Half the world sat between Jasmine Chong in New York and her brother Jason Tabalujan in Jakarta, and the pandemic made that distance feel permanent. Instead of waiting it out, they built a way back to each other: Celestia, a custom Indonesian yacht inspired by family roots and created to be a true sanctuary for gathering. What starts as a “crazy idea” becomes a deeply personal project shaped by memory, craftsmanship, and a shared love of the sea.

In this episode, they paint a vivid picture of what it was like to tap into traditional phinisi boatbuilding, a UNESCO-recognized art form. It explains why their hand-built ironwood yacht can still deliver modern comfort without losing her soul. Jasmine, a gifted fashion designer, walks through the realities of yacht interior design and hospitality design, ultimately choosing features that make life onboard feel open and human. Jason, with a finance background, took on the budgeting and operational processes. Along the way, they each surprised themselves, and each other, with the details that make the onboard experience distinctive, down to reef-safe amenities custom designed with intention.

The story goes beyond the boat, though. We talk about what happens when siblings shift from casual family conversations to deadlines and shared responsibility in creating a family sanctuary. You’ll also hear about the launch ceremony, the belief that a vessel carries a spirit, and how handpicking a crew from across Indonesia creates a kind of service that feels like family. If you’re curious about Indonesia yacht charter, heritage craftsmanship, and designing meaningful luxury, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review.