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In 1602 eight early British expats were dropped off in what is now known as Banten Lama by the first voyage of the East India
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Understanding Today’ Young Indonesian Consumers
Let me start with a big disclaimer- the following commentary on today’s young consumers of Indonesia is not based on any primary research but purely
To my Expatriate Friends who always Complain (Including me!)
It’s a bit of an international sport or hobby for expatriates to always complain about how things are better in their home country. As I
Riding Jalur NuRa
As the crow flies Puncak is a mere 80 kilometres to the south east of Jakarta. In the hills of Puncak lies Puncak Pass where
Tanamur: Long Gone but Not Forgotten
“Every dog has its day” goes the old saying. Yes, that’s certainly true for Tanamur – a good number of years have now passed since
The Origins of the Piggy Bank
In the west the Piggy Bank has long been a time-honoured rite of passage, a whimsical but didactic tool for inculcating children with the benefits
Rediscovering Radio with TuneIn
For about the last 15 years I haven’t listened to the radio. More specifically, I haven’t even owned a radio to listen to (except the
Music, Is It Here To Stay?
THE FALL Is it the real death of the music industry? How many songs do you have on your iTunes? Have you ever checked?
It’ a Swamp Out There!
There isn’t a lot of green space left in Jakarta. Perhaps more than people realise, but still very little. What remains is worth preserving, not
Breaks for Bread Winners
School holidays are both a curse and a boon for expat parents living in Jakarta. Firstly, not all of us can schedule a lengthy break
Indonesia’ First Celebrity Artist
Raden Saleh Boestaman (c. 1807-1880) This well-known photo of Raden Saleh, Indonesia’s ‘first’ western-style painter was taken in 1870 when he was at the peak
Young Diver’s Dreams Find a Home in West Java
Kyle Blakeway’s love of the ocean runs deep: it started when he earned his junior open water dive certification —he was ten years old— blossomed
Staying in Town for the Holidays?
Let’s face it, Julia Roberts’ “Eat Pray Love” was just way too glib to get the old heart racing. An airbrushed, one-dimensional view of spiritual
Pulau Tidung @ Pulau Seribu
I used to think the ultimate culture shock trip from Jakarta was the flight over to saccharine sweet Singapore but equally as eye opening –
Pastis Please
Have you tried Pastis? No, not the French liqueur, the Mediterranean-come-Italian Kitchen and Bar in Aston at the Kuningan Suites. Although this oasis is considered
Gereja Sion
Back in the middle of the 17th century, Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta was one of Batavia’s hottest addresses. It was a wide, spacious boulevard so beloved
Dancing in the Street
Busking is an activity that can be witnessed in any number of the world’s cities. London, for example, is particularly famous for its tube station
Managing Jakarta’s Traffic
Jakarta Traffic should be added to the certainties of life like death and taxes. It’s the number one thing all visitors and locals complain about
Climbing the Less Well-Known Peaks of Indonesia
As editor of the not-for-profit hiking website Gunung Bagging, I have spent the last few years exploring countless mountain peaks – both famous and obscure
Finding and Booking Flights on Your Phone
School holidays are nearly upon us and I am sure you are busy planning for a trip somewhere. I think most of us just
Batavia – A Chinese Town Under Dutch Rule
No-one knows when the Chinese first hit what was to become Jakarta. Certainly, when the Dutch first arrived, in 1596, they found Chinese merchants manufacturing