Word: indonesianness
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Indonesian hipsters looking for a place to chill in steamy Jakarta didn't have to look much further than the Buddha Bar. Last year, the posh establishment opened as the first Asian branch of an international chain with outlets everywhere from Paris and Cairo to Kiev and Sao Paulo. But on March 10, the Jakarta Legislative Council ordered the nightspot shuttered because its use of religious iconography could be considered offensive to Buddhists. In addition to its religiously inspired name, the restaurant's dining area is dominated by a giant Buddha sitting in the lotus position...
...from practicing yoga if it involved chanting Hindu mantras. Late last year, Indonesia's parliament passed an anti-pornography bill that could criminalize certain folk dancing or traditional women's outfits. The bill was supported by hard-line Islamic groups, who believed its passage could counter moral degeneracy among Indonesian Muslims. So far, the law hasn't been applied in a significant way, although contemporary artists and others are worried they could be targets of its harsh prison sentences, which include a maximum of 10 years' in jail for "any person who exhibits themselves or others in a performance...that...
...They argued that a place called Muhammad Bar or Jesus Christ Bar would hardly meet with approval. The students demanded that the hotspot's name be changed, something the Jakarta Legislative Council has agreed must be a prerequisite for the Buddha Bar to reopen. At the same time, Indonesian Corruption Watch, a local NGO, has raised questions about whether the dining lounge, which is located in a Dutch colonial building that was restored with public funds, is contravening a cultural-conservation regulation that prohibits historic buildings from being used for private gain...
...convince just 1% of Indonesians to buy one quality Indonesian item per year, that is already a great start," says Alun Alun's Pincky Sudarman, who scours the country for interesting products and returns with items old and new. Alongside the traditionally made batik, for example, is a great selection of batik made using a breakthrough technique that allows for the printing of completely different patterns on each side. (See 10 things to do in Singapore...
...fare reflects Manila's cosmopolitan tastes. Authentic renditions of foreign staples include French crepes, German sausages, Malaysian laksa and Indonesian rendang, and people travel from across the metropolis to enjoy them. But they also visit to try Philippine flavors usually found locked inside the country's homes or tucked away in far-flung provinces. Look out for crispy-skinned lechon, or roast suckling pig, from Cebu (Filipinos make an art out of roasting whole animals on spits). Try the rich, fiery-hot Bicol Express from southern Luzon (a pork and vegetable dish with coconut and chili). And don't miss...