Indonesia is more than just Bali !

Bali is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Australian tourists. It’s easy to understand why. Cheap flights, short travel times, beautiful landscapes, friendly people, and the low cost of living make it an extremely desirable place to visit. However, due to the “Bali experience,” many Australians have a perception that Bali is Indonesia. Most Australians have never ventured into other parts of this vast network of islands, and only a small percentage have spent any length of time in the capital city of Jakarta.

As a tourist, this is fine—the bars and beaches of Bali are perfectly set up to ensure visitors to the island have an amazing holiday. The problem lies in translating this perception to your business mindset.

When the island of Bali informs your thinking about what Indonesia has to offer, you limit your understanding of the numerous opportunities that are available for you and your business.
The views of Indonesia as nothing more than Bali is a little like the story of the blind men and the elephant. If you have only ever touched the elephant’s tail, you will have no idea of its true size and magnificence.

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago. With over 17,500 islands and a population of over 250 million people, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world.

According to the World Bank, of the 250+ million consumers, one in every five Indonesians, or around 52 million people, are considered to be middle class. Think about it. That’s twice the entire population of Australia!

Due to Indonesia’s increasing wealth and expanding population, this middle class is projected to grow. The result of this will be a continuing growth in economic prosperity and a reduction of poverty in Indonesia.

It should also be noted that around 60% of the population are below the age of 40. And, approximately 50% of the population (~ 125 million people) represent Indonesia’s labour force.
In terms of Indonesia’s growing economy, Indonesia has consistently delivered a GDP growth of 5% pa every year since 2008 and has a purchasing power ranked 10th in the world. Indonesia is also a member of the G20 and an economic giant with the ASEAN group of countries. It is projected that Indonesia will become the 4th largest economy in the world by 2050.

Indonesia has a reputation as a difficult place to do business. There are a number of factors that have fuelled this perception. These include government red tape, a protectionist trade policy, restrictions for foreign investment in certain sectors, legislative & regulatory uncertainty, and pockets of corruption.

It is easy to see why Australian businesses might think twice before expanding into the region. Historically, there is some justification for taking the view that there are difficulties when it comes to doing business in Indonesia. Over the last four years, though, things have changed dramatically in the Indonesian marketplace.

The result is that it is now a much-improved business environment to a politically stable and vibrant economy with reduced layers of Government regulation, eased import & export restrictions, and an extensive investment in public infrastructure.

Most of Indonesia’s population live on one of the five main islands, which are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. As you can see, Bali doesn’t even make the top five!
The variety that you can discover within Indonesia is almost as multitudinous as the islands themselves. Here are just a few of the many attractions throughout the archipelago that will appeal to Australian businesses.

Jakarta is a bustling business district and the main financial centre for Indonesia, with all the amenities you would expect from a modern city. Indonesia is not just pretty countryside and beautiful beaches. Once you know your way around Jakarta, it can be an amazingly fun and rewarding city to live and work in.

The province of Kalimantan on the island of Borneo is rich in resources and therefore dominated by the oil & gas and mining industries, and so there are many oil and mining companies based in the city of Balikpapan, on the island of Borneo.

The recent Indonesian tsunami has caused devastation on the island of Sulawesi, particularly in the city of Palu. This means that there is a need to rebuild, and Australian businesses can play a critical role in this process, particularly in terms of supplying heavy plant equipment. The benefits to both the locals and to the Australian companies are extensive.

Manado in North Sulawesi has a population of around 700,000, and is the most beautiful place in the whole of Indonesia. The surrounding mountainous landscapes and views out across the crystal clear, sapphire blue waters are stunning. The island does attract divers but is not widely visited by tourists.
There are also gold mines in North Sulawesi, near Manado, creating a number of interesting business opportunities. The people are of Portuguese heritage and are predominantly Christian in a country with an overall Muslim majority, which brings a very different flavour to the culture.

