China :: Asia

By Akhyari Hananto Saya tidak berlangganan HBO di rumah, atau StarMovies, atau Cinemax, tapi saya memilih channel film-film Asia seperti Thrill, Kix, Celestial Movies, dan RED, bukan apa-apa, saya sudah sangat mengenal pattern cerita dan scene film-film barat, sementara film-film Asia mempunyai garis cerita yang berbeda-beda antara Jepang, Korea, dan Hongkong. Itulah mengapa saya tertarik berlangganan channel-channel itu, daripada HBO dan sejenisnya. Namunrupanya saya harus segera berlangganan HBO. Tahun lalu, saluran ini membuat film seri yang luar biasa, dan saya cukup menyesal tidak menontonnya, yakni The Pacific, tentang deru perjalanan pasukan marinir AS melawan Jepang di Perang Pasifik tahun 1941-1945. Penggalan sejarah yang mengubah Indonesia, mengubah Asia, dan dunia. Bukan itu saja, ternyata HBO juga sedang membuat film yang seluruh proses syutingnya dilakukan di Batam, yang dibintangi oleh Ario Bayu, berjudul Dead Mine, katanya ber-genre horor. Hmm..baiklah, rupanya saya juga...

Designer Kenneth Cobonpue and his team will hold a press conference on Thursday to clarify the issues concerning their design for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 1 (NAIA-1). In tonights Teditorial, Teddy Locsin Jr. defends DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas decision to set aside the groups plan and prioritize the facilitys safety. The World Tonight, ANC, November 29, 2011 Bloggers branding NAIA the worst airport were homeless gays. Naturally, they complained the NAIA womens toilets are inadequate, theres nowhere to lie down, no kneepads in restrooms in any case. But so long as an airport performs immigration and customs functions, who cares if it does not do anything else? Well, people with no authority who told Pineda, Layug and Cobonpue they could remake the airport. Nobody, who is anybody, notices the airports they pass through. My best friend, mining magnate Ronnie Zamora has travelled the world. After immigration, he said, the airport is just a blur when Ritz, Four Seasons,...

Ada sebuah film Amerika yang dirilis pertengahan 2000-an, dimana salah seorang pemainnya menyatakan keheranan dan ketakjubannya ketika mengetahui bahwa di pesawatnya terdapat Wi-fi, dan dia bisa browsing sepuasnya di udara. Tahun lalu, saya terbang dari Singapura ke Narita, lalu dari Narita ke Detroit, dan saya teruskan dari Detroit ke Washington DC, di setiap leg saya temukan koneksi Wifi di dalam kabin. Tentu saja layanan ini tidak gratis, dan biayanya waktu itu cukup tinggi. Dan saya memang lebih memilih tidur daripada browsing internet. Meski bukan pemain pertama, Garuda Indonesia mengumumkan akan memasang koneksi Wi-fi di pesawat-pesawat barunya mulai 2012, dan saya belum mendapatkan informasi apakah untuk rute domestik atau internasional. Yang saya tahu bahwa pesawat-pesawat Boeing 777-300ER sudah terdapat fitur itu, dan tinggal diaktifkan. Pswt itu sendiri baru datang sekitar Mei 2013. Sementara untuk pesawat-pesawat baru yang lain seperti Airbus A330-200 dan Boeing 737-800NG,Ga...

BEIJING, Nov 30 (Xinhua) -- China will raise the electricity price for non-residential use by an average of 0.03 yuan (0.47 U.S. cents) per kilowatt hour nationwide starting Thursday, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced Wednesday. Residential electricity prices will not be raised at this time, but there will be public hearings to decide the details of adjusting residential electricity prices in the future, said the NDRC. China will adopt a gradual power tariff mechanism for residential use,which means prices will increase with consumption, it said, adding that 80 percent of China's households would not be affected by the price hike. The NDRC also said that it will allow the contract price of major thermal coal to float by no more than 5 percent next year. (Xinhua)

