MetroBatavia

Agnes Monica for BlueBerry phones!?

Why is an Indonesian superstar like Agnes Monica a testimonial for the cheap BlueBerry brand? Before we answer this question we have to start with the Indonesians affinity for BlackBerry. 

Upvalue: Indonesian artist & actress Agnes Monica - with a LV scarf - for cheap mobile phone brand BlueBerry

Yes, Indonesia is the BlackBerry nation number one in the world. That's why other manufacturer want a piece of this blackberry-cake, too. Malyasian company CSL (Commitment, Service, Loyality) is one of those who offer mobile phones - made in China - for the Indonesian market which look very very similar to the high end phones of BlackBerry or Nokia. Not only the designs are imitated - even the brand names. CSL offers a range that is called BlueBerry with a figurative mark that comes also very close to the one of BlackBerry. In European countries or the USA manufactures like RIM (BlackBerry) could sue imitators which use very similar designs, word or figurative marks. The question is - why not in Indonesia? Maybe they don't fear those low level competitors which offer phones - for 1/10 of their prices. The BlueBerry i6200 for example can be bought in Jakarta's tech malls for only 300.000 Rp (about 30 USD). However, the display, the menu, and the quality are far away from the original phones. 

csl-mobile.com

That was one aspect. The other incomprehensible fact is why an Indonesian superstar like Agnes Monica is a testimonial for cheap brand CSL / BlueBerry? Well, apparently  it is just about the $$$. But can you imagine Beyoncé as a testimonial for a low quality mobile phone brand? It doesn't fit to her superior image! Agnes Monica was one of the hosts of the American Music Awards. That's why she or her management should work together with originial brands. BlueBerry is just a me-too-brand, an imitation. We can't imagine Agnes Monica wants to be seen as the me-to-version of someone else...

Paris Hilton rocking Bali.

Paris Hilton with Indonesian VIP-chef Farah Quinn / photo by Farah Quinn

Top VIP Paris Hilton is staying on Bali at the moment. Unbelievable - but it's her very first visit. In her blog Paris posted that "Bali has been pure paradise! I can't beleive I didn't come here sooner! I have seen so many beautiful places around the world, but I definitely believe that Bali is one of the most incredible places I have ever been."

Paris is having fun with her friends. But beside visting the beachs, Uluwatu and the Ubud area she supports street children with her popularity. Here's one of today's pictures posted on Paris' Twitter profile.

Paris Hilton in the middle of orphans / photo by @ParisHilton

Habibi back on his Campus.

Former Indonesian president and scientist Bacharudin Jusuf Habibi visited "his" University, the RWTH Aachen in Germany yesterday. In the age of 19 Habibi came to Aachen to study. During the following years he studied aerospace engineering receiving Diploma (equivalent to Master in most countries) in 1960 and doctorate in 1965. More about Habibi's outstanding CV can be found on Wikipedia.

Now, many decades later 75 year old Habibi talked in Aachen in front of 300 Indonesian students from 10 European countries. Habibi is still very popular and a role model among the young generation. He started his speech in German, switched to English and later when the German visitors like the president of RWTH Aachen or the major of the city of Aachen left the auditorium he continued in Bahasa Indonesia. 
It was a pleasure to listen to Habibis eloquent skills. He still knows how to inspire people with his explanations. That's why we want to share 5 principles of Habibi with you:

1) Always be honest.
2) Always be polite.
3) Be professional (in what you do).
4) Keep a low profile.
5) Don't pretend to be like a hero. 

Prince Harry & Kate on Indonesian mug.

 
Rp 39,000 (USD 4.50) for a wedding mug of William & Kate? Well, if you have a closer look you'll find the portrait of William's brother Prince Harry on this Indonesian wedding mug. The mug has been offered at the classified website Berniaga.com. "Cangkir William dan Kate 2011" is the name of the product. This classified is either a joke or a stupid mistake of the producer. But if you could get one you might resell it for more than USD 4.50 ;-)  Thank you Rendy for sending this interesting classified to us!

 
Read also: Get your ePad on Berniaga.com

3,5 years jail for Ariel Peterpan.

Ariel (Nazril Irham), lead singer of the popular band Peterpan has to go to jail for 3,5 years! He is the first VIP in Indonesia to be charged under Indonesia's strict pornography law that came into effect in 2008. Ariel had made three sex videos featuring him and separately, two female celebrities. 29-year-old Ariel was found guilty of "giving an opportunity for others to spread, produce and prepare a pornographic video".

Read also: The best of Ariel Peterpan?

Lily Allen engaged in Bali.

Yes, it’s true. Ms “Smile” from LDN got engaged in Bali. The lucky man on Lili’s side is Sam Cooper, a painter from London. Both resided in the luxurious  Amankila Resort in East Bali during the last days of 2010.

The Amankila - which belongs to Aman Resorts - owns a private beach near the village of Manggis. The volcano Mount Agung is serving as the resort's "dramatic backdrop." There are only 34 suites for guests but all of them are free-standing, meaning you essentially have your own little thatched beach house for the duration of your stay. Suites start at around $750 a night.

 

Indonesia Flash Mob-ed.

Photo by Trialogica

A flash mob (or flashmob) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails. (Wikipedia)

This year Mizone - a brand of Danone - initiated “the largest” flash mob of Indonesia. It’s really an impressive video with 1.000+ people dancing to Mika’s “Love today” on the streets of Jakarta.

Another current flash mob happened at Megamall, Batam on December 24th. Seems like 2010 was the year when Indonesians discovered this (new) way of spontaneous public “celebration”.

Bringing online love offline @ halo ACI.

