Dear Readers,

We would like to extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by the recent earthquakes in Lombok. Our thoughts are with all the victims and their families and friends at this difficult time.

Also on a sombre note, it is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to one of Indonesia’s best known expats and film-makers Gary Hayes, who passed away on July 11. Gary was a very popular figure on the expat scene and in his nearly 30 years in Indonesia he made many close friends in his personal and professional life. His passing is a sad loss to the Indonesian film industry and he will be greatly missed by his friends and colleagues. You will find an article about his life and work on page 11.

The Asian Games are upon us and we hope you will find the time to enjoy some of the amazing sports that will be on display. In the centre of this issue you will find your personal pull-out guide to the games, including schedules etc and where to buy tickets. We wish all the athletes competing the very best of luck and we look forward to an excellent display of sportsmanship and fair play in the time-honoured tradition of the games. Of course we hope that Indonesia’s athletes will perform to the very best of their ability in front of the home crowd, and we look forward to seeing them on the podium collecting their fair share of the medals – or maybe more!

As usual this issue contains a wide selection of articles from our writers designed to give you more insights and ideas while entertaining you. To coincide with the Asian Games and as a follow up to his article on Indonesia’s leading female athletes in Issue 218, Kenneth Yeung tells us all about the top male athletes Indonesia has produced over the years. You may be surprised to find out exactly how many world champions Indonesia has produced!

Until next time,

Edo Frese