PKL: Disayang dan di Gusur. Oleh: A. Cholis Hamzah *). PKL yang masuk dalam kategori sektor informal dimana mana (terutama di negara berkembang) kerap kali menjadi perbincangan publik secara sepihak, karena lembaga ini selalu di konotasikan sebagai lembaga ekonomi yang mengganggu ketertiban umum. Dikatakan sepihak juga dalam artian bahwa dalam setiap perhitungan indikator makro ekonomi, peran PKL ini jarang sekali dimasukkan sebagai variable yang penting. Padahal kalau kita melihat anatomi perekonomian sebuah kota besar di negara-negara berkembang, sekitar 30-40% penduduknya berada dalam sector ini. Dalam satu penelitian tentang sektor informal ini di Indonesia tahun 1998 ditemukan bahwa ada sekitar 43 juta orang di daerah pedesaan dan 14 juta orang di daerah perkotaan atau sekitar 65% dari total angkatan kerja (CBS, 2001, Hugo, 2000). Penyebutan istilah sektor informal ini bermacam-macam tergantung dari sudut mana kita melihatnya. Misalnya saja selain sektor informal ada yang menye...

Bagi kebanyakan orang Indonesia, sulit untuk mempercayai bahwa ekonomi Indonesia akan menjadi yang terbesar ke-6 di dunia, pada tahun 2045, atau tahun dimana bangsa ini merayakan 100 tahun kemerdekaannya. Dengan segala carut-marutnya, dan berita-berita yang sebagian besar negatif yang disiarkan oleh media , saya sendiri tidak 100% percaya kalau Indonesia bisa menjadi negara sebesar itu. Sebenarnya, tanda-tanda kebangkitan ekonomi Indonesia sungguh nyata, dan rasanya prediksi bahwa Indonesia akan menjadi kekuatan ekonomi ke-6 terbesar di dunia akan menjadi kenyataan. Saya sempat beberapa kali ke negara2 berlainan di Asia Timur, Eropa, dan Amerika, dan cukup mengagetkan bagi saya betapa Indonesia menjadi buah bibir di negara-negara tersebut, setelah China dan India. Banyak prediksi dan banyak ekonom dunia yang mempercayai bahwa kebangkitan ekonomi Indonesia akan menjadi sesuatu yang irreversable, inevitable. Tak terbendung. Saya membaca di The Jakarta Globe, dan menemukan sebuah judul be...

Hello again from Tanjung Bira! This is the third post about Tanjung Bira. Im pretty sure that you will never get bored to visit a beautiful place like this. At least, I know I wont. The picture above is the best diving spot in Tanjung Bira, Kambing Island. If you can see shark around Kambing island, then you must be the lucky one. Here some under water photos in Kambing island. Beautiful isnt it? I bet you want to really go to Tanjung Bira now. second and third photos taken from www.birabeachhotel.com Regards Mad Check my blog travel Mad Alkatiri for more cool places and follow me @madalkatiri

Giant Sea Creatures In Derawan, sea turtles (green, hawksbill, scarlet and star fruit turtles) come on shore at night to lay their eggs. Say It with Flowers The largest flower in the world, Rafflesia Arnoldi, is native to Indonesia. The flower was named from Sir Stamford Raffles. Even though it is huge, it doesnt smell nice like roses or jasmine flowers, for Rafflesia is an insect-eating flower. The Best Diving in the World With an average 200ft and an outstanding display of marine habitat, Flores is a haven for divers, snorkelers, photographers and marine biologist. With up to 40 m visibility, the coral reefs of Flores Sea are among the best in the world and beautifully preserved. Sundanese Culture Like Javanese, it features an intricate system of levels to indicate degrees of respect and formality. Likewise, through there are considerable differences between Sundanese and Javanese culture, they touch with respect to forms of literature, gamelan music, dance, and wayang (puppet play)....

Boeing and Lion Air, an all-Boeing Next-Generation 737 operator, are pioneering the use of precision navigation technology in South Asia with the introduction of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) flight operations. RNP enables airplanes, using global positioning systems, to fly precisely predefined flight paths without reliance on ground-based navigation stations. Lion Air, together with Boeing and the Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation, successfully performed validation flights to test tailor-made RNP Authorization Required (RNP AR) procedures at two terrain-challenged airports, Ambon and Manado, Indonesia. We look forward to seeing these procedures fully implemented so we can realize the substantial economic and safety benefits provided by this program, said Captain Ertata Lananggalih, managing director of Lion Air. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation Indonesia intends to implement RNP at other airports in the country. Lion Air is employing the most advanced v...