In North Sumatra, the Aceh people are regarded as being tougher than most other Indonesians, as opposed to the Javanese, who are viewed as being particularly gentle. If you want to have a strong operations person on the ground, someone from Aceh will rule the factory floor with an iron fist, whereas if you want someone heading up customer relations, a Javanese would be the ideal candidate to fulfil the role.

As you can see, Indonesia is a rich and varied tapestry with offerings to suit many different requirements, and the greater the knowledge you have of the different aspects of the country, the easier it is to ensure your requirements are met.

Want to read more? – The Danna Langkawi

The Ocean’s Calling Me Again | The Silversea Cruising Experience

Our guest writer, John Ninness, took a short journey with Silversea to Yangon and return aboard the Silver Muse and was pleasantly surprised by the outstanding service and hospitality aboard. John writes…..

There’s a romanticism with ocean cruising that seems to tug at the heart of all of us at one time or another. Ever since I first watched the Titanic movie, there’s been an inward yearning to stand on the bow of a cruise ship like Jack and Rose, feel the wind in my face and the romance of a cruising journey.

Yet like many Australians, who have heard the horrifying cruise tales over the last few years, I have been left with a somewhat tainted view to take a vacation aboard an ocean cruise ship. Until now…
This story begins in the thriving metropolis of Singapore where I boarded as a guest of the Silversea Cruises’ iconic flagship, Silver Muse, headed for a journey up to Yangon in Myanmar and returning to back to Singapore.

Singapore is a thriving modern metropolis and the perfect location to begin my Silversea adventure to Yangon

As an aside, I think it’s appropriate that I set the context of my travel journeys. Over the last thirty odd year’s of my working life, I’ve had the privilege to stay in some great five star hotels around the world (generally as part of a work assignment where I often failed to venture outside the hotel bounds). Cocooned in a five-star hotel isn’t that much fun for me I might add. The sterility of the food, the beds, the inherent odour of hotel rooms and the windows that don’t open just don’t do it for me anymore. They’re so indistinguishable that sometimes you can forget which city or country you’re in. So you can imagine my hesitation to partake on a cruise on a luxury five-star ship. It turned out I was very wrong…

Boarding Silver Muse in Singapore, I was greeted by some smiling faces (as you would expect on a luxury liner). But there was a sense of honesty and integrity in the staff as I passed through the several checks before boarding. An earthy friendliness that you’d seldom see in a five-star hotel. There was something different…almost like catching up with a distant family that you haven’t seen before. There was a formal familiarity that didn’t make you feel uncomfortable. An instant connection. A connection that would continue throughout the voyage…and even leave me missing some of these fabulous people over the past few weeks as I returned to my normal routine.
The well-appointed luxury suite with its’ private balcony, walk-in closet and every luxury amenity (including a pretty cool range of Bvlgari products, a tantalising chocolate selection, Illy Capsule machine and an excellent Bose Sound System) were consistent with what you could imagine within the expectations of a five-star experience.

The Butler and Room Attendant was not…they were both far beyond my expectations.
Not long after my arrival in the suite, a pleasant gentleman in Butler’s attire knocked graciously at the door. He introduced himself and provided an introduction to the features of the suite in a thoughtful and caring manner.

This guy (Andrew) was apparently a pro butler, and his sense of enthusiasm and graciousness didn’t stop the whole cruise. Yes, that’s right! Silversea Cruises provide full butler service to every suite on the ship for the duration of the journey. Andrew, like many of the other staff aboard Silver Muse, is a significant point of difference for this cruising company. Their attention to every minute detail to assist you in feeling comfortable was nothing less than outstanding.

The staff of Silver Muse became an extension of me as the cruise progressed. They knew my coffee wants and needs…and, of course, they knew which wonderful sweet morsels that I would desire during morning and afternoon tea sessions.

They knew my cocktail preferences in the evening, the choice of drinks as the evening progressed and even down to setting my preferred alarm time on the clock in my suite.

Even the bed turn down was better than my mum used to do as a child. These guys had silver service nailed, and whenever and wherever I went on the ship, I was always greeted with a friendly courteous style that reflected the connection and the integrity of the experience. It never ever stopped over a twelve-day cruise.


