NEWSLETTERAugust 2014

Situated in Bintaro, south-west Jakarta, the British International School houses a series of uniquely designed buildings set in extensive grounds and providing an attractive, well-planned, healthy environment where fresh air and open space abound, and keep learning free from distraction.

Classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards and computers, making for a stimulating environment. Other facilities include a well-equipped music department; computer suites; science laboratories; language centre; workrooms for design and technology; a state-of-the-art theatre; modern secondary library; Olympic-size swimming pool with touch-pad time recording equipment; tennis courts and ample

playing elds. These resources support a demanding and successful academic programme.

The British International School follows the English National Curriculum (for children 3 to 14 years), I/GCSE (15 to 16 years), followed by the International Baccalaureate programme (17 to 18 years); all conveniently located on one campus. Guided by experienced and caring overseas teachers, who engage the students constantly, the emphasis is on providing students with the very best educational environment, equal to any school across the world and creating happy and responsible citizens of tomorrow who share our values.

What are your values?

For further information about the British International School, please contact the Admission of ce at Tel: (62-21) 745-1670 • Fax: (62-21) 745-1671 • E-mail: admissions@bis.or.id • www.bis.or.id

Cover Photograph by Soma Mitra-Chubb

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CONTENTSFeaturesSummer Reading 8The Grapevine Household Tips 14 Top Ten Tips for the Singapore Grand Prix 19 Dear Gillie! 30

regularsEditor’s Note 2Chairwoman’s Message 3Newcomers Message 5Report Back: June Coffee Morning 6Social Welfare Report 7Community announcments 10It’s an Expat’s Life: An Ode to Karaoke 11 Indonesian House in Jakarta 25Recipes: A Summer Picnic 16Family: Pondok Indah Water Park 29Weird and Wonderful News 20Notice Board 31Classifieds 32

sOCIal DIarYBWA Golf Tournament 13Queen's Birthday Party 13

traVelMount Bromo: A Weekend Wonder 22Japan - A Family Holiday (Part One) 26

EDITOR

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eDItOraDVertIsINgPrODuCtIONtreasurereDItOrIal teaMCONtrIButOr

GrapevineAUGUST 2014

soma Mitra-ChubbVacantsoma Mitra-ChubbDebbie trusselshweta Dakin, Denise Hession, annali Kenchrichard Chubb

tHe GRAPEVINE teaM

One of the mysteries of expat life is why, when people leave, they seem to do so in groups – you can go for a year or two with only the odd relocation but then all at once you realise that the contacts list on your mobile has been decimated.

This is one such season and the Grapevine has lost a large number of its friends and contributors in one fell swoop. Ingrid Baker, Kerri Anderson and Sian and Ed Jones, you will be sorely missed, as will Denise Hession – a relatively recent entrant to Grapevine with her regular column The Reluctant Emigrant.

What remains of the Grapevine Team has been had at work bringing you the usual round up of activities, events and general information about Jakarta life.

Since summer is a time for generally kicking back and catching up on your reading, we have a feature on books which might interest you, whatever your favourite genre is. This one was done with a lot of help from Richard Chubb, our latest contributor to be press-ganged into the team. Carrying on the Summer theme, the recipes section has some great ideas for a summer picnic.

Stephanie Brooks has sent us a great travel article on Mount Bromo; also in the travel section is a piece on Japan (although in all fairness it could have been entitled “What I did on my Summer Holiday”).

There are write-ups on the social events in June, from the coffee morning and BWA Golf tournament to the Queen’s Birthday Party. We also have the regular columns from Denise Hession and the Expat Bloke – thank you both! This issue has Elaine Tucker’s first column as BWA Chairwoman along with the Newcomers’ and Social Welfare messages. These are always filled with interesting information and I urge you to read them carefully.

The Family section is back after something of a hiatus and we bring the newly renovated Water Park in Pondok Indah – worth a look. And finally, Dear Gillie is back with her usual acerbic wit. What would we do without her?

I hope you enjoy this issue and, as ever, if you have an idea for a story or wish to contribute anything – photographs, a recipe, a letter – please do get in touch at grapevine@bwajakarta.org

FROM THE EDITOR

CHAIRWOMAN

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

B WAC O M M I T T E E

2014-2015Chairwoman Elaine Tucker

Vice-Chairwoman Vacant

general secretary Tracy Ledgard

treasurer Zem Chefeke

grapevine editor Soma Mitra-Chubb

social Welfare Gillian Watson Co-ordinator

Newcomers’ Lorraine GibbonsCo-ordinators sponsorship Sareena BarnesCo-ordinators Suki Brar Bazaar Coordinator Tess Gunasekera

Membership Deborah MinicolaCo-ordinator

Food & Beverage Deborah GoldenCo-ordinator

Programmes Nell Costello Co-ordinator

event Co-ordinator Berni Crockford

Communications Laura ThompsonCo-ordinator

Website Co-ordinator Asli Paterson

general Members Fiona Forsyth

This publication is not for sale. It is distributed free to members of the British Women’s Association (BWA) in Indonesia.

The BWA and the Grapevine team will not accept responsibility for unsatisfactory service arising from any of our advertising,

or the misuse of this newsletter.

Hello!

This is my first Chairwoman’s message as I take the reins from the wonderful Ingrid Baker! The last couple of months have been tinged with sadness, as we’ve had to say goodbye to so many dear friends. BWA will sorely miss several of our Committee members who have moved on to pastures new. I find goodbyes the hardest part of ex-pat life. Social media makes keeping in touch very easy though and it’s amazing how often paths cross again. I’m happy to say one of my good friends has just returned after a couple of years away and I’ve just had a great weekend in Manchester with another lovely friend who has moved back home. I’ve been here over six years now and have seen several good friends leaving over the years and BWA has been a mainstay for me, as I’ve made many wonderful friends here and know I will continue to do so.

I’ve just started learning Mahjong and the ladies in the group have been very patient in teaching me so I’m looking forward to getting back into that. In addition to our weekly activities, our Events Coordinator, Berni, has plenty in store for us, starting with the Mexican Party Night on 6th September. We’ll be having Bingo and Gin Fizz Fridays, regular quizzes and games nights (Mr&Mrs, Play Your Cards Right) so there’s lots to look forward to!

Coffee mornings will be held every Tuesday from August. Our formal coffee mornings are on the first Tuesday of the month when we have speakers and vendors and every other week is just casual chit-chat over a coffee, when lots of us stay on for lunch, so please drop in for a gossip and catch up on what’s going on. Nell has some interesting speakers lined up starting on Tuesday, 5th August with the wonderful Angela Kearney, Indonesia Representative for UNICEF. She’s a fab speaker with amazing stories to tell.

I’d like to give all of our members old and new a very warm welcome! Whether you’re new to Jakarta or returning from a summer break, I hope you’re ready to embrace all that life in the Big Durian has to offer. Don’t be shy to get involved!

Elaine

FROM THE CHAIRWOMAN

NEWCOMERS

Message froM the Newcomers’ coordiNatorWelcome to Jakarta. And an even bigger welcome to the British

Women’s Association. Arriving in Jakarta in August may give you a slightly skewed

impression of the city. It will be quieter than usual (yeah!) due to the school holidays. It's also in the middle of dry season, so there will be less rain than the rest of the year. You will learn very quickly how rain affects even simple tasks.

So what can you do when most of the expats have gone away for the school holidays and there aren’t many activities to keep you and your family occupied? I’ve popped a short list below of suggestions;

Taman Safari - BogorFabulous day out. Even adults will enjoy hand-feeding the wildlife from

your car. For children, most of the rides are free of charge as are the themed shows that run during the day. You will need to buy carrots as you drive towards the park. There is also a palace, botanical garden and tea plantations nearby.

Taman Mini Indonesia – South East JakartaVery easy to get to. We travelled there on a Sunday and hardly queued to get in. Certain

attractions do get crowded and it is warm there. We didn’t try the water park but saw it from the cable car. There are full size buildings from all over Indonesia, showing the diverse range of styles. Many have displays and guides inside to tell you about the houses and how the locals live.

AncolTo the north of Jakarta is Ancol. There are many theme parks and also the port where you

can take day trips or short breaks to the Thousand islands.Shopping mallsThere are shopping malls all over Jakarta. Most have clean, hygienic food halls giving you

an opportunity to try local food safely. They also have leisure activities from cinemas to ice skating within them.

