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Newspapers and Magazines | Business | Non-Fiction | Fiction | Community Publications

Newspapers, Magazines and Newsletters

The Jakarta Post - For decades, the Jakarta Post has provided the expatriate and English-reading Indonesian communities with excellent coverage of local, national and international events. The Jakarta Post is preferred by the majority of expatriates for its unbiased coverage of the news.

Jakarta Java Kini - is the premier city life magazine for visitors and expats in Jakarta. It brings you all the latest news, events, music, exhibitions, shows, festivals, new restaurants, bars, clubs and travel. From movies, sport and health to shopping, music, art and travel, Jakarta Java Kini is your essential guide to the city and beyond. For more information and subscriptions call 7918-7008. If your hotel or apartment does not already provide you with a free personal copy of Jakarta Java Kini, please ask the management to obtain a copy.

Expat Indonesia Kabar - Expat Indonesia profiles the most interesting and inspirational individuals who choose to make this country their home, while also providing trusted information on how to make the most of what Indonesia has to offer, from exotic explorations and enriching encounters to the finest lifestyle privileges. A fascinating read!

Jakarta Expat is a free Bi-weekly publication aimed mostly at the expatriate community in Indonesia. They distribute 15.000 copies fortnightly all over Indonesia to apartments, embassies and companies in which five or more expatriates are working, International Sports Clubs, International Women Associate groups, high end cafés and restaurants, International schools and many others. This publication is printed in full color on glossy paper and features well-known authors/writers, covering topics which range from culture and history to the latest hip night spots, food, travel and so much more.

Now Jakarta: Life in the Capital - monthly magazine covering new of restaurants, sports, music, movies, culture, shopping, travel and social issues in Jakarta. www.nowjakarta.co.id

TempoEnglish Edition - Tempo is Indonesian investigative journalism at its best. The English version of this prestigious news weekly provides information on news and current events to expats and English-speaking people in the region. Since its establishment in 1971, Tempo has been known for its ground-breaking and objective news, risking all to maintain its editorial independence.

The Jakarta Globe - English language newspaper with a focus on business reporting and news and life and times of Jakarta. Popular with the expatriate community.

Business

How to Start a Business in Bali - It can be difficult enough starting a successful business in your own country, let alone in a foreign country like Indonesia. The dream of running your own guesthouse or restaurant by the beach on a tropical island like Bali, doesn't stop people wanting to give it a try.  This guide on how to start a business in Bali was written to help guide people through the ropes of setting up a company and establishing a successful business. The book goes beyond the author's experience by including interviews with successful expat entrepreneurs who have a combined experience of over 80 years in Indonesia. The advice is practical and to the point. While the guide focuses on Bali, the information could also be applied to other locations in Indonesia as well.

Non-Fiction Books

City of Dreams: An extraordinary journey, inside the heart of Indonesia's capital - Jakarta - A series of short stories that delve into the events and lifestyles of both Indonesians and expatriates in the 21st century in Jakarta. Each story may amuse, amaze or simply confuse you - as you journey into a city that the locals call the City of Dreams.

Culture Shock! Jakarta: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! at Your Door) (Cultureshock Jakarta: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) - This 2007 re-write of the original book authored by Derek Bacon is an essential guide to living in Indonesia! Author Terry Collins covers a wide range of subjects, giving advice to newcomers on: First Impressions, Fitting into Society, Settling In, Food and Entertaining, Culture and Travel, Communicating, Doing Business, and of course a bit of Indonesian History and Government to round out this very informative guide! On sale in Kinokuniya stores in Jakarta (Sogo Plaza Senayan, Sogo Plaza Indonesia, Pondok Indah Mall, and Grand Indonesia) and Periplus as well as online through Amazon.

Comprehensive Indonesian-English Dictionary - The most authoritative resource on the Indonesian language, this up-to-date dictionary features over 1,100 pages of roots, words, and phrases. Published in 2004, this essential reference book is the result of more than twenty years of research and documentation. Its features include the latest terminology from the worlds of business, technology, and government, with sample sentences from newspapers and literature. A valuable tool for communication.

We're Moving Where? An Adolescent's Guide to Overseas Living" Interested? Contact author Ben Voegele

Transnational Lives: Expatriates in Indonesia - Interesting study on the lives of expatriates - living transnational lives in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Letters from Aceh - a collection of letters and photographs (by Scott Graham and Piotr Jakubowski) exchanged between students from the tsunami-devastated Aceh province, and children from international destinations.

