IF THERE IS ONE CONSTANT TO THE YEAR-END, IT IS STRESS. AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE WORLD’S MOST POPULOUS ISLAND SEE MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE. SO WE’VE FOCUSSED ON SOME TRULY JAVA-CENTRIC WAYS TO UNWIND – WHILE STAYING ON THIS VAST AND FASCINATING ISLAND

SUNDAY IN JAKARTA

By Ve Handojo

It’s strange but true, you can truly enjoy Jakarta.

A sunny Sunday is all it takes to unwind in this busy, vibrant capital. Head south in the morning, to find Roemah Djawa, or House of Java, tucked away in a narrow street in Lebak Bulus area. Roemah Djawa is a compound of traditional joglo houses stuffed with antiquities from all over Indonesia, as well as China, Myanmar and Cambodia. Tasty snacks and Javanese coffee will mark the start of your tour around this gallery-cum-house which is owned, built, and operated by Leksmono “Leks” Santoso and his American-wife Linda. Leks, who sometimes dresses as a Javanese or Papuan depending on his mood, will welcome you and your friends and take you around the house. Leks’ collection includes rare batik, tribal masks, Buddha heads, Cambodian string puppets, royal Chinese gowns – and even some 1000-year-old fossils.

Next, head down to the central city to find Pacific Place Mall in the Sudirman Central Business District. Retail therapy, Jakarta-style, begins on the ground floor where The Papilion Duo stands in one corner. This chic arcade showcases objects of high indulgence, from A-class fashion labels like Commes des Garçons, Marni, Jil Sander, Raf Simons, Kris Van Assche, D&G, and Y3, to rare collectible perfumes. Luxurious homewares and furniture from Biyan Living will help you take your lifestyle up a level, while carefully selected CDs and quality coffee table books from French publishing house, Assouline, will satisfy your art cravings.

Next up, if movies are your cup of tea, climb up to level 6 for an unforgettable movie experience with your loved one at Blitzmegaplex’s Velvet Lounge. For Rp 250,000 (US$27) you and your partner can share a synthetic rattan lazy beach-bed, complete with freshly laundered blankets. And while we would never suggest anything naughty, the gap between beds is wide enough to preserve privacy. This is the perfect spot for those really long movies. However, if you fall asleep, don’t blame the director.

Head outside to the Mega Kuningan area, to Loewy on the ground floor of Oakwood Premier Cozmo serviced apartments building. Coffee is best served here on the patio, with a Belgian waffle. Amid the lush greenery, enjoy the golden rays of the early sunset reflecting off the office buildings, as delicate music enhances the easy mood.

Later, head back south to Kemang area, to the SHY rooftop lounge up on The Papilion. Dress to impress in this plush setting and make sure you’re with the closest of friends. SHY rooftop lounge, lit romantically with heavy candles, is where Jakarta’s yuppies hang out. Acoustic live music balances the luxurious adornments – generating a smart, yet casual peacefulness. After the day you’ve enjoyed, a long evening here will end your week in style.

Contacts

ROEMAH DJAWA
Jalan Lebak Bulus Raya 1 No 85Z, Cilandak, South Jakarta. Tel Mr. Leksmono “Leks” Santoso on (021) 759 13558. Email: redestin@ indosat.net.id Appointment only. Hanya dengan perjanjian.

BLITZMEGAPLEX
Pacific Place, 6th floor Sudirman Central Business District, Central Jakarta tel (021) 51400800

SHY ROOFTOP LOUNGE
The Papilion, 5th floor Jalan Kemang Raya No 45AA,South Jakarta tel (021) 719 0789

YOGA AT BOROBUDUR

By Devi Asmarani

In a world of multi-tasking, pushed email and one-hour commutes, some city dwellers have found the perfect refuge in yoga.

The ancient Indian discipline of stilling the mind through breath and physical practice is catching on all over the world, including Indonesia.

Yoga’s appeal is its holistic nature. As it energizes the body, it also calms the mind, providing the perfect workout for both the sedentary body and the agitated mind.

Traditionally, yoga is practiced to cultivate a quiet mind, in order to meditate and achieve a special state of consciousness or samadhi. However, these days most people attend yoga classes religiously for other reasons: from achieving a “yoga butt”, healing injuries and other types of health conditions to seeking a way to manage their emotions.