Seriously you say, it couldn’t be that good? I have to say that it was better than “that good.” There was not one day passed by when I felt I needed to think about anything (apart from which dining experience to enjoy) aboard Silver Muse…my new big Silver Muse family always had my back.

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Measuring up: this year, aim for fitness over fat loss for long-term success

Measuring up: this year, aim for fitness over fat loss for long-term success

Getting fit and losing weight are consistently among the top New Year’s resolutions, and January is the boom period for the billion-dollar gym industry. While any attempt to incorporate more exercise into our lives should be welcomed, it’s time to rethink the reasons for joining the gym. And, in particular, the way we measure success when it comes to exercise writes Simon Rosenbaum, UNSW Australia.

Weight loss is one of the most common reasons why people start an exercise program, linking sweating it out with reduced fat. Sadly, they’re setting themselves up to fail because there’s good evidence that exercise in the absence of dietary modification is not all that effective for weight loss. In other words, “you can’t outrun a bad diet.”

In fact, the idea that exercise will lead to weight loss is potentially dangerous because it acts as a disincentive for people who stick to their exercise goals to only find the scales haven’t turned in their favour – and throw in the towel.

A better measure

Research published a few months ago shows the likelihood of an obese man achieving normal weight without surgery is one in 210. And the chances are only a little better for women, at one in 124. Among those who manage to lose significant weight (at least 5% of bodyweight), at least half will regain it within two years.

Weight loss is very important for improving health and reducing risk of chronic disease. But when focusing on the reasons, people should be physically active and engage in regular exercise, fitness, as opposed to fatness is a better focus.

Exercise can directly improve fitness independent of changes in weight. And it may be protective of developing chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, even for people who are overweight or obese. But the importance of trying to lose weight through broad lifestyle change shouldn’t be ignored.

A recent study of over 1.3 million Swedish men found that when it comes to risk of dying early, high fitness isn’t protective for people who are obese. But it showed fitness was an important factor nonetheless and didn’t measure other key health outcomes. Most importantly, improving fitness is a tangible and achievable outcome, so it’s more motivating.

Poor fitness is a modifiable factor associated with heart disease. Other benefits people may gain from exercise, apart from weight loss, include improved mental health, improved sleep and reduced risk of conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Helpful hints

Joining a gym may work for some, but it’s not the only way of getting the benefits of regular exercise. Here are some practical tips to get moving.

1. Avoid a “all-or-nothing” mentality and remember that every bit of time spent exercising instead of being sedentary counts.

When you’re in the habit of exercising regularly, it’s easier to keep going and find the motivation to continue. But when you’ve been inactive for a while, such as over the holiday season, it’s often difficult to overcome the mindset of feeling overwhelmed and out of touch with exercising. This often leaves people feeling unsure about where to begin.

To avoid feeling lost, try setting some realistic, and achievable goals that can be written down and achieved every day. Plan for the worse-case scenario (such as those extra long lunches). Even one set of squats, five minutes of yoga, or a brief walk around the block may be enough to avoid the build-up of post-holiday exercise fear.

2. Seek help getting active, especially if you have a chronic or complex medical conditions. Australia has one of the most progressive physical activity referral schemes in the world, which means people with chronic conditions can be referred to accredited exercise physiologists or physiotherapists to receive individualised exercise programs.

If weight loss is your primary aim, seek help from an accredited practising dietitian to help modify your diet.

3. When it comes to exercise, forget the scales and focus on moving more and sitting less. Wearable technology can help with monitoring and goal setting.

Use other ways of measuring progress, such as how breathless you feel after walking up that set of stairs or how much easier it is to carry the groceries, as well.

4. Don’t forget resistance training (muscle building exercise). Working muscles is not only for young men; it has considerable benefits for men and women of all ages.

Most importantly, the best exercise program is the one that’s realistic for your situation, enjoyable and progressively more challenging. And it’s not necessarily one limited to the gym.

Read the article Life Begins At Magazine