Kretek: The Culture and Heritage of Indonesia’s Clove Cigarette – This beautifully illustrated book, detailing the past and present of Indonesia’s clove cigarette, is a coffee table book, to display and share. A work of art in itself, author Mark Hanusz has included page after page of images from around the world, drawing the reader into the world of Kretek, just as the fragrance of this cigarette with its unique combination of tobacco and cloves has woven its way through the history of Indonesia. A true treat for the senses, Kretek: The Culture and Heritage of Indonesia’s Clove Cigarette is a book to be savored and enjoyed.

Bule Gila: Tales of a Dutch Barman in Jakarta - Are you ready for a chuckle, or two, or a hundred? Bart of Bugils fame shares a host of hilarious "Tales of a Dutch Barman in Jakarta". The book is full of stories of his and his expat customers everyday encounters with Indonesians and their culture. The book is not at all focused on drunken expats (though there are a few :) ... his stories show his insight into the Indonesian culture and the humorous twists that arise in encounters that often go awry between the expats and Indonesian - both in the bar - and in life in the city of Jakarta. A really FUN read!

Playing With Fire: Adventures in Indonesia is a tale of one man’s journey through a country riven with political and economic change with one simple purpose in mind: to experience its culture and the natural beauty if its volcanoes. It is not meant as a guidebook to unveil the perfect Indonesian vacation, but rather a deep and witty narrative recounting the author’s immersion in a foreign culture. Anecdotes about Indonesian cultural oddities are interspersed with a very real picture of tourist life and travel destinations much touted by the government tourism bureau. All in all, an interesting read and a truthful look into the heart of a Southeast Asian nation.

Oil Patch: Living in Oil Company Compounds from Desert to Jungle - Author Gary Gentry (of Jakarta Players fame) shares humorous stories of his many years in the oil patch from Libya to Borneo. Stories of his years in Indonesia include a look at the single man's entertainment in "Hormones", "Bu Wati" a woman of the streets, tracking elephant "Spoor", and descending into "The Stone Age: The Oil Patch". Every expat has a story to tell ... and Gary's make for an enjoyable read!

Gado Gado Ala Bule - An exceptionally nice cookbook, celebrating the diversity of the expatriate community in Jakarta. Authored by two expat women, the book is attractively designed and complemented with great pictures of Indonesia. A great souvenir to remember your stay or a perfect gift for friends or family who love to cook international cuisine or would like a glimpse into Indonesian life.

Ibu Maluku: The Jeanne van Diejen-Roemen Story - The unique story of a resolute woman who survives the hardships of remote jungles of Maluku, the horrors of two world wars, and the life-threatening political upheavals that preceded the birth of the Republic of Indonesia. Her story reminds one of Mother Theresa and Florence Nightingale because, like these women, Jeanne had an overriding sense of duty - that of wanting to be of service to her fellow man. During her life, she distinguished herself as a planter, nurse, midwife, gardener, and social worker.

Indonesian Heritage Series - a fascinating collection of excellent reference books on Indonesia history and culture, written by a stellar panel of experts, both Indonesian and foreign. The Indonesian Heritage series is an invaluable resource for those serious about learning more about Indonesia. Each volume contains detailed coverage of different topics on a major heritage theme presented in an easy-to-follow visual format with hundreds of photographs and illustrations. First series on Ancient History, The Human Environment, Early Modern History, Plants, Wildlife. Second series on Architecture, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Religion and Ritual, Language and Literature.

Fiction Books

From Jarrow to Java - From Jarrow to Java (on a beer scooter) is an entertaining, humorous and cleverly observational book, by Joe Writeson, based on some of the unique characters and situations encountered during the course of a large construction project in East Java during a crucial time in Indonesia’s history. The cast includes all the usual suspects: Europeans, Australians, Americans, etc. but the starring roles are held by Indonesians. The timescale covers immediately before, during and after the downfall of the Soeharto regime. Centred around the building of an Independent Power Plant consisting of eight coal-fired power stations, distribution systems and extensive infrastructure, with over ten thousand employees at the height of construction activities. The account is based on the job and and it’s impact on the area, an introduction to Javanese customs and culture, interaction between expats and locals, including the often weird and wonderful way that Indonesians view foreigners, plus the way some Westerners behave when given the “keys to the sweetie shop”.

Night of the Water Spirits Night of the Water Spirits - This intricately woven tale takes the reader through the lives of two young people who meet in Thailand as children. We watch their early friendship develop and grow throughout the years and their interactions with Thai culture and everyday encounters. Some taboos are meant to be broken is the subtitle, and a constant under plot throughout the story. The novel offers interesting insights into the lives of expatriates in Thailand and Indonesia and in particular, the study of Southeast Asian lizards and the Komodo Dragon. The drama is unending in the personal lives of Panida and Teddy as the story builds to its surprising climactic ending. Written by Jakarta expat Barbara Bisco! Available in Thailand at Asia Books, Malaysia at Kinokuniya Books, Singapore at Select Books.