Quick tips – don’t drink the water. Learn a few words of Indonesian. Be patient. Be tolerant…

Join in with BWA activities and meet new people. Check our website – www.bwajakarta.org - for updates and join our Facebook group – BWA Jakarta - if you haven’t already. From August, coffee mornings will be every Tuesday morning from 10am. Please ask for me or one of the welcome team.

Please do contact me if you have any questions or need a chat. The BWA was set up to offer support to you. Please join us, get to know your fellow expats and how we can help.

RegardsLorraine GibbonsEmail: sheppardlorraine@hotmail.comMobile: 08111 803 657

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COFFee MOrNINgNow Every TUESDAY at the BWA HouseFirst tuesday of the Month—guest speaker

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It was a slightly tearful coffee morning as we gathered to say goodbye to a number of committee members. Ingrid Baker, Sian Jones, Asli Paterson and Kerri Anderson all departed this summer for their respective home countries (in Asli’s case, her adopted one). It was also Elaine Tucker, our new Chairwoman’s first coffee morning, which she handled with aplomb – greeting visitors to the BWA house and conducting the proceedings like a pro.

The first order of business was saying goodbye. Each departing member received a leaving gift from the BWA (they were BWA themed mugs designed especially for the occasion). There were hugs all around (and perhaps a surreptitious tear or two) as we chatted about times past. This done it was time for the raffle draw and community announcements.

A special feature of this coffee morning was the Social Welfare Posh Frock Sale. Members got to browse a large number of donated posh frocks as well as accessories, with all proceeds going to Social Welfare. There were also an incredible number of shoes (29 ½ pairs, to be exact) also kindly donated by one member, so we had great fun channelling our inner Cinderellas and trying on various shoes in every possible style, from comfortable flats to those which are strictly ‘car to bar.’

Later that morning, there was a farewell lunch. Parmin had whizzed up his usual magic (with a little help from yours truly) and we sat down to a scrumptious lunch of quiche and curry…though not together of course. Committee members from 2013 and 2014 had one final get together before dispersing.

Lunch done it was time to say goodbye to everyone, either for the holidays or for good. Many of us are still away from Jakarta, but hope to see you at the coffee morning in August!

Soma Mitra-Chubb

JuNe COFFee MOrNINg

REPORT BACK

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SOCIAL WELFARE

II am happy to report that all our projects are running smoothly and our committee is pleased to be able to see all donated money being wisely spent. Roy and I were honoured to be invited to judge a competition at a project we funded for a while to teach local children English. We had a great morning, the children were a delight and their English skills put ours to shame! Some seven-year-olds had learned speeches by heart and were word perfect. We were proud to have been associated with this project and felt it was money well spent as these children go on to improve their educational prospects. The mobile HIV/syphilis testing clinic which we fund, The Carlo Centre, tested 86 individuals during May, of whom 9.3% were found to be HIV+ and 18.6% tested positive for syphilis. Of those testing positive, 75% are on treatment or in care. Since initiation, 242 people have been tested in this mobile programme; 14.9% were HIV+ and 83% of those people have been treated or are in care, and 15.3% were syphilis+ and 68% of them have been treated or are still in care. We are enormously proud to be supporting this wonderful organisation. We are hoping that Steve Wignall, who runs the clinic, will come to BWA house to give a talk very soon. I think it will be fascinating! We have just donated a wheelchair to a lady who lost her legs through helping out during the floods this year.

Thank you to everyone who donated lovely clothes, or who bought some at our recent Posh Frock Shop, especially to the lady who donated 40 pairs of shoes and the lady who donated a pair of Jimmy Choos. Thank you again – you know who you are! All proceeds from the morning have gone to Social Welfare projects. I am fortunate to have a great group of ladies behind me. As some of you may know, a couple of us have been ill recently and we have been overwhelmed by the care and consideration shown to us by members of our group. Which just goes to show, sometimes charity DOES begin at home.

Gillie

sOCIal WelFare rePOrt01 bukit karmel02 PUsaKa03 amal mulia04 Flood relieF05 Posh Frock sale

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FEATURE

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If you like historical romances, then you’ll probably like…Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabbaldon Historical Romance seems a rather inadequate description for this 848-page tome,

but there seems to be no other convenient title. Briefly, the series follows the adventures of Claire Beauchamp, a WW2 nurse (at the beginning of the series, anyway) who travels through time back to Eighteenth Century Scotland.

Her resulting adventures are chronicled in eight books and span events from the Jacobite uprising to the American War of Revolution. Book Seven (An Echo in the Bone) ended on a two cliff hangers, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood continues the tale and lets us know (after a FOUR YEAR gap) how the characters are faring.

Obviously the book is best read as part of the series – and there are lots of books to keep you busy all summer. There is also a TV series coming up (so far only slated for the US Starz channel but presumably coming out on DVD), so if this takes your fancy, you won’t be short of entertainment for at least six months. Something to do while George RR Martin takes his time on the next Game of Thrones, eh?

Looking for something good to read? We’ve waded through this year’s crop of new releases (and some oldies) to bring you the best of a range of genres.

If you like Young Adult fiction, you’ll probably like…The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon Finished The Hunger Games and the entire Divergent series? Looking for your next fix of Dystopian Young

Adult fiction? Try The Bone Season. This (perhaps ambitious) start to a seven part series is set in the year 2059, and most

of the major world cities are under the control of a group called Scion. Paige Mahoney, the protagonist is a rare sort of clairvoyant called a dreamwalker, working for an underground organisation called the Seven Seals. As a highly illegal ‘voyant,’ she gets information by breaking into others’ minds.

Unfortunately, she gets captured and sent to Oxford (Why? Read the book) and as-signed to a Rephaite warden who will be in charge of her. The Rephaim are an other-worldly breed of beings who feed on human auras and Arcturus Mesarthim, the warden is both her master and her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

The reviews for this book have been polarised, partly due to the books being overhyped. It’s a seven part series, published by Bloomsbury and yes, the movie rights have indeed already been sold, so comparisons to JK Rowling have been as plentiful as rain showers during Jakarta’s ‘dry’ season this year. However if you enjoy fantasy world building and don’t mind too many made-up names, then this book is for you.

If you like thrillers then you’ll probably like….The Black-Eyed Blonde: A Philip Marlowe Novel by Benjamin Black Benjamin Black is the nom de plume of novelist John Banville, who has brought Ray-

mond Chandler’s creation, Phillip Marlowe back to life.Set in the 1950s this, too, qualifies as ‘historical fiction’ with its references to a ‘telephone

on the desk’ and ‘men in hats’ (though it does, anachronistically refer to a cigarette as a ‘cancer stick’).

The action kicks off when a beautiful (what else?) woman turns up at Marlowe’s office with a case. She’s the heiress to a perfume fortune built by an Irish family, and hires Marlowe to find a former lover, Nico Peterson. Marlowe soon learns that Peterson has been killed and cremated, although this information becomes increasingly doubtful as the private eye follows the trail deeper into the perfume company.

The important thing about this book is that is very closely mimics the traits of the original stories – the witty dialogue, the subtle nuances of language and the authentic period details. According to one reviewer, “it has all the panache and charm of the originals while delivering a story that is as sharp and fresh as today’s best crime fiction.”

THE BEST OF SU MMER READING

FEATURE

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If you like history then you’ll probably like…The Trigger by Tim Butcher Anyone who has studied the First World War knows that the trigger was the assassi-

nation of Archduke Ferdinand by a young Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. This Serbian attack provoked Austro- Hungary into invasion and sent the whole of Europe spiralling into war. Well, what if Princip’s act wasn’t one of Serbian nationalism at all? What if blame had lain elsewhere and that initial act of war had never happened?

In The Trigger, Tim Butcher makes a trek across Bosnia Herzegovina, years after his first stint in the region covering the 1990s civil war, in an attempt to flesh out the short life of Princip and to understand better his motives.

Retracing Princip’s journey from his home village to Sarajevo, this colourful account skips between present day Bosnia and the region as it was a century ago, frequently pro-viding vivid and painful accounts of incidents witnessed by the author in the 1990s war.

