On the picture Sheila Turabaz and H.E. Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja. Photography by Roy Strik .
By Sheila Turabaz.
On the 26th of October, the Carlton Ambassador Hotel once again served as the backdrop for the Diplomats Meet and Greet. This time, the much anticipated and well-attended networking event organized by Diplomat Magazine and the Diplomatic Card was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Indonesia.
An eclectic mix of representatives from the corps diplomatique, international organizations, the business sector and others mingled that evening whilst enjoying the finest Indonesian cuisine, such as the classics nasi goring, gado-gado and rendang as well as “Sayah Liquor”, an Indonesian liquor with the unique flavour of spekkoek (an Indonesian layer cake) containing hints of cardamom, cinnamon, anise and vanilla.
H.E. Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, ambassador of Indonesia, welcomed guests, presenting himself as “the food and cultural curator” of the night . He considers it to be one of his favorite functions:
“Food is like a chemistry. It is mixed with different elements. A single bite, will give a variety of taste and nurtures our palate. A single bite, gives us a pleasure to enter into another world. (…) Culture, like food, offers different story lines. (…) While quoting Mahatma Ghandi, the ambassador said that “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people. It provides us a clear understanding and appreciation of each other’s culture and traditions. In turn, we all become cultural enthusiasts and at peace with each other.” Guests were treated with artistic performances by InaDance, a traditional Indonesian dance group based in the Netherlands and pianist Stephanus Maximilian Harsono, who won the prestigious Prinses Christina Concours prize in 2014.
Interesting conversations took place, business cards were exchanged, and fabulous food and drinks were enjoyed by all. It’s safe to say that this was yet another successful edition of Diplomats Meet and Greet.
