ASEAN Matters - The 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta

 And I'm back!

Pheew.. it felt like ages since the last time I post here on my blog.

So, happy to be back and I sincerely hope everyone is fine, wherever one is.

These couple of months have been super crazy for me. Starting from August the September, we have series of meetings hosted by the Government of Indonesia. As you are probably aware of, we are holding the chairmanship for ASEAN this year so I was assigned to go to Jakarta together with my Ambassador. The Prime Minister of the Cook islands as well as the Foreign Minister of New Zealand were joining us at the 43rd ASEAN Summit and its related meetings. 

It was indeed a special event as this year, Cook Islands is the chair for Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and  PM Mark Brown, together with his team, came to Indonesia for the very first time. 

The signing of MoU between ASEAN Secretariat and PIF as well as IORA Secretariats

So you can imagine how excited we were welcoming this delegation and showcasing the best. of Indonesia, as well as ASEAN hospitality. Prime Minister Brown has been scheduled to join many important meetings and engagement during his stay in Indonesia.

So, as you can see, we have a week packed with meetings, signing ceremonies,  lunches and dinners, as well as side events. Many of them were specifically conducted between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, like the US, Canada, Plus 3 and all. So you can imagine how busy that week was! 

My Ambassador and I managed to come and join some of the meetings, including the opening and the closing of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, which was attended by the ASEAN Leaders and all the Guests of the Chair, President Joko Widodo. 

The opening session was great, with live music from Purwacaraka. It was fantastic ensemble for sure. 

The closing session was beautiful as well. I missed the viral dinner, as it was only for limited invitations. But we saw the fireworks on the street, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman to be precise.

After the closing session, on the day when PM of Cook Islands and the delegation was scheduled to leave Jakarta, we took some times to stroll around Anjungan Halte Trans Jakarta and took some mini tours as well as photos. I was lucky that by the time this place was cleared and temporarily closed by Paspampres, my mom and I were already there so we could take great photos here with the crowds.

I took him there and showed him the Selamat Datang statue as well as a little bit of history of Hotel Indonesia. Wearing his fresh teal Pacific shirt, PM Brown seemed to enjoy the scenery and took lots of photos as well! All in all, it was a successful visit.

I left New Zealand at the end of the August and stayed in Jakarta until the second week of September. I got a surprise so to speak while staying in Jakarta, as I was appointed as Director for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs at Kemlu. Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, wish me luck for this new position ya.  I guess I have to get everything ready before moving back to Jakarta from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Will keep you all posted!

THE 42nd ASEAN SUMMIT - Behind the scene story

Hi everyone..

Cheers from ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting venue at Ayana Komodo, Labuan Bajo

I hope all is well and kali ini saya ingin berbagi cerita di balik layar saat ditugaskan untuk membantu pelaksanaan KTT ASEAN ke-42 yang berlangsung di Labuan bajo, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia. Mungkin teman - teman sempat melihat exposure dan berbagai pemberitaan mengenai pelaksanaan KTT ASEAN tersebut di berbagai media massa dan media sosial. Pelaksanaan yang dapat dikatakan berhasil dengan baik dan menghasilkan banyak kesepakatan penting ini berlangsung berkat kerja sama dan kerja keras banyak pihak, terutama dari kantor saya, Kementerian Luar Negeri.

cheers from Labuan Bajo

Saya termasuk beruntung dapat bergabung dengan tim Kemlu dalam persiapan dan pelaksanaan KTT kali ini. Penugasan ini termasuk salah satu penugasan yang cukup mendadak karena saya mendapat informasinya sekitar 2 minggu setelah libur dan cuti bersama Lebaran, jadi hanya beberapa hari sebelum bertolak ke Indonesia. Alhamdulillah persiapan menuju perjalanan ke Labuan Bajo, Indonesia berjalan lancar. 

gearing up to welcome all the ASEAN Leaders

I flew from Wellington on May 5 and had a short transit in Jakarta, before flying to labuan Bajo the next day. I stayed in Labuan Bajo from May 6th - 13th, then heading back to Wellington on May 16th. It was a very intensive week with lots of meeting, coordinations, general rehearsals and last-minute adjustments for the series of meetings we had to go through during the Summit. Again, it was crazily busy and I take it as a rewarding experience.

some member of the team and all of us were posted in Indonesian Mission in New York

KTT ASEAN ke-42 dimulai dengan rangkaian pertemuan di beberapa tingkat, antara lain Committee of Permanent Representatives of ASEAN, Senior Official Meeting, and Foreign Ministers meetings and related meetings at ministerial level, before the Summit commenced. We were welcoming ASEAN Leaders,- Prime Ministers, Sultan and the likes, as well as members of their delegations. 

ready to rumble... usai MC untuk ASEAN Foreign Minister Meeting

Chef Arnold juga ikutan berpartisipasi 

With Minister for Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi

Bersama Pak Sandiaga Uno yang juga hadir dalam salah satu pertemuan

The Summit itself was very packed with meetings. Di hari pertama KTT yang dipimpin oleh Pak Presiden Joko Widodo, ada 5 pertemuan yang berlangsung secara bergantian. Semuanya di tingkat kepala negara. Di hari kedua KTT, pertemuan berlangsung hingga tengah hari, yang kemudian ditutup dengan press briefing yang dipimpin langsung oleh Presiden Jokowi dan didampingi oleh Menteri Luar Negeri dan Menteri Sekretaris Negara, dengan dihadiri menteri lainnya seperti Pak Siandiaga Uno. 

bertugas sebagai MC saat KTT ASEAN 

Di luar pertemuan resmi, terdapat rangkaian pertemuan bilateral antara Presiden Jokowi dengan pemimpin negara ASEAN lainnya, serta kegiatan menikmati matahari terbenam di kapal Phinisi serta Gala Dinner dengan pertunjukan kesenian yang menakjubkan garapan Pak Wisnuthama. It was really a series of remarkable gatherings.

collage keseruan welcoming dinner yang dituanrumahi Pak Jokowi

Saya bergabung dengan tim acara dan persidangan, di mana passion dan pengalaman saya dalam dunia MC atau Master of Ceremony benar- benar terpakai. 

the food served during the VVIP Luncheon

Jadi de ja vu dan seperti mengulang masa - masa di mana saya masih aktif di radio dan memenuhi kontrak MC di hotel berbintang di masa muda. Hahaha...kalau bicara begini rasanya seperti sudah tua karena pengalaman - pengalaman tersebut terjadi belasan tahun yang lalu. 

But in short, I coordinated intensively with the main team of conference officers as well as Presidential protocol team to ensure the smooth conduct of the events. Here are some of the additonal photos from behind the scene.

Indonesian desk

cheers dari Labuan Bajo

Bersama dengan salah satu rekan MC yang datang dari perwakilan RI di Wina, saya berbagi tugas untuk berbagai acara di atas. Saya bertugas di saat sunset reception and welcoming dinner untuk para Menteri Luar Negeri ASEAN, rangkaian Foreign Ministers' Meeting; ASEAN Political and Security Community dan ASEAN Coordinating Council, serta rangkaian KTT dan juga VVIP Luncheon yang dituanrumahi Presiden Jokowi dan Press Conference . Again, seminggu di Bajo jadi tak terasa karena hampir setiap hari penuh dengan kegiatan dan koordinasi. Pheeew, setelah acara resmi ditutup baru terasa melelahkan. But then again, it was all rewarding. 

the collage ohotos from the VVIP luncheon... 

more from the VVIP Luncheon

Saya kembali ke Jakarta pada tanggal 13 Mei dan setelah menghabiskan akhir pekan sejenak bersama keluarga di Jakarta, saya kembali ke Wellington pada tanggal 15 Mei. 

Well, itulah sedikit cerita pelaksanaan KTT ASEAN ke-42 di Labuan Bajo and again, I am very privilege to be there and hope I can come back there soon with my family, this time for a full-pledge vacation.

See you on the next adventures yaaaa.

WW: ASEAN Ladies Circle Meeting in Wellington

ASEAN Ladies Circle Meeting in Wellington

Welcome back and allow me to share about ASEAN Ladies Circle meeting in Wellington. 

As you know, ASEAN is the regional organization comprises 10 (ten) Member States in South East Asia, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. ASEAN is not only an organization but also a community bound by similar virtues, commitment and shared vision. It continues to thrive through various challenges and dynamics at the region as well as in the world. 

Well, I am not going to dwell on the substantive part of ASEAN and its priorities but for us, Indonesia, ASEAN is the bed rock and wherever I am posted, there will always be an ASEAN Committee in those accredited country. After Geneva and New York, Wellington is no exception. Here we have ASEAN Committee in Wellington or ACW.

 

Besides ACW, we also have ASEAN Ladies Circle or ALC. The members of the ALC are the ladies from the missions of ASEAN Member States in Wellington as well as ladies from ASEAN countries who reside in Wellington and other cities in New Zealand.

Every 3 month, we have a meeting and the last one we had was hosted by the Thailand Embassy. We met and learnt how to make Luk Chup, a lovely dessert made of grounded mung beans, shaped in many cute forms and dipped in gelatine. 

It tastes good and looks cute as well. It certainly was fun learning how to do it!

I made a little duck for my Luk Chup

It's a pot luck gathering so each ASEAN missions bring one main dish and one dessert. This time, we brought batagor or Indonesian tofu and fish cake with peanut sauce as well as lapis legit or layer cake. Others brought delicious food as well and we certainly had fun enjoying the food and the desserts.

Layer cake, everyone?

The meeting went well and next time we will meet will be in October. 

I'll get back with more stories and meanwhile, join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and enjoy the link party.

 

Lost in Angkor Wat

And my itchy feet take me further...

This time, I had a wonderful experience in Cambodia.

Has anyone visited Cambodia before? Did you visit the capital city Phonm Penh? Or you managed to visit Angkor Wat as well?

I decided to republish some of my posts with updates and more photos. Again, I come to realize that I still have tons of photos to share.

Attending a 2-day seminar on Genocide in Phnom Penh ( I will share the photos on another post), I welcomed myself to this fellow ASEAN member states.

Phnom Penh is nice obviously. I did have that familiar warm feelings that I got whenever I visited ASEAN countries. Then, as people say, a visit to Cambodia will never be complete without paying a visit to Angkor Wat. Covering the area of more than 162 hectares, Angkor Wat is without a doubt the largest religious complex in the world. No wonder this temple complex has been proclaimed as the symbol of Cambodia and is proudly appeared on Cambodia's national flag.

So, without further due, I flew to Siem Reap with Angkor Air and plunged myself to the ancient-old mystical Angkor Wat.

It was an amazing journey indeed! One I still cherish until now.

one lovely corner at Angkor Wat Temple

First thing first, I flew to Siem Riep from Phnom Penh. It took around 50 minutes fly and we landed at Siem Reap International Airport. As soon as I arrived at the Siem Riep airport, , I got my tuk-tuk to take me to the hotel, had an appointment with the driver for my early-morning ride, and snuggled to my lovely Wooden Angkor hotel (really recommended for sure and you canread my comments for Siem Reap and Phnom Penh at tripadvisor)

The first thing crossing my mind while stepping my itchy-feet here was Borobudur Temple. Well, it is actually quite different because Borobudur is a Buddhist Temple, while Angkor Wat is the Hindu temple. Excuse my ignorance and simplistic approach.

Borobudur is indeed an amazing artifact as well and visiting Angkor Wat, to some extent, was like paying a pilgrimage to its homeland. Maybe because both are amazing temple complex and both are listed in UNESCO World Heritage.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that Angkor Wat is a combination of Buddhist and Hindu  temples. In the beginning, many of the early temples being built here were depicting Hinduism. The original construction of the temple was dedicated to Vishnu, the preserver in Trimurti, Hinduism triad deities. It was first built in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman, the King of Khmer Empire ruled in the 11 - 12th century, for the state temple as well as his mausoleum. the Khmer architecture, during this golden era, is vividly shown by intricate details; the structures, the elements , and the motifs. All of them can be seen through elaborate towers, galleries, bas-relief, and more.

So back to my visit, I started the day very early, I was picked up at 4.30 AM and obviously I was not the only one arranging such early rendezvous. By the time we arrived at the temple, lines of tuk - tuk was already long. And by the way, trying to get a good spot amidst hundreds of people already flocking in Angkor Wat since 5 am was not that easy apparently. 

it was pitch black dark at that time and I was literally squeezing myself. I raced to the spots where we have the view of the whole temple, with the lake in front of it for its beautiful reflection.. The place was already packed with sunrise-hunter like me and tourists who smart enough to start the day early to avoid the scorching sun later on.

Then, after moving at least 3 times, I got my spot. Although I was just an amateur photographer and mainly relying on my no-so-advanced smart phone that I used at that time, I felt like it was such a waste if I didn't immortalise the moment with my gadget.

and the sun kissed the morning....

The temples are amazing and there are so many things to see.

As it was a huge complex, I really have to manage my time and make my priorities.
I was a bit more ambitious at first, but after reality hits me (plus scorching sun the beginning of March when I visited and still quite early in the morning), then I dragged myself until the very last minute to the main attractions.

I was starting with Angkor Wat, enjoying its magnificent sunrise

Reflecting the five peaks of Mount Meru (the home of the Gods in Khmer - Hindu) Architectural masterpiece, Angkor Wat stands majestically until present day. This particular temple was abandoned for quite some times, particularly as Buddhist dominated the later successor of King Suryavarman II.

Then I continued the journey, trying to absorb the ancient vibes in its grandioso form, strolling around walls upon walls of hundred-year-old stories printed on those bas-reliefs. Here are some of the photos I took along the way.

somebody tell me what the story here...

one of the bas-relief in Angkor Wat...

The Apsara Lady...

Then to I went to Bayon temple, famous for its smiling Buddha. Here you will see so many of them.

As the day continued, I walked further to Ta Phrom to see the famous spot of the Lara Croft's Tomb Raider. Remember the movie? The one starred by Angelina Jolie? Ta Phrom has been getting more and more attention because of that movie and because of its unique huge trees growing amidst the temples and becoming inseparable part of it. But I guess I will do so on the next post. I have also visited several other parts of this gigantic complex. So, stay with me as I will get back to you, will you?

So, what do you think about Angkor Wat?

Do you like visiting ancient temples like this?

What do you like most?

Btw, just a little tip to those traveling here. 

• Don't forget to dress as required and fully considering the season. Summer can be very hot and humid so get your comfortable cotton dress or t-shirt and hat if necessary. 
• Get your tumbler and fill it full as you will walk a lot. 
• Wear you favorite sneakers as without even realizing it, I walked from 5 AM to 5 PM, just occasionally take tuk - tuk  to go to different places and have lunch.   
• Get your tuk-tuk since the very beginning and make sure you make a clear deal with the driver. Tips will be highly appreciated as well. I forget how much I paid for my trip. I guess it was around USD 50 for the whole trip (from hotel, around the complex and to the airport - yes I took tuk-tuk to and from the airport :). But it was back in 2013 and before the pandemic. The price might change already.
• As the complex is huge, make your priorities by choosing the places you want to see and explore, especially if you need to catch your plane later that day as well.
• And finally, enjoy the trip. It's really worth all the efforts!

See you on the next post!

WW: ASEAN Short Film Festival

We had fun night joining the ASEAN Short Film Festival in NYC last weekend at Fordham University.

First time ever the 10 Member States of ASEAN has the short film festival in NYC .

We got   a chance to enjoy 6 short films from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

Not to forget some  ASEAN delicious munchies, including putu mayang and klepon from Indonesia.

fancy some putu mayang and klepon?

My son Bo did a volunteer work during the preparation and we enjoyed all the short films as well.

Do you like joining Short Film festival?
do you have one near your area?

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and have fun with the pinky party :)