Butcher pieces together documentary and anecdotal evidence to provide us with a far more complete picture of the assassin and his motives. Shockingly, the evidence is crystal clear that, rather than being a Serbian nationalist, Princip was in fact a Slav nationalist- effectively an early advocate of Yugoslavia. Although certain extremists within Serbia played a role in the assassination, the element of Serb nationalism was far less than is generally believed and arguably insufficient to warrant the subsequent invasion. Could the greatest war in history have been started by erroneous fingerpointing?

This profoundly personal and intimate book explores this and other crucial questions while also giving a very graphic description of a small corner of Europe which still seems stuck in a different era.

If you like philosophy then you might like…The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho The Winner Stands Alone represents a bit of a departure for Paolo Coelho. All the novels I’d

previously read seem to have a feel good theme, largely based on the idea that if you want some-thing badly enough, the world will help you make it happen.

This novel is different. Although it still dwells on the theme of life’s ambitions, for the first time Coelho takes a critical look at the validity of those ambitions and the negative consequences of try-ing to force events to fit your own agenda.

Set at the Cannes Film Festival, an event depicted as an exercise in ruthless social climbing, the novel follows the attempts of a number of protagonists to achieve their ambitions. Most central are the crazed attempts of a Russian man, Igor, to win back his ex wife by carrying out a number of senseless murders. These murders in turn disrupt the ambitions of the other protagonists.

The key themes here are those of questioning the validity of one’s ambition and the constant confusion of public success and personal happiness. Each character seems to be motivated to achieve success to resolve some element of personal baggage- issues that would better be resolved through a little introspection.

By the end of the story no character is left truly satisfied and those that are still alive appear to have learned little from their experience. All in all a very enjoyable read and a little darker than much of Coelho’s earlier work.

If you like fantasy then you’ll probably likeRaising Steam by Terry Pratchett Released late last year, this is Terry Pratchett’s 40th novel and brings Discworld into the Industrial Age. A young engineer, Dick Simnel has found a way to harness steam and built the first-ever loco-motive. Soon there’s an entire network of railways, but along with it, come the attendant problems of financing, politics and above all, the protests from those parts of society who don’t want the world to be modernised. The book is a fun read, with many of Pratchett’s usual characters – Moist Van Lipwig has a starring role, with back up by Vetinari, Adora Belle, Rhys Rhysson and the Watch. I have to admit that the usual humour is slightly tamped down – the puns don’t fly as thick and fast as usual, and there are fewer footnotes – but the point of a Pratchett isn’t the humour, it’s much, much more.

Richard Chubb and Soma Mitra-Chubb

THE BEST OF SU MMER READING

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCMENTS

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Many thanks to Mr Graham Riley Operations Manager at Schlumberger, who very kindly donated a laptop for the BWA for front desk use. Our receptionists have been strugging with the old anitquated one for quite a while now!

a helPiNg haNd

THE BWA’S NEWEST MEMBER

Congratulations to Zoe and David Woodward on the birth of baby Charlotte Jaqueline!

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IT'S AN EXPAT LIFE

“Karaoke divides humanity into two groups: those who don’t want to sing and shouldn’t be compelled, and those who do and shouldn’t be allowed.”

- Dennis Vickers, Passing through Paradise

As with any expatriate assignment, a stint in Jakarta offers a golden opportunity to try something entirely new- to develop an exciting new skill or hobby. Most blokes I’ve met seem to have taken to golf with hearty enthusiasm. My boss certainly embraced the game and frequently tried to push me into sharing his new found interest. After much cajoling, I finally joined him at Pondok Indah one afternoon. My original lack of enthusiasm was wholly confirmed- this game seemed to consist of middle aged executives digging huge holes in a lovely lawn before periodically walking off to search for a lost white ball. After “accidentally” letting his best driver fly out of my hands into a lake, I was duly banished from the course, never to return.

So, if not golf, then what? Well, it would seem that my latest pastime of choice has become karaoke- the great passion of drunken expats and Indonesians alike!

It was only a couple of years ago that I finally mustered up the enthusiasm to join a group of my Indone-sian colleagues in a karaoke session. Up to that point, I was very firmly found in the first group of Dennis Vickers’ quote above- I really did not fancy singing in public. A few sessions later, what have I learned? Well quite a bit actually!

Lesson 1: Your Indonesian colleagues are probably way better at singing than you. While I can hold a tune better than my lovely wife (who sounds much like Shane Macgowan looks), I am certainly no ma-jor league crooner. What amazes me, though, is just how talented my Indonesian colleagues are. I first noticed this when we held a company talent competition and I ended up listening to a whole raft of my colleagues, all of whom would have comfortably made the latter stages of any of Simon Cowell’s many excruciating shows. Back in the UK, we might come across one or two friends who can hold a tune- here, I appear to be working in the business version of Glee!

Lesson 2: It doesn’t matter because enthusiasm beats talent every time. My colleagues may all sound amazing, but nobody is laughing just because you sing like Pierce Brosnan (if you’ve watched Mamma Mia, you get my point right?). No hogging the mike or snickering from the Mariah Carey soundalike as I massacre some famous ballad. Everyone- whether their voice has the operatic strength of Susan Boyle or the passion of Phil Neville- is just happy to join in!

Lesson 3: Song selection can offer up some surprises. Now, song selection is always a bone of con-tention at any karaoke session- more so when you’re sharing with your Indonesian colleagues. Put simply, the choice of a middle aged expat is often very different to that of a twenty something Indonesian- both in terms of time and place! The resultant compromise means that the playlist is a bit varied to say the least. I’m pretty open to anything, only putting my foot down firmly when some newby suggests something by Justin Bieber or One Direction.

We start out with a nice mix of different styles- dangdut, David Guetta, something more middle aged. However, as the free flow beer takes effect, the ballads seems to give way to something more robust- Bon Jovi, Nirvana, always Bohemian Rhapsody. In fact the one thing I’ve noticed over the years is how, after only a few beers, my normally quite polite colleagues seem to push very hard for any song with swear-words in it. Rage Against the Machine is always a favourite, and we’ve not yet had a session where someone hasn’t begged me to take the lead on the tricky verse bit of “Living Next Door to Alice”, just so my lubricated colleagues can join in the chorus! Scratch under the surface and drunken folk everywhere can’t resist a bit of shouting and swearing!

So, what better way to spend an evening than to hook up with a bunch of mates, drink some beer and murder the creative efforts of some award winning artist. I have to say, I’m glad to have taken up this new pastime. Even if, like my old boss’s attempts at golf, the weekly practice makes no appreciable difference to my appalling singing ability, the taking part is endless fun in itself!

Expat Bloke

aN ode to karaoke

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Just under half of expatriates who own property in the UK now have reducing their inheritance tax (IHT) burden as their main financial planning priority, according to a recent study carried out by deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations.

48 per cent of deVere’s polled 880 UK property-owning clients in Indonesia, the U.K., the U.S., Hong Kong, South Africa, India, the UAE, and Thailand, claimed they placed the importance of inheritance tax planning above retirement or education planning.

John Brophy, deVere Group’s Divisional Manager of the ASEAN region, explains his thoughts regarding this shift in financial priorities: “House prices in the UK have been steadily increasing over the past year, and as people are becoming more financially savvy, they know that if they own a property in the UK, they could easily fall into the inheritance tax net.”

He continues: “When inheritance tax was first brought in, it was only intended for super high net worth individuals. However, as house prices continue to rise - which of course is welcome news on the one hand for many - more and more homeowners will typically become liable for inheritance tax.”

Rather than exclusively targeting the seriously wealthy, in today’s world IHT affects from the ‘middle incomers’ upwards.

Currently, inheritance tax – widely regarded as a deeply unpopular levy, as it is, in effect, a tax on assets that have already been taxed - is charged at 40 per cent on the value of an estate in excess of the threshold. This threshold is set at £325,000 for individuals and £650,000 for married couples.

Fortunately, there are a number of legitimate and robust opportunities to mitigate the IHT burden. These

include setting up trusts, gifting to heirs, opting for tax-relief investments such as Enterprise Investment Schemes, and owning properties as ‘tenants in common’ with a partner.

Mr Brophy concludes: “The majority of our clients, quite understandably, loathe the fact that they may have to give 40 per cent of their hard-earned assets above the current threshold to the taxman after death, when they’ve paid taxes on their income, savings, investments and pensions throughout their lives. They feel their assets should be passed down to their loved ones - and not to the government in a form of double taxation.