by Akhyari Hananto Ada yang istimewa ketika saya bertemu dengan seorang teman yang bekerja di PT Adhi Karya.Dia menunjukkan saya artikel pada halaman sebuah koran, yang memberitakan bahwa perusahaan tempatnya bekerja SIAP membangun menara / gedung tertinggi tenggara yang akan mempunyai 111 lantai. Saya lalu bertanya ke dia Apakah memang kita perlu membangun gedung setinggi itu? Dia menjawab dengan ringan Harusnya, Jakarta sudah penuh dengan gedung-gedung setinggi itu sejak 5 tahun lalu. Daripada membangun gedung2 dengan ketinggian sedang (25-35 lantai), mending bikin gedung tinggi sekalian. Menghemat lahan katanya. Saya akur disitu. Dan saya rasa, Indonesia belum mempunyai ikon landscape yang bisa dibanggakan. Kalau Malaysia membanggakan ikon Twin Tower-nya , seperti Taiwan dengan Taipei 101-nya, Singapore benar-benar membanggakan skyline-nya yang megah penuh cahaya dimalam hari, yakni Marina Bay. Shanghai juga seperti itu. Marina Bay, Singapore Jakarta, bisa jadi akan mempunyai cerit...

via Abante Parang atat na atat na si Floyd Mayweather Jr., may direktang hamon na siya kay Manny Pacquiao. Sa video message mula sa kanyang official Twitter page, hinamon ng undefeated na si Mayweather si eight-division world champion Pacquiao na ikasa na ang pagtutuos nilang dalawa. Ive been told May 5 is open, ani Mayweather. Losing is in Pacquiaos mind because he lost just last week. He lost to Marquez three times. May 5 is the date, sign the contract, Im waiting. Ang tinutukoy ni Mayweather ay ang kontrobersiyal na panalo ni Pacman kay Juan Manuel Marquez noong Nob. 13 sa MGM Grand. Nanalo ang Filipino champion via majority decision para panatiliin ang WBO welterweight belt. Dalawang beses nagharap sa negotiating table ang kampo nina Pacquiao at Mayweather, dalawang ulit ding nadiskaril. Pangunahing bagay na hindi nila mapagkasunduan ay ang pre-bout blood testing. I cant be sitting waiting all day, you want to fight, lets make it happen. Im here, Im waiting, whats going on? I can...

Kura-kura di dasar laut Pulau Derawan. Ini yang akan Anda dapatkan jika Anda menyelam di Pulau Derawan.Kura-kuralaut dapathidup sampairatusan tahundan mereka termasuk hewan yang dilindungi,sehingga sebagaiwarga negara yang baik, kita semua,bersama-samaharus melindungimereka juga. Regards, Mad Check out my travel blog Mad Alkatiri for more cool places and follow me @madalkatiri . Translated for Good News From Indonesia on MSN by Yoanda Pragita

Indonesia has had one of its most active years in investment banking and capital markets. Citis Indonesia CEO Tigor Siahaan explains what is attracting investors. While the rest of the world slowed, investment banking and capital markets activity has grown in Indonesia this year. Why? Its a combination of factors really that have put Indonesia very much in the spotlight. On the capital markets side you have seen the Republic of Indonesia issue a sukuk bond and the state-owned electricity company PLN [Perusahaan Listrik Negara] issue a [$1 billion 10-year] bond in the past couple of weeks. Citi was a joint bookrunner on both. The order books for both these issues were in excess of $12 billion, which underlined that the global investor base remains keen to search out investment opportunities in Indonesia. Lets not forget its the worlds fourth-largest country by population, and with GDP growth of around 6.5 percent its an emerging market that is on most global fund managers hit list. Thin...

Sea turtle in the bottom of the sea in Derawan Island. This is what you got if you went diving in Derawan island. Sea turtles can live until hundreds years and they are protected animals, so as a good citizen, you and I, all of us, together must protect them too. Regards Mad Check my blog travel Mad Alkatiri for more cool places and follow me @madalkatiri

Pak, kenapa bangsa barat dikatakan menemukan benua Australia? Apakah benua itu pernah hilang? pertanyaan itu dilontarkan seorang anak kecil berumur 9 tahun, ketika saya mengajar di sebuah pesantren di Yogyakarta. Saya tidak tau kenapa negara-negara barat lebih suka menggunakan kata discover, dan bukan arrived kalau mereka bertualang. Dan kenapa hanya bangsa barat yang berhak menemukan , padahal bangsa China dan Indonesia pada masa lampau telah menjadi penjelajah-penjalajah samudera, jauh sebelum bangsa barat mengenal kompas. Gambar perahu Bugis karya bangsa Aborigin (sumber www.dfat.gov.au) Sejarah mencatat bahwa Suku Bugis sudah lama berinteraksi dengan kaum Aborigin Australia 1000 tahun sebelum ?Willem Jansz/Janszoon, pelaut Belanda, menemukan Australia pada 1606. Suku Bugis lah yang pertama kali berinteraksi dengan suku Aborigin Australia dan mentranfer kearifan lokalnya berupa teknologi kelautan, sehingga kaum Aborigin memiliki kemampuan membuat perahu sederhana dan melaut untuk me...

