Smoke and Mirrors
It’s been a rough old time for the world’s rainforests of late. Over in Brazil, discount store autocrat Jair Bolsonaro...
Observations
Prohibition of Alcohol in Tangerang and Bogor
Several regions in Indonesia have tightened the circulation of alcohol in their respective regions by issuing regional regulations that give...
Unreal Estate: House Hunting Hazards
Planning to stay awhile so looking to buy or rent? Don’t rush to cancel the temporary hotel stay just yet....
Come Hell or High Water
The wet season will soon be upon us unless climate change has already pushed Indonesia over the edge into a...
Top 10 Unusual Buildings in Indonesia
From giant animals to a giant camera, Kenneth Yeung observes some of Indonesia’s most unique buildings. 1. Chicken Church Local...
Which Way Home?
There are many things in life that are confusing; taxes, relationships, driving in Asia. “Home” doesn’t feel like it should...
Wheel Meat Again
“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and feed him for a...
Java Spirits
In Indonesia’s colonial period, alcohol was nothing new. When Raffles invited the local Muslim officials to drink wine with him,...
Lost in the Supermarket
Fastidious shoppers may prefer the rarified aisles of fancy expat supermarkets, but spare a thought for the city’s traditional markets....
Getting to Know You Shouldn?t be so Difficult
Australia is so close that passengers just have time for a snack and a snooze on a two-hour-30-minute flight to...
Jakarta: Pick of the Perils
JAKARTA is not a dangerous city. That sinking feeling you get when arriving here isn’t a sensation of dread, it’s...
Mad as Hell? Someone’ Listening
Expats that have been angered by bad bureaucracy are often tempted to cut their losses and move on. They might...
An Alternative Ramadan
Thirst. The thirst. It’s the thirst that gets you. I reckon I could go for days without food, as long...
Studying in the Netherlands: What is so Fun about It?
Studying abroad has always been my dream; it would expand my knowledge and experience. After I had finished my Bachelor’s...
The Year of Living Better
Expat get-togethers at year’s end can turn edgy when well-lubricated newbies sound off about this nation’s defects. Those of us...
Rat’s Tail Soup
Around the corner from my hotel in the Cambodian city of Phnom Penh is a small Indonesian restaurant. Having lived...
The Battle of the Beer
It was Christmas Eve 1984, and, just like I did every Christmas Eve in those days, I was running around...
Never the Trains Shall Meet
Not long ago, any authentic Indonesian model railway set required dozens of tiny model passengers perched precariously on the roofs...
Health and Safety Indonesian Style
A few years ago, my father told me that he would like to come and visit me in Jakarta. He...
Keyboard Agonies and Publishing Ecstasy
It was a mixed mob that gathered at Madura’s Trunojoyo University. Mainly young, overwhelmingly female, many frustrated, a few triumphant,...
Public Transport: Masochism for the Masses
Daniel Pope endures and occasionally enjoys Jakarta’s improving public transport options. Travel these days is absurdly easy. Just flip open...