“I cannot stress the importance of inheritance tax planning enough. The sooner people take action, the more possibilities they will have available to them.”

Like all areas of personal finance planning, seeking advice from a qualified wealth management professional is strongly advisable to explore the ways to mitigate inheritance tax liabilities.

deVere Indonesia, which has offices in Jakarta and Bali, is part of deVere Group. deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients. It has a network of 70 offices across the world, more than 1,200 staff, over 80,000 clients and $10bn under advisement.Nick Marshall: Senior Wealth Manager

PT deVere IndonesiaALAMANDA TOWER 22th floor, unit AJl TB Simatupang Kav. 23-24Cilandak Barat, Jakarta Selatan 12430IndonesiaPhone: +62 21 2966 0388 Email : nick.marshall@devere-group.comWebsite : www.devere-group.com

iNheritaNce tax PlaNNiNg takes Priority iN FiNaNcial PlaNNiNg

strategies

SOCIAL DIARY

BWA GOLF TOURNAMENT

Wednesday 4th June 2014Matoa Nasional Golf Course

The semi-annual BWA Golf tournament was held last month. The turnout was somewhat smaller than usual, but that just meant more cosmopolitans for the everyone else! After an early registration, the teams teed off and began to play; some more seriously than others. Still it’s supposed to be a fun day, rather than a serious competition and a good time was had by all.

Once the dust had settled, the overall winners were Kerri Anderson’s team – a nice going away present for you, there, Kerri. Golfing done, it was time to settle down to lunch after which Elaine Tucker, the new BWA Chairwoman, handed out the prizes.

A big thank you to our sponsors, Essential Bed & Bath, Feliz Salon, and Turkuaz, who kindly donated the prizes for the day. Winners went away with hampers of goodies, vouchers and restaurant meals.

And well done to to all the participants

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Tuesday, 10 June 2014, shangri-la HotelThis annual event was attended by foreign dignitaries, diplomats, prominent Indonesians, respected members of the local communities and of course the BWA committee –those who were still in town, that is.The Ballroom of the Shangri-la was decorated in British colours, and themes – here a red telephone box, there an iconic British car. There was the usual delicious British food – roast beef, bangers and mash, curry…the only

thing that seemed to be missing was Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire puddings.

You always meet some interesting people at these events - the BWA committee bumped into some British soldiers who have been posted here to advise their Jakarta counterparts about flooding and disaster management. Although according to some of the squaddies, and given the frequency of the Jakarta floods, it could easily have been the other way round!

The Grapevine Team

FEATURE

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(…because you won’t be an expat forever)

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The Grapevine

Household Tips

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1. Keep brown sugar soft by storing with a couple of marshmallows2. Slice a cherry tomatoes easily by sandwiching them between two plastic lids and run a long

knife through all of them at once! 3. Deodorize sponges in the microwave. Soak in water spiked with white vinegar or lemon juice

and put on full power for one minute. – 4. Fill an old box with skewers to make an all-purpose knife block – 5. Do you find that you never use your tights any more? Hang onions in cut-up tights or old stockings

to make them last for months! – 6. Create a thrifty watering can by puncturing holes in the top of a used milk bottle – or you can

make water guns for the children using a single hole.7. Use a paper plate to prevent splatters when using an electric whisk. – 8. Flip a toaster on its side to make cheese on toast– or to reheat pizza!9. Use a large muffin tin to cook stuffed peppers in the oven - it will help keep them upright. 10. You can ripen tomatoes by putting them in the fruit bowl with the bananas11. To decorate a chocolate cake, lay a piece of lace over the cake and sprinkle icing sugar over

the top. 12. Use cupcake cases to cover drinks glasses in the summer and prevent flies from dropping in.13. Cut the top off a screw-top bottle and use to seal open bags.14. Freeze grapes to chill white wine without diluting it. They look pretty too - a great tip for parties!15. Slot the stick of an ice lolly through a cupcake case to prevent drips on little fingers. 16. Towel hangers on the inside of a pantry door make great storage for awkward saucepan lids! 17. Pin document wallets inside your pantry door to store recipes and takeaway leaflets 18. Trouser hangers make great frugal cooking book holders! 19. Use rubber bands to help open a jar easily: place one around the jar lid and another around the

middle of the glass. The rubber provides friction to prevent your hands from slipping.20. Use bulldog clips to keep stacked bottles in place in the fridge – just clip one to the fridge shelf

and it stops them from rolling down.21. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when hard-boiling eggs to make the shells

incredibly easy to peel off.22. To sharpen your kitchen scissors, simply cut through sandpaper several times.23. When microwaving pizza, place a small glass of water inside the microwave to stop the crust

from drying out24. Need to cool your drink in a hurry? Wet a paper towel (or muslin, if you have one around) and

wrap it around your bottle of beer/Smirnoff ice/whatever and it will take half the time to chill.The Grapevine Team

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RECIPES

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Makes 6 mini wraps, or several ‘pinwheels’

100g cream cheese2 tbsp mayonnaise1 tbsp Dijon mustard¼ tsp black pepper3 (10-12”) flour tortillas150g cooked chicken (use leftovers from a roast chicken)1 carrot grated or finely julienned1 finely chopped green pepper3 tbsp chopped green onion

Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, mustard and black pepper in a small bowl and mix well. Shred the chicken. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly onto each tortilla. Sprinkle the chicken, carrot, bell pepper and onion evenly over cream cheese leaving 2-3cm border on cream cheese mixture at one end of each tortilla. Roll up each tortilla into a fairly tight roll. Wrap the rolls in cling film and refrigerate for several hours for easier slicing and to allow flavours to blend.To serve, unwrap the cling film and cut each roll either into 2 pieces, or into thinner (2cm) widths to make bite-sized ‘pinwheels.’

tuMa Pasta salaD CHICKeN WraPs

a summer PicNic It’s impossible to have a picnic anywhere is Jakarta, right? Well yes, but if you’re prepared to go a little further there are a few options that open themselves up. The Bogor Botanical Gardens are one such, and there are a few walks in the hills of Sentul where you can stop for a bit, spread of blanket and commune with nature. Or, if you like, simply have a picnic in your own back garden! All you need is a picnic rug, some pillows and a large fan nearby!

100g pasta -any shape you like though I’d usually use fusilli or conchiglie (shell pasta)1 can tinned tuna6-8 cherry tomatoes50g black olives50g sundried tomatoes 50g cooked sweetcorn2tbsp capersFor the dressing:2tbsp olive oil1tbsp vinegar (balsamic if you have it)1 clove garlic1tsp mustard2tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Cook and drain the pasta. Let it cool.Chop the olives, the sundried tomatoes and the cherry tomatoes. Combine in a bowl, ad add the sweetcorn and the pasta. Mix well. For the dressing, finely mash the garlic and mix in with the oil, vinegar and mustard, if using.

RECIPES

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CHICKeN DruMstICKs sCOtCH eggs

a summer PicNic It’s impossible to have a picnic anywhere is Jakarta, right? Well yes, but if you’re prepared to go a little further there are a few options that open themselves up. The Bogor Botanical Gardens are one such, and there are a few walks in the hills of Sentul where you can stop for a bit, spread of blanket and commune with nature. Or, if you like, simply have a picnic in your own back garden! All you need is a picnic rug, some pillows and a large fan nearby!

Makes 12 servings12 drumsticks, skin on (or you could use a combination of 6 thighs and drumsticks)2 cloves garlic1tsp black peppercorns1tsbp tomato ketchup1 tbsp kecap manis1 tbsp soy sauce1tbsp Worcester sauceSalt to tasteThe thing I love about Worcester sauce is, that here in Indonesia it’s called kecap Inggris. Oddly enough, most stories about its origin claim that the sauce was originally based on an Indian recipe. Using a pestle and mortar, crush the garlic and add in the black pepper. Grind until the pepper is fine, then mix all the marinade ingredients together. Coat the drumsticks and marinate for a minimum of one hour (max 4 hrs).

Preheat the oven to 200oC. Place the drumsticks on baking tray covered in tinfoil and bake for 30mins. Remove the tinfoil and bake for a further 10 mins, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Serve either hot or cold.

