The Final Question: Bury or Burn?Graham DuncanSeptember 14, 2023 by Graham DuncanSeptember 14, 20230117Many tourists in Bali will have witnessed “Ngaben”, the open-air Hindu cremations. Those for the rich and famous can be...
Palang Pintu, Betawi Wedding TraditionRazi Faruqi PashaFebruary 8, 2023 by Razi Faruqi PashaFebruary 8, 20230306Indonesia has a plethora of cultural traditions, especially for weddings. One tradition that is quite popular in Indonesia is palang...
Tegalalang Ubud’s Ngerebeg Tradition Now an Intangible Cultural HeritageIndonesia ExpatJuly 14, 2022 by Indonesia ExpatJuly 14, 20220751The Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry has determined the Ngerebeg Tradition in Tegalalang Village, Gianyar, Bali to be an...
The Art of Making MokeDiana SubektiApril 7, 2022April 7, 2022 by Diana SubektiApril 7, 2022April 7, 20220460From 30 metres above the ground, Benny, a slender man in his 40s, lowers down a handmade bucket woven from...
Indonesia’s Unique Traditions to Celebrate Christmas and Toast the New YearIndonesia ExpatDecember 4, 2019November 10, 2021 by Indonesia ExpatDecember 4, 2019November 10, 202103320Christmas ala the Indonesians Ho ho ho! Santa Claus is coming to town… Christmas carols are chiming, and the Christmas...
Drag Queens of JavaIndonesia ExpatAugust 20, 2018August 18, 2018 by Indonesia ExpatAugust 20, 2018August 18, 201802210Lengger Lanang is one of Java’s most unique traditions. In the past, men dressed in drag and heavy makeup to...
Bena and Tololela – Preserving tradition in FloresIndonesia ExpatFebruary 14, 2018November 10, 2021 by Indonesia ExpatFebruary 14, 2018November 10, 202102732Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara Province is a combination of sea and forested mountains with meandering highways cutting the...
Under the Knife: Female Genitalia Mutilation Causes Long-Term Psychological Effects on Indonesian WomenAngela JelitaAugust 1, 2017 by Angela JelitaAugust 1, 201701559Female genitalia mutilation is a common practice in Indonesia. Although it is largely associated with Islamic teachings, many claim there...
The Influence of Javanese Music on Early JazzTerry CollinsMay 31, 2016March 8, 2021 by Terry CollinsMay 31, 2016March 8, 202102179“Jazz has borrowed from other genres of music and also has lent itself to other genres of music.” – Herbie...
Kamasan: An Ancient Living TraditionDivya PridhnaniMay 31, 2016October 4, 2021 by Divya PridhnaniMay 31, 2016October 4, 202104220Imagine you are a master Balinese painter, and your King has recently commissioned you to do a piece of work....
A World of TraditionEamonn SadlerNovember 2, 2015November 4, 2015 by Eamonn SadlerNovember 2, 2015November 4, 201501658I love traditions. Family traditions, national traditions, anything that is traditional in the true sense of the word. I guess...
Going, Going, Gone: In Search of the Ultimate LonghouseQraved TeamJune 12, 2015August 4, 2017 by Qraved TeamJune 12, 2015August 4, 201702765Along with blowpipes, traditional tattooing, mastery of plaiting crafts, canoe-building and the custom of wearing huge bunches of metal earrings...
The Village that Saved its Culture, Leatherback Turtles and its Coral ReefsTess JoyceJune 2, 2014August 8, 2017 by Tess JoyceJune 2, 2014August 8, 201701388There are only a few beaches in the world on where the giant leatherback turtle lays its eggs. The leatherback...
Inaro the Kerokan HealerHush PetersenMay 20, 2014August 18, 2017 by Hush PetersenMay 20, 2014August 18, 201702319A conversation about world of healing would be incomplete without mentioning the wonderful world of kerokan. Kerokan, synonymous with masuk...
Wae Rebo: The Duality of Tradition and Progress in West FloresGrace SusetyoJanuary 13, 2014August 16, 2017 by Grace SusetyoJanuary 13, 2014August 16, 201711787The first time I saw pictures of Wae Rebo, I was intrigued with the traditional conical straw houses in the...
Mur the Offering LadyStephanie BrookesDecember 2, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesDecember 2, 2013August 16, 20170600Mur is 16 years old and has been dutifully carrying out her task as a tukang banten since she was...
Tamara Fielding: Wayang PuppeteerQraved TeamDecember 2, 2013August 16, 2017 by Qraved TeamDecember 2, 2013August 16, 201701596Tamara Fielding was born in 1934 in Cimahi, West Java, in the Dutch East Indies to a Dutch father and...
Kadek the Penjor MakerStephanie BrookesNovember 5, 2013August 16, 2017 by Stephanie BrookesNovember 5, 2013August 16, 201701683I met Kadek on the street putting the finishing touches to his penjor. He started making penjors when he was...
Michael TenzerAntony SuttonSeptember 24, 2013August 16, 2017 by Antony SuttonSeptember 24, 2013August 16, 20170863I must admit the first time I came across a gamelan orchestra I thought the band that had been booked...
Vaughan Hatch: Mekar Bhuana ConservatoryQraved TeamSeptember 23, 2013August 16, 2017 by Qraved TeamSeptember 23, 2013August 16, 201701365In 2008, Vaughan Hatch earned a diploma in publishing and editing from the New Zealand Institute of Business Studies.Vaughan originally...
Back to the Bamboo Roots: The Secrets of SenyawaTess JoyceSeptember 23, 2013August 16, 2017 by Tess JoyceSeptember 23, 2013August 16, 201711480Wukir Suryadi is just back from a tour in Europe with his two-man band, Senyawa, and is now preparing for...