Ferzya from Aceh
Whenever I meet someone on my travels around Indonesia like Ferzya, I am filled with great hope for the future...
Faces of Indonesia
Inaro the Kerokan Healer
A conversation about world of healing would be incomplete without mentioning the wonderful world of kerokan. Kerokan, synonymous with masuk...
Trisno the Mobile Coffee Seller
Trisno was far from surprised when Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman, Megawati Sukarnoputri gave Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo the...
Laiman the Cigarette-Loving Restaurant Manager
The ash on Laiman’s cigarette curls and turns grey like a witch’s fingernail. It finally falls on his pants. He...
Faces of Jakarta: Citra, the National Library Librarian
For the last six years, Citra, who boards a train and a bajaj every day, wakes up well before the...
Keribo, Danu and Agay: The Buskers
Keribo and his friends Danu and Agay take pride in entertaining bus passengers - they ride anywhere between 40 and...
Faces Of Jakarta: Yanti, The Warteg Lady
It’s 5:30 on a Thursday evening in the middle of Ramadhan. Yanti, a newly anointed grandmother, is cursorily taking gorengan...
Faces Of Jakarta: Husin, The Ice Man
With Ramadhan in full swing you’d think that Husin’s business, selling ice to the 30 or more vendors and food...
Faces Of Jakarta : Imron, The Carpenter
No one cares more for details than Imron. As a carpenter at Konsep Gallery along Jalan Kemang Timur Raya in...
Petty : The Restaurant Critic
For the last nine years Petty Elliot has been living a secret life. She’s ducked in and out of Jakarta’s...
Pak Trisno : The Ojek Driver and Devoted Father
No one loves Jakarta’s traffic as much as Trisno. It’s his bread and butter. His clients leave the office at...
Herwan: The Painter
Herwan’s shirt keeps the paint from dripping on his face. He figured out how to wrap the turban on his...
Edi: The Street Sweeper
On a sunny Wednesday morning in Kebayoran, Edi Sukandi is going through the motions. His dark wiry arms work without...
Taufan: The Strongest Kid You’ll Ever Meet
Taufan might be the strongest kid you’ll ever meet. He’s seven-years-old now, but he’s been fighting leukemia since he was...
Kang Edi: The Caricaturist
In the shadow of Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta sits the coup de grace of every departing expat—Jalan Gedung Kesenian—and...
Icha : The Three-in-One Jockey
Icha stands patiently, arm outstretched, hoping for a ride to Monas, Kota or another part of Jakarta with the hope...
Joko: The Construction Worker
I am sure you have all noticed the huge shopping malls going up all over Jakarta in recent times. Behind...
Pak Aseni: The Ojek Driver
Aseni was a Metro Mini driver for twelve years before deciding to become a motorbike taxi (ojek) driver. Ten years...
Nonong and Basio: The Street Dancers
Nonong and Basio, both 47 years old, are not your typical Jakarta workers. In fact, they don’t live in Jakarta...
Tri: The Electrical Technician
Tri is a fairly determined young man with a plan. He moved to Jakarta three years ago from Yogyakarta where...
Deskom: The Part-Time Busker Boy
I came across Deskom and his best mate, Aris one hot morning on Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, as they were...