Makes 8 eggs

8 hardboiled peeled eggs2 eggs (for dipping)800 g sausagemeat**3tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped3tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped½ tsp ground nutmeg1 tablespoon English mustardSalt to tasteBlack pepperc.50g flour, for dusting150g breadcrumbsVegetable oil for frying

Put the sausage meat into a bowl with the herbs, spices and a salt and pepper to taste. Mix using a fork and divide into 8 balls. Take a ball of sausagemeat and flatten into a large oval. Put some flour and breadcrumbs into two plates and beat the remaining two eggs into a bowl. Roll one peeled egg in the flour, then place it in the sausage oval. Gently shape the meat evenly around the egg, moulding it with your hands. Once you have covered all the eggs with sausagemeat, it’s time to heat the oil in a wok for frying. Dip each meat-wrapped egg in the beaten egg, and coat with the breadcrumbs. Deep-fry the eggs, two at a time, in the hot oil. It should take about 4 minutes to fry the meat all the way through. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Cool before putting in an air tight box for your picnic.**If you can’t find sausagemeat then make your own with 600g minced pork, 150g streaky bacon, 2tbsp breadcrumbs, 1tbsp dried sage and 1 tbsp dried thyme. You don’t need to mix them separately, just put it all into step 1.

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FEATURE

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The Singapore Grand Prix is due to hit Singapore on the weekend of 19 & 20 September this year. It’s probably the closest GP we’ll ever have (somehow I don’t see the Monas to Mandarin Circuit ever becoming a reality) so if you’re a petrolhead, head over to Marina Bay for a thrilling weekend. If you’re a first-timer (like me) you may wish to consider the following Dos and Don’ts.DO bring earplugs or your noise cancellation headphones – the roar of the machines is incredibly loud!DON’T bother dressing up– the incredible heat will make you wish you’d worn shorts, so just wear than instead.DO wear your most comfortable shoes – it’s going to be a looong day.DO take the MRT – taxis will be few and far between, plus there’s a SGD5 surcharge for anyone wanting to take one.DON’T take in your prized professional-level Nikon. Anyone who is suspected of filming or photographing for commercial purposes will be barred from entering.DO take a waterproof mat for sitting on while you’re waiting for the concerts to begin.DON’T expect to be able to take in any food or drink – you’re not allowed anything over your quota of “one clear plastic bottle of soft drink or mineral water of no more than 600ml.” However if you are going to try anyway, then….DO remember to place some decoy/sacrificial crisps on top of your carefully hidden beer cans. The crisps will be confiscated, but you’ll still have your beer!DON’T forget to carry cash to buy beer anyway. Most of the F&B outlets won’t take cards.DO take a cagoule or poncho in case of rain (Don’t carry an umbrella instead– it’s antisocial to block the view for those behind you-even more so to poke them in the eye).

Compiled with help from last year’s attendees

tOP teN tIPs

FOr tHe sINgaPOregraND PrIX

NEWS

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WeIrD WONDerFul NeWs

DRUNK TRIES TO CLIMB EIFFEL TOWER, ARRESTED

LUCKY COUPLE BUY HOME IN UK FOR ONE POUND

'JAPAN: BRIDAL PHOTO SHOOTS FOR MEN

A couple have moved into Britain's cheapest home - which set them back just a pound - but could now fetch up to £70,000. Lawrence Poxton, 48, and his wife Teresa, 46, have moved into the terraced property in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, after the council put 33 properties on the market for a quid in a desperate attempt to clean up the area. The bus driver and his wife were picked from thousands of applicants to be the first couple to move into the houses - which they now estimate could be sold for between £60 - 70,000. The couple first applied to get the keys to one of only 33 houses available

for £1 in in March last year. After being selected from thousands of applicants, the lucky couple blindly picked their new terraced treasure out of a model house in November. While other houses in the street still stand boarded up, the pair have transformed their two-bed mid terrace into a modern home - with a spacious bathroom, roomy kitchen and plush carpets - as well as a feature staircase. As the final licks of paint dry the ecstatic pair can finally move in to the first home they actually own.Lawrence said: "It's like a dream come true for us. When we were picked it felt like we had won the lottery.

A Japanese dress hire company has stumbled across an unexpected demand for men to be photographed in women's bridal wear, it is claimed. When the firm Marry Mariee advertised a package to take pictures of women in gorgeous dresses, it was surprised to receive several inquiries from men. Kyodo news agency says that many of the calls came from outside Fukui Prefecture, where the outfitter is based. "We concluded that men want to feel like princesses, too," Marry Mariee manager Hitomi Iseki says. The company now offers some

100 dresses - both wedding and formal wear - that can be altered to fit men. It has also tied up with a nearby barber where men can have a shave before getting made-up at Marry Mariee. It takes about two hours to get ready for the shoot. In the interests of gender equality, Marry Mariee now also offers a service for women who want to be photographed in men's clothing. "We want to provide opportunities for people to enjoy showing their real selves, whether they are men or women," Iseki adds.

An unidentified man climbed some 30 metres – 100 feet – up the Eiffel Tower in the early hours of Saturday morning before police convinced him to climb back down. Police in the posh Seventh arrondissement got a call around 3:15am alerting them to the fact a man was attempting to scale the legendary Iron Lady. Sure enough, once on scene the officers spotted the man about 30 metres above the Champ de Mars park, AFP reported. After brief negotiations the man, who was in his 30s, agreed to come back down. Police didn’t provide a very clear reason as to why the man

had decided to mount the monument, except to say, with Gallic brevity, “basically, he was drunk.” After his little adventure the impromptu climber was arrested, charged and has been ordered to appear before court, sources told French media.

NEWS

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‘BEAUTY PAGEANTS’ FOR CHICKENS IN MALAYSIA

MAN TRAPPED IN MAXIMUM SECURITY JAIL FOR 31 HOURS

65- YEAR OLD WOMAN BANNED FROM CARTWHEELING AT GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

Dianne Barker, 65, is an advocate for promoting travel without using a car. A former Ohio State cheerleader, she often speaks at public meetings for the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), where - for a little extra spark - she ends her comments by cartwheeling in front of the officials. "I think that the cartwheel is something I found out that I could do that is enjoyable, and it definitely expresses my passion," Barker told reporters. Barker is a supporter of multimodal travelling, which promotes travel without a car. The cartwheels are her way of showing the benefits of a healthy lifestyle that emphasizes walking over automotive travel. It also makes her cause stick out among many others competing for attention from

the officials. But not anymore. Governement officials recently sent Barker a letter asking that she no longer cartwheel during their meetings. It's not that they hate 65-year-old women who can still do the splits. Officials said the cartwheeling disrupts the meetings and poses a risk of injuries to others, they say. Barker has previously defended her cartwheeling as free speech, but Fredda J. Bisman, the lawyer representing MAG, said succinctly in the letter: "That position is incorrect." Barker says she will follow the order, and refrain from cartwheels at their meetings, but she says she just might do a flip, the next time. "The cartwheel isn't the end of it," she said.

A man visiting his son at a Chicago jail was trapped in a maximum security area for about 31 hours when he walked into the wrong room. The man, who has not been identified, was following directions he had been given, but ended up in a room which had been wrongly left open by a contractor. The automatically locking doors shut him in, but he assumed (since the room contained stools and partitions for visiting prisoners) that he would see his son. "After about two hours he realised he was in the wrong room," a prison official said. He banged on the doors, but no one could hear him. And because the room was being renovated and not in use on the

weekend, no one checked - and no one seemed to notice that a visitor who had signed in had never signed out. Eventually, the man spotted the room's sprinkler system and broke off the head, which alerted the fire department The man suffered cuts to his thumb and needed stitches, but otherwise was healthy after the ordeal that lasted from about 6 pm on Saturday until 1am on Monday. He has, of course, filed a lawsuit.

Singaporean photographer Ernest Goh was traveling to a farm in rural Malaysia for a photo expedition when he stumbled across a local and little-documented culture: chicken beauty pageants. The pageants feature the Ayam Serama breed of chicken, which is bred purely for ornamental purposes and is the smallest chicken in the world.

At the beauty pageants in Malaysia, breeders present their chickens one by one to a panel of judges. The judges inspect the chicken based on the chicken’s appearance, but one of the most important factors in determining a champion is the chicken’s ‘stance’ or ‘spirit.’ How the chicken walks, puffs out its chest, and struts is very important to the judges.

