Spirituality in the Subak – BaliStephanie BrookesMay 20, 2020 by Stephanie BrookesMay 20, 202001285 The humble rice field is a gateway to Balinese culture and spirituality. Since the 9th century, a sophisticated system of...
Vibrant Jakarta – Alive and KickingStephanie BrookesMay 24, 2017May 24, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesMay 24, 2017May 24, 20170640 Jakarta is full of colour, vibrancy and life. At first glance it looks like a huge modern city with a...
Travelling with a Diabetic ChildStephanie BrookesApril 11, 2017April 12, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesApril 11, 2017April 12, 20170895 We were living in Jakarta, thousands of miles from our home country, when we took our daughter to the doctor...
Why People From Around the World Want to Retire in BaliStephanie BrookesApril 3, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesApril 3, 201701152 John and Kerry For many, Bali is a wonderful retirement option. The climate is perfect, the culture fascinating and the...
Top Five Treetop Stays in BaliStephanie BrookesMarch 15, 2017March 15, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesMarch 15, 2017March 15, 2017020997 While the island is often regarded as a beach paradise with a variety of boat tours and diving options, many...
A Centre of Strength for Divorced Women in BaliStephanie BrookesFebruary 13, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesFebruary 13, 201702355 Ni Komang Sariadi is the founder of Pusat Kegiatan Perempuan Women’s Centre (PKP) located just outside Ubud, Bali. PKP is...
Ternate Tales of Natural SelectionStephanie BrookesApril 20, 2016April 20, 2016 by Stephanie BrookesApril 20, 2016April 20, 20160988 The Spice Islands are wrapped in an aromatic history of cloves, mace and nutmeg, Kings and Sultans, spice wars, and...
Stunning SumbawaStephanie BrookesApril 5, 2016April 5, 2016 by Stephanie BrookesApril 5, 2016April 5, 201601580 Few visitors travel beyond the popular neighbouring islands of Lombok and Bali, but voyage a little eastwards and Sumbawa Island...
Orangutan AdventureStephanie BrookesMarch 22, 2016March 22, 2016 by Stephanie BrookesMarch 22, 2016March 22, 20161570 I spotted my first orangutan high up in the trees in the early morning. I heard it before I saw...
Aceh Gayo – Exploring the Central HighlandsStephanie BrookesNovember 30, 2015November 30, 2015 by Stephanie BrookesNovember 30, 2015November 30, 201501198 Aceh is a beautiful place to explore and a trip to the Gayo highlands of Central Aceh will delight you...
Weh Island: The Outer EdgeStephanie BrookesAugust 21, 2015August 4, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesAugust 21, 2015August 4, 20170898 A small tropical treasure trove of peace and adventure can be found tucked away in Aceh’s far north, at the...
North Lombok – Heading for the MountainsStephanie BrookesJuly 13, 2015August 4, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesJuly 13, 2015August 4, 20170758 North Lombok combines a stunning coastline, beautiful terraced rice fields under the shadow of Mt. Rinjani and a traditional culture...
Remote River School, KalimantanStephanie BrookesJune 15, 2015August 4, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesJune 15, 2015August 4, 20170606 I sat on the wooden floor of Fery Irawan’s humble home. I held my hands out in the receiving position...
Dewi: A Success StoryStephanie BrookesJanuary 15, 2014August 11, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesJanuary 15, 2014August 11, 20170781 Dewi is a bright, young 19-year-old and has a real spark about her. She was so excited to tell me...
Made Sudarsana the Topeng DancerStephanie BrookesDecember 16, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesDecember 16, 2013August 16, 20171581 Made Sudarsana has been dancing since he was seven years old. “We learn dancing as a child,” Made explained. “The...
Mur the Offering LadyStephanie BrookesDecember 2, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesDecember 2, 2013August 16, 20170456 Mur is 16 years old and has been dutifully carrying out her task as a tukang banten since she was...
Grandma Ni Made Sibuh of Petemon VillageStephanie BrookesNovember 18, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesNovember 18, 2013August 16, 201701035 I sat talking with Grandma Ni Made Sibuh in her village in Petemon where she has lived all her life....
Kadek the Penjor MakerStephanie BrookesNovember 5, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesNovember 5, 2013August 16, 20170640 I met Kadek on the street putting the finishing touches to his penjor. He started making penjors when he was...
Wayan the Ubud PainterStephanie BrookesOctober 22, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesOctober 22, 2013August 16, 201701259 Wayan lives in Ubud, but as an artist who paints for a living, he does not turn to Ubud to...
Ketut: the Hair and Beauty StylistStephanie BrookesOctober 7, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesOctober 7, 2013August 16, 20170439 Ketut is 27 years old and owns a local wedding and hair stylist salon in the back streets of Ubud,...
Nyoman the Organic AdvocateStephanie BrookesSeptember 24, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesSeptember 24, 2013August 16, 20171445 Abe-do Organic Warung, located 2 kilometres from Ubud, in Banjar Kutuh Kaja, was created a year ago with only three...