RFA Photo Homes built on Boeung Kak Lake in central Phnom Penh. Four women were injured and another four detained on Monday following a clash with Cambodian authorities over a controversial development project in the nations capital, according to villagers. The women had gathered in front of city hall with other villagers from central Phnom Penhs Boeung Kak Lake community to protest the loss of their land to a Chinese-Cambodian company. The company has been filling in the lake with sand in preparation for the construction of a luxury residential site. The villagers, many of whom had already lost their homes to a forced demolition, said they held the demonstration to ask for help from local officials after a group of land title officers visited Boeung Kak Lake to take measurements over the weekend. After being ordered to disperse, we scuffled with authorities who beat four women unconscious and detained another four, said one villager, who asked to remain anonymous. Members of (the Camb...

China is pushing for greater influence as Burma prepares for high-level talks with the US. AFP Burmese President Thein Sein (C) sits near U.S. President Barack Obama (R) at an ASEAN meeting in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 19, 2011. Chinas leadership said Monday that it would work to strengthen military ties with Burma ahead of an upcoming visit to Naypyidaw by the top U.S. diplomat. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, widely tipped as the successor to current President Hu Jintao, told the visiting commander of Burma's armed forces, General Min Aung Hlaing, that relations between the two countries had successfully "endured changes in the international arena." "I hope the militaries of the two countries, hereon, can continue to strengthen exchanges, deepen cooperation and play an active role in pushing forward the development of comprehensive relations," Xi said, according to a statement posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website. The push for deepened ties come...

Vietnamese police arrest demonstrators rallying for the right to voice public dissent. Kami's Blog Demonstrators rallied in Hanoi on Nov. 27, 2011 to support Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's call for a new law on public demonstrations. Vietnamese police broke up a rally in Hanoi on Sunday as demonstrators gathered in support of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungs recent call for a new law on protests. Around 30 people gathered to show their support for the proposal, which they hope would provide greater protections for the right to stage public demonstrations. Police arrested at least 16 of the 30 demonstrators who had gathered near the Ly Thai Lo statue in a park near Hanois Hoan Kiem Lake. There were 16 to 17 protesters arrested and we dont know where they have been taken, said Ngo Duc Tho, a Hanoi professor and activist who took part in the rally. They broke up the protest. Im not sure if well be able to protest again. I think [the police] were very prepared for this, he said. E...

Ini adalah satu lagipemandangan indah dariPulau Derawan. JikaAnda mengunjungiPulau Derawan, janganlupa untukmenikmatimatahari terbenamnya yang sangatindah, kombinasiwarna langitbirudan oranye, sepertilukisan. Regards, Mad Check out my travel blog Mad Alkatiri for more cool places and follow me @madalkatiri . Translated for Good News From Indonesia on MSN by Yoanda Pragita

Halo! Ini adalah pemandangan pulau Biawak dari atas.Indahbukan?Airnya begitubersih sehinggakita dapat melihatbagian dasarnya. PulauBiawakterletak40km daripantaiutaraIndramayu,Jawa Barat.Adadua namalain untukmenyebutpulau ini,yaitu pulau Rakit danpulauMenyawak.Ada juganama darikoloni Belanda,yaitu pulau Bompyis.Jangan tanyamengapa pulau inidisebutseperti itu,tetapi sayatahumengapadisebut sebagaipulau Biawak.Karenapulau inimerupakan habitatbiawak(Varanussalvator).Mereka hidup dirawa-rawadan semak-semakmangrove yangmendominasikeberadaan tanah tersebut.Biawakdi pulau ituadalah hewanliar,tetapi mereka tidak akan menyerangmanusiajika merekatidak diganggu.Beberapa dari merekatidak segeramelarikan dirijika didekati oleh manusia, mungkin merekatelah terbiasa didekatioleh manusia,sehingga mereka tidaktakut lagi. Andadapat mencapaipulauBiawakdari stasiun busKampungRambutan,Pulo GadungatauJati Bening.Jaraknya sekitar 4-5jam dariJakarta keCeleng, Indramayu.Kemudian lanjutkandengan transportasiumum ...

