Sweet Seventeen
ovember is always a month of celebration for us at Indonesia Tatler, because it’s our birthday! Yes, this year we turn 17, and as always in this month leading up to the festive season, we bring you a very special issue of the magazine to celebrate. However, this year our celebrations are muted and our hearts a little sad: a few months ago, our beloved Bureau Chief, and my dearest mum, Maria Lukito passed away, leaving her work in this world to be taken up by her children and her grandchildren, and her work in the next to begin. So this issue, we feature a memorial montage from her memorial service and funeral, which was attended by all the many people she called friends.
However, Ibu Maria would not have wanted us to wallow—this most definitely wasn’t her style— so instead, let me introduce you to this month’s delightful cover girl. Any description of Luna Maya is going to read a little like a shopping list: actress, model, socialite, online entrepreneur and now bricks-and-mortar businesswoman. What you may not know about this bubbly, happy-go-lucky charmer is that she grew up in the wilds of Bali and is very much a nature girl at heart. Her story, then, is naturally entitled “Au Naturel” and I hope you enjoy it.
Elsewhere, with the year’s end approaching, we have rounded up some great gift ideas, both for him and for her. For him, we have a stunning selection of timepieces from some of the world’s biggest brands, with one of my favourites being Hublot’s Big Bang Sugar Skull Fluo collection as featured in the story: “Big, Bold and Beautiful”. Take a look at the article and you’ll see why we gave it that title. Meanwhile, for female readers, we present our usual selection of style hints, tips and tricks to help you look and feel your best as you strut your stuff at the slew of parties coming up.
Lastly: a word about food. This issue, we begin a regular column looking at the newest, hippest eateries in the capital, with a round-up of places you simply must try. And to bring things full circle—the circle of life, indeed—we look back at a very special dinner held to honour Ibu Maria. Feast with your eyes and, indeed, your hearts.
Happy reading!