CAFE Batavia is so famous that even Newsweek ordained this restaurant one of the best bars in the world. Unfortunately its profits are not worth its popularity. Its proprietor claims he has almost given up as his business has just about dried up. After over 15 years of running Cafe Batavia, the business zone in that area is hardly growing.

This grim business story is told by Aurora Tambunan, former head of Jakarta’s Culture and Museums Servic