Negative Confirmation Bias Won’t Save Your Skin: Staying Away from Santet
The newly-arrived Dutch administrateur sets about displaying his authority. He is intent on impressing the local Javanese and Sundanese with...
Observations
Why Paper Still Matters in the Digital Era
A few questions come to my mind. When taking notes, which do you prefer, writing on paper or typing on...
How AI Contributes to Global Sustainability
The challenge of gauging sustainability in a climate where there are numerous subjective interpretations of what essentially counts is one...
Investing in Property in Indonesia: A Good Idea?
The past few years have seen uncertain times like very rarely if ever experienced before, with the world at large...
Humans, Earth, and Gods: The Harmony of True Balinese Architecture
In recent years, we have seen Balinese hotels and resorts start to adapt their architectural style into a mixture of...
What You Hear May Not Be What They Say
I can’t tell you Bill’s real name but can authenticate he was a high-level Australian executive sent to Indonesia to...
Digital Nomads and Online Teaching
Six years ago, I learned that people were earning a decent living teaching English online. I started looking into it...
Minang Cuisine and Health
Restaurants that serve Padang food or Minang cuisine are available almost everywhere in Indonesia. This shows that Minang cuisine, marked...
Unsung Heroes of Indonesia
The 10th of November is Heroes Day in Indonesia, to remember those who fought and risked everything to get the...
Culinary Delight in Fiction
Fiction and food are bound physically and culturally. While the former is seen through how the characters in fiction consume...
Ramadan and “Being” Mode
Ramadan, the holy fasting month for Muslims, is back to greet Muslims now around the globe. For Indonesian Muslims, this...
A Letter from an American Who Loves to Retire in Bali
Indonesia is seeking to boost its tourism since the growling pandemic is set aside. Indeed, astounding enthusiasm is visible in...
Indo-Indian Food Connections
Language is the essence of culture. This saying has been around us from time immemorial. Ever since the birth of...
Learning Indonesian
Have you mastered the Indonesian language? Or did you give up? When I first came here as a teacher about...
Be My Valentine
Lonely in a foreign country? I was. When I was hired by Cita Hati Sekolah in Surabaya thirteen years ago,...
The Greatest Love(s) of All
Turn on the radio or switch on the television set and it is fairly certain that within a couple of...
New Year’s Resolution: The Journey Inside
Are we in need of a New Year’s resolution? Yes, because at the end of the year, we need something...
Covid, the Blessings in Disguise
But what a disguise! COVID has been one of the most deadly plagues to ever hit the world, killing millions...
Fanning the Flames of Fame
It wasn’t exactly Beatlemania, but when I came to Indonesia twenty years ago, I had a taste of fame. Or...
Expatriation
Standing on the edge of the highway I held a sign that said “London”. It was cold, early spring, and...
Top Unusual Traditions You Can Only Find in Indonesia
Besides its breathtaking nature, like beaches, mountains, and historical sites, Indonesia is also well-known for its richness of cultural traditions....