Semarang, May 3, 2025 — In a spirited celebration of peace and unity, hundreds of yoga enthusiasts gathered at Thamrin Square, Semarang for Gebyar Inside Flow for Peace 2025. The vibrant open-air event transformed the heart of the city into a rythmic sanctuary of breath, movement, and music, guided by four of Indonesia’s most celebrated Inside Flow yoga teachers: Ika Dani, Verra, Coki, and Yani.

A Powerful Lineup of Inside Flow Teachers

Each teacher brought their unique energy to the mat, leading choreographed flows set to evocative music that mirrored the theme of peace. The event marked a milestone in Indonesia’s yoga movement, blending modernity, emotion, and traditional wisdom.

Inside Flow: Where Yoga Meets Music

Inside Flow is a dynamic style of yoga where every posture transitions in sync with carefully selected music. The result is moving meditation—flowing, expressive, and deeply transformative. As the music pulsed through the speakers, participants synchronized their bodies and hearts in graceful sequences that felt like dance, yet rooted in yoga philosophy.

The flows selected for the event were curated to evoke calm, resilience, and self-connection—highlighting how movement can be a vessel for emotional healing and collective mindfulness.

“For Peace” : More Than a Theme

The central message of the event, “For Peace”, wasn’t just printed on banners—it was embodied in every breath. Between flows, participants were invited to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their personal definitions of peace. This blend of physical discipline and inner contemplation left a lasting impression on everyone present.

About Inside Flow

Founded by Young Ho Kim, Inside Flow combines modern vinyasa yoga with music and choreography. It promotes the experiences of “flow state”—a meditative and joyful immersion in movement—making it one of the most engaging and emotional yoga styles in the world today.

Until We Flow Again…

Gebyar Inside Flow for Peace 2025 was not just a yoga event—it was a powerful gathering of hearts, a statement of peace, and a celebration of the human spirit. At D’OPENER, we’re proud to be part of this journey, and we look forward to supporting more events that uplift and connect.

The genera Aetoxylon and Gonystylus can also produce lower quality agarwood. This type of agarwood has a pungent aroma when burned, so there is a significant price difference when compared to true agarwood. This type of agarwood is called crocodile agarwood (buaya agarwood). Because crocodile agarwood can produce lower quality agarwood oil, this crocodile agarwood still has quite good commercial value.

The high price of agarwood today has resulted in several manufactures selling crocodile agarwood and labeling it as true agarwood. The similarity between crocodile agarwood and true agarwood makes agarwood collectors often mistake crocodile agarwood for true agarwood, resulting in losses for collectors.The appearance of some crocodile agarwood is very similar to true agarwood, it is impossible to distinguish the authenticity of agarwood from agarwood photos alone. In addition, some irresponsible traders paint unformed agarwood with dark brown oil paint that is similar to agarwood to make it look like true agarwood. If we do not evaluate it and only judge it from the photo or appearance, we will be easily fooled.

However, for some people, especially in China, most crocodile agarwood has an unpleasant aroma when burned, so it cannot be used to make incense. Three species of Aetoxylon are widely distributed to Sarawak and Kalimantan. The production of crocodile agarwood from Aetoxylon is much more than true agarwood on the market. Based on Anderson’s survey in 1995 (which is long time ago), crocodile agarwood was exported a lot to India, but mostly to Singapore and Indonesia.

In your area, is crocodile agarwood in high demand? Please comment down below!

Source:
Xingxia, C., Zhencheng, L. (2017). Agarwood 2. Taiwan: Booker Publication.

Ketepeng Point is set to delight visitors with a diverse menu that features mouthwatering options, including steaks, delicious katsu, and coffees.

In addition to its culinary offering, guests were captivated by the stunning wooden art collection by NoDefect and agarwood incense by D’OPENER, displayed throughout the venue. The pieces, crafted by talented local artisans, added a unique cultural element to Ketepeng Point, inviting visitors to appreciate the craftmanship and artistry of the region.

The grand opening event featured lively activities and a warm atmosphere, allowing community members to come together and celebrate the revitalization of the area. Attendees praised the inviting ambiance and expressed their enthusiasm for this new culinary and cultural space.

With the successful launch of Ketepeng Point and D’OPENER distributor at Central Java, the venue is poised to become a beloved gathering spot in Semarang, where food and art converge to create an enriching experience. From delightful meals to captivating art, Ketepeng Point is ready to welcome guests and serve as a hub of creativity and flavor for years to come.

According to the CITES, agarwood is mainly divided into three categories, they are true agarwood, crocodile agarwood, and fake agarwood. In this article, we will begin by exploring true agarwood. Let’s dive straight into the discussion!

Before 2004, it was recognized that the sources of true agarwood were 25 species of Aquilaria spp. and 7 species of Gyrinops spp. in the Thymelaeceae family. A total 32 species were listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for controlled trade in 2004. The wild agarwood produced bt these 32 species is the true agarwood recognized in international trade. Among them, Aquilaria malaccensis, which is the species that D’OPENER uses to make agarwood incense, was listed in Appendix II for control in 1995.

With the application of scientific and technological investigations, Aquilaria audate was added to the genus Aquilaria of Thymelaeceae family and Gyrinops walla was added to the Gyrinops to the Appendix II of the CITES in 2016. Therefore, the source of agarwood has become 26 species of the genus Aquilaria and 8 species of the genus Gyrinops of the Thymelaeceae family.

Aquilaria spp. species are distributed throughout South Asia and Southeast Asia. Aquilaria malaccensis is the most widely distributed and is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Different from Aquilaria spp. species, Gyrinops spp. are mainly distributed in the eastern Indonesian archipelago and New Guinea.

From the distribution map of Aquilaria and Gyrinops, we can find that if Sulawesi Island in Indonesia is taken as the center line, the farther west the agarwood is, the better, and the farther away from the equator, the better. Of course, there are exceptions, agarwood from Brunei, North Vietnam, and Laos do not meet this standard. Take Brunei as an example, Brunei is located on the equator, but the agarwood production is the best in Borneo.

In this summary, true agarwood stands as a precious natural resource that varies significantly depending on its botanical origins and geographic distribution. As we’ve explored, the distinction between Aquilaria and Gyrinops species plays a crucial role in determining the quality and value of agarwood in the international market. The ongoing recognition and conservation efforts by CITES ensure the sustainable trade of these species, which is essential for protecting the delicate ecosystems where they thrive. Whether you are a collector, a user of agarwood prouducts, or simply interested in its rich history, understanding the origins and classifications of true agarwood enhances our appreciation of this remarkable material. As the journey of agarwood continues, it invites us all to respect and value the natural world it represents.

Source:
Xingxia, C., Zhencheng, L. (2017). Agarwood 2. Taiwan: Booker Publication.

SEMARANG – Semawis Market 2025, which was held as part of the Chinese New Year celebration, was lively on 25-27 January, 2025 along Cap Kao King to Gang Pinggir, with various activities and participation from various communities. This long-awaited annual event has once again become the center of attention of Semarang people and its surroundings, presenting a lively and meaningful celebration atmosphere with the theme of Trust and Loyalty.

Chinese New Year celebration at Semawis Market 2025 went smoothly, filled with various events such as lion dance performances, Tuk Panjang tradition, and culinary and non-culinary bazaars. Not wanting to be left behind, D’OPENER is present at the Semawis Market 2025 as one of the non-culinary tenants. As a brand that focuses on gaharu-based products, D’OPENER not only sells products, but also educates visitors about gaharu and its benefits. D’OPENER also offers special discounts for every purchase during the event, which further increases visitor enthusiasm.

This event, which was pioneered by Harjanto Halim, is not only a place for celebration, but also a meaning of learning and appreciating culture. It is hoped that innovations like this will continue to be present at future celebrations, enriching the Chinese New Year experience for every visitor.