Taste for Green Tangerines - A sizzling escape to a richly drawn other world, this is a book about finding yourself in the most unexpected of places Disillusioned with her London life, anthropologist Bethany Parker takes up a last minute offer to help build an eco resort in the Indonesian rainforest, trading cappuccinos, a lackluster boyfriend and her one bedroom flat for mosquito nets, longhouses and an international team of environmentalists. Thrust into a lush, colorful and sometimes brutal world of tribal traditions, erotic tensions and struggles between east and west, Bethany is forced to learn about herself as she learns about Borneo. Written by Jakarta expat Barbara Bisco!

The Spice Garden - An incredible tale of the turbulent late '90s on a small island near Ambon. A fictional tale, based on true events, tells the story of the drastic changes to quiet idyllic island life with the onset of before unseen religious strife. The book is a very enjoyable read and full of insights into island life, small island politics, inter-religious affairs ,and the needs of a peaceful community to heal the wounds caused by outside agitators.

Crescent Moon Rising- At a time when Australians are wavering in support of a proposed US led invasion of Iraq, more than six hundred US Marines rotating on R & R in Bali suddenly disappear; then, Kuta erupts in a fireball and Australia falls into line with America.

Jakarta Shadows - Set in today's tumultuous Indonesia, this thriller is a great read. Expats in Indonesia will find many insightful and entertaining references to life as we know it, with familiar landmarks and situations that expats find themselves drawn into. Available soon through QB Books.

Indonesian Gold - The inspiration for this novel was based on events surrounding the infamous, billion-dollar BRE-X gold fraud, and the determined few who recklessly destroyed so many lives and severely impacted on local cultures with their all-consuming quest for gold, in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.

Merdeka Square - (Released in North America as Freedom Square) “Tense, intelligent and gripping. Merdeka Square presents a rich portrayal of the terrifying crisis which brought President Soeharto to power, and explores an exotic shadowy world, mixing undoubted fact and exciting fiction in an intoxicating form.”

The Timor Man - is an absorbing novel, provides a controversial perspective on events in Indonesia, and takes the reader through the brutal invasion of East Timor. The book gives an insider's view of the execution of foreign journalists and builds to a chilling finale, set in the present day.

Jakarta - Indonesia post-Soeharto: the new military government hits overdrive with ambitious plans to construct state of the art nuclear power stations in Bali and Java. 'Jakarta' completes the trilogy series by taking us into the dangerous and corrupt world of high finance and global politics.

The Fifth Season - Many readers no doubt will be disturbed, perhaps even incredulous at the novel's portrayal of the events surrounding Ten Days In May, 1998, when American-trained, Indonesian Special Forces shot and killed students on Jakarta's streets, and more than one thousand citizens lost their lives.

Expat Community Publications:

Introducing Indonesia: A Guide to Expatriate Living- The most inclusive reference guide for expatriates living in Indonesia. An introduction to the history, geography and culture is presented along with helpful hints for arrival procedures, settling into new homes and lifestyle, vital medical information and cultural tips. Incorporates Staying Healthy in Indonesia. 359 pp. American Women's Association.

Jakarta Shopper's Guide - The most in-depth guide for goods and services in Jakarta. With categories ranging from arts and handicrafts to water systems, the guide includes contact information, business hours and special tips for each shop or service. The Jakarta Shopper's Guide is unique because every establishment or service listed has been personally recommended by expatriates. 363 pp.

Family Guide to Jakarta: The Essential Handbook for Parents - covers topics of interest to families moving to Jakarta

Aspects of Indonesian Culture - Just published in its third edition, this small book provides an informative and well researched introduction to the enormous richness of Indonesian culture, and is particularly appropriate for newcomers or visitors to the archipelago. Whilst the first two editions focused on the cultures of Java and Sumatra this edition includes the island of Sulawesi, however all the information has been expanded, enlarged and updated. Importantly this edition includes an in-depth bibliography for further study, if wished.

Museum Nasional Guidebook - The Guidebook takes visitors on a walking tour through the 16 sections of the National Museum in Jakarta. Beautiful photographs of items in the collections as well as descriptions of the collections and selected artifacts. The Guidebook serves as a fascinating pictorial introduction to artifacts throughout Indonesia's history.

The Jakarta Explorer - This 372-page book is an indispensable guide to well-known and little-known historical and cultural sites in Jakarta, as well as many other hidden treasures of interest in the areas surrounding Jakarta. Compiled by the Indonesian Heritage Society's Explorers groups.

What's New Jakarta - e-newsletter with upcoming community events

AWA Publications

Indonesian Heritage Society Publications

UFE Publications

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