Market Pulse

A small industry built on the blank page problem

Indonesia’s guided journal industry is small, indie and reaching people across the archipelago and beyond.

Wealth

Making it work: What it costs to be single in Jakarta

Wages haven't kept up, the middle class is shrinking and the city gets more expensive every year. Three young Jakartans in their mid-20s explain how they've made it work anyway.

Work It Right

When the side gig was supposed to be the fun part

At first, it was just for fun; then came the pressure to monetize and optimize.

Currently Obsessed

'The Drama' will make you squirm. Watch it anyway.

The dark comedy makes you laugh just as much as it makes you wince.

Arts

Why this unusual exhibit on waste really wasn’t about waste

At Erasmus Huis, a cross-cultural exhibition asks Indonesians to rethink their relationship with waste, starting at home.

Currently Obsessed

Two girls, two worlds, but one message from Indonesian cinema

One grew up in 1960s Surabaya, the other was born on Mars; both have something to teach us about facing an uncertain world with open arms.

Market Pulse

The need to read: Why Jakartans are going back to bookstores

As reading enthusiasm rises, bookstores are turning into the city’s community-driven third spaces.

Wealth

Money Bestie: The ‘big sister’ guide to getting your finances together

Aliyah Natasya and Fill the Blankspace have turned financial education into an interactive journal, turning money talk into a playful, reflective experience that’s accessible.

Market Pulse

Beyond Valentine: Why chocolate is becoming more of a luxury

Valentine’s may bring a two-day spike. But the real story for chocolatiers is what happens the other 363 days.

Market Pulse

Is Hyrox just Jakarta’s next fitness obsession?

Packed classes and waiting lists suggest another fitness boom as Hyrox arrives in the capital, but is this a long-term shift or just the next checkbox to mark off?