Halo ACI (Aku Cinta Indonesia – I Love Indonesia) is an event to ignite love for Indonesia. Reminding people how marvellous Indonesia is – that’s the objective of an offline gathering of 5 online communities under the Indonesian Trade Department (Ministry of Trade). This year, “Halo ACI” had been held in the beginning of December at Alun-Alun Grand Indonesia. It was officially opened by Ms. Mari Elka Pangestu (Minister of Trade). Several public figures involved in these communities such as Anda (singer), Dian Sastro (actress), Becky Tumewu (public speaker trainer), Leonard Theosabrata (product designer), Eugene Panji (movie director), Endah n Rhesa (musician), etc. took part in the event.

Please check out the participating communities with their concerns & topics - from food to fashion:

pedemu negeRI

This community allows youth to express their creativity, talent, and love of Indonesia through their own videos, picture, music, and writing.

Terima Kasihku

This community encourages people of Indonesia to appreciate every little thing that they find in Indonesia, and give gratitude to every each of it.

Dari Mulut Ke Hati

This community offers a dictionary of Indonesian culinary, and every member can contribute their knowledge of their local exotic culinary to the web.

Adalah Kita

This community acts as a brand dictionary of Indonesia. There are many brands that originated from Indonesia that already acknowledged internationally.

Kabayan Liplap

This is an animation project for kids. It is an early education to love their country.

Ring tone causes war.

Natives walking around in Wamena town.

A ring tone caused a battle between 2 tribes in Jayapura, the province capital of West-Papua. Hundreds of people went to each other with arrows and machetes. Dozen of houses and a couple of cars burned down.
What happened? People of the Yoka tribe recorded a special ring tone - some kind of reggae dishonour cannonade. As a reaction the Wamena tribe felt offended and humiliated and started the attack against the Yoka. After police arrest the situation calmed down.

Beautiful view on idyllic Jayapura.

Anggun fights poverty.

Anggun with 1 Billion Hunger Celebrity Chef Marc Murphy

Indonesia’s most popular singer Anggun Cipta supports the UN in achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. To promote the “1 Billion Hungry project” Anggun recently went to New York City. She took part in the conference with Ban-Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nation, and several celebrities.

You can watch Anggun’s live interview for CNN where she explains the aims of the “1 Billion Hungry project” and her live performance of “Snow on the Sahara” at the Lincoln Center, NYC.

Miss Universe Qory Sandioriva?

On Monday, August 23rd the 2010 MISS UNIVERSE will be crowned in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Qory Sandioriva will represent Indonesia this year. 19 year young Qory from Jakarta was crowned Puteri Indonesia 2009. Her participation in Puteri Indonesia was pretty controversial because she was representing the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, a conservative Muslim province. Due to the Sharia past represen-tatives of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam had always worn a headscarf. But Qory Sandioriva didn’t.

At the moment there is still an online pre-voting going on. 1.73 metres tall Qory is ranked number 7 just behind Miss Thailand. Venus Raj from the Philippines is by far on top. It seems like an Asian domination. However, last year Indonesian Zivanna Letisha Siregar won the pre-voting but she couldn’t make it to the top 15. Let’s keep fingers crossed for Qory.

Mr. Paparazzi enjoys Bali.

Watch out if you walk around on Bali these days. Well, we mean if you are Rihanna or Paris Hilton. Mr. Paparazzi is on Bali. Mr. Paparazzi is Darryn Lyons, the sparkling owner of “the world’s biggest and best celebrity photo agency” Big Pictures. He gained widespread media attention when his company sold a photograph to News of the World, which was used to support a claim that soccer star David Beckham was having an affair with his personal assistant. Darryn himself became famous due to his behaviour, appearance, and various TV shows and documentaries.

Currently, Darryn is on holyday staying in a private villa. He shares a lot of private infos through his twitter account @DarrynLyonsMrP - photos of his private villa, the beach view, etc. Tell us when you see him on the beach tanning his Australian body ;)

The Rich List.

Did you ever ask yourself who is the Bill Gates of Indonesia? The Globe Asia magazine has the answer. They unveiled the 150 wealthiest people of the archipelago. On top of the richness ranking of corporate owner is Budi Hartano from Djarum (tobacco empire) with 4.8 billion dollar AS. Number 2 is Eka Tjipta Wijaya from Sinar Mas (real estate, oil, etc) with 4 billion dollar AS followed by Anthony Salim from Salim (producer of cooking Oil, margarine, shortening). This is the complete top 15 list:

1. Budi Hartono (Djarum) 4,8 billion dollar AS
2. Eka Tjipta Wijaya (Sinar Mas) 4 billion dollar AS
3. Anthony Salim (Salim) 3,6 billion dollar AS
4. Aburizal Bakrie (Bakrie) 3 billion dollar AS
5. Martua Sitorus (Wilmar) 2,5 billion dollar AS
6. Putra Sampoerna (Sampoerna Capital) 2,4 billion dollar AS
7. Sukanto Tanato (Raja Garuda Mas) 1,8 billion dollar AS
8. Dato Low Tuck Kwong (Bayan) 1,4 billion dollar AS
9. Peter Sondakh (Rajawali) 1,3 billion dollar AS
10. Eddy William Katuari (Wings) 1,3 billion dollar AS
11. Murdaya Poo dan Siti Hartarti (Berca) 1,1 billion dollar AS
12. Hashim Djojohadikusumo (Tirtamas) 950 million dollar AS
13. Susilo Wonowidjojo (Gudang Garam) 890 million dollar AS
14. Mochtar Riady (Lippo) 805 million dollar AS
15. Prajogo Pangestu (Barito) 805 million dollar AS