Culture

Jakarta. Writer Leila Salikha Chudori rolls out a new literary podcast called "Coming Home With Leila Chudori" to encourage more Indonesians to read serious literature. Leila, 56, a journalist and novelist, streams the pre-taped podcast every Wednesday. The first episode aired on Aug. 21. "I'm more of a passionate a reader than a writer. It upsets me that people now would rather scroll through social media than read books. No wonder Indonesia is ranked 61st out of 65 in a list of countries with the least number of readers," Leila said on Wednesday. Coming Home With Leila Chudori brings listeners deep into unique book universes created by their authors and encourages them to go back to the page and away from their smartphone screen.  The podcast has three regular segments. "In Contemplation With" has Leila chat with book-loving celebrities including filmmaker Mira Lesmana, actress Dian Sastrowardoyo, … [Read more...] about Writer Leila Chudori Launches Literary Podcast

MONTREAL • Montreal - the Canadian city that spawned the global juggernaut Cirque du Soleil - has once again reimagined the circus, this time tapping into the rich animation and video game production talent found in the Quebec metropolis. In the old port district, between a giant bridge over the Saint Lawrence River and a Ferris wheel, two strange white pyramids sprouted up this summer - an edgy 21st-century big top. They are part of the latest act from Mr Guy Laliberte, founder of the venerable Cirque du Soleil who, after selling his company to Chinese and American investors in 2015, started a new venture: Lune Rouge (Red Moon). That company is behind the strange pyramids of PY1, a show that blends acrobatics and multi-media flair with vibrant sounds, lasers, 360-degree projections and special effects. "Montreal is undeniably the circus capital of the world, but is also becoming known as a hub for creative entertainment," says Lune Rouge's artistic director Jean Guibert. Its … [Read more...] about Mixing acrobatics and multimedia in Montreal

Jakarta. "Gundala," the first film adaptation of the eponymous homegrown superhero, whose costume and headgear more than resemble The Flash, is now on track to book one million viewers at the box office by the end of this week. The film, which will also have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival later this month, has already attracted 822,000 viewers since it premiered last Thursday on 440 screens across Indonesia, according to the film's official social media account. "Thank you, patriots of this country!" Gundala's official Twitter account wrote.  "This country needs a patriot" is the official tagline of the film.  Director Joko Anwar said a version of the film with Indonesian subtitles made for the hearing impaired will also be screened in 21 cinemas across Indonesia starting on Tuesday. Joko's top-grossing movie was "Pengabdi Setan" ("Satan’s Slaves"), a horror movie remake that … [Read more...] about Gundala on Fast Track to One Million Viewers at the Box Office

Jakarta. Jakartans will be able to enjoy a new attraction in the capital as part of Independence Day celebrations being held throughout the country: the Festival of Light, an exhibition of historical dioramas lit up with neons at the National Monument in Central Jakarta.  The festival is part of Monas Week 2019 and uses the latest lighting technology to create neon-lit figures and scenes, including the Prince of Jayakarta, the founder of Jakarta, and Indonesia's founding fathers Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta. "We'll have DJs every night. And taking photos, including selfies, is actually encouraged here," the National Monument's manager Munjirin said on Wednesday. The Festival of Light is on every night from Aug. 15 to 23 from 6.30 p.m. to 10 p.m., except on Monday when it is closed for maintenance. "We hope the festival will encourage more Jakartans to visit Monas. It's a great place to visit and it's right in the middle of the … [Read more...] about Jakarta Lights Up for Independence Day

Out of the hundreds of islands that make up the Thousand Islands, or Pulau Seribu, off the northern coast of Jakarta, only two have been turned into historical parks. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the ruins of what used to be important outposts of the Dutch East Indies Company: Onrust and Kelor Islands.  Both islands are good options for tourists looking for a day trip from Jakarta because they can be only one hour's speedboat ride from Ancol in decent weather.  The island's past lives have left a variety of archaeological features for visitors to see today.  Visitors can explore the ruins of an old Dutch fort and see relics of the VOC. The only building left intact has been transformed into the Onrust Museum. Since the island used to be a major trading hub, there is a lot of variety of what has been left behind. There is a cemetery with crumbling gravestones, old barracks once used by hajj pilgrims and an old Dutch canon for visitors to … [Read more...] about Ghosts of Dutch Colonialism in the Thousand Islands