In the past few years, the number of yoga studios and fitness and health centers offering yoga classes has been growing in Jakarta and other major Indonesian cities.

There are many different styles of yoga, from the gentle restorative styles to more vigorous classes done in a heated room. If you are new to yoga, it is best to try out the different varieties to see which one suits your needs and personality best.

If you are already a yoga addict, the Borobudur Temple offers an authentic yoga experience. The 9th-century Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, is an increasingly in-demand haunt for those seeking spiritual experience. Overlooking the top of Mount Merapi volcano, the magnificent complex was buried under layers of volcanic ash for over 10 centuries. Now it is a popular tourist destination.

Get up early in the morning just as the sun is rising to enjoy it at its best. To enter before its official opening hour of 6am, purchase a “Borobudur Sunrise” pass from the Manohara Hotel located inside the temple complex, other hotels in the area or Jogjakarta. You can join yoga or meditation communities that sometimes organize trips there, or simply enjoy some time alone. Bring your yoga mat, do a few rounds of sun salutations first, then soak up Borobudur’s spiritual power as you meditate. Then, just feast your eyes on the magical surrounding as you take a meditative stroll around the temple. Somewhere between the temple’s first and third levels, you’ll feel about as far from your stress as you can in a single morning.

– Author’s note: Aside from writing, Devi Asmarani is a trained yoga instructor.

ISLAND ESCAPE

By Devi Asmarani

While Jakarta’s beaches are not the city’s strongest feature, just a short boat trip away is a haven for those seeking a weekend escape – the Thousand Islands or Kepulauan Seribu. Dotted throughout the Jakarta Bay, Thousand Islands, rather misleadingly, comprises 120 tropical islands and coral atolls. The islands are accessible by ferry or chartered boat in 20-minute to two-hour crossings from Marina Jaya Ancol, Tanjung Priok seaport or Pasar Ikan (Fish market) at Sunda Kelapa. Daily boats to different islands depart every day at 8am and 9am.

The resort areas have dive operators who offer boats, dive guidance and gear for rent. If you would rather stay on the water’s surface, jet-skiing or banana-boating will inject some energy into your weekend. And rest assured, you don’t have to stay in the resort to rent their facilities. Or, for a more mellow weekend, simply enjoy lying on the beach with your favorite book, listening to the sound of waves lapping on the shore, relishing the gentle breeze on your face.

HEALING HANDS

By Luke Clark

Given you’re in the home of traditional treatments, it’s no wonder that many in Java turn to massage when it comes to relieving stress. But sometimes the standard treatment just isn’t enough or you simply don’t have enough time for more therapy. In that case, why not double your massage benefit. The Novotel Jogjakarta has the perfect answer – its Vous Spa offers the Kembar massage, a twin treatment performed simultaneously by two therapists. Inspired from Japanese shiatsu, Hawaiian lomi-lomi and Thai and Javanese traditional treatments, the therapists are trained to perform the treatment harmoniously in the same rhythm. The verdict? I could have sworn this was one person with four skilful hands. For a really stressed-out person such as myself, this was a perfect escape.

URBAN OASIS

By Luke Clark

The idea of unwinding may be fine but most of us are just too busy. We travel, stay a night or two, then move on. Next time you’re away on business, try a room you’d love to escape to, rather than escape from – such as those in the 12-suite Kemang Icon in Jakarta. An Alila Hotel, the Icon, like other boutique hotels from Tugu Hotels, makes a stay feel more like an occasion. My Infini room immediately felt like I was in Bruce Wayne’s mansion. The floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains and massive 20-foot vaulted ceiling in polished concrete added the instant drama the general manager had promised. I walked in circles for a bit, enjoying this over-the-top space. Then the touches: spot-lighting, the tune-loaded iPod, butler pantry, glass-plated bathroom in the corner with rain shower, Ploh pillows and duvets, 58-channel flat-screen TV. Though working during my stay, this still felt like unwinding far from reality, yet plugged to the world via free broadband. A business traveller I may have been – but for a brief time only I had a rock star’s room, playing the capital city for a special two-nights only.

Kemang Icon by Alila, Jl. Kemang Raya 1, Jakarta, tel (021) 719 7989. www.alilahotels.com