This is another beautiful view from Derawan Island. If you visit Derawan island, do not forget to enjoy this very beautiful sunset, combination color of sky- blue and orange, like a painting. Regards Mad Check my blog travel Mad Alkatiri for more cool places and follow me @madalkatiri

Indonesia is confident it can ride out any waves whipped up by the storm affecting much of the global economy, thanks in part to its low dependence on exports and booming domestic demand. There are some concerns, however, that reduced interest rates and high consumer spending could reignite inflation. Deputy Finance Minister Anny Ratnawati said on Nov. 3 that the government saw no reason to amend its forecast for economic growth for the next two years, stating that GDP was still expected to expand by 6.6 percent in 2011 and up to 6.7 percent in 2012, keeping pace with projections by Bank Indonesia (BI) and other state agencies. Increased capital spending would fuel some of this growth, she said, as a number of major infrastructure projects are due to be rolled out in 2012. To accompany the central banks buoyant GDP forecasts, Indonesias inflation rate has been easing of late, falling from 4.61 percent in September to 4.42 percent in October, with core inflation falling from 4.93 percen...

Credit : Jazzuality.com Her lovely appearance assuredly attracts the public eyes attention. Though, Sierra Soetedjo has also bright quality of voice and excellent portfolio that deserve recognition. This friendly lady surely brings a special nuance to the Indonesias jazz field. Yup, Sierra is really something! The Prelude It was such a precious moment when jazzuality.com given a great opportunity to meet up and talk to Sierra Soetedjo, a new young and gifted singer of jazz. Taking place at Bluegrass Bar & Grill, shes sitting at an outdoor with her glam yet stylish look, and excitedly receiving the jazzuality.com teams turn-out. Sierra is actually not that new at all, as shes been already taking part in several music moments. The huge passion in music then propelled her to take Bachelor Degree of Music, in Jazz Performance, at Edith Cowan University, Australia. Its no wonder why she always comes up with her ace quality of performance in every stage show, where her musical knowledge ...

Kemajuan teknologi komunikasi di dunia ini begitu cepat geraknya dan secara radikal telah merubah cara-cara hidup manusia, dari urusan sosial, politik, budaya, pendidikan dsb. Bahkan jaringan teknologi komunikasi lewat computer, saat ini merambah dapur ibu-ibu rumah tangga. Teknologi dibidang ini juga mengalami kemajuan yang dulu tidak pernah dibayangkan; misalkan saja pernah perusahaan Sony, berencana mengembangkan alat monitor kecil, yang dapat ditaruh di ikat kepala atau pakaian, menggunakan trasmisi kulit dan dihubungkan dengan Global Positioning Device, langsung ke server keluarga. Dengan alat ini seorang ibu bisa mengetahui posisi anaknya, apakah sedang kuliah atau nonton film. Ummat manusia saat ini sedang menyaksikan abad information superhighway , yakni gabungan penggunaan teknologi komunikasi, computer dan televise. Kita semua sekarang menyaksikan akibat dari penggunaan semacam itu seorang peserta sebuah conference dunia tidak perlu secara fisik datang ke tempat acara itu, di...

Dont let the rushing water and tropical birds fool you into thinking youve left Prague. At the citys zoo, hundreds of people, including President Vaclav Klaus and the Indonesian ambassador, visited Mondays opening of the Indonesian Jungle Pavilion. The exhibit aims to create the experience of a Southeast Asian rainforest both for visitors and for the zoos population of Indonesian primates. We take you on a walk through the exhibit. Guide Frantisek Susta described the animals in a dark, aquarium-lined room. It holds the tanks of kissing guoranis fish whose lips are puckered up as if preparing for a smooch and snake-neck turtles. These animals make up just two of the 100 animal species in the zoos new exhibit. The room leads to the sweltering heat and damp air of the pavilions simulated Indonesian jungle. It also puts the visitor face to face with a Komodo dragon the worlds largest lizard species. Prague Zoo director Petr Fejk says having this highly-endangered animal here shows the ...