The Serama breed of chicken originated from the crossbreeding of Japanese and Malaysian bantams or small chickens. The name Serama comes from “Rama,” and some origin stories of the Serama say the chicken comes from a Thai king who gave them to a Malaysian sultan.

Serama breeding has become more popular over the last decade and had now spread as far afield as the United States, France, and Britain. We don’t expect them to overtake Crufts anytime soon, though.

(Goh has recently published photographs of the prize birds in a book called ‘Cocks’)

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Mount Bromo is best appreciated early in the morning, which entails getting up at 3.30am and going by jeep across a cold, windswept moonscape, known as the sand sea, and enduring temperatures of4 degreescelsius. You need to pack awoolenhat, warm gloves and layers of fleecy, thermal attire if you’d like to brave a sensational sunrise at the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park in East Java.

There are three volcanoes to view in this national park and the scenery is dramatic, making it one of Indonesia’s most impressive sights. The best news is that a trip to Mt Bromo is easily done in a weekend from Jakarta. By flying to Surabaya you can arrange a car and driver on arrival at the airport and from there it is a three-hour drive to the township of Probolinggo, one of many places to stay in the area.

An early departure meant I was down in the lobby for freshly brewed coffee at 3.30am, where everyone seemed to be full of smiles and

the reception areawas a hive of activity. The drive was around thirty minutes to the jeep transfer point where a thriving clothing rental business was going on. If you do not own warm clothes, everything is rentable including jackets, blankets, socks and other accessories and it will only set you back around around Rp5000.

It was pitch dark as I climbed into the back of the jeep, which rattled and bumped its way across a vast windswept sand desert through the dark swirling mist. I could make out a faint set of sand tracks, which our confident driver was following with his headlights on full beam. The driver navigated his way through this dark, vast, barren landscape and we arrived on time for the sunrise viewing at Mount Penanjakan.

The effort was certainly worth it. Mount Bromo rising to 2,392 meters with its massive ten kilometer crater shrouded in mist. I was lost in the power of nature – a very cleansing and cathartic

MOuNt BrOMO:a WeeKeND WONDer

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moment. The other two peaks, Mount Batok, which stands at 2,440meters, and Mount Kursi even higher at 2,581meters create a breathtaking and dramatic sight. Further south, Mount Semeru, the tallest mountain in Java stands as the backdrop, at 3676 meters. This is the most active volcano and predictably smokes on the half hour.

At the entrance to Mount Bromo there is an assortment of vendors and if you are hungry you can get hot noodles, fresh eggs, vegetables and coffee from the warung operators. The water is fresh and is trucked in daily to serve the many people that visit Mount Bromo.

I decided to take a horse ride, to the rim of the crater, which is only a 10-minute jaunt. The next part of the journey involved climbing the 256 steps to reach the edge of the Mount Bromo crater for a closer look inside. What you see inside is sulphuric, smelly, smoldering and most definitely active. From the vantage point on top of the rim, you have panoramic views over the entire landscape. It is a very impressive

sight. Volcanic scoria spills from the side of this blown out volcano all the way down to the sand sea. The other two peaks rise majestically on either side and below the ancient Hindu Temple stands isolated and strikingly beautiful against themagnificent windswept plains.

The drive back to Surabaya is a comfortable three-hour drive. It’s a very even paced, relaxing weekend to take in the sights of Mount Bromo and being one of the true wonders of Java, it is a must-do on the list of Indonesian magic places to visit.

PracticalitiesTour Guide and Driver: Tris +62 813 321

36817/trisjavarasa@gmail.comHotel: Lava View Lodge +62 3355 41009/ +62

812 490 8182

Story by Stephanie Brookes – Travel Writer Photos by David Metcalf – Photographer

About the authorsDavid Metcalf is a professional photographer and author. David’s interest

in photography began when he was 17 years old on his first overseas trip and the desire to capture what he feels and sees through the viewfinder is a challenge that continues to inspire him.

An avid photographer and author, David has documented and recorded many fascinating indigenous groups in his newly released Hidden Heritage book, so others can share in the wisdom and knowledge, myths and legends

He hopes that this book Indonesia’s Hidden Heritage – Cultural Journeys of Discovery may inspire readers to embark on their own journeys of discovery to the many places of mystery and magic in this extraordinary country.

David offers photography tours in Bali and Indonesia and information can be found on his website. www.davidmetcalfphotography.com

Stephanie Brookes is a freelance writer who lives in Bali. Her travels have taken her extensively over a thirteen-year time span through remote parts of Indonesia and beyond.

A published travel writer, author and blogger for numerous international publications, Stephanie has travelled through many remote regions of Indonesia, taking on many writing assignments and thinks nothing of hiking to the top of a steaming active volcano or climbing into the back of a jeep to cross a sand sea and catch a sunrise in East Java.

Stephanie’s first book, “Indonesia’s Hidden Heritage – Cultural Journeys of Discovery,” was released in March, 2014. Come on a travel journey of Indonesia through the pages of this book and discover for yourself the diversity of rich cultures that exists in this vast archipelago.

Please view more of Stephanie’s stories on www.travelwriter.ws

TRAVEL

Cultural Photography tours- David Metcalf Photography tours

Take a journey to somewhere new this year. Discover unusual destinations off the normal tourist trail. Join David Metcalf Photography Tours (both photographers and non-photographers welcome) and connect with ancient cultures in Bali and India.

David’s next cultural tour is unique. Visit the very remote North East India and attend the annual Hornbill Festival. This tour offers professional photographic tuition (if needed), expert guidance, combining unforgettable experiences and a photographic in-field workshop method that will improve your photographic skills. Read what others have to say on www.davidmetcalfphotography.com

Next tour date: 1-9 December “Nagaland” - North East India Filling quickly. Small group size only

www.davidmetcalfphotography.comemail: davidmetcalf3@mac.com

Coming to Bali? Half-day tours available. Book on-line

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THE BLOG

Like many others, when it comes to leaving Jakarta in the summer or otherwise, sometimes the goodbye that you may find most difficult may be to the housemaid, may even more than family and friends. After all when did traipse up the down with stairs with armfuls of laundry and smile happily when doing so. When did a brother or sister ever arrive at eight every morning and immerse themselves fully into washing the floors, sitting room first, bedrooms next, then the kitchen, just as you requested and when did a husband ever arch his back to bend down and pick up the dirty socks he left on the floor the night before, just right of the laundry basket. So it stands to reason that the housemaid is significant contributor to the quality of life to the expat wife.

Whether it be chopping vegetables, cleaning, ironing or cooking, the housemaids of Jakarta are the ones that are keeping the show on the road, certainly my own one-act performance which possibly wouldn’t see a curtain opening unless Yanti arrived at her usual eight in the morning to do so.

Not totally oblivious to the assumed poverty that Yanti returned home to each night, I have always commended her on her good grace and professional attitude, in light of the fact that she had presumably come from such a humble abode.

But as time clapped by in big dirty Jakarta, I noticed the flair she appeared to have when caring for a home. Polishing up the marble floors beautifully and using her magical yellow cloth for the shower enclosure in order to keep it shone up real bright, now ya’hear.

Then I got to thinking perhaps Yanti is not a poor maid, perhaps she just wants to work a little for sake of independence and enjoy the added bonus of having a little pocket money on the side. Rather like a part-time PR gig or something. Day, weeks and months faded away and it was obvious that Yanti was not just any old maid, after all she could decant a bottle of Merlot beautifully and whip up a Waldorf salad in no time.

Fearful that my intended leaving present of cash and food supplies such as rice, noodles, tea, oil, sugar and flour would offend the quietly affluent Yanti, I did what any woman would do and I tried to wangle an invitation for myself to see her house after all she was in mine every day, it was only fair.

When she agreed and said that she has no problem with the visit, come anytime, I jumped at the opportunity, I would go that day, see the house when she had no time to prepare, that way it would be an accurate portrayal and therefore not a false account.

Well, the one kilometre walk along the filthy walkway to Yanti’s house confirmed one thing that she was working as housemaid because she needed the money and not for any other reason. Her home was approximately twenty four metres squared with three areas, each separated by plastic streamers, where a door might be.

I scanned the house, wanting to notice what item would be most useful for me to donate to her and her husband. Thinking along the lines of the fridge, a cooker, a microwave, a replacement sofa, mattress, etc. However, humble as it was, there was nothing missing, except for a roof in the ‘kitchen’ area and running water.

