Maudy Koesnaedi

Actress and TV presenter Maudy Koesnaedi is captivated by the excitement of travel. She especially enjoys trips to the homeland of her Dutch husband Erik Meijer, bringing along their 21-month-old son Eddy. “I sometimes think I like it more than Erik does, because I get to enjoy the normal life – cooking, taking our son to the park, which you can’t really do here.” But she remains a true-blue Indonesian at heart. “Sometimes I think the most meaningful experiences can be found in a little town, having a cup of tea in a quiet spot.” Home in Jakarta is a large, airy colonial-era home in Menteng, Central Jakarta. There was a time when urban living got her down, and she would leave for a rejuvenating trip every two weeks. No longer: She says she has learned to love the chaos. “I can’t stand it when people complain about Indonesia and Jakarta when they make a living here,” says Maudy, a former youth ambassador for the city.

+YOGA
I fell in love with yoga when I started doing it at the age of 30, which is quite a scary age for most women. I wanted to find a form of exercise that was right for me. It’s helped me a lot in many ways, not only physically in my flexibility and understanding of my body – what I can and cannot do with it – but also in concentration.

+FRUIT
There is something missing if I don’t have fruit in the morning. I have to have it. I like all types of fruit, but I go easy on durian, jackfruit and grapes because of their high sugar content. The best fruit for me is papaya; it is inexpensive, it’s right for my blood type and provides lots of benefits.

+KERASTASE PRODUCTS
My hair has always been my main focus in taking care of my body. I’ve endorsed two types of shampoo, and now Kerastase products, which I am very happy to promote. It’s not enough to just use one type of shampoo or hair mask, especially with all the torment we put our hair through with dyeing and hair drying. The great thing about Kerastase is that there is something for every hair problem in their product range.

+SURPRISES
Of course I mean pleasant surprises. A friend of mine from METRO TV gave me Helly the bear, which I’ve kept until today. Another very sweet surprise for me was when my high school friends came to my house on the morning of my 30th birthday. I was at the yoga studio where they also gave me a cake, so I took my time coming home. My friends waited, but most of them were late for work! Surprises don’t have to be big to be special. It can be a simple SMS with a nice image that brightens up my day.

+FAMILY
My family is most important to me. The entertainment business, with the big contracts and all the acclaim, presents its own challenges and difficulties. But I can always count on my family to support me in whatever I do. The most important of all is Erik. He has truly made me a better person ... I could say it’s because he’s good or clever or whatever, but actually it’s because he makes me feel comfortable. And I know that he is the one.

+MOVIES
I love movies. I used to love watching films with a philosophical message, like As Good as It Gets. More recently I’m more into the entertainment value, although I still don’t like the cheesy stuff. My favorite is Juno. It’s a good story, Ellen Page is excellent and the character is great. Usually, teenage girls are stereotyped as mommy’s good little girl or the stuck-up rich kid. But in real life there are so many different, interesting characters.

+CARDS
I keep olds cards and notes, especially funny ones and those with caring messages. Cards show that someone cares about you, especially when they have been made by hand. I have notes from my father and older siblings telling me not to do something, I still keep them in my wallet. One of the most enjoyable things to do at the end of the year is sitting down with Erik and sending cards to friends and relatives in Holland. It’s the thought that counts. I always think that it’s better to have a drawing done by a musician than one done by an artist. Because the more hard work that goes into something, the more meaning there is to it.

+ Bruce Emond
Photos by Adi Wahono

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