Something that is been going on for decades is the abuse of Indonesian workers overseas. Working conditions for migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia — including thousands of Indonesian workers — sometimes amount to “slavery”, according to a global human rights watchdog. There really should be a body to oversee this inhumane treatment of Indonesian workers. Another case that has loomed in the headlines for quite a while was the murder of activist Munir. Fingers were pointed in every direction. However, a missing letter connecting the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib may reappear as evidence against former BIN officer Muchdi Purwoprandjono. This is good news for the wife of Munir who has constantly campaigned to resolve her husband’s murder.
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If there is a travel show anywhere then you can be sure that I will go and see what is happening and what’s on offer. Although some of these travel shows are exclusive to sellers and buyers in the travel industry, I have never really had much trouble weaving my way inside. Now in its 14th year, Indonesia’s annual travel mart - Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) – will be held in Makassar in South Sulawesi on October 14-17 and should prove to be one of the best ever, especially …
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When it comes to the concerns of the environment within the vast archipelago of Indonesia it is the Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI - Friends of the Earth Indonesia) that are in the forefront of ensuring the sustainability of life and livelihoods in the islands. WAHLI works to defend Indonesia’s natural world and local communities from injustices carried out in the name of economic development and this is badly needed in an era where not only global warming is affecting the environment, but also the growing problem of big corporations blatantly carving up the lands for profit subsequently threatening the natural habitats of thousands of species of flora and fauna. Currently, Wahli is represented in 25 provinces and has over 438 member organisations. Wahli works in a number of areas in the archipelago on a variety of issues. These include forests, mining, fresh water management, pollution, foreign debt and corporate-driven globalization, coasts and oceans, disaster management, national policy and law reform, and good governance. Assisting community groups in Indonesia that are threatened by injustice is another. Whenever you read in a newspaper or a magazine that a region of pristine forest has been saved from the grind of a bulldozer, or where the habitat of a certain species has been saved, then you can virtually guarantee that Wahli is the guiding force in achieving this.
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On my numerous trips to Jakarta it has never ceased to amaze me the potpourri of languages spoken in the capital city. My native language is English and although I am sufficiently fluent in the national language of Bahasa Indonesia, there were times on my travels when the locals originating from Jakarta spoke a language that was way over my head. I am talking about Bahasa Betawi. Being married to a Javanese-Chinese lady from Yogyakarta in Central Java, communication can be difficult sometimes and especially when she gets annoyed with me!. My wife speaks not only Bahasa Indonesia, but also Bahasa Jawa and Bahasa Mandarin. However, in the norm, we hardly ever have communication problems. Just thought I would mention that because we are delightfully and happily married. But, it is my brother-in-law that stuns me. Having been born and raised in Jakarta he speaks only Bahasa Betawi and I am, to use a film title, ‘Lost in Translation’ whenever we engage in conversation. As much has I use Bahasa Indonesia to converse with him, he always replies in Bahasa Betawi. It is a beautiful language and one of the over 700 indigenous languages in the archipelago of Indonesia. So, I just sit there and listen fascinated by this dialect.
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I can still recall the very first time I visited Semarang, the northern coastal in Central Java. It was in the middle of the hot season, the winds blew even hotter and the dust was annoying to the eyes. But, I loved it. It was refreshing to visit and experience a city of such historical importance and culture. Semarang is a divided city – the cooler new part of the city called Bukit Sari where most of the flash hotels and residences are located, and, the old part of the city known as Kota Lama. It is here in the old part of the city that I would recommend anybody to stay when they are visiting the city and much more interesting and fascinating to explore. Kota Lama has a lot of old Dutch colonial buildings and you can still see the old building remains of what was once a walled city. Staying anywhere in the old city will give you the opportunity to be near just about everything you could want to see and that includes the maze of markets and side streets where very turn of a corner is a pleasant surprise. Try the losmens and budget hotels nearer to Pasar Johar. I would suggest getting around by foot to see most of the historical places, but if you are not into wearing your feet to the bone, then there are plenty of becaks or taxis available.
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A majority of travellers that enter Sumatra generally bypass Bandar Lampung and go direct to Palembang or Bengkulu or one of the other major cities. But, Bandar Lampung it is a city worth stopping at for a few days. The capital of the southern province of Lampung, it has an estimated population of around 750,000 people and is located at the southern tip of Sumatra just across the Sunda Straits from Java. It is from here you can arrange a tour or alternative sea transport to reach the world famous volcanoes of Krakatau and Anak Krakatau. Lampung Bay is a peaceful place and the offshore islands afford excellent opportunities for snorkelling and diving. There is also an array of beautiful and secluded beaches.
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If I received a dollar for every time I was delayed because my flight was late on arrival at an airport or leaving an airport then I would have enough money for several domestic flights. It has happened countless times. Besides the international flights it has occurred frequently on domestic flights in Indonesia also. Travellers can now take heart as the new rules and regulations are now in effect to protect us from unnecessary inconvenience. These laws have been a long time coming and are gladly welcomed by all of us who use domestic airlines in Indonesia.
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Although officially not a province of Indonesia anymore, it appears the fledgling new country of East Timor, or Timor Leste as it is preferred to be known, has the possibility of boosting tourist numbers to the region in the form of one of nature’s gentle giants in the ocean. There are been various media reports during the week of Whale Sharks being a drawcard and why not, they are spectacular to see and to swim with. I was fortunate a few times to have swum with these amazing and gentle creatures off the north-west coast of West Australia at Ningaloo …
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An island with the central areas being rugged mountains, Sulawesi has a distinctive shape with four large peninsulas. It is an island famous for its culture and traditions, its panoramic beauty and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago as well as some of the best diving spots in the world. Travellers who have been to Sulawesi rave about the culture of Tana Toraja with the hanging graves in the sides of mountains and, ceremonies for the dead that are unique on this planet. But, Sulawesi is more than just that. It has some spectacular historical places to visit and cities that will leave you in awe and make you wonder why you didn’t visit the place earlier on your travels to the archipelago of Indonesia. Sulawesi has six provinces and each being as wondrous as the next. The provinces are Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi.
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Great new for travellers wishing to enter Indonesia from South-East Asia as now they can enter through Palembang in south Sumatra at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin International Airport. Medan in central Sumatra is another entry point but if you want to visit the fascinating areas around southern Sumatra then this is ideal. According to a report in the Jakarta Post, immigration and tourist officers are ready to serve foreign tourists at the airport and the application process takes only minutes before they are free to visit tourist resorts in South Sumatra and other provinces. The airport is the 17th authority …
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