I asked the question, ‘Yanti, is there anything that I have in my house that you think you could use here’. The reply was instantaneous, ‘yes’ she said, ‘you have two TV’s, I would like one of them’. A little surprised I reply, ‘so, not a newer bigger fridge, not a freezer, or a washing machine, not a mattress or even a door, but a flat screen TV, why?’, ‘I would like to watch the world cup ma’am’. Now why didn’t I think of that!

Endsdenisehession@gmail.com

Indonesian House in Jakarta

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We‘ve been meaning to visit Japan for a while – five years, to be exact. An aborted attempt in 2009 ended with us moving here from Tanzania (long story) but having arrived, we saw much of South East Asia and little of the Far East. Finally, this summer, we decided it was time to bite the bullet (train) and head for the land of the rising sun...

Naturally, our first stop was Tokyo. Faced with a bewildering choice of hotels, we plumped for an Ibis, mainly on the basis that we’d stayed in one before and it wasn’t all bad. Fortunately Shinjuku, the area in which we eventually ended up, was quite tourist-friendly, being plentifully supplied with restaurants, money exchange shops and located right next to Shinjuku station. This last part wasn’t too hard, though – Shinjuku station is an underground behemoth with apparently over 60 entrances, each popping up in unexpected places (for example – having used the recommended ‘East’ entrance, only 5 minutes away from our hotel, it wasn’t till our last day that we found an entrance in the street right next to us!).

Sightseeing in Tokyo was necessarily a mix of temples and child friendly activities, but here is our list of top sights to see:

sensoji Temple One of the most popular temples, this colourful shrine

dedicated to the Buddhist goddess of Mercy, Kanon, is

located in the centre of the city. The main feature is the imposing entrance gates, called Kanarimon (Thunder Gates) decorated with an enormous red lantern. The street leading to the actual temple is lined with shops selling sweets, kimonos, keyrings, fans and other knick knacks – it’s a good place to do your souvenir shopping.

Next door to Senso-ji is the Hanayashiki playground, an old fashioned amusement park. It has (among others) a Ferris wheel, a haunted house, a merry-go-round, a 3-D simulator and Japan’s oldest roller coaster. Not a patch on Disneyland, of course, but the children quite enjoyed it (they didn’t go on the roller coaster).

Meiji JinguStill on the temple theme, this one is a Shinto shrine

dedicated to the spirits of the Emperor Meiji and his wife. Meiji was a 19th Century emperor of Japan and is credited with moving the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo.

The shrine itself is set in acres of forest land - 700,000 square meters of forest with over 120,000 trees. It’s an area of recreation and relaxation with some pleasant walks, and was extremely peaceful compared to the hustle and bustle of Senso-ji. Of particular note were the barrels and barrels of sake on display. These are donated by the breweries, but sadly, as we discovered, they are empty.

JaPaNa FaMIlY HOlIDaY

(Part 1)

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Zojo-ji templeThis smallish temple located close to Tokyo tower is

best known for its cemetery with tiny statues dedicated to ‘water’ (unborn) children. Parents can choose a statue and decorate it with toys and clothes – usually red caps and bibs but occasionally a bathrobe t-shirt, jacket or cloak. It was quite sobering to see the rows and rows of stone statues with little windmills fluttering in the breeze.

Tokyo towerTaller than the Eiffel, but with MUCH shorter queues.

The view is alright; the real attraction is the ‘Lookdown window’ on the way out. Here you can look directly down 150 meters through a special reinforced glass panel in the floor. We nearly missed it!

disneylandLocated in the east Bay area of Tokyo, this was a

great antidote to all those temples, as we were feeling a slight culture overload. It’s a Disneyland like any other, I suppose, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that it was not too crowded – apparently, everyone is Japan has got the hang of the fast pass system (though the most popular attractions, of course, had queues well over an hour long towards the end of the day – we simply skipped Splash Mountain, though we did get to ride Big Thunder Mountain twice – hah!).

We didn’t stay for the fireworks, but did manage to get in a Disney parade, which was a slightly surreal experience. As we watched dozens of cast members jumping and dancing to ‘Happiness is here’ I couldn’t help but wonder if any of them had, as children, said “when I grow up I want to be a dancing piano”? Still everyone seemed to be having fun, and we managed to leave in good time to return to our hotel and freshen up in time for our dinner in The sky restaurant, one of Tokyo’s two revolving restaurants. Located in the New Otani Hotel this provided a great buffet dinner with sushi on tap, which delighted Kieran. However there were also a large number of non-sushi options,

both Japanese and Western. My personal favourite was the lightly seared foie gras with mashed potato and caramelised onion – heaven!

sumida river boat ride. This triangular tour takes you from Asakusa (you could do it after your visit to Senso-ji) down the river to see several of Tokyo’s sights such as Tokyo Skytree, the odd golden turnip (still haven’t managed to find out its real name) as well as the many different bridges along the way. The boat stops at the Hamarikyu Gardens – nice for a walk- before going on to Hinode, where you have the choice to transfer to Odaiba Seaside Park, which houses Tokyo’s Big Sight and Palette town (we didn’t).

This isn’t nearly as well organised as the other attractions – the commentary is only in Japanese, and apparently does little other than list the names of the bridges as you travel underneath. Also, it seems to be a bit hit-and-miss which boat you get – we were lucky to get an open boat, but others may not. However it was a pleasant way to spend 40 minutes and gave us a chance to rest our feet, so worth a look if you’re in the neighbourhood.

The famous Tsukiji wholesale fish market – unless you plan to arrive before 5am, there’s not much to see. Only 120 visitors are allowed in to see the tuna auctions each morning, and if you’re not early enough, then you won’t be allowed. Practically all areas are off limits while business is being conducted, and we definitely got the feeling that we weren’t welcome. Visitors are allowed in after 9am, by which time all the fish has been sold and sent off.

On the plus side, there is an outer market consisting of a few lanes of retail shops selling fruit, vegetables, knives, green tea and the odd clothes shop. There were also quite a few sushi restaurants in this area where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of sushi and sake.

Next issue – kyoto and hakoneSoma Mitra-Chubb

Get a PASMOTokyo’s transport system is run by several different

companies – there’s the Japan Rail, two separate underground networks and buses. You could get individual day passes for each company, or mess around with carnets, but your best bet is to get a PASMO – a pre-paid travel card which works across all the systems (it also works for drink vending machines). We even used our PASMO outside Tokyo!

Break it up. Tokyo is huge. And sometimes the choice of things to do can be daunting. Most hotels and information

offices will have a handy guide which break it into smaller areas, making it easier to decide what you want to do – try to confine yourself to one or two areas per day.

Going to Disneyland? You can check in advance whether a certain day is expected to be crowded or not – see http://www15.plala.or.jp/gcap/disney which will tell you whether it will be a ‘people rattle’ day (under 20,000 visitors) or the ‘quite painful and unfamiliar people crowded’ (around 60,000). The website is in Japanese, but that’s want Google translate was designed for.

tokyo travel tiPs:

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PONDOK INDAHWATER PARK

The Wave Pondok Indah water park has had a bit of a revamp lately. Those of you who remember it as a two-slide affair in a car park will be in for a pleasant surprise – it’s been remodelled, expanded, and generally refurbished.

It’s still a long way off approaching Waterbom levels (and there are, alas, still only the two slides) but the main attraction is the Wave Pool. Possibly the first in Jakarta, this is presided over by an enormous blue Viking who spouts water out of his mouth while the waves are in effect (every half hour). They’ve also added a water play area for younger children, with water wheels, spouts, tipping buckets, showers and every conceivable way of getting wet that you might imagine. Along with some smaller slides.

Also new is the Viking ship (sensing a theme here) that they’ve built in the middle of the lazy river with water guns and hidey holes – good for

older children not quite content to simply drift down the river. The new slides are pretty good fun too (somewhat longer than the old ones), and of course there is the Olympic-sized swimming pool if you fancy doing some serious lengths while you’re there.

It’s still at the ‘soft opening’ stage – evidenced by the ongoing signs of construction around us – but the advantage is that it isn’t too crowded, or expensive. If you’d like an easy afternoon of entertaining your children, this is the place for you.

