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...
Observations
Which Way Home?
There are many things in life that are confusing; taxes, relationships, driving in Asia. “Home” doesn’t feel like it should...
The Supernatural Beings of Indonesia
Supernatural beings – namely ghosts and spirits – are a commonly discussed topic in Asia, with myths and stories revolving...
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...
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...
Questions, Questions, Questions
I don’t subscribe to conspiracy theories and there are several reasons why: It’s too easy to manipulate evidence and tamper...
Could It Happen Here?
Early in the morning of the June 14, 2017 a fire caused by a faulty fridge freezer on the fourth...
The Malls That Ate Jakarta
When humans eventually colonise Mars, it’s a toss-up what they will build first. If they’re Chinese, they might put up...
Too Much Ado About Prostitution
Much of the media attention on the recent Asian Games in Jakarta focused on four Japanese athletes being sent home...