Tired and cautious, street vendors in Tanah Abang market share similar expression as the tension rises amid the rigorous plan to organise the largest wholesale and retail textile blocks at the center of the city. Losing a place for income source seems imminent. Business doubles up especially in August where the nation celebrates Islamic holy month, but this could be the last chance to taste a boon. Continue reading “WARY AND WEARY PART 2”
Street vendors have occupied the streets in Tanah Abang market for at least two decades. Since then they changed the overall look of the area into a slum-like, yet it remained bustling as one of the city’s retail centers. They have also severed the access to the area and the traffic flow of the proximity. As is commonly the case in developing economies, the formation of infomal sector like this swells sporadically in the densely populated spots of the city. There is no place to spare, which translates into the occupation of public places such as parks, train and bus stations, pedestrian precincts and plazas. Continue reading “WARY AND WEARY”
Somewhere in the coastal line of West Java facing Indian Ocean lays a road built by a private corporation, and was used to serve mining activities many years ago. The place, holding abundant reserves of iron ore, was fought by many since 1980s, and had seen multiple times of changes in ownership as well as exploration permit. This stretch of road marked the once hectic exploitation out of massive investment. Continue reading “THE COASTAL LINE FACING INDIAN OCEAN”
The forty grand dollars worth of restoration made way to Raden Saleh’s three paintings. The 1857 realistic painting Penangkapan Diponegoro implies pejorative meaning towards the Dutch colonials. Continue reading Penangkapan Diponegoro restoration
The article also appeared in the Jakarta Post, 23 January 2015, The Street Painters in Kota Tua.
Sat facing each other as thoughts were focused on the chess board down the pavement, two street painters killed time in an unlikely corner of Jakarta. Portrait pieces hung on the wall of a rundown building around busy intersection in the old district of Kota Tua, making an impression that the trapped eyes inside the frames were watching the chess game. Sat on a stool close to a frame stand, these marginalized painters had settled around for a long time. Their tools occupied half side of the sidewalk. Continue reading “DREAM A LITTLE BIT OF ME”
The traditional trade center Pasar Klewer, Solo, inaugurated in 1971 and had over time gained prominence as both commercial and cultural place of the city, was razed by fire on 27 December, devastating most part of the 2-storey building. It was one of the first textile markets in Indonesia, and later developed into one of the biggest. Over 1500 kiosks were burnt overnight, causing hundreds of million dollars in losses and over 3000 unemployed. Continue reading “THE AFTERMATH OF THE INFERNO”
Teater Koma, one of the country’s most renowned and productive theatre group, staged a play set in the land of Papua. It tells about a restive land where a vicious dragon brought chaos and plight onto the helpless natives. Continue reading Sun of the East
John Climacus was an exceptional person in the history of Western theology because he was revered to as a saint by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church even though there was no any records about his life. His study about the stages in contemplative prayers was part of his teaching that lasts until today’s practice of Christianity. Continue reading The contemplation of st. John
Musi River is indispensable to the history of civilisation in the region, and for hundreds of years developing into what is now called Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra province. It is vital in building trades with Asian traders and voyagers coming from as far as Middle East. Continue reading The makeover of an icon
Multiple pyramid-shaped roofs supported by large pillars as typically seen in art deco style is the main design features of GPIB Paulus Church in Menteng, Jakarta. Built in 1935 in the wake of the early 20th century economic crisis, then known as malaise period, the Dutch communities in the far colony had barely made it through with the financing after collecting enough donation from patrons … Continue reading The rooster church of Menteng
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