Soma Mitra-ChubbThe Wave Pondok Indah Water ParkRp 70,000 per person (children and adults)Tel: (021) 7506750

Entrance via the North Lobby in PIM1

FAMILY

FEATURE

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Dear gillie,My wife insists on singing in public, even though she is

tone deaf. How do I gently dissuade her from drawing attention to herself?

Try pulling the plug on her, and if that doesn’t work, I would suggest it’s time to stop being gentle with your dissuasion. She’s clearly an embarrassment and needs to be made aware of that fact. Or you could try leaving her at home.

Dear gillie, What is your opinion on what is appropriate to share on social media?

Mind your own business

Dear gillie,I recently had a terrible experience on an aeroplane.

after take-off, the person sitting in front of me quite rudely pushed his seat back and remained there for all seven hours. I was quite unable to do anything, from

watching the inflight entertainment to eating in any sort of comfort. I was so appalled I felt quite unable to confront him. What should I do in the future?

I am quite concerned about you. You clearly have a psychological problem which, for some reason, prevents you from tapping a fellow on the shoulder and asking him politely to move his seat, or asking the flight attendant to do so for you. Perhaps you had an abusive childhood or you were locked in a small dark room until you were in your thirties?

If you are unable to do either of these things I advise you to resort to Gillie’s Special Measures. Pour a jug of ice cold water over his head. But smile while you do it.

Dear gillie,I have bought a ticket for a dance but can’t find a partner to accompany me. Why do you think this could be?

It’s probably because you’re ugly.

Introducing a very new column – all your queries answered by our own favourite agony aunt! Write in to DearGillie@bwajakarta.org and Gillie will solve your problems!

Dear Gillie!

st fe Are you A wriTer?PhoToGrAPher?PerhAPs jusT A bon viveur?

The Grapevine needs contributors – if you have a story to tell, or would like to review a film, a book or a restaurant, get in touch! or, if you simply like pootling round jakarta taking photos, then we have a place for you. The Grapevine is always looking for interesting photographs for our cover.

Articles can be as long or as short as you like; we run any number of words from 350 – 1200.

if you are interested please write to:grapevine@bwajakarta.org

your graPeviNeNeeds you!

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NOTICEBOARD

INFORMATION FOREXPATRIATES IN JAKARTA

http://www.expat.or.id

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 NeeDeDto 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

What’s new? Latest business?Social & Sporting Events

http://www.whatsnewjakarta.com

tHe eXPlOrersat 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 monthlyCan’t make Wednesdays? Explorers also has a monthly Saturday group.

Sessions start in september, February and June.

www.heritagejkt.org for more information

explorers@heritagejkt.orgor call 021 2572 5870

The IHS is a non-profit organization offering the opportunity to learn more about

cultural heritage of Indonesia.

Young children? Want to know… Schools and sportWhere can I buy?Keeping them busy

F a m i l y g u i d e t o J a k a r t a

is available as a book (great for the car)and now on the internet at

http://www.familyguidetojakarta.web.id

MONDaY : Bahasa Indonesia 9am (intermediate)

10am (beginner)

tuesDaY : Coffee morning 10amRusty Racquets Tennis 8am,

WeDNesDaY : Canasta 10am

tHursDaY : Mah Jong 9.30am, Baby Group 10am

WOulD YOu lIKe tO set uP aN aCtIVItY?Contact chairwoman@bwajakarta.org

august 2014BWa aCtIVItIes

tO aDVertIsePlease contact the editor

(grapevine@bwajakarta.org)by the 5th of the preceding month

Personal classified ads are FREE to BWA members. If you have personal belongings you want to sell, something you want to give away or to find, this is the place to advertise. Classified advertising is also open to the general public and those BWA members with businesses. A charge of Rp 4,000 per word will be made for each plain advert (minimum charge Rp 75,000) and Rp 500 a word for a boxed advert

(minimum charge Rp 100,000).

BWa serVICes / FOr HIreSupport BWA charities by renting the

’geraldine Johnson Wheelchair’ Also available at the BWA House are a pair of Crutches.

Contact BWA House or bwa@bwajakarta.orgBaby travel cot for hire

Rp50,000 donation per week or part of a week.

BaBY eQuIPMeNt HIre:If you have house guests with babies or are new arrivals to Jakarta and awaiting your shipment, call Yayasan Belita Sehat - Asih at 7699812/7658023. Baby car seats (new-born - older toddler) This equipment is hired out on the under-standing that the BWA bears no responsibility for the safety or otherwise of the equipment.

BWA House 0812 9880 3437British Embassy, Jakarta 2356 5200

emergency NumbersPolice 110Fire 113Ambulance 118 / 119

MedicalInternational SOS 750 5973 (office)Jl Puri Sakti 10, Cipete 750 6001 (24 hr emergencies)

Global Doctors 719 4565 Jl Kemang Raya 87, Kemang 718 2029 (24 hr call centre)

Rumah Sakit Pondok Indah 765 7525Jl Metro Duta Kav UE, Pondok Indah

Metropolitan Medical Centre 520 3435 (24 hrs)Jl HR Rasuna Said Kav C-21, Kuningan

Medic One 725 9111Jl Prapanca Raya 6A, Jakarta 12160

schoolsAustralian International School 717 90437British International School 745 1670Jakarta International School 769 2555

taxisSilver Bird/Blue Bird 794 1234

travelSoekarno-Hatta International Airport 550 5179www.jakartaairportonline.com

Information/Departures/Arrivalswww.jakartaairportonline.com/flight-status-arrivals-departures

airlinesAir Asia www.airasia.comAir France KLM www.airfrance.comBritish Airways www.britishairways.comCathay Pacific www.cathaypacific.comGaruda www.garuda-indonesia.comLufthansa www.lufthansa.comQantas www.qantas.comSingapore Airways www.singaporeair.comThai Airways www.thaiairways.comTurkish Airlines www.turkishairlines.com

sOCIal WelFare grOuP:If you’re leaving and want to get rid of odds and ends which threaten to overload your container, contact BWA Social Welfare. We can always find a home for items in good condition such as used towels and bedding, clothes (sorted into male/female/adult/children), tinned or dried food, medicines, eyeglasses, hearing aids, toys, cleaning products, pots and pans and even old Christmas cards and foreign stamps. We will also be putting out a box at BWA for donations of shampoo, body lotions etc (from airline bags) Contact Tish O’Dwyer 0816767768, or any other member of The Social Welfare Group. We can direct your unwanted goods to people who really need them.

Indonesian Yellow Pageshttp://www.yellowpages.co.id/index.aspx

tHe lOYal sOCIetIesJAVA ST ANDREW SOCIETY www.javastandrewsociety.comST DAVID’S SOCIETY janegllew@gmail.comST GEORGE’S SOCIETY www.stgeorgesjakartaST PATRICK’S SOCIETY www.stpatricksjakarta.org

JaKarta aNIMal aID NetWOrK (JaaN)JAAN works on Improving Animal Welfare in Indonesia through various Wildlife and Domestic Animal Protection, Rescue, Rehabilitation and Education Programs. If you’re interested in Adopting a stray dog or cat, Volunteering at the shelter, Sponsoring an Animal or making a Donation, please visit JAAN’s office at Kemang Timur 17A and/or website at www.Jakartaanimalaid.com. thank you.

CLASSIFIED

useFul NuMBers / WeBsItes

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Situated in Bintaro, south-west Jakarta, the British International School houses a series of uniquely designed buildings set in extensive grounds and providing an attractive, well-planned, healthy environment where fresh air and open space abound, and keep learning free from distraction.

Classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards and computers, making for a stimulating environment. Other facilities include a well-equipped music department; computer suites; science laboratories; language centre; workrooms for design and technology; a state-of-the-art theatre; modern secondary library; Olympic-size swimming pool with touch-pad time recording equipment; tennis courts and ample

playing elds. These resources support a demanding and successful academic programme.

The British International School follows the English National Curriculum (for children 3 to 14 years), I/GCSE (15 to 16 years), followed by the International Baccalaureate programme (17 to 18 years); all conveniently located on one campus. Guided by experienced and caring overseas teachers, who engage the students constantly, the emphasis is on providing students with the very best educational environment, equal to any school across the world and creating happy and responsible citizens of tomorrow who share our values.

What are your values?

For further information about the British International School, please contact the Admission of ce at Tel: (62-21) 745-1670 • Fax: (62-21) 745-1671 • E-mail: admissions@bis.or.id • www.bis.or.id