Burnin’ Rubber Time
Jakarta isn’t looking so hot at the moment, what with streets being torn up left, right and centre in a...
observations
Trash Talk
“Ours is a culture and a time as immensely rich in trash as it is in treasures.” – Ray Bradbury...
Medical Anomalies
When well-off people in Indonesia need medical treatment, they often head off to Singapore. Daniel Pope thinks he knows why....
Fun With Weapons
Daniel Pope contemplates whether a foreigner could get away with murder in Indonesia. My local hangout in Jakarta in the...
Booze Blues
The price of alcohol in Indonesia continues to soar into the stratosphere as new import duties are introduced. I’ve...
Fetch the Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti
Where I come from people never die. Before you rush to buy a house next to mine, I don’t mean...
Jakarta, Rattle and Roll
Not long ago, I watched Dawn of The Planet of the Apes in 4-D at a Blitzmegaplex cinema complex in...
Chain Reaction
Our intrepid reporter tackles the idyllic island of Sumba by bicycle. If you’re a wild-eyed bounder of adventure and boast...
Real Heroes
I’ve never been a fan of those works of fiction that portray super muscular, superheroes performing amazing and noble feats...
Seven Days of IT Blackout (and I Don’t Mind)
Nabilia Soenasto is a 12th-grader at the Singapore School, Bona Vista in Jakarta, and was one of the winners in...
What We Bring to the Table
My family and I are moving house – no small feat in the world’s largest archipelago. Our imminent upheaval to...
Tales from the Kantor Floor
Let’s face it: for all the wonderful, awe-inspiring, eye-opening things about living in Indonesia—and there are many, from the jaw-dropping...
Getting to the Other Side
The safest time to cross the street in Jakarta can be when the city is at maximum danger level, as...
The Big Noise
Jakarta is not the ideal domicile for a person fond of peace and quiet. It is packed with roaring vehicles,...
Playing with Fire
The swiftest punch in the face I’ve ever received came from a dense fist of tobacco smoke. I was in...
A Home Away from Home at Christmas
Ever since I could remember, I loathed the atrocious winters of New York City, regardless of the fact that the...
What You See is What You Get?
Myths, truths and reality Men outlive women because they do not bear children, which is an enormous strain on...
Writing Words that Strain and Fail to Rhyme
Why is it that writers come to Bali to pen a novel, a poem or a memoir? I simply don?t...
A Brave New Lesson Plan
One of the few things I remember from when I was seven or eight years old was being introduced to...
The Long Way Home
English teacher Daniel Pope recalls his 1997 nightmare journey from Bintan to Jakarta - It began with a motorcycle accident....
I Can’t Get No Satisfaction
As a middle aged man I don’t mind admitting I have no idea what wellness is. Then again I don’t...