London (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will participate in the upcoming International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, Germany, from March 5 to 9, 2008.
The Indonesian contingent at the ITB would be supported by 65 hotel and travel agent industries and five regional administrations namely Bali, East Java, Central Java, West Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara Province) and Jayapura (Papua Province), Minister Counselor of the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin Wahyu Hersetiati Priyanto said in a statement on Saturday.
Indonesian Tourism Minister Jero Wacik was slated to officially launch the Indonesian Visit Year 2008 campaign in Germany and dedicated the Indonesian Pavilion at the ITB on Wednesday (March 5, 2008), he said.
Minister Jero Wacik was also scheduled to hold a meeting with Jurgen Klimke, a member of the German Bundestag (Parliament).
The Indonesian minister was also expected to hold a press conference on Thursday (March 6) at the ITB, which would be joined in by more than 10,000 participants from 180 countries and was projected to be visited by around 180,000 people, Priyanto said.
Indonesia would also hold an industrial gathering on March 7 in connection with the country`s tourism promotion in Berlin. The country`s pavilion would present traditional dances and demonstrations on traditional clothe waving during the world`s biggest tourism exhibition.
Some 12 members of Germany`s Free Democratic Party (FDP) led by Erns Burgbacher planned to visit the Indonesian Pavilion at the International tourism Bourse, he said.
Last year, Indonesia won a prize for the Best Exhibitor category for Asia, Australia and Oceania, at the Berlin ITB.
For 2008, Indonesia has set itself the target of attracting seven million foreign tourists and earning a total of US$6.7 billion in foreign exchange from them.
A total 5.5 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia last year.
Topping the list of countries where the tourists came from was Singapore with 1.46 million tourists, followed by Malaysia (941,202 tourists), Japan (593,784), Australia (313,881), South Korea (423,098), China (335,172), Europe (528,171), and the United States (154,846). (*)
Source: ANTARA News
March 3rd, 2008
Sri Ramadhani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
One of many Chinese food restaurants in Jakarta offering healthy traditional Chinese cuisine is Soup Restaurant, located on the 3rd level of Plaza Indonesia shopping center in Central Jakarta.
Among the restaurant’s specialities are various soups using Chinese herbs, including ginseng.
The menu includes Double Boiled American Ginseng with Abalon Soup, Double Boiled Tien Chee with Chicken Soup and Double Boiled Puk Kay and Tong Sam with Black Chicken Soup.
The names of the soups describe a beneficial effect on one’s health. For example, Double Boiled Puk Kay and Tong Sam with Black Chicken Soup is believed to cut down on high blood pressure. One of the restaurant’s attendants said that Puk Kay and Tong Sam are kinds of Chinese herbs.
The restaurant’s marketing coordinator, Virna Haryanto, said patrons can order cholesterol-free dishes.
“Our restaurant offers Samsui Ginger Chicken and a new dish, called Salted Egg Prawn, created by chef Fei Lie Meng,” she said.
According to Virna, Samsui Ginger Chicken is a popular dish in Guangdong city, northern China, served once a year during Chinese New Year celebrations.
“We want our guests to enjoy Samsui Ginger Chicken here at Soup Restaurant every time they want it instead of going to Singapore on Chinese New Year,” she said.
Samsui refers to Cantonese women from the Samsui district. Samsui women are migrant workers and famous for their bright red headgear. They left behind their families in China and came to Singapore to work on construction sites during the early 20th century.
Chef Fei Lie Meng recently gave a cooking demonstration for journalists and invited guests at the restaurant. He whipped up Samsui Ginger Chicken (steamed chicken with ginger sauce), Tenderloin ala Mongols (sliced beef stirred up with butter, milk, black pepper, chili sauce) and Salted Egg Prawn (Crispy fried prawn stirred up with minced salted egg).
After watching the hour-long cooking demonstration, guests were served a plate of Samsui Ginger Chicken, Tenderloin ala Mongols, Salted Egg Prawn and vegetable dishes.
The Samsui Ginger Chicken had a strong gingery taste and the chicken was very tender.
The chef’s assistant, Suci Suprianto, said the whole chicken was marinated with ginger and steamed for about 45 minutes. He suggested guests eat Samsui Ginger Chicken by dipping sliced chicken meat into the ginger sauce and wrap it with fresh lettuce.
Source: The Jakarta Post
March 3rd, 2008