Homo floresiensis

Florida State University anthropologists confirmed "The Hobbit" fossil found in my hometown Liang Bua, Manggarai is a new species of human being called Homo floresiensis. It is thought to have been contemporaneous with modern humans (Homo sapiens) on the Indonesian island of Flores. I wonder whether we're from such different species. It's not a big deal!

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Indonesia's Yuri Orlov

I bet most of you have seen Lord of War with Yuri Orlov (Nicholas Cage) as the arms dealer with his brother Vitaly (Jared Leto) as partner. So, brothers-in-arms. "Yuri doesn’t believe in concepts like “right or wrong.” He doesn’t believe that things are black or white. Yuri lives in the shades of gray, making us all wonder if we’re in there with him," George Epps wrote in his review (Brothers in Arms) back in 2005.

Reading an article in TRUST magazine this week, I found Indonesia's Orlov in Mr RM Soeryo Goeritno, arms dealer, born in Blitar, East Java, graduated from Moscow's Gubkin Institute, and had experience in arms supply to various countries in Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Suriah, and Afghanistan).
But he is not alone. He mentioned a name, Nicholas (Niko), Flores-born, as one of the key arms dealer in the country. Ah, Flores man, like me. Unfortunately I have no information about this Orlov from Flores. ou can add the list with those jailed in US last year. It's a lucrative business!

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40 Soothsayers compete to stop Lapindo mudflow

At least 40 soothsayers, witches, magicians, and sorcerers from various ethnics in the country have registered to compete in stopping the mudflow at Lapindo Brantas Inc's Sidoarjo, East Java operation with grand prize of 36-square meters home worth around US$9,000, Detik.com reported.

Hasan, Kedungbendo Village Chief, said the participants came from Bandung in West Java and as far as Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara. Since too many participants registered, Hasan as the coordinator of the competition (stop the mudflow in one month operation instead of almost a year technology approach implemented by Lapindo) said all of them should pass qualification round first. In that stage, participants should proof that they could turn-off waterflow from far away without touching the shut-off valves.

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Telkom build up profit, when the tariff will go down?

It's kind of boring to put a note on PT Telkom Tbk's financial report. For years, the company has built up huge amount of profit at the expense of ordinary citizens who pay higher and higher telephone cost.

Today, Telkom published its first half financial result in which the state-owned company booked net profit of Rp5.8 trillion, jump 53% from first half 2005. This is a good news for investors. Good news for government to collect more taxes. But telephone users?
The company also reported impressive revenue growth of 23.8%. Cellular contributes the largest growth, followed by data and internet. But, interconnection increased significantly as well from Rp3.63 trillion to Rp4.116 trillion. Ah, that's why Telkom as the incumbent has no willingness to cut the interconnection tariff that would open up competition in the market.
Anyway, when Telkom will cut the cost for fix telephone service or boost teledensity in areas like my hometown in Flores?
Indonesia, according to many studies, already the most expensive nation in South East Asia when it comes to telephone costs, yet the lowest in terms of teledensity. These are also the reason why it's so difficult to lure in investment, including in the remote, yet beautiful areas, like Flores or other areas in Eastern part of the country.

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Football: Soeharto scored the goal

I'm a big fan of football ever since I was a kid. I remember when I was at junior high school far away in Flores Island watching the first World Cup final between Germany and Italy back in 1982. Without TV network, we watch the game months after the event, thanks to a priest who got the record from his colleagues in Europe. It was fun and I still remember sweet moments for Italy when they scored three goals against Germany. As a kid, no idea about the other aspects of the game, politic & economy.


Four years later, when I moved to Bogor, I watched almost all the games during 1986 World Cup from TVRI, the state-owned TV network. Along with the establishment of new channels, people have options to watch the games they really want in different TV stations. But those days are over. Now we have to wacth SCTV---owned by listed company PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (last year the company booked net profit of Rp180 billion) no matter how expensive you're paying for cable networks.
For the first time, this year, I thought things getting better with my new cable network. But I'm dead wrong. I have to shut down the cable and back to the traditional network to watch the games as SCTV, the holder of 2006 World Cup broadcasting right, managed to get the monopoly. I believe many cable subscribers upset with the way cable providers tackling the issue. They should have arranged that well before the event, at least try to serve its subscribers well. For a football fan like me, I pay for nothing to a cable provider during the World Cup as I switched the program to my old-time UHF.
Cable subscribers, luckyly, are not alone as viewers fired criticism toward SCTV for its failure to air the opening ceremony. SCTV argued the opening ceremony has been in different package of the contract. Well, money talks. I just can't imagine if the holder of the right is not a traditional network like SCTV, but a cable TV operator. With less than 1 million cable subscribers, their homes could be targetted by angry football fans around the country.
What's interesting is SCTV hired Titiek Soeharto (yeah, Soeharto's daughter) as presenter for the games. As you may noticed, she called herself as Titiek Soeharto, not Titiek Prabowo (he was retired general Prabowo's wife). Why SCTV appointed her and not the other gals? Well, she owns some shares through PT Abhitama Mediatama (a company that controls majority shares in SCTV).
But is it something to do with her political moves recently to rehabilitate his father's name? Whatever, that's a bold move.
Imagine that most football spectators are watching her every night on the screen and she could be perceived as a totally different personality, a big fan like us. A good PR for Soeharto indirectly. It's just like she's telling people that...my father is OK, he's watching the games at home like us, I'm here at your (viewers) disposal and forget about my father's trial, let's rock, and GOAL!!!!!!!

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The beautiful Islet of Angels: Relax

Wanna spend some time in a submarine paradise? Then charter a small catamaran and sail to the Pulau Bidadari (about 3 hours from where? but surely not the one at the Thousand Islands near Jakarta). The clearest and closest snorkeling is found off the white sand beaches here.

Good opportunity to swim and even for a dive! The reef of the coast has a big diversity of inhabitants, among them big tropical fishes. There is nothing else on this beautiful island, so bring water, titbits and refreshments and, sending you a great greeting from this paradise!

That's how RoyJava described the islet that become a hot political debate in recent days. Wish I knew that. Shame on me. Bidadari Island, located off the western coast of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, was purchased by a British citizen named Lewan Dosky at least three years ago, newspapers reported late last week.
(I was born in Manggarai Regency at the western tip of Flores Island. I left the island in 1986 without knowing how beautiful the neighbouring islets are.)

Lewan bought the 15-hectare islet from Haji Machmud, a Labuan Bajo resident, at Rp439 million (around US$43,000). But national media seems to be fooled. According to Detik.com, the names are as follows: Ernest Lewandoski and Kathleen Mitcinson. Ernest is the director of PT Reefseekers Kathernet Lestari. The company lease the 45 hectare islet (not 15 hectare) until 2035. So, it was not a buy-sell scheme like all the fuss in the media.
The island has become a key tourist attraction due to the availability of sea parks, which are rich in ornamental fish. Last year, two thousands visitors came to Bidadari.

But that's not the case with politicians and leaders in Jakarta. Jingo Nationalism. National security, etc. I don't want to jump on the wagon of debate. I simply want to share a light moment to enjoy mother nature's beautiful scenery, like the one I display above.
If you have enough time, travel agencies in Bali normally offers the Komodo Tour package with Bidadari Beach for snorkeling, swimming, sun bathing, and relaxation as part of the itinerary.
The famous sightseeing on Komodo dragon in Komodo Island is a must for those who love wild animals. Sometimes you could see the wild horses, buffalo, deer, and wild pig. But keep your eyes open as sometimes the young Komodo dragons are on the trees.
Last but not least, we, Indonesian, should thank Ernest and Kathleen who found the beautiful tourist attraction in one of thousands of ignored islands in the country. I heard, sadly, that one businessman desperately want to takeover the leasing rights from the English couple and he is the major force behind all of these nonsense fuss. Money talks!

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