada tiga pilar utama yang mencerminkan Jiwa Max; Happiness (Kebahagiaan), Warmth (Kehangatan) dan Love (Cinta Kasih).

MaxOneHotels.com tidak hanya mengedepankan rancang kamar yang fresh, young dan compact, namun juga memperlakukan seluruh tamu sebagai VIP di mana mereka berhak menikmati kasur eksklusif dengan empat bantal mewah, menikmati tidur malam yang nyenyak dan bangun sebagai pribadi yang baru. Hmmm…

Menikmati kenyamanan tidur  tidak harus di hotel berbintang lima. Selamat beristirahat, big hug (seperti tulisan yang ada di bantal oranye Harris Hotel)!

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