Embracing Vulnerability: Unlocking Emotional Growth and Self-AcceptanceStephanie BrookesJune 7, 2023 by Stephanie BrookesJune 7, 20230159A decade ago, no one spoke about emotional vulnerability. It was often seen as risky and uncomfortable territory, evoking fear...
Living in a Longhouse – West KalimantanStephanie BrookesMay 11, 2023May 29, 2023 by Stephanie BrookesMay 11, 2023May 29, 20230261When I entered Sungai Utik Village, in the heart of West Kalimantan, I felt very excited when I caught my...
Weaving in Bali Stephanie BrookesMay 28, 2022 by Stephanie BrookesMay 28, 202201071Stephanie Brookes writes about Pejeng Kangin, a resilient weaving village just outside Ubud that has united the weavers of Bali...
Bali to Banyuwangi – A Women’s Motorbike AdventureStephanie BrookesJuly 1, 2021September 2, 2023 by Stephanie BrookesJuly 1, 2021September 2, 202301207TripbaliGazing over the Indonesian map sprawled out on the table, my eyes turned to the more remote Eastern part of...
Bali’s Trash Solution in ActionStephanie BrookesJanuary 14, 2021July 9, 2021 by Stephanie BrookesJanuary 14, 2021July 9, 202101426When it comes to getting a handle on recycling and plastic waste in Bali, then look no further than the...
Bali’s Sustainable TourismStephanie BrookesSeptember 2, 2020July 9, 2021 by Stephanie BrookesSeptember 2, 2020July 9, 202102163Bali opened to domestic tourism on July 31. Supporting sustainable tourism is a way to give back to local communities...
Spirituality in the Subak – BaliStephanie BrookesMay 20, 2020 by Stephanie BrookesMay 20, 202002450The humble rice field is a gateway to Balinese culture and spirituality. Since the 9th century, a sophisticated system of...
Life in a Boma – Tanzania Stephanie BrookesMarch 11, 2020March 11, 2020 by Stephanie BrookesMarch 11, 2020March 11, 202004779When you get curious about other cultures, what are the best ways to explore them? Some of us book a...
Bali – Volcanoes and BeyondStephanie BrookesNovember 20, 2019November 23, 2019 by Stephanie BrookesNovember 20, 2019November 23, 201902098I stood near the rim of Kintamani volcano, taking in the sweeping views of Mount Batur and its expansive crater...
The Sea Gypsies of the TogeansStephanie BrookesSeptember 25, 2019 by Stephanie BrookesSeptember 25, 201904075The Togean Islands form an archipelago of 56 islands strung across the Gulf of Tomini in Central Sulawesi. This string...
A Jungle Stay in Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh – North SumatraStephanie BrookesJuly 17, 2019 by Stephanie BrookesJuly 17, 201903039Within one day of arriving in Ketambe Village in Gunung Leuser National Park, I had spotted three gibbons, five Thomas’...
Horsing Around on Muna IslandStephanie BrookesApril 23, 2019April 23, 2019 by Stephanie BrookesApril 23, 2019April 23, 201902462I met Mr La Hada just outside of Bolo village at the mystical prehistoric caves located on Muna Island, an...
The Dark Night – BaliStephanie BrookesMarch 12, 2019March 11, 2021 by Stephanie BrookesMarch 12, 2019March 11, 202102277Life in Bali revolves around ceremonies, and one of the major highlights in the Balinese Calendar is Nyepi, the Day...
The Magic Eels of AmbonStephanie BrookesJanuary 16, 2019 by Stephanie BrookesJanuary 16, 201902609On a sailing voyage through the Maluku Islands, I found myself in Ambon. The Portuguese sailed into these waters in...
Lazy Cats and Savannah Lands – Baluran National Park, East JavaStephanie BrookesNovember 7, 2018 by Stephanie BrookesNovember 7, 201801998Leaning over the sturdy railing at the waterhole, I made sure to look up to check no lazy cats were...
Cliff Top Golfing on the Bukit in BaliStephanie BrookesSeptember 26, 2018September 29, 2018 by Stephanie BrookesSeptember 26, 2018September 29, 201802137There is nothing quite like golfing in Bali. What can be more invigorating than hitting a golf ball over terraced...
Bargaining in BaliStephanie BrookesSeptember 11, 2018August 5, 2022 by Stephanie BrookesSeptember 11, 2018August 5, 202203328There is no doubt Bali is a shoppers’ paradise, but how do you know if you are getting a good...
Setulang – A Stay in the Forest, North KalimantanStephanie BrookesJuly 18, 2018 by Stephanie BrookesJuly 18, 201801894When I arrived at Setulang Village, I noticed there were no supermarkets to be seen anywhere. The village is located...
Delightful Derawan IslandsStephanie BrookesJuly 3, 2018 by Stephanie BrookesJuly 3, 201802014The coral reefs that surround Derawan Island are bursting with colour and life. In fact, over 870 fish species live...
Nusa Penida: Angels and NatureStephanie BrookesJune 6, 2018 by Stephanie BrookesJune 6, 201802638Nusa Penida is a beautiful, rugged island, just a short 30 minutes by boat from Sanur in Bali. Angel Billabong,...
Gluten Free – What’s It All About?Stephanie BrookesMarch 15, 2018March 15, 2018 by Stephanie BrookesMarch 15, 2018March 15, 201802467When my young daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease at the